Former WWE Diva and current Ring Of Honor performer Maria Kanellis recently spoke with Channel Guide Magazine. Below are some of the highlights from the interview.

On being The First Lady of ROH: “I think I’ve always had a passion for the pro wrestling business. In Ring of Honor, I was able to find something that inspired me and challenged me. I have been able to have a lot of fun with it. I think with this character and being the ‘First Lady of Ring of Honor,’ I’m having so much fun with it.”

On the ROH locker room: “I’ve always had a lot more guy friends than girlfriends, so it has never intimidated me being in a locker room full of guys. The Ring of Honor locker room is one of the best locker rooms I’ve ever been in. The guys are just so sweet and so wonderful. A lot of them came to my wedding. It’s great to be surrounded by all my big brothers and little brothers.”

On the state of women’s wrestling: “I think we are going in the right direction. We still have a long way to go. We have to be very careful right now, because we can’t become complacent that we are getting a few more nuggets of hope with time on television. It’s not enough. You look at women as a whole. Yes, there are more females that are going be on the cover of Fortune 500. You are going to see more females take bigger roles in these sitcoms and television shows. That doesn’t mean it is equal. Just because the girls get one main event every six months at NXT, that’s not equal. Yes, we are moving in the right direction. No, it’s not enough.”

On working with husband Mike Bennett: “We separate church and state. There is ‘work’ us and ‘relationship’ us. We are a couple that just happens to be professional wrestlers. Our professional wrestling careers don’t define us as human beings. We have a lot of outside passions that we are able to experience as a couple. We love to cook together. We have three long-haired Chihuahuas together. We are big into our families. Even though we are wrestlers, it’s just one piece of our delicious soup.

“I don’t think there have ever been a couple truly like Mike and I. You could kind of equate us to Stephanie McMahon and Triple H. You can kind of equate us to other people. That doesn’t necessarily get the whole picture. We’ve never really been seen before in the fact there isn’t one dominant person in our onscreen relationship. It depends on what the match calls for. If I need to be involved more, I’m involved more. If I need to sit on the outside and do nothing, that’s what I do. When it comes to the dynamic of Mike and I, there is nobody like us.”

Check out the complete interview at ChannelGuideMagBlog.com.

• PHOTO GALLERY: Ronda Rousey’s S.I. Swimsuit Issue Outtakes

Former WWE Diva and current ROH performer Maria Kanellis-Bennett recently appeared as a guest on In The Room radio on the VOC Nation Radio Network. Below are some highlights from the interview.

On Her Initial Reaction Being Released by WWE: “I was caught off guard … I know what was going on behind the scenes, and that I was trying to accomplish other things. I think that WWE looked at it like I wasn’t as interested in wrestling because I wanted to do more. I think that they got the wrong impression of what I was trying to do, as well as I got the wrong impression of what they were trying to do. Looking back on it, now five years removed, I would have done things differently. I would have stayed the course. I would have shed a light on women’s wrestling back then, if I would have had the time. And that was being on a mainstream television show and also being in WWE. I think that we were just going in two completely different directions, and it takes time and maturity to be able to see those types of things, and now being removed from them, I definitely would have done things differently. But, at the same time, I’m very thankful that they did release me.”

On Being the Bad Girl: “It was fun. It definitely came from a place of wanting to try something different. We joke about it now [that we’re] big in Japan, [and] boo’ed in the USA. In Japan we’re good guys. In the US, we’re bad guys. It’s all about performance. It’s all about messing with the crowd and really enjoying that … [And] the Kingdom is such a strong group because we’re all friends. We have that backstory … and that’s what works. These are all guys that go out together, and we all hang out together, and it’s so much fun that we get to perform together.”

On Never Winning a Title: “I’ve been told on many, many occasions that championships don’t make or break a talent. So I don’t think of it like that. I think of it like how much of an impact can I make in women’s wrestling, whether I have a title or not. I think that right now, with going to New Japan and being the first female to wrestle against another female in New Japan, we’re breaking down boundaries. If somebody wants to give me a title for that, then that’s great. But at the same time, I don’t need that to define my career. Would it be cool to go back to WWE and win a title at some point? Yeah, sure. But at the same time, if I can accomplish more in Ring of Honor with Destination America, if I can accomplish more in New Japan, then it’s not high on my list.”

