Paul Heyman’s Return To WWE Television:

“Paul Heyman’s return is one of the more positive things to occur in WWE in a good while. As I have said over the years, Heyman’s TV persona is an easy one to dislike.”

“What makes Heyman so effective is that he doesn’t play the ‘role’ of a villain who has litigious tendencies. Plus, Heyman is a life long fan who now has the chance to essentially reinvent himself with this unexpected return to the genre. It will likely be his last return to the business if I had to make a wager.”

Visiting WWE Developmental This Week:

“I’m very excited about today’s trip and tomorrow’s work in Orlando. I’m like a kid on his first day at a new school. I don’t know what to expect but am excited to be ‘enrolled.’ The future of the WWE lies within the Talent Development program and I am blessed to be able to help in that area in any way that the company sees fit. My role has yet to be outlined but I think I can assist in many areas and I’m excited to devote my time and energies to helping develop the young stars of tomorrow.”

CM Punk vs. Daniel Bryan This Sunday At Over The Limit:

“Can’t wait to see CM Punk vs. Daniel Bryan for the WWE Title this Sunday night in Raleigh on PPV. Hope the Raleigh live audience is more emotionally invested that was the Greensboro audience a week or so ago. Punk vs Bryan should be off the page. I love their individual, in ring styles and, Lord knows, both men have paid ample dues.”

“Some day, Punk vs. Bryan has a potential ‘Ironman Match’ written all over it or perhaps even a ‘best of three’ series of bouts.”

As always – make sure to check out JR’s amazing line of BBQ products at the WWEShop website!

Sparingly used X Division wrestler Anthony Nese was also granted his release from TNA Wrestling on Thursday. Nese asked organization officials for permission to compete at Pro Wrestling Syndicate’s June 1 online pay-per-view event after being approached with an opportunity to step in the ring with The Great Muta. He was informed that he would not be able to. He then requested his release from the organization, which was granted. He wrote the following on Twitter about his release:

“I wanted to be the first to inform everyone that I have requested my release from TNA Wrestling. As a professional wrestler I have many goals and dreams that I work hard to achieve, one of them was to have the opportunity to perform in front of a live audience on national television and I thank TNA Wrestling for providing me with that opportunity. Another goal of mine is to wrestle against some of the top international superstars with the chances to travel the world and work for some of the best international companies that have the best talent in wrestling today.

“I have recently been approached with an opportunity to step in the ring with The Great Muta, a wrestling legend, and one of All Japan Pro Wrestling’s top wrestlers Kai. This is an opportunity that I feel with help me further my goals and career. This event will be provided via IPPV and unfortunately my TNA contract did not allow me to perform on such events. I requested that an exception would be granted given my lack of appearances but was denied. My next action was to request a release as I think it will be in my best interest.

“I would like to thank TNA Wrestling for helping me achieve one of my goals as it is very few in this business that are able to say they have. I would also like to thank all the people that support me as this is just a small chapter coming to an end in my career and I have many more exciting opportunities in my future to come.”

His profile was subsequently removed from ImpactWrestling.com.

Sean “X-Pac” Waltman took to Twitter on Wednesday to vent on former employer TNA Wrestling. He directed his frustration toward organization president Dixie Carter’s account with a series of messages:

“Highly disappointed with you as a person who claims to care. More disappointed in your handling of the only alternative to WWE. Been meaning to tell you that since your Co. tried to make it look like I no showed your PPV.”

Waltman was scheduled for a tag team match at the 2010 Lockdown pay-per-view event, but was absent. On the night of the show, announcers were instructed to say that Waltman had no shown. He reportedly let organization officials know days in advance that he was not cleared to wrestle by the Missouri State Commission due to his hepatitis C diagnosis and was not going to be able to attend the event. He is now denying the story. Waltman explains:

“They knew I wouldn’t be there for over a week. They alluded that I no showed was bcuz I was on a drug binge. They lied to the PPL. The thing is that it’s easy to believe a story like that about me, which makes it even more of a low life move.”

When a Twitter user wrote to Waltman that if he wasn’t a “boozer and a fool,” he might still be employed by TNA, he responded:

“@TNADixie Had nothing to do with it. Plus are u serious w/ the crew they have there. Plus, I am sober & never cared 4 booze.”

