Rabu, 27 Maret 2013

tugas softskill maret 2013 kelas 3DB22 KALIMALANG



Jasa-Jasa Bank
Sejarah mencatat asal mula dikenalnya kegiatan perbankan adalah pada zaman kerajaan tempo dulu di daratan Eropa. Kemudian usaha perbankan ini berkembang ke Asia Barat oleh para pedagang. Perkembangan perbankan di Asia, Afrika dan Amerika dibawa oleh bangsa Eropa pada saat melakukan penjajahan ke negara jajahannya baik di Asia, Afrika maupun benua Amerika. Bila ditelusuri, sejarah dikenalnya perbankan dimulai dari jasa penukaran uang. Sehingga dalam sejarah perbankan, arti bank dikenal sebagai meja tempat penukaran uang. Dalam perjalanan sejarah kerajaan tempo dulu mungkin penukaran uangnya dilakukan antar kerajaan yang satu dengan kerajaan yang lain. Kegiatan penukaran ini sekarang dikenal dengan nama Pedagang Valuta Asing (Money Changer). Kemudian dalam perkembangan selanjutnya, kegiatan operasional perbankan berkembang lagi menjadi tempat penitipan uang atau yang disebut sekarang ini kegiatan simpanan. Berikutnya kegiatan perbankan bertambah dengan kegiatan peminjaman uang. Uang yang disimpan oleh masyarakat, oleh perbankan dipinjamkan kembali kepada masyarakatyang membutuhkannya. Jasa-jasa bank lainnya menyusul sesuai dengan perkembangan zaman dan kebutuhan masyarakat yang semakin beragam.


Jasa bank sangat penting dalam pembangunan ekonomi suatu negara. Jasa perbankan pada umumnya terbagi atas dua tujuan. Pertama, sebagai penyedia mekanisme dan alat pembayaran yang efesien bagi nasabah. Untuk ini, bank menyediakan uang tunai, tabungan, dan kartu kredit. Ini adalah peran bank yang paling penting dalam kehidupan ekonomi. Tanpa adanya penyediaan alat pembayaran yang efesien ini, maka barang hanya dapat diperdagangkan dengan cara barter yang memakan waktu.


Kedua, dengan menerima tabungan dari nasabah dan meminjamkannya kepada pihak yang membutuhkan dana, berarti bank meningkatkan arus dana untuk investasi dan pemanfaatan yang lebih produktif. Bila peran ini berjalan dengan baik, ekonomi suatu negara akan menngkat. Tanpa adanya arus dana ini, uang hanya berdiam di saku seseorang, orang tidak dapat memperoleh pinjaman dan bisnis tidak dapat dibangun karena mereka tidak memiliki dana pinjaman.


Menurut UU RI No 10 Tahun 1998 tanggal 10 November 1998 tentang perbankan, dapat disimpulkan bahwa usaha perbankan meliputi tiga kegiatan, yaitu menghimpun dana,menyalurkan dana, dan memberikan jasa bank lainnya. Kegiatan menghimpun dan menyalurkan dana merupakan kegiatan pokok bank sedangkan memberikan jasa bank lainnya hanya kegiatan pendukung. Kegiatan menghimpun dana, berupa mengumpulkan dana dari masyarakat dalam bentuk simpanan giro, tabungan, dan deposito. Biasanya sambil diberikan balas jasa yang menarik seperti, bunga dan hadiah sebagai rangsangan bagi masyarakat. Kegiatan menyalurkan dana, berupa pemberian pinjaman kepada masyarakat. Sedangkan jasa-jasa perbankan lainnya diberikan untuk mendukung kelan


Jasa-jasa bank merupakan kegiatan perbankan yang dilakukan oleh suatu bank untuk memperlancar kegiatan menghimpun dana dan menyalurkan dana. Semakin lengkap jasa bank yang diberikan maka akan semakin baik dengan demikian akan menarik nasabah. Hal tersebut karena nasabah merasa nyaman melakukan kegiatan keuangan dari satu bank saja.


Bank melaksanakan jasa ini tidak hanya untuk menarik perhatian nasabah semata-mata, namun juga untuk mencari keuntunagn yang disebut dengan fee based.


Keuntungan yang diperoleh dari jasa bank antara lain :


1. biaya adminstrasi (adm kredit )


2. biaya kirim (biaya transfer)


3. biaya tagih (biaya kliring)


4. biaya provisi dan komisi (jasa kredit/transfer)


5. biaya sewa (sewa safe deposit box)


6. biaya iuran (biaya kartu kredit)


7. biaya lain-lain.



Transefer


Transfer adalah suatu kegiatan jasa bank untuk memindahkan sejumlah dana tertentu sesuai dengan perintah si pemberi amanat yang ditujukan untuk keuntungan seseorang yang ditunjuk sebagai penerima transfer. Baik transfer uang keluar atau masuk akan mengakibatkan adanya hubungan antar cabang yang bersifat timbal balik, artinya bila satu cabang mendebet cabang lain


mengkredit.

Transfer Keluar, Salah satu jenis pengiriman uang yang dapat menyederhanakan lalu lintas pembayaran adalah dengan pengiriman uang keluar. Media untuk melakukan transfer ini adalah secara tertulis ataupun melalui kawat.
Transfer masuk, dimana bank menerima amanat dari salah satu cabang untuk membayar sejumlah uang kepada seseorang beneficiary. Dalam hal ini bank pembayar akan membukukan hasil transfer kepada rekening nasabah beneficiary bila ia memiliki rekening di bank pembayar. Transfer masuk tidak dikenakan lagi komisi karena si nasabah pemberi amanat telah dibebankan sejumlah komisi pada saat memberikan amanat transfer.


Inkaso

Inkaso merupakan kegiatan jasa Bank untuk melakukan amanat dari pihak ke tiga berupa penagihan sejumlah uang kepada seseorang atau badan tertentu di kota lain yang telah ditunjuk oleh si pemberi amanat.
Warkat Inkaso
Warkat inkaso tanpa lampiran Yaitu warkat – warkat inkaso yang tidak dilampirkan dengan dokumen – dokumen apapun seperti cek, bilyet giro, wesel dan surat berharga
Warkat inkaso dengan lampiran Yaitu warkat – warkat inkaso yang dilampirkan dengan dokumen – dokumen lainnya seperti kwitansi, faktur, polis asuransi dan dokumen – dokumen penting.
Jenis Inkaso
Inkaso Keluar, Merupakan kegiatan untuk menagih suatu warkat yang telah diterbitkan oleh nasabah bank lain. Di sini bank menerima amanat dari nasabahnya sendiri untuk menagih warkat tersebut kepada seseorang nasabah bank lain di kota lain.
Inkaso Masuk, Merupakan kegiatan yang masuk atas warkat yang telah diterbitkan oleh nasabah sendiri. Dalam kegiatan inkaso masuk, bank hanya memeriksa kecukupan dari nasabahnya yang telah menerbitkan warkat kepada pihak ke tiga.

Banks Garansi
Bank garansi adalah salah satu jasa yang diberikan oleh bank berupa jaminan pembayaran sejumlah tertentu uang yang akan diberikan kepada pihak yang menerima jaminan, hanya apabila pihak yang dijamin melakukan cidera janji. Perjanjian bisa berupa perjanjian jual – beli, sewa, kontrak – mengontrak, pemborongan, dan lain – lain. Pihak yang dijamin biasanya adalah nasabah bank yang besangkutan, sedangkan jaminan diberikan kepada pihak lain yang mengadakan suatu perjanjian dengan nasabah Jenis dan Manfaat Bank Garansi



Beberapa jenis bank garansi yang ada antara lain:
Bank Garansi Pembelian
Bank Garansi Pita Cukai Tembakau
Bank Garansi Penangguhan Bea Masuk
Bank Garansi Tender (Bid Bond)
Bank Garansi Pelaksanaan (Perfomance Bond)
Bank Garansi Uang Muka (Advance Payment Bond)
Bank Garansi Pemeliharaan (Retention Bond)


Letter of Credit

Letter of Credit atau dalam bahasa Indonesia disebut Surat Kredit Berdokumen merupakan salah satu jasa yang ditawarkan bank dalam rangka pembelian barang, berupa penangguhan pembayaran pembelian oleh pembeli sejak LC dibuka sampai dengan jangka waktu tertentu sesuai perjanjian. Berdasarkan pengertian tersebut, tipe perjanjian yang dapat difasilitasi LC terbatas hanya pada perjanjian jual – beli, sedangkan fasilitas yang diberikan adalah berupa penangguhan pembayaran.


