Lashley/UFC Update, Gavin Spears’ Firing, HOF Tickets, & More

While WWE has yet to publicly announce the release of ECW Superstar Gavin Spears, this bit of news should confirm his departure from the organization. Spears, listed as Shawn Spears, as well as The Honky Tonk Man, are scheduled to appear at the Great Canadian Wrestling events in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada on February 19th, 2009 and Oshawa, Ontario, Canada on February 20th, 2009. Also, Spears changed his MySpace page to say that he worked in WWE from January 2006 to January 2009. (Thanks to Devin Cutting for show information)

As I noted in the post prior to this, tickets to this year’s WWE Hall of Fame induction ceremony at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas have not sold out despite last week’s announcement of “Stone Cold” Steve Austin as the top inductee. In comparison, last year’s event featuring Ric Flair almost immediately sold out a curtained off arena. WWE also sold out the 2004 event — the year it was brought back — as well as the 2006 event featuring the induction of Bret Hart.

Former WWE star, turned MMA fighter Bobby Lashley recently sat down for an interview with Sherdog.com. Lashey says that he can match up with any heavyweight in MMA, and then discusses the UFC: “I think it’s not going to be my decision or my manager’s decision. Ultimately, it’s going to be Dana White’s decision. I think they understand what I’m doing right now. I’m not just trying to jump in there right away. If we jumped in there right now it’s just a professional wrestler fighting. I want to feel comfortable in the ring and I want to build myself up. I want to be an established MMA fighter, than take on those big fights.”

ESPN Classic will not air AWA Classics show this Wednesday night.

The Wrestler was up to #17 this week, earning $1.7 million and raising its five week total to $5 million. The movie had a very good per theater average, taking in $12,153 per theater.

Promotional details for the hardcover release of the script from The Wrestler were released today: Darren Aronofsky’s The Wrestler is an insightful behind-the-scenes meditation on the film’s provocative characters and the choices they make. Once a hugely successful WWF wrestler, Randy the Ram now ekes out a living performing for diehard wrestling fans from the 1980s in high school gyms and community centers around New Jersey. But when he suffers a heart attack, Randy’s doctor tells him he needs to lay off the steroids and stop wrestling altogether. Forced out of show business, Randy begins to evaluate the state of his life. But the pull of the spotlight is too strong and he attempts once again to find his way back into the ring. Featuring actors Mickey Rourke, Academy award–winning Marisa Tomei, and Evan Rachel Wood, this book is an extension of Aronofsky’s filmic vision, and will contain film stills, the original shooting script, still photos, original art, and observations by its creators, cast, and crew.”

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