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Tag: WWF

  • Ultimate Warrior Will Become WWE Hall Of Famer In 2014

    The Ultimate Warrior stepped away from the wrestling ring more than 18 years ago due in large part to a strained relationship with WWE Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon. Despite this, fans were happy to learn on Monday night that The Ultimate Warrior will be inducted into the WWE’s 2014 Hall of Fame.

    Vince McMahon praised The Ultimate Warrior in an email just before the official announcement was made.

    “The Ultimate Warrior was the most intense, colorful, competitive and outspoken superstar in sports entertainment history, and his contributions to WWE were extraordinary, we are thrilled to induct The Ultimate Warrior into the WWE Hall of Fame.”

    The Ultimate Warrior (James Brian Hellwig) appeared in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) between 1987 and 1996. During that time, he won the WWF Championship after thrashing Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania VI on April 1, 1990 at the SkyDome in Toronto, Ontario.

    http://youtu.be/vTKSFfnEpr8

    By 1991, Warrior was fired after McMahon claimed he refused to go to the ring unless McMahon paid him a certain amount in prize money. Warrior returned to the ring in 1992 but was again fired with McMahon claiming he violated the company’s drug policy, a claim Warrior later denied during a 2012 radio interview.

    After being on hiatus for a few years The Ultimate Warrior made yet another return in 1996 but was once again fired, this time for good. McMahon said Warrior refused to show up in various WWE events in which he had been advertised.

    In 2005, McMahon approved the release of a DVD titled “The Self-Destruction of the Ultimate Warrior.” Warrior sued the WWE  claiming that the video violated a March 2000 settlement agreement that prohibited them from disparaging each other. The case was thrown out by the judge because Warrior had already breached the contract by making disparaging statements about McMahon and the WWE before the video even came out.

    Today the two men have reconciled their differences and finally the now 54-year-old Warrior will get to officially leave the sport with the farewell he deserves. The induction ceremony is scheduled to take place at the New Orleans Arena on April 5.

     

     

    The Ultimate Warrior 2014 WWE Hall Of Fame Inductee

    Image via YouTube

  • Vietnam WWF: Country Ranks the Worst for Rhino Poaching

    Vietnam, according to the WWF, ranks among the worst countries in Asia when it comes to protecting endangered species. The World Wildlife Federation, which is based out of Switzerland, has found that the country is a hot-spot destination for those looking to sell rhino horns trafficked from South Africa. 448 rhinos were killed in 2011 alone, with an additional 262 already murdered this year. Several Vietnamese have been arrested for their crimes, including a handful of diplomats. Sadly, it doesn’t appear this trend will end anytime soon.

    “It is time for Vietnam to face the fact that its illegal consumption of rhino horn is driving the widespread poaching of endangered rhinos in Africa, and that it must crack down on the illegal rhino horn trade. Vietnam should review its penalties and immediately curtail retail markets, including Internet advertising for horn,” explained Elisabeth McLellan, Global Species Programm manager at WWF.

    The WWF released a report detailing 23 countries thought to be heavily involved in the illegal trade of endangered animals. According to the Brookings Institute, which is based out of Washington D.C., such practices are thought to bring in between $8 billion and $10 billion per year throughout Southeast Asia. With that much money tied into the black market, getting countries to crack down on such practices will be harder than most realize.

    Of course, Vietnam isn’t the only country in the region guilty of not cracking down on people who make a living from butchering endangered animals. China came in at a close second, with Thailand trailing not too far behind.

    “In Thailand, illegal African ivory is being openly sold in up-scale boutiques that cater to unsuspecting tourists. Governments will be taking up this troubling issue this week,” McLellan said. “So far Thailand has not responded adequately to concerns and, with the amount of ivory of uncertain origin in circulation, the only credible option at this stage is a ban on ivory trade.”

    There is a bit of a silver lining to this depressing story. Both India and Nepal received positive marks from the WWF, the latter of which celebrated an entire year without a reported case of rhino poaching. The country attributes this accomplishment to a new wave of anti-poaching laws.

  • WWF Launches Gift Catalog On Facebook

    The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has launched what it calls the first, nonprofit gift catalog on Facebook today.

     WWF’s Gift Center on Facebook allows users to make a donation and pick a symbolic animal adoption from a list of more than 100 animals. Animal adoptions and all other items from the gift catalog, are connected to Facebook’s “Like”  and “Share” features, allowing users to create virtual “wish lists.”

     

    WFF-Facebook

     

    “We are offering our members and other supporters on Facebook a unique opportunity to support WWF’s conservation work while demonstrating to friends and family their commitment to protecting our planet’s most amazing wildlife and wild places,” said WWF’s chief marketing officer, Terry Macko. 

    “Our new Facebook Gift Center is an innovative way to educate and fundraise and it allows people to have fun by giving, getting, ‘liking’ and ‘sharing.’”

    All symbolic adoption donations made through the gift catalog come with a formal adoption certificate, a color photo of the adopted species and a description card.  Adoptions of $50 or more come with a a stuffed animal of the adopter’s choice and are shipped free in the U.S.