Waltman then continued railing the organization’s upper hierarchy and made a stark prediction. He wrote:

“Im just sick of @TNADixie running around playing this benevolent role, when it’s a facade. BTW Congrats on hiring Bruce Pritchard. Perfect fit . Oine of the biggest lowlifes in the business. Treats ppl like shit if he can. Mark my words TNA will be a part of WWE’s video catalog before the decade is up. I dont hope. I just think it’s a matter of time. Unfortunately. I love the crew over there. Great guys, almost all of them.”

Besides Triple H making an appearance tonight, matches confirmed for the tapings include Sheamus vs. Alberto Del Rio for the World Heavyweight Title plus R-Truth & Kofi Kingston vs. Epico & Primo for the WWE Tag Team Titles.

Fans who wear WWE clothing and bring signs to tonight’s tapings will have a chance to get their seats upgraded.

Stay tuned this evening as we will be having live spoiler coverage from the tapings.

Daniel Bryan was interviewed by Brian Fritz of the Between The Ropes podcast and spoke about a number of topics, including the “Yes!” chants changing his life, his match against CM Punk this Sunday at Over The Limit, Brock Lesnar’s return to WWE and much more. Here are some highlights of what he said about:

Whether or not he ever thought a word as simple as ‘yes’ could change his life the way it has:

“(laughs) Yeah, you’d never think it. All the years I spent toiling on the independent scene, really learning my craft, being as good of a wrestler as I could possible be and the thing that makes me the most popular is probably the first word I learned as a kid.”

If he was disappointed for his match at WrestleMania which only lasted 18 seconds or if that is just part of the job:

“You have to look at it as part of your job but you can also be disappointed. I’ve always wanted to go out there and steal the show, every show that I’m on. That’s how I got to where I’m at. I didn’t get here by being a nice guy or going out there and being a character or anything like that. The WWE noticed me because I put on great matches. That was my thing.

“Now, I’ve developed into somebody who has some personality on TV and that sort of thing but that isn’t what brought me to the dance. What I love and what I enjoy doing is going out there and wrestling and going out there and entertaining people with what I do in the ring. So to not be able to do that to the best of abilities what disappointing but everything that has come from it has actually been very good so I guess I can’t complain.”

On if it will be special to face CM Punk on a big stage at the Over the Limit considering where they came from and knowing each other for such a long time:

“It is, especially because nobody expected either of us to get to this point. When we were both on the independent scene and stuff like that, there were knocks against Punk’s looks against my looks and how we don’t look like prototypical WWE superstars. And ever when we both signed here, Punk, he has that character, he has that quality that you think if they would just give him an opportunity he could really connect with the WWE Universe.

“For me, even the people who really liked me, kind of doubted whether I would be able to succeed here in the WWE. And it’s cool that two guys who really paid their dues and worked hard on the independents just to get opportunities like this or having this chance. This isn’t a small opportunity. This is a WWE Championship match at an Over the Limit pay-per-view. It’s unreal. This is more that I even dreamed of.”

Brock Lesnar’s return to WWE:

“I think it’s great. I think he brings a lot of added interest to the company and I’m hoping some of those UFC fans will come and watch some of out pay-per-views, especially that last pay-per-view Extreme Rules was awesome. It was an awesome show. I hope they stick around and watch Over the Limit and they’re going to see another awesome show. This is going to be a great night of wrestling for everybody involved. I think it’s great and I would love to have a match with Brock Lesnar. I know that’s probably not in the cards but I’m petitioning for it right now because I feel like me and him could have a match unlike any other pro wrestling match in North America probably ever.”

On whether he will shy away from the physicality of that match:

“No, not at all. And actually I like that sort of thing. My skills, especially as a grappler, lend itself to that kind of thing. When he’s ground and pounding, like doing the kind of stuff he was doing with (John) Cena, there’s not a lot of guys who have any counters for that. Well, I have a million. There would be a lot of things that would be really fun about a match like that. I think people would be excited to see it too.

