Former WWE Diva Trish Stratus is featured on the cover of Top Choice magazine with her award naming her Yoga studio top choice:

– Spike TV has announced the next installment of the TNA Epics show on will air on Monday, March 15 right before iMPACT! The show will focus on TNA’s X-Division and airs 6 days before Destination X on PPV. The show will be a lead-in for iMPACT!, which will be going up against WWE RAW hosted by “Stone Cold” Steve Austin.

– Thursday’s TNA iMPACT drew a 1.14 cable rating and averaged 1,563,000 viewers – down about 6% from last week.

– TNA is sending Ken Anderson and Lacey Von Erich to Mexico for the AAA show on March 12th in Mexico. Anderson will compete in a 4-way for the AAA World Title and Lacey will team with Rain (the former Payton Banks) in a six-woman tag match.

(Partial source: f4wonline.com)

– Spike TV has announced the next installment of the TNA Epics show on will air on Monday, March 15 right before iMPACT! The show will focus on TNA’s X-Division and airs 6 days before Destination X on PPV. The show will be a lead-in for iMPACT!, which will be going up against WWE RAW hosted by “Stone Cold” Steve Austin.

– Thursday’s TNA iMPACT drew a 1.14 cable rating and averaged 1,563,000 viewers – down about 6% from last week.

– TNA is sending Ken Anderson and Lacey Von Erich to Mexico for the AAA show on March 12th in Mexico. Anderson will compete in a 4-way for the AAA World Title and Lacey will team with Rain (the former Payton Banks) in a six-woman tag match.

(Partial source: f4wonline.com)

WWE.com has announced that Charlie Haas has been released. He was wished all the best in his future endeavors.

Since Fridya, WWE has released:

– Charlie Haas
– Shane Helms
– Paul Burchill
– WWE Diva Maria
– Referee Scott Armstrong

Maria Kanellis, who was released on Friday by World Wrestling Entertainment, commented on her departure at Twitter.com/MariaLKannelis. She wrote:

“Alright guys let’s talk. I did not ask for my release. I was released. I am still going to kick ass in other areas!! I am excited about the future! But I am sad about never getting the Championship. I am sad about not getting the chance to go to Wrestlemania again. Passion is my Motivation! Time to Sing! Time to work for Charity! Time to Dance! Time to be Alive again! Much love to my FANS, my FAMILY, the DIVAS, and my FRIENDS! There is a bright new future when one door closes another opens! Bring on the Doors! Spanks and Kisses”

Here are some recent pictures of the former WWE Diva promoting her music career:

— WWE diva Maria Kanellis has been released. Maria had been with WWE since competing in the 2004 Diva Search competition (she placed 5th) and was voted the 2009 Diva of the Year.

– Daniel Bryan wrote the following on Twitter regarding the NXT premiere:

“Finally saw the NXT debut. I was proud of my performance but definitely saw areas I could improve. I need a better mentor!”

Follow Daniel Bryan & 80+ Wrestlers & Divas at PWTweets.com.

WWE.com has announced that Shane “Hurricane” Helms and Paul Burchill have been released.

Shane Helms’ most recent WWE run began back in 2008. Since then, he has served as both a backstage interviewer and wrestler and performed as both Shane Helms as well as The Hurricane. He was arrested along with Chris Jericho in late January for public intoxication and was part of the ECW brand when it folded earlier this month.

Paul Burchill had been with WWE since 2005 and was also part of the ECW brand before it folded. There was talk he’d be moving to RAW.

Both men were wished the best in all future endeavors.

Additionally, we can confirm that WWE is planning to release several more superstars in the coming weeks as part of the annual “spring cleaning” (yeah, we know it’s still February) .. Several members of the ECW roster as well as one WWE diva in particular is believed to be at risk.

— WWE’s stock price is flirting with its 52-week high today, peaking at 17.08 on Friday morning (just shy of the 17.10 high). The stock price is up a whopping 89% from where it was a year ago.

— WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross posted a blog update on JRsBarBQ.com Friday morning with an update on his health and future plans in the wrestling industry. Ross wrote that nothing is finalized yet, but potential plans are in the works and he hopes to attend WrestleMania 26. Ross wants to return, but WWE’s hectic schedule might be too much for him at this point. He questions whether he can still handle traveling 51 weeks a year while performing at the level he’s expected to. “Thank God I’m feeling better but many, major decisions have to be addressed,” Ross wrote. “I can only say that time will tell over the next few weeks and the best decision will be made. This by no means that my love for the business has diminished whatsoever.”

