TEAM backstage notes

TEAM backstage notes


- Jess Chapel, owner and CEO of TEAM, and Tom Holzerman, his primary business partner and owner of Everyone's Wrestling Alliance, the original third national fed that folded in late 2005, have teamed up officially to create TEWAM Enterprises. TEWAM Enterprises will be the parent company for TEAM and for the EWA, which is currently scheduled to reopen in late March. The deal may provide an EWA squad for TEAM when the fed actually begins league play, which, at this point, is unknown.

- TEAM's preliminary deal with Extreme Sports Entertainment Networks will be just that, a preliminary deal. ESEN agreed to air the TEAM Invitational Tournament, both on the regular network in the form of match of the week selections and Epicenter recap shows and on their
Season Pass program, which provided guaranteed On Demand replays and viewings of all tournament matches. ESEN and TEAM have amicably decided not to renew the deal. Sources say Jess Chapel didn't want any brand confusion with New Frontier Wrestling, and he didn't want the chase for the Dupree Cup to interfere with or take a backseat to the chase for the ULTRATITLE. As for television, Alternative Sports Network and Chapel have been in discussions for a television deal. ASN, a national cable and satellite sports network that started in 2004 with a main focus on "extreme" sports, has also agreed to air the EWA's flagship Sunday Prime Time program. Sources say that television was the biggest factor in the formation of TEWAM Enterprises.

- Although their exchange seemed a bit testy, both Victor Molotov and Beast insist that their war of words this week was not indicative of any shooting and was just a display to appeal to 'Net fans.

- Management is not pleased with WildStar's showing pre-match with Mr. Entertainment, and have reportedly told him not to even make the flight to Portland for the quarterfinal card.

- Appearances for the last two cards at Madison Square Garden are rumored to include Kin Hiroshi, Frankie Scott and a special appearance by a former A1E "diva."