There is a lot of heat on C.M. Punk backstage. Vince McMahon has suggested turning him heel. He said, with absolutely no trace of irony, “This straight edge stuff shows me he thinks he’s better than everyone else.” It was well known that Punk disagreed with the booking of the Extreme Elimination Chamber, where Paul Heyman originally wanted him to make Big Show tap out. His clean loss to Bob Holly recently was punishment. Arn Anderson, who was the co-producer of the match with Michael Hayes, remarked that “after 14 years of being on WWE television, Holly is a bigger star.” David Lagana’s original plan for the match was for Punk to trap Holly in the Anaconda Vise, have Holly make it to the ropes, then get a fluke pin with his feet on the ropes. Anderson felt Holly should make Punk pay his dues and also feels, as do many, that Punk has the stigma of being ‘Heyman’s guy’, that he’s over-rated, that he got over on a fluke, and that it shouldn’t be happening because of the Heyman association. The idea of the clean finish came from Dave Finlay. There were people backstage getting off on the idea of Holly chopping the hell out of Punk.
Brad Armstrong is now a full-time colour commentator. Tazz has been ordered to stop burying Armstrong during the shows.
Larry Zbysko is after an agent position with WWE.
Christopher Nowinski was interviewed by Alex Marvez last week. Nowinski still works with WWE on the Smackdown Your Vote campaign but his main job is a consultant for a Boston pharmaceutical and biotechnical company. Regarding his career-ending concussion he said “I’ve reached a point where I can work at a regular job, but it’s not ever going to be what it was. My memory is mostly back. When I don’t have headaches I don’t ever think about it. When I have to try and slog through the day I can’t help but wish it hadn’t happened.”
Theresa Hays-Laughiln, a.k.a. Beulah, is still under contract with a low down-side.
Nobuyuki Sakakibara clamed Pride’s recent meeting with WWE was about using stars like Batista, Umaga and The Undertaker in their proposed super-heavyweight tournament in 2007.
Credit: Wrestling Observer newsletter (click here for subscription information)