TNA star Kurt Angle recently spoke to Mississippi’s Clarion Ledger to promote this weekend’s TNA’s live events tour. Kurt’s interviews are good for a few laugh out loud quotes – and this one’s no exception. Here are some highlights of what our Olympic Gold Medalist said about:

Pulling Out Of The 2012 Summer Olympic Trials:

“I was actually 12 days out from the trials. I tore my MCL ligament in my knee. I can still pro wrestle but it does limit me.In 1996, I broke my neck before the Olympics. I still competed, but I had nothing to lose. I didn’t have a family. I didn’t have a lot of money. And it might be my only opportunity to make the team. And thank God I did it. I was getting Novocaine shots in my neck. I couldn’t have Cortisone because it was illegal. So I went through the Olympic trials and the Olympics with my neck broken, so a lot of people said, “Why don’t you try out this year with your knee injury?”

And I said, “Because I don’t want to make it worse, because I do have a family. I have a job. And if I’m not working, I don’t get paid.” So I have a lot to lose now and I had to back out for personal reasons.”

Why He Can No Longer Play A Heel:

“I’ve done everything, from comedy to being the badass. … I think my character now is more true to life than I’ve ever been. It’s just the real Kurt Angle. I think it’s because, thank God, I got to the point where fans now look at me as one of the best of all time. So it’s kind of hard to be the bad guy now, when the fans have the respect for you.

The Reason He Hasn’t Retired Yet:

I probably would have retired a a couple of years ago if I wasn’t so good,” Angle laughed. “It sounds very arrogant. I know it sounds very pompous, but yeah, when I started, I didn’t realize I was going to pick it up so quickly.”

Reports surfaced earlier this month that Ashley intended to follow in the footsteps of her legendary father as she was training to become a professional wrestler. She is expected to join WWE’s Tampa, Florida based developmental training facility in the summer.

Ashley is the third Flair child to enter the professional wrestling industry. David notably competed for World Championship Wrestling from 1999 to 2001 while Reid currently wrestles on the independent circuit.

Ashley was a star volleyball player in high school, leading her team to two state titles in North Carolina. She graduated from North Carolina State University with a Bachelor of Arts and is an ACE® Certified Personal Trainer. She also attended Appalachian State University where she was a Division-1 Full Scholarship Athlete in volleyball.

The WWE website has a new storyline article up looking at how Chris Jericho has failed to win gold since returning in January and how this effects World Heavyweight Title match at Over the Limit as he goes against champion Sheamus, Randy Orton and Alberto Del Rio.

It’s been widely reported that Chris Jericho will be taking time off from WWE this summer to tour with his metal band Fozzy – and the WWE article is already planting the seeds for Jericho’s departure.

The following is an excerpt from the article, which you can read here in its entirety:

“Further, if Jericho fails to come away with the gold, will Over the Limit be the last time the WWE Universe ever sees the “Ayatollah of Rock n’ Rollla” in the ring? Or can Jericho save his career with a huge win against three formidable opponents?

If this is to be his final stand, the smart money would be to bet on Jericho walking out of PNC Arena in Raleigh, N.C., with the title in hand. Jericho is a survivor, and like a cornered lion, he’ll be at his most dangerous with his back to the wall. Jericho will do anything — anything — to emerge from Over the Limit with the World Heavyweight Championship secured around his waist.

But even if he does overcome the other three competitors in the Fatal 4-Way, there’s already plenty of speculation that the WWE Universe won’t see much of Jericho in the coming months. His heavy metal band Fozzy is set to release a new studio album this summer, and tour dates have been planned.

That said, will his match at WWE Over the Limit be his lingering legacy? And if Y2J does decide to walk off into the sunset, will he do so with the World Heavyweight Championship around his waist?”

Comment Below and tell us whether you think Chris Jericho is really leaving again soon – or if this is just Jericho messing with Internet fans, as he’s been known to do. What do you think of Chris Jericho’s latest run with WWE?

- Former WWE Divas Maryse and The Bella Twins will be participating in the Harmony & Hoops Celebrity Basketball Game at the UCI Bren Events Center in Irvine, California. The game takes place this Saturday, May 19th at 5pm and benefits an autism charity. Some of the other celebrities include Dennis Rodman, Master P, Penny Marshall and others.

- WWE’s website has a new article up looking at the winning streaks of Brodus Clay, Lord Tensai and Ryback, wