WRESTLING NEWS 10 APRIL 2017

PIC COURTESY: SPORTSKEEDA

//->> NEWS FROM THE WRESTLING-ONLINE NEWSWIRE
Web version at http://www.wrestling-online.com/


> WWE FILES LAWSUIT AGAINST BITTORRENT USERS
- WWE, through its WWE Studios Finance company, has filed at 10-page lawsuit in the district of Connecticut against a group of 14 users who were distributing its newest movie Eliminators through the popular peer-to-peer software BitTorrent. All users identified live in the state of Connecticut, identified through the geolocation of IP addresses shared by the Internet Service Providers. WWE does not know the names of the defendants yet. “WWE believes that information obtained in discovery will lead to the identity of each Defendant and will allow WWE to amend this Complaint accordingly. WWE also intends to seek further discovery from the Defendants in order to determine the identity of the specific party responsible for the infringement,” the lawsuit reads. WWE is looking for defendants to be required to pay to WWE either the actual damages the WWE has sustained because of the infringement or else statutory damages in the amount of $150,000 per infringement. WWE is requesting a trial by jury. You can read the lawsuit at http://www.worldipreview.com/download?id=8444




> TWO-NIGHT SUPERSTAR SHAKE-UP KICKS OFF ON RAW TONIGHT
- The two-day Superstar Shake-up starts tonight on Monday Night Raw with all Superstars eligible to switch brands. The initiative was announced by WWE Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon last week on the Raw after Mania and both General Managers, Kurt Angle and Daniel Bryan, will be on hand to trade and make deals. The Superstar Shake-Up will not end tonight though, and things will continue shifting tomorrow night on Smackdown Live. It will be interesting to see if any champions will be trading places, especially the top two titles of each brand. The WWE Championship has been part of Smackdown since the draft while the WWE Universal title was created for Raw after it was left without a heavyweight champion. Many of the Raw crew will be on hand for Smackdown tomorrow, a rare occurrence these days. The current Universal champion, Brock Lesnar, is not advertised for tonight’s broadcast.




> LIVE RAW AND SMACKDOWN WITH JAPANESE COMMENTARY COMING TO JAPAN THIS WEEK
- WWE and DAZN today announced that Raw and SmackDown will be available live in Japan with Japanese commentary for the first time ever, beginning tomorrow at 9AM on DAZN. Fans will be able to live stream all three hours of Raw and two hours of SmackDown exclusively on DAZN. Raw will be available live every week on Tuesdays at 9AM, while SmackDown will be available live every week on Wednesdays at 9AM. Both shows will also be available via video on demand for DAZN customers. In addition, fans will soon be able to watch other WWE featured content and highlight shows on DAZN, including WWE Experience, WWE Bottomline, and WWE This Week. Fans can download the DAZN App and watch WWE content on Smart TVs, smartphones, tablets and gaming consoles, as well as via Chromecast on iOS and Android. “We’re really excited to add WWE to our portfolio in Japan,” said John Gleasure, Chief Commercial Officer of DAZN. “Raw and SmackDown complement and strengthen our overall international sport offering, plus the live and non-live content available for fans to watch works perfectly for our business model.” “Our new partnership with DAZN will enable WWE to engage with fans in Japan like never before,” said Ed Wells, WWE Executive Vice President, International. “DAZN will provide WWE fans with a destination to watch Raw and SmackDown live and in Japanese on the device of their choice and follow WWE Superstar Shinsuke Nakamura as he continues his WWE journey.” WWE joins DAZN’s strong portfolio of international sports which includes La Liga, Bundesliga, Major League Baseball, Formula One and UFC.




> RIC FLAIR KICKED OUT OF BAR AFTER INSULTING BARTENDER
- Ryan Satin of ProWrestlingSheet.com is reporting that two-time WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair had a little problem at a bar in Fort Wayne, Indiana last night and was kicked out for insulting one of the employees. The Nature Boy went to The Deck at the Gas House located at 305 E Superior St bar and grill and called one of the bartenders a “fat ass.” The choice of adjective used by Flair did not go down well with management and Flair was asked to leave the premises. According to eye witness accounts who posted on Twitter, Flair was in and out of the bar in less than five minutes. Wooooo!




> KOFI KINGSTON UNDERGOES ANKLE SURGERY
- Former WWE Raw Tag Team champion Kofi Kingston will be out of action for several weeks after undergoing ankle surgery. Kingston was written out of television on the Raw after Mania when The Revival attacked him and shattered his ankle. Kofi did not wrestle in that match and took the unusual role of the cheerleader when that spot is usually reserved for Xavier Woods. Speaking to WWE.COM, Dr. Chris Amann said that Kofi had fragments of bone break off the ankle bone, requiring arthroscopic surgery to remove the bone chips from the damaged joint.