WWE News: 2013 WWE Studios movie releases; Wrestling and movie connection; Dwayne Johnson thoughts

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WWE News: 2013 WWE Studios movie releases; Wrestling and movie connection; Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson thoughts...

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2013 WWE Studios movie releases; Wrestling and movie connection; Dwayne Johnson thoughts...

WWE Studios has released the full line-up of their 2013 movie releases, some of which will be theatrical releases and others will be straight-to-DVD.

If the last few years of WWE Studios flicks are anything to go by, it will be a mixed bag, but the good news is that there should be one or two gems and pleasant surprises in there... not just B and C grade stuff. Wrestling fans... you got to wonder what it would take for 'The Rock' to sign up to Vince McMahon's WWE Studios - even for 1 or 2 films. Maybe the answer is more money than McMahon is currently willing to offer 'The Great One'. Speaking of The Rock, be sure to check out 'The Hero' when it finally hits television. Time will tell if it finally makes it to Rupert Murdoch influenced Foxtel, but it stands to reason if the public let Foxtel know they want more of 'The Rock', it may help achieve the positive result that fans are looking for.

The following is the 2013 WWE Studios movie schedule:

- "No One Lives" (Jan. 2013): WWE star in supporting role is Brodus Clay. - "Dead Man Down": WWE star in supporting role is Wade Barrett. - "Marine 3: Homefront": WWE star in the leading role is The Miz. - "12 Rounds 2: Reloaded": WWE star in the leading role is Randy Orton. - "The Hive": WWE star in a supporting role is David Otunga, plus Halle Berry in a leading role. - "Leprechaun: Origins": WWE star in the leading role is Hornswoggle. - 2014: Scooby-Doo themed movie when "Scooby Do and the Gang go to WrestleMania."

Keep checking the WWE Studios Facebook and Media Man network www.mediamanint.com for updates.


WWE Title reigns...

Wrestler - days holding title * Diesel - 358 * Hulk Hogan - 364 * Randy Savage - 371 * CM Punk – 372 * John Cena - 380 * Pedro Morales – 1,027 * Bruno Sammartino – 1,237 * Hulk Hogan – 1,474 * Bob Backlund – 2,135 * Bruno Sammartino – 2,809


Pro Wrestling legendary announcer Jim Ross Blogs On Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins And Roman Reigns...

Jim Ross posted his latest blog at www.JRSBBQ.com and discussed Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns appearing on RAW tonight. Here is what he wrote about the NXT talents:

Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns on RAW tonight: "Apparently the three men in black, Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins, and Roman Reigns will be interviewed by @MichaelCole tonight on Raw. I hope that we get some revealing info but not too much as I feel these three can be significant contributors on RAW but I also feel that this info needs to come over time especially with WWE doing tons of episodic TV. As a fan, I don't need every question answered tonight and, hopefully, their comments will elict even more interest/questions.

"Count on this...no matter what the three, NXT talents have to say, it will be dissected and thoroughly analyzed. In today's social media crazed, info heavy world of sports entertainment, everything is under a microscope and there are more 'experts' sounding off than ever before. Don't take that as a knock and if you do... Lighten Up Francis."

Dean Ambrose: "Ambrose has a little Roddy Piper and Brian Pillman traits in him or so it seems to me. His FCW/NXT bout a few months ago with @RealKingRegal was stellar. I called it with Dusty Rhodes and we had a blast. Ambrose is a blue chip stock and is arguably the most 'unpredictable' of the three. Perhaps 'complex' is an adequate word to describe Ambrose at this point in time."

Seth Rollins: "Rollins reminds me of @CMPunk in some areas of Rollins' game or at least the formative CM Punk of a few years ago. I perceive that as a good thing. Rollins is an Iowa kid who has a sound, skill set, confidence, toughness and is the current NXT Champion. He has a natural swagger and wrestles with a chip on his shoulder which I embrace."

Roman Reigns: "Reigns is a former Georgia Tech nose tackle and has reshaped his body from 300+ to 260ish and is of Samoan decent, father is WWE HOFer Sika, and at times has reminded me of @TheRock when I first inked 'The Great One' to his WWE contract. In that I mean the obvious heritage matter but also the physical frame, intellect, and overall, natural athleticism. We can only hope that Roman Reigns can approach The Rock's accomplishments inside the squared circle some day. Only time will tell if that lofty goal can be reached but Reigns can be special. Watch someone interpret what I just said as being that JR is predicting Roman to be the next Rock. Hey, I wish."

Much more info at Ross' latest blog http://www.jrsbarbq.com including who he'd like to see inducted in the 2013 Hall of Fame, RAW and more on Reigns, Ambrose and Rollins.


WWE 'The Shield' speaks on record...

"It's not about benefitting Punk. It's about right and wrong. CM Punk, the WWE champion, was forced to defend his title in a triple threat match against two guys he had already defeated. That's wrong. So we stepped in. If it had been Ryback or Cena, we would have done the same thing. If Ryback was champion for 365 days and Punk tried to ruin his party, we would have intervened on Ryback's behalf. 365 days as champion in this era, that's a huge milestone. That should be celebrated, right?"

"Look Cole, we see where you're getting at. We hear everything you guys are saying, we read everything that's being written, okay? We know what you guys are thinking. But we're not renegades, we're not mercanaries, we're not the Nexus; if you're looking for the nWo, go buy the DVD. We're about principles. We're about honor. Where honor no long exists, we're going to step in. It's like he said, we're a shield from injustice. We're a shield from injustice. ... We are The Shield."


*Special thank you to WWE, Pro Wrestling Torch, Wrestling Inc, Jim Ross and Google News for assistance and references in compiling this news report.

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Universal Records and Island Records performing artists at Blue Beat club, Double Bay, Sydney - 27th November 2012

Universal Records and Island Records performing artists at Blue Beat club, Double Bay, Sydney, Australia...

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A number of well known Sydney based celebrities braved the rain tonight to appear at the popular and luxurious Blue Beat nightclub at posh Double Bay.

Celebs in attendance included Hilltop Hoods, Boy and Bear, Brian McFadden, Tim Hart and Ricki-Lee, but no international celebs despite earlier media rumours tipping otherwise.

The bar was busy so we're guessing the club made a tidy profit tonight.

Well done to Universal Records, Island Records and Blue Beat for putting on a good night, and here's to more international celebrities next time... wet weather or not.

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WWE News: CM Punk passes “Macho Man” Randy Savage WWE Title reign

Wrestling News Media: CM Punk passes "Macho Man" Randy Savage WWE Title reign; Pro Wrestling legend news update; The Shield, new WWE faction; Sports Entertainment news...

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CM Punk passes "Macho Man" Randy Savage WWE Title reign...