Waliamanat

Waliamanat adalah pihak yang mewakili kepentingan Pemegang Efek bersifat uang. Bank Umum yang akan bertindak sebagai Wali Amanat wajib terlebih dahulu terdaftar di Bapepan untuk mendapatkan Surat Tanda Terdaftar sebagai Wali Amanat.


Manfaat dari Wali Amanat adalah:
Memenuhi salah satu persyaratan atas penerbitan obligasi.
Meningkatkan kepercayaan investor untuk membeli obligasi yang diterbitkan.
Menambah kepercayaan investor atas bonafiditas emiten.


Persyaratan untuk menjadi Wali Amanat adalah:
Bertempat kedudukan di Indonesia.
Dalam dua tahun terakhir secara berturut – turut memperoleh laba/keuntungan.
Laporan keuangan telah diperiksa akuntan publik/akuntan Negara untuk dua tahun berturut – turut dengan pernyataan pendapat wajar tanpa syarat untuk tahun terakhir.


Kliring

Kliring adalah suatu cara penyelasaian utang – piutang antara bank – bank peserta kliring dalam bentuk warkat atau surat – surat berharga disuatu tempat tertentu. Warkat kliring antara lain: cek, bilyet, CD, Nota Debet dan Nota Kredit. Warkat harus dinyatakan dalam mata uang rupiah, bernilai nominal penuh, dan telah jatuh tempo.

Kliring dibagi 2, yaitu:
Kliring Manual
Kliring Elektronik

Tujuan dilaksanakan kliring oleh Bank Indonesia antara lain :
Untuk memajukan dan memperlancar lalu lintas pembayaran giral
Agar perhitungan penyelesaian utang piutang dapat dilakukan dengan lebih mudah, aman dan efisien
Salah satu pelayanan bank kepada nasabah

Traveller Cheque

Travellers cheque dikenal dengan nama cek wisata atau cek perjalanan yang biasanya digunakan oleh nasabah yang bepergian. Cek Wisata ini biasanya diterbitkan dengan nominal tertentu

Keuntungan :
Memberikan kemudahan berbelanja
Mengurangi resiko kehilangan uang
Memberikan rasa percaya diri
Dapat dijadikan cederamata atau hadiah untuk relasi biasanya tidak ada biaya apapun
Safe Deposit Box merupakan jasa bank yang diberikan kepada pada nasabah, yaitu berupa kotak untuk menyimpan dokumen-dokumen atau benda benda berharganya.

Bank Card
Bank card merupakan kartu plastik yang dikeluarkan bank dan diberikan kepada nasabahnya untuk dapat dipergunakan sebagai alat pembayaran di berbagai tempat. Dalam system kerja bank card terlihaaat ada 3 pihak yang terlibat dalam prosesnya, yaitu:
Bank sebagai penerbit dan pembayar
Pedagang / merchant, sebagai tempat belanja
Pemegang kartu / card holder, sebagai yang berhak melakukan transaksi.


Keleluasaan dan kebebasan dalam menggunakan sangat dibatasi pada jenis kartu yang diterbitkan. Setiap jenis bank card memiliki keunggulan dan kekurangan.
Charge card, suatu system dimana pemegang kartu harus melunasi semua penagihan yang terjadi atas dirinya sekaligus pada sat jatuh tempo
Credit card, suatu system dimana pemegang kartu dapat melunasi penahian yang terjadi atas dirinya secar angsuran pada saat jatuh tempo
Debet card, pembayaran atas penagihan nasbaah melalui pendebetan atas rekening yang ada di bank dimana pada saat membuka kartu
Smart card, berfungsi sebagai rekening terpadu
Private label card, merupakan kartu yang diterbitkan oleh suatu badan usaha (bukan bank) dan penggunaan kartu hanya sebatas pada perusahaan yang mengeluarkan.


KESIMPULAN

Dalam dunia perbankan penawaran jasa merupakan suatu Profit Strategy untuk memikat lebih banyak pelanggan baru, mempertahankan pelanggan yang ada, menghindari berpindahnya pelanggan dan menciptakan keunggulan khusus.


sumber :
http://greeaone.wordpress.com

INKASO
Inkasso
Pengertian Inkasso
Inkaso merupakan kegiatan jasa Bank untuk melakukan amanat dari pihak ke tiga berupa penagihan sejumlah uang kepada seseorang atau badan tertentu di kota lain yang telah ditunjuk oleh si pemberi amanat. Sebagai imbalan jasa atas jasa tersebut biasanya bank menerapkan sejumlah tarif atau fee tertentu kapada nasabah atau calon nasabahnya. Tarif tersebut dalam dunia perbankan disebut dengan biaya inkaso. Sebagai imbalan bank meminta imbalan atau pembayarn atas penagihan tersebut disebut dengan biaya inkaso.
Keuntungan transaksi inkasso
Inkaso memiliki manfaat atau keuntungan seperti diantaranya adalah sebagai berikut :
  • Membantu lebih efektif dan efisien dalam penyelesaian tagihan antar kota.
  • Lebih bonafid dan nasabah memiliki reputasi yang lebih jelas.
  • Kemudahan dalam penagihan pembayaran atas warkat-warkat dengan biaya yang kompetitif.
Mekanisme atau prosedur inkasso
Inkaso dibedakan menjadi:
a. Inkaso melalui bank lain yaitu inkaso yang dilaksanakan terhadap pihak
ketiga yang merupakan nasabah dari Bank lain.
b. Inkaso melalui cabang sendiri yaitu Inkaso yang dilakukan melalui cabang
Bank sendiri untuk pihak ketiga di luar kota pada kantor cabang Bank sendiri.
Biaya atau fee transaksi inkasso
rincian biaya yang dikeluarkan dalam melakukan Inkaso yaitu sebagai berikut :
-          Outward collection (inkaso keluar) : 0,125% x nominal transfer (min USD 10, max USD 150) atau biasanya Rp 7.500,-
-          Inward collection (inkaso masuk) : 0,125% x nominal transfer (min USD 10, max USD 150) + USD 35 atau biasanya Rp 5.000,-

Sumber :
  1. http://rianariandi.blogspot.com/2011/05/pengertian-inkasso-keuntungan-transaksi.html
  2. http://dannaru.blogspot.com/2011/05/inkasso.html


TRASFER SATE  DEPOSIT BOX
Safe deposit "beralih ke halaman ini, tidak menjadi bingung dengan Safedeposits di Skotlandia.

Safe deposit box di dalam bank Swiss.

Sebuah brankas, juga disebut sebuah safety deposit box adalah wadah individual aman, biasanya diadakan dalam waktu yang aman yang lebih besar atau lemari besi bank. Safe deposit box umumnya terletak di bank, kantor pos atau lembaga lainnya. Safe deposit box yang digunakan untuk menyimpan harta berharga, seperti batu permata, logam mulia, mata uang, surat berharga, dokumen penting seperti surat wasiat, perbuatan properti, dan akte kelahiran, atau komputer penyimpanan data yang membutuhkan perlindungan dari pencurian, kebakaran,
banjir, gangguan atau alasan lain. Dalam pengaturan yang khas, penyewa membayar bank biaya untuk penggunaan kotak, yang dapat dibuka hanya dengan produksi dari sebuah tombol yang ditetapkan, kunci penjaga sendiri bank, tanda tangan yang tepat, dan mungkin kode dari beberapa macam. [1] Beberapa bank tambahan menggunakan biometrik dual-kontrol keamanan untuk melengkapi prosedur keamanan konvensional [2].

