Michael Hayes has been the biggest supporter in WWE management of Jeff Hardy’s recent main event push. He has been a fan of the Hardys ever since their first run in the company, coming out of retirement to help get them over, and was pushing for a title switch. Stephanie McMahon said no because it would alter too many of their other plans.
At the moment, Ken Kennedy and MVP are the favourites to get to face, defeat and retire Ric Flair at WrestleMania 24. Other WrestleMania matches outside of the title scenes that have been discussed include the culmination of the Jericho/JBL feud, plus something between Vince McMahon and Finlay with Hornswoggle and perhaps Mick Foley invovled. There will of course be another Money in the Bank match, with Jeff Hardy and Rey Mysterio mentioned as possible winners.
WWE had John Cena specifically deny that he would be able to compete at WrestleMania once they knew that he had been cleared to wrestle after his swift physical rehab. The 12 Rounds movie is real and is being shot but the five months filming time Cena mentioned was an exaggeration. Plus, unlike with previous WWE films, they are shooting in the USA rather than Australia and so he will be able to appear on TV over the same period. They are expected to be filming in New Orleans for 4-6 weeks.
This is the latest message on Bobby Lashley’s website: “If you’re a wrestling fan then I am sure you’ve all heard all the latest news all over the internet. Well, as posted by Bobby on Tuesday, on the forum, due to circumstances beyond his control he made the decision to part ways with WWE. Lashley will be speaking more on this matter when he can. Please stay tuned to the site to find out whats next in Lashley’s career.”
Vince McMahon is on the verge of fulfilling his life long ambition of running an incest storyline. Paul Birchill and Katie Lea from OVW shall be doing it as brother and sister. It will almost certainly be on Raw, since Smackdown’s network TV spot would get them into trouble and that brand has such overlap with ECW now.
Bonnie Hammer has left her position as President of the Sci-Fi network. She was the one who got ECW the spot on that network even though most of the other executives were against adding wrestling to their line-up. Her replacement is Dave Howe and ECW remains under contract to Sci-Fi till the end of 2008.
WWE will be releasing Complete Hell on 7 October, a DVD compilation of Hell in the Cell matches.
The person who pulled Batista over whilst impersonating a police officer is an 18 year-old called Jesse Johnson. He pleaded not-guilty to a first-degree misdeamenour charge but has already served a 180 day suspended sentence for a similar incident last year. He now faces up to six months in prison if found guilty.
Silas Young has been signed to a developmental deal.
Wolf from American Gladiators has expressed an interest in working for WWE when the TV show is no more.
Yahoo Sports have an interview with Torrie Wilson about her injury.
Credit: Wrestling Observer Newsletter, 28 January 2008 (subscribe here)
