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 & Updates On Rob Van Dam's Current Status With WWE, Total Divas Preview, More

-- Despite rumors to the contrary, there have apparently been no talks between Rob Van Dam and WWE about a return for WrestleMania 31. It's always possible that things have been kept quiet, or that talks will take place before the event in March, however as things stand now, there are no plans for RVD to return for the show.

-- Below is the official synopsis for tonight's edition of Total Divas, which goes head-to-head with the WWE Royal Rumble pay-per-view.

"Insecurity Breach: Ariane secretly teams up with Jonathan to confront Eva Marie about a major issue; Brie lives in fear after a home invasion; and Paige faces the consequences of sending mixed signals."

Backstage News & Updates On Sting, Triple H, The Rock & The Undertaker

Want to write for eWrestlingNews.com? Connect now and find out how to contribute.

Write For Us

Find us on your favorite social media sites:

Backstage News & Updates On The Rumored TNA Changes & Announce Team Shakeup, More

Birthdate: 10/11/1967 (age 47) Height: 5'9" Weight: 240 Ib Taz is signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling...

Source: The Wrestling Observer Newsletter

As we have noted in the past, TNA is planning on a complete and total overhaul for the company when they officially relaunch their promotion during their iMPACT! Wrestling television debut on their new cable home -- Destination America -- in January.

Also read: ?Backstage Report - A Major TNA Announcing Change?, Mike Tenay Out?, Josh Matthews In?

One of the major changes in terms of television presentation is the way the company plans to handle their announce team.

It's believed that the longtime commentary team of Mike Tenay and Taz will cease to exist when TNA launches of Destination America, as one source claims the "new and improved" TNA will be going with a two-man announcing team that will consist of Taz and former WWE announcer Josh Mathews.

As far as Mike Tenay is concerned, it is believed that he will still remain in an on-air role in some capacity.

Backstage Updates On A Major Power Struggle In WWE, News On Randy Orton's WWE Contract, More

Birthdate: 07/27/1969 (age 45) Height: 6'4" Weight: 255lb Hunter Hearst Helmsley is an American business ...

Source: The Wrestling Observer Newsletter

-- WWE has increased the amount of New World Order (nWo) merchandise that they are selling through WWEShop.com.

Also read: ?Backstage News On Ric Flair's WWE Return, WWE Increases The Amount Of Their nWo Merchandise

-- As previously reported, Triple H and Stephanie McMahon are reportedly in a “power struggle” with WWE CFO George Barrios and Chief Revenue & Marketing Officer Michelle Wilson. The topic is a hot one in terms of conversation backstage.

Barrios and Wilson were the two key executives in charge of the WWE Network launch and securing the company’s new television deal. As we know by now, neither of them were close to as successful as the company hoped for.

-- As noted earlier here on the website, Randy Orton’s deal is now such that he is not working full-time on the road. According to sources, Orton’s deal–which isn’t specified if it is an new deal or a restructuring of his current one–only calls for him to work limited weekend dates.

Backstage News & Updates On When Randy Orton Is Expected To Return, & More News

Birthdate: 04/01/1980 (age 34) Height: 6'5" Weight: 235 Ib Randy Orton is a third-generation professional ...

Source: The Wrestling Observer Newsletter

Also read: ?Backstage News & Updates On WWE's Plans For The Hell In A Cell PPV - Two HIAC Matches?

-- Randy Orton, John Cena and Dean Ambrose vs. Seth Rollins, Kane and Bray Wyatt is currently being advertised for the January 27th WWE SmackDown tapings in Boston, MA.

-- As previously reported, there were recent discussions about having a John Cena vs. Randy Orton vs. Seth Rollins three-way TLC match for WWE TLC. However, a source notes that there is talk about pushing Orton’s first return appearance back until the actual PPV.

Also planned for the PPV is a gimmick match between Big Show and Erick Rowan. The specific gimmick isn’t yet known.

**SPOILER** Updates - 2 Huge Names To Appear At The WWE Survivor Series Pay-Per-View?

Birthdate: 03/20/1955 (age 59) Height: 6'2" Weight: 250 Ib Sting is best known for his tenure in World Cha...

There are reports floating around the internet today that claim Randy Orton has been spotted at a restaurant in St. Louis, the site of Sunday's WWE Survivor Series pay-per-view, doing basically nothing to keep his presence hidden from the public.

It was reported earlier that Orton took a 9am flight out of Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he is filming a WWE Studios movie, to DFW Airport, connecting to St. Louis.

Also read: ?Major Update - Big WWE Survivor Series Surprises Planned -- **SPOILERS** Inside

The fact that "The Viper" is in St. Louis doesn't necessarily guarantee that he will be on the Survivor Series show, as he lives there and was reportedly in town visiting his father. However, he is definitely in town right now.

The belief from another one of the other sources is that Sting will be at Survivor Series on Sunday, but no one has yet to be able to officially confirm that to us. The initial reports that surfaced online claimed that Sting at Survivor Series is a definite, which would make sense timing wise for a number of reasons.

Make of it what you will. I would advise anyone to take the news with a huge grain of salt until we can get further confirmation.

Backstage News & Updates For TNA Wrestling Once They Debut On Their New Network, Matthews

UPDATE: Regarding TNA live events, there is said to be a feeling among many in the company that they simply can't support TNA financially like they need it to, so the schedule will likely remain light for the time being.

