Updates On Mysterio's Whereabouts
By Daniel Pena
source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter
-- As reported earlier, Rey Mysterio recently missed a slew of WWE events for an undisclosed personal reason. He missed two weeks worth of shows from 2/17 to 3/1 due to his wife having issues with her third pregnancy.
Updated List Of Recent WWE Releases
By Daniel Pena
-- Here is the updated WWE cut list for 2009 following the recent wave of company departures:
WWE Future Endeavors Club (Class of '09)
Main Roster Departures
» Bam Neely
» D-Lo Brown
» Gavin Spears
» Hardcore Holly
» Manu
» Ron Simmons
» Scotty Goldman
» The Boogeyman
» Val Venis
Developmental Departures
» Hade Vansen
» Kevin Thorn
» Mike Kruel
Miscellaneous Departures
» Afa Anoa'i, Sr. (on company payroll)
» Freddie Prinze, Jr. (creative team writer)
» Jim Korderas (referee)
» John Carle (creative team writer)
» Kevin Keenan (referee)
» Matt Cappotelli (on company payroll)
» Mickie Henson (referee)
» Mike Posey (referee)
» Sgt. Slaughter (producer)
» Tim White (producer)
More On Recent TNA Departures, TNA Looking To Cut Costs
By Daniel Pena
source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter
-- Company revenue increased tremendously over the past year, largely due to running a regular schedule of live shows, more revenue from Spike as a result of Impact's first full year of two-hour programs, not to mention huge increases in merchandise sales. TNA appears to more recession proof than World Wrestling Entertainment because such a high percentage of the company's revenue is fixed revenue from Spike and less is from overseas where currency has greatly declined. However, the company is not immune from taking cost-cutting measures when necessary.
As noted earlier, the company chose not renew the contracts of veteran performers Sonjay Dutt, Petey Williams, Jimmy Rave and Lance Hoyt. Their departures from the company were partially as a result of budget cuts.
TNA has been looking to cut costs in other areas. Most notably, they've been running less pay-per-view events on the road as of late. While the company looks a whole lot more major league doing pay-per-views from arenas across the country with larger crowds as opposed to the former home of Nickelodeon GUTS and WCW WorldWide, it's simply much more cost effective to run events in Orlando in most cases.
For the most part, TNA has had trouble drawing solid crowds for pay-per-view events taken on the road. There have been countless reports of floor seats being available the weekend of a pay-per-view. Oftentimes, TNA papers the events days before the show, thus explaining why the buildings look packed come show time. For this past January's Genesis event in Charlotte, TNA ran a deal on Ticketmaster.com for fans to enter the code "STING" and receive up to four tickets for free.
In another cost cutting measure, officials stopped giving Monday off after road pay-per-view shows to save a day of costs.
Despite the cutbacks, they haven't been close to as severe as WWE.