Movie based on Benoit's story to start filming in Fall 2012

Movie website Comingsoon.net is reporting that SRG Films spilled the beans about their plans for a Chris Benoit movie based on Matthew Randazzo's book titled 'Ring of Hell: The Story of Chris Benoit and the Fall of the Pro Wrestling Industry.'

Reported by Ernest I Aguilar

The working title of the movie is 'Crossface' and SRG Films head Dale Alexander Carnegie is producing the film while William Morris Endeavor will be in charge to package the project. A first draft of the script was turned in two months ago and there are ongoing talks with directors and actors to see who will play each role with filming starting in fall 2012.

"All of us grow up believing that wrestling is fake, but looking at the shocking number of deaths in the industry, it quickly becomes evident that there is nothing fake about the dangers of this sport," Carnegie said.

"Chris Benoit has become a poster child for everything that's wrong with professional wrestling and Sarah's terrific script captures his struggles and the many factors that led to the deaths of three people."

Vote for Wrestling News Live at the 2012 Wrestling Radio Awards

Reported by Ernest I Aguilar

Our good friends at Wrestling News Live are up for several awards at the 2012 Wrestling Radio Awards, with the winners being announced on January 29.

WNL is up for Show of the Year, the Male Interview of the Year with three separate entries featuring Shawn Michaels, Scott Hall and Rowdy Roddy Piper, the Media Interview of the Year with two entries featuring Diamond Dallas Page and Kevin Nash and the Female Interview of the Year with Shelly Martinez.

Last year, Wrestling News Live won three awards, with the big daddy of them all, the Show of the Year, People's Choice, and Male Interview of the Year with Kurt Angle.

You can show your support and vote here.

LAW Dec. 21 Update – Former Japanese Star Passes at 71

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Well known Japanese performer Umanosuke Ueda (born Yuji Ueda) died on Wednesday morning at the age of 71. Ueda performed in the United States under the name Mr. Ito but had greatest success as a heel in Japan working for the JWA and then both New Japan and All Japan Pro Wrestling where he formed a legendary tag team with Tiger Jeet Singh. The two were a hot tag team with NJPW when they jumped ship to AJPW and was a huge story at the time. Ueda wrestled from 1961 until his forced retirement in 1996 following a car accident that left him in a wheelchair.

Live RAW event results from 07/01 in Sydney, Australia

Reported by Ernest Aguilar

W-O Newsletter reader Geoffrey attended the live WWE event in Sydney, Australia, yesterday and sent in the following results: Rey Mysterio defeated CM Punk; Kelly Kelly and Beth Phoenix defeated Bella Twins; Zack Ryder defeated Primo; Evan Bourne defeated Jack Swagger; Dolph Ziggler defeated Kofi Kingston; David Otunga and Michael McGillicutty defeated Santino & Koslov; Alex Riley defeated Miz in a street fight; John Cena defeated R Truth. Ryder, Riley and Cena received the biggest pops of the night while the award for most heat goes to The Miz.

 

WWE, Eurosport, extend TV deal for two more years

Reported by Ernest I Aguilar

WWE announced that it has extended its current distribution agreement with Eurosport for another two years.

Eurosport, in all European territories excluding the UK, will continue to broadcast This Week In WWE and WWE Vintage Collection to more than 113 million homes in 57 countries across the continent on Monday nights, starting at 9PM CET.

"We are very happy to renew our agreement with WWE, the most prominent action entertainment organisation in the world. The continued partnership reinforces Eurosport's positioning as Europe's leading sports and entertainment group and demonstrates our commitment to work with the best entertainment groups to offer top quality programmes to fans across Europe," said Julien Bergeaud, Broadcast Director for Eurosport.

Andrew Whitaker, Executive Vice President of WWE International, added "Eurosport is a highly valued partner for WWE. Their penetration across Europe is unrivalled and this renewal is testament to the ever-growing popularity of WWE across the continent."

RAW and Smackdown to tape from Mexico in October

Reported by Ernest I Aguilar

Mexico will be getting a live RAW and Smackdown tapings for the first time ever this year as WWE have announced that they will take their two biggest television shows south of the border on October 15 and October 16.

The venue chosen is the Palacio de los Deportes Arena in Mexico City and these will be taped during the weekend rather than on the same day and airing on tape delay. The only countries to have experienced live tapings of RAW and Smackdown apart from the United States are Canada, England, Italy and Japan.

"Bringing our weekly flagship TV programs to Mexico, one of WWE's most important international markets, demonstrates the company's ongoing commitment to its worldwide audience and long term programming partners," said Andrew Whitaker, Executive Vice President for WWE International. "We look forward to bringing the entertainment that only WWE can provide to our fans in Mexico."

Tickets for both live events at the Palacio de los Deportes Arena will go on sale this summer.

RAW brand wraps up 4-day South America tour

Reported by Ernest Aguilar

The RAW crew wrapped up a small tour in South America with four shows in Chile, Ecuador and Costa Rica which started on Wednesday and finished yesterday.
It will be two more months before the WWE Superstars and Divas pack their bags for another International tour as the next one is scheduled to start on April 13 and will go on to April 23.

The yearly WrestleMania Revenge tour in Europe will take them to England, Scotland, Wales, Germany, Ireland, Austria, Belgium, Romania, France and Turkey.

With higher ticket prices and usually jam-packed arenas, international tours bring in some serious money to WWE especially when adding all the merchandise sold at the events.