From the files marked ‘Let’s Make Jim Ross Cry’, there is a lot of internal discussion in WWE about Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler not working well together on Raw, with a lot of people wanting to put the announce teams back the way they were. Of course, JR recently posted on his blog about how he was much happier with the Smackdown schedule than he was with the Raw one. Vince McMahon is still adamant that Cole stays where he is and become the announcer Vince wants him to become, though he could well change his mind about the situation again – especially if he learns that JR is happy about it.
The Legends of WrestleMania game released in March will be for PS3 and Xbox 360. It will have 40 wrestlers, with only Hulk Hogan, Andre the Giant and Bobby Heenan so far announced, plus venues such as the Pontiac Silverdome. The wrestlers are going to be portrayed as though through a child’s perspective, so Andre is nearly ten feet tall, and movesets will be kept contemporary.
Rey Mysterio should be back and ready to do a full-time schedule in a few weeks time. He worked the micro-angle with Santino Marella for a couple of episodes of Raw to establish him as a new star on the show, yet his torn bicep was not yet completely healed so they didn’t want to work him too much just yet. Mysterio is also up for an American Latino TV Award, being nominated for Favourite Extreme Athlete. His competition – the Austin, Texas rollergirls, the skydiver Jonathan Tagle and the martial artist Jennifer Santiago.
John Cena vs Batista is now listed for the 23 August house show in Madison Square Garden.
Damian 666 of CMLL said WWE offered him and Mr Aguila spots on ECW but nothing formal came from it, though he would decline if it did. He said he did a try-out match in front of Batista, Edge, Mick Foley and The Undertaker and found it rather intimidating.
In TNA land, the latest word on Vince Russo is that the company has an internal vote of confidence in his work right now. Jesus loves you but everyone else thinks you’re a cunt.
TNA were also very pleased with the work of Alex Koslov during the World X Cup. They are not planning on signing any CMLL talent to deals though, since they are trying to build a working relationship with the promotion.
Credit: Wrestling Observer Newsletter, 21 July 2008 (subscribe here)
