As noted earlier today, despite the reports that Kevin Nash had been pulled from the RAW Reunion special on January 19th in Dallas, Texas, he remained on the advertising for the show on the official WWE website. Nash has since been officially removed from those advertisements.

Nash was suspended from his WWE Legends deal due to the domestic situation with his son over the holidays that led to his arrest. The same incident is what has resulted in his being pulled from the RAW reunion special.

Still scheduled for the RAW Reunion show on 1/19 are Hulk Hogan, Shawn Michaels and Scott Hall, who is being billed as Razor Ramon.

• Backstage News On WWE Keeping BRAY WYATT Strong For THE UNDERTAKER At WRESTLEMANIA 31

– Santino Marella posted the following update on his health on his official Twitter account on Sunday.

Day 2 back in the gym after surgery # 2, the road seems so long, i have to constantly remind myself "one step at a time" #healthyliving

— Santino Marella (@milanmiracle) December 28, 2014

– WWE Hall of Famer Mick Foley’s “365 Days of Christmas” has officially ended. The Hardcore Legend is back to wearing his usual attire, as he posted the following on Facebook, which was accompanied by a photo of him in his usual flannel jacket and goatee.

THE POST-SANTA PHOTO

I’ll look forward to resuming my role as St Mick next year, but after 365 consecutive days of Santa themed attire, it was kind of refreshing to throw on the flannel and shave the beard into a classic Cactus Jack goatee.

WWE Diva Emma had an injury scare at the WWE live event in Hershey, Pennsylvania on Sunday night.

During a tag-team match, which featured Emma and Alicia Fox against The Bella Twins, Brie Bella attempted to toss Emma out of the ring, however Emma landed awkwardly on the hard part of the apron and appeared to have injured her back. WWE trainers came out to check on her for about five minutes before the match was over.

Emma later tweeted the following:

I have some pretty thoughtful #EMMAcrats!! Thank you!! All good on this end ?? #EMMAlution lives on! #WWE #WWEHershey

— Tenille Dashwood (@TenilleDashwood) December 29, 2014

• Backstage News On WWE Keeping BRAY WYATT Strong For THE UNDERTAKER At WrestleMania 31

– Bryan Alvarez of f4wonline.com has provided an update on Adrian Neville being called up to the main roster and his rumored new “Mighty Mouse” gimmick.

On the latest edition of Wrestling Observer Live, Alvarez stated that a Mighty Mouse gimmick has been discussed, but it should be considered a rumor at this point. He also noted that the latest plan is for Neville to have a “Crash Holly” style character and he won’t be dressing up as a mouse.

It’s worth noting that WWE actually had plans for the late Chris Candido to debut in the mid 90’s with a Mighty Mouse character and even had a costume created for him. They wound up going with the Body Donnas character instead, which of course was instrumental in Sunny breaking out as the “Original Diva.”

– Daniel Bryan noted on Twitter that he’s been working on his WWE autobiography that comes out after WrestleMania 31. Bryan said he’s been writing about the “Wrestling Road Diaries” documentary he did with Colt Cabana and Sal Rinauro in 2009 before joining WWE.

The following are highlights of a new WNS Podcast interview with GFW founder Jeff Jarrett:

ON THE PRESENTAYION OF WRESTLEKINGDOM 9 AND HOW IT ALL CAME ABOUT

It goes back to late March-April right around the time I launched the company’s name April 7, 2014. New Japan reached out and they knew they wanted to bring New Japan to the North American market. And so we sat down and strategized and it became obvious real quick that what better way to make a splash than to enter the North American market with their biggest show of the year the TokyoDome. WrestleKingdom 9, I believe this is the 24th year they’ve had this event. It was real obvious that this was the event so we put the wheels in motion and made it happen and we couldn’t be happier thus far with the promotion, the hype and just everything coming together.