– As announced on last night’s TNA iMPACT!, Hulk Hogan and Ric Flair will come out of retirement on March 8th in a tag match that will see the two legends on opposite sides of the ring. Hulk Hogan will team with Abyss against Ric Flair and TNA champion AJ Styles.

– Despite the fact that he’s one of the biggest names that TNA has access to, one big name that’s been conspicuously absent in recent weeks is Sting.  The company knows that he’s not interested in being too involved in the product these days and his name isn’t mentioned too often by TNA officials.

– With the dust starting to settle from Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff’s arrival in TNA, the backstage atmosphere at the most recent iMPACT tapings was said to be very relaxed at the most recent TNA iMAPCT! tapigns in Orlando. Hogan and Bischoff seemed more down to earth and comfortable when working with the TNA talent. Some credit the improvement in backstage morale to Dixie Carter constantly telling people she wants to keep TNA a positive, fun work environment.

Source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter

– As announced on last night’s TNA iMPACT!, Hulk Hogan and Ric Flair will come out of retirement on March 8th in a tag match that will see the two legends on opposite sides of the ring. Hulk Hogan will team with Abyss against Ric Flair and TNA champion AJ Styles.

– Despite the fact that he’s one of the biggest names that TNA has access to, one big name that’s been conspicuously absent in recent weeks is Sting.  The company knows that he’s not interested in being too involved in the product these days and his name isn’t mentioned too often by TNA officials.

– With the dust starting to settle from Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff’s arrival in TNA, the backstage atmosphere at the most recent iMPACT tapings was said to be very relaxed at the most recent TNA iMAPCT! tapigns in Orlando. Hogan and Bischoff seemed more down to earth and comfortable when working with the TNA talent. Some credit the improvement in backstage morale to Dixie Carter constantly telling people she wants to keep TNA a positive, fun work environment.

Source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter

SmackDown *SPOILERS*

Credit to Jim Fields & PWInsider.com for this live report:

WWE SmackDown!:

– Chris Jericho cuts a promo saying he’s the best and didn’t deserve what happened on Monday. Edge comes out and talked about how he’s always spearing Jericho. Jericho hit Edge with the mic but Edge speared him again.

Money in the Bank Qualifying Match
– Dolph Ziggler d. John Morrison & R-Truth in a Triple Threat to qualify. Morrison hit Starship Pain on Truth but Ziggler pulled Morrison out and covered Truth.

Women’s Title Match
– Michelle McCool d. Mickie James to win the Women’s Title. Vickie Guerrero was the referee. She slapped James while she had McCool rolled up and McCool hit a head kick to win.

Money in the Bank Qualifying Match
– Kane d. Drew McIntyre with a kick to the head while Drew was on the ground to qualify. Drew had cut a promo before the match saying he’d stay undefeated. I guess not.

– Miz came out and cut a promo saying that he The Big Show need opponents for WrestleMania. He told Teddy Long to work on that. Long came out and said that since Show isn’t here tonight will be singles action. It’s Miz vs. Edge tonight.

Money in the Bank Qualifying Match
– Shelton Benjamin d. CM Punk to qualify. Rey distracted Punk, who turned around into Paydirt.

– Edge d. Miz with The Spear. It was a good back and forth match.

Dark Match Main Event

Edge said that he doesn’t want to wait. He wants Batista for the dark main event now!

– Edge d. Batista by DQ when Jericho hit The Codebreaker. Matt Hardy, CM Punk and kane all also hit finishers on each other for fun I guess.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2010

The following statement is from syndicated and satellite radio host Bubba the Love Sponge®:

“This morning I was made aware of allegations made in a petition for full bill of discovery by Ms. Kia Stevens, a professional wrestler with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. The allegations in this petition are one hundred percent false. To be clear; everything contained in this petition is not true. Ms. Stevens attributing outrageous racist statements and physical threats to me is disgusting.”

“We can prove without any doubt the allegations made in this petition are false. First Ms. Stevens claims that she was called on the air, at 5:08 AM on February 10th, we are not even on the air until 6 AM Eastern time. We have phone records and eye witnesses that account for my every movement that day from 4:50 AM forward. No call was made to Ms. Stevens at all.”

“We will be pursuing all legal remedies available to us in the State of Florida to fight these deliberately malicious allegations.”

— TNA Knockout is alleging that radio personality Bubba The Love Sponge called her at 5 a.m. on February 10th from a blocked phone number and threatened her. Kong, who got into a backstage altercation with Bubba after he said “F— Haiti” on Twitter, claims that Bubba identified himself, told her the call would be played on the radio and threatened her with some very racist and offensive comments.

