WWE News (Page 2)

The Associated Press released the following statement this morning:

STAMFORD, Conn. - World Wrestling Entertainment Inc., a promoter of wrestling events and other entertainment, said Tuesday its first-quarter profit rose 29 percent, helped by WrestleMania XXIV.

For the period ended March, 31, earnings grew to $19.5 million, or 27 cents per share, compared with $15.1 million, or 21 cents per share, meeting the expectations of analysts polled by Thomson Financial.

Quarterly revenue soared 51 percent to $162.6 million from $107.4 million. Analysts predicted sales of $131 million. The company said WrestleMania XXIV contributed $4.6 million to its profit and about $31.3 million to revenue.

Live and televised entertainment revenue jumped to $99.8 million from $63 million, while consumer-products revenue increased to $43.4 million from $37.4 million. Revenue from digital media climbed to $8.1 million from $7 million, while the WWE Films segment added $11.3 million to sales.

Shares of World Wrestling Entertainment gained 20 cents to $18.57 in premarket trading. The stock closed at $18.37 Monday.

Santino Marella is a morn. The former WWE Intercontinental Champion was arrested at 2:57 a.m. in Tampa, Florida on suspicion of DUI.

According to celebrity gossip site TMZ, Marella was pulled over after cops witnessed his car drifting back and forth.

The wrestler failed two field sobriety tests, including one in which he couldn't hold his balance. He told officers he started drinking at midnight, and had three Miller Lights and one Kamikaze.

Marella was released a few hours ago on $500 bail. Ex-girlfriend Maria Kanellis must be psyched she got out of that relationship.

Smackdown head writer and WWE creative team member Michael Hayes has been suspended from the company for 60 days. The punishment follows an incident that took place in Orlando during Wrestlemania weekend.

Hayes allegedly used racist language towards SmackDown star Mark Henry.

During a party, reports say Hayes had been drinking when he approached The World's Strongest Man. Hayes told Henry, "I'm more of a n----- than you are."

After a physical altercation between the two, Henry reported the issue to either Vince or Stephanie McMahon and the suspension was given out.

SOURCE: PWInsider.com

Talk going around backstage at tonight's WWE Raw taping in London is that company plans on holding a "King of the Ring" tournament on next week's three-hour Raw show.

If this takes place, that the entire tournament will take place over the course of the show. It will likely be an eight-man tournament.

Is this a good idea? Chime in now on our FORUM!

This is lame.

On last night ECW, WWE ran a sketch inviting Democratic presidential candidates Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton to settle their differences in the ring on the April 21st three-hour edition of Monday Night RAW.

WWE said, "Forget about who is better when the phone rings at 3am and see who is better when the bell rings!"

Expect this to be similar to WWE's rendition of Donald Trump vs. Rosie O'Donnell a couple years back, which was one of the stupider segments in WWE history.

Triple H, John Cena, Chris Jericho and The Rock are all scheduled to appear on the American Idol “Idol Gives Back” special tonight on FOX.

Whether or not you're a fan of the show, this is the charitable effort that raised over $75 million last year. It's a great cause. We encourage everyone to tune in for a bit and make a donation.

Andrew "Test" Martin was arrested yesterday morning in Florida on charges of DUI and driving without a license.

According to the police report, the former WWE and TNA wrestler was pulled over by an off-duty police officer after she spotted a "reckless vehicle." A Florida Highway Patrol trooper responded and pulled him over.

Martin was arrested on charges of DUI and driving while his license was suspended or revoked. He was taken to jail after refusing to submit to a urine test.

"The defendant was constantly falling asleep in my vehicle," the trooper wrote. He was released later that evening after posting $500 bail.

Thanks to a fan and a camera, here are a cool few shots from last weekend's Wrestlemania XXIV...

Shawn Michaels ended the career of Ric Flair.

Floyd Mayweather defeated The Big Show.

WWE Judgment Day airs live on Sunday night, May 18. Here's an early look at the poster, featuring Triple H, for the pay-per-view:

In a story that's been picked up by news outlets such as CNN and FOX News, dozens of WWE fans were injured at WrestleMania 24 last night when fireworks and cables fell on the crowd.

According to reports, more than 40 people in attendance were injured. One fan, Barbara Vetere, had the following to say about the incident: "It felt like a whip. I have a welt on my neck. Like a baseball bat hit me. It was horrible. Horrible."

The pyrotechnics malfunction reportedly took place at the end of the night following the Edge vs. Undertaker main event. There were no serious injuries, fortunately.