Banyak hotel, resort dan kapal pesiar menawarkan safe deposit box atau brankas kecil untuk pelanggan mereka. [3]


Letter Of Credit (L/C) / Ekspor Impor

LETTER of credit (L/C) muncul dalam mekanisme perdagangan internasional sebagai manifestasi dari kontrak dagang (sales contract) antara penjual dan pembeli sebagai kontrak dasar yang disepakati mengenai syarat pembayaran transaksi mereka. Sales contract sendiri adalah kesepakatan yang dibuat oleh penjual dan pembeli untuk melakukan jual beli barang atau jasa yang berisi butir-butir persyaratan yang mereka setujui.
Karena penjual (eksportir) dan pembeli (importir) umumnya terpisahkan oleh jarak dan geografis -ditambah lagi oleh perbedaan karakter, budaya, dan bahasa-, maka wajar apabila muncul suatu kondisi saling kurang percaya di antara mereka. Nah, untuk menjembatani hal itu, L/C menjadi pilihan terbaik. Kesepakatan dalam sales contract dituangkan ke dalam content L/C. Namun, L/C tidak dapat disangkutpautkan dengan sales contract. L/C terpisah dari sales contract.
L/C sendiri merupakan perjanjian yang diterbitkan oleh suatu bank (issuing/ opening bank) yang bertindak atas permintaan nasabahnya (importir/ applicant/ accountee) untuk melakukan pembayaran atas dokumen ekspor-impor yang dikirimkan oleh penerima L/C (eksportir/ beneficiary).
Namun syaratnya, dokumen yang dikirimkan eksportir itu harus sesuai dengan syarat dan kondisi yang sudah ditentukan dalam L/C (complying presentation). L/C diterbitkan oleh issuing bank sebagai JAMINAN PEMBAYARAN kepada eksportir. Karena itulah L/C disebut juga Documentary Credit (Kredit Berdokumen).
Mengapa L/C dipilih oleh eksportir dan importir sebagai instrumen yang menjembatani transaksi mereka? Berikut ini jawabannya:
1. Konflik kepentingan
Sudah menjadi nature penjual kalau menginginkan pembayaran secepat mungkin, dan mengirim barang selambat mungkin.Sementara, pembeli pasti menginginkan sebaliknya. Barang diterima secepat mungkin, tapi pembayaran dilakukan semolor mungkin.
Nah, untuk menjembatani konflik kepentingan itulah L/C dipilih. Dengan L/C, hak dan kewajiban eksportir dan importir menjadi jelas. L/C mengatur kapan barang harus dikirim oleh beneficiary dan kapan applicant harus membayarnya. Dengan L/C, urusan jual-beli menjadi lebih tertib dan terjamin.
2. Kebutuhan pembiayaan dari bank
Fungsi bank dalam L/C adalah sebagai penjamin pembayaran L/C kepada beneficiary. Applicant yang hendak membuka L/C diharuskan menyetor deposit sebesar nilai L/C. Bisa berupa dana efektif, saldo rekening giro yang diblokir, maupun deposito yang diblokir. Di sinilah letak kekuatan jaminan itu. Dana untuk membayar kepada beneficiary sudah dikuasai bank. Selama dokumen yang dipresentir oleh beneficiary sesuai dengan syarat L/C, dana itu tinggal dibayarkan sesuai saat jatuh tempo yang diatur dalam L/C.
Tapi bank tidak hanya berfungsi sebagai penjamin dalam kapasitas menguasai cover (dana) pembayaran dari applicant. Lebih dari itu, bank dapat mengambil peran lebih mendalam dengan membiayai proses transaksi ekspor-impor itu. Tentu saja peran ini membuat bank terekspos kepada risiko yang mungkin timbul. Kebijakan pembiayaan dari bank ini disebut dengan Trade Finance.
Seperti apakah bentuk pembiayaan dari bank dalam konteks instrumen L/C itu? Berikut ini jawabannya, dilihat dari sisi beneficiary maupun applicant.
1. Beneficiary
Eksportir yang mendapat fasilitas pembiayaan dari bank dapat memanfaatkannya untuk menerima pembayaran lebih cepat, sebelum L/C jatuh tempo. Itu berarti, eksportir sudah dapat menikmati pembayaran sebelum importir membayar, karena ditalangi terlebih dahulu oleh bank. Ada dua jenis pembiayaan untuk eksportir berdasarkan jangka waktu (tenor) L/C:
a. Negosiasi ==> L/C Sight
L/C sight adalah L/C yang jatuh temponya atas unjuk (sight). Maksudnya, pembayaran akan diterima beneficiary setelah dokumen yang dikirimkannya diterima oleh bank penerbit L/C, dengan catatan dokumen memenuhi syarat dan kondisi yang ditentukan dalam L/C.
Nah, sebelum issuing bank melakukan pembayaran, bank beneficiary dapat mengambil posisi sebagai negotiating bank dengan melakukan negosiasi atau mengambil alih wesel ekspor eksportir yang ditagihkan kepada applicant. Setelah melakukan assessment yang menyatakan beneficiary layak menerima negosiasi, bank mengucurkan dana sebagai talangan pembayaran untuk beneficiary.
Tapi namanya juga fasilitas talangan, bank tentu membebankan sejumlah biaya kepada beneficiary, yaitu transit interest (bunga yang dikenakan hingga menerima pembayaran dari pihak importir), biaya porto kurir dokumen, dan/ atau biaya dari bank koresponden.
b. Diskonto ==> L/C Usance
L/C usance adalah L/C yang jatuh temponya berjangka sesuai dengan tenornya, umumnya 30, 60, 90, 120, atau 180 hari. Maksudnya, pembayaran akan diterima beneficiary sesuai tenornya. Misalnya dengan tenor 30 hari, berarti tanggal jatuh temponya adalah 30 hari setelah tanggal pengiriman barang, yang diindikasikan dari tanggal barang shipped on board pada Bill of Lading.
Jika dalam L/C sight beneficiary menerima pembayaran awal melalui negosiasi, maka dalam L/C usance melalui diskonto (discount). Prosesnya, setelah issuing bank menyatakan persetujuan untuk membayar L/C pada tanggal jatuh tempo (akseptasi), bank beneficiary sebagai nominated bank kemudian melakukan diskonto, dengan mengucurkan talangan untuk membayar beneficiary lebih awal. Tentu saja setelah bank melalui assessment bahwa diskonto layak dilakukan. Ini mengingat bank dihadapkan pada risiko tinggi dengan mengambil kebijakan seperti ini. Tak lupa, beneficiary juga dikenakan bunga diskonto hingga tanggal jatuh tempo pembayaran dari importir, porto kurir dokumen, dan/ atau ongkos bank koresponden.
2. Applicant
Dari sisi importir, bank juga dapat memberikan fasilitas pembayaran. Bentuknya berupa pemberian failitas L/C impor, yang biasanya merupakan satu paket dengan fasilitas kredit usaha. Jadi, pada umumnya importir yang mendapat fasilitas ini merupakan debitur pada banknya. Dengan mendapat fasilitas impor, applicant tidak harus menyetor dana penuh untuk dapat membuka L/C, namun cukup 10 persen saja misalnya, sesuai dengan perjanjian kredit yang diberikan bank. Sedangkan kewajibannya yang 90 persen diselesaikan pada saat jatuh tempo. Karena itu pula, umumnya L/C yang dibuka dalam bentuk L/C usance agar kewajiban membayar tidak terlalu cepat.
3. Adanya aturan yang standard secara universal
L/C dipilih oleh para pelaku perdagangan internasional karena ada sebuah produk yang memberikan batasan-batasan dalam praktik menggunakan L/C. Perbedaan kebiasaan dan tipikal yang tentu ada pada para pelaku perdagangan internasional yang melewati batas negara, bahasa, dan budaya dapat dijembatani oleh produk ini.
Produk itu adalah Uniform Customs and Practices for Documentary Credit (UCPDC). UCPDC merupakan produk International Chambers of Commerce (ICC) yang berisi kebiasaan-kebiasaan yang seragam dan telah dibakukan atas praktik-praktik yang digunakan sebagai acuan dalam perdagangan internasional yang menggunakan L/C sebagai sistem pembayarannya.
UCPDC pertama kali diperkenalkan pada tahun 1933 dan telah mengalami beberapa revisi. Revisi mutakhir yang digunakan adalah revisi keenam dengan nomor publikasi 600 (sering disebut UCPDC 2007 Revision Publication 600), yang mulai berlaku efektif tanggal 1 Juli 2007.
Namun satu hal, UCPDC tidak mempunyai kekuatan hukum yang mengikat. Sekali lagi, UCPDC adalah formalisasi kebiasaan yang diseragamkan dalam praktik perdagangan internasional yang menggunakan L/C. UCPDC berguna untuk meminimalisir terjadinya perselisihan dalam transaksi ekspor-impor, karena itu L/C yang dibuka perlu ditegaskan tunduk kepada UCPDC edisi tertentu. Umumnya, kini banyak yang mengacu pada edisi yang terakhir yaitu Revisi 2007 Publikasi 600.

TRAVELLOR CHAGUE
Sebuah cek perjalanan (juga cek perjalanan, wisatawan cek, cek perjalanan atau cek perjalanan ini) adalah, cetakan tetap sejumlah cek yang dirancang untuk memungkinkan orang yang menandatanganinya untuk melakukan pembayaran tanpa syarat kepada orang lain sebagai hasil dari memiliki membayar penerbit untuk itu hak istimewa.

