Slam Wrestling has an interview up with former WWE & TNA star Booker T. Here are some highlights of what Booker T said about:

Dixie Carter: “The TNA family actually treated me very well, I was just going through a lot of personal things when I left. I am still close to Dixie Carter, who is a nice lady doing a lot of great things for the wrestling business and the wrestlers.”

Rumors of a WWE Return: “There is a lot of truth to those rumors. I was really close to going back to WWE. Things did not work out due to a lot of things. I can’t work 6 months out of the year, 160 days. That would be really hard on me. We got pregnant at the same time that negotiations were being talked about.”

Daniel Bryan’s Release and Chris Benoit: “Wow that is news to me. I didn’t know about the tie thing. That is really a weird thing to fire someone for. I have seen a lot of things a lot worse then choking someone with a tie. As far as the changes in the business… Chris Benoit was a good friend of mine who I had classic matches with.”

His Surprise Appearance at a Recent TNA Live Event: “It was really cool to get out there and mix it up with Rob Van Dam. We are really good friends but it was all about the title. A.J. Styles had flight problems and couldn’t make it in and they didn’t want to dissapoint the fans. It was 2 hours from where I live. I still got good relations with TNA. The TNA family actually treated me very well, I was just going through a lot of personal things when I left.  … It was a great night not just for the fans but for myself to go out there and see if I still got it, the itch to be out there and doing it. The fans were going crazy which was totally unexpected. Rob and I went out and I gave him a black eye, he almost broke my jaw when he kicked me in the side of the head. All is fair in love and war when you are out there in the ring trying to deliver for the fans. That is what it was about. Man it was a great night”

(source: www.pwtorch.com)

— As noted earlier, Booker T was a surprise replacement for AJ Styles at TNA’s live event in Lake Charles, Louisiana. He lives within driving distance of the venue and was asked to appear when Styles was unable to appear at the show. Booker was also backstage the following night in Houston. Though he’s close with TNA World Heavyweight Champion Rob Van Dam, it’s been indicated that he won’t be returning to the company.

— Many in the locker room are sounding off on TNA using international wrestler Kazuchika Okada, who thus far has been regulated to Xplosion. Many feel he’s not nearly as talented as fellow Japanese wrestler Kiyoshi, who has been sparingly used in recent months.

— Kevin Thorn was not backstage at the company’s last set of television tapings despite online reports claiming he was. The former WWE star regularly appears for the Winnipeg-based independent promotion WFX, taking part in a faction called “The Brotherhood.”

– Ric Flair spoke to the UK’s Daily Mirror this week to hype TNA’s Maximum iMPACT! III tour of the UK in January. In part 1 of a video interview conducted with Flair, he says he will wrestle on the tour and will remain and on-air character with TNA as long as he remains healthy. He also says he’s currently the happiest he’s been since 1986 – because TNA “lets him be Ric Flair,” something he couldn’t do in WWE. Flair says Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff are with TNA for the long haul and makes the bold claim that TNA will have “as much awareness as” WWE in six months time.

To watch Part 1 of the Daily Mirror’s interview with Flair, click here.

– After Booker T made a surprise appearance at last weekend’s TNA live event from Houston, Texas, the company issued the following statement to PWInsider.com clarifying that it was a one-time deal:

“Booker T is not affiliated with TNA Wrestling at this time. However, due to a mechanical issue, AJ Styles was unable to fly in for the TNA live event, and Booker made a surprise appearance in his place. TNA prides itself on creating the best live events in professional wrestling, and you never know what can happen when you attend TNA Live.”

— As reported earlier, multi-time wrestling champion Randy Savage (Randy Poffo), 57, recently wed for a second time. The bride in question is Lynn Payne, 55, reports the Wrestling Globe Newsletter. The ceremony was held on May 10 at Lido Beach in Sarasota, Florida with only their closest family in attendance.

The couple first met thirty-six years ago in Sarasota. Poffo, who was a minor league baseball player at the time, was playing for the Tampa Tarpons while Payne was attending school at the Ringling School of Art and Design. They dated for two years before going their separate ways. The couple reunited in 2001.

“Thirty-six years ago, Lynn and I met on Lido Beach,” said Poffo at the wedding. “I feel so fortunate that I had a second chance to marry my first love, here where it all began.”

— Former WWE Women’s Champion Candice Michelle is expected to give birth any day now. She noted the following on her Twitter account yesterday: “Having some serious contractions! Holy crap are they intense.”

— Booker T and Lilian Garcia will be appearing at the Frank & Son Collectible Show taking place on Saturday, June 26 in City of Industry, California. Click here for more information.

— Today marks the eleven year anniversary of the death of Owen Hart. He died when an equipment malfunction occurred during his entrance from the rafters of the Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Missouri at the WWF’s Over the Edge pay-per-view event.

Multi-time world champion Booker T made a surprise appearance wrestling in the main event against Rob Van Dam at last night’s TNA house show in Lake Charles, Texas. It was announced to the audience that AJ Styles was unable to make the show in time and thus Booker would be replacing him in the main event.

Before the bout, Booker said he was there to win the TNA World Title. He then added that he “doesn’t give a damn about TNA or the fans.” Booker ultimately fell short as he succumbed to the TNA World Heavyweight Champion following a Five-Star Frog Splash.

Booker lives in Houston, which is approximately two hours away from Lake Charles. He parted ways with the organization last fall.

SmackDown *SPOILERS*

Thanks to reader Archie for these live spoilers from Tuesday’s SmackDown tapings:

Dark Match:

* Jimmy Wang defeats Tyler Reks with a moonsault in a good match. Reks cut a heel promo before the match.

SmackDown, Airing Friday:

* Chris Jericho comes out to start SmackDown and says he will win the Chamber. Edge comes out to a big pop. He talks about spearing Taker last week. Jericho tells Edge to pick the RAW Champion for WrestleMania for his own good. The lights flicker and Edge spears Jericho.

* Kane vs. Dolph Ziggler takes place until Drew McIntyre comes down in a suit. Dolph tries to take advantage but Kane chokeslams him for the win. Drew comes in and hits his finisher on Kane but Kane reverses it.

* Rey Mysterio cuts a promo backstage and says he will win the Elimination Chamber.

* John Morrison & R-Truth vs. CM Punk & Luke Gallows is announced for tonight.

* Cryme Tyme defeated Trent Baretta and Caylon Croft in a good tag match.

* John Morrison is interviewed and says his ankle won’t make him miss the Chamber. Truth comes in and says he will win the Chamber but tonight, he and Morrison will beat Punk and Gallows.

* CM Punk and the Straight Edge Society come out. Punk cuts a promo and says he will win the belt at Elimination Chamber this Sunday. Tons of heat for Punk.

* Punk & Gallows vs. Morrison & Truth ends in a no contest. What looked like Undertaker’s pyro went off during the match, everything stopped but nothing happened. Match is restarted. Morrison was really playing up his ankle injury. The referee called for the bell when Morrison went to kick Punk but kicked the ring post and went down in pain. SES beats Morrison and Truth down until Rey Mysterio comes in for the save. They beat him down and pose in front of Rey to a ton of heat.

* Teddy Long is shown backstage. He says he will take action against Shawn Michaels for super kicking him on RAW. Mickie James comes in and Vickie Guerrero announces it will be Mickie vs. Michelle McCool next week with Vickie as the referee.

* Maria, Matt Hardy and The Great Khali vs. The Hart Dynasty is up next. The Dynasty gets the win when Natalya pins Maria. Maria walks up the ramp pissed off with Matt right behind her apologizing.

* Maria is shown backstage arguing with Matt Hardy about him letting their team down. Michelle McCool and Layla come in and make fun of them.

* Edge vs. Batista is next. No pyro for Batista, simple entrance but a big pop. Edge comes out to a big pop also. Batista stalls to start the match. Edge takes the mic and says John Cena was right about Batista. Finally they wrestle and it’s a good match. Edge spears Batista and Taker’s bell hits and he appears in the ring. Taker chokeslams Edge. Taker chases Batista off. Chris Jericho appears in the ring and hits the Codebreaker on Edge. Taker comes back out and stares down Jericho to end SmackDown after Jericho motions to the World Title.

— Former WWE performer Sharmell Sullivan-Huffman, 39, is reportedly expecting twins. While husband Booker T has a son from a previous relationship, Sharmell has never had children before.

Since parting ways with TNA this past October, Booker T has begun focusing on a possible career in acting. With that being said, he is not yet through with wrestling as he is still accepting bookings.

— Former WWE ring announcer Lilian Garcia is auctioning off an autographed microphone at the following link.

— Former Intercontinental Champion The Godfather (a/k/a Charles Wright) has been added to the WWE website’s “Where Are They Now?” section. In part one of this two part series, the former Papa Shango discusses his early days in the wrestling industry. He also notes the The Godfather as his favorite character portrayal.

“That was the character closest to really being me,” Wright said.

— In today’s wrestling birthday, four-time ROH World Tag Team Champion Jimmy Jacobs turns 26 years old.

— Booker T was close to returning to World Wrestling Entertainment, but negotiations fell through after the former World Heavyweight Champion asked for a deal that included a very limited number of house show dates. A well-placed source notes that he asked for “an HBK-style deal,” which led to negotiations between both sides falling apart. (source: prowrestling.net)

— When asked on Twitter why she wore a bandage around her arm at Saturday’s night WWE live event, Mickie James simply replied, “9stitches… I’m tough!”

— The recently released Bret Hart Emblem T-Shirt is currently the top selling item on WWEShop.com.

– TNA Bound For Glory PPV was reportedly Booker T’s final appearance with the company. His contract expires in November and the company has no intentions on resigning the former WWE/WCW star. It is said that Dixie Carter would have considered resigning Booker if he approached the situation properly but instead he refused to do a job at the last Impact tapings. Booker T was not well liked backstage and one source went as far to saying, “He’s been such an asshole that most people were just happy to see him go.” Booker T has been telling people that he has an offer from WWE. (Source: prowrestling.net)

• Warning: The following contains spoilers for Thursday’s edition of TNA iMAPCT!

The following matches were announced for TNA Turning Point on 11/15 at Tuesday’s iMPACT! tapings:

TNA World Title Match
AJ Styles vs. Samoa Joe vs. Christopher Daniels

Kurt Angle vs. Desmond Wolf (Nigel McGuiness)

– Rob Van Dam appeared on Between The Ropes radio show Tuesday night and when asked about rumors of him attending TNA’s Bound For Glory pay-per-view this Sunday in his hometown area, he mentioned that he would be there but said, “Well, I certainly don’t have any plans of bringing my wrestling boots.” RVD added that his wife Sonya has been talking to Sharmell and that he planned on seeing Booker T while he was there.

— Speaking of Booker T, he and fellow Main Event Mafia member Scott Steiner are on their ways out of TNA Wrestling. Booker T’s unhappiness in TNA has been well documented and he’s almost certainly leaving when his TNA contract expires shortly. As much as we’ve heard about Booker T leaving TNA soon, Scott Steiner is heavily rumored to be on his way out of TNA following this Sunday’s Bound for Glory pay-per-view. He is said to be on the bubble as a result of his friendship with Jeff Jarrett and because company president Dixie Carter has never been a big fan of his. There were rumors a few weeks ago indicating he had given notice, but it appears management made the call in this case.

— There’s a rumor that former WWE superstar Ken “Mr. Kennedy” Anderson will make his TNA Wrestling debut at Sunday’s Bound For Glory PPV. While we can confirm Kennedy making his unannounced TNA debut this weekend has been discussed, there’s no