02-13-2003, 11:45 AM
- Torrie Wilson’s Playboy pictorial is due to be released in stores near the end of March, just before WrestleMania. Wilson of course will be the cover girl for the issue. WWE has already started talking about the issue, as they were teasing about it last night at the SmackDown tapings.
- The overall attitude with Steve Austin backstage at RAW Monday night was good. It has been reported that there was some heat and bitter feelings between some guys and Austin, as some still hold grudges from the way he left WWE previously. However, most feel that Austin was just frustrated with the writing team and has moved past that and feel that Austin will offer a lot of help with the television ratings, attendance, and more in WWE.
- After Armageddon, there were some high influencing people who tried to "bury" Edge as a main eventer, especially after his rematch with A-Train by saying that he was punching and kicking too much even though Edge was told beforehand to wrestle like that because it was a grudge match. Edge's status is said to be fine now because he has since worked some good matches with Team Angle.
- Many feel that the reason that Triple H keeps getting injured is because he has virtually became too big for his body. Your body can only take so much muscle mass and has to be in proportion or your body starts to work against itself. Industry sources have said that WWE will probably instruct Triple H to lighten up in the gym, to keep him healthier in the long run. This seeming to not be that easy considering Triple H is big on fitness.
- There was a recent internet report a few weeks ago about the Rock possibly retiring from WWE. Apparently, the real story is that the Rock is greatly planning on reducing his involvement in WWE for the next few years but he hopes to return sometime in the future in a full-time capacity when he isn't as popular in Hollywood. In regard to him purchasing the rights to "The Rock" trademark, WWE sources report that no such deal exists though there have been talks in the past with nothing finalized. The Rock is currently scheduled to work from February through to April, but could stay longer if his upcoming movie role doesn't pan out.
- As reported before, when negotiations between WWE and Goldberg go extensively underway, the company was insisting to Goldberg that he wrestle at least 10 shows per month. Goldberg reportedly countered by saying he would do the originally talked about two PPV deal (Wrestlemania, Backlash) before taking some time off and returning six months later, presumably at Survivor Series. This wasn't to WWE's liking and because of it, negotiations are now at a standstill and sources report that it is unlikely anything will get done in time for Wrestlemania 19.
- The tenative lineup for Wrestlemania 19 as it stands now is for Steve Austin to return to face the Rock, Vince McMahon to wrestle Hulk Hogan, Kurt Angle to take on Brock Lesnar and Chris Jericho to wrestle Shawn Michaels. Austin has started the program with the Rock in the latest Raw Magazine, specifically alluding to the Rock's anti-Austin interview which happened soon after Austin walked out.
- The overall attitude with Steve Austin backstage at RAW Monday night was good. It has been reported that there was some heat and bitter feelings between some guys and Austin, as some still hold grudges from the way he left WWE previously. However, most feel that Austin was just frustrated with the writing team and has moved past that and feel that Austin will offer a lot of help with the television ratings, attendance, and more in WWE.
- After Armageddon, there were some high influencing people who tried to "bury" Edge as a main eventer, especially after his rematch with A-Train by saying that he was punching and kicking too much even though Edge was told beforehand to wrestle like that because it was a grudge match. Edge's status is said to be fine now because he has since worked some good matches with Team Angle.
- Many feel that the reason that Triple H keeps getting injured is because he has virtually became too big for his body. Your body can only take so much muscle mass and has to be in proportion or your body starts to work against itself. Industry sources have said that WWE will probably instruct Triple H to lighten up in the gym, to keep him healthier in the long run. This seeming to not be that easy considering Triple H is big on fitness.
- There was a recent internet report a few weeks ago about the Rock possibly retiring from WWE. Apparently, the real story is that the Rock is greatly planning on reducing his involvement in WWE for the next few years but he hopes to return sometime in the future in a full-time capacity when he isn't as popular in Hollywood. In regard to him purchasing the rights to "The Rock" trademark, WWE sources report that no such deal exists though there have been talks in the past with nothing finalized. The Rock is currently scheduled to work from February through to April, but could stay longer if his upcoming movie role doesn't pan out.
- As reported before, when negotiations between WWE and Goldberg go extensively underway, the company was insisting to Goldberg that he wrestle at least 10 shows per month. Goldberg reportedly countered by saying he would do the originally talked about two PPV deal (Wrestlemania, Backlash) before taking some time off and returning six months later, presumably at Survivor Series. This wasn't to WWE's liking and because of it, negotiations are now at a standstill and sources report that it is unlikely anything will get done in time for Wrestlemania 19.
- The tenative lineup for Wrestlemania 19 as it stands now is for Steve Austin to return to face the Rock, Vince McMahon to wrestle Hulk Hogan, Kurt Angle to take on Brock Lesnar and Chris Jericho to wrestle Shawn Michaels. Austin has started the program with the Rock in the latest Raw Magazine, specifically alluding to the Rock's anti-Austin interview which happened soon after Austin walked out.