Check out the complete interview at VOCNation.com.

• Details On MORE WWE & TNA Stars JUMPING-SHIP To Fight In MMA!

– WWE Hall Of Famer Ric Flair celebrates his 66th birthday today. “The Nature Boy” was born on February 25, 1949. Also celebrating birthdays today are former WWE Superstar Steve Lewington (32) and former WWE Diva Maria Kanellis (33). Today also would have been Sean O’Haire’s 44th birthday.

– The latest edition of Bill Goldberg’s “Who’s Next?” podcast, which features an interview with NFL player A.J. Hawk, is now online. You can download the show at PodcastOne.com.

– WWE Hall Of Famers Jake “The Snake” Roberts and Scott Hall were backstage at the WWE SmackDown television taping on Tuesday night in Atlanta, Georgia. WWE Diva Natalya posted the following photo of herself with Roberts backstage at the show.

• VIDEO: UFC Fighter CAUGHT ON TAPE Violently Assaulting Man At His Gym!

As we all know, Raw is tonight. By show of hands, how many people are planning to bail before the end of the program? If this question were posed to last week’s viewing audience, over 250,000 hands would be in the air right now. That number represents the number of viewers who tuned in for the first hour but were long gone by hour three, and that’s not even counting the 600,000 viewers from the previous week who called in sick and didn’t show up at all.

Since Raw 1000, the program has been a three-hour fixture on Monday night, even though the company has done little with the additional hour in most cases. In all, the numbers show that it’s time to turn back the clock to Raw 999 and cut back to two hours.

Emma vs. Summer Rae in a dance-off? No thanks!

There are a number of reasons this makes sense. Most importantly, this roster is as thin as a two-dollar blanket right now. Take last week’s show, for instance. The company bookended the show with the nearly identical matches – neither of which was particularly memorable. By the end of the first hour, the crowd had already seen every participant in the main event compete in a match (aside from J&J, but they interfered in the Rollins/Ryback match). And please don’t get me started on how many times we’ve seen the Usos battle Miz and Mizdow over the past few months.

It would be a massive understatement to say that the shows have lacked direction in recent months too. I went back and watched a few episodes of Raw from 2012, right before Raw was permanently extended to three hours. Mind you, this was during the dreadful John Cena/Kane “embrace the hate” program, and even those shows featured more direction than the current product.

If the past is any indication, expect to see The Authority opening tonight’s episode of Raw.

By putting less stress on the writers and limiting exposure, they were able to establish a conflict (Kane attempting to terrorize Zack Ryder/John Cena), provide a climax near the middle of the show (Cena kissing Eve while Ryder hilariously looked on), and finally a resolution in the form of a catastrophe (Kane launching Ryder off of the stage).

They were able to build around this central storyline by sprinkling in five matches and a few entertaining segments that highlighted other members of the roster, ultimately creating a neat two hours of wrestling (or sports entertainment, whichever term you prefer). In recent weeks, the program has been an absolute mess, with the typical structure usually as follows:

The Authority starts the program by cutting the same boring 20-minute promo they cut every week and setting up a main event involving Kane and/or Big Show. Next is a match that they say will start after the break, usually trying to invoke some sense of suspense as to which superstars will be involved, but the roster is so thin that we know it will be Seth Rollins or an over-the-hill Authority goon competing against either Dolph Ziggler, Daniel Bryan, Ryback or Roman Reigns – usually ending in a non-finish. We next get a sagging middle with “comedy” matches and backstage segments that rarely go anywhere. Paul Heyman is sent out somewhere near the middle to try to save the crowd. A few more filler matches typically come next, and finally a tag match to end the show, which also usually ends in a non-finish. Eat. Sleep. Lose A Quarter Million Viewers. Repeat.

Even with the help of Paul Heyman and Brock Lesnar, Raw lost over a quarter of a million viewers by the end of last week’s program.

The overexposure is killing everyone involved in the process, including talent, announcers, and even the fans, hence the reason they aren’t sticking around for the full three hours. I get that the company is trying to appease shareholders, and increased ad revenue is one of the easiest ways to do so, but in the end, they are doing long-term damage in exchange for short-term ad revenue.

