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

Backstage News - The Reason Why Naomi & Jimmy Uso Are No Longer On WWE Total Divas

Birthdate: 08/22/1985 (age 29) Height: 6'3" Weight: 251 Ib The Usos are a tag team consisting of real-life...

Source: The Wrestling Observer Newsletter

As noted recently, WWE Diva Naomi and her real-life husband, Jimmy Uso, are no longer scheduled to be a part of the Total Divas cast when the next season of the show airs on E!.

Apparently the decision was made because of the fact that the two recently got married. 

It's believed that there wasn't much that could be done with them on the show after Naomi and Cameron broke up as a tag-team, and because most of the "married couple issues" in the storylines for the show would be used by other married couples that are part of the cast.

The Reason John Cena Wasn't On RAW This Week

John Cena was held off of RAW and instead saved for the WWE Main Event show as a way to raise the profile of the series and the WWE Network.

At this time, the company's main goal is to get the subscription numbers up. They desperately want 1 million and were not very happy with the launch numbers despite them spinning it with press releases for obvious reasons. The fear is that numbers are trickling in now that most fans have signed up for the initial launch and WrestleMania 30. There is also fear that numbers will be dropping once the six month subscription period expires.

The Backstage Reason For WWE's Recent Cuts + More

Source: The Wrestling Observer Newsletter

As we reported last week, WWE made several cuts in their developmental talent including Shaul Guerrero, Mason Ryan and others. This was done because they have several names coming in in the next couple of months, including a handful of amateur wrestlers sent along by Gerald Brisco to start in June. Brisco was high on Tony Nelson, but he hasn't signed with the company as of yet.

Speaking of scouting, William Regal went with Canyan Ceman, the senior director of talent development, to Brazil last week to scout some potential recruits. They may be sending some names up to Orlando for tryouts.