Former WCW star Billy Kidman returned to his position as a backstage producer for WWE this week, according to reports from PWinsider.

Kidman returned to work during the tapings for this week’s episode of Friday Night SmackDown and he is expected to continue working for the company in the coming weeks.

The former Cruiserweight Champion was furloughed by the promotion as part of their budget cuts when the coronavirus pandemic forced them to suspend their normal operations in April.

• Also Read: WWE Statement on COVID-19 Outbreak at the Performance Center

Now that the company has moved to a bigger arena from the Performance Center, they have brought back a number of employees and Kidman seems to be one of them.

Billy Kidman started his wrestling career in late 1994 and he was signed to a contract by WCW in mid-1996. Though he spent the first year of his stint as an enhancement talent with no character.

He was then added to Raven’s Flock and the high flying star found some success after he got out of the group.

He started competing in the cruiserweight division in 1998 and Kidman won the Cruiserweight championship 3 times during his WCW tenure. He even teamed up with Rey Mysterio to win the Cruiserweight tag titles once.

He was one of the stars who WWE signed when they bought WCW and the lightweight star remained with the promotion until 2005. He was brought back as a trainer in 2007.

The following press release was issued today:

Feb. 5, 2014 – PITTSBURGH – Author L. Anne Carrington dared to be different when she burst on the literary scene in 2010 with The Cruiserweight, her first wrestling-based novel in a four-part series. The Cruiserweight Series’ third book, Klass Act, was named 2013 Sport Book of the Year by Turning the Pages Books.

Ms. Carrington takes her interest in sports entertainment further with Billy Kidman: The Shooting Star,an unauthorized nonfiction account of the former cruiserweight star soon to be released by Florida-based independent publisher Palm Tree Books.

“Palm Tree Books is proud to be part of this upcoming project,” said founding publisher Donovan Rutherford. “We aim to publish books that suit a variety of readers’ interests. The market for sports entertainment topics still remains virtually untapped, and L. Anne Carrington’s new book could be a key factor in filling that void.”

Ms. Carrington elaborated on what inspired her to write Billy Kidman: The Shooting Star. “I’ve read several sites and message boards geared toward past wrestling stars basically asking the same question: ‘Whatever happened to that guy [Kidman]?’ I found an earlier book about him online last summer, but its contents only covered his career up to 2000 or 2001. I did additional research between finishing other projects and uncovered lesser-known information alongside what is already common knowledge.”

Billy Kidman: The Shooting Star covers Kidman’s early days in his native Allentown, PA, respective stints as a cruiserweight wrestler with East Coast independent wrestling federations, the now-defunct World Championship Wrestling (WCW), World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), American and overseas promotions following his WWE career, working as a wrestler and trainer for the former Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW), and his status as of early 2014. The book also features bonus pages of titles held, additional reading, and links to related web sites.

Billy Kidman: The Shooting Star will be available for sale March/April 2014 in both paperback and ebook formats.

– Kellan Lutz, who is portraying “Hercules” in a separate film from the one Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson recently starred in, noted in a recent interview that he was unable to get as big as The Rock did for his role. Lutz even went as far as to say, “There’s not enough ‘extra-curricular’ stuff for that.”

Check out the complete interview online at ContactMusic.com.

– WWE Superstar Mark Henry has apparently been spotted in Boston, Massachusetts, the site of tonight’s WWE Survivor Series pay-per-view. Henry was seen flying into Boston with WWE agents Billy Kidman and Dean Malenko.

Obviously Henry’s presence in Boston doesn’t necessarily mean that he will be making his return during the show. Some are speculating, however, that he will return to answer the “open challenge” that Ryback is rumored to be a part of on the show tonight.

– As previously reported, former WWE Superstar and current WWE agent Billy Kidman has been appearing at recent WWE live events as Paul Heyman’s personal doctor. Below is a photo of Kidman portraying the character at a recent WWE European live event:

– According to a source within WWE, the former manager of Alberto Del Rio and Rob Van Dam, Ricardo Rodriguez, has been doing some agent work backstage for WWE. Additionally, Rodriguez has been wrestling at WWE live events under a mask as “Los Locale” in tag-team matches against Los Matadores.

– The Big Show is currently working through an injury and was seen limping at yesterday’s WWE live event from Glasgow, Scotland. No word yet about the severity of the injury but he’s not expected to miss any ring time. Reader Andy sent in the following live report describing Big Show’s injury:

“At the live event in Cardiff (Wales), Big Show is not 100 percent. He was heavily limping on his way to the ring, looked in pain, and was stretching his right leg a lot as well as running the ropes during Randy Orton’s entrance for the main event.

Before the match, Show gave a hand signal to someone ringside implying he was 50/50. It’s his left side or leg, but the pain was clear to see.”

– British wrestling legend Robbie Brookside is now working as a trainer for WWE at their Performance Center. Previously, he had been working with WWE scouting European talent and he will continue those duties as well.