ON BRINGING JIM ROSS ON BOARD TO DO COMMENTARY AND ANY POSSIBILITIES OF WORKING TOGETHER ON A REGULAR BASIS

How it came about is a two part question. New Japan and Global Force sort of had to cement their relationship and we did and we made it official back in August. I went over there and made a formality. But we had our agreement in place and then we turned to the pay per view providers as it relates to the TokyoDome show and put those 8, 9, 10 contracts in place and then the Flips guys came onboard and then the next logical step was if we’re going to present to the North American english speaking market we need to find two announcers. So when you start looking around, it was a no brainer. Jim Ross, in my opinion, has no peers. He’s the voice of this wrestling fan’s generation. He’s had a main event run that goes back to The Clash Of Champions. I mean he’s been on top of this game, this business and what he does in this business for over 20 years and so you know it’s like I said. It was a no brainer. I’ve done business with his representation on and off for years. Great group of people. Fair, honest, stand up guys and so we communicated then got into negotiations and Jim stayed out of it. It’s funny because in years past Jim dealt with the agents of the talent and the talent tried to stay out of it. And now, years later, I used to be a talent. Still a talent but in this situtation I was negotiating with Jim who’s the talent. So, we closed the deal, we got down to work and I cannot tell you. I knew that it was going to be big. I knew that Jim was going to take the event to another level to the North American market. I knew that we were going to get some positive feedback. But it’s blown me away. Just the media reach it’s like every day there’s a new media hit or multiple media hits and mainstream stuff. And so, the online advertising and feedback has gone through the roof. Man it just keeps growing literally daily. I can’t wait for January 4th and we’re a couple of weeks away and we couldn’t be happier with the signing of Jim Ross.

ON NOT ONLY SECURING JIM ROSS BUT THE ADDITION OF MATT STRIKER AS WELL AND ON TOPMOF THT ACTION IN THE RING AS WELL

I’ve done a bunch of media and still got several more heading into January 4th. But talking about that and then we’ll be 20-30 minutes into a podcast or interview and they’ll say, and we haven’t even begun to talk about the matches and that’s a GOOD THING. Matt Striker, if I can just for a minute, he just blew me away and I’ve been asked why Matt. Literally, six or secen not great but good candidates. But the pre-requisites, Jim’s the one who’s going to be driving that bus. He’s the one who’s going to be steering that ship. And so I needed someone that really, two things, one can they compliment Jim? Can they get out of Jim’s way when need be? They’ve worked together in the past Jim felt real comfortable and I felt real comfortable. The second thing was you gotta know the product. You gotta immerse yourself in the product. And Matt, anybody can study up on these 10 matches and sort of wing it and get by. But Matt blew me away with by his in depth knowledge of just how good Japan came about 42 years ago and the stories and the ebbs and flows and different ownerships and just all the american talent and the japanese talent through the years. Matt, I think he’s impressed people with his Lucha Underground work. He’s going to blow people away with his knowledge of that product

ON IF WE WILL SEE GLOBAL FORCE WRESTLONG WEEKLY TELEVISED PROGRAMMING

Yes. In 2015 you will

ON A PREFERAVLE TIMETABLE FOR WHEN IT WILL HAPPEN

One thing I understand is the anticipation and the excitement and some people the anxiety, the aggravation. Not enough information has been given out. But we’ve done that on purpose strategically. I have learned from past things, watching things, being a part of things. Not just wrestling. Any type of product, brand. When you really rush something to market before it’s ready, you can potentially have fatal mistakes. And so we at Global Force have a real strategic holdout mindset. April 7, I announced the name of the company. April 30 I announced the agreement with AAA. June 23 was New Japan. In Europe, we made the announcement in July. In South Africa, August, late August was Australia. Spreading the brand, rolling things out piece by piece. Getting brand awareness. Just brand awareness and I love it. “What is Global Force?” You said the majority of the questions in some shape or fashion was “What is Global Force?” What are we gonna see?”. That’s great. I love that. I love that feedback tha there’s anticipation that the fanbase cares and they want to know. And so the next strategic step obviously was announcing the New Japan pay per view. Then the addition of Jim Ross and Matt Striker. We’ve got an announcement coming up soon from our South African partners. And so we have our eye on the ball. From January 4th you back up 8 weeks. This has consumed us and this is what we want the world to know about Global Force Wrestling is that we’re representing this event. After the event, we’re going to have to keep rolling out and make the correct announcements

ON WHAT IMPROVEMENTS WILL STAND OUT IN GLOBAL FORCE WRESTLING

Well I don’t want to get into too much show specifics. I’ll save that for the viewers and when the show actually rolls out. But you can obviously see some fundamental differences in our presentation that in years past promotions act like other promotions don’t exist. And if they do recognize them, they degrade them or talk bad about them. In Global Force, we’re 180 degrees different. We’re not only going to recognize other promotions around the world we’re going to help promote. Just a couple of weeks ago on Ring Of Honor’s pay per view. That Sunday, we used our digital station and social media to help promote them. Ring Of Honor is part of the New Japan Dome show. So, we believe that it’s healthy for the industry, it’s healthy for Global Force, it’s healthy for the other promotion to recognize and help promote and that is a big fundamental difference.

