September 4, 2008

 

Former WWE Cruiserweight Champion Titan penned a new contract with WWE this week. The ever popular Superstar was released during cost cutting measures back in 2004 after the loss of WWE's TV deal. Expect him to be drafted to the Raw brand and possibly be involved in teh New Generation/WWE Classics feud. (PWInsider)

AKM is expected to get an on-screen valet following SummerSlam (WrestleZone.com)

WWE are said to be becoming displeased with the work of Paul London and Brian Kendrick and have told the pair to step up if they wish to cointinue to be involved in Raw's high profile feud. There has even been initial talk about remnoving teh pair from the big innagural brawl match at the PPV on Sunday. (Wrestling Observer Newsletter)

After an excellent two months of television, WWE are said to once again be becomming a little concerned about a few Superstars performances, feeling some maybe becoming lax over the past two weeks (Wrestling Observer Newsletter)

Stone Cold Steve Austin was spotted at Titan Towers yesterday and met one-on-one with Vince and Shane McMahon. Although nothing at all has leaked out, rumor has it the Rattlesnake was talking over a potential comeback. Billy Gunn was also spotted during the same period (ProWrestling.com)

Some within WWE are unhappy about the recent change in direction for WWE, particularly some of the older members of the backstage crew who feel WWE is again marketing itself to the "Russo demographic", however as business booms their thoughts aren't really being heard right now. (1wrestling.com)

There is considerable backstage heat between Michael Shane and Mick Foley after Foley agreed to join TNA and The American Dream posted a blog many saw as "going too far". Shane is said to be unapologetic and legitimately looking for a confrontation with Foley. Foley's status however is nowhere near what it was and The Dream has considerable support of his own amongst many of the newer Superstars and WWE loyalists such as Randy Orton, John Cena and John Bradshaw Layfield while other survivors of Foley's golden days in the WWF are solidly behind him (PWtorch)

The Shane/Foley incident has only re-enforced the belief that a "New Kliq" has developed in WWE with Cena/Orton/Shane and to a lesser extent Doomsday and The Undertaker. With Austin on his way back however, it seems inevitable that the surviving original Kliq members - Austin, HBK and Nightmare are going to clash sooner rather than later. The WWE backstage area some say is ready to get lit on fire (PWTorch)

Still on Michael Shane, many backstage are worried that he's swiftly become "just like Shawn Michaels" in that he is one of the most talented wrestlers in a generation but borderline out of control, both on and off screen. Some backstage sources are said to be displeased that WWE's Wellness Policy seems to be completely ineffective against Shane, Joey Nebraska, Suffering, Doomsday and, according to some rumors, the Undertaker. The same sources are even less pleased at the character of Joey Nebraska, openly mocking the Wellness Policy on TV (Pwtorch)

Expect Tazz to move to SmackDown to replace Mick Foley and although Joey Styles return to TV is confirmed, WWE are said to not be one hundred percent certain that he's the man to represent the New Generation at the annouce desk on Raw (Paul Heyman via the the UK Sun)

WWE Magazine will make it's long awaited return in September with a whole new look and under new editorship (WWEcorporate.com)

Don't expect The Undertaker vs John Cena anytime soon, WWE are said to be high on the feud but want to hold off the match as long as possible to get the best possible build up (Figure Four)

Initial discussions are said to have taken place concering WrestleMania 25 and that rumor of Steve Austin vs John Cena just won't go away. It's said to be being openly talked about backstage after word got around concerning Austins appearance at Titan Towers this week. Other proposed bouts include The Undertaker vs Randy Orton and Shawn Michaels vs Doomsday. (Figure Four)

Amazon have updated their DVD release schedule, you can read it below (Amazon.com)

September: Nightmare: King of Kings
October: The Shawn Michaels Story: Heartbreak and Triumph
November: The Legacy of Stone Cold Steve Austin
December: Hulk Hogan: The Ultimate Anthology
January: The Self-Destruction of Silent Assassin
February: nWo: Back in Black
March: John Cena: My Life
April: Randy Orton: Legendkiller
May: The Rise and Fall of FWC
June: D-Generation X
July: Tombstone: The History of the Undertaker
August: The American Dream: The Michael Shane Story