Mereka umumnya digunakan oleh orang-orang berlibur, bukan uang tunai sebagai bisnis yang digunakan untuk menerima cek perjalanan sebagai mata uang. Jika cek perjalanan hilang atau dicuri, mereka bisa digantikan oleh lembaga keuangan penerbit. Penggunaannya telah menurun sejak tahun 1990-an sebagai alternatif, seperti kartu kredit, kartu debit dan mesin teller otomatis menjadi lebih banyak tersedia dan lebih mudah dan lebih nyaman bagi wisatawan.
Isi

    1 Terminologi
    2 Sejarah
        2.1 Penurunan penggunaan
    3 Penggunaan
        3.1 Pembelian cek untuk kemudian digunakan
        3.2 Pencairan cek
        3.3 Denominasi dan perubahan
        3.4 Deposit dan penyelesaian
    4 Masalah Keamanan
    5 Alternatif
    6 Lihat juga
    7 Referensi
    8 Pranala luar

Terminologi

Istilah hukum bagi para pihak untuk suatu cek perjalanan adalah obligor atau penerbit, organisasi yang memproduksinya, agen, bank atau tempat lain yang menjual itu, pembeli, orang alami yang membelinya, dan penerima pembayaran, entitas untuk siapa pembeli menulis cek untuk barang dan / atau jasa. Untuk tujuan clearance, obligor adalah baik pembuat dan drawee.
Sejarah

Cek perjalanan pertama dikeluarkan pada 1 Januari 1772 oleh Perusahaan Bursa Kredit London untuk digunakan dalam sembilan puluh kota-kota Eropa, [1] dan pada tahun 1874 Thomas Cook mengeluarkan 'catatan melingkar' yang beroperasi dalam cara cek perjalanan. [2]

American Express adalah perusahaan pertama yang mengembangkan sistem cek traveler skala besar ini pada tahun 1891, [3] dan masih merupakan penerbit terbesar dari cek perjalanan hari ini oleh volume. Pengantar American Express tentang cek perjalanan secara tradisional dikaitkan dengan karyawan Marcellus Flemming Berry, setelah presiden direktur JC Fargo punya masalah di kota-kota Eropa yang lebih kecil mendapatkan dana dengan letter of credit.

Antara 1950-an dan 1990-an cek perjalanan menjadi salah satu cara utama bahwa orang-orang mengambil uang berlibur untuk digunakan di negara-negara asing tanpa risiko yang terkait dengan membawa uang dalam jumlah besar.

Beberapa merek cek perjalanan telah dipasarkan, yang paling akrab mereka adalah Thomas Cook Group, Bank of America dan American Express.
Penurunan penggunaan

Penerimaan luas dan keamanan yang lebih baik dari alternatif seperti kartu kredit dan debit berarti penurunan yang signifikan dalam penggunaan cek perjalanan sejak 1990-an. Selain itu, masalah keamanan untuk pengecer menerima cek perjalanan berarti bahwa banyak bisnis tidak lagi menerima mereka, membuat mereka kurang menarik bagi wisatawan. Hal ini telah menyebabkan keluhan tentang kesulitan yang pemegang miliki dalam menggunakan mereka. Di sebagian besar Eropa dan Asia, pemeriksaan tidak lagi diterima secara luas dan tidak dapat dengan mudah diuangkan, bahkan pada bank-bank yang mengeluarkan cek.
Pemakaian
Pembelian cek untuk kemudian digunakan

Cek perjalanan yang dijual oleh bank dan spesialis keuangan kepada pelanggan untuk penggunaan di lain waktu. Setelah mendapatkan hak asuh pasokan dibeli dari cek perjalanan, pembeli harus segera menuliskan tanda tangannya atau dia once upon setiap cek, biasanya pada bagian atas cek itu, ini membantu melindungi mereka jika mereka dicuri. Pembeli juga akan menerima tanda terima dan beberapa dokumentasi lainnya yang harus disimpan di tempat yang aman selain di mana ia membawa cek. Sebagai cek perjalanan biasanya dapat diganti jika hilang atau dicuri (jika pemilik masih memiliki penerimaan yang dikeluarkan dengan pembelian cek yang menunjukkan nomor seri dialokasikan).
Mencairkan cek

Ketika ingin menguangkan cek traveler sementara melakukan pembelian, pembeli harus, di hadapan tanggal, penerima pembayaran dan balasan cek di ruang yang ditunjukkan, biasanya pada bagian cek lebih rendah (jika di sebuah restoran, mungkin akan membantu untuk meminta pelayan untuk menonton dan menunggu untuk ini harus dilakukan). [4]
Denominasi dan perubahan

Perubahan Berlaku untuk transaksi pembelian harus diberikan dalam mata uang lokal seolah-olah cek adalah uang kertas.

Cek perjalanan tersedia dalam beberapa mata uang seperti dolar AS, dolar Kanada, sterling Pounds, yen Jepang, China Yuan dan Euro, denominasi biasanya menjadi 20, 50, atau 100 (x100 untuk Yen) dari apapun mata uang, dan biasanya dijual di bantalan dari lima atau sepuluh cek, misalnya, 5 x € 20 untuk € 100. Cek perjalanan tidak berakhir, sehingga pemeriksaan yang tidak terpakai dapat disimpan oleh pembeli untuk menghabiskan setiap saat di masa depan. Pembeli pasokan cek perjalanan secara efektif memberikan pinjaman bebas bunga kepada penerbit, yang mengapa itu adalah umum bagi bank untuk menjual mereka "bebas komisi" kepada pelanggan mereka. Komisi, di mana ia dibebankan, biasanya 1-2% dari jumlah nilai nominal dijual.
Deposit dan penyelesaian

Sebuah penerima menerima cek perjalanan harus mengikuti prosedur normal untuk menyimpan cek ke rekening bank-nya: biasanya, pengesahan oleh cap atau tanda tangan dan daftar cek dan jumlahnya pada slip setoran. Rekening bank akan dikreditkan dengan jumlah cek seperti item dinegosiasikan lain yang disampaikan untuk izin.

Di Amerika Serikat, jika penerima pembayaran dilengkapi untuk proses pemeriksaan secara elektronik pada titik penjualan (lihat: Periksa 21 Act), mereka masih harus mengambil hak asuh cek dan menyerahkannya ke lembaga keuangan, terutama untuk menghindari kebingungan pada bagian dari pembeli.
Masalah Keamanan

Salah satu keuntungan utama wisatawan cek adalah memberikan penggantian jika hilang atau dicuri.

Namun, fitur ini juga telah menciptakan pasar gelap di mana penipu membeli cek perjalanan, menjual mereka sebesar 50% dari nilai mereka kepada orang lain (seperti wisatawan) dan palsu melaporkan wisatawan mereka cek dicuri dengan perusahaan dari mana cek diperoleh. Dengan demikian, mereka mendapatkan kembali nilai dari cek wisatawan dan membuat 50% dari nilai sebagai keuntungan [5].

Masalah luas cek perjalanan palsu telah menyebabkan sejumlah perusahaan untuk tidak lagi menerima mereka atau untuk memaksakan pemeriksaan ketat ketika mereka digunakan. Ini adalah prosedur keamanan yang wajar untuk penerima pembayaran untuk meminta untuk memeriksa ID gambar pembeli, SIM atau paspor harus cukup, dan melakukannya akan paling berguna juga menjelang akhir dari membandingkan tanda tangan pembeli pada ID dengan mereka di cek. Langkah pertama yang terbaik, bagaimanapun, yang dapat diambil oleh penerima yang memiliki kekhawatiran tentang validitas dari setiap cek perjalanan, adalah untuk menghubungi penerbit langsung, sebuah temuan negatif dengan layanan verifikasi pihak ketiga cek berdasarkan pemeriksaan ID hanya dapat menunjukkan bahwa layanan tidak memiliki catatan tentang pembeli (yang diharapkan, praktis menurut definisi, banyak wisatawan), atau paling buruk bahwa ia telah dianggap tidak kompeten untuk mengelola account chequing pribadi (yang akan memiliki tidak mempengaruhi validitas dari cek perjalanan).

Beberapa pembeli telah menemukan proses pengajuan klaim untuk cek hilang atau dicuri adalah rumit, dan telah ditinggalkan tanpa recourse setelah cek mereka hilang atau dicuri. [6]
Alternatif

Penerimaan luas kartu kredit dan kartu debit di seluruh dunia mulai tahun 1980-an dan 1990-an secara signifikan menggantikan penggunaan cek perjalanan untuk membayar untuk hal-hal berlibur.

