WWE news tidbits

[Head Booker]

Some news I put it in spoiler tags as one of them spoils the Wrestlemania World Heavyweight title match...

SPOILER: Click to show

source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter

-- Regarding the rumors of Ashley Massaro being sent home, there appears to be something to it. She was said to be in "bad shape" at the catering room backstage at Raw a few weeks ago and was sent home as a result. She's also injured at the moment, but that's said to be a cover reason. Massaro isn't expected back anytime soon.

-- After ECW last week, WWE shot an off-TV angle for their mobile service which resulted in Stevie Richards being attacked by a mystery person. No word yet on who the person is.

-- Diva Search contestant Taryn Terrell, who was recently signed to a developmental contract, is currently the manager of Nic Nemeth and Brad Allen in FCW.

-- WWE is planning to move RAW superstar Umaga over to the SmackDown brand. Umaga will face Batista at WrestleMania in a match to determine "brand supremacy". The match is expected to end in a controversial way. Umaga will continue his feud with Batista on SmackDown this spring with the long-term plan being that The Undertaker will defend the World Heavyweight title against Umaga at SummerSlam this August.

At the moment, there are no plans to do an ECW title match at WrestleMania. However, it's been discussed as a pre-show match as a DVD exclusive.

-- There is also talk of doing the annual interbrand Battle Royal as a pre-show match at WrestleMania as well. WWE does this match every year so that all their regulars receive a WrestleMania bonus, not to mention that it's the best match for undercard wrestlers for morale purposes.

-- There has been talk of doing a Legends Battle Royal match at WrestleMania. They last did it in 2001 with Iron Sheik winning. However, Triple H is said to be greatly against the idea.

-- At a Raw brand houseshow in Louisville on March 1, Carlito came out to do an interview wearing a CM Punk shirt with his face cut out of the shirt. Carlito basically said that he cut the face out because he was out of toilet paper. It was done in Louisville because Punk is based there due to his time in OVW. Also, Punk never came out to confront him as they're on different touring brands, so they're not building any angle. It's said to be a receipt over some bad blood the two have regarding something to do with WWE Diva Maria Kanellis. Punk at one time dated Maria and Carlito supposedly hit on her. Carlito was able to get away with the house show incident because he is currently in good standing with officials after he agreed to not leave the company back in December. Carlito was promised that he'd be used better if he decided against leaving. His standing also explains Carlito landing a spot in the Money in the Bank match. Punk has some detractors backstage, so Carlito was able to get away with doing this even though it was quite unprofessional of him to air out some dirty laundry when they're not building an angle off of it.

[Head Booker]

Some more news from lordsofpain

-- Former WWF Intercontinental Champion Scott "Razor Ramon" Hall has been in a drug treatment facility in Atlanta, Georgia for seven weeks and is said to be embracing rehab fully for the first time in his life. Hall was given an intervention of sorts by family & friends and agreed without a struggle to accept World Wrestling Entertainment's offer to pay for rehab treatment. Hall had been out of circulation for so long that WWE wasn't able to get him his merchandise royalties, so along with the company paying for his treatment, he received a nice check for back royalties as well. After his stint in rehab comes to a close, Hall plans on resuming his wrestling career as he is already accepting dates from indy promoters for the summer. Hall is staying at the same rehab facility Jake Roberts and Ron Simmons are situated at. Friend Sean "X-Pac" Waltman is also in a treatment facility on WWE's dime, although he's staying in Houston, Texas.

-- At Sunday's Raw brand house show at the Resch Center in Green Bay, Wisconsin, during a largely heatless match between Brian Kendrick and D.H. Smith, a fan shouted, "That is what steroids will do for you" towards Smith. Smith acknowledged the fan by smiling at him and flexing his bicep. Smith came out as a babyface, but seemingly transitioned into the heel role as the match progressed, according to a fan's report. The 175-pound wrestler eventually scored the pin over Smith.

-- CM Punk is reportedly back in the dog house. The road agents aren't particularly fond of his wrestling style, they believe that he's a mark for himself, and he's gotten some bad house show reports in recent weeks stating that he's inconsistent and sloppy.

-- WWE promised Ohio Valley Wrestling owner Danny Davis that they'll be sending talent over for their shows at Six Flags this summer. In other OVW news, the WWE wrestlers were told that if they wanted to work with OVW and it's their day off, they can do so, but WWE would no longer pay them for it, or their transportation costs either. WWE told Davis to renew his expensive lease a short while ago. They also told the wrestlers stationed there that there was nothing to the rumors of the company dropping OVW. Of course, WWE dropped their affiliation with OVW within a matter of weeks.

Former TNA wrestler Chris Harris made his WWE debut before tonight's SmackDown/ECW taping.

Harris lost to Shelton Benjamin in a dark match. Harris, who never wore a singlet in TNA, wore one in his debut match for WWE. He was also described as "looking heavy."

Harris announced on his official website that he had signed a contract with WWE on January 29, 2008.

-- It was announced during tonight's ECW taping that a 24-man battle royale featuring wrestlers from all three brands will be taking place during WrestleMania. The winner will then challenge Chavo Guerrero for the ECW title during the very same show. There was talk of doing the battle royal and/or the ECW title match as dark matches to only be shown on the WrestleMania DVD release, but now they're combining the two for the big show.

[Rob]

Punk, a mark for himself? They say that shit every single time someone decides to stay true to themselves, he's neither the first nor the last they've pulled that shit with. It's so petty it's not even funny anymore