Connor Michalek is WWE's first ever Warrior Award Recipient

Connor Michalek, a Pittsburgh native and passionate WWE fan who passed away last year from cancer, will be the first-ever recipient of The Warrior Award, which will be presented each year at the WWE Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. The Warrior Award will be given to someone who has exhibited unwavering strength and perseverance, and who lives life with the courage and compassion that embodies the indomitable spirit of WWE Hall of Famer, The Ultimate Warrior. This year, the award will be presented by The Ultimate Warrior’s widow, Dana Warrior, and WWE Superstar Daniel Bryan™ to Steve Michalek, Connor’s father.

With the love of his family and WWE Superstars as well as the tremendous care by Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, Connor battled cancer like a true warrior for as long as he could, and his charisma made him a local celebrity in Pittsburgh. Connor’s spirit inspired WWE Chief Brand Officer Stephanie McMahon and WWE Executive Vice President of Talent, Live Events & Creative, Paul “Triple H” Levesque to launch “Connor’s Cure,” a fund dedicated to furthering Pediatric cancer research. Donations can be made by visiting  www.givetochildrens.org/CONNORSCURE.

“On behalf of my family, we are truly humbled and honored that WWE will present an award in my husband’s name each year at the WWE Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony,” said Dana Warrior. “Connor displayed all of the positive traits that Warrior stood for, and he is the perfect recipient for this inaugural award. I am sure that Warrior is smiling today, knowing that this award is being given to a true warrior.”

“My family is forever grateful for the gift that WWE, its Superstars, Divas and executives gave to Connor,” said Steve Michalek. “They made him smile and encouraged him to continue fighting. His visits backstage, and his time in the ring with Daniel Bryan, brought Connor true joy and undoubtedly extended his life, giving us more time with him. Now, with this award and Connor’s Cure, Connor’s legacy will live on.”

"Connor Michalek had a profound impact on so many people,” said Stephanie McMahon, WWE Chief Brand Officer. "His spirit and love of life were so strong, you would have never known he was sick. I can think of no better way to honor Connor, than by recognizing him with our highest honor, the first fan to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, as a Warrior.”

The WWE Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will air live on Saturday, March 28 on WWE Network at 8 p.m. ET. USA Network will broadcast a one-hour special highlighting the ceremony on Monday, March 30, immediately following Monday Night Raw®.

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Jon Stewart on @WWE Raw

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Black History Month: WWE @TitusONeilWWE Reflects

Black History Month is upon us and many use this time to honor African Americans for their contributions to American culture. I support Black History Month in its concerted effort to spotlight African Americans and their many significant accomplishments, however, while some might solely recognize Black history in February, our history is celebrated every day in my home.

My goal is to use African American history to help instill pride in my children, but to also celebrate diversity without perpetuating a divide. Our culture’s remarkable, rich and vibrant stories are crucial to America’s development and balance. My hope is that one day America will not need a designated month to focus on African-Americans’ place in history. Instead, our history will be taught as one with all of American history.

I take the responsibility of sharing with my sons the struggles, triumphs and feats of their fellow African Americans year-round. I recently took my two sons to watch Selma, a movie about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s campaign to secure equal voting rights and the historic marches from Selma to Montgomery. At the ages of 10 and 8, my sons have also seen Amistad, 42: The Jackie Robinson Story, Ali and other movies that address Black history. I expose them to literature, music and history in all forms so that they can see the beauty and strength of their culture’s background.

I am grateful that, personally and professionally, I have had the opportunity to impact people of all races and show them that hard work and dedication can produce greatness. I strive to be an example of how someone can overcome a challenging childhood and succeed regardless of obstacles or negative environments. Teaching our youth how to stay true to their values, embrace diversity and recognize their own gifts is vital to helping future generations achieve and promote racial equality. By using these measures in my early years, I was able to attain a confident mindset and not be afraid to accept help from outside their community.

I have had the privilege of serving as an Ambassador for WWE’s community and outreach initiatives in the U.S. and around the world. As an Ambassador, I’ve been a part of WWE’s campaign to promote literacy as well as its anti-bullying program, Be a STAR (Show Tolerance And Respect). I have also had the honor of being featured in the Ad Council and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Fatherhood campaign that encourage dads to recognize their critical role and give them the tools to help get more involved.

I recognize that I have become a role model to many during my time with the WWE. I, too, have role models who I look up to and who have deeply impacted my life. I have enjoyed learning about the past efforts of our global humanitarian leaders, like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Muhammad Ali and Reverend Jesse Jackson. They are legendary contributors to American history. Recently, I was honored as the 2014 Rainbow Push Coalition’s Humanitarian Awardee. This is of great relevance to me and a momentous blessing. Reverend Jesse Jackson’s Rainbow PUSH Coalition is dedicated to social equality, reading programs and job placement for our youth. It provides a vast array of beneficial programs to promote African Americans’ success and positive race relations. This is a distinction also given to Muhammad Ali, Maya Angelou and Jackie Robinson. Since being given that award, I have become friends with Rev. Jackson, a key figure of the Civil Rights Movement, who worked alongside Dr. King and many other courageous leaders. It was an indescribable moment, and it deepened my connection and appreciation for our culture’s history. That appreciation is something I hope to pass down to my children and the children I hope to inspire.



My greatest hope is that my words and actions help future generations see the light in themselves, regardless of their background, current circumstances or race. When I step into the ring for WWE, my purpose is to entertain and inspire everyone. I want children and adults to see me as an entertainer, one that they enjoy booing or cheering, based on my talents as a performer and not the color of my skin. Dreams can be accomplished by anyone with the courage to follow them. I do my best to inspire everyone to “reach for the moon because if they fail, they’ll land on the stars.”

America is one of the most diverse countries in the world, a true melting pot. People from all races, ethnicities, religions and beliefs made this country what it is today. The more educated we are about our people and cultures, the more understanding we possess and the more aware we are of how to improve ourselves. We must remember that “we were all humans until race disconnected us, religion separated us, politics divided us and wealth classified us.” Let’s use our differences to teach instead of divide. Let’s remember that we all share history as humans. So, in honor of Black History Month, this human will end this blog by saying it loud: “I am Black, and I am proud!”


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Black History Month: @WWE Star @AliciaFoxy Reflects

Black History Month is a time to celebrate freedom and the differences in individuals. There are moments of bravery to celebrate all year, however, during February we acknowledge the strength of great thinkers who inspired change in America. For me, those leaders cross the racial divide. It is not about being black or white. Leaders that include Maya Angelou, Martin Luther King, Jr., John F. Kennedy and Abraham Lincoln, have taught us that the freedom of speech, the freedom to love, and the freedom to be you is a right, and it is a beautiful thing that we are able to share these freedoms with one another.

The power of communication is part of these freedoms today; everyone can give their thoughts and words to the world through technology. The younger generation can especially benefit from conveying their opinions and thoughts on a global scale. They can connect and share information with each other and change the world. Connecting on a global scale encourages a young mind to explore different cultures and perspectives. I’ve met so many intelligent children who are interested in exploring possibilities and benefit from working together. No one has time for racial discrimination.

These great leaders, as well as my own mother, have inspired me and molded my life. I’ve been taught that my words have power, and that if I believe in myself and my abilities, I can inspire others to believe in themselves. The great leaders I mentioned inspire me to use my words as tools to improve the world. There’s never a time to stop learning, because there’s never time to stop dreaming or striving to achieve lifelong goals. The secret is to respect yourself, embrace the person you are, and be proud! Many legends before believed in a future with endless opportunities, so they fought for us, in order to build a tomorrow.
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Arnold Schwarzenegger to be Inducted into WWE Hall of Fame

WWE announced today that pop-culture icon Arnold Schwarzenegger will be inducted into the celebrity wing of the WWE Hall of Fame at a ceremony to be held on Saturday, March 28 at SAP Center in San Jose, CA as part ofWrestleMania® Week.