Pada tahun 2005, American Express merilis American Express Card Travelers Cheque, kartu disimpan-nilai yang melayani tujuan yang sama sebagai cek perjalanan, tetapi dapat digunakan di toko-toko seperti kartu kredit. Itu namun dihentikan kartu pada bulan Oktober 2007. Sejumlah perusahaan keuangan lainnya melanjutkan untuk mengeluarkan kartu debit yang disimpan-nilai atau pra-bayar yang mengandung beberapa mata uang yang dapat digunakan seperti kartu kredit atau debit di toko-toko dan di ATM, meniru cek perjalanan dalam bentuk elektronik. Salah satu contoh utama adalah Visa TravelMoney kartu. [7]


Rabu, 06 Maret 2013

WWE

WWE

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World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc.
Trading name WWE
Type Public
Traded as NYSEWWE
Industry Professional wrestling, sports entertainment, Mass media
Founded 1952 (promotion)
February 21, 1980 (corporate)
Founder(s) Capitol Wrestling:
Jess McMahon
Toots Mondt
Titan Sports Inc.:
Vince McMahon
Headquarters Stamford, Connecticut, United States
Area served Worldwide
Key people Vince McMahon
(Chairman & CEO)
George Barrios
(CFO)
Michelle D. Wilson
(CMO)
Products Television, publishing, movies, Internet, and merchandise
Services Licensing
Revenue Increase $604.0 Million (2012)[1]
Operating income Increase $53.02 Million (2012)[1]
Profit Increase $39.83 Million (2012)[1]
Total assets Increase $388.7 Million (2012)[1]
Total equity Increase $388.7 Million (2012)[1]
Owner(s) Vince McMahon (53%)[2]
Employees 585 (2011)[3]
Divisions
Subsidiaries
Website Official website
Corporate WWE website
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc.[5] (doing business as WWE, Inc.;[6]) is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales. It is currently the largest professional wrestling promotion in the world, reaching 13 million viewers in the U.S. and broadcasting its shows in 30 languages to more than 145 countries.[7] Like other professional wrestling promotions, WWE's shows do not feature legitimate sporting contests. Instead, its programs feature storyline-driven combat sport matches with predetermined outcomes and fighting maneuvers that are worked, all promoted as legitimate bouts.[8]
Vince McMahon is the majority owner, chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) of the company. Together with his wife Linda McMahon, and their children Shane McMahon and Stephanie McMahon-Levesque (WWE Executive Vice President of Creative), the McMahons hold approximately 70% of WWE's economic interest and 96% of the voting power in the company. The company's headquarters are located in Stamford, Connecticut with offices in New York City, Los Angeles, London, Shanghai, Tokyo, Singapore, and Mumbai.[9][10]
WWE holds an extensive library of videos, representing a significant portion of the visual history of professional wrestling. The company began as the Capitol Wrestling Corporation in 1952, which promoted under the banner of the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF) and later the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). In 1982, it was sold to the same family's Titan Sports company, which later changed its name to World Wrestling Federation Entertainment, before becoming World Wrestling Entertainment in 2002, and simplified to WWE in 2011.[11]

Contents

Company history

Capitol Wrestling Corporation (1952-1963)

Roderick James "Jess" McMahon was a boxing promoter whose achievements included co-promoting a bout in 1915 between Jess Willard and Jack Johnson. In 1926, while working with Tex Rickard (who actually despised wrestling to such a degree he prevented wrestling events from being held at the third Madison Square Garden in New York City between 1939 and 1948), he started promoting boxing at the Garden. The first match during their partnership was a light-heavyweight championship match between Jack Delaney and Paul Berlenbach.
A few years earlier, around 1920, professional wrestler Joseph Raymond "Toots" Mondt had created a new challenge of professional wrestling that he called Slam Bang Western Style Wrestling to make the entertainment more appealing to spectators. At the time, pro wrestling consisted primarily of mat grappling; and while the sport had flourished a decade earlier under Frank Gotch, the fans had since grown tired of the painfully deliberate pace of the bouts. However, Mondt discovered a solution that would completely transform the industry, as he convinced Lewis and Sandow to implement a new form of wrestling that combined features of boxing, Greco-Roman, freestyle, lumber-camp fighting, and theater into what he deemed “Slam Bang Western-Style Wrestling.” He then formed a promotion with wrestler Ed Lewis and his manager Billy Sandow. They persuaded many wrestlers to sign contracts with their Gold Dust Trio. After much success, a disagreement over power caused the trio to dissolve and, with it, their promotion. Mondt formed partnerships with several other promoters, including Jack Curley in New York City. When Curley was dying, Mondt moved to take over New York wrestling with the aid of several bookers, one of whom was Jess McMahon.
Together, McMahon and Mondt created the Capitol Wrestling Corporation Ltd. (CWC). The CWC joined the National Wrestling Alliance in 1953. In November 1954, Jess McMahon died, and Ray Fabiani, one of Mondt's associates, brought in Vincent James McMahon to replace his father in the promotion.[12] McMahon and Mondt were a successful combination, and within a short time, they controlled approximately 70% of the NWA's booking, largely due to their dominance in the heavily populated Northeast region. Mondt taught McMahon about booking and how to work in the wrestling business. Due to the dominance in the northeast, the CWC was referred to by AWA legend Nick Bockwinkel as the "Northeast Triangle", with its territory being defined by Pittsburgh, Washington, D.C., and Maine as points of the triangle.[13]

World Wide Wrestling Federation (1963-1979)

The NWA recognized an undisputed NWA World Heavyweight Champion that went to several different wrestling companies in the alliance and defended the belt around the world. The NWA generally promoted strong shooters as champions, to give their worked sport credibility and guard against double-crosses. While doing strong business in the Midwest (the Alliance's core region), these wrestlers attracted little interest in the Capitol territory. In 1961, the NWA board decided instead to put the belt on bleach blonde showman "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers, a much more effective drawing card in the region.[14] The rest of the NWA was unhappy with Mondt because he rarely allowed Rogers to wrestle outside of the Northeast. Mondt and McMahon wanted Rogers to keep the NWA World Championship, but Rogers was unwilling to sacrifice his $25,000 deposit on the belt (title holders at the time had to pay a deposit to insure they honored their commitments as champion). Rogers lost the NWA World Championship to Lou Thesz in a one-fall match in Toronto, Ontario on January 24, 1963, which led to Mondt, McMahon, and the CWC leaving the NWA in protest, creating the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF) in the process.
The official WWWF logo from 1963 to 1979
In April, Rogers was awarded the new WWWF World Championship following an apocryphal tournament in Rio de Janeiro. He lost the title to Bruno Sammartino a month later on May 17, 1963, after suffering a heart attack shortly before the match. To accommodate Rogers' condition, the match was booked to last under a minute.
Two years later, NWA president Sam Muchnick and McMahon discussed a unification match between Thesz and Sammartino, with both parties agreeing to Sammartino winning the unified title. The match plans fell apart when Sammartino refused to take on the enlarged schedule and Thesz demanded a high guarantee for doing the job.[14]
The WWWF operated in a conservative matter compared to other pro wrestling territories;[15] it ran its major arenas monthly rather than weekly or bi-weekly, usually featuring a babyface champion wrestling various heels in programs consisting of one to three matches, with the initial meeting often featuring a heel win in a non-decisive manner.[16] Although business was initially rather strong, crowds in Madison Square Garden fell off due to a lack of television exposure. After gaining a television program on a Spanish-language station, and turning preliminary wrestler Lou Albano as a manager for Sammartino's heel opponents, the WWWF was doing sellout business by 1970. Albano was soon joined by fellow managers Ernie Roth and Freddie Blassie, forming the "Triumverate of Terror," managing heel opponents for Sammartino and later champions Pedro Morales and Bob Backlund.[17] Heels such as Ivan Koloff and Stan Stasiak were used to transition the title from one babyface to another; "Superstar" Billy Graham enjoyed a nine and a half month reign as a heel champion, as McMahon felt he would need this much time to build up Bob Backlund as championship material.[18]
Mondt left the company in the late sixties. Although the WWWF had withdrawn from the NWA, Vince McMahon, Sr. quietly rejoined the organization in 1971, although he did not book an NWA world champion in his territory until Harley Race in the late 1970s. At the annual meeting of the NWA in 1983, the McMahons and WWF employee Jim Barnett all withdrew from the organization.[14]
In March 1979, for marketing purposes, the World Wide Wrestling Federation was renamed the World Wrestling Federation (WWF).[19]

Titan Sports, Inc. (1980-1999)

