Latest news with #ECW
Newsweek
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Former Star Accuses WWE Of Stealing His Gimmick
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Former WWE, WCW, and ECW star Big Vito has publicly accused WWE and Paul "Triple H" Levesque of "ripping off" his established Italian street tough/gangster persona for the NXT character of Channing "Stacks" Lorenzo. Vito, who made a name for himself with this gimmick long before his more widely remembered WWE run as a cross-dresser, released a strong statement on X. In his social media post, Big Vito, referring to himself as "THE Don," directly addressed Triple H. "I've got an honest question for Triple H. I've lived this lifestyle my whole life. I've been doing this gimmick since 1999," Vito stated. "I'm still the Don in the squared circle, but this kid—who has publicly disrespected me—has stolen everything but the shoes on my feet." Vito further claimed that WWE had previously sought his input for similar concepts. "Your own people have reached out to me, asking for help with "family" storylines. Those ideas? Mine," he asserted. "Talent relations even called me, said I'd be "brought in" down in Florida. More news: WWE News: Steve Austin Reveals Real-Life Vince McMahon Confrontation Yet here I am—a 35-year veteran—watching WWE bury me while they rip off my gimmick wholesale." He emphasized he has proof for his claims: "And yes, I've got the receipts to back up everything I'm saying here." HOUSTON, TEXAS - MARCH 11: A general stadium view during WWE Monday Night RAW at Toyota Center on March 11, 2024 in Houston, Texas. HOUSTON, TEXAS - MARCH 11: A general stadium view during WWE Monday Night RAW at Toyota Center on March 11, 2024 in Houston, Texas. Big Vito's "Italian street guy" persona was prominent during his time in ECW as part of Da Baldies and in WCW with The Mamalukes, where he held the WCW Hardcore and World Tag Team Championships. This was before his later WWE stint where he was controversially booked in a dress. I've got an honest question for @TripleH . I've lived this lifestyle my whole life. I've been doing this gimmick since 1999. I'm still the Don in the squared circle, but this kid—who has publicly disrespected me—has stolen everything but the shoes on my feet. Your own people have… — Big Vito LoGrasso (@TheBigVitoBrand) June 2, 2025 Lorenzo currently portrays a character in NXT aligned with Tony D'Angelo's mob-themed "family," which Vito evidently sees as a direct imitation. Vito questioned the integrity of using his established character. "So tell me: are we really going to keep doing this? Keep embarrassing Italians with this nonsense? Keep disrespecting my 35 years in this business?" he asked. He then addressed Stacks directly: "Stacks — I get it. Imitation is supposed to be the sincerest form of flattery. I've got a few old leather jackets if you need them, but I doubt you can pull off the bald look. Just remember: no matter who you put in the "costume," they'll always be living in my shadow until I give my stamp of approval." More WWE News: For more on WWE, head to Newsweek Sports.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
'Spiritually orgasmic': How Paul Heyman invaded Studio 54 with pro-wrestling at just 19 years old
Paul Heyman is the definition of a wrestling visionary. The 59-year-old pro-wrestling lifer has found success uncovering the next idea rather than iterating on the last idea, leading him to — among other things — launch the beloved ECW promotion in the 1990s, and become the catalyst behind the Bloodline gimmick which revived WWE's business in the 2020s. Yet that ability to see the angles and advance forward began at the very start of his career, his first-ever event: Wrestle Party 1985, held at New York's legendary nightclub Studio 54. Yes, at 19 years old, still too young to drink, Heyman found himself booking Studio 54. Advertisement Heyman started his career as a magazine photographer and used that access — and a Pro Wrestling USA show counter-programmed against WrestleMania — as a chance to open a door. 'There was a charity event taking place at Studio 54," Heyman told Uncrowned. "And I happened to know the press agent for the event, and I called them and said, 'Listen, I have these wrestling stars off of national television. If you let me come to this event with my camera, I'll bring some of the wrestlers with me. I'll take a bunch of pictures, and I'll guarantee you at least one magazine cover, if not three,' because I was in control of three wrestling magazines that were distributed internationally on the newsstand. "So I got in the Studio 54 that night with a bunch of the Pro Wrestling USA stars, and I was at the main bar talking to a very famous nightclub impresario named Worsham Rudd, who had been in the New York City nightclub business for decades. He was the director at Studio 54. So while this was happening, the head photographer was drunk off his ass and started throwing vodka bottles at some of the bartenders, one of whom, by the way, was Christopher Meloni, who ends up becoming this tremendous television star for many, many years. And security tackles the head photographer and throws them out the front door.' Heyman used that melee to find an opening. Advertisement 'Where there's chaos, there's opportunity," he said. "And I turned to Worsham Rudd and said, 'Well, isn't that your house photographer?' And Rudd says, 'Well, he was.' And I said, 'Well, then you're in need of a new house photographer,' to which Rudd replied, 'Well, I am.' And I offered my services — and was hired on the spot, started the next night. 