RIP Randy “Macho Man” Savage

For any WWE fan (or WWF fan if you grew up around that time), Randy “Macho Man” Savage has entertained wrestling fans and being wrestling’s favorite bad boy. And one of the coolest wrestlers to watch!

TMZ has confirmed with Savage’s brother that Randy Savage lost control of his vehicle after suffering a heart attack while driving.  The accident occurred at 10:00 a.m. in Tampa, Florida.

Florida Highway Patrol told TMZ that Savage (58) was driving a 2009 Jeep Wrangler which veered to the median through oncoming traffic and collided head-on with a tree. His wife Lynn was a passenger in the vehicle and survived with minor injuries.

Savage recently celebrated his one year anniversary with wife Lynn.

World Wrestling Entertainment has issued the following statement:

WWE® is saddened to learn of the passing of one of the greatest Superstars of his time, Randy Poffo, aka Randy “Macho Man” Savage. Poffo was under contract with WWE from 1985 to 1993 and held both the WWE and Intercontinental Championships. Our sincerest condolences go out to his family and friends. We wish a speedy recovery to his wife Lynn. Poffo will be greatly missed by WWE and his fans.

THE NEW WWE

To better reflect the company’s global entertainment offerings, World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: WWE) announced today a new business model for future growth, including formally rebranding itself, WWE.

Two key components to WWE’s brand expansion will be the active pursuit to acquire entertainment content companies and the outsourcing of WWE’s core competencies – television and film production, live event production and licensing. As part of the new business model, the company will also focus on the development of new television products including scripted, non-scripted and animated programs, as well as the launch of a new WWE network in the next 12-18 months. The first new program of the brand expansion is Tough Enough®, WWE’s non-scripted program that debuted on the USA Network on Monday.

“The new business model of the company better reflects what WWE is all about, being a global entertainment company,” stated Vince McMahon, Chairman and CEO, WWE. “We will always be loyal to our core business that made WWE a globally known entity, however, the future of WWE will be the addition of new entertainment content opportunities beyond the ring.”

This new rebranding initiative will be highlighted through a national consumer and business-to-business advertising campaign entitled “Bigger. Badder. Better.™” The campaign kicked off at WrestleMania® XXVII on Sunday and will be featured on cable TV, print and online.

In addition to focusing on the expansion of the company, the company will bolster its core business with the launch of a new talent development department headed by Paul “Triple H®” Levesque. The new department will put a greater emphasis on worldwide recruitment, training and character development to identify future WWE Superstars and Divas. The first recruit acquired under Levesque’s new department was the signing last month of future WWE Superstar, Sin Cara™, formerly known worldwide as Mistico.

About WWE
WWE, a publicly traded company (NYSE: WWE), is an integrated media organization and recognized leader in global entertainment. The company consists of a portfolio of businesses that create and deliver original content 52 weeks a year to a global audience. WWE is committed to family-friendly, PG content across all of its platforms including television programming, pay-per-view, digital media and publishing. WWE programming is broadcast in more than 145 countries and 30 languages and reaches more than 500 million homes worldwide. The company is headquartered in Stamford, Conn., with offices in New York, Los Angeles, London, Shanghai, Singapore and Tokyo. Additional information on WWE (NYSE: WWE) can be found at wwe.com and corporate.wwe.com. For information on our global activities, go to http://www.wwe.com/worldwide/.

Raw: The Host of WrestleMania XXVII is revealed – THE ROCK BRINGS IT TO WRESTLEMANIA

Many WWE fans have waited for this moment and last night on Monday Night Raw in front of thousands of WWE fans, The Rock made his return to the WWE as the host of Wrestlemania XXVII.

STAMFORD, Conn., February 14, 2011 – Do you smell what’s cookin’? The Brahma Bull™, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson will `bring it’ to WrestleMania® XXVII. WWE® (NYSE: WWE) announced tonight that The Great One™ will return home to be The World’s Most Electrifying Host of WrestleMania on Sunday, April 3rd at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.

As The World’s Most Electrifying Host of WrestleMania XXVII, The Rock will lay the SmackDown® on all of the pomp and festivities that makes WrestleMania the world’s greatest, annual pop culture extravaganza.

“I’m absolutely thrilled and fired up to be the host of WrestleMania. My goal was to partner up with Vince McMahon and WWE to create and deliver something globally entertaining and electrifying,” said Johnson. “As an actor, entertainer and someone who both loves and has grown up in the sports entertainment business, the opportunity to host 75,000 passionate fans in a live venue, not to mention the millions that will be watching worldwide, is not only thrilling but quite honestly the opportunity of a lifetime. It’s going to be one helluva an epic night.”

In making the monumental announcement of his return to WWE just minutes ago on Monday Night Raw®, The People’s Champion™ whipped the crowd into a frenzy and was showered with thunderous applause.

For more, visit www.wwe.com for “Live with The Rock” online chat immediately following the conclusion of Monday Night Raw. For all the latest updates, ‘Like’ The Rock at www.facebook.com/DwayneJohnson or follow him at www.twitter.com/TheRock.

WrestleMania XXVII will be broadcast in more than 80 countries around the world. Check with your local cable operator or satellite provider to order the pay-per-view on Sunday, April 3rd. For more information on WrestleMania and WrestleMania events, please visit www.wrestlemania.com.

THE MOST PATRIOTIC SHOW OF THE YEAR, “WWE TRIBUTE TO THE TROOPS®,” COMES TO NBC SATURDAY, DECEMBER 18TH AT 9 PM ET

NEW YORK – November 9, 2010 – World Wrestling Entertainment®, in conjunction with NBC, will honor the United States Armed Forces with its third annual telecast of its holiday special, “WWE Tribute to the Troops.” This year, top WWE Superstars and Divas will travel to Fort Hood, Texas to entertain the nearly 350,000 military personnel, family members, and civilians that make up the largest active duty armored post in the United States Armed Services. Thousands of men and women from Fort Hood have served in Iraq and Afghanistan. The hour-long special will air Saturday, December 18 (9-10 p.m. ET / 8-9 p.m. CT) on NBC.

“WWE Tribute to the Troops” will chronicle WWE Superstars and Divas visiting Fort Hood to meet with the troops and their families this holiday season, culminating with a special live in-ring performance in front of thousands of military personnel. In the grand tradition of Bob Hope, this year’s show will feature appearances by The View’s Sherri Shepherd and Miss USA, Rima Fakih, and performances by special musical guests and a comedian to be announced in the upcoming weeks.

In keeping with the spirit of “Tribute to the Troops” of bringing a little piece of Americana to our men and women overseas, WWE Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon along with WWE Superstars Kelly Kelly®, Big Show®, and Eve™ will also head to Afghanistan on a goodwill tour in early December. This tour will be highlighted on the special.

This trip marks the eighth consecutive year that WWE will bring its one of a kind entertainment to our service men and women to thank them for their commitment to the country and recognition of their sacrifices. “WWE Tribute to the Troops” has become a holiday tradition and is considered TV’s most patriotic and heartwarming show of the year.

World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc., a publicly traded company (NYSE: WWE), is an integrated media organization and recognized leader in global entertainment. The company consists of a portfolio of businesses that create and deliver original content 52 weeks a year to a global audience. WWE is committed to family-friendly, PG content across all of its platforms including television programming, pay-per-view, digital media and publishing. WWE programming is broadcast in more than 145 countries and 30 languages and reaches more than 500 million homes worldwide. The company is headquartered in Stamford, Conn., with offices in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, London, Shanghai, Singapore, Tokyo, Toronto and Mexico City. Additional information on World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: WWE) can be found at wwe.com and corporate.wwe.com. For information on our global activities, go to http://www.wwe.com/worldwide/.

FANS “STAND UP FOR WWE”

STAMFORD, Conn., October 18, 2010 – World Wrestling Entertainment® is calling on WWE fans worldwide to “Stand Up For WWE” in a new viral campaign launched today on WWE.com and social networking websites, including Facebook, YouTube and Twitter. WWE invites fans to voice their support for the company because it has come under unfair and biased attack from certain politicians and media outlets. WWE will correct factual inaccuracies that have been reported about the company during this election season.

Videos will feature Vince McMahon, WWE Chairman and CEO, along with several WWE Superstars discussing various topics including WWE’s PG content, treatment of WWE’s full-time employees and its performers, and WWE’s Talent Health and Wellness Program. In addition, the videos will highlight WWE’s longstanding commitment to give back to communities through literacy programs, support of the military and their families, the annual “Tribute To The Troops” holiday special and the company’s more than 25 year relationship with the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

“The nearly 600 full-time WWE employees, as well as its 140 Superstars, all work for one reason – to put smiles on people’s faces,” said Vince McMahon, Chairman and CEO, WWE. “The inaccurate media reports about our company are not only an injustice but an insult to our millions of fans worldwide.”

World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc., a publicly traded company (NYSE: WWE), is an integrated media organization and recognized leader in global entertainment. The company consists of a portfolio of businesses that create and deliver original content 52 weeks a year to a global audience. WWE is committed to family-friendly, PG content across all of its platforms including television programming, pay-per-view, digital media and publishing. WWE programming is broadcast in more than 145 countries and 30 languages and reaches more than 500 million homes worldwide. The company is headquartered in Stamford, Conn., with offices in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, London, Shanghai, Singapore, Tokyo, Toronto and Mexico City. Additional information on World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: WWE) can be found at wwe.com and corporate.wwe.com. For information on our global activities, go to http://www.wwe.com/worldwide/.

Wrestlemania (April 2, 2000) (a J!-ENT DVD Review)

BUY THIS DVD

MOVIE COMPANY: World Wrestling Entertainment
DIRECTED BY:
TYPE OF TV SHOW: Wrestling
RATING:  Not rated
DURATION: 7.5 hours

Disc 1: Entire event plus exclusive extra footage section

First-Ever Fatal Four-Way Elimination Match for the WWF Championship: A McMahon in Every Corner: Triple H, champion, with Stephanie vs. The Rock with Vince vs. Big Show with Shane vs. Mick Foley with Linda

First-Ever Two-Fall Triple Threat Match for the Intercontinental and European Championships: Kurt Angle, champion vs. Chris Jericho vs. Chris Benoit

Triangle Ladder Match for the Tag Team Championship: Dudley Boyz, champions vs. Hardy Boyz vs. Edge & Christian

First-Ever 13-Man Hardcore Battle Royal for the Hardcore Title!

Cat Fight: The Kat with Mae Young vs. Terri with the Fabulous Moolah with special guest referee Val Venis

Disc 2: Extensive history featuring all 15 WrestleMania videos plus interviews from the people who make WrestleMania possible.

DVD EXTRAS:

• Region 1 encoding (US and Canada only)
• Color
• Disc 1:
• WrestleMania en Español
• Entire event plus exclusive extra footage section
• Alternative voiceovers for the Two-Fall Triple Threat match
• Disc 2:
• Extensive history featuring all 15 WrestleManias
• Interviews from the people who make WrestleMania possible
• Number of discs: 2

KNOWN DVD SECRET(S): None that I could find.

DVD REVIEW:

If you are a WWF wrestling fan, this DVD is awesome!  Many people have their own opinions and impressions of what they thought of “Wrestlemania 2000″.   So, I’m not going to go there.

What I will talk about is the DVD itself.  Aside from the good quality and great audio, the reason to buy this is because it’s jam-packed.  I actually watched several hours of it (not the en Espanol version, because I don’t understand Spanish).  But it’s one thing to watch Wrestlemania but it’s something else when you get another DVD featuring all the Wrestlemania’s (the good parts, the main matches).  To see the Intercontinental Match between  Ricky the Dragon Steamboat vs. Macho Man was awesome!  To see the match between Hulk Hogan and The Ultimate Warrior.  The fact that you will see the past wrestling greats and ever wondered if you would see them on DVD, it’s just a blast.  The second DVD will keep you busy if you love to see all the previous Wrestlemania’s up to 1999.  Also, to hear other WWF stars comment on their favorite matches was pretty cool.  To re-see all the matches such as the bloody Bret Hart and Steve Austin match.  Or the Sean Michaels vs. Bret Hart match.  Simply awesome!

The first DVD, is of course, the latest “Wrestlemania” (April 2000) and to see the extra footage was pretty cool!  But it doesn’t stop there.  You get to hear the three commentary from Jericho, Angle and Benoit on the two-fall Triple Threat Match.  That was awesome!

In my last review, I said the Rock’s latest DVD was the best available but I have to give this DVD it’s respect, not so much for the latest Wrestlemania but for that second DVD.  That’s not just paying respect to the past events of Wrestlemania but paying respect for the fans and giving more for your buck.  This DVD is awesome!

Now, they just have to make sure they keep it going with upcoming DVD’s.  The more special features, the better!

THE DVD EXTRAS:  A+
THE DVD OVERALL:  A+