World Wrestling Federation

Vince McMahon, founder of Titan Sports, Inc. and current Majority owner, Chairman, and CEO of WWE.
On February 21, 1980, the son of Vincent J. McMahon, Vincent K. McMahon, founded Titan Sports, Inc.[20] and on June 6, 1982, purchased Capitol Wrestling Corporation Ltd. from his father and other stock holders (Arnold Skaaland, Gorilla Monsoon, and Phil Zacko).[19] The elder McMahon had long since established the northeastern territory as one of the most vibrant members of the NWA. He had long since recognized that professional wrestling was more about entertainment than actual sport. Against his father's wishes, McMahon began an expansion process that fundamentally changed the industry.
The original logo for the company. A modified version of the logo featuring only the 'W' was later used on John Cena's 'Word Life' merchandise from 2003–04[21] and to promote the WWE legends.
The WWF was not the only promotion to have broken ranks with the NWA; the American Wrestling Association (AWA) had long ago ceased being an official NWA member (although like the WWF, they seldom left their own territory). However, neither of the defecting members attempted to undermine the territory system that had been the foundation of the industry for more than half a century.
Other promoters were furious when McMahon began syndicating WWF television shows to television stations across the United States, in areas outside of the WWF's traditional northeastern stronghold. McMahon also began selling videotapes of WWF events outside the Northeast through his Coliseum Video distribution company. He effectively broke the unwritten law of regionalism around which the entire industry had been based. To make matters worse, McMahon used the income generated by advertising, television deals, and tape sales to poach talent from rival promoters. Wrestling promoters nationwide were now in direct competition with the WWF.
Hulk Hogan, due to his appearance in Rocky III, had a national recognition that few other wrestlers could offer, which is what led McMahon to sign him. Roddy Piper was brought in, as well as Jesse Ventura (although Ventura rarely wrestled in the WWF at that point due to the lung disorder that caused his retirement, moving to the commentator booth alongside Gorilla Monsoon). André the Giant, Jimmy Snuka, Don Muraco, Paul Orndorff, Greg Valentine, Ricky Steamboat, and the Iron Sheik (Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri) rounded out the roster. Hogan was clearly McMahon's biggest star, causing some people[who?] to debate whether the WWF could have achieved national success without him.
The WWF would tour nationally in a venture that required huge capital investment; one that placed the WWF on the verge of financial collapse. The future of not just McMahon's experiment, but also the WWF, the NWA, and the whole industry came down to the success or failure of McMahon's groundbreaking concept, WrestleMania. WrestleMania was a pay-per-view extravaganza (in some areas; most areas of the country saw WrestleMania available on closed-circuit television) that McMahon marketed as being the Super Bowl of professional wrestling. The concept of a wrestling supercard was nothing new in North America; the NWA had been running Starrcade a few years prior to WrestleMania, and even the elder McMahon had marketed large Shea Stadium cards viewable in closed-circuit locations. However, McMahon's vision was to make the WWF and the industry itself mainstream, targeting more of the general television audience by exploiting the entertainment side of the industry. With the inaugural WrestleMania the WWF initiated a joint-promotional campaign with MTV, which featured a great deal of WWF coverage and programming, in what was termed the Rock 'n' Wrestling Connection. The mainstream media attention brought on by celebrities including Muhammad Ali, Mr. T, and Cyndi Lauper at the event helped propel WrestleMania to become a staple in popular culture.
The original WrestleMania, held in 1985, was a resounding success. This event is sometimes credited as the debut of what McMahon called "sports entertainment", in contrast to his father's preference of pure wrestling. The WWF did incredible business on the shoulders of McMahon and his all-American babyface hero, Hulk Hogan, for the next several years, creating what some observers dubbed a second golden age for professional wrestling. The introduction of Saturday Night's Main Event on NBC in mid-1985 marked the first time that professional wrestling had been broadcast on network television since the 1950s. In 1987, the WWF produced what was considered to be the pinnacle of the 1980s wrestling boom, WrestleMania III. A rematch of the Wrestlemania III feature bout, once again pitting Champion Hulk Hogan against Andre the Giant on Main Event, was seen by 33 million people, which is still the record for the most watched wrestling match in North America.[22]
New Generation
The logo used to represent the "New Generation" era between 1994 to 1998.
The WWF hit a low point in the wake of allegations of steroid abuse and distribution made against it in 1994; there were also allegations of sexual harassment made by WWF employees. McMahon was eventually exonerated, but it was a public relations nightmare for the WWF. The steroid trial cost the WWF an estimated $5 million at a time when revenues were at an all-time low. To compensate, McMahon cut the pay of both wrestlers and front office personnel – close to 40% in the latter case (and about 50% for top level managers such as Bobby Heenan and Jimmy Hart, who both left). This helped drive many WWF wrestlers to its only major competition, World Championship Wrestling (WCW), between 1994 and 1997. During this period, the WWF promoted itself under the banner of "The New WWF Generation," featuring Shawn Michaels, Diesel, Razor Ramon, Bret Hart, and The Undertaker. In an effort to promote them and other young talent as the new superstars of the ring, the WWF began to play on the age restrictions which former WWF wrestlers such as Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage (who by now were working for WCW) now faced. This is best seen in the "Billionaire Ted" parodies of early 1996 (a reference to WCW's owner and patron, media mogul Ted Turner) which culminated in a "rasslin'" match during the warm-up to WrestleMania XII.
Monday Night Wars
In 1993, the WWF broke new ground in televised professional wrestling with the debut of its cable program WWF Monday Night Raw. After becoming a runaway success, WCW countered in 1995 with its own Monday night cable program, WCW Monday Nitro, in the same timeslot as Raw.[23] The two programs would trade wins in the ensuing ratings competition until mid-1996, when WCW began a nearly two-year domination that was largely fueled by the introduction of the New World Order, a stable led by former WWF performers Hulk Hogan, Scott Hall, and Kevin Nash.
The Attitude Era
The updated logo representing the "Attitude" era was introduced in December 1997 and was used until May 2002.
The feuds and match types developed by the end of the mid-1990s began a new era in wrestling. The fans of WWF seemed to favor what was posed to them as the bad guy instead of the good guy. The creative changes made by the WWF creative board saw wrestling take on a "street fighting", "bad attitude" approach; however, despite the revolutionary changes in sports-entertainment that the WWF founded, 1997 remains the lowest of the WWF's financial income and a heavy loss in fan interest to rival WCW. Through to present day many wrestlers acknowledge that at the time, they were not aware of how close the company came to liquidation. Throughout 1996 and 1997, the WWF lost much of its leading talent to WCW, including Razor Ramon (Scott Hall), Diesel (Kevin Nash), Sycho Sid (Sid Eudy), Alundra Blayze (Debrah Miceli), and Rick Rude (Richard Rood). The WWF replaced them with former WCW talent such as Vader (Leon White), Stone Cold Steve Austin, Brian Pillman, Mankind (Mick Foley), and Faarooq (Ron Simmons). Eric Bischoff's public humiliation of the WWF, criticizing them for signing WCW's sacked wrestlers and bragging that WWF wrestlers were signing for WCW due to higher pay, intensified the Monday Night Wars only for Nitro as the WWF struggled to regain its popularity.
McMahon managed to keep Bret Hart from reverting to WCW, and began a feud with Hart and Steve Austin. In Hart's absence after WrestleMania XII, Steve Austin became the new face of the company, starting with his Austin 3:16 speech, shortly after defeating Jake Roberts in the tournament finals at the 1996 King of the Ring pay-per-view.[24] WrestleMania 13 saw Hart defeat Austin in a critically acclaimed submission match, and shortly after saw Hart reform The Hart Foundation. McMahon revolved the company around Hart, Austin and Shawn Michaels, feuding with each other for the majority of the year, leaving many to admire their impact carrying the business through a difficult time. Despite his strong long running image as a face, the Canadian Hart was turned heel in an anti-USA gimmick, while Steve Austin became cheered by fans despite efforts to design him as the ultimate heel, making him a tweener. Rocky Maivia joined the Nation of Domination stable after fans rejected his good guy image, and Shawn Michaels formed the street gang faction D-Generation X with Triple H and Chyna; similar to the Stone Cold Steve Austin character, DX was designed not to care for what the fans or other wrestlers thought of them. Michaels later stated that the concept of DX was brought about after he persuaded McMahon to take a cruder approach to the company's marketing approach following him fining Michaels $10,000 for putting large ornaments in his shorts and exploiting his crotch around the ring during an on-air interview. The Hell in a Cell match between Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker produced a fresh strong foundation for the WWF's creative board.
1997 ended with McMahon facing real life controversy resulting in major ratings and financial losses after becoming widely despised by his employees, wrestling critics, and wrestling fans following Bret Hart's controversial departure from the WWF, later known as the Montreal Screwjob. This proved to be a founding factor in what was to officially kick start The Attitude Era.
By January 1998, the WWF began broadcasting more violence, swearing, and more edgy angles in its attempt to compete with WCW. Following Bret Hart's departure,[25] Vince McMahon used the resulting backlash in the creation of his "Mr. McMahon" character, a dictatorial and fierce ruler who favored heels who were "good for business" over "misfit" faces like Austin. This, in turn, led to the Austin vs. McMahon feud, which, along with D-Generation X who briefly hired Mike Tyson in the buildup to WrestleMania XIV, officially began the Attitude Era. It also featured the established Monday Night Wars, where both WCW and the WWF had Monday night shows that competed against each other in the ratings, and saw the WWF finally beat WCW for the first time in 84 weeks when McMahon made his in-ring debut against Austin. The evolution of more brutal matches with different stipulations to increase viewership worked to a major extent, mainly through the furthering of Hell in a Cell (notably its second appearance featuring The Undertaker vs. Mankind) and the Inferno match (introduced by Kane against The Undertaker).[26] Many wrestlers such as Chris Jericho and The Radicalz (Chris Benoit, Eddie Guerrero, Perry Saturn, Dean Malenko) were drafted from WCW, all publicly claiming on both companies' TV broadcasts that they were extremely unhappy at the storylines and backstage chaos at WCW, and were further intrigued and happier with the structural running of the WWF. The 1996 Olympic gold medalist, Kurt Angle, The Rock (renamed from Rocky Maivia), and Mick Foley (as Mankind, Cactus Jack and Dude Love) were successfully re-invented to compete at the main event level. Notably, Mick Foley's WWF Championship win over The Rock on Monday Night Raw saw WCW lose millions of viewers when WCW President Eric Bischoff instructed announcer Tony Schiavone to give away the result minutes before both main events started, which led to Raw drawing eleven million viewers.

