WWE Rumors: Chris Jericho, SmackDown Spoilers and Wednesday's Top WWE News
With the top four matches for WrestleMania set weeks ago, WWE is now focusing on filling out the rest of the card. The show will be sold on The Rock vs. John Cena and Triple H vs. Undertaker with Shawn Michaels as special referee, but there is a lot of depth and potential on the undercard.
SmackDown this week features build towards the 12-man tag match with a special Peep Show segment and another match that we all expected finally being made official.
We will have the spoilers from the SmackDown tapings and all the other WWE news that is fit to print.
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CHRIS JERICHO'S LONG-TERM FUTURE LOOKS A LITTLE BRIGHTER
When Jericho came back, one of the first questions asked was how long he would be staying. The answers have been all over the place, but he is being advertised for shows in August and October now.
Question on Everybody's Mind: Why would Jericho want to leave?
Our Take: He has this crazy notion that he should be cutting albums and touring with his band. How dare he have other goals and aspirations outside of wrestling?
Hype Meter: 5 out of 5 Bright Smiles
Even if he is just a part-time performer, or leaves for months at a time and comes back, WWE is just more interesting with Jericho a part of it. He makes everyone he works with better, so keep him around however you have to.
Deeper Dive
Latest Update On Jericho and WWE (Wrestling Inc)
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STEVE AUSTIN KEEPS TEASING FANS
In an interview to promote his new movie, Stone Cold, Steve Austin said that he would be able to return to wrestling if he wanted to. He was also quick to point out that he isn't lobbying for anything, nor is anything on the horizon.
Question on Everybody's Mind: When is Austin going to wrestle again?
Our Take: Considering the number of times he has said that he can do it if he wants to, look for something to come together at next year's WrestleMania. A potential Austin-Brock Lesnar match would certainly have that big match 'Mania feel to it.
Hype Meter: 5 out of 5 Beer Baths
There was a time when Austin was saying that he was done. Given his health history, who could blame him? But to hear him say that he could actually return full time if he had to is telling.
Deeper Dive
Steve Austin Interview (THE LAW)
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GET THE SHAQ OUT OF WRESTLEMANIA
It turns out that anything Shaq was planning on doing with WWE at WrestleMania is out the window now, according to a report. No specifics were given, which will only increase the mystery of why things fell apart.
Question on Everybody's Mind: Why did Shaq lie to the WWE Universe?
Our Take: Like everything in business negotiations, these things are very tenuous. He got ahead of himself before anything was final, and now it isn't going to happen.
Hype Meter: 4 out of 5 Broken Promises
As interesting as it would have been to see Shaq wrestle someone like Big Show, it would have been a waste of money for WWE. With the network launch being pushed back, they don't need extra media attention, and the show is going to draw based on Rock and John Cena.
Deeper Dive
News on Shaq and WWE (Wrestling Observer)
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RAW AND SMACKDOWN CONTROL TO BE SETTLED BY JOBBERS
If you really stopped to think about how important Raw and SmackDown are to the WWE product, the idea of two teams being captained by David Otunga and Santino Marella makes you nervous. Fortunately, we aren't supposed to look for logic or "realism" in the things that the creative team comes up with.
Question on Everybody's Mind: Who will be battling for supremacy at WrestleMania?
Our Take: The rumored teams at this point are Santino, R-Truth, Kofi Kingston, Rey Mysterio and Sin Cara for Raw and David Otunga, Mark Henry, Jack Swagger, Christian, Dolph Ziggler and Alberto Del Rio for SmackDown.
Hype Meter: 3 out of 5 Cobras Wearing Bowties
Obviously, Mysterio and Sin Cara are wild cards because no one knows if they will be ready to go in time. At least we get some good workers, like Ziggler, Swagger and Christian, on the show. But since the match likely won't get any time, it doesn't really matter.
Deeper Dive
Possible Teams For WrestleMania Match (Wrestle Zone)
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****WARNING****
THE FOLLOWING SECTION CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR THIS FRIDAY'S SMACKDOWN TAPINGS. IF YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW ANYTHING, STOP READING NOW.
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CHRISTIAN OFFICIALLY JOINS TEAM LAURINAITIS
We have been waiting for Christian's return, and we were promised it this week on SmackDown. It happened with the Peep Show featuring John Laurniaitis, Teddy Long and David Otunga. Christian offered his services to whomever offered him a title match, which Johnny Ace was happy to do.
Question on Everybody's Mind: Will Christian really get his title shot?
Our Take: It will probably happen on SmackDown after WrestleMania, assuming Sheamus wins the title, and the two will have a good match that ends with Christian losing. That's always been the pattern, and will always be the pattern.
Hype Meter: 4 out of 5 True People's Champions
Even if Christian isn't coming back to win titles, he is going to help SmackDown immensely. He will get good matches out of everyone he works with, and he is entertaining on the microphone. It took longer than expected, but the man of the peeps is back.
Deeper Dive
Full SmackDown Spoilers (Wrestle Zone)
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