Also read: ?The Very Latest On TNA's Future With SpikeTV & A Possible New Home In 2015, More

As far as TNA's deal with Destination America is concerned, there are plans for a big "reboot" for the promotion once they premiere on the new network in January. They are also planning on overhauling their official TNA website, a project that former WWE announcer Josh Mathews is said to be the lead on.

ORIGINAL: It is said that the negotiations between Spike TV and TNA ended around two or three weeks ago. The two sides were in talks for TNA to sign a "lesser deal" that would see TNA get paid a smaller rights fee.

It's also said that despite the fact that TNA failed to hit the two million viewer mark for iMPACT! Wrestling that was agreed upon during their original contract signed back in 2010, Spike TV still had interest in maintaining the relationship.

Updates & Previews For The 'Best Of Sting' Preview & Sunday's WWE Total Divas Episode, More

Birthdate: 03/20/1955 (age 59) Height: 6'2" Weight: 250 Ib Sting is best known for his tenure in World Cha...

-- WWE will be airing "Sneak Peek: The Best of Sting" on the WWE Network on Friday night at 10pm EST. The show will be a preview of the new WWE DVD, with the synopsis reading as follows:

Also read: The WWE Network To Air ?A 'Best Of Sting' DVD Preview, New WWE Diva Diva, & More

"This Sneak Peek gives you a glimpse inside the seven hour collection of the best matches and moments starring the franchise of WCW - Sting."

-- Here’s a synopsis of this week’s Total Divas:

“Bryan’s injury takes a turn for the worst and Brie is left helpless. Eva is stunned when Jonathan makes a dangerous decision without her consent.”

VIDEO: Kurt Angle's Latest Video - ACL Surgery Updates

Kurt Angle has posted another video in a series detailing his recovery from ACL surgery.

Sorry, I could not read the content fromt this page.

TNA Updates On Sabin/Daniels/Kaz, Willow Umbrella, Sanada

-- ShopTNA.com is now selling Willow umbrellas for $39.99. $40 for an umbrella?!? Holy shit!

-- Sanada defeated Daniels to retain the TNA X-Division title at the Wrestle-1 event in Tokyo, Japan on Thursday night.

-- Former TNA talent Chris Sabin is scheduled to appear on the May 18th IWF Desert Storm event. The show takes place on that Sunday in Phoenix, Arizona.

-- As noted yesterday here on the website, wrestling agent/booker Bill Behrens (SBIBookings.com) is now taking indy bookings for Christopher Daniels and Frankie Kazarian. Behrens sent us the following: "Christopher Daniels (TNA/ROH) is available to wrestling, appearance and seminar bookings through Bill Behrens and www.sbibookings.com . Daniels was a 4 time TNA X Division Champion and 8 time TNA & NWA/TNA Tag Team Champion, most recently with twice with Frankie Kazarian as Bad Influence. Frankie Kazarian is also available for bookings. Daniels was also a 1 time TV Champion and 2 time Tag Team Champion in Ring Of Honor. Also available is Curry Man who remains Hot & Spicy. Daniels/Curry Man will be able appear on DVD, iPPV & Television. He is based in the Los Angeles area (as is Kazarian)" This will only fuel the rumors that "Bad Influence" are not going to re-sign with TNA Wrestling.

WWE Countdown & WrestleMania Rewind Show Updates

WWE Countdown for this week on the WWE Network will feature the top 10 moments in the history of RAW.

Also, this week's WrestleMania Rewind show will tell the back-story for the Triple H vs. Chris Jericho main event at WrestleMania 18.

Updates On Eve Torres & Curt Hawkins, Rhodes Fa...

-- Former WWE Diva Eve Torres was at the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base this past week. She was there certifying 100 instructors into the Gracie Self Defense System.-- Dusty Rhodes is currently working on a Rhodes Family WWE DVD. No word on a release date as of this writing.-- As previously reported here on the website, current WWE star Curt Hawkins is opening a wrestling school called "Create A Pro". Hawkins tweeted the following regarding this:"Another pro wrestling dream has been...

Daniels/Kazarian TNA Contract Updates, Aries At...

Partial Source: The Wrestling Observer-- According to sources, Christopher Daniels' TNA contract expires in April while Frankie Kazarian's contract expires some time after that. We don't believe it's in April though. It should be noted that both TNA talents are booked for several WrestleMania 30 week indy events and not TNA's live events in Georgia. The two were also not booked for this week's iMPACT! TV tapings. We hope to have more on this shortly.-- Austin Aries was a guest at the Phi...

John Cena Gives Injury Updates On Twitter - D...

Earlier today on his Twitter account, John Cena confirmed that he had a left groin injury as well as having some fluid in his right ankle. You can read his tweets on his injuries below.And yes rumor mill folks. Both left groin was strained and fluid in right ankle. Hobbled thru it. Ice and device called MarcPro got me back— John Cena (@JohnCena) March 8, 2014Wasn't gonna hobble down road to @WrestleMania #evenstronger #nevergiveup— John Cena (@JohnCena) March 8, 2014

Backstage Updates On CM Punk & RAW, Plans, & Mo...

Source: The Wrestling ObserverFor those wondering, CM Punk was not backstage at RAW last night and was obviously not in the script that they aired last night. One member of WWE's creative team says nobody was told anything about Punk but many expected him to at least be backstage and a surprise return was possible. Numerous WWE employees didn't know for sure that Punk wouldn't be on the show until late Monday evening and even then, people were skeptical that he was being kept hidden.Also...