Former Governor of California from 2003-2011 and the star of such blockbuster films as Predator, True Lies, Kindergarten Cop and the wildly successful Terminator franchise, Schwarzenegger is a longtime WWE fan dating back to the 1970s, appearing at many Monday Night Raw® and SmackDown® events through the years. A seven-time Mr. Olympia winner, he is the founder of the Arnold Schwarzenegger Sports Festival, the world’s largest annual sports weekend, which hosts 200,000 attendees and more than 18,000 of theworld's top athletes. He also appeared at the 2013 WWE Hall of Fame Ceremony at Madison Square Garden, inducting his friend Bruno Sammartino. Most recently, Schwarzenegger guest starred on the March 24, 2014 episode of Monday Night Raw opposite WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan® and WWE Superstar The Miz®. Schwarzenegger's decades-long health and fitness crusade is a perfect fit with WWE.

“We are honored to induct Arnold Schwarzenegger into the WWE Hall of Fame,” said WWE Executive Vice President of Talent, Live Events and Creative, Paul “Triple H” Levesque. “His larger-than-life on- and off-screen presence translated perfectly into the world of WWE, resulting in many memorable moments.”

Tickets for the 2015 WWE Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at SAP Center are currently available through www.ticketmaster.com or by calling 1-800-745-3000. All tickets are subject to service charges and facility fees.

WrestleMania 31 takes place at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, CA Sunday, March 29 at 7pm ET live on WWE Network and pay-per-view.


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WWE Superstars and Divas see Thursday!

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SMACKDOWN® MOVES TO THURSDAY NIGHT

The show that averages 3.1 million viewers on Friday nights and beats all Friday primetime viewing on any cable network is moving to Thursday nights on Syfy beginning January 15th at 8pm ET. With more than 800 original episodes, SmackDown is the second longest-running weekly episodic program in U.S. television history, only behind WWE’s other flagship program, Monday Night Raw®.

"Quite simply, more young men watch television on Thursday night than on Fridays,” said Michael Engleman, Executive Vice President, Marketing, Digital and Global Brand Strategy, Syfy. “Among Men 18-49, PUTS are 15 percent higher compared to Fridays, expanding the potential audience for SmackDown. Since the majority of broadcast programming skews female, we're also using Thursday nights to counter program."

“WWE’s sizable and passionate fan base make SmackDown the #1 entertainment show on Syfy and the most-watched, regularly-scheduled program among key demographics on the network,” said Michelle Wilson, Chief Revenue and Marketing Officer, WWE. “We look forward to bringing the WWE audience to Thursday nights on Syfy.”

Over the past 15 years, SmackDown has been broadcast from 170 different venues, in 148 cities and towns, in seven different countries including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Iraq, Japan, Italy and Mexico. The name SmackDown came from WWE Superstar Dwayne “The Rock®” Johnson’s popular catchphrase, “Lay the Smackdown®.”


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WWE's Holiday Special Tribute to the Troops #dadchat

Multi-platinum recording artists and two-time CMA Vocal Duo of the Year winners, Florida Georgia Line will join WWE Superstars and Divas to honor the United States Armed Forces with the 12^th annual WWE holiday special, Tribute to the Troops, which will air on USA Network as a part of “WWE WEEK” on Wednesday, December 17, from 8-10pm ET, and will re-air as a one-hour special on NBC onSaturday, December 27, from 8-9pm ET.