– WWE producer Billy Kidman has been appearing at WWE’s overseas live events tour, acting as Paul Heyman’s personal physician in segments where CM Punk attacks Heyman.

Speaking of Heyman, he might be returning to WWE television on tonight’s RAW.

– Rob Van Dam revealed on Twitter that he just wrapped up some voice-over work for the upcoming “Saints Row 4” video game. He is reprising his role as Bobby from the 3rd installment of the series.

“@mezzanine76: “@TherealRVD: Done” Not buying that you're done.” That was in reference to voiceover work I did for Saints Row 4

— Rob Van Dam (@TherealRVD) July 19, 2013

“@austinhlear1997: @TherealRVD what character did u do VoiceOver for in Saints Row 4???”Bobby

— Rob Van Dam (@TherealRVD) July 19, 2013

– Billy Kidman is no longer working as a trainer at WWE developmental. Kidman has been working as a producer at WWE live events, working with talent on the pacing of their matches and interview segments.

– The Miami Marlins will host “Legends of Wrestling” night on August 24th when they play the Colorado Rockies. Wrestlers in attendance will include Bill Goldberg (throwing out the opening pitch), Bret Hart, Mr. Anderson, Wes Brisco, Garrett Bischoff, the Nasty Boys, Brutus Beefcake, Jimmy Hart, Koko B. Ware, Lanny Poffo, Jim Neidhart, Harry Smith and more.

— WWE Superstar and host, Santino Marella shares with Michael McGillicutty and the WWE Universe just how dirty he will get to prove he’s a diligent worker.

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— WWE developmental wrestler Dean Ambrose faced Zack Ryder at Friday’s Raw live event in Glens Falls, New York. Ambrose was disqualified after he removed the turnbuckle pad and whipped Ryder into it.

— Former WWE Superstar Billy Kidman turned 38 years old on Friday. He is currently a producer on WWE’s Raw brand.

— WWE Tag Team Champions Kofi Kingston and R-Truth are advertised to appear at Aaron’s Rental & Sales in Mobile, Alabama on Saturday, June 2 beginning at 4:00 p.m.

— Chris Jericho posted a message on Twitter in response to online critics.

“Funny how some of u never stop complaining and think u know it all,” he wrote. “Just sit back and enjoy the ride…you’ll have a lot more fun!”

— WWE highlighted World Championship Wrestling’s annual February pay-per-view event SuperBrawl on this week’s episode of Vintage Collection. Matches featured include The Fabulous Freebirds vs. The Young Pistols (WCW SuperBrawl), Billy Kidman vs. Vampiro (WCW SuperBrawl 2000), Scott Steiner vs. Diamond Dallas Page (WCW SuperBrawl Revenge), Steve Austin, Paul Orndorff and Rick Rude vs. Sting, Dustin Rhodes and Brian Pillman in a Thundercage Match (WCW Superbrawl IV).

The 1998 edition is currently airing its entirety on WWE Classics On Demand.

— Tommy Dreamer will be holding a wrestling seminar on March 8 in Winnipeg. Cost is $35 and spots are limited. E-mail danny@cwecanada.ca for more information.

— Tyson Kidd was accompanied by SmackDown head writer Michael Hayes at last night’s WWE Superstars taping in Nashville, Tennessee. He faced Trent Barreta.

WWE officials have discussed reviving the manager role for some heel performers who can’t speak at a main event level.

— WWE Executive Vice President of Television Production Kevin Dunn’s compensation for 2010 was $746,154 in salary, $608,400 in stock grants and $359,000 in other income for a total of $1,713,554.

— Former WWE Superstar The Honky Tonk Man is scheduled for an autograph signing this Sunday at Legendary Ink in the Marley Station Mall in Glen Burnie, Maryland. The signing begins at 2:00 p.m. For more information, call 410-787-2002.

— Billy Kidman, who currently works for WWE in a producer role, celebrates his 37th birthday today.

source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter

— Alberto Del Rio indicated to SLAM! Wrestling in an interview that tonight’s Fatal Four-Way TLC Match for the World Heavyweight Championship will be the biggest match of his career for two reasons.

“I’m going to have the chance to face those legends and especially because I’m going for the heavyweight title,” he said. “For me, this is the most important match in my career.”

After being a late addition to the match, Del Rio said his focus is on Mysterio and the World Heavyweight Championship.

“At the end, the only one who’s going to be left is Alberto Del Rio with the title,” he said.

— TNA Wrestling star Shannon Moore confirmed that Billy Kidman, who works for WWE in a backstage capacity, has an account on Twitter. His account can be reached at twitter.com/realkidman.

— Brodus Clay noted on a recent episode of NXT that he previously worked as rapper Snoop Dogg’s bodyguard. It would appear that the Brodus Clay ring name was inspired by his former colleague, as the rapper’s last name is Broadus.