ON WHETHER THE INDY CIRCUIT WILL FEEL MORE PRESSURE TO PUSH THEIR TALENT FURTHER AND TOO MUCH

The short answer to your question is no I don’t think it’s going to put additional pressure because there are guys who are going to flat out do what they want to do. Some get good advice, some get bad advice. The term ‘indy’, I believe, is almost passe. I think it’s somewhat a negative connotation. The word I’m using right now which I really like which is true is free agent. Guys that are free to work for any promotion and I believe, like you said, guys like Steen, Prince Devitt, these guys that have come from the ‘independant scene’ is just a testament. The independant scene, the free agent market is very very healthy. And Inthink it shows. In North America you have Ring Of Honor with their syndicated deal, congrats to TNA they got their Destination America deal, Action Spring in New Japan, El Rey with Lucha Underground. Global Force will be on the scene in 2015. So, the business is healthy, the free agent market is healthy and I thinkit didn’t happen overnight. It’s taken many years but as a promoter I couldn’t be happier.

THOUGHTS ON STORYLINES PRESENTED IN WRESTLING

Global Force Wrestling has aired numerous videos on our youtube channel and in one of them Jim Ross refers to not overthinking it. The basics, the fundamentals. Global Force is going to have a real core fundamental that guys are going to step in the ring. Sure you’re going to have characters larger than life. That’s what the business has always been about but it’s going to be about competition and a 1…2…3. In New Japan over the last 36-48 months it all culminates at the Dome on January 4th. They do very fundamental basics and every person that’s ever been a part of matchmaking, creative, booking, whatever you want to call ittend to outthink themselves at times and that NXT show wasn’t outthought and it didn’t surprise me when I saw Pat Patterson. Pat Patterson knows what he’s doing. The matchmakers at New Japan, they certainly knew that Okada and Tanahashi are mega stars and they’re going for the title and let’s not outthink it. Jim said it, it may be the best main event he’s ever called. That takes in alot of ground. I mean, when you really think about that one statement. “it may be the best main event Jim Ross has ever called”. That’s 15-20 Wrestlemanias, that’s Clash Of Champions, that’s umpteenth Royal Rumbles, Summerslams, many Monday Night Raws. Fantastic main events. When you think about that then to me it almost says it all. January 4th is a can’t miss event and it’s about the basics of wrestling

ON SOME OF THE MATCHES ON THE CARD INCLUDING YOUNG BUCKS VS RED DRAGON

When you talk about “it may be the best main event Ross ever calls”, it’s going to be interesting to hear Jim Ross call that Four Corners Match because those four guys, it’s non-stop. Young Bucks are the best tag team in wrestling today. They’re wrestling 2015 and beyond. That match, on a different spectacle may be one of the best tag matches the world has ever seen. Those guys can live up to the hype, they’re all very competitive individuals. As trams as well as individuals. People ask me what match are you looking forward to? The main event and even if you don’t know who Okada and Tanahashi I tell the wrestling fan that asks imagine your most favourite rivalry. I don’t care if it’s Flair-Steamboat or Savage-Steamboat, Hogan-Andre or Austin-Rock. Cena-Orton, Jarrett-Angle whatever your favourite rivalry ever was imagine these two guys Okada and Tanahashi then the opening match, the Four Corners match. Then the third one to me and this is a little bit near and dear to my heart but it is sort of a cap of the year of AJ Styles. What he had. AJ steps away from his comfort zone, he went out on his own and he took over and he rose to the occasion. I think this is probably the best year of AJ’s career and so his match in the Dome against Naito. Naito is a main event player but he’s really trying to break through to that Okada level and so those two guys that will be a matchfor the ages as well

ON THE ONE MEMORABLE LINE FROM JIM ROSS, “THIS IS A SONG, THE GUYS IN THE RING PROVIDE THE MUSIC. HE’S JUST HOPING TO PROVIDE THE CORRECT LYRICS”

