W.W.E. No-Showing Georgia?

[TheOneBigWill]

The following article is from the The Atlanta Journal-Constitution:

Pro wrestling group threatens to leave Georgia
Group balks at regulations from state's boxing commission

World Wrestling Entertainment says it will pull out of the state if subjected to state regulation.

"If those regulation are applied to us, we won't do Georgia," WWE attorney Jerry McDevitt warned Monday afternoon.

The threat came on the eve of Tuesday morning's scheduled 11 a.m. meeting of the Georgia Athletic and Entertainment Commission in which the state governing body is expected to discuss abuses in professional wrestling.

The body, which is better known as the state boxing commission, regulates the state's boxing and mixed martial arts, as well as ticket brokers.

Professional wrestling also falls under the group's jurisdiction, but the WWE had been exempt thanks to a 2005 statute that excluded groups with total assets or more than $25 million. Only the state Legislature can undo the exemption.

"Almost every state knows, and has known for years, that wrestling is entertainment and not a sport," he said. "It's like Ice Capades."

Georgia Athletic and Entertainment Commission chairman Kelly Farr declined comment when reached at his office.

One of the board's commissioners, Atlanta-based attorney Cary Ichter, represents the father of deceased wrestler Chris Benoit, whose murder of his wife and son and subsequent suicide at their family home in Fayettville precipitated the series of events leading to this point.

Ichter, who has championed for the better care of wrestlers since the Benoit tragedy in late June, said he wasn't surprised to hear of the WWE's threat to pull out.

"What else would you expect a bully to say?" he said.

Tuesday's meeting of the boxing commission is expected to focus largely on small-time wrestling events and not the conglomerate that is the Connecticut-based WWE.

The commission is expected to take public comment before considering a number of amendments to its rules.

Ichter has said he would love to see the WWE's loophole eventually rescinded and have its performers subject to drug testing and other regulation just like participants from other sports in Georgia.

The WWE will be back in town next week when it hosts its "Raw Live" show at Phillips Arena on Dec. 28.

So, the main question is.. how much would it hurt the World Wrestling Entertainment as a whole, to no longer run any type of show in the state of Georgia, simply because they don't want their wrestlers drug tested?

Furthermore, whats that say about their Wellness Policy? To me, I think it shows that W.W.E. loop-holes its wrestlers in allowing specifics to slide by, & if an outside company drug tested the wrestlers, then it could screw up how W.W.E. does business, or perhaps hides test results from the public eye.

I think this is more bad news for the W.W.E. Inc, as it shows that they aren't willing to comply with state orders that other factions, such as Boxing, have to comply with.

Georgia was once the home of World Championship Wrestling (W.C.W.) & was a huge state to run many wrestling shows in. I think if W.W.E. pulled out, it would be at least a chip in their pocketbook. What is everyone else's opinion on this developing story? Discuss...

 

[.MCH]

Hmmm... this is interesting to say the least. Is WWE trying to take the safe road here??? I think they're really doing it because could you imagine if one of their top faces, etc was caught doing roids, etc? What would that say about WWE, since they don't babysit their stars and it doesn't seem that difficult to take them.

This will definitely make WWE look bad. They'll look like they allow anyone to step on in and do drugs and when the time comes for testing, they'll either cover up the real results or get everyone drug free when it's time.

WWE needs to reconsider if they want to keep their "good" name intact.

 

[atlmixboy]

^ agree with the above poster and not only that but Georgia especially Atlanta is one of the top wrestling cities in the country right after New York, Toronto, Chicago and Boston. It might not have as big an impact on WWE compared to them not running the above mention cities and their respective state or province but would still be a very huge loss for WWE as it is a major wrestling market.

 

[Shadowmancer]

Remember that this doesn't just effect the WWE. This effects Ring of Honor and TNA or any Pro Wrestling in Georgia. This is more a Money grab than anything. The Georgia Athletic and Entertainment Commission is doing this to cash in on the success that Pro Wrestling has. From what I remember South Carolina has something where a percentage of the sales go to the commission this is more than likely a money grab because of the popularity of Pro Wrestling in the Home State of WCW.

 

[chesswiz77]

First off, I think Cary Ichter should recuse himself from this. Having him represent Beniot's father as an attorney and then going after the WWE like this is a conflict of interest, imo.

Secondly, if WWE goes through with this it would hurt Georgia more than WWE. Hosting a WWE event helps the local economy, especially if it's a PPV. WWE hosted two PPVs in Ga. in the last year(Backlash and December 2 Dismember). And there has been talk in recent years of WWE eventually bringing WrestleMania to Atlanta, which is huge for both the WWE and the city hosting it. Look no further than what WM 23 did for Detriot.

So in the end it would be in the best interest of Georgia to stand by the 2005 exemption and move on. Besides with Congress looking to get involved with steriods in wrestling, there really isn't any reason for this to proceed other than Cary Ichter stroking his own ego!

 

[ACTAFOOL]

ya bad move by georgia IMO, sure WWE will lose some money if they pullout of georgia but it wouldnt be THAT BIG of a loss, we all know it, especially with WWE doing some latin america tours now, and with 3 seperate shows... they really dont need georgia, but georgia could use them, wrestling can bring in a lot of money, why make WWE pullout? its obvious they would do something like this, imagine if they had to suspend their top guys cuz of roids?

let the damn congress handle this and sit back and watch the money flow u idiots, they're just wasting time and money with this crap when congress is already going to do everything they can to fuck WWE up.. i really dont see the reason for this.. did any1?

though this did make WWE look worse, but we all know WWE isnt afraid to look bad if it saves them money lol

 

[Shocky]

This is a horrible move on the WWE's part. Here you are, 6 months removed from the darkest day the business has ever seen, and they are still ducking and avoiding the problems of that date.

It's another bad PR blow for a company that doesn't need any more negative press. What this does is set a precedent, a bad precedent the company doesn't need. Georgia and Atlanta have supported wrestling for many years, and by the WWE avoiding going there to avoid state governed drug testing and regulations is a cowardly move.

Oregon already does this, and Kentucky has essentially banned the WWE for the blading incidents at Backlash 2006 (In Kentucky if someone bleeds, a match is legally supposed to be stopped). If the WWE boycotts Georgia, and the WWE insist its Wellness Program is legit, then why boycott? Other states will see that they have something to hide, and they will impose similar sanctions.

Like it or not, this Steroid issue isn't going to go away. It's still just catching fire. How much could it possibly hurt a state for pretty much banning a traveling circus that may perform within said state 5 times a year? If the WWE wants to play Russian Roulette, let them, their arrogance is going to end up costing them big.