On Nov. 20, 2011, CM Punk emerged with his hands raised in victory after a hard-fought Survivor Series battle against Alberto Del Rio. That match, which was contested with the WWE Championship on the line, marked day one of what would become one of WWE’s most memorable and controversial title reigns. Now, 372 days later, The Voice of the Voiceless remains at the top of the mountain.

Since that Sunday night more than one year ago, Punk has successfully defended his title against all comers, most recently escaping Ryback and John Cena in a Triple Threat WWE Title Match at 2012’s Survivor Series.

Sunday, Nov. 25, marked the 371st day of The Second City Saint’s Championship reign. For the old-school stat hounds out there, that number should ring a bell — a historic one, in fact. From March 27, 1988, to April 2, 1989, “Macho Man” Randy Savage held the highest prize in all of WWE, claiming the title for exactly 371 days. It’s a number that becomes even more meaningful as CM Punk reaches day No. 372 today.

Punk, a noted Savage fan, has paid tribute to the late, great “Macho Man” many times over the past year, from striking a familiar pose on the top rope before nailing an opponent with an elbow drop, to donning pink tights in tribute to the WWE icon.

Today, as Punk passes Savage, The Second City Saint becomes the second-longest reigning titleholder in the past 25 years, behind only John Cena. While “Macho Man’s” legacy as one of the most beloved Superstars of all time is already etched in stone, Punk’s legacy is still being written and only time will tell when this particular chapter will close on the WWE Champion.


WWE Title reigns...

Wrestler - days holding title * Diesel - 358 * Hulk Hogan - 364 * Randy Savage - 371 * CM Punk – 372 * John Cena - 380 * Pedro Morales – 1,027 * Bruno Sammartino – 1,237 * Hulk Hogan – 1,474 * Bob Backlund – 2,135 * Bruno Sammartino – 2,809


CM Punk bio...

It’s not surprising that CM Punk cites the radical “Rowdy” Roddy Piper as a childhood influence. After all, Punk is the embodiment of the anti-establishment, whose skill at igniting verbal “pipe bombs” is rivaled only by “Hot Rod” himself.

Punk even looks the part of rebel with his too-numerous-to-count tattoos and body piercings. Yet, he waxes way more philosophical than his exterior might suggest, and has shown a diverse set of interests that include ghost hunting, G.I. Joe and the “Straight Edge” movement, a subculture that rejects the use of drugs, alcohol and a dependency lifestyle.

His in-ring repertoire is an assimilation of fighting styles, all of which were put on full display during his debut in The Land of the Extreme in 2006. Since then, Punk has added many accomplishments to his considerable résumé, including the ECW, WWE, World Heavyweight, World Tag Team and Intercontinental Championships.

Today, Punk is headlining pay-per-views — and he’s doing so in spite of the events of 2011, when he assailed Mr. McMahon with his blunt opinions about the business and made a bold promise not to renew his contract with the company. Punk’s criticism struck a nerve with The Chairman who, against his better judgment, granted The Second City Saint a WWE Championship Match at WWE Money in the Bank in the Superstar’s native city, Chicago. Punk not only beat John Cena to win that match, but he also absconded with the WWE Championship as the seconds on his WWE contract ticked down.

Fortunately for WWE fans everywhere, Punk agreed to re-sign with WWE weeks later, compelled to return to the ring to prove that he’s the undisputed “Best in the World.” The Voice of the Voiceless advocated on behalf of disenchanted WWE fans who felt the WWE product was in need of a good (roundhouse) kick in the teeth. He became two-time WWE Champion, proving his mettle by defeating the likes of Chris Jericho, Alberto Del Rio, Daniel Bryan and other elite Superstars.

At Raw’s historic 1,000th episode, CM Punk retained the WWE Championship against John Cena, but refused to save his opponent from an attack by Big Show. Instead, The Rock ran to ringside to save Cena, with the champion slowly retreating to the backstage area. But as soon as The Great One was about to deliver a colossal People’s Elbow to a fallen Show, Punk returned and nailed The Brahma Bull with a clothesline and Go to Sleep.

Following his indelible impact at Raw 1,000, a bitter Punk made it known he felt slighted by the WWE Universe as well as his peers in the locker room, including John Cena. Punk found an ally on his mission for respect in Paul Heyman, the founder of the original ECW who is credited with jump-starting The Second City Saint’s WWE career back in 2006. When asked about the nature of his new association with Heyman, Punk’s reply echoed one of the most quoted portions of his infamous first “pipe bomb” in July 2011: “I’m a Paul Heyman guy.”

The Straight Edge Superstar then defended the WWE Title against not one, but two worthy challengers at Survivor Series 2012. Per Mr. McMahon, Punk competed against both Cena and Ryback at WWE’s fall classic. With Punk’s defeat to Cena on the Nov. 12, 2012, edition of Raw, and with Ryback as ravenous as ever, it appeared as though Punk’s impressive WWE Championship reign was in peril like never before. But after a vicious assault onto Ryback by WWE NXT standouts Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns, Punk once again managed to sneak a pin on John Cena to retain his prize. Whether or not Punk and Heyman orchestrated the attack was ultimately irrelevant. The fact remained that the victory allowed the champion to enter day 365 of his title reign, a distinction that would be celebrated in grandiose fashion on Raw the following night. As Ryback attempted to crash Punk’s party, the WWE NXT rogues once again leveled the juggernaut. What’s their connection, if any, to the WWE Champion?

Love him or loathe him, Punk ranks himself high among WWE’s most iconic Superstars ... and the calculating ring general isn’t planning on loosening his grip on the illustrious WWE Title anytime soon.


Randy "Macho Man" Savage bio...

Few Superstars were as dynamic as "Macho Man" Randy Savage. His style — perfectly punctuated by his entrance music, "Pomp and Circumstance" — was only outshined by his performances in the ring, which led him to two WWE Championships, four WCW World Championships and a 14-month reign as Intercontinental Champion.

Born Randy Poffo, son of wrestling Legend, Angelo Poffo, Macho Man almost chose Major League Baseball over World Wrestling Entertainment. Poffo was signed by the St. Louis Cardinals as a catcher upon graduating high school. After years developing in the minor leagues, a home plate collision causes an injury to his throwing arm, ending his baseball career.

Following in his father’s footsteps, Randy Poffo debuted as a wrestler in 1973 as a character named “The Spider” who looked like Spider-Man. This was prophetic as Randy Savage scored a role as wrestler “Bone Saw” McGraw in the 2002 motion picture, Spider-Man. It wasn’t until Georgia Championship Wrestling matchmaker; Ole Anderson told Poffo that his name didn’t resemble his savage wrestling style that the name Randy Savage became known to fans.

Joining WWE in June of 1985, Macho Man's impact was such that his services were in demand by the various managers in WWE at that time. But Savage introduced a young woman named Elizabeth to accompany him to the ring and manage him. With the First Lady of Wrestling as his manager, the Superstar’s first major achievement was reaching the finals of a one-night tournament, as part of the Wrestling Classic pay-per-view event in November of 1985. The following February, after a lengthy rivalry with then-Intercontinental Champion Tito Santana, Macho Man defeated the WWE Hall of Famer to earn his first WWE title.

Savage became a WrestleMania staple early on, making his debut on The Grandest Stage of Them All at WrestleMania 2 where he defended the Intercontinental Championship against the intimidating and unpredictable George "The Animal" Steele. From there, he defended the title all the way until WrestleMania III, when he fell short to Ricky Steamboat in what is considered by many to be one of the greatest matches of all time.

Success continued to coincide with Macho Man in 1988, when he won a huge tournament at WrestleMania IV to earn his first WWE Championship. During his reign as champion, he and Hulk Hogan formed one of the most formidable tandems to ever step foot in a ring. The Mega Powers were virtually unstoppable by anyone — except for themselves. A misunderstanding and a touch of jealousy sent Savage into a rage at NBC's The Main Event, leading him to attack his tag team partner. The two took their differences to the ring at WrestleMania V, when Hogan won back the WWE Championship.

Savage went on to dub himself "Macho King" after defeating "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan for the King of the Ring title in 1989. Carrying a scepter and crown, he called on Sensational Sherri to replace Elizabeth as his manager. Savage targeted then-WWE Champion Ultimate Warrior with a series of attacks in response to being denied a title opportunity, which led to a Career-Ending Match at WrestleMania VII. When Savage was pinned, Sherri attacked him as he lay helpless. Fortunately, Elizabeth was in the audience and rushed to his aid, sparking arguably the most romantic moment the WWE Universe had ever witnessed. The sight of Miss Elizabeth and Macho Man embarking in the center of the ring after all those years was one of the fans would not soon forget..

WrestleMania VII's romance may have been topped at SummerSlam 1991. That was when WWE’s favorite couple was married in a special ceremony dubbed the "Match Made in Heaven.”

Macho Man returned to the ring shortly after and eventually earned an opportunity for a second reign as WWE Champion at WrestleMania VIII against Ric Flair. Savage was successful in earning the perfect accessory to match his golden attire, and he also put to rest Flair’s false claims that he and Elizabeth were having an affair. After his run as champion, Macho Man sat next to Mr. McMahon and served as color commentator for the premiere season of Monday Night Raw in 1993.

After defecting to WCW during the infamous Monday Night War, Savage won his first WCW World Championship, winning WCW's first-ever 60-Man Three-Ring Battle Royal in 1995. He would lose the title a month later to his rival, Flair, only to win it back from him for a second reign in early 1996.

Four years later, after a ring career that spanned back to 1973, Savage left the squared circle and left a style, a staggering list of accomplishments and a legacy, which can only be described in two words: "Oooh, yeah!"

Following his untimely passing in 2011, Time Magazine named Macho Man one of their People of the Year. (WWE)


Pro Wrestling legendary announcer Jim Ross Blogs On Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins And Roman Reigns...

Jim Ross posted his latest blog at www.JRSBBQ.com and discussed Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns appearing on RAW tonight. Here is what he wrote about the NXT talents:

Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns on RAW tonight: "Apparently the three men in black, Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins, and Roman Reigns will be interviewed by @MichaelCole tonight on Raw. I hope that we get some revealing info but not too much as I feel these three can be significant contributors on RAW but I also feel that this info needs to come over time especially with WWE doing tons of episodic TV. As a fan, I don't need every question answered tonight and, hopefully, their comments will elict even more interest/questions.

"Count on this...no matter what the three, NXT talents have to say, it will be dissected and thoroughly analyzed. In today's social media crazed, info heavy world of sports entertainment, everything is under a microscope and there are more 'experts' sounding off than ever before. Don't take that as a knock and if you do... Lighten Up Francis."

Dean Ambrose: "Ambrose has a little Roddy Piper and Brian Pillman traits in him or so it seems to me. His FCW/NXT bout a few months ago with @RealKingRegal was stellar. I called it with Dusty Rhodes and we had a blast. Ambrose is a blue chip stock and is arguably the most 'unpredictable' of the three. Perhaps 'complex' is an adequate word to describe Ambrose at this point in time."

Seth Rollins: "Rollins reminds me of @CMPunk in some areas of Rollins' game or at least the formative CM Punk of a few years ago. I perceive that as a good thing. Rollins is an Iowa kid who has a sound, skill set, confidence, toughness and is the current NXT Champion. He has a natural swagger and wrestles with a chip on his shoulder which I embrace."

Roman Reigns: "Reigns is a former Georgia Tech nose tackle and has reshaped his body from 300+ to 260ish and is of Samoan decent, father is WWE HOFer Sika, and at times has reminded me of @TheRock when I first inked 'The Great One' to his WWE contract. In that I mean the obvious heritage matter but also the physical frame, intellect, and overall, natural athleticism. We can only hope that Roman Reigns can approach The Rock's accomplishments inside the squared circle some day. Only time will tell if that lofty goal can be reached but Reigns can be special. Watch someone interpret what I just said as being that JR is predicting Roman to be the next Rock. Hey, I wish."

Much more info at Ross' latest blog http://www.jrsbarbq.com including who he'd like to see inducted in the 2013 Hall of Fame, tonight's RAW and more on Reigns, Ambrose and Rollins.


WWE 'The Shield' speaks on record...

"It's not about benefitting Punk. It's about right and wrong. CM Punk, the WWE champion, was forced to defend his title in a triple threat match against two guys he had already defeated. That's wrong. So we stepped in. If it had been Ryback or Cena, we would have done the same thing. If Ryback was champion for 365 days and Punk tried to ruin his party, we would have intervened on Ryback's behalf. 365 days as champion in this era, that's a huge milestone. That should be celebrated, right?"

"Look Cole, we see where you're getting at. We hear everything you guys are saying, we read everything that's being written, okay? We know what you guys are thinking. But we're not renegades, we're not mercanaries, we're not the Nexus; if you're looking for the nWo, go buy the DVD. We're about principles. We're about honor. Where honor no long exists, we're going to step in. It's like he said, we're a shield from injustice. We're a shield from injustice. ... We are The Shield."


*Special thank you to WWE, Pro Wrestling Torch, Wrestling Inc, Jim Ross and Google News for assistance and references in compiling this news report.

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Australian and international gaming, business and interactive entertainment news

Australian and international gaming, business and interactive entertainment news: Crown Limited; Echo Entertainment, IGT, Virgin Games, Aussie Millions, Bwin.Party Digital Entertainment, WWE, THQ, Marvel Entertainment, Disney, Warner Bros and more...Media Man reports


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Contender in Echo Entertainment CEO race drops out: report...


An undisclosed senior United States casino executive has emerged as the frontrunner to replace departing Echo Entertainment Group Ltd chief executive Larry Mullin after frontrunner Grant Bowie reportedly pulled out of the selection process, according to News Limited owned newspaper The Australian.

The New Zealand-raised Mr Bowie is president of US giant MGM Grand's Macau operations, and was seen as an ideal candidate given his record in Australia while working with Park Place Entertainment and Asian experience.

With Mr Mullin set to depart the company January 31, Echo is expected to name his replacement by the end of the year.

Marina Bay Sands casino head Andrew MacDonald and Skycity Entertainment's Nigel Morrison had been named as candidates, and the leading internal candidate is Echo chief financial officer Matt Bekler, according to The Australian newspaper.


IGT debuts trio of mobile slots...

American computerised gaming equipment and systems designer and manufacturer International Game Technology (IGT) has released mobile versions for three of its most popular slots.

Las Vegas-based IGT stated that Elvis: A Little More Action, Wolf Run and Kitty Glitter have been ‘optimised for the industry’s fastest growing sector’ and are now ready for users of iOS and Android-enabled smartphones and tablet devices to enjoy via its remote game server Casino series.

“The size of the mobile market is expanding by the day and a selection of superior branded content and consistently high performing games helps make IGT a driving force behind this growth,” said Leigh Nissim, Interactive Commercial Director for IGT. “Choosing the right casino game supplier in the world of mobile gaming is crucial [and] our experience, expertise and compliance record at IGT is second to none.”

Elvis: A Little More Action is a 50-payline slot with stacked wilds that features audio from one of Elvis Presley’s most recognisable tunes, A Little Less Conversation. It also offers players up to 255 free spins via its Free Spins Bonus. IGT described the 40-payline Wolf Run and the 30-payline Kitty Glitter slots as two of its ‘all-time best performers’ and revealed that the mobile new versions come complete with the titles’ expected free spins bonuses.


Three New Games Launch on Virgin Mobile Casino...

Virgin Games, the leading online gaming company, has today announced the release of three new mobile games - Elvis, Kitty Glitter and Wolf Run. All are by leading game developer, IGT, and will be available exclusively at Virgin Mobile Casino.

Virgin Mobile Casino, which now accounts for more than 10 per cent of Virgin Games' gross revenue, was launched in December of 2011 to offer a range of slots, table and instant win games. It currently has content partnerships with both IGT and Microgaming, with the intention of introducing additional partners later down the line in order to offer the same variety and choice through the Mobile app as customers experience at the web based Casino.

Joshua Morris, Commercial Director at Virgin Games, commented: "The three latest mobile games to be added to Virgin Mobile Casino continue the trend of bringing our best games from the web onto mobile. We are already seeing 10% of our gross revenues come from Mobile in less than a year since launch and with the addition of top titles such as those launched today we are strengthening our position as a multi-game aggregator."

Virgin Games has attached its single wallet system to the new mobile product, meaning its players use the same account to play at Virgin Casino, Virgin Bingo, Virgin Poker and now mobile casino. Customers can register, manage their account, play for bonuses, deposit and withdraw seamlessly, whether they are on the web or on the move. Launched in 2004, Virgin Games is one of the UK's leading online gaming sites.


Aussie Millions Poker Tournament coming up...

The Aussie Millions (Jan 17th – 3rd Feb): Held at the awesome Crown Casino, the average temperature in Melbourne in January is about 26 degrees. Not only that the tournament runs at the same time as the Australian Open Tennis. Sweet!


PKR Gains Five Millionth User; 3-D Online Poker Room Hits Milestone After Seven Years...

PKR, the 3-D online poker room, has registered its five millionth user. The website was launched in 2006.

Simon Prodger, marketing director for the company, said, “We’re delighted to hit this major milestone, and we look forward to continuing to welcome more and more poker players from around the world to PKR.

“We have a range of marketing initiatives and product developments scheduled for launch in 2013 that we’re sure will continue to grow the PKR brand, including new TV advertising campaigns and the eagerly-awaited launch of our first mobile poker product.”

The company, which is hosting the upcoming World Poker Tour Dublin event, recently told the E-Gaming Review newsroom that it had launched a seven figure investment prospectus.

PKR told the industry magazine it had been unofficially searching for an investor for two years and it was not ruling out a sale.


Crown Limited sweet tax deal?

In Australia, Crown Ltd.’s controversial ‘unsolicited proposal’ to build a second casino in Sydney won’t be of much benefit to the taxpayer, according to ex Citigroup analyst and current independent research consultant Jenny Owen. Crown’s plan is for an international VIP-focused casino, meaning the applicable tax rate would be 10%, about one-third the rate applied to other gambling revenue, like most of the action going on down the street at Sydney’s existing casino, The Star. Ms. Owen told the Sydney Morning Herald this made for "a very attractive business model, certainly one that I would have thought would go to public tender and should attract a reasonably significant license premium. Clearly that doesn’t appear to be the case.". Time will tell as "It sure looks like the casino - hotel will be going ahead" according to a Media Man gaming spokesperson.


Online Gaming Execs Respond to Detention of bwin.party CEO...

Leaders of the world’s top online gaming firms are mad as hell and they’re not going to take it anymore. In response to last Tuesday’s detainment of bwin.party co-CEO Norbert Teufelberger in Brussels, Belgium, 14 executives from 12 internet gambling companies penned a public letter to the Financial Times saying that enough is enough when it comes to European Union (EU) countries ignoring EU law.

To recap, Teufelberger was set to make the closing remarks at Responsible Gaming Day, put on by the European and Betting and Gaming Association (EGBA), of which he is Chairman, when he was detained by Belgian police. The authorities reportedly kept him for two hours (he was allowed to make his speech first), questioning him about bwin.party’s activities in Belgium.

bwin.party has found itself on the short end of extremely strict Belgian gaming regulations, which, among other things, require online poker operators to have a brick-and-mortar presence in the country in order to be granted an online gaming license. Only six operators – PokerStars.be, Poker770.be, Partouche.be, Win2day, GoldenPalace.be, and Unibet – have received licensed. To make matters worse, some of bwin.party’s websites have been put on the Belgian Gaming Commission’s (BGC) blacklist. Despite the blacklist status, bwin.party has continued to operate in Belgium.

While Belgium’s regulations may be cut and dry, they are not without controversy. bwin.party, as well as other gaming companies and organizations, feel they run contrary to EU law and have been fighting them for several years.

Norbert Teufelberger himself was one of the 14 executives to sign the letter to the Financial Times, along with co-CEO Jim Ryan. The others were:

Michael Carlton – CEO, Victor Chandler International Denise Coates and John Coates – Joint CEOs, bet365 Stéphane Courbit – President, Betclic Everest Group Canel Frichet – CEO, Winamax Noel Hayden – Managing Director, Gamesys Denis Kelly – CEO, Stan James Brian Mattingly – CEO, 888 Holdings Andrew McIver – CEO, Sportingbet Magnus Silfverberg – CEO, Betsson Ralph Topping – CEO, William Hill Ed Ware – CEO, 32Red

In the letter, which was posted at FT.com, the executives expressed their resentment towards both the EU Belgian law enforcement, saying, “While the Belgian authorities are free to intimidate Europe’s leading online gaming groups with threats about the consequences of challenging their domestic gambling laws, the European Commission has yet to receive an answer to its own concerns regarding the regulatory regime in Belgium that have remained unresolved since issuing its detailed opinion back in 2009.”

The letter reminded the Financial Times’ readers of the complaints against Belgium two years ago, quoting the head of the European Commission, Michel Barnier, from 2010 , “’…ensuring compliance of national law with the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU (TFEU) is a prerequisite of a successful EU policy on online gambling…if blatant infringements persist, I will not hesitate to propose to my colleagues that the appropriate proceedings be taken or relaunched.’”

The letter concluded, “We hope that the commission will now enforce compliance with the European treaty and do so swiftly. Countries such as Belgium and Greece that are in clear breach of EU law and that are seeking to enforce those laws domestically are likely to be at the top of the list. The time for polite rhetoric is now over. It is time for deeds not words.” (Poker News Daily)

THQ being sued by tattoo artist...

Chris Escobedo, creator and owner of Elite Tattoo, has sued THQ because one of his tattoos has been used by the developer in their game, UFC Undisputed 3 without his consent.

His tattoo, a lion, has been used on the arms of current welterweight champion of UFC Carlos Condit in the game. Escobedo claims that THQ never came to him to seek permission to use the tattoo in the game.

People often believe that they own the images that are tattooed on them by tattoo artists,” said Escobedo’s lawyer Maria Crimi. “In reality, the owner of the tattoo artwork is the creator of the work, unless there is a written assignment of the copyright in the tattoo art.”

Escobedo said: “I would not have agreed to the recreation of the tattoo by an animator.”

Well, it certainly is a violation of the copyrights, as silly as it may seem.

"WWE ’13" receives rave reviews from video game gurus..

“WWE ’13,” available in stores now, gives WWE fans the most seamless, realistic and exciting WWE video game experience to date. With the new addition of WWE Live, enhanced Predator Technology and an enormous Creation Suite and talent roster based on the Attitude Era, it’s no surprise that “WWE ’13” is a hit with reviewers. Look at what some of the leading reviewers have to say about “WWE ’13” and pick up your copy today!

IGN Review score: 8.4 out of 10 “At its core, ‘WWE ’13’ continues last year’s legacy with already solid gameplay refined via a few new moves. Aptly named OMG Moments let you tackle opponents through barricades and break the ring with top-rope suplexes, while the creation suite has been slightly upgraded with improved arena types that should facilitate better community creations.” (MORE)

Game Informer Review score: 9 out of 10 “I’ve always pointed to 2000’s WWE No Mercy as the best wrestling game I’ve ever played, but nostalgia is certainly a factor in that. After playing ‘WWE ’13,’ I’m hard pressed to think of a more enjoyable and complete wrestling game in history.”

Official XBOX Magazine Review score: 8 out of 10 “Of particular note is the game’s superb single-player experience, which should serve as the foundation for all future endeavors. If anything, the smart objective design and use of archival WWE footage makes us want more.”

AtomicGamer Review score: 8 out of 10

Bleacher Report Review score: 8 out of 10

Canadian Online Gamers Review score: 85/100

Click Online Review score: 4.5 out of 5

GamesBeat Review score: 86/100

GamesRadar Review score: 4 out of 5

IRB Gamer Review score: 4.5 out of 5

PlayStation Official Magazine – UK Review score: 80/100

RTV Review Score: 4 out of 5

TotallyGN Review score: 8 out of 10

Disney honors Black Friday in Avengers Alliance, Gardens of Time et al...

When it comes to the biggest shopping day of the year, Disney ain't playin' no games ... or something like that. The company's social gaming arm has lots planned for Black Friday in its most popular Facebook games, namely a number of enticing deals for in-game boosts and items for Marvel: Avengers Alliance, Gardens of Time, Ghosts of Mistwood and Blackwood & Bell Mysteries.

Each game will offer reduced prices on in-game currency in addition to specific offers for in-game goodies. Here's the list of the delectable deals straight from Disney and Playdom:

Marvel: Avengers Alliance: Starting Nov. 23, Mockingbird will be on sale for all players until Nov. 26. Mockingbird was originally only available as the ultimate reward for achieving 15 mastery stars in the first Special Operation, but starting on Black Friday, players will have four days to recruit this secretive S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent from the Heroes section and get her before she is gone.

Ghosts of Mistwood: From Black Friday through Cyber Monday on Nov. 26, the hit Facebook game, Ghosts of Mistwood, will be having a special Black Friday bundle sale to help players solve the mysteries of Mistwood Estate. Players can gobble up lantern oil, coins, special ingredients and a Limited Special Stardust Relic for a limited time in the Market and at a festive price.

Gardens of Time: For Disney Social Games' super sales weekend, Gardens of Time players will be able to purchase any of the in-game gold decoration items at a discount when sending them to their friends. That's over 100 items discounted for this offer.

Blackwood and Bell & Threads of Mystery: Two more amazing hidden object games from Disney Social Games, Blackwood and Bell & Threads of Mystery, will be having sales on in game gold. Players need to head on over to take advantage of these limited time Black Friday Sales.


Tolkien's estate sues over Hobbit gambling games...

JRR Tolkien's estate is suing the makers of The Lord of the Rings and Hobbit movies for allegedly overstepping their merchandising rights by making gambling games based on the books' characters.

Tolkien's family and publisher HarperCollins are suing Warner Brothers, its subsidiary New Line Cinema and Saul Zaentz for $80 million.

In papers filed in a Los Angeles court, they accuse the defendants of copyright infringement and breach of contract.

They say the companies are entitled to develop and sell only tangible merchandise such as clothes, figurines and stationery, not downloadable video and gambling games.

The Tolkien estate has asked for an injunction on such products, which it claims have caused irreparable damage to the author's legacy and reputation.

"Not only does the production of gambling games patently exceed the scope of defendants' rights, but this infringing conduct has outraged Tolkien's devoted fan base, causing irreparable harm to Tolkien's legacy and reputation and the valuable goodwill generated by his works," the lawsuit stated. The suit claimed Warner Brothers has earned millions of dollars from legal merchandise licensing revenue related to The Lord of the Rings trilogy of films, which have grossed nearly $3 billion at the global box office.

Representatives for Warner Brothers, Tolkien's estate and HarperCollins were not immediately available for comment.

The lawsuit comes a week ahead of the New Zealand premiere of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, the first of a new trilogy of films returning to Tolkien's world of elves, goblins and wizards of Middle Earth, based on the Lord of the Rings prequel novel, The Hobbit.


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Mike Tyson: Day Of The Champions - Main Event Mike KO in Sydney, Australia - 17th November 2012

Mike Tyson: Day Of The Champions - Main Event Mike KO in Sydney, Australia...

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Boxing legend and ex con, Mike Tyson, has been trying to get to Australia for years.

Skyfall James Bond Sydney, Australia red carpet movie premiere; Daniel Craig, Bond girls - 17th November 2012

Skyfall James Bond Sydney, Australia red carpet movie premiere; Daniel Craig, Bond girls...

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Movies Hollywood Skyfall James Bond Daniel Craig Entertainment Sydney Australia

Australia paid tribute to Skyfall with rain coming down on the red carpet outside Sydney's State Theatre last night.

The parallel was picked up by new Bond girl Berenice Marlohe.

"It is Skyfall," she said on Friday night, gesturing at the rain.

"I remember on set it was raining before a scene I had to do. And it is like an homage to Skyfall."

The weather did not put off hundreds of the Bond franchise's fans.

They jammed in like cattle or sardines if you prefer, behind barriers on the sidewalk to get pictures and autographs from Craig, Marlohe and fellow Bond girl Naomie Harris, who's on her first trip to Australia and said, "The reception makes it sunny".

"It's been a two month whirlwind of going all around the world promoting the movie, but it ends in Australia, so I finally have some free time on my hands and I'm going to spend it in Byron Bay," Harris said.

Craig, who visited Australia for Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace, said he won't be doing any sightseeing this time around.

"This is the final leg," he said earlier.

"I spent like a week here the first time I came, so I've seen quite a lot.

"I always try and do something when I go to a new city."

Skyfall hasn't been released yet in Australia, but elsewhere in the world it's already grossed $446.5 million and is being pitched by critics as one of the very best Bond films.

Craig, who has admitted 2008's Quantum of Solace suffered from the writer's strike, was determined Skyfall, the 23rd film and released in Bond's 50th anniversary year, would be a step up.

"Just to be better," he said, about how he had wanted it to be different.

"So we kind of had a plan and Sam (Mendes, the director) and I had it from very early on that we wanted to make the best Bond movie we could, obviously, but to try and get some of ... the old style of it."

* Skyfall will be released in Australian cinemas on November 22.

News...


Skyfall is record breaking Bond movie...

The movie has broken records wherever it has been released.

It snatched the biggest US opening ever for a 007 movie at the weekend with a whopping $87.8 million in ticket sales.

Quantum of Solace debuted to a series-best $67.5 million in mid-November 2008, and Casino Royale - marking Craig's first turn as 007 - opened to $40.8 million in November 2006.

In the UK, the Sam Mendes-directed film has passed Titanic as the highest-grossing 2D film. The film opens Australia next Thursday.

The secret to Skyfall's success, according to exhibitors, is Craig's universal appeal.

"Women love him. Men love the action," said Samantha Philp, national film promotions and partnership manager at Event Cinemas.

Even seven-time Bond Roger Moore has given Craig the official stamp of approval, calling him the best Bond ever.

"To me, he looks like a killer. He looks as though he knows what he's doing. I look as though I might cheat at backgammon," he said.


Plot Outline: Daniel Craig is back as Ian Fleming's James Bond 007 in Skyfall, the 23rd adventure in the longest-running film franchise of all time. In Skyfall, Bond’s loyalty to M is tested as her past comes back to haunt her. As MI6 comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost.

Promo...

Bond's loyalty to M is tested as her past comes back to haunt her. As MI6 comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost.

Director: Sam Mendes Writers: Neal Purvis, Robert Wade and John Logan Stars: Daniel Craig, Daniel Craig, Javier Bardem, Ralph Fiennes, Bérénice Marlohe, Naomie Harris, Ben Whishaw, Helen McCrory, Rory Kinear, with Albert Finney and Judi Dench as "M" Produced By: Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli


News...

Craig is the best Bond: Moore...

Bond legend Roger Moore, enthralled with ‘Skyfall,’ now thinks Daniel Craig is the best actor to play the legendary spy...

Moore, who began his stint as the action hound in the ’70s, once gave that honor to Sean Connery. ‘They’ve guaranteed Bond another 50 years of life,’ he said of the new film.

Bond alum Roger Moore used to think Sean Connery was the best James Bond, but now thinks that designation belongs to Daniel Craig.

"I went to a screening of ‘Skyfall,’ and I’ve changed my opinion. I think that he (Daniel Craig) is the Bond. He’s quite brilliant," Moore told TIME magazine.

Moore has been a fan of Craig’s ever since the opening scene of 2006’s “Casino Royale,” Craig’s first time in the role.


James Bond's world of movie intrigue explored in 'The Untold Story Of 007'...

“I thought ‘Casino Royale’ was tremendous,” Moore said. “I thought his action was quite extraordinary — he did more action in the first 30 seconds of the film than I did in 14 years of playing Bond. To me, he looks like a killer. He looks as though he knows what he’s doing. I look as though I might cheat at backgammon.”

Craig put his own spin on the iconic spy, just as Moore did when he first took over the role of 007 with 1973’s “Live and Let Die.”

On playing a role already associated with Connery, he said, “You don’t really think about that. How many millions of actors during the last 400 years have played Hamlet? They don’t worry about how the other fella did it — they just get on with doing it their way.”

Moore’s own way endeared his Bond to the public for seven consecutive films by Eon Productions. His third Bond film, “The Spy Who Loved Me,” is often considered his best, just as Connery’s third, “Goldfinger,” is often considered his.

Now Moore thinks Craig’s third performance is the best of the franchise.

"I wrote to Barbara (Broccoli) and Michael (Wilson) and said…they’ve guaranteed Bond another 50 years of life," he said.


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Georgia May Jagger in Sydney, Australia; Sunglass Hut floats on water - 14th November 2012

Georgia May Jagger in Sydney, Australia; Sunglass Hut floats on Sydney Harbour with celebrities and product pitch...

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Sunglass hut... the sunglasses retail company is back to publicity tricks using the good old fashioned celebrity sells... in this case with Mick Jagger's daughter, Georgia May Jagger, and friends, aboard a floating product promotional boat on Sydney Harbour. Not a bad combo and it achieved the goal - free headlines.

Looking at Georgia May Jagger, it’s impossible to miss the shades on her famous parents. Mick Jagger and Jerry Hall. Some press is saying she’s the very best blend of her parents’ charisma and good looks. Ah, the benefits of being a famous offspring... and good work opportunities often come your way including product promotions.

In Australia on a promotional tour with Sunglass Hut, she stars in their current advertising campaign with boyfriend musician and model, Josh McClennan. She told Fairfax Media "We’d never worked together before – so it was an interesting experience. Kind of a laugh seeing your boyfriend posing – we had a lot of fun", she said. Guest stars at tonight’s A-list party aboard the Sunglass Hut floating store, they are checking out the sights of Sydney "We’re climbing the Harbour Bridge today, we’ve seen sharks at the aquarium and we’re in love with Bondi Beach".

Georgia is a hot, smart and music appriciating Brit. "There was always music in the house growing up – I love all kinds from blues through to rock 'n' roll. I tried the violin and guitar when I was young, but never really learned to play…and my Mum doesn’t play anything either."

Georgia May is familiar with the modeling and advertising world with cosmetic contracts, major advertising campaigns and her fair share of magazine covers including UK Vogue, UK Elle and this month’s Australian Harper's Bazaar. Yes, we know its got something to do with her famous parents, but good luck to her. That's the world and that's the business. "I’m really trying to have fun with it [modeling]. Obviously, I enjoy the travelling and getting to meet people from all over the world. It’s wild to be working in London one day and then in Australia the next – I just want to keep doing it for as long as I can".

After modeling, she hopes to move into a career in photography. She mentions her mum's Helmut Newtown pictures as inspiration. "I was at university before my career took off and my plan is to be a photographer – my dream would be to travel and take pictures" she said.

Moving like Jagger in the Sunglass Hut campaign...

When it comes to style, the model is a fan of Vivienne Westwood – she’s the face of the new Westwood jewellery line – and has a try-anything-once approach to fashion. "I pick up style from everywhere I go, I like to mix it up. I‘ve got some incredible vintage pieces from my mother’s wardrobe - amazing dresses from her Studio 54 days”. And what about her father’s closet – has she managed to get her hands on any of Dad’s iconic threads? “My sister [Lizzie] has a lot because she’s got the tall skinny figure. I do have one thing of my Dad’s that he doesn’t know I’ve got it and if he did he’d want it back immediately…for a museum".

Sunglass Hut floating store is moored in Darling Harbour, Sydney from November 15 - 18. 10 per cent of all profits from the Floating Store will be donated to OneSight, a leading global vision care charity.

About Sunglass Hut...

Sunglass Hut is an international retailer of sunglasses and sunglass accessories founded in Miami, Florida in 1971. Sunglass Hut is part of the Italian-based Luxottica Group, the world’s largest eyewear company. As of December 31, 2008, the Luxottica Group operated 2,286 stores worldwide, most of those as part of the Sunglass Hut brand. Sunglass Hut stores are located in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, Brazil, continental Europe, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Africa, the Middle East, India and most notably in megalopolis Montreal, Canada.

In popular culture...

Sunglass Hut’s fashion-oriented positioning has seen it mentioned on a number of popular fashion blogs, including Slaves to Fashion, complex.com, psfk and Splendicity. Sunglass Hut also appeared in an episode of the animated series American Dad.

Put Them On...

Sunglass Hut's new brand identity, ‘Put Them On’, launched internationally in 2008. The campaign has appeared over 20 countries in the form of press, radio, outdoor, direct marketing, online and point of sale advertising.


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Wrestling with face paint, bodyart and human statues; Ultimate Warrior, Sting, Jeff Hardy, Lord Tensai and more, by Greg Tingle

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Pro wrestling is different things to different people, but it's widely accepted as one of the most popular forms of entertainment - especially for men and kids.

Every week millions of fans tune into television to watch promotions like the famous WWE and Impact Wrestling.

Pro wrasling may be as American as apple pie, but Australia is one of the world's biggest non U.S fan bases, and we back it up with impressive PPV buy rates via Foxtel as well as weekly top 10 number crunching for programs such as RAW and SmackDown!

There are many elements that make the pseudo sport exciting. The spectacular moves, the amazing bodies, the ring entrances, the storylines, the costumes and face paint. Say what - face paint! Yes, even most casual fans would have heard of the man they call Sting (currently with Impact Wrestling, but featured on the WWE website), Jeff Hardy, The Ultimate Warrior, and let's also include the recently renamed WWE super heel - villain, Lord Tensai (tattoos and bodyart galore). It also appears that current WWE champion Sheamus aka 'The Great White', uses a little white paint or some other substance on his chest area (you need to look closely, but check out the WrestleMania 28 footage and judge for yourself).

We think that Australian pro wrestlers might soon more readily adopt face painting as another way to help stand out from the pack.

Famous Pro Wrestling Stars With Face Paint...

Sting

The Man Called Sting. Icon or not, he has an impressive pro wrestling body of work and knows how to work the crowd.

He has the 'It Factor' and is almost as famous for his face paint, as he is his matches with fellow legend Ric Flair.

His red version of the paint during his time in the NWO Wolfpac was something to behold.

He even had previous face paint along the lines of Ultimate Warrior styling when he still had blond hair and more recently at Impact Wrestling with Joker type face paint. No wonder WWE seem to be making a play to sign Sting, or at least to have him officially inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.

The different changes have lent him to using his face paint as both intimidation and character enhancement.


Road Warriors (Hawk and Animal)

Considered by many as one of the greatest tag teams of all time, if not the greatest, The Road Warriors both had simple but awesome face paint.

Hawk and Animal had their Mad Max-inspired gimmick down to a science, spiked shoulder pads and all.

This face paint seems to be a combination of character inspiration and intimidation.

RIP Hawk. Ah, what a rush!


Jeff Hardy

Jeff Hardy aka 'The Charismatic Inigima' might just be the king of the face paint in professional wrestling.

His use of face paint is pure character enhancement, but nobody has ever done it better.

He changes it frequently, and usually it comes up looking amazing. Most hardcore fans will tell you that Hardy's face paint has been better and more creative in Impact Wrestling than in the WWE. Maybe Hardy has more control in his current promotion, which is also a scary thing. Great paint, and well done on cleaning up your act Jeff, if we should believe the press.


The Ultimate Warrior

The Ultimate Warrior had some of the coolest face paint of all time.

Some have noted a dash of Batman themes in the mix.

Add the paint to the interviews, chiseled body and unique and crazy ring style, and this guy was one of a kind wacko (and successful). Will Triple H bring back the Warrior? Stranger things have happened, and Triple H has hinted via the WWE website and leaked elsewhere that he would be interested in getting a 1-2-3 over Warrior, so stay tuned.


Demolition

I can remember it like yesterday "I'm Axe and "I'm Smash" and we're going to kick your stinking teeth in". The them went something like "Here comes the Ax and here comes the Smasher. The Demolition is coming to get ya". Red, black and silver have never looked so good (or scary).

Like The Road Warriors, Demolition also employed a Mad Max-inspired theme in their gimmick.

Demolition seemed to use their paint as intimidation and character enhancement.


The KISS Demon

The KISS Demon was created with a licensing agreement with KISS the band. Supposedly the beginning of a stable that was to include wrestlers modelled after each of the KISS band members. Only The Demon came to pass, and it didn't last. Another WCW idea that went south. I would have trusted my marketing and promotion with KISS top brass Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley more than with the then WCW marketing department. How about you KISS Army fans?


The Powers of Pain (The Warlord and The Barbarian)

The Powers of Pain was a team that consisted of the Warlord and The Barbarian. Managed by Mr. Fuji, who for a few years was one of best managers in my estimation. Their face paint was fairly generic but nevertheless intimidating.

After the team split up, they both stepped away from using facepaint and each gained a new manager—Warlord being paired up with Slick and Barbarian joining Bobby Heenan.


The Missing Link

The Missing Link was a character not so unlike to that of George 'The Animal' Steele and Madog Vachon - a crazy man that needed a handler to bring him to the ring and keep him under control.

He would repeatedly smash his own head into turnbuckles during matches and use his head as a weapon (but in reality his forearm appeared to take most of the blow). Kayfabe!

His face paint seemed to be geared more towards furthering his character.

'Dewey' Robertson passed away in August 2007. RIP.


Yoshi Tatsu

Yoshi wrestled in WWE for some time before debuting the above look.

During a feud with Tyson Kidd, where he was written off of television for a few weeks, Yoshi debuted this look when he returned citing it as a tribute to The Great Muta and his Japanese heritage. You have to long his ring entrance music and video, but his win - loss record is not on par with the rest of his act. Maybe he would have had more impact 10 years ago. Sadly we will never know. Tipped to enter a feud with Lord Tensai at some point, judging by Twitter, or might soon end up being shown the door, thanks to new WWE talent coming in. We like your work Yoshi and hope things pick up for you whatever happens.


Kamala The Ugandan Giant

The Ugandan Giant wrestled mainly in the 80's and 90's and his gimmick was that of a head hunter. Slap that huge belly. Recently told some dirt sheets that he wasn't happy with his paydays and guys like Hogan were making millions. Kamala, you were never Hogan (but we get your point).


Vampiro

Was a very good wrestler, especially by old WCW standards.

He has mainly competed in smaller organizations and wrestled in WCW for awhile. Face paint was simple, but effective.


Bull Nakano

Competed in Japan for most of her career. Many fans from North America know Nakano from feuding with Alundra Blayze / Madusa in WWE and WCW.

Her face paint is fairly understated most of the time save for the crack like streaks down her face.

Nakano is understood to have given professional golfing a swing!


Papa Shango

The man that would go on to become Kama and The Godfather. A good gimmick (geared to kids).

His voodoo gimmick of causing wrestlers to vomit and ooze oily looking stuff out of their heads was only enhanced by his skull inspired face paint.


The Great Kabuki

The man credited with being the first to blow 'Asian Mist' into his opponent's face has pretty cool face paint. Almost looks like he was on the receiving end of the Asian Mist himself.

He held a series of retirement matches in 1998 and was always a very solid worker.


The Great Muta

The Great Muta has had many different styles of face paint throughout the years.

Mostly known in North America for his stints in WCW and short time in WWE, Muta has always been a top wrestler wherever he has competed.

Changed over to wearing a mask since shaving his head. Check out Muta VS Hogan which took place in Japan about 15 years ago. Classic.


Hakushi

The whole gimmick of Hakushi 'tatooing' his face and body with Kanji characters was very cool. Very good worker.


Goldust

Dustin Rhodes eccentric character has one of the coolest paint jobs ever. You have to love the Hollywood theme and intro, and how about the trademark promo "You will always remember the name... GOLDUST".


Umaga

The Samoan Bulldozer was awesome. Umaga's face paint appeared to be an extension of his tribal tattoo art that he had across the rest of his body.

Umaga used his face paint to enhance his character and as a source of intimidation to his opponents with it resembling war paint of certain tribes.

Sadly, Eddie Fatu passed away in 2009. RIP.


Damien 666

While the colours and styles of Damien 666's paint changed throughout the years, the number 666 has always emblazoned his forehead.

Wrestling for most of his career in Mexico, Damien uses his paint as a character enhancer as well as for intimidation purposes.


The Bogeyman

If any gimmick was perfect to have face paint associated with it, the Boogeyman is it. He made a few alterations to it throughout his WWE career, but all consisted of a blood red backdrop on to which he superimposed other weird things.

His apparent eating of worms added additional intimidation factor to the whole gimmick.


Others

Lord Tensai, a major heel (villain) in the WWE has heavy face and body tattoos and body piercings, most if not all of which are legit. A former name he wrestled under was 'Prince Albert' (look it up and draw your own conclusions). A tough and legit SOB with loads of talent. Give the hardcore fans more time and they should come around and back him up more in current WWE storylines.


So wrestling and face paint fans. There you have it.

Got a wrestling match or fancy dress party coming up? Why not contact face painting and costume specialists, Human Statue Bodyart, for more details about how you can bring your pro wrestler to life. Masks and other costumes and accessories are also available.

Thank you to the extremely talented pro wrestlers who keep entertaining the fans each week, and Sting, Jeff Hardy and friends... please keep wowing us with your artistic creations.

That's it for the wrestling and face painting unmasked news today, but stay turned for developments as the countdown towards AWF 'Australia VS The World' and WWE 'Over The Limit' continues.

*The writer is the business manager of Human Statue Bodyart, Eva Rinaldi Photography and the director of Media Man and Australian Sports Entertainment.

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'Skyfall' debuts at No. 1 in 25 foreign countries, grosses $77.7M...

'Skyfall' debuts at No. 1 in 25 foreign countries, grosses $77.7M

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Movies Hollywood Skyfall James Bond

Sony Pictures is spying a hit in its latest James Bond film, as "Skyfall" debuted at No. 1 in 25 foreign countries this weekend.

The film, starring Daniel Craig in the 23rd entry featuring 007, collected an impressive $77.7 million overseas this weekend, according to an estimate from Sony, which is distributing the film internationally. "Skyfall," financed by Sony and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer for just under $200 million, doesn't hit U.S. theaters until Nov. 9.

Of the 25 international markets the film played in this weekend, it easily did best on Bond's home turf, the United Kingdom. The picture sold $32.4 million worth of tickets there — the biggest opening of the year so far and 30% ahead of the opening for Craig's last Bond film, 2008's "Quantum of Solace."

Business was also strong in France, where the movie grossed $9.1 million, and in Russia, where receipts amounted to $8.6 million. The last installment in the franchise, "Solace," ultimately collected $417.7 million abroad — roughly 71% of its worldwide gross.

The strong international bow for "Skyfall" bodes well for its U.S. prospects, especially since early reviews have been exceptionally positive. As of Sunday, the movie had earned a 94% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes.



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