That lone has resonated with a lot of people, me included. I’ve repeated that line on a few of my podcasts, print interviews, digital interviews and that is really what this event has ccome all about. Global Force and New Japan and the pay per view and the Flipps app. The stars have aligned and then Jim Ross and the main event. And just everything it comes down to is if you’re a wrestling fan, you can’t miss it. You truly cannot miss this event. Sure there’s tv shows and other pay per views and different things that you go ‘it’s not going to be the end of the world if i don’t see this’. I’ve told a lot of people that I’ve done interviews with and business associates and people that I’m dealing with some sponsorships that are a little bit new to this business so to speak and I ask them are you gonna watch it and they’re like hell yeah and you don’t have to lie to me I can’t check your cable bill. When ARE you gonna watch it and about 9 out of 10 say ‘I’m watching live’. That’s where it resonates deep in my promoter’s soul is that ‘yep, it truly is a can’t miss event’. We’re gonna stay up all night to watch. 4hr event and priced right. When all those decisions were going on there was a strong contingent internally and externallysaying that’s really going to be the price?. It’s not going to be $44.95 or $49.95 because society with the UFC and boxing fightsthet’re $69.90 way up there. No, for the wrestling fan $34.95 is the right price in my opinion

ON THE ORIGINS OF ‘SLAP NUTS’

It’s simple, my grandmother is the one who got us into this business. She sold wrestling tickets to make extra money and work her way up in this business. She did everything but wrestle. She ran the back end of the business and she was around all kinds of characters and she’s a woman who made it big time in a man’s world and she said the one tning that agitated her was she’d say I don’t like people who talk more and more about less and less and she called them slappys and so i took slappys and tirned it into slap nuts

Check out the complete interview at WrestlingNewsSource.com.

– Former WWE Superstar Ted DiBiase Jr. noted on social media recently that he interviewed WWE Hall Of Famer Shawn Michaels for his “Price of Fame” documentary that he has been working on for a couple of years. The documentary focuses on DiBiase Jr. and his relationship with his father, “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase Sr.

– NXT Champion Sami Zayn is featured on the latest edition of WWE’s “30 Second Fury,” which you can check out below.

– The first new episode of WWE Countdown will air on the WWE Network next Monday, January 5th, immediately after WWE RAW at 11:06pm EST. The show will count down the “biggest cry-babies of all-time.”

– Regarding the upcoming RAW Reunion show on January 19th in Dallas, Texas, it’s worth mentioning that WWE is billing Scott Hall as Razor Ramon and Kevin Nash under his real name. As noted on Sunday, Nash has reportedly been pulled from the event following the recent domestic incident with his son, however he is still listed in the advertising for the event on the official WWE website. Also scheduled to appear on the show are Shawn Michaels and Hulk Hogan.

– WWE.com has published a feature looking at 2014’s most unexpected breakout stars, including Damien Mizdow, Stardust, Jack Swagger and The Bunny.

– Shawn Michaels noted on Twitter that he is working on finalizing a book signing tour for early 2015. “Wrestling For My Life: The Legend, the Reality, and the Faith of a WWE Superstar” is scheduled to be released on February 10th.

– Saturday night’s WWE’s Tribute to The Troops special on drew 1.55 million viewers. By comparison, the USA Network Troops special that aired last Wednesday night drew 2,230,000 viewers.

– Randy Orton defeated Kane via pinfall at Sunday night’s WWE Live Event from Hershey, PA. After being pulled from the previous night’s live event (yet doing a run-in during the main event), Orton wrestled an 8-minute match and did not seem to be injured last night.

Here’s a preview for tonight’s episode of WWE RAW takes place from the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C., the final show of 2014:

– Former WWE Tag Team Champions Edge & Christian are will serve as special guest hosts.

– WWE World Heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar is advertised and will continue the hype for his title defense against John Cena at next month’s Royal Rumble pay-per-view.

– Randy Orton is scheduled to return after being written off TV several weeks ago at the hands of Seth Rollins. Orton was back on the road with WWE for this past weekend’s holiday live events.

– NXT tag team The Ascension is scheduled to make their main roster debut.

The advertised dark match main event will see John Cena & Orton teaming up against Seth Rollins and Big Show. 

As always, join us here tonight for our Live Coverage of WWE RAW.

The following are highlights of a new Finn Balor interview from The Score:

On being in WWE: “It’s kind of like the culmination of 14 years hard work. At the beginning, I just wanted to have a wrestling match, and I did that in England. I just took it step by step and to be here in WWE — it’s a real feeling of achievement. But now that I’m here, I want to achieve more. So this is the beginning of a whole new chapter for me. It’s been an incredible experience so far and I’m just looking forward to seeing what happens in the future. WWE is the biggest wrestling company in the world, and it is that for a reason.”

On learning at the WWE Performance Center: “The coaches here include Billy Gunn, Matt Bloom, Norman Smiley and Terry Taylor… So there’s just a wealth of experience to learn from. It’s really been like the floodgates have opened for me. The amount I’ve learned in the last three or four months here has surpassed what I learned in the past three or four years before that.”

On the busy schedule in NXT: “The schedule here [is manic]. We’re working six days a week. We train in the ring three hours in the morning and an hour and a half in the weight room in the afternoon Monday to Friday. Then Thursday, Friday and Saturday we have shows in the evening where we’re competing. So there’s very little free time to get home, and at the moment, it’s all eyes on the prize, and training to build my career in NXT.”

Check out the complete interview at TheScore.ie.

– WWE Diva Paige wrote the following on Twitter about her debut at Madison Square Garden, which took place this past Friday night.

https://twitter.com/RealPaigeWWE/status/548686468936654848

– The latest edition of Eden’s video blog looks at a new “Rhodes family tradition.” You can check that out below.

– The 2014 WWE Tribute to the Troops special is scheduled to premiere on the WWE Network on Friday, January 2nd at 3pm EST.

– Speaking of the WWE Network, the next “Beyond the Ring” special will be the documentary portion of the “Wrestling’s Most Powerful Families” DVD, which was released back in 2007.

Kevin Nash will not be appearing at the upcoming “RAW Reunion” special on January 19th in Dallas, Texas.

Nash was originally scheduled to appear along with Scott Hall, Hulk Hogan and Shawn Michaels, however WWE pulled him from the show due to the recent domestic incident with his son that led to his arrest.

As noted, WWE also suspended Nash from his “Legends” contract due to the same incident.

It appears as though WWE has given Heath Slater time off while he deals with legal issues stemming from an alleged assault incident at the WrestleMania 27 after-party a few years ago.

As noted earlier this month, a misdemeanor arrest warrant was issued for Slater. Slater subsequently issued a statement claiming his innocence and pointing out his confidence that the charges would ultimately be dismissed. WWE also issued a statement and claimed they would take the appropriate action once they received details on the warrant.

Slater’s last WWE match was at the SmackDown tapings on November 25th, just one week prior to the arrest warrant being issued. NXT star Tyler Breeze has apparently replaced Slater on the current holiday tour.

The following are highlights of a new In Your Head Wrestling interview with Global Force Wrestling founder Jeff Jarrett:

How did the deal with New Japan to promote Wrestle Kingdom 9 come about? Was this something that GFW wanted to do or something New Japan wanted to do to get into the North American market?

“Well, a little of both. Back in April of 2014 when I announced the formation of my company and founded Global Force Wrestling, I had already been talking to the partners around the world and piecing things together. New Japan approached me and knew that they wanted to bring their product to the North American audience. It became real obvious real quick that what better way than to pick their biggest event, this is the 24th year, the annual Tokyo Dome show,…to really make a splash on the North American scene with the New Japan product. So we started piecing things together, and quite frankly we couldn’t be happier with where we’re at now: The Bullet Club red hot, Jim Ross getting on board, Matt Striker, all the videos and promotional stuff that we’ve put out, the buzz, the excitement. It all just sort of came together one thing after another and it has shaped up very nicely, and I’m really excited for January 4th.”

Are the plans for GFW in the future to do more shows like Wrestle Kingdom 9 where you present different wrestling from around the world or will you have your own roster and have more of a traditional wrestling program?

“The answer is both. In 2015 we will continue the rollout of Global Force Wrestling. I am talking with several international companies about bringing their product to North America. We are in the process, and there was a press conference December 22nd in South Africa and we have big plans down there in 2015. Then there is the stand-alone company with talent and sponsorship and venue and distribution and everything that goes together; that rollout will continue in 2015 as well.”