She asked AT&T to give her the identity of the blocked caller so that she could take further action, but they declined to release that information. As a result, she has filed a lawsuit against both AT&T and Bubba. For more on this, visit CourthouseNews.com.

Read More: Bubba The Love Sponge Responds To Kong’s Allegations

— Spike TV has granted TNA Wrestling an 8-minute overrun for the March 8th edition of iMPACT!, the first night of the new Monday night war. No word yet on whether this is a one night deal or if they’ll run over every week like WWE RAW does. (Source: PWInsider.com)

– WWE programming is rated TV-PG and acceptable for the whole family, but Tuesday’s WWE NXT debut on SyFy was actually rated TV-14 (“Parents strongly cautioned”). According to WWE, the TV-14 rating was an error. A WWE spokesman told the Hartford Courant, “There was a miscommunication between SyFy and the programming guides. All of our programming is PG.”

– WWE will be filming a lot of NXT segments at the Florida Championship Wrestling gym in Tampa, Florida. This comes as a blessing to Steve Keirn, who runs FCW, since WWE has paid for a lot of upgrades to the gym and to the production equipment.

– WWE NXT rookie David Otunga, who has long been engaged to Oscar-winner Jennifer Hudson, told E! that he would be open to marrying the one-time “American Idol” finalist in a wrestling ring.”We could do that,” said Otunga. “I don’t know if Jennifer would go for it, but I’d be up for it.”

– WWE reported on their website via listatlas.com that the WWE NXT Rookie list on Twitter is the #3 fastest growing list this week.

(Partial credit to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter)

– WWE programming is rated TV-PG and acceptable for the whole family, but Tuesday’s WWE NXT debut on SyFy was actually rated TV-14 (“Parents strongly cautioned”). According to WWE, the TV-14 rating was an error. A WWE spokesman told the Hartford Courant, “There was a miscommunication between SyFy and the programming guides. All of our programming is PG.”

– WWE will be filming a lot of NXT segments at the Florida Championship Wrestling gym in Tampa, Florida. This comes as a blessing to Steve Keirn, who runs FCW, since WWE has paid for a lot of upgrades to the gym and to the production equipment.

– WWE NXT rookie David Otunga, who has long been engaged to Oscar-winner Jennifer Hudson, told E! that he would be open to marrying the one-time “American Idol” finalist in a wrestling ring.”We could do that,” said Otunga. “I don’t know if Jennifer would go for it, but I’d be up for it.”

– WWE reported on their website via listatlas.com that the WWE NXT Rookie list on Twitter is the #3 fastest growing list this week.

(Partial credit to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter)

– WWE Studios will begin working on a movie called “Killer Karma” soon. The movie has a $10 million budget and will be released in theaters, starring WWE Champion Batista. The movie is about a guy being released from prison (presumably Batista) who is trying to get his life in order with fate, friends and enemies getting in his way.

– WWE began filming the movie “Big Red” in New Orleans this week. It stars actors Ed Harris and Amy Madigan with RAW’s Randy Orton. The movie is based in the mid 1960’s and focuses on a smart 12-year-old boy whose teacher makes him work with a social outcast on a project and the outcast has an incident with a bully at school. Orton will star as the father of the bully who tries to get Harris fired him his job as teacher. Madigan will play the school’s principal. Big Red is an example of a new strategy being employed by WWE Studios, which is to cast big name Hollywood actors in their films and use WWE superstars as supporting characters.

(Source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter)

– WWE Studios will begin working on a movie called “Killer Karma” soon. The movie has a $10 million budget and will be released in theaters, starring WWE Champion Batista. The movie is about a guy being released from prison (presumably Batista) who is trying to get his life in order with fate, friends and enemies getting in his way.

– WWE began filming the movie “Big Red” in New Orleans this week. It stars actors Ed Harris and Amy Madigan with RAW’s Randy Orton. The movie is based in the mid 1960’s and focuses on a smart 12-year-old boy whose teacher makes him work with a social outcast on a project and the outcast has an incident with a bully at school. Orton will star as the father of the bully who tries to get Harris fired him his job as teacher. Madigan will play the school’s principal. Big Red is an example of a new strategy being employed by WWE Studios, which is to cast big name Hollywood actors in their films and use WWE superstars as supporting characters.

