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http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/wrestling/8667756.htm

Fri, May. 14, 2004 

Bradshaw joins CNBC; Rock Punk'd

BY JIM VARSALLONE
jvarsallone{at}herald.com

John Bradshaw Layfield joined CNBC as a contributor, according to
David Friend, senior vice president, CNBC Business News in a press
release.

Layfield will appear on several CNBC shows including Bullseye (6-7
p.m. EST Monday-Friday) and Squawk Box (7-10 a.m. EST, Monday-Friday).

''John brings a fresh perspective to the stock market, politics and
finance,'' said Friend. ``We are excited he is part of our team and
look forward to his engaging, entertaining insights.''

Layfield, best known as one of WWE's top stars, always had a keen
interest in finance and Wall Street. He honed his financial acumen
while writing and publishing his popular ''how to'' investment book
titled Have More Money Now: A Common Sense Approach to Financial
Management (Pocket Books/Simon & Schuster, 2003) and appeared on
several television news outlets including CNBC, MSNBC, CNN, CNNfn and
Fox News Channel.

Layfield can be seen every Thursday night on WWE's SmackDown and is
co-chairman of SmackDown Your Vote, a WWE-based organization designed
to encourage young voters to become involved in the democratic
process.

He is a regular on USO tours to the Middle East and makes frequent
visits to Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, DC to visit wounded
soldiers. He also writes a weekly column for the WWE web site on
finance, politics, sports and wrestling.

• The Rock got Punk'd in an episode on MTV last week. The Rock had to
be restrained by three people. The People's Champ was told he could
not use electricity in his trailer on the set of Be Cool.

During some discussions, the producers switched trailers and blew up
the fake one with two members blaming The Rock for the mishap. An
irate Rock had to be stopped by three people before he was told it was
a joke for the show Punk'd. Staff members of the movie including the
director pulled off the joke.

• The Rock earned a nomination in the Best Fight sequence category for
the 2004 MTV Movie Awards 9 p.m. (EST) Thursday, June 10.

The scene is where Rock fights the Kontiki rebels in the movie The
Rundown. Other fight scenes in the category include from movies
Bringing Down The House, Kill Bill Vol. 1, The Matrix: Reloaded, and
X2: X-Men United. Fans can vote online at
www.mtv.com/onair/movieawards/ma04/nominees/.

• World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE:WWE) announced
approximately 6.1-million shares of its Class A common stock owned by
the Vincent K. McMahon Irrevocable Trust (the Trust) are being offered
for sale in a public offering pursuant to a shelf registration
statement declared effective by the Securities and Exchange
Commission.

UBS Securities LLC is acting as sole book-running manager in the
offering. Natexis Bleichroeder, Inc. is acting as co-manager. The
underwriters will have a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional
921,736 shares of Class A common stock from the Trust to cover
over-allotments, if any.

The Trust was established in June 1999 as an estate-planning vehicle
for the benefit of Vincent K. McMahon and members of his family and
holds shares of Class B common stock, which, upon their sale, will be
converted automatically into shares of Class A common stock on a
one-for-one basis.

Copies of the preliminary prospectus supplement can be obtained from
UBS Securities LLC, at 299 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10171 (phone
212-821-3000). These securities are offered only by means of a
prospectus, and this is neither an offer nor a solicitation of an
offer to buy.

• WWE reported its expected results of operations for the fiscal year
ended April 30, 2004. The results are based upon preliminary,
unaudited information. The company expects fiscal full year revenue to
be $370-$375 million, as compared to fiscal 2003 revenue of $374
million.

The company expects operating income to be $68-$73 million, as
compared to 2003 operating income of $27 million; such amounts include
depreciation and amortization of $12-$13 million in 2004 and $11
million in 2003.

In addition, operating income for 2004 contains a $13 million net
positive impact for legal settlements and the impact of the reversal
of accrued commissions associated with litigation. Operating income
for 2003 contained a net negative impact of $7 million for legal
settlements.

The company expects net income to be $44-$48 million and earnings per
share on a diluted basis to be $0.64-$0.70, as compared to a 2003 net
loss of $19 million and loss per share of $0.28.

The estimates for the year ended April 30, 2004 are preliminary and
subject to possible change as the company completes its year-end
procedures and the audit of its financial statements.

• WWE Raw returns to South Florida on Monday, June 21 at the
AmericanAirlines Arena in Miami. Tickets go on sale Saturday, May 22.

WWE SmackDown will be taped Tuesday, June 22 at the T.D. Waterhouse
Centre in Orlando.


--- Internet Rex 2.29