Have you seen a lot of guys on the Independent scene that you would like to bring into GFW?

“Absolutely. I’ve said it dating back to February of this year that I believe the professional wrestling business is just on the cusp of a boom period and I think a big component of that is that wrestling is healthy, and wrestling’s healthy because the free-agent market …I don’t like to refer to it as the Indy wrestlers; they may be independent promotions but I like to call them free-agents…is red hot. I’m sitting in my office right now and there’s a white board and there are 64 names on it and 48 of them are guys who have never worked for a major company with worldwide distribution. The Independent scene is red hot in my opinion.”

What do you think about TNA’s new television deal with Destination America?

“Thank the Lord that they got a deal. You know there was a couple of months there that I didn’t know, and certainly anybody else didn’t know, and there were reports online…I don’t think it would’ve been good for the industry whatsoever. Remove the fact that I’m still a minority owner; the wrestling business is my passion and I want everyone to succeed and I think there’s plenty of room. You have ROH in the syndication market and they’re just entering into the pay-per-view world. You have TNA with Destination America. You have New Japan coming on AXS TV. You have El Rey with Lucha Underground. You have Global Force – we’re going to continue our rollout. With all of that being said, the WWE still probably has 75, 80, 85, 90 percent of the market share. Other promotions need to be healthy.”

Check out the complete interview at IYHWrestling.com.

– Rob Van Dam and Sabu are scheduled to reunite as a tag-team for the first time in nine years at the 2015 WrestleCon event during WrestleMania 31 weekend in the Bay Area. Van Dam will not be appearing at the 2015 WWE Hall Of Fame induction ceremony, as he and Sabu will be wrestling at the independent event at WrestleCon that Saturday evening.

– Cesaro and Tyson Kidd are now calling their new tag-team “The Masters of the WWE Universe.” Below is a photo of the two at the WWE live event in Chicago, Illinois on Friday night.

Masters of the WWE Universe#WWEChicago #M pic.twitter.com/4CN7LXHRwX

— TJ Wilson (@TJWilson) December 27, 2014

• * Backstage News On WWE Keeping BRAY WYATT Strong For THE UNDERTAKER At WrestleMania 31

At last word, Chris Jericho’s current deal with WWE calls for 15 live events and no television appearances during January and February. After that, he is scheduled to go back on the road with Fozzy for a European tour from March 4th through March 19th.

Jericho’s status for WrestleMania 31, which is on March 29th, is said to be up in the air, however it’s looking likely that he will not be appearing on the show. Having said that, there are those who feel if Vince McMahon wants him bad enough, he could appear.

Recently, the plan was to keep Jericho off of television so that his return would mean more, although he has already worked two television shows since November.

Randy Orton did not wrestle at Saturday night’s WWE live event from Long Island’s Nassau Coliseum as advertised, but did a run-in at the conclusion of the show, gave RKO’s to Seth Rollins and Kane and helped John Cena win his match.

WWE announced that Orton wouldn’t be competing at the start of the show. There has been some speculation that he was injured on Friday night, which is why he did appear but didn’t work a full match.

He returned to the ring the previous night at Madison Square Garden (photos) after taking several weeks off to film the WWE Studios movie The Condemned 2.

Here’s a photo of Orton backstage Saturday night:

Great to meet Juan backstage before #WWELI He makes sure I always beat Cena when he plays video games. #smartkid pic.twitter.com/Wb1UKljWY0

— Randy Orton (@RandyOrton) December 28, 2014

• MAJOR Backstage Heat On AJ Lee For Her Slammy Awards Speech AND A Separate Incident (Full Story)

– WWE executives have been planning on making the announcement that NXT star Corey Graves was going to be retiring from in-ring competition and moving to his new announcer role since the summer.

– WWE officials are said to be afraid of hurting Bray Wyatt by having him lose to Dean Ambrose in their series of matches recently. The plan is to keep Wyatt strong in case the rumored match with The Undertaker at WrestleMania 31 comes to fruition.

• MAJOR Backstage Heat On AJ Lee For Her Slammy Awards Speech AND A Separate Incident (Full Story)

(News from The Wrestling Observer was used in this post. Visit F4WOnline.com for subscription information.)