(Source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter)

– It was reported a few weeks back that Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff wanted TNA to stop doing live events until they got everything in TNA on the right track. Their position was based on poor house show performance in November and December. Being that TNA did great live event business in January (following the successful January 4th show), the live events were never scrapped. Jeff Jarrett, Don West and Jeremy Borash are currently in charge of live events.

– The company behind the “Hulkamania: Let the Battle Begin” tour of Australia has gone bankrupt and the expected DVD of the Hulkamania tour of Australia probably won’t be released. Hulk Hogan reportedly wouldn’t allow them to market the DVD until the promoters paid him money he was still owed for the tour. The show was scheduled to air in Australia on TV a few months ago and there was talk of another tour in China, but those plans are off.

– The new bi-sexual storyline with Orlando Jordan got off to a bad start with TNA and Spike TV officials as neither of them were happy with the way Jordan’s male companion was rubbing him in the bit that didn’t air on iMPACT. The guy with Jordan is the same guy that was with him when he got fired from WWE a few years back.

(Source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter)

Matt and Jeff Hardy have posted their latest video blog to YouTube:

Episode #13 Outside Of Cracker Barrel

“After each one of us had just gotten back into North Carolina after long road trips, it was time for myself, Jeff, & Kimo to grab some lunch at one of our favorite spots-Cracker Barrel. After lunch, we turned the Flip on, and captured whatever came out. Enjoy guys!”

Matt and Jeff Hardy have posted their latest video blog to YouTube:

Episode #13 Outside Of Cracker Barrel

“After each one of us had just gotten back into North Carolina after long road trips, it was time for myself, Jeff, & Kimo to grab some lunch at one of our favorite spots-Cracker Barrel. After lunch, we turned the Flip on, and captured whatever came out. Enjoy guys!”

The debut episode of WWE NXT on SyFy drew a 1.35 rating and averaged 1,704,000 viewers. WWE and SyFy sent this out today:

REMIERE OF WWE NXT PINS 1.7 MILLION TOTAL VIEWERS DURING TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23 DEBUT ON SYFY, SOARING 32%

NXT Leaps 73% in Adults 18-34, 51% in Adults 18-49 and 35% in Adults 25-54

New York, NY — February 24, 2010 — The premiere of Syfy’s WWE NXT, a new hybrid live event/reality show featuring eight popular WWE Superstars (“Pros”) mentoring eight WWE “Rookies,” pinned 1.7 million total viewers during its Tuesday, February 23 debut, leaping 32% compared to the 1Q10 to-date delivery for the Tuesday 10PM (ET/PT) programming.

During the 10-11PM (ET/PT) telecast, NXT jumped 73% in Adults 18-34 (430,000), 51% in Adults 18-49 (787,000) and 35% in Adults 25-54 (767,000), along with a 1.3 household rating.

This is the best HH rating and Adults18-49 delivery for a WWE series telecast on Syfy since 9/1/09.

The median age for WWE NXT was 35.2, nearly eight years below the 42.9 average for the Tuesday 10PM programming in 1Q10.

In WWE NXT’s 10PM time period, Syfy was the #2 cable network for Men 18-49 and Men 25-54, and was in the top 5 cable entertainment networks in Adults 25-54 (#3), Men 18-34 (#4) and Adults 18-49 (#5).

NXT is a unique combination of heart-stopping entertainment and gritty behind-the-scenes reality. The Rookie stars of the series take the challenge of the Syfy tagline Imagine Greater’ to heart as they embark on their ultimate dream quest to join the next generation of WWE revered heroes and champions.

* WWE NXT: What Did You Think About The Debut Episode? COMMENT HERE

WWE has signed a new British Diva, the sexy Jemma Palmer. Palmer, who played “Inferno” on the UK Gladiators show, told TheSun.co.uk that she’s excited to follow in the footsteps of follow Brit babes Katie Lea and Lalya El.

The 24-year old will relocate to Tampa, Florida, next month to join Florida Championship Wrestling, WWE’s developmental league. She’s been waiting on her work Visa for seven months, which finally went through.

She told SunSport, “I was bullied at school and all through that time I looked at people like the Gladiators and wrestlers — fit, strong characters who told you to go for what you wanted. So I ignored the bullies and didn’t let them distract me from my education and goals. I hope I can inspire other kids to go for their dreams. I wanted to be a wrestler and a Gladiator and I’ve done that by ignoring what anyone else said.”

Palmer auditioned for Vince McMahon back in 2005 along with Katie Lea, but was not hired at that time.

To read SunSport’s full interview with Jemma Palmer, visit TheSun.co.uk.

