The fifth season of NXT Season Five is called NXT Redemption and features six runner-up contestants from previous seasons. The cast is as follows:

* Byron Saxton with Pro Yoshi Tatsu

* Conor O’Brian with Pro Vladimir Kozlov

* Darren Young with Pro Chavo Guerrero

* Jacob Novak with Pro JTG

* Lucky Cannon with Pro Tyson Kidd

* Titus O’Neil with Pro Hornswoggle

The broadcast team consists of Todd Grisham and William Regal. Matt Striker and Maryse act as the show’s hosts.

It was announced that there is no immunity in Season Five.

source: PWInsider.com

— As seen last Friday on SmackDown, Matt Striker was replaced on the program’s announce team by the returning Booker T. He remains as a color commentator for the blue brand as he called tonight’s SmackDown matches on WWE Superstars, alongside Jack Korpela.

— An archival photo of Vince McMahon is featured on the cover art of WWE’s The True Story Of WrestleMania DVD and Blu-ray release. To view the image, click here. The title is set for release in the United States on March 15.

— Former WWE ring announcer Lilian Garcia announced today on Twitter that she will be attending this Sunday’s 53rd annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles.

Booker T was introduced as the newest member of the SmackDown announce team at tonight’s SmackDown taping in Long Island, New York, replacing Matt Striker. The team now consists of the returning Superstar, Michael Cole and Josh Mathews.

He performed the “Spin-a-Roonie” in the ring before joining his new colleagues at the announce desk.

As reported earlier, Booker T returned to World Wrestling Entertainment to announce as well as wrestle. His new role with the company is being compared to that of Jerry Lawler’s since he announces and wrestles.

Booker T, along with Kevin Nash, returned to WWE Sunday to participate in the 40-Man Royal Rumble Match. He entered the battle royal at number twenty-one and was ultimately eliminated by Mason Ryan.

The six-time world champion reportedly signed a long-term contract with the organization.

— Awesome Kong was backstage at last night’s Royal Rumble pay-per-view event in Boston, but was not used. She is set to debut imminently. She is backstage at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence for tonight’s Raw.

— WWE Superstars Superstars Darren Young, David Hart Smith and Primo were advertised on WWE.com for last night’s 40-Man Royal Rumble Match but ultimately excluded. All three were not backstage at the Rumble as they were informed last week that they had been taken off the show. Smith, however, is in Providence for tonight’s Raw.

— Gail Kim took to Twitter to comment on speculation she performed as a heel at Saturday’s live event due to her partnership with Maryse in a tag team match. She wrote, “People I was forced to be Maryse’s tag partner by the GM! She left me high and dry so don’t think I wanted to be her partner.I had no choice.”

— There was much criticism amongst WWE officials regarding the quality of the commentary by Michael Cole, Jerry Lawler and Matt Striker during last night’s Royal Rumble broadcast.

— “Rowdy” Roddy Piper suffered a black eye at the hands of Terry Funk during a battle royal at WrestleReunion 5 in Los Angeles.

source: f4wonline.com

— WWE officials have discussed modifying the announce team for pay-per-view events, which could begin as soon as TLC.

Internally, Todd Grisham is not getting high marks for his work, which is why Michael Cole was moved to SmackDown. Meanwhile, both Cole and Jerry Lawler reportedly dislike working with Matt Striker. Cole took off his headset during the Survivor Series broadcast to yell at Striker for talking too much.

Punk may end up with the spot for pay-per-view events, but the team would therefore solely consist of Raw announcers and the company doesn’t want SmackDown to come off as a secondary brand.

— NXT season four contestant Conor O’Brian can be reached on Twitter via twitter.com/ConorOBrian.

— A pre-sale is being held tomorrow morning at 10:00 a.m. for the SmackDown matinee event taking place on Sunday Feb. 6, 2011 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, PA via www.comcasttix.com. The passcode is EDGEPHILA.

source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter

— It’s said to be no secret that Jim Ross wants to return to the announce booth. His appearance on Raw two weeks ago resulted in overwhelming sentiment that he should return, but his fate lies in the hands of Vince McMahon and Kevin Dunn, who prefer youth—though Jerry Lawler is three years older than Ross.

Furthermore, Lawler and Cole have pushed for Ross to replace Matt Striker as the third man for pay-per-view broadcasts, whom they dislike. McMahon, however, feels the pay-per-view broadcast team should be limited to those who work television.

— WWE officials were said to be very happy and surprised at the amount of mainstream media attention The Miz’ WWE Championship victory last week on Raw received. His win was covered by TMZ, Access Hollywood, ESPN.com, Entertainment Tonight and MTV, among others.

— WWE returns to the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada on Feb. 12, 2011 at 5:00 p.m. Tickets go on sale Dec. 18, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. (Thanks to Devin Cutting)

source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter

— There was much talk amongst those in WWE regarding Matt Striker blowing a call during the Survivor Series pay-per-view broadcast when Randy Orton pinned Wade Barrett because he acted as if it was a good thing that the “The Viper” had won the match because Cena would be freed from The Nexus. However, that would only have happened if Barrett had won the bout, allowing Cena to be freed from the faction while also retaining employment with WWE.

— Speaking of John Cena, his wife Elizabeth was seated in the front row at last night’s Raw in Orlando, Florida.

— WWE developmental wrestler Jackson Andrews, a 7 foot tall grappler, beat Goldust in a dark match prior to last night’s Raw broadcast.

sources: PWInsider.com, f4online.com

— WWE’s first DVD chronicling the unparalleled championship career of Chris Jericho’s is officially released today.

Breaking the Code: Behind the Walls of Chris Jericho features nineteen matches, a multitude of interviews, and a documentary chronicling his wrestling career from humble beginnings in Canada to superstardom in World Wrestling Entertainment.

For more information on this three-disc set, click here.

— This Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Jack Swagger will be appearing at the Express Credit Auto located at 1 SW 74 Oklahoma City, OK, 73139.

— MVP and Matt Striker will be appearing on MSNBC News Live today at 12 p.m. ET on MSNBC, according to WWE.com. They will be discussing the WrestleMania Reading Challenge.

See MVP’s mug shot ->