- Kmart today issued a press release announcing a partnership with WWE for a
multi-channel entertainment marketing promotion supporting WrestleMania 25.
Kmart stores across the country will feature a front-end product boutique
from March 8 - 21 showcasing the best in WWE licensed products including
apparel, toys, bedding, entertainment and gaming accessories. In addition,
Kmart will offer true value to customers with a Cash Cable promotion
launching March 8 and running through April 5. Consumers who purchase $50 or
more in WWE merchandise available in Kmart stores will receive $10 off their
25th Anniversary of WrestleMania pay-per-view buy. "Kmart has been a
fantastic retail partner for WWE. This partnership offers WWE fans one more
way to purchase merchandise commemorating this historical WWE event," stated
Michelle D. Wilson, EVP, Marketing, World Wrestling Entertainment. "Kmart is
a valued partner whose participation will help make the 25th Anniversary of
WrestleMania an even bigger success."
- Cue the evil laugh. "I'm The Boogeyman and I'm not comin' to get'cha
anymore!" WWE has released Marty Wright, otherwise known as The Boogeyman.
Wright had his tryout for the fourth season of Tough Enough however he was
cut from the competition after he admitted that he was 40 years old, five
years older than the age limit needed to participate in the show. WWE hired
him anyways after he was disqualified and he was sent to Ohio Valley
Wrestling. In October 2005 he made his first appearance on Smackdown! He was
released in mid 2006 but was hired again later in the year returning to
Smackdown! In 2007 he moved to ECW but hasn't been used on television much
since then.
- In an interview with the Sporting News Today, Ohio State linebacker
James Laurinaitis, son of Road Warrior Animal, said if he wasn't playing football
he would probably be in the WWE: "There's nothing like the family business. My dad
was part of arguably the most famous tag-team duo of all time, and my uncle is a
senior VP there now. I'm not sure if I'd be into the tights, and I'd have to think
about a great name, but I think that I possess the athleticism and personality to
have some fun with it."
After a long battle with cancer, Yvon ‘the Beast’ Cormier passed away this
morning. Cormier, who was 70, had been one of four brothers who entered the professional
wrestling business, along with Leo Burker, and Rudy and Bobby Kay.
- Today in wrestling history:
* 1974 - Crowbar (Devon Storm) was born
* 1984 - Wahoo McDaniel & Mark Youngblood defeated Don Kernodle & Bob
Orton, Jr. for the NWA tag titles
* 1986 - Tully Blanchard defeated Dusty Rhodes for the Georgia
Heavyweight title
* 1991 - Tatsumi Fujinami defeated Big Van Vader for the IWGP
Heavyweight title
* 1996 - Jerry Lawler defeated Mabel for the USWA title
* 1996 - Doug Gilbert & Tommy Rich defeated PG-13 for the USWA tag
titles
* 2000 - Mika Awesome & Raven defeated Masato Tanaka & Tommy Dreamer for
the ECW tag titles