In the tradition of Bob Hope, WWE brings together the best of entertainment and pop culture with celebrity appearances and performances for our servicemen and women to celebrate their dedication and commitment to our country with a holiday program that is considered one of television’s most patriotic and heartwarming shows. NBCUniversal joins WWE in saluting our troops with special messages from some of their networks’ biggest names such as TODAY anchors Matt Lauer, Savannah Guthrie, Natalie Morales, and Al Roker, Seth Meyers, The Kardashians, Andy Cohen, Giuliana Rancic, Katherine Heigl, Lester Holt, Padma Lakshmi, Mark Feuerstein, Debra Messing, Tom Brokaw, Rachel Maddow and Carson Daly, as well as the coaches of The Voice, Pharrell Williams, Gwen Stefani, Adam Levine and Blake Shelton.

“For 12 consecutive years, WWE has been entertaining American military personnel both overseas and domestically as a way to thank them for their commitment to our country,” said WWE Chairman & CEO, Vince McMahon. “Our servicemen and women work tirelessly for our freedom and we are proud to continue our Tribute to the Troops tradition.”

WWE Tribute to the Troops will chronicle WWE’s visit to United States Army post Fort Benning, where WWE Superstars and Divas will spend two days giving back to those who serve and their families with hospital visits and Be a STAR anti-bullying rallies. Fort Benning supports more than 120,000 active-duty military, family members, reserve soldiers, retirees, and civilian employees and has been the home of the Infantry division since 1918.

The television special will also highlight WWE’s annual goodwill visit to our troops who are fighting for our freedom overseas. WWE Chairman & CEO Vince McMahon, WWE Superstars Big Show^® and R-Truth^® and WWE Divas Summer Rae™ and Alicia Fox™ will travel abroad to spread some holiday cheer to the men and women serving our country far from home during the holiday season.

WWE’s dedication to the military is a long-standing tradition that continues year-round, through programs that boost morale for soldiers, offer free tickets for active servicemen and women, and provide workforce assistance for veterans through a partnership with Hire Heroes USA.

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Hoda Kotb, Kathie Lee Gifford and Joan Lunden on Raw!

The lively, funny and entertaining co-stars of NBC TODAY’s fourth hour are putting down their wine glasses and joining WWE® as guest stars on MondayNight Raw® on October 6 at 8PM ET/7PM CT on USA Network.

Kotb, who is a seven-year breast cancer survivor, and Gifford will join WWE for its third consecutive year supporting Susan G. Komen and National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Before Kotb and Gifford rule the ring, WWE Superstar John Cena® will make a guest appearance on the TODAY show in the iconic fourth hour segment to give them a pep talk to prepare for the show.

Additionally, journalist, Joan Lunden, who was recently diagnosed with breast cancer, will sit ringside as a special guest along with other breast cancer survivors. As TODAY’s special #PinkPower correspondent for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Lunden is celebrating survivors, supporting those currently battling cancer and remembering those we have lost. Lunden was also featured on the cover of last week’s People Magazine talking about her personal fight against breast cancer.

“We’ve been wrestling every day at 10AM in our own ring for the past seven years, and it gets down and dirty. So bring it on!” said Kotb and Gifford.

“WWE is thrilled to have Kathie Lee Gifford, Hoda Kotb and Joan Lunden join Monday Night Raw to help shine a light on the battle against breast cancer,” said Stephanie McMahon, Chief Brand Officer, WWE. “These women continue to be a voice for the millions that are affected by this devastating disease. We are honored to have their support in raising awareness and funds to continue the fight.”

For the month of October, the WWE Superstars and Divas will wear co-branded Komen and WWE apparel and all WWE platforms will “go pink.” The “Courage Conquer Cure” campaign will continue throughout National Breast Cancer Awareness month, and WWE will donate to Komen 20 percent of the retail sales price of all co-branded merchandise sold on WWEShop.com and at WWE live events, as well as 5 percent of all other WWE merchandise sold on WWEShop.com. For the first time, fans will have the option of donating $1, $5 or $10 upon checkout from WWEShop.com with all proceeds benefiting Komen.

Monday Night Raw is the most-watched, regularly scheduled, year-round program on cable, airing live every Monday night, 52 weeks a year on USA Network.

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New World Wrestling Federation Figurines Are So Lifelike!

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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