World Wrestling Federation Entertainment, Inc. (1999-2002)

Initial public offerings

On the back of the success of the Attitude Era, several new advances and products were launched. During this period, the WWF's parent company Titan Sports was renamed World Wrestling Federation Entertainment, Inc. (WWFE Inc. or WWFE) and on October 19, 1999 became a publicly traded company, offering 10 million shares priced at $17 each.[27] WWF Entertainment announced its desire to diversify, including creating a nightclub in Times Square, producing feature films, and book publishing.
On April 29, 1999, the WWF made its return to terrestrial television by launching a special program known as SmackDown! on the fledgling UPN network. The Thursday night show became a weekly series on August 26, 1999. The show led to further TV ratings competition with WCW, up against WCW Thunder.
In 2000 the WWF, in collaboration with television network NBC, announced the creation of the XFL, a new professional football league that debuted in 2001.[28] The league had high ratings for the first few weeks, but initial interest waned and its ratings plunged to dismally low levels (one of its games was the lowest-rated prime-time show in the history of American television). NBC walked out on the venture after only one season, but McMahon intended to continue alone. However, after being unable to reach a deal with UPN, McMahon shut down the XFL.[29]

Acquisition of WCW and ECW

By the fall of 1999, The Attitude Era had turned the tide of the Monday Night Wars into WWF's favor for good. After Time Warner merged with AOL, Ted Turner's control over WCW was considerably reduced, and the newly merged company announced a complete lack of interest in professional wrestling as a whole, and decided to sell WCW in its entirety. Although Eric Bischoff—whom Time Warner fired as WCW president in October 1999—was nearing a deal to purchase the company complete, in March 2001, WWF Entertainment, Inc. acquired WCW from AOL Time Warner for a number reported to be around $7 million.[30] Shortly after WrestleMania X-Seven, the WWF launched the Invasion storyline integrating the incoming talent roster from WCW and Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW). With this purchase, WWF now became the largest wrestling promotion in the world, and the only one in North America with mainstream exposure. The assets of ECW, which had folded after filing for bankruptcy protection in April 2001, were purchased by WWE in mid-2003.[31]

World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. / WWE, Inc. (2002-present)

Brand extension

In March 2002, roughly two months before the name change, WWE decided to create two separate rosters, Raw and SmackDown! due to the overabundance of talent left over from the Invasion storyline. This is known as the WWE Brand Extension. Despite much of the originally drafted talent departing by 2004, WWE has continued to separate the shows, taking on younger talent, and holds a Draft Lottery every year. On May 26, 2006, WWE announced the relaunch of Extreme Championship Wrestling as a WWE brand. The new ECW program aired internationally and on Tuesday nights on Syfy in the United States until February 16, 2010.[32]
The "Get the F Out" marketing campaign

Name dispute

In 2000, the World Wide Fund for Nature (also trademarked WWF), an environmental organization, sued World Wrestling Federation Entertainment Inc. in the United Kingdom.[33] The Law Lords agreed that the promotion company had violated a 1994 agreement as Titan Sports which had limited the permissible use of the WWF trademark in Europe, particularly in merchandising. The World Wide Fund and World Wrestling Federation used the initials since March 1979.[34] The last televised event to market the WWF logo was the UK based pay-per-view Insurrextion 2002. On May 5, 2002, the company launched its "Get The F Out" marketing campaign and changed all references on its website from "WWF" to "WWE", while switching the URL from WWF.com to WWE.com.[35] The next day, a press release announced the official name change from World Wrestling Federation Entertainment, Inc. to World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc., or WWE, and the change was publicized later that day during a telecast of Monday Night Raw, which was broadcast from the Hartford Civic Center in Hartford, Connecticut.
Following the case, the use of the WWF "scratch" logo became prohibited on all WWE properties. Additionally, past references to the WWF trademark and initials in 'specified circumstances' became censored.[36] Despite litigation, WWE was still permitted use of the original WWF logo, which was used from 1979 through 1994, as well as the "New WWF Generation" logo, which was used from 1994 through 1998. Furthermore, the company could still make use of the full "World Wrestling Federation" and "World Wrestling Federation Entertainment" names without consequence. In 2003, WWE won a limited decision to continue marketing certain classic video games from THQ and Jakks Pacific that contained the WWF "scratch" logo.[37] However, the packaging on those games had all WWF references replaced with WWE.
Starting with the 1,000th episode of Raw in July 2012, the WWF "scratch" logo is no longer censored in archival footage due to WWE reaching a settlement with the World Wide Fund for Nature.[38] In addition, references to the "WWF" initials are no longer censored when spoken or when written in plain text in archival footage. Since then, full-length matches and other segments featuring the WWF initials and "scratch" logo have been added to the WWE website and the WWE Classics on Demand service. This also includes WWE Home Video releases since October 2012 starting with the re-release of Brock Lesnar: Here Comes The Pain.[39]

Network changes and high-definition

In late 2005, WWE Raw returned after a five-year stint on TNN (now Spike) to its original home USA Network. In 2006, due to contracts with NBC Universal, parent company of USA Network, WWE revived its classic Saturday night show Saturday Night's Main Event (SNME) on NBC after a thirteen-year hiatus. WWE had the chance to promote the company on a major national network rather than the lower profile CW or cable channels like USA Network. SNME airs occasionally on NBC as a WWE special series. On September 26, 2007, it was announced that WWE would be expanding its international operations. Alongside the current international offices in London and Toronto, a new international office would be established in Sydney.[40]
On January 21, 2008, WWE made the transition to high-definition (HD). All TV shows and pay-per-views after this were broadcast in HD. In addition, WWE also introduced a new HD set that is used for both the Raw and SmackDown brands. A different set, though usually similar to the universal design in layout, is used for pay-per-views.[41] On July 23, 2012, Raw debuted a new, modified HD set which has also become universal for all weekly programming.

Social Media, TV-PG, and Public Service Initiatives

On November 19, 2008, WWE launched their online social network, WWE Universe. It initially appeared in April as WWE Fan Nation. Similar to Myspace, it offered blogs, forums, and other features for WWE fans. Also the WWE fanbase began being referred to on-air by the announcers and wrestlers as the "WWE Universe", similar to how some sports franchises refer to their own fanbases ("Red Sox Nation", "Raider Nation", etc.).[42] The social network ceased operations on January 1, 2011.[43] The company subsequently launched a WWE page on Facebook, which, as of October 7, 2011, had more than 39 million fans worldwide. In 2012, WWE became an investor in the social media site Tout, which is now heavily promoted on all programming.[44]
Also in 2008, WWE initiated a change in its programming content. The United States parental guidelines rating system now rates most WWE television programs TV-PG. This was done to promote more family-friendly content in the programming than in the past (especially during the Attitude Era) when most content was rated TV-14. And in 2012, WWE debuted a new Saturday morning program (WWE Saturday Morning Slam) which is rated TV-G and has special restrictions barring the use of holds and moves aimed at the neck.[45][46] Vince McMahon noted that the change to more family-friendly content is due to the changing demographics in WWE viewership.[47]
With the adjustment made to on-air content, WWE also began to get more involved in public service and community outreach programs, such as in 2011, when WWE (along with several other groups) began the "Be A Star" anti-bullying initiative. And in 2012, WWE formed a partnership with Susan G. Komen for the Cure to promote breast cancer awareness. As part of the campaign, WWE adorned their sets with pink ribbons, put a pink middle rope on the ring, filmed numerous PSAs, and sold special John Cena "Rise Above Cancer" merchandise. All of these efforts culminated in a donation from WWE of $1 Million, which was presented to Susan G. Komen representatives in an in-ring ceremony during the October 29, 2012 episode of Raw.
On April 7, 2011, WWE Corporate announced that the company would be rebranded from "World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc." to simply "WWE, Inc." This orphan initialism occurred to reflect WWE's global entertainment expansion away from the ring with the ultimate goal of acquiring entertainment companies and putting a focus on television, live events, and film production. WWE quoted that their new company model was put into effect with the relaunch of WWE Tough Enough, being a non–scripted program (contrary to the scripted nature of professional wrestling) and with the expected launch of a WWE television network in 2012. However the legal name of the company remains as World Wrestling Entertainment.[11]
Beginning October 2012, WWE programs SmackDown, NXT, Main Event & Superstars are available in full on Hulu[48] while only half of Raw can be viewed.

