Former WWE Star Pays Tribute To Michael Jackson, Tons More
Today, former XPW owner Rob Zicari, known professionally as Rob Black along with former XPW performer Janet Romano, known professionally as Lizzie Borden, were sentenced to a year and a day in federal prison as well as two additional years of supervised probation. The couple plead guilty last March to one count of conspiracy to distribute obscene materials, and before the plea, they were facing upwards of 50 years in prison and up to a $5 million fine. The plea agreement was agreed too, and prosecutors dropped nine counts of violating federal obscenity statuettes. The couple and the Extreme Associates company, owned by Black, were accused of sending obscene movies to a PO Box in the Pittsburgh area as well as sending obscene tapes and DVDs to a local wholesaler, and also transmitted "obscene footage" on the Extreme Associates Website.]
JAKKS Pacific issued the following press release, noting their legal battle with THQ over the WWE video game license. JAKKS is trying to exercise their option to renew the license until 2014, while THQ doesn't think that JAKKS was authorized to do so:
JAKKS Pacific gives notice to extend WWE videogame license; THQ disputes notice. MALIBU, Calif., Jul 01, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) — JAKKS Pacific, Inc. (NASDAQ:JAKK) announced that it has notified World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. ("WWE") that the joint venture between THQ and JAKKS intended to exercise its option to renew the WWE videogame license, which would otherwise expire on December 31, 2009, for an additional five (5) year term ending December 31, 2014. Separately, THQ commenced a lawsuit in California Superior Court, Los Angeles County, claiming it was not ready to make a decision with respect to renewal of the WWE videogame license, and seeking a declaratory judgment that (i) JAKKS was not authorized under the parties' joint venture agreement to unilaterally issue a renewal notice to WWE, (ii) THQ has no obligation to consent to a renewal of the WWE license, and (iii) the restrictive covenant in the joint venture agreement prohibiting THQ from publishing any videogames based on wrestling during the term of the joint venture agreement (expiring one year after termination of the WWE license) is unenforceable under California law. JAKKS and THQ have also initiated arbitration proceedings relating to these issues.
According to the latest issue of Super Luchas magazine, Necro Butcher will be making his Mexico debut on July 18th at an X-Law show at Arena Lopez Mateos.
Former WWE star Elijah Burke has posted a blog on his official website, www.TheElijahExpress.com, concerning the passing of Michael Jackson. "Michael Jackson: The Man, The Myth, The Legend...The Icon. What can I say? No one, and Pope means NO ONE, was more "Worldwide" recognized and loved than this man (not everyone loves The Pope... Ya know, the one in white). His "Worldwide Popularity" was only rivaled recently by one man, Barrack Obama, who now stands alone," Burke wrote. "Michael Jackson meant so much to me; it's crazy. In the past couple of years I'd been asked if I could meet 3 people, who would it be? Without hesitation I would answer: The first black president, Bill Clinton, "The Icon" Sting (more to come), and "The King of Pop" Michael Jackson, and of course MJ topped this list."
Burke took the news of Jackson's passing really hard, especially considering he had never attended one on his concerts before. He had vowed since the release of Jackson's last CD that if he were to ever tour again, he would attend one of his concerts. With the announcement of his planned 50 concert tour of Europe earlier this year, Burke had plans to attend on of his concerts in August. He even planned on holding a contest on his website for one lucky person to go on an all expense paid trip with him to see Jackson in concert.