This is also not to say that a wrestling promotion can’t put on an entertaining three-hour program. It is simply stating that this wrestling promotion has proven they are incapable of doing so. There are a lot of problems with the current product, from hotshotting anything that is remotely popular to underutilizing some of the company’s best talent to even dragging out storylines fans are disinterested in. However, the biggest problem with Raw, and perhaps the company as a whole, can be summed up in one word: overexposure.

How would you feel about Raw going back to two hours? Do you think it would improve the product? Voice your opinion in the comments section.

Former WWE Diva Maria Kanellis recently spoke to Joe Cronin about CM Punk’s decision to leave WWE and fight for UFC. She said:

“Did I think he would leave WWE that way? I had a hunch. He’s a very strong person. When you beat someone up that long without some humanity, it takes a toll. I did that schedule but not like he did. Your body gets beat up. People who want to criticize him, try it for one weekend.”

She also talked about Punk’s idea of wrestlers landing their own endorsement deals, which led Cronin to ask Maria if there’s a double standard in the company, since Brock Lesnar is allowed to promote his own sponsors on his ring gear. She responded:

“Some people’s voices get heard more than others, just like any business. A lot of it has to do with timing. Right place, right time and it’s yours. I think it happens a lot, just like anywhere else.”

Former WWE Diva Maria Kanellis, along with her husband, longtime Ring Of Honor star Mike Bennett, are currently working with ROH without contracts, as their previous deals with the company have expired.

Both Kanellis and Bennett have been negotiating with ROH for the past few months, however they are still committed to work with ROH and the two are scheduled to work tours of Japan later this year.

As things stand now, there’s a feeling that both Kanellis and Bennett are talking with TNA, as well as the Lucha Underground promotion. Whether or not a deal has been reached, or is in the process of being figured out, remains to be seen..

• PHOTOS: CM Punk & AJ Lee At Dinner Together In Las Vegas Just A Few Days Ago, Hanging Out With Celebrities & MORE!

(Credit: F4WOnline.com)

– As reported recently, Alberto Del Rio (aka Alberto El Patron) made his Ring Of Honor debut at the ROH television taping this past weekend in Nashville, Tennessee. ROH officials were said to be thrilled with their dealings with him, as he was described as beyond easy to work with and seemed very excited to be there.

– Former TNA Knockout ODB will be working a program with former WWE Diva Maria Kanellis in an upcoming Ring Of Honor storyline.

• PHOTOS: CM Punk & AJ Lee Together In Las Vegas This Past Weekend

(Credit: PWInsider.com)

– In addition to former WWE Diva Maria Kanellis, WWE gave out two other $5,000 education scholarships to former talent. One was for Michael Thompson, a guy who left WWE on his own to join the military. The other went to former WWE Superstar Paul Burchill.

– The latest edition of WWE Top 10, which you can watch below, features the ten biggest power struggles in history.

WWE.com has published a “Where Are They Now?” interview with former Diva/current ROH manager Maria Kanellis, the first recipient of  the company’s Talent Scholarship program.

The scholarship is allowing Maria to complete her college degree, who says she’s she’s already looking ahead to life after wrestling.

“I’m going into event management, so it’s something I’m passionate about. I’ve been learning the ropes of what I’m going to be doing for the rest of my life,” Maria said.

Maria said she used her event management skills to plan her recent wedding to ROH wrestler Mike Bennett, who WWE acknowledged as an “independent wrestler.”

PHOTO: Former WWE Divas Reunited (Maria, Kelly Kelly, Candice Michelle & Mickie James)

– In light of Paul Heyman and Brock Lesnar’s current reign of dominance over WWE, the company website has published a feature looking at the 10 Best Manager-Client Partnerships.

– Speaking of Paul Heyman, his HeymanHustle.com website has published exclusive photos of former WWE Diva Maria Kanellis and her soon-to-be-husband Mike Bennett at a recent indy show.

– Michael Cole revealed in his latest sit-down interview with Triple H that Stephanie McMahon will have an announcement on The Bella Twins this Friday on SmackDown.

The following matches are advertised for tonight’s Ring Of Honor “Best in the World” show, which is the company’s official debut on regular pay-per-view.

ROH World Championship
– Adam Cole (c) vs. Michael Elgin

ROH World Tag-Team Championships
– Kyle O’Reilly & Bobby Fish (c) vs. Christopher Daniels & Frankie Kazarian

ROH TV Championship
– Jay Lethal (c) vs. Matt Tavern (with Truth Martini handcuffed to the ring post)

Submission Match
– Roderick Strong vs. Cedric Alexander

Six-Man Mayhem Match For ROH TV Title Shot
– ACH vs. Takanaki Watanbe vs. Caprice Coleman vs. Tadarius Thomas vs. BJ Whitmer vs. Tommaso Ciampa

– Kevin Steen vs. Silas Young

– The Briscoes vs. Matt Hardy & Michael Bennett (with Maria Kanellis)

The following are highlights of a new In Your Head Wrestling Radio interview with Maria Kanellis:

Having now wrestled in both the WWE and Ring of Honor, what is the difference between wrestling the women in the WWE and women on the independent scene? “It’s a lot more freeing. We always had to stick to a certain time when I was working on television so you really couldn’t try a whole lot. Getting in there and wrestling with some of the new girls or the up-and-comers or girls that have been veterans on the independents is completely different because we have all the time in the world. We can play with the crowd, we can see what works, what doesn’t work, and that’s really fun for me.”

There were a lot of rumors on the Internet that part of the reason your fiancé, Mike Bennett, didn’t go the WWE was because he was with you. Would you care to address that? “I’ve heard a lot of things, but with wrestling you have to know that everybody might blame it on different reasons. It’s always going to be ‘Oh, it’s because he wasn’t in good enough shape’ or ‘Oh, it’s because he was an independent wrestler’ or ‘Oh, it’s because he has something in his past’, and the truth of the matter is wrestling is all about timing and placement and at the time it wasn’t Mike’s time. It wasn’t his time to go. I’ve been called an albatross, I’ve been called this and that, but at the end of the day it really doesn’t matter. What matters is: ‘Is that what WWE needs right now?’, because if he is what they needed they would take him. And if you look at past history with wrestling, there’s been a lot of guys that came back that had a lot more controversy surrounding them than I have. They always said Stone Cold won’t go back, Rock’s not going to go back, this person’s not going to go back; when they need them, when they want them, they end up going.”

As a woman in wrestling, what do you think is the most important thing between looks, charisma, and in-ring wrestling, or do you think you have to have that whole complete package? “I think you have to have something. I don’t think it’s one particular look, I don’t think it’s one particular type of charisma, and I don’t think it’s one particular type of wrestling. I think that there is a place for everything; you just have to be extremely passionate about it. You have to stand out. I think a lot of people thought I would never come back to wrestling, and I think a lot of people thought that I wouldn’t have a place in wrestling and I would just do whatever it was to make money. If that were the case, then I probably would be somewhere else; I probably wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing. I’m so very passionate about wrestling, and about being a part of wrestling and making the best product out there, and I think that that is what you need to stick around in this business. You’ll move around. You might go to TNA, you might go to Ring of Honor, you might go to WWE, and each place will expect something different of you, but you have to be passionate about every aspect of wrestling in order to make it.”

Check out the complete interview above.

The following are highlights of a new interview with Maria Kanellis:

On Triple H: “Anybody that wants to say it is the Yes Movement better also remember who the boss is, and who’s the one making the decisions now. And I think that Triple H doesn’t necessarily get as much credit as he deserves, because he is the on building up that NXT, he’s the one that has made it a hub and place for wrestling to grow and get better and better.”

On CM Punk: “Punk came in, changed everybody’s mind. Then management started listening. Management went, ‘Oh, he know’s how to get over.’ Because he knows the people, because he’s been working in front of the people for 9 years now.”

On Squashing the Feud with the Bella Twins: “I actually and done with that part of my life. I talked to Nikki the other day. We’re cool. Like its funny, I don’t think I knew all the facts. I think people were telling me things that weren’t necessarily true. I wanted to be done with it. So, one day I just texted her and was like, ‘hey, I don’t know what happened, but I’m sorry.’ And she responded back and she’s like ‘I understand, you know things happen.’ She was super cool about it. And we’re done with that. Like, I’m an honest person, and when I find out I’m wrong, I’m wrong.”

On Being Stranded on the Side of the Road, and Being Rescued by the Hardy Boyz: “I got pulled over on the way to a show, and the guy took my car away from me (she did not realize she had a speeding ticket out that had not been paid). Here I was with my rental car and they took it away from me, they said I couldn’t drive. I was like ok, cool. The cop leaves me on the side of the road. Me, my two big bags, and my dog Gemini. Here I am on the side of the road. Here comes the Hardy Boyz! Flying down the highway. I get a phone call, ‘Maria, was that you on the side of the road?’ Yeah, it was me. Matt was on the phone. Matt’s like, ‘We’re coming to get ya!’ I’m like, ‘Ok good!’ Here comes Matt, picks me up, and we keep going. So, The Hardy’s are my angels.”

On Nancy Grace: “The Nancy Grace’s of the world are so behind of the times. Holy crap. And how can you be so disrespectful? I mean, how can you be so rude? Like, here this man comes on to talk about a friend, and then you’re going to do that to him? I mean she’s just an evil, evil woman.”

Check out the complete interview at WrestlingOpinion.com.

The following are highlights from a recent interview with Maria Kanellis:

On her favorite wrestler growing up: “My favorite female wrestler was Lita. I think it’s incredible to know she’s getting inducted this year. She gave me a strong female role model. My mom was a great woman, but my dad was always the king of the castle, so to speak. Lita was a strong female and did what she pleased and I admired that.”

On the WWE & NXT Divas: “I think they have great female talents nowadays. AJ and Natalya are great wrestlers. Paige in NXT can hang with any of the guys there. So I don’t think WWE is lacking when it comes to women talents. I hope the girls get more and more time to get into the spotlight because of how good they are becoming.”

On CM Punk & WWE situation: “I don’t know all of what’s going on in the wrestling world other than ROH because I’ve been so busy with school. What I do know is that Punk has worked incredibly hard to get where he’s at. He’s the example you use when you talk about independent wrestlers who come to WWE. He was the first in that transition. He came from the independents and made a name for himself in WWE. He’s already done the work and doesn’t need to do anything else in his career to solidify the statement he has made. He changed wrestling forever because he showed that some dirty, stinky wrestler from Chicago can become a famous superstar. So whatever he decides is the right decision for him.”

On her ROH future & WWE: “That’s really up in the air. You never know. There’s some guys whom you never thought would go back to WWE because of what they’ve said in the past or the drama that’s happened. But they end up going back. So, never say never.”

Check out the complete interview at PWMania.com.

Former WWE Diva and current “First Lady of ROH” Maria Kanellis was recently interviewed by BetweenTheRopes.com. Here are some highlights of what she said about:

On rumors last year that she was returning to WWE: “Here’s the thing. I was asked to go back last year (to WWE). It fell through and that is all I know. I mean I had heard lots of other things. I had heard other things from different people. But at the end of the day, the fact is I didn’t go back. So no matter what happened and who knows, I mean I don’t know nobody knows what really happened. But I didn’t go back and I’m very happy to be at Ring of Honor. So, I apologized to the Bellas for everything that happened and that was it. I talked to them (the Bellas) and decided you know what, water under the bridge and that’s it. I guess I could be angry forever, but I’m not going to be (laughing). Because there’s no reason for it. I don’t want to be angry or upset because I don’t know.”

Not returning to WWE being a “blessing in disguise”: “It totally was (blessing in disguise). I realized that within a month of it happening, I realized how much of a blessing it was. I don’t know if I want to be on the road 300 days a year. I don’t know if I want that anymore. I really enjoy my time at home and I enjoy going to school and I enjoy seeing my fiancé at work. I don’t know if I want that life anymore. So maybe some part of the universe decided you know what, you don’t really want that life anymore. I loved WrestleMania, loved traveling the globe and it was great, fun and exciting, but I’ve done it. So for me, this is exactly where I should be now. I have no hard feelings whatsoever with anybody. I just want all women in wrestling to succeed now. I’m getting married later this year and Big Daddy V passed away and that was so tragically sad. I just have no desire to angry, no desire whatsoever.”

– Former WWE Diva Maria Kanellis recently took a few shots at The Bella Twins in a new Q&A she did with Reddit. Kanellis said of the Bella’s, “I pity them. I pity their insecurity. Jealousy is their issue and fear. I wouldn’t waist my time with them. They are selfish little mean girls. I am a grown woman and I don’t play high school games.”

Check out more from Maria’s Q&A at Reddit.com.

– Former WWE Superstar Kevin Nash recently appeared on WrestleTalk TV to talk about tag-team wrestling. You can watch the appearance below:

http://youtu.be/9mOONuH8uGc

Former WWE Diva Maria Kanellis is featured in an interview on the latest edition of the U.K.-based “WrestleTalk TV” show. The video, which you can view below, is accompanied by the following description:

In this special festive edition of Wrestle Talk TV we present to you more action than a Vince Russo stipulation match! We sit down with Maria Kanellis who discusses why ROH is different from the competition, her time with WWE and who is and isn’t invited to her Bachelorette Party! The panel talk us through what presents they would give to the wrestling roster and why and The SuperFan is back! Taking on his most difficult challenge to date: The one and only Joel Ross!!! Fists may fly!

Hosted by Joel Ross, along with the Daily Star’s Patrick Lennon and Francesca Wood, past guests have included Hulk Hogan, Mick Foley, Jim Ross, Chris Jericho, Edge, Dave “Fit” Finlay, Colt Cabana and many more.”

http://youtu.be/dvJvr3L41ng

• Details On WWE’s Planned SURPRISE ENTRANTS For The 2014 Royal Rumble Match

The following are highlights from a recent interview with former WWE Diva Maria Kanellis:

On working with Paul Heyman in OVW in the past: “I’m kind of an underground Paul Heyman girl and he is what really inspired the ditsy character, he really inspired me to do the things that I did at WWE. I’m an admirer of his work, I think what he has done with so many guys and throughout ECW was incredible.”

When I was in OVW I just watched him as he helped CM Punk every day, Punk was already incredible but then Paul Heyman kind of pushed him over the edge and gave him that opportunity on ECW to be who he is today.”

On what Vince McMahon is like as a boss: “He was great with me, I know he can be very tough with other people but with me he wasn’t, he was like a father figure to me, I really enjoyed working for Vince.”

On her opinions of the Total Divas reality show: “I’ve watched a few of the episodes of Total Divas and I think it is a great show. There is a lot of tremendous talent in WWE’s women division at the moment, I think AJ Lee is incredible, I’ve always been a fan of Natalya. There are also some great women down in NXT like Paige, there are a lot of great talented women that are a part of that company at the moment.”

On whether or not we could ever see her and Mike Bennett in WWE or TNA: “TNA called me twice this year, I think they’re a great company but I’m loving my time in ROH and I’m definitely happy with my fiancée. Who knows if that will ever change, but I wish TNA all the best in the world, I think the girls there are tremendous.”

WWE called me earlier this year and for whatever reason that fell through, would I go back there eventually, sure. I loved my time there I loved traveling the world and the people that I worked with. I’m sure Mike will be in the WWE very soon and it will be great to join him there.”

Check out the complete interview online at Wrestling101.com.

We have noted in the past that former WWE Diva Maria Kanellis has had issues with current WWE Divas The Bella Twins, most notably for what she feels was a move made by the Bella’s to “block her” and other former WWE Divas from returning to the company.

Kanellis revealed during a recent interview with Live Audio Wrestling in Canada that the Bella’s father actually called her at one point to ask her to stop saying hurtful things about his daughters. Maria also noted that her father ended up on the phone and got involved in a shouting match with the Bella’s father.

You can check out the complete interview online at FightNetwork.com.

– Former TNA star Jesse Neal will debut for Long Island’s New York Wrestling Connection next Friday night (12/21) in Deer Park, Long Island.

– Tommy Dreamer and Maria Kanellis’ new movie Army of the Dead is now available for download on iTunes. Here’s the official synopsis:

“When a pair of small town cops go radio silent on a routine call, police chief Bridge (Sully Erna) must go in to investigate. The search and rescue mission becomes a fight of epic proportions when those sent in to help are confronted with a force they’ve never seen before, and an evil that they never knew existed. Army of the Damned is a gruesome battle sure to scare the hell into you!”

– Speaking of Kanellis, she tweeted that she’s currently studying art and graphic design and is is on track to graduate in December 2014.

She also tweeted this photo of her new look:

https://twitter.com/marialkanellis/status/409407195940261888

– Former WWE Diva Maria Kanellis is scheduled to attend the Fighter Frenzy Campus Tour kick off party at Westwood College in Denver, Colorado this weekend. Maria will be meeting with fans, hosting gaming tournaments and raffling off a XBOX One and Playstation 4. For more information, visit ColoradoCutThroat.com.

– Speaking of Denver, WWE will return to the city for a RAW show at the Pepsi Center on February 17th. Tickets for the event will go on sale on December 14th.

WWE will be in Colorado Springs the following night at the World Arena for a SmackDown television taping. Tickets for that event will go on sale this Saturday.

-A lot of construction work is still being done to the former ECW Arena in Philadelphia. While the original plan was for the facility to re-open in October, it is looking more likely that it will be closer to January of 2014. Without the ECW Arena, the independent scene in Philadelphia has apparently taken a pretty big hit.

-Former ECW original Lou D’Angeli will be making a speaking appearance at the “Life Is Beautiful Festival” on October 26th in Las Vegas. D’Angeli will be talking about his time in the original ECW on the “Passion Before Paycheck” panel. For more information, visit LifeIsBeautifulFestival.com.

-Former WWE Diva and current Ring Of Honor star Maria Kanellis, along with Mike “The Prodigy” Bennett will be appeearing at the 2014 National Pro Wrestling Day events.

HUGE Update On Undertaker’s WWE Return + RVD FINISHED With WWE? [READ >>]

– Maria Kanellis has published an article on Diva-Dirt.com addressing the topic of life after WWE.

In the article, Kanellis responds to critics who associate her with failure since she has not appeared on national television in over four years. The former Playboy says she is content with current situation.

“I’m now happy to be moving forward with my life but I feel as if WWE fans aren’t ready for me to do so. They want to hear more about the Bella twins debacle. They want me to insult the girls that are on Total Divas. But, the truth is I have a lot more on my plate that what those chicks are up to or the happenings at WWE. Also, I don’t stay angry for that long. It’s bad karma and there are too many beautiful, positive people in my life to worry about the people that hurt me,” wrote Kanellis.

“I don’t know what the answer is to make people understand my main goal in life has nothing to do with twins or to make people understand LIFE is good even without WWE. I will tell you this: when fans tell me I failed, it saddens me. I am sure that so many former WWE wrestlers feel this exact way. Because our lives aren’t over. I’m not dead. And I most certainly am not a failure. What is so great about WWE? The fame? The money? Or the traveling around the world? I guess all of it is great but to me it was just five and a half years. To me it was not the greatest or the worst experience in my life. I’ve lived for 25 and a half years without WWE and I would like to live at least 70 more. So, in the grand scheme of things my time at WWE is just a fabliau in my life and to ruminate on it is to live in verisimilitude.”

To read the full post, click here.

– Former WWE Women’s Champion Trish Stratus and her husband Ron welcomed their son Maximus into the world on Monday—he was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, at a weight of 8 pounds, 3 ounces. The 37-year-old released a message on Twitter on Thursday thanking friends and fans for their support.

“Yesterday was an amazing first day at home w/ our new little guy. I can’t even begin to describe how much love my heart is filled w/ for Max,” wrote Stratus on Thursday morning. “And thank u to everyone for all the wishes for us, it’s been overwhelming to see the love from you guys. So much love for Max! #babystratus.”

Several former WWE Divas reunited over the weekend at the Wrestling Spectacular event, including Mickie James, Kelly Kelly, Candice Michelle, Katie Lea Burchill and Maria Kanellis. TNA Knockout Brooke Tessmacher was also there. Check it out:

* Big WWE 2K14 News Coming Today, Early Plans For WrestleMania & More

-Current Ring Of Honor stars Mike “The Prodigy” Bennett and Maria Kanellis are currently planning their real-life wedding.

-Former professional football players Mojo Rawley and Baron Corbin are expected to start on WWE television in the near future. Rawley and Corbin are the only two stars with no prior wrestling experience in the current crop of athletes taken from scratch and placed into the NXT system that are said to be ready for WWE television exposure.

WWE NEWS

[Credit: Wrestling Observer Newsletter]