"Supershow" format and developmental restructuring

Beginning with the August 29, 2011, episode of Raw, it was announced that Raw would feature talent from both Raw and SmackDown, and would be known as Raw Supershow (the "Supershow" suffix would be dropped on July 23, 2012). The next night, on a special live episode of SmackDown, a similar announcement was made regarding Raw talent appearing on SmackDown. Also, championships previously exclusive to one show or the other became available for wrestlers from any show to compete for, as well as house show cards also featuring a mix of both Raw and SmackDown talent. For all intents and purposes, the "Supershow" format would mark the end of the brand extension, as all programming and live events since the initial announcement was made have featured the full WWE roster.
On March 20, 2012, rumors circulated online reporting that WWE would cease operation of its lone development territory, Florida Championship Wrestling, in three weeks time.[49] However, the next day (March 21) WWE's Executive Vice President of Talent, Paul "Triple H" Levesque, in a statement on WWE.com, revealed that rumors of the impeding closing of FCW were not true, and after WrestleMania XXVIII there would be a big announcement regarding the development system of the company. In August 2012, FCW was revamped by having its name changed to NXT Wrestling (the name of a WWE program which showcases developmental talent), and by establishing new championships for the developmental roster (the NXT Championship and the NXT Tag Team Championship).[50]

Wellness Program

The Talent Wellness Program is a comprehensive drug, alcohol, and cardiac screening program initiated in February 2006, shortly after the sudden death of one of their highest profile talents, 38 year-old Eddie Guerrero.[51] The policy tests for recreational drug use and abuse of prescription medication, including anabolic steroids.[51] Under the guidelines of the policy, talent is also tested annually for pre-existing or developing cardiac issues. The drug testing is handled by Aegis Sciences Corporation. The cardiac evaluations are handled by New York Cardiology Associates P.C.[51]
After the double murder and suicide committed by one of its performers, Chris Benoit, with a possible link to steroids abuse encouraged by WWE, the United States House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform requested that WWE turn over any material regarding its talent wellness policy.[52]
In August 2007, the program was defended by WWE and its employees in the wake of several illegal pharmacy busts that linked WWE performers to steroid purchases even after the policy was put into place. Ten professional wrestlers were suspended for violating the Wellness Policy after reports emerged they were all customers of Signature Pharmacy in Orlando, Florida. According to a statement attributed to WWE attorney Jerry McDevitt, an eleventh wrestler was later added to the suspension list.[53][54][55]
Because of the Wellness Policy, physicians were able to diagnose one of its performers with a heart ailment that otherwise would have likely gone unnoticed until it was too late. In August 2007, then-reigning United States Champion Montel Vontavious Porter (real name Hassan Assad) was diagnosed with Wolff–Parkinson–White syndrome,[56] which can be potentially fatal if gone undiagnosed. The ailment was discovered while Assad was going through a routine Wellness Policy checkup.
On September 13, 2010, WWE updated their list of banned substances to include muscle relaxers.[57]

TNA Entertainment, LLC lawsuit

In May 2012, TNA filed a lawsuit against WWE and former TNA employee Brian Wittenstein, claiming that he took "confidential trade secrets" to WWE and helped WWE gain an "unfair" competitive advantage in negotiating contracts with TNA talent. According to the suit, TNA was informed of Wittenstein's breach three weeks later by a WWE official, after which the promotion fired Wittenstein. According to TNA, Ric Flair attempted to terminate his TNA contract two days after Wittenstein's firing. The exact allegations filed by TNA in the suit include "interference with existing contracts", breach of duty of loyalty, conversion, breach of contract, civil conspiracy, unfair competition, and violation of the Tennessee Uniform Trade Secrets Act.[58][59] An injunction hearing is set for July 12.[60][61]

Expansion beyond wrestling

In addition to licensing wrestling and performers' likenesses to companies such as Acclaim, THQ/2K Sports, and Mattel to produce video games and action figures, WWE has moved into other areas of interest in order to market their product.

Active properties

  • WWE Libraries: A subsidiary of WWE established in 2001 after the acquisition of WCW that owns the largest collection of professional wrestling videos and copyrights.
  • WWE Studios: A subsidiary of WWE created in 2002 to create and develop feature film properties. Formerly known as WWE Films.
  • WWE Music Group: A subsidiary that specializes in compilation albums of WWE wrestlers' entrance themes. The group also releases titles that have been performed by WWE wrestlers.
  • WWE Home Video: A subsidiary that specializes in distributing compilation VHS, DVD, and Blu-ray Disc copies of WWE pay-per-view events, compilations of WWE wrestlers' performances, and biographies of WWE performers.
  • WWE Books: A subsidiary of WWE that serves to publish autobiographies of and fiction based on WWE personalities, behind-the-scenes guides to WWE, illustrated books, calendars, young adult books, and other general "Nonfiction" books.
  • WWE Kids: A website and comic set aimed at the children's end of the wrestling market, comics are produced bi-monthly. It was launched on April 15, 2008.
  • WWEShop.com: A website located at http://shop.wwe.com/.

Defunct properties

  • World Bodybuilding Federation; A subsidiary of Titan Sports launched in 1990 which promoted professional bodybuilding through a television show, magazine, and annual pay-per-view events. Closed in 1992.
  • XFL: Folded in 2001, a partially owned subsidiary of WWFE launched in 2000 which comprised eight league-owned professional football teams. The league included television broadcasts on NBC (the other co-owners of the league), UPN and TNN.
  • The World, formerly known as WWF New York: A restaurant, night club, and memorabilia shop in New York City launched in 1999. Closed in 2003. Hard Rock Cafe took the building itself since 2005.
  • WWE Niagara Falls: A retail and entertainment establishment that was located in Niagara Falls, Ontario and owned by WWE. It was open from August 2002 through March 2011.

Championships and accomplishments

Current champions

Championship Current champion(s) Date won Event Previous champion(s)
WWE Championship Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson January 27, 2013 Royal Rumble CM Punk
World Heavyweight Championship Alberto Del Rio January 8, 2013 SmackDown Big Show
WWE Intercontinental Championship Wade Barrett December 29, 2012 Raw Kofi Kingston
WWE United States Championship Antonio Cesaro August 19, 2012 SummerSlam Santino Marella
WWE Tag Team Championship Team Hell No
(Daniel Bryan & Kane)
September 16, 2012 Night of Champions Kofi Kingston & R-Truth
WWE Divas Championship Kaitlyn January 14, 2013 Raw 20th Anniversary special Eve

Other accomplishments

Accomplishment Latest winner Date won
Royal Rumble John Cena January 27, 2013
Money in the Bank
(WWE Championship)
John Cena July 15, 2012
Money in the Bank
(World Heavyweight Championship)
Dolph Ziggler July 15, 2012

Developmental territory champions

Championship Current champion(s) Date won Event Previous champion(s)
NXT Wrestling
NXT Championship Big E Langston December 6, 2012 NXT Seth Rollins
NXT Tag Team Championship British Ambition
(Adrian Neville & Oliver Grey)
January 31, 2013 NXT Inaugural

Defunct championships

In its 50 year history, WWE has operated over twenty different championships. The company's first title, the WWWF United States Tag Team Championship, was created in 1958 and retired in 1967. Overall, the company has retired 19 championships with the most recent being the WWE Women's Championship. Created in 1956 and retired in September 2010, the consolidation of the WWE Unified Divas Championship into the WWE's 2008 WWE Divas Championship retired the older title and continued the lineage of the latter.

See also

References

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External links