The section for the WWE Unforgiven PPV on the "iN DEMAND" website is currently featuring the following in its preview for the event:
Prepare yourself for the return of the Undertaker at WWE Unforgiven. No one escapes their destiny when the Deadman comes calling.
Cable networks often plan their ad months ahead of time, so this may not actually be the case. But it gives us reason to hope that it could be.
PWInsider.com, which first broke the news of Jeff Hardy's absence from Monday's RAW telecast, is now reporting that Hardy was suspended in the days prior to the telecast.
While specifics on the suspension are unavailable, numerous sources said that WWE officials are upset with Hardy's "lack of maturity."
Jeff Hardy has not been released, although his suspension will likely last a minimum of thirty days.
In light of the Chris Benoit tragedy and that wrestler's steroid use, you'd think WWE would try to promote less built superstars as a sign that others needn't focus on building muscle through such dangerous means.
To that end, WWE's Gary Davis stated in an interview with The New York Daily News that wrestlers are not encouraged or forced to use steroids.
But - as pointed out in a report by The Wrestling Observer - while nobody in the WWE is "forced" to take steroids, the company certainly is sending a message of encouraging it based on two wrestlers it pushed this week, two who have an unnatural physical look to them.
Many people within WWE were very surprised to see how much the company put over Batista on last Friday's Smackdown and Bobby Lashley on this past Monday's Raw, considering the huge amount of media attention on steroids at the moment. The overwhelming opinion among many in the company on WWE's decision to do this was said to have been a combination of cluelessness and arrogance.
What do you guys think? Let us know at our new FORUMS.
The Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports that the recent "Vince McMahon is dead" storyline has roots that stem back to 2005.
According to the report, the idea was first presented in February 2005. It called for Carlito, who was using his "underworld connections" to make Theodore Long's life miserable and have a bomb planted in Long's car. Similar to Monday's RAW angle with McMahon, Long was to walk to the car, open the door and presumably die in the explosion.
WWE writer Tom Chehak supported the Dave Lagana-penned idea, but Brian Gewirtz dismissed the angle as being too far-fetched. Stephanie McMahon agreed with Gewirtz; the proposal never even reached Vince McMahon's desk.
Interestingly, under pressure from Bonnie Hammer to increase WWE RAW ratings, a version of the angle took place in 2007... on the show for which Gewirtz serves as lead writer.
There are no negatives against either Johnny Nitro or Kenny Dykstra right now. Itt is just a matter of when Vince McMahon sees an opportunity to elevate them on the roster.
According to reports, the feeling within WWE management is that Shelton Benjamin "coasts" too much because he is so gifted in the ring. As a result, sources close to WWE say this is the reason why Vince McMahon hasn't invested more in him quickly because there are doubts internally about his hunger and will to work as hard as he can if he was to get a big push. Benjamin's promo skills are still a concern and have been for some time now.
It should be noted that many within WWE feel Carlito could be grouped into this same train of thought as both Benjamin and Carlito are marked as being consistently inconsistent. The feeling on Carlito is that he comes off as spoiled or feeling as if he is entitled to have his spot given his family's history in the business.
Paul Heyman could be making his way back to WWE television soon. Their has been some talk of bringing him back as a heel manager for a heel superstar that needs a little extra help to push him to the main event level. Discussion of bringing him back began with the recent plague of injuries in WWE.
Vince McMahon is said to be lukewarm about the idea, as this is a big change from his attitude this past December when he said Heyman would never be brought back. Heyman still remains under contract with WWE.
He filmed a Summerslam commercial at Monday's RAW, but noted that following a number of incidents (including his "running around trying to get famous wrestlers to choke me unconscious for my Paparazzi Stuntman DVD," his "not bothering with bathrooms" and his missing his originally scheduled flight to Florida for the show), there was some talk of canceling the match.
The match is presently on, however, and, according to WrestlingObserver.com, will feature Steve-O (and presumably other Jackass cast members) in wrestling roles.
