WWE News

[Head Booker]

[Head Booker]

Representatives of Martha Hart sent out the following this morning.

Widow of Deceased Professional Wrestler Owen Hart Files Lawsuit Against World Wrestling Entertainment, Vince McMahon & Linda McMahon

WWE continues to use Owen Hart's Name and Image for Marketing more than 11 Years After he Was Killed in a WWE-sponsored Stunt; In Violation of Contract and Contrary to Family's Wishes

HARTFORD, Conn., June 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Martha Hart, the widow of the late Owen Hart, a professional wrestler who was killed in a May 1999 stunt orchestrated by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) today filed suit in the U.S. District Court here against WWE, Vince McMahon (current chairman and CEO) and Linda McMahon (CEO until 2009). The lawsuit alleges the WWE and the McMahons used Owen Hart's name and likeness without right in dozens of commercial videos and other materials, violated a contract restricting the use of Owen Hart's name, likeness and wrestling footage, and disregarded Martha Hart's wishes against further association of her late husband's name with WWE following his death. (Mrs. Hart and WWE settled a wrongful death lawsuit in 2000. Mrs. Hart established the Owen Hart Foundation later that year.)

"In the eleven years since Owen's tragic and avoidable death, I have worked tirelessly to disassociate Owen's name and likeness from anything related to WWE in order to protect our children from any reminder of the circumstances surrounding their father's death, and to avoid any misplaced perception that I endorse WWE," said Martha Hart in a statement.

"Unfortunately, even though WWE, Vince McMahon and Linda McMahon were and are well aware of my wishes and desire to shield my children from WWE and its activities, I was shocked to learn earlier this year that they have been using Owen's name and likeness in videos, websites, television programs and print materials. Given this callous, insensitive and irresponsible behavior, one must question the moral character of Vince and Linda McMahon and the manner in which they conduct their business."

According to the lawsuit filed today before the U.S. District Court in Hartford,

"Since Owen's death, the WWE and McMahons have sought every available opportunity to further exploit Owen's personality for their own commercial benefit. Their use of Owen's name and likeness draws attention to the WWE's ongoing violent and highly questionable theatrical activities that caused Owen's death. Defendants' use of Owen's name and likeness is also in direct disregard of Martha's and her children's objections...The WWE's wrongful use of Owen's name and likeness, over Martha's continuing objection to any association with defendants and in the absence of any legal right of use, creates the wrongful impression that Martha and the Estate now support, approve or condone the video (which they do not)."

The lawsuit seeks to enjoin the WWE from further use of Owen Hart's name and likeness, and seeks unpaid royalties as well as damages for breach of contract, copyright infringement, unjust enrichment, accounting and unfair and deceptive trade practices.

Mrs. Hart is represented by the law firm Nixon Peabody LLP.

Note to Editors: A copy of the complaint can be found at www.marthahartsueswwe.com

Information on the Owen Hart Foundation can be found at www.owenhart.org


credit: PWInsider

[Head Booker]

WWE® Partners with YouTube™

World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. and YouTube announced today a multi-year partnership that will make full episodes of WWE “Friday Night SmackDown®,” “WWE NXT™,” “WWE Superstars” and “ECW®,” available at WWE’s official YouTube™ channel ( www.YouTube.com/WWE : ). This marks one of the first times that YouTube will feature complete episodes of primetime television programs on their site.

The multi-year deal greatly expands WWE’s YouTube channel offerings, which already has 90,000 subscribers who have viewed more than 100 million WWE videos to date. WWE will also augment the channel by increasing content clips of WWE’s flagship program “Monday Night Raw®,” as well as “WWE Classics” and short videos.

“WWE has established itself as one of the top global entertainment brands in the world,” said Chris Maxcy, strategic partner director at YouTube. “WWE’s content is hugely popular on YouTube. Bringing in full-length, primetime television programs to the site is a huge win for our community and fans of the WWE.”

“As part of our ever evolving digital media strategy, WWE is one of the first global entertainment companies to offer audiences access to complete primetime shows on YouTube,” said Brian Kalinowski, WWE’s Executive Vice President, WWE Interactive. “This partnership also enables WWE to increase its official PG-content offerings online for our fans, generate revenue, protect our content and broaden our brand exposure on the world’s largest online video site.”

[Head Booker]

The Vancouver Sun has a piece on Martha Hart's lawsuit against the WWE and Vince and Linda McMahon up available at www.vancouversun.com/ Some of the highlights are below:

WWE attorney Jerry McDevitt stated in regards to Martha's claim that the company agreed to no longer use Owen Hart's name and likeness, "We own the copyright (to footage featuring Owen Hart) and we believe we're fully within our rights under the contract to do exactly what we did." The article stated that McDevitt "insists that there is no provision in the 2000 settlement agreement" that would have led to WWE giving up its rights to the footage.

