WWE News: The WWE issued a press release earlier today regarding Shawn Michaels being announced as the first inductee into the WWE Hall of Fame's Class of 2011.

Given HBK's stellar career in the ring, several former WWE stars, including Stone Cold Steve Austin, have recently praised Michaels as the best in-ring worker in wrestling history.

And Vince McMahon echoed those statements with this line in the press release:

"Shawn Michaels was the best in-ring performer in the history of WWE."

Considering the way the WWE shies away from the word "wrestler," using "superstar" instead, I consider this to be a pretty big statement from McMahon.

And it's one that couldn't be more right.

HBK really was the best wrestler I've ever seen.

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WWE News: Triple H has had a ton of injuries throughout his career, including two that have kept him sidelined since last April.

But is he getting close to hanging up his boots and tights?

Here's what Triple H had to say in the February issue of WWE Magazine: 

"If I can't do this the way I feel like I should be able to, then I want to be done. And I don't want to come back here and tarnish that. I don't want to do the nostalgia run where I come out and say I'm the greatest in the world...When I don't feel like I can perform at that (elite) level, I don't want to do it anymore."

Given his recent injury problems, it could soon be time to stop playing The Game.

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WWE News: Just about a month ago, a huge bodyguard appeared on Raw alongside Tyson Kidd and was revealed to be WWE developmental performer Jackson Andrews.

Well, his time on the main roster didn't last very long.

According to PWInsider.com, Andrews was sent back down to Florida Championship Wrestling because the company realized that he was far too green to be on the main roster.

I had actually read several reports prior to Andrews' debut that said the same thing, and all it took was one clothesline from him to see that  he was nowhere near ready.

The guy's got an incredible look--one that's more impressive than both The Great Khali and The Big Show--but the WWE made the right call here.

Just bring him up after he's had another couple of years of seasoning in FCW.

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WWE News: Though former WWE performer MVP is believed to have left the company on good terms, a story has leaked that shows he may have had some heat prior to his release.

When both Darren Young and Michael Tarver were booted from the Nexus, MVP reportedly irked some people by remarking that both wrestlers were kicked out of the group because they are African-American.

This story has not been confirmed by any reputable wrestling site, so this could be nothing more than a rumor.

However, the racial divide in the WWE has been a hot topic among members of the IWC for years now, so I thought I'd bring it up.

I, for one, do not believe that the WWE is intentionally racist, but I do feel that the company has dropped the ball on pushing numerous African-American wrestlers.

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WWE News: We've all noticed Michael Cole's increasing role on WWE television lately, and he's even been the special guest referee for dark matches at Raw tapings.

But now we could actually see Cole throwing punches and getting body slammed.

According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the WWE plans to start having Cole take bumps during these off-air matches.

And--wait for it--the company also plans on Cole starting some in-ring training.

I almost wish wrestling wasn't scripted, so we could see Cole get choke-slammed, hit with the GTS, then tap out to the Lebell Lock.

Seriously, though, don't be surprised to see Cole in the ring within the next few months.

I just hope we don't see him in a match at Wrestlemania 27.

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WWE News: It's long been assumed that Raw is the WWE's "A show," while Smackdown is the company's "B show."

I'd argue against that considering Smackdown usually has better wrestling.

But anyway, here's something I thought you might find interesting: the WWE charges more money for Raw house shows than it does for Smackdown live events.

Raw tickets sell for $20-75, but Smackdown tickers are a bit cheaper at $15-60.

This obviously isn't a huge difference, but it's a notable one nonetheless.

Considering the company's two biggest stars--Randy Orton and John Cena--are on Raw, I guess that's why those tickers are priced a little higher.

I just find it funny that the WWE seems to consider Smackdown the "B show" when there are plenty of people who would rather watch Smackdown than Raw.

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WWE Tough Enough casting has begun, and the show will premiere on Monday, April 4th, just one night after Wrestlemania 27, after Raw on the USA Network.

It will then move to its usual time slot (8 p.m. EST) before Raw the following week.

So who will be on the show?

Well, according to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the WWE plans on introducing the cast of Tough Enough either at Wrestlemania or on Raw prior to the show's premiere on USA.

Casting is expected to wrap up in the next couple of weeks, and the show will begin shooting at the end of the month.

We may have to wait a while to see who appears on the hit reality show, but we could see some familiar names.

The show's casting agency has reportedly been in contact with some independent wrestlers , including Lizzy Valentine.

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WWE News: The Deadman has left his grave.

That's right. The Undertaker showed face at a WWE event for the first time since undergoing surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff.

According to wrestlingnewsworld.com, Taker was backstage at Tuesday's Smackdown taping in Birmingham, Alabama alongside his wife, Michelle McCool.

This isn't necessarily a sign that he's nearing a return to the ring, though, as WNW indicates that The Undertaker was there "evaluating the current product" while recovering from injury.

In other Undertaker news, there are other reports which say that the future WWE Hall of Famer has "handpicked" his opponent for Wrestlemania 27, if he is healthy enough to compete at the event of course.

That opponent is believed to be Wade Barrett, as has been reported in the past.

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WWE News: We already know that Shawn Michaels is the first inductee into the WWE Hall of Fame's Class of 2011.

But who will join him?

According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the names being considered are Arn Anderson, Dean Malenko, Madusa, Ron Simmons, The Honky Tonk Man, Ted Turner (?!), Sting and Goldberg.

Anderson is considered to be the only lock of the group, while it's worth noting that The Honky Tonky Man turned it down last year because he had a prior commitment that paid better.

Also, most within the WWE highly doubt Turner would accept the invite--as do I--and Sting is a long shot because he is expected to re-sign with TNA.

Goldber is rumored for both an induction into the Hall and a match at Wrestlemania 27.

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