'So as this is happening, and now I'm the house photographer at Studio 54, I started getting [newspaper] placement for some of the celebrities who were coming in [the club] — the New York Post, and the Daily News, and Newsday, and the Village Voice, because I would give the pictures to all the New York newspapers instead of trying to peddle them and get paid for them. 'I got a job as not only the house photographer, but as an in-house publicist. And from that position, an opportunity opened up when there was a raid on so much of the power players at Studio by Steve Cohn, who was opening up the Palladium on 14th Street. And because of that, Friday nights became wide open, and I stepped in to promote and produce Friday Nights at Studio 54, all when I'm 19 years old.' Though still too young to even legally enter a nightclub, Heyman suddenly found himself as one of the most powerful people in the New York nightlife industry. 'So one of the first things that I did was I called the WWF, and I asked for Hulk Hogan and/or Roddy Piper, but they were on the west coast," he recalled. "And so I ended up calling Jim Crockett Promotions and I got Ric Flair, Dusty Rhodes, and Magnum TA … they were going to be in Philadelphia that night, and Crockett arranged for a private jet when the show was over for Flair and Dusty and Magnum to fly to New York to get all this publicity. Advertisement "Since I was doing that, I figured I'd also promote a match. And we presented Bam Bam Bigelow's pro-wrestling debut on the very same night' Heyman's connection with Bigelow and the collapse of the New York City nightclub scene soon led to his next act. 'Studio 54 was caught in the insurance crunch in New York City and closed down," he said. "Bam Bam Bigelow nagged me into debuting as a manager to just try it for no other reason, but because if I could get in as a performer and establish myself as a top act, from there, I could use that platform to start giving people instructions from behind the scenes. 'So it's the old adage of an actor saying, 'But what I really want to do is direct.' I really wanted to write and direct and produce, and realized I had to perform to get the credibility in order to the other things that I'd always dreamed of.' Heyman was such a hit as a manager that he quickly found himself in a huge money program at age 20 in the Memphis, Tennessee territory, managing Tommy Rich and Austin Idol for their legendary feud with Jerry Lawler. Bigelow rode in to team with Lawler and suggested his friend Heyman. Advertisement It was a feud which climaxed with a hair vs. hair match between Lawler and Idol, where Heyman — aka Paul E. Dangerously — promised to refund the fans their money if Lawler beat his client. The match saw Idol, Rich and Dangerously shave Lawler's head, after Rich came out from under the ring to interfere. 'I don't know, even to this day, if the anger in the crowd was because they weren't going to get their money back, or because we had hidden Tommy Rich under the ring and blatantly screwed Jerry Lawler, the long long-time local hero, in a hair match in which his head was going to get shaved, which at the time was the ultimate insult that you could do to a professional wrestler,' Heyman said. 'What was it like? Exhilarating. 100% out of control, spiritually orgasmic exhilaration, because at 21 years old, and only a few months into performing, I knew I was part of a truly historic moment that was about to put me on the map, and I'm not even six months into the business. Advertisement "There are people that go through the indies and the territories for 10 years before they get a break. And here I am in a history-making storyline in a moment in the Mid-South Coliseum that was absolutely going to live on for decades to come, and a genuine headline-grabbing event that I'm right in the middle of. So there are people who wait forever for their break — and here I was, smack dab in the middle of it, months into my debut.' That feud launched Heyman, who seemingly overnight found himself on ESPN managing AWA's champions The Original Midnight Express and onto Crockett television, all before his 21st birthday. Chaos creates opportunity, after all. And no one in wrestling has ever captured that opportunity better.
Newsweek
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
WWE Hall of Famer Names Real Face of AEW
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Although Jon Moxley is currently the AEW World Champion, there are plenty of talented wrestlers that could be argued to be the face of the company. This includes the likes of MJF, Swerve Strickland, Darby Allin, Kenny Omega, and More Pro Wrestling: WWE Superstar Chelsea Green Gives Update on Brutal Injury However, one WWE Hall of Famer seems to have narrowed down who the true face of AEW really is. Dec. 18, 2024 – Darby Allin executes a Coffin Drop on Will Ospreay during AEW Dynamite. Dec. 18, 2024 – Darby Allin executes a Coffin Drop on Will Ospreay during AEW Dynamite. Lee South/AEW During an episode of Busted Open, WWE Hall of Famer Bully Ray (Bubba Ray Dudley in WWE) addressed who he thinks is the real face of AEW. "It's Will Ospreay," Bully Ray stated. "Will has stature, that's first of all. Darby doesn't have the same stature. Darby paints up, so he almost looks like a comic book [character] or a cosplayer. Will talked about the way he dresses, relatable dress. The number one thing, the passion in Will's voice, the tone in his voice." In the time that Ospreay has been with AEW, he has had countless matches, including with Bryan Danielson, Kenny Omega, Ricochet, Kyle Fletcher, and Darby Allin. In addition to being the face of AEW, Bully Ray believes that Ospreay would have thrived in ECW. "You want to hear the most profound thing that I can say about Will Ospreay? Will Ospreay would have survived in ECW, and that's why he should fly the flag for AEW. "There have been so many people who thought they could have survived in ECW. It was my pleasure to tell them to their face you would have gotten eaten up and spit out alive day one. Will would have survived in ECW, I'm talking ECW '93 to '98, OG ECW, real deal ECW." More Pro Wrestling: Aleister Black Breaks Silence On WWE Return While Ospreay is not particularly known for his hardcore style, his in-ring storytelling and high-flying style would fit perfectly alongside the likes of Rob Van Dam, Sabu, Dean Malenko, Yoshihiro Tajiri, and, of course, The Dudley Boyz. Needless to say, Ospreay's talent and determination can seemingly translate to any era. There's no doubt that he will reach the top of AEW sooner rather than later. More Pro Wrestling: Triple H Confirms New PLE for New Orleans After WrestleMania Relocation Bryan Danielson Makes Surprise Wrestling Appearance Amid AEW Hiatus WWE Notes: Bronson Reed Returns, Evolution 2 Officially Announced, More For more AEW, WWE, and professional wrestling news, head on over to Newsweek Sports.
Time of India
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Official teaser of the documentary on Former WWE star Sabu's last wrestling appearance gets released
(WWE and ECW star Sabu) Just over a week after the passing of wrestling icon Sabu, the official teaser of the new documentary titled SABU has been released to commemorate his contributions in the field of wrestling. The film is produced by Sabu's long-time friend and WWE Hall of Famer Rob Van Dam . The documentary SABU is directed by Joe Clarke, and the story of the film revolves around the late wrestling legend's final match against Joey Janela at Game Changer Wrestling's (GCW). According to the description of video, " SABU is an intimate documentary that follows the enigmatic career of professional wrestler Sabu as he seeks closure in his storied life—a final match. From his tumultuous upbringing under the influence of The Sheik to the electrifying days of ECW , Sabu reflects on his evolution as a performer and the extreme style that defined his legacy." 'The film captures the highs and lows of his journey, including personal challenges, injuries, and the emotional turmoil that shaped him both inside and outside the ring," the description further stated. Former ECW and WWE wrestler Sabu's documentary releases its first official teaser Sabu, born Terrance Michael Brunk, was a pioneering figure in the world of hardcore wrestling. He was renowned for his high-risk, no-holds-barred style, which helped define the identity of ECW in the 1990s. Sabu breathed his last on May 11, 2025, at the age of 60, leaving his fans and the wrestling world mourning in his loss. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Ative o software antivírus do seu computador Clique aqui Undo To commemorate his contributions to the wrestling industry and pay tribute to his glorious wrestling journey, WWE Hall of Famer Rob Van Dam is preparing to release his documentary, SABU . Following Sabu's passing, Clarke revealed on social media that he had been filming Sabu for a year for a documentary, and that they were scheduled to film the final scene just a week before his death. Clarke also expressed pride in being able to share Sabu's story with the world. SABU | Official Teaser Trailer | 2025 It is to be mentioned that Sabu's final match took place on April 18, 2025, at Game Changer Wrestling's (GCW) against Joey Janela 's Spring Break 9 event, where he faced Joey Janela in a barbed wire match. Despite concerns about his health leading up to the match, Sabu emerged victorious, bringing a close to a career that spanned four decades. After Sabu passed away, Joey Janela and GCW were accused by the fans of letting the late wrestler play under the influence of kratom. However, Joey Janela has dismissed the accusations, immediately denying the accusations and charges pressed on him. In a statement Janela clarified that it was actually Sabu's team , who supplied the substance. He also insisted that using kratom is common and legal in the wrestling business and clearly mentioned that neither GCW or he was involved on providing the drug to the late ECW wrestler. Also Read : Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens's turbulent WWE relationship inspires new wrestling book | WWE News - Times of India Later, Janela added, 'Sabu was a grown man, he did what he had to do to get out there. I took care of him to the best of my ability, I didn't think what happened halfway through would happen, it was all to get him one great payday and one last shine in the spotlight. That night wasn't about me, it was about Sabu, and I wouldn't change a thing.' Get IPL 2025 match schedules , squads , points table , and live scores for CSK , MI , RCB , KKR , SRH , LSG , DC , GT , PBKS , and RR . Check the latest IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap standings.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Tommy Dreamer Highlights ‘Perfect Scenario' For Cody Rhodes' WWE Return
Tommy Dreamer highlights the 'perfect scenario' for Cody Rhodes' return to the WWE. Speaking on a recent edition of Busted Open Radio, the ECW legend opined that John Cena's attempt to ruin wrestling could be the perfect scenario for the American Nightmare to return as its ultimate savior. Advertisement 'If John Cena continues to ruin wrestling, it has to be the perfect scenario for Cody to make the save for wrestling,' Dreamer said before fantasy booking a gimmick change for the former Undisputed WWE Champion. 'St. Louis was a great place for Randy, very much heel, babyface 101. I don't mind all the stuff that they did just because of the reactions the live crowd got … if Cody came back like a different look, almost like a darker Cody, I think the fans would actually cheer for him if he came in like as heelish Cody. But I do think that if he came in against John Cena, they're going to boo Cody.' (H/T WrestlingInc) Cody Rhodes is advertised for 5/16 WWE SmackDown Cody Rhodes hasn't appeared on WWE programming since he dropped the undisputed title to John Cena at WrestleMania 41. The American Nightmare took several controversial moves, including a kick below the belt, during the closing moments of the match. Advertisement WWE is advertising Cody Rhodes for the post-Backlash episode of SmackDown from Greensboro Coliseum in North Carolina. Will the American Nightmare make his return live tonight? It remains to seen. WrestleZone will have full coverage of WWE SmackDown as it airs. The post Tommy Dreamer Highlights 'Perfect Scenario' For Cody Rhodes' WWE Return appeared first on Wrestlezone.
