WWE theatens to stop doing shows in Georgia

[The Nature Girl]

pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/WWE_News_3/article_23979.shtml

WWE attorney Jerry McDevitt told the Atlanta Journal Constitution today that WWE will cease holding shows in Georgia if the Georgia Athletic & Entertainment Commission authorizes new regulations for pro wrestling in Georgia.

"If those regulations are applied to us, we won't do Georgia," WWE attorney Jerry McDevitt told the AJC. He reasoned that the regulations should not apply to WWE because it's not a sport. "Almost every state knows, and has known for years, that wrestling is entertainment and not a sport," he said.

When told about McDevitt's response to the proposed regulations, Cary Icther, the attorney for Michael Benoit, told the AJC: "What else would you expect a bully to say?"

The Commission is holding a public hearing at 11 a.m. on Tuesday morning to discuss the proposed regulations that would place greater restrictions on pro wrestling.

WWE is currently exempt from regulation in Georgia due to a 2005 statute that excludes organizations with assets over $25 million. Icther said he hopes the statute will be removed to place WWE under the regulations umbrella.

[mysterydriver]

Well...sucks for Georgia wrestling fans, I suppose...

[Reverend BTY]

So you won't run a town because they implement laws in pro wrestling? That doesn't seem shady at all.

[randomranter]

vincerussoisgod said:

So you won't run a town because they implement laws in pro wrestling? That doesn't seem shady at all.

Have you read the proposed laws? To say they're ridiculous would be an understatement. Let's just put it this way...........the people who wrote it do not realize that wrestling is fake.

For once, Vince is right on this one. If I were him after reading those absolutely asinine laws, I wouldn't hold shows there either.

And, for what it's worth, I think that's the whole point of the statute to begin with. After the Benoit murders, the steroid scandal, etc., I think the Georgia gov't wants to distance themselves as far away from wrestling as possible. But rather than outright say it, they came up with a set of rules so ridiculous that no sane promoter would ever consider holding a show there.

For those who haven't read the proposed regulations, here's a link:

sos.georgia.gov/GAEC/pdf/Rule%20Amendments/Posting%20Wrestling%20Rules.pdf

[T.J. "the Crippler" Stevens]

They obviosuly still haven't learned their lesson. What in the world is it going to take?

[seano]

natchou2 said:

When told about McDevitt's response to the proposed regulations, Cary Icther, the attorney for Michael Benoit, told the AJC: "What else would you expect a bully to say?"

Wait, what does this have to do with Chris Benoit Hardcore Holly?

Were these regulations put in place due to Benoit's Holly's rampage?

[The Nature Girl]

seano said:

natchou2 said:

When told about McDevitt's response to the proposed regulations, Cary Icther, the attorney for Michael Benoit, told the AJC: "What else would you expect a bully to say?"

Wait, what does this have to do with Chris Benoit Hardcore Holly?

Were these regulations put in place due to Benoit's Holly's rampage?

The attorney for Benoit's father is a member of the board of the Georgia Athletic & Entertainment Commission.

[EvilMasterBetty, Esq.]

Plus, the WWE's done this before in Oregon and, to a lesser extent, New Jersey (i believe they couldn't run PPVs or some crap like that).

The laws are ridiculous. It will all but kill indy wrestling. And WWE would have to bend over backward and change everything to run there.

[Widow's Peak]

I'm not entirely surprised. I'd be tempted to say that this is typical WWE asshattery if the proposed rules weren't so ridiculous. None of them (with the exception of the EMT requirement) seem all that relevant to Benoit situation or the future heath of the performers.

So in Georgia's attempt to punish the WWE, they've actually only moved them out of state while the smaller promotions get punished instead.

[randomranter]

evilmasterbetty said:

Plus, the WWE's done this before in Oregon and, to a lesser extent, New Jersey (i believe they couldn't run PPVs or some crap like that).

The new jersey thing was a tax issue.

The laws are ridiculous. It will all but kill indy wrestling. And WWE would have to bend over backward and change everything to simply never run there.

Fixed that last paragraph for you.

[A Platypus Rave is Correct]

seano said:

natchou2 said:

When told about McDevitt's response to the proposed regulations, Cary Icther, the attorney for Michael Benoit, told the AJC: "What else would you expect a bully to say?"

Wait, what does this have to do with Chris Benoit Hardcore Holly?

Were these regulations put in place due to Benoit's Holly's rampage?

I don't know much about it but they took place in Georgia.

and Yes, a lot of the proposed laws are rather asinine,

[Bob Schlapowitz]

Wow. Just wow. I think they found the two people on Earth who don't realize that it's not real, and had them write this up!

[BR329]

No wrestling contestant shall use a foreign object(s) or prop(s) with the deliberate intent to lacerate himself or herself, or one’s opponent

Wow..... just wow. I just got dumber reading that

[Spankymac is sick of the swiss]

God damn it. f***in' politicians.

[darbus alan]

Normally, I'd say the WWE are being dicks about this, but these rules are so dumb that I honestly can't blame them. It sucks for Georgian wrestling fans, as they either get no WWE product or a very watered down WWE product.

This is not to mention that it'd kill any Georgia-based Indies. And you can forget about TNA or ROH running shows there either. It's a shame given Georgia's rich wrestling history (after all, Atlanta was WCW HQ).

[celtic8004]

Maybe someone should explain to the Georgia state government that wrestling is fake. This is almost like trying to regulate theater performances. Could you imagine the state defining what a "play" is and adding a ton of nonsense regulations?

[Tapout]

Not good. It doesn't look like either side will budge. The E will probably lose a lot of $$ for not holding shows in Georgia. That can't be good for the company.

[General Zod]

Legally speaking, the state of Georgia can do whatever it likes, much to the chagrin of wrestling fans from coast to coast.

To be fair, I understand why the state of Georgia is doing it. I also understand that there will be more pressure from Congress in the next few months to crack down on all athletic events, thanks to "You Know Who" and Barry Bonds.

I'm sorry, guys, but the fact of the matter is that the wanton abuse of performance enhancing drugs, the glorification of violence in a controlled, athletic environment that pro wrestling helps to portray, and the blatant disregard for regular athelic guidelines - this despite the fact that the WWE is still following the basic athletic structure of organized in-ring competitive sports - coupled with the incidents at hand over this last year, doesn't make me optimistic about pro wrestling's future in certain areas. Especially if Congress cracks the hammer on the state athletic commisions.

You can hem and haw about wrestling not being "real" all you like, but at the end of the day, you must see it (not as a logical entitiy that makes sense to you) as an athletic event. Predetermined, pulled punches, or not. Two men are still entering the ring to "compete". That is, in a nutshell, the very essence of pro wrestling.

And if it barks like a dog, and runs like a dog, and looks like a dog...

Well. You really can't blame some states legislature for wanting to cover their own asses. I suspect you'll see more of these in the near future.

It sucks, but what are you gonna do? Vinny and his sleazy lawyer (whom I despise, BTW) McDiv-hit should be thinking big picture instad of trying to make an example out of Georgia.

[T.J. "the Crippler" Stevens]

So, in this case wrestling is just plain "fake?" No ifs, ands, or buts about it? Normally wrestling fans will fire back that it's "predetermined, but these guys are real athletes doing dangerous things." Some people here want to have it both ways. Whatever's convenient for your opinion at the time of the arguement.

[HRH The KING]

The rules make it impossible for WWE to work there.