Check out these pictures of the newest WWE Diva, Jemma Palmer:

During the main event of WWE NXT last night, announcer Michael Cole went off on a rant against Internet fans and the independent wrestling “universe.”

The main event featured NXT rookie Daniel Bryan against World Heavyweight champion Chris Jericho. Announcer Josh Matthews played up Bryan’s wrestling credentials, putting over the fact that he’s been wrestling on the independent scene for nearly a decade and has established his name across the world. Michael Cole seemed to get pissed off over Matthews comments, repeatedly dismissing Bryan’s accomplishments, saying performing at “high schools” does not impress him in the least.

Cole sided with The Miz’s character, downplaying Bryan’s accomplishments and insisting he show more respect for the WWE Pros. Cole added that he had never really heard anything about Daniel Bryan prior to the debut of NXT and put down smart fans who read the “dirt sheets.”

Some fans reacted with outrage, feeling as if Cole’s comments represented a deliberate disrespect for diehard wrestling fans and what talent like Daniel Bryan have accomplished outside of the WWE ring. But it was apparent to most, however, that Cole was simply trying to stir up some controversy.

The “WWE Universe” Twitter account posted the following Tuesday night:

“Michael Cole has requested his @WWEUniverse profile be removed from our site, not wanting to associate with “online fans” any longer.”

In typical WWE fashion, there’s a real life situation that’s out of their control (smart fans going online and reading wrestling news & learning about other wrestling products) – so they’re turning it into a storyline.

UPDATE: Joey Styles posted the following messaages on Twitter in regards to the on-air exchange between Michael Cole and Josh Matthews:

“So who is the bigger online fan favorite now, Bryan Danielson or Josh Mathews for acknowledging the wrestling world outside WWE?”

“I can assure you that the exchange between Josh Mathews and Michael Cole was very real. Cole lives in the WWE bubble.”

There are now several I hate Michael Cole threads in the NXT forums on wweuniverse.com. Vintage hatred for Michael. Oh My. Josh is a hero.

As always, visit PWTwe

During the main event of WWE NXT last night, announcer Michael Cole went off on a rant against Internet fans and the independent wrestling “universe.”

The main event featured NXT rookie Daniel Bryan against World Heavyweight champion Chris Jericho. Announcer Josh Matthews played up Bryan’s wrestling credentials, putting over the fact that he’s been wrestling on the independent scene for nearly a decade and has established his name across the world. Michael Cole seemed to get pissed off over Matthews comments, repeatedly dismissing Bryan’s accomplishments, saying performing at “high schools” does not impress him in the least.

Cole sided with The Miz’s character, downplaying Bryan’s accomplishments and insisting he show more respect for the WWE Pros. Cole added that he had never really heard anything about Daniel Bryan prior to the debut of NXT and put down smart fans who read the “dirt sheets.”

Some fans reacted with outrage, feeling as if Cole’s comments represented a deliberate disrespect for diehard wrestling fans and what talent like Daniel Bryan have accomplished outside of the WWE ring. But it was apparent to most, however, that Cole was simply trying to stir up some controversy.

The “WWE Universe” Twitter account posted the following Tuesday night:

“Michael Cole has requested his @WWEUniverse profile be removed from our site, not wanting to associate with “online fans” any longer.”

In typical WWE fashion, there’s a real life situation that’s out of their control (smart fans going online and reading wrestling news & learning about other wrestling products) – so they’re turning it into a storyline.

UPDATE: Joey Styles posted the following messaages on Twitter in regards to the on-air exchange between Michael Cole and Josh Matthews:

“So who is the bigger online fan favorite now, Bryan Danielson or Josh Mathews for acknowledging the wrestling world outside WWE?”

“I can assure you that the exchange between Josh Mathews and Michael Cole was very real. Cole lives in the WWE bubble.”

There are now several I hate Michael Cole threads in the NXT forums on wweuniverse.com. Vintage hatred for Michael. Oh My. Josh is a hero.

As always, visit PWTwe

WWE NXT rookie Daniel Bryan suffered some minor injuries during his first WWE match against World Heavyweight champion Chris Jericho on the debut episode of WWE NXT.

During the match, Bryan dove out of the ring onto Chris Jericho. He looked to be in pain afterward, but didn’t have a problem finishing the match.

Bryan suffered some nasty scrapes to his back and leg, but he’s not expected to miss any ring time.

WWE has confirmed Bryan’s injury and posted some nasty pictures of the scrapes he suffered. Click the image below see more:

(Image from WWE.com)