McDevitt stated that several months back, Hart filed an injunction to try and prevent the Canadian release of the Hart & Soul documentary and DVD set. Ontario courts denied the injunction. Yesterday McDevitt stated the company had not heard from Martha since 2000.

Owen's brother Ross Hart commented on the lawsuit by saying, "If (WWE) exploited (Owen's) name negatively...I can understand, but this really was a documentary about the whole family. It was done in pretty good taste, even by WWE standards." He also stated that "Wrestling is really what made Owen famous and successful and such a legend and you can't erase that," Ross said. "As tragic and wrongful as his death was, you can't erase his legacy and what he accomplished in wrestling."

[Rob]

Well, if that's the case, then there's no fault, right?

[Head Booker]

According to Victoria/Tara on Twitter, Michelle McCool and The Undertaker got married this weekend:

twitpic.com/20qkel (click to see pix)

~~


Credit: PWInsider

- Wade Barrett, leader of RAW’s Nexus stable, has been pulled from WWE TV and live events because his work visa has expired and he’s no longer eligible to work in the United States. Barrett has returned to the UK where he’s waiting on a new visa to be cleared.

Drew McIntyre is going through the same problems. You may remember from SmackDown where WWE started a storyline saying Drew was being deported. This isn’t far from real life but it’s possible that McIntyre is still here in the States. Regardless, he’s also unable to work right now. If McIntyre is still here, it’s possible that he can stay while a green card application is approved since he’s married to WWE Diva Tiffany.

There’s no timetable yet on when Barrett or McIntyre can return.

[Head Booker]

-- As talked about yesterday on the new edition of Wrestling Observer Radio (which is a FREE download today off the right-hand side of the front page), both Drew McIntyre and Wade Barrett are having visa issues. Based on the way they shot the angles on TV, it appears at the time they had no idea when Drew's problems would be cleared up and they hoped Barrett would be back by next week's Raw. Unfortunately, as of this afternoon the word we've gotten is that creative has been told to presume both won't be back until after SummerSlam, which is a complete disaster particularly in the case of Barrett as the standout performer in Nexus. Granted, they could be back sooner, but either way heads are going to roll.

SPOILER: Click to show

It also sucks for McIntyre because he was scheduled to win the briefcase at WrestleMania and then that got changed, and he was scheduled to win it again at Money in the Bank and now he may not be able to work that show either.

One of our readers said they saw McIntyre in Scotland on Saturday night, so apparently he's back home.

-- We don't have an update on Sheamus, who was signed around the same time as Barrett and McIntyre, but the feeling from one WWE source is that either WWE somehow caught it and handled it while somehow missing the other two, or he was proactive in bringing it to their attention and they handled it without thinking about the other two. Or I guess presumably he could be next. We'll update later today or tomorrow when we hear more.


From today's Observer update

[GGWF]

What a monumental fuck up!

And Nexus without Bryan Danielson AND Wade Barrett? Well that's gonna suck!

M x

[Icon Lord Sean "Magic" Fiery]

I'd laugh if Gabriel is next to have an expired visa. He's the only one holding them together right now in Wade's absence. I admire WWE pushing new stars, but can they atleast be reliable ones?! Get them some green cards!

[Head Booker]

- Steve Austin wrote the following on Twitter about NXT Rookie Husky Harris: “my favorite new WWE talent is Husky Harris..needs a little more ring cardio..comes from great wrestling background. needs a mean streak.”

according to lordsofpain

- There is a rumor that Vince McMahon has called for a ban on backhand chops in the ring due to their visual connection with Ric Flair (and proclivity to inspire the crowd to chant “woo”). WWE does not want any clear references to Ric Flair on its programming.

- The Nexus group’s theme music is “We Are One” by the band 12 Stones.

[Icon Lord Sean "Magic" Fiery]

Good band.

Lol at the WOOOchops! Wow, Vince is a lametard.

[GGWF]

Banning chops?! FFS!

"Woooooooo!" is a huge crowd pleaser - why take away that enjoyment from fans out of pure spite?!

M x

[Head Booker]

actually though it is very rare that you see the chop in WWE anymore anyway...besides HBK who really used it all that much...?

Tate

[Icon Lord Sean "Magic" Fiery]

Doesn't Jericho use them?

[Rob]

Jericho, Big Show (not often though), I think Punk does or did, doesn't Triple H use them too?