WWE News: The Latest on WWE’s Plans for a Hall of Fame Building

Like all the major sports, the WWE has a Hall of Fame that recognizes the greatest competitors to ever compete in the squared circle.

Some might say that it’s really Vince McMahon’s Hall of Fame (myself included), but that’s another debate for another day.

Anyway, what the WWE doesn’t have, however, is a physical Hall of Fame, a building that holds wrestling memorabilia and attracts visitors from across the country.

But that could be changing in the foreseeable future.

According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, “WWE has made the decision to start very soon on construction for a physical Hall of Fame. Officials are still looking for a city to house the Hall of Fame and carry the financial burden of running it but Orlando, Florida is a possibility. WWE is in the process of purchasing legendary memorabilia for displays in the new Hall of Fame building.”

It’s about damn time.

Physical Hall of Fames are standard across the sports world, and the WWE needs to join the party.

The NBA has one in Springfield, Massachusetts, the MLB has one in Cooperstown, New York, and the NFL has one in Canton, Ohio.

The WWE should have one in a location that’s important to both wrestling history and the current state of the business.

Orlando, Florida certainly fits that description, especially given its proximity to WWE’s developmental territory, Florida Championship Wrestling.

But WWE officials would still be wise to give some long and deep thought to where they will build the company’s Hall of Fame building.

Do it in a place where wrestling is been, has been and always will be appreciated, and you can’t really go wrong.

If you have any suggestions as to where the building should be located, be sure to mention them in the comments section.

My pick? Maybe a standard one, but it’s New York City, New York, home to the World’s Most Famous Arena (the site of the first Wrestlemania) and some of the world’s best wrestling fans.

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WWE News: Will Creative Team Changes Alter the Current Product?

The WWE is in a transitional period right now, and it’s not just because guys like The Miz and Alberto Del Rio are attempting to fill the voids left by Edge, The Undertaker, Triple H and a number of departed stars.

It’s because the creative team recently underwent a major overhaul, too.

From the Wrestling Observer Newsletter:

“There have been some significant changes to the WWE creative team lately as Brian Gewirtz is no longer the RAW head writer and Michael Hayes is no longer the SmackDown head writer as both have been moved a step above the head writer position.

Gewirtz’s role now is to give ideas and set up the main direction for both shows, and transmit the ideas Vince McMahon and Stephanie McMahon have for what they want on the show. Hayes’ new role is to be the guy who also gives ideas for both RAW and SmackDown, but he’s also the guy who oversees the agents and tells them what key things have to be included in TV matches.

David Kapoor (Ranjin Singh) is now the head of RAW as he and his staff put together the scripts, but he is the actual writer. Ed Koskey is now doing the same thing on the SmackDown side. Both Koskey and Kapoor report to Brian Gewirtz, who reports to Stephanie McMahon, who then reports back to Vince McMahon. Hayes will also be working with Vince and Triple H on major show finishes.”

That’s a lot of movement in a relatively short span, huh?

Essentially, it seems like WWE officials are just giving more power to Hayes and Gewirtz, and nothing will really change all that much.

And sometimes, if something seems like it’s having a certain effect, it probably is.

By that, I mean that I really wouldn’t expect to see any wholesale changes to the current WWE product. Sure, Hayes and Gewirtz are no longer the head writers of Smackdown and Raw respectively, but it’s not like they’re going anywhere.

They’ll still have daily input on what we see on both shows, and it’s highly likely that we’ll still similar booking on Monday and Friday nights.

That being said, though, both Raw and Smackdown do indeed have new head writers: Koskey on Smackdown and Kapoor on Raw. And, as similar as these guys may be to their predecessors, they’re definitely different in some ways.

We’ll probably notice some minor changes on both shows, with these writers looking to make their marks in their new roles.

And, you know what? As long as they’re changes for the better, they’re fine by me.

After all, it’s no secret that both Raw and Smackdown would probably benefit from some consistent, long-term changes.

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WWE News: What Colt Cabana Means for CM Punk’s WWE Future

Over the last few weeks, one name that you’ve heard CM Punk mention a number of times is Colt Cabana.

Well, it’s been reported that Punk wants Cabana—a good friend of his who wrestled as “Scotty Goldman” for the WWE in 2009—back in the WWE if he’s going to remain with the company.

So, could that actually be happening? Seems possible.

Check out this report from the Wrestling Observer (via WrestleZone):

“Colt Cabana has been telling indy bookers that he will not be accepting bookings after next month. Additionally, Cabana has yet to re-sign with Ring of Honor and recently worked an injury angle in NWA Hollywood. This has of course lead to speculation that he might be working on a deal with WWE, as his name has been brought up on Raw during recent CM Punk promos. It should be noted that nothing has been confirmed or announced by WWE or Cabana.”. 

While these signs seem to point to Cabana heading back to the WWE, there are a number of other possible scenarios. He could simply be taking a hiatus from wrestling, he could be in negotiations with ROH, etc. We just don’t know.

Obviously, though, the speculation that Cabana is returning to work for Vince McMahon has led to even more speculation…that Punk has re-signed with the WWE.

Truth is, this will have to be a package deal. I honestly don’t think it will be just Punk or just Cabana signing with the company. Either both of them will sign, or neither will.

Why? It’s simple really.

If Punk is going to stay with the WWE, he’s going to do it on his terms, and he’s going to get what he wants.

And what we wants it to be treated like a top star—a la Randy Orton and John Cena—which means that he wants preferential treatment that most others don’t get.

Can’t say I blame him, considering that I view him as the most complete wrestler currently in the business. The total package if you will.

But I still don’t believe that Vinny Mac sees him in the same light, and he probably won’t stick his neck out for him like I would.

That’s why I wouldn’t even be remotely surprised to see all this Cabana nonsense wind up meaning absolutely nothing.

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WWE News: Will SI’s Endorsement of Ryder Help His Career?

Zack Ryder has done what no other wrester in WWE history has been able to do: He’s gained a legion of fans despite hardly ever appearing on TV.

So, how did he do it? Well, you know by now that Ryder has branded himself as the company’s “Internet Champion.”

Indeed, it’s true. Ryder has used both his popular YouTube video series and Twitter to try and get the attention of WWE officials, and thus, make his way up the company ladder.

Now, the Raw creative team may not care about Ryder, but one of sports’ biggest publications is taking notice.

Sports Illustrated recently put together a list of the top 100 tweeters in the sports world, the “must follows” if you will.

And guess who made an appearance? Yep, Zack Ryder.

“Professional wrestling's first "Internet Champion" has used social media to become one of WWE's fastest-rising stars,” SI wrote.

Let’s ignore the fact that Ryder was labeled as “one of the WWE’s fastest-rising stars” when he clearly isn’t (though he should be), and instead, focus on the fact that Ryder’s on this list at all.

I start by posing a few questions: Do you see John Cena on this list? How about Stone Cold Steve Austin or Hulk Hogan? Where are Randy Orton and CM Punk?

Didn’t think you saw ‘em.

Obviously, Ryder’s recognition by Sports Illustrated doesn’t make him better or more popular than those guys I mentioned. It just shows that the dude has a huge following even among sports columnists, who typically ignore anything and everything that involves wrestling.

But Ryder’s somehow managed to crack that barrier, and in doing so, he’s become one of the most entertaining characters on one of the world’s largest social networking sites.

So, someone please explain to me why SI can recognize his talent, but Vince McMahon can’t.

It’s one of those things that I just don’t get, but if Ryder can continue his Internet takeover, then Vinny Mac may have no choice but to push him to the moon.

And beyond.

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WWE News: Is There Heat on Randy Orton?

Roughly two weeks ago, Randy Orton participated in a lengthy interview with Phoenix-based radio station 98KUPD, and he upset a lot of people in the process.

According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Orton garnered plenty of backstage heat with both his fellow wrestlers and WWE officials for comments he made on a number of different topics, such as when he implied that Kelly Kelly had slept with upwards of 10 wrestlers on the WWE roster.

“One WWE source noted that if a mid-level wrestler uttered a quarter of the startling remarks Orton made, he would be due for an "MVP/Carlito like career burial." However, Orton is able to get away without facing repercussions because he's considered one of the company's "big three golden boys."

Ah, the double standard of having money, fame and power.

You know it, I know it and everyone else knows it: Had any other wrestler—besides  maybe John Cena and The Undertaker, who are likely those “golden boys”—made comments like Orton did, they would indeed be completely buried, if not outright fired.

It’s a shame, too, because it sets the standard that some rules only apply to certain people while others can break them and walk away without any repercussions whatsoever.

I mean, I’m not calling for Orton to be fired. Though what he said was out of line, a more appropriate punishment would be a suspension, fine or both.

I’m just calling for Orton to be held responsible for what he did.

The WWE is a publicly traded company, and comments like this hurt the public’s perception of Vince McMahon’s empire.

Orton essentially called Kelly Kelly a whore, he questioned the WWE’s hiring of the actresses who portrayed his wife, and he ripped into The Rock.

The latter two aren’t really that big of a deal, but personal attacks are completely unnecessary.

Plus, if you’re gonna rip on a fellow employee, why pick someone as hot as Kelly Kelly?

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