Backstage Updates On Jerry Lawler's Move To SmackDown & The Possible Reason For It

Birthdate: 11/29/1949 (age 65) Height: 6'0" Weight: 243 Ib Jerry Lawler serves as the play-by-play comment...

Partial Source: Pwinsider

It was previously reported that Jerry Lawler was moved from RAW to SmackDown because the company was being age-conscious and was making the move as a way to begin phasing him out. However, several other sources have a different take on the move. One source claims that one of the reasons for the move was because his move from RAW to SmackDown helps boost the show’s credibility among fans by providing the show with its own “A-level announce team.”

Of course, the two takes are not mutually exclusive; it is possible that the company is trying to reduce Lawler’s presence on their flagship show but still recognize that his name value gives the SmackDown commentary a boost among casual fans.

Speaking of the move, Lawler tweeted out the following about his first week on the job.

Really great @WWESmackDown last Thursday with @MichaelCole & @ByronSaxton This week should be even better! pic.twitter.com/RDTrCiz4OB

— Jerry Lawler (@JerryLawler) January 20, 2015

Major Backstage Update - The Rock At Tonight's WWE Royal Rumble PPV?, Possible **SPOILERS**

Birthdate: 05/02/1972 (age 42) Height: 6'5" Weight: 260 Ib Johnson was a college football player for the U...

Source: The Wrestling Observer

As reported yesterday, The Rock posted a picture to Instagram of him being in Philadelphia, PA. This led to speculation that the Great One will be appearing at the Royal Rumble tonight. One source notes that The Rock will in fact be appearing at the pay-per-view event.

There are no details on what The Rock will be doing at this time. While there were rumors of him facing Rusev at WrestleMania (based on their interaction on RAW late last year), the source says this is not in the current plans for the show. Another source notes that its possible The Rock could even win the Royal Rumble match if they are planning to do a Rock vs. Brock match at WrestleMania 31.

More as we get it.

Backstage News - The Rock & Vince McMahon vs. The Authority Storyline Possible?, Details Inside

Birthdate: 07/27/1969 (age 45) Height: 6'4" Weight: 255lb Paul Michael Levesque was born on July 27, 1969...

Source: The Wrestling Observer Newsletter

Also read: ?A Major Backstage Update On Vince McMahon's Future On Television - Plans For WrestleMania 31?

With rumors making the rounds that plans are being discussed for The Rock to face Triple H at WrestleMania 31, there is now speculation that WWE is considering placing that match within a storyline that was dropped for WrestleMania 30.

As you may recall, there was a proposed storyline for WrestleMania 30 where Vince McMahon would have come up against the Authority in a power struggle that would have pitted Steve Austin vs. Triple H at ‘Mania 30. The Rock was viewed as the second choice if Austin wasn’t interested. The idea was dropped for a variety of reasons, including Triple H’s feud with Daniel Bryan and Vince’s desire to be off TV, and wasn’t brought up again.

Now, with the Mr. McMahon returning on RAW and teasing an issue with Triple H and Stephanie, the rumors are flying again that the reported discussions of The Rock vs. Triple H at ‘Mania 31 will be part of a Vince vs. Authority angle.

Report On Possible Drug Usage In The WWE: Wrestlers Cheating The Wellness Program?

Birthdate: 03/01/1961 (age 53) Height: 6'3" Weight: 256 Ib Booker T is regarded as the greatest African-Am...

Source: The Wrestling Observer

Ever since Randy Orton violated WWE's Wellness Policy back in May of 2012, only one WWE Superstar, Ricardo Rodriguez (now released) has violated the Wellness Program back in July of 2013. Even though no WWE Superstar has been suspended for violating the Wellness Policy, that doesn't necessarily mean that the roster is completely drug free.

Also read: UFC Extends Suspension Of Top Fighter To Full Year

On Tuesday, UFC has announced that fighter Cung Le, 42, tested positive for for an excessive level of Human Growth Hormone (HGH) following his fight at UFC Fight Night in Macao, China on August 23 and was being suspended from competition for nine months. However, after revisiting the evidences against Le, the UFC suspended him for a year. Dave Meltzer reported on the story on Wednesday in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, where he addressed the current state of drug usage in WWE.

Meltzer has his suspicions on the WWE talent roster being entirely clean. In March, he was asked on his radio show whether the lack of drug test failures in recent years means the WWE locker room is now drug-free and answered, "You shouldn't believe the roster has been clean for two years...I wouldn't even believe two weeks."

Although WWE bans the non-medical use of HGH, talents aren't tested for it. HGH can only be picked up in blood testing, not the standard urine testing, which is why athletes in most sports use it with impunity. According to Meltzer, that is also the case in WWE as some talents circumvent the drug testing policy by using high dosages of HGH combined with low dosages of Testosterone (also is prohibited). Within the bodybuilding world, this is known as a stack; two or more supplements are taken at the same time in order to increase their overall effectiveness (compared to the effectiveness of one supplement alone). "For those who are using [performance-enhancing drugs] to beat WWE testing, the standard stack is to use low doses of testosterone and higher dosages of HGH, because HGH, as far as enhancing a physique and gaining strength, works far better in synergy with a steroid to enhance its effects, and low doses of testosterone can keep one below the 6:1 T:E ratio," Meltzer stated.

Meltzer received this information from sources within WWE after attending the February 7 live event in Oakland, California headlined by John Cena vs. Randy Orton and being "struck at how obviously enhanced more guys were than I had noticed on TV."

He noted on the F4WOnline.com message board, "Asking around, I was told exactly how they beat the system (GH with low dosages of test, usually taken on Wednesday, that's out of the system within a few days to beat the tests)." Last year, WWE quietly modified its policy to allow therapeutic use exceptions for banned substances and introduced a redemption program that would enable performers who have violated the policy twice to get one of their two strikes removed. In addition to Orton, other currently employed Superstars who have been suspended due to a Wellness violation are Booker T, Darren Young, Dolph Ziggler, Heath Slater, Mike Chioda, Rey Mysterio, Ryback and William Regal.

The Rock Discusses A Possible Match With Roman Reigns, If Sting Will Return To WWE And More

CBS 19's Chris Van Vliet in Cleveland, Ohio recently interviewed The Rock. Below are some highlights and a video of the interview:

The Rock on his WrestleMania 30 appearance: "By me not posting anything (laughs). I came in literally hours before and it's one of those things where it was a very last minute decision. It was an amazing night and there's no greater feeling as a performer than that connection with an audience."

Also read: The Rock Speaks On One More Match, Sting In WWE & Wrestling Roman Reigns

The Rock's thoughts on if he think Sting will come back: "I do, yeah. And I know a guy or two so we'll just put it like that. I do think he's going to come back and I think it's going to be great."

Does The Rock thinks a match with Roman Reigns makes sense: "I don't know if that match makes sense now because he is not their top heel right now, so you would look at that. Unless I went in as a heel and he was a babyface."

The Very Latest On John Cena Missing RAW This Monday And A Major Possible **SPOILER**

John Cena's name has been removed from advertisements for WWE RAW the following night after Battleground (this Monday). Up until a few days ago, Cena was still advertised for the show, but he will not be there because he will be reporting to the set of the film Trainwreck. There is a belief backstage that this could be a sign of Cena dropping the title on Sunday at Battleground. These same backstage people believe that Roman Reigns is the next man up as WWE needs to "pull the trigger" on him and let him carry the title .... at least briefly. Some feel it's simply too early to do that.

Also read: John Cena Pulled From Monday's Raw - Title Change At Battleground?

Currently, Brock Lesnar is scheduled to return to WWE RAW this Monday. As previously reported, some advertisements for a main event match between John Cena and Brock Lesnar have leaked for SummerSlam this year. Of course, they could easily change course and do Reigns vs. Lesnar but that was not the original plan.

A Big Possible ROH Best In The World **SPOILER**

Matt Sydal, aka Evan Bourne, posted the following to Twitter. ROH has been working on a surprise for tonight and Sydal's appearance may be that surprise; the show takes place in Nashville. We're not sure if he has a no-compete clause or if his contract recently expired. If he has a no-compete clause, he wouldn't be able to appear on the pay-per-view without facing legal issues. We'll see.

Hello
Nashville.....

Also read: ?Bourne, McIntyre & Others Now Taking Indy Bookings

— mattsydal (@findevan) June 22, 2014

A Possible WWE Elimination Chamber **SPOILER**

Source: The Wrestling Observer Newsletter

One of the ideas currently floating around WWE creative right now is for The Wyatt Family to somehow cost John Cena the victory in the upcoming Elimination Chamber match this Sunday.

As previously reported, the plan for Cena's match at WrestleMania XXX is for him to face Bray Wyatt in a singles match. The feeling is that something needs to be done to bring back the focus on the Wyatt vs. Cena feud, which was started at the Royal Rumble pay-per-view in January.