– Part-time WWE Superstar Rob Van Dam told a fan on Twitter recently that he’s still “between contracts” with WWE. He also noted that, “full time on the road = no real life. Associates < family."

– Jesse Jackson and his family were backstage at the WWE live event in Chicago, Illinois on Friday night. Jackson is friends with WWE Superstar Titus O'Neil.

– Randy Orton made his in-ring return at the WWE live event in Madison Square Garden this past Friday night. Orton, who has been away shooting the WWE Studios film “The Condemned 2,” defeated Kane in singles action.

Randy Orton!!! #WWEMSG pic.twitter.com/Y3MhYbRNW5

— Roman Reigns O.T.C. (@BigDog_Reigns) December 27, 2014

– Also back in action on Friday night was Bad News Barrett, who appeared at the live event in Chicago, Illinois. Barrett cut a promo and said he wouldn’t be wrestling on the show because Chicago is a “second-class city.” Barrett has been on the sidelines since June with a shoulder injury.

– WWE security was said to be checking for and removing any CM Punk signs in attendance at the WWE live event this past Friday night in his hometown of Chicago, Illinois.

– TMZ has an article up on their website about WWE Superstar Sheamus buying a DeLorean motor vehicle, one that gained fame in the “Back to the Future” movie franchise. Sheamus purchased the car for $55,000 last weekend from “Just Toys Classic Cars” in Orlando, Florida. Below is a photo of Sheamus with the vehicle.

What do you wear when you pick up your Delorean? A Leinster jersey, of course! @WWESheamus #fella #SheamusMcFly pic.twitter.com/RvXkvvuE99

— Leinster Rugby (@leinsterrugby) December 20, 2014

Kevin Nash will not be appearing at tonight’s Maryland Championship Wrestling show from Joppa, MD, despite a message on the company website stating that he will in fact be there ‘contrary to Internet rumors.’

WWE Hall of Famer Mick Foley will be taking his place. Former WWE talents Matt Sydal and Melina will also be in attendance.

Nash will be appearing for MCW some time in 2015.

BREAKING NEWS! Kevin Nash will not b @ #MCWSeasonsBeatings. However, taking his place will b #WWE HoF'er #HardcoreLegend @RealMickFoley!

— MCW Pro Wrestling (@MCWWrestling) December 27, 2014

Former WWE and TNA wrestler Mickie James announced on Instagram that she is now engaged to TNA star Magnus. The two had a son back in September named Donovan Patrick Aldis. Here’s a photo of the ring:

I was waiting for it to fit to make the big announcement… But apparently my friends & family are way too nosey & smart for that! Lol! Im so excited to announce our engagement!!! Love love love!!! ???????????? #ManHandProblems #DiamondsDontTakeGoodPics #LoveIsTheGreatestGift #BestChristmasPrezzieEver #DestinationWedding xoxo ~ Future MJA

A photo posted by Mickie James (@themickiejames) on Dec 12, 2014 at 11:15am PST

WWE.com has published a feature ranking the Top 25 Matches of 2015. Here’s their top 10:

#10 The Usos vs. The Wyatt Family — 2-out-of-3-Falls WWE Tag Team Championship Match (WWE Battleground)

#9 Sami Zayn vs. Cesaro (NXT ArRIVAL)

#8 Daniel Bryan vs. Triple H (WrestleMania 30)

#7 Randy Orton vs. Daniel Bryan vs. Batista — Triple Threat WWE World Heavyweight Championship Match (WrestleMania 30)

#6 Natalya vs. Charlotte — NXT Women’s Championship Match (NXT TakeOver)

#5 The Shield vs. Evolution (Extreme Rules)

#4 Adrian Neville vs. Sami Zayn vs. Tyler Breeze vs. Tyson Kidd — Fatal 4-Way NXT Championship Match (NXT TakeOver: Fatal 4-Way)

#3 The Shield vs. The Wyatt Family (Elimination Chamber)

#2 Adrian Neville vs. Sami Zayn — NXT Championship Match (NXT TakeOver: R Evolution)

#1 Team Cena (John Cena, Dolph Ziggler, Big Show, Ryback & Erick Rowan) vs. Team Authority (Seth Rollins, Kane, Rusev, Luke Harper & Mark Henry) — Traditional 5-on-5 Survivor Series Elimination Tag Team Match (Survivor Series)