The Inquisitr » wwe

Dodd Faces Election Challenge From World Wrestling Entertainment CEO

AHN — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 17:07:32 +0000

Linda McMahon, wife of wrestler and World Wrestling Entertainment Chairman Vince McMahon, resigned as chief executive of her family’s multimillion sports entertainment company on Wednesday to challenge Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT), a 2008 White House contender who has kept his seat for three decades, in next year’s elections.

The 60-year old McMahon has transferred her executive duties to her husband to focus on her campaign, according to a short statement from WWE. She had announced four weeks back that she was considering running for the Senate.

A Republican, McMahon early this year was appointed by Connecticut Gov. Jodi Rell to the 11-member state Board of Education, which establishes standards and policies for 149 local and 17 regional school districts.

A number of state lawmakers had opposed the nomination of someone from an industry that uses violence and sex for entertainment, but the governor had cited McMahon’s “leadership abilities” in “transforming” Stamford-based WWE into a global company. McMahon’s term ends March 2011.

McMahon is a French major from East Carolina University who led the creation of WWE’s Get R.E.A.L. educational and literacy programs, including the company’s nationwide WrestleMania Reading Challenge in collaboration with the Young Adult Services Library Association.

A mother of two college graduates who now work as WWE executives, McMahon also led the establishment of a non-partisan voter registration drive called Smackdown Your Vote! in 2000 in partnership with the National Association of Secretaries of State, Project Vote Smart, Youth Vote 2000 and MTV’s Choose or Loose.

McMahon joins three other Republicans who have entered the race: state Sen. Sam Caligiuri, businessman and former Amb. to Ireland Thomas Foley, and former U.S. Rep. Rob Simmons.

Only one Democrat, former Al Gore campaign aide Merrick Alpert, has launched a campaign against Dodd.

Dodd, chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, is seeking a six term following a difficult year.

In August, he lost his closest friend in the Senate, Ted Kennedy, and underwent surgery for early stage prostate cancer. He had temporarily presided over the Senate Health panel on behalf of the ailing Kennedy, but last week said he would not assume the chairmanship amid grumblings from the banking industry about his continued regulation ahead of a tough re-election campaign.

Also in August, the Senate Ethics panel said Dodd had not not violated any rules when he refinanced his home mortgages in 2003 with controversial lender, Countrywide Financial.

Dodd faced allegations that he had received loans with below-market rates from Countrywide. He allegedly belonged to a group, which included Sen. Kent Conrad (D-ND), former Housing Sec. Alphonso Jackson and former U.N. ambassador and assistant Secretary of State Richard Holbrooke, that the company called FAOs or Friends of Angelo. The name refers to the company’s chief executive, Angelo Mozilo.

The allegations, which Dodd had repeatedly denied, raised questions about the ethics of receiving special loans while in public office at a time when the subprime mortgage crisis was deepening.

Earlier this year, public outcry over $165 million in bonuses given by American International Group to employees later focused on Dodd after his role in why the bonuses were paid was revealed.

The Federal Reserve took over 79.9 percent stake of AIG with a two-year $85 billion loan in September 2008. The bonuses were not under the restrictions on executive pay under the Obama administration since they were outside the oversight provisions of the financial bailout plan or Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP), which Congress passed October 2008, and the $787 billion economic stimulus, which became law in February.

The stimulus initially had an amendment from Dodd limiting executive pay from companies receiving federal assistance. But that amendment was changed to allow bonuses under previous contracts.

Dodd had at first denied he had anything to do with the modified amendment, but then admitted that he had “agreed reluctantly” because the Obama administration had pushed him to do so.

At the time of the controversy, Dodd also faced calls from Republicans to return campaign contributions from AIG.

Former WWE champ Andrew “The Punisher” Martin found dead

Duncan Riley — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 04:09:12 +0000

Former World Wrestling Entertainment champion Andrew Martin was found dead at his Florida apartment Friday night.

33 year old Martin, known as both The Punisher and Test, had previously held the Intercontinental, European and Hardcore Wrestling belts, and was also a tag-team champion.

A neighbor spotted Martin’s body through a window, and Police say there is no indication of foul play.

The cause of death won’t be determined until after an autopsy, but speculation suggests that drugs may be involved.

Mickey Rourke to take on Chris Jericho at Wrestlemania 25

Duncan Riley — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 10:51:58 +0000

Mickey Rourke is taking his interest in wrestling on the screen to real life, with a bout scheduled to take place in Wrestlemania 25 in Houston April 5 between Rourke and Chris Jericho.

“So come Wrestlemania 25 in Houston, I’m going to toss him around the ring like tossed salad. Chris Jericho, you better get in shape” said Rourke.

Jericho, appearing on WWE television, said, “You are out of line. It’s one thing to play a wrestler in a movie, something entirely different to actually be one. Your comments offended me. You made a mistake. It’s the last thing that you and Ric Flair want to do, and that’s offend Chris Jericho.”

Rourke is taking guidance from wrestling legend Ric Flair.

Our money’s on Jericho.

WWE Royal Rumble 2009: Results and Video

Duncan Riley — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 11:07:58 +0000

WWE’s Royal Rumble 2009, the annual professional wrestling pay-per-view event was held Sunday night, with Randy Orton coming out on top.

The Royal Rumble 2009 Results as follows, and video from the event following the list.

Jack Swagger defeated Matt Hardy for ECW Championship.

Melina defeated Beth Phoenix for WWE Women’s Championship.

John Cena defeated JBL for World Heavyweight Championship.

Edge defeated Jeff Hardy for WWE Championship.

Randy Orton eliminated Triple H to win Royal Rumble match, WWE, World Heavyweight or ECW Championship match at Wrestlemania XXV.

Jeff Hardy Hit and Run: WWE Fakes an Accident

Duncan Riley — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 04:17:20 +0000

WWE Wrestler Jeff Hardy is alleged to have been involved in a hit and run accident this morning (Friday), but before you get sucked in, it’s yet another fake angle to televised wrestling.

According to the WWE: “Jeff Hardy and his girlfriend Beth were involved in a hit and run automobile accident earlier this morning in North Carolina. Both Jeff and Beth were injured during the accident, but no ambulance was called to the scene.”

The alleged hit and run included “exclusive video footage from the police cruiser on the scene, as well as an exclusive interview with Jeff Hardy.” To juice the story up some more, rival boxer Christian was implied to have been driving the car that left the scene.

One small problem though: the footage aired in most overseas markets last night, before the supposed accident took place.

The Jeff Hardy accident video below. The other thing to note is the clarity of the footage from the police cruiser, and the sound. The darkness in the footage seems to have been computer generated to imply it came from a real cruiser, but compare it to footage from real accidents, and you’ll see the difference, the sound is also very clear compared to what you’d expect. Also there’s nothing on Google about a CAPD in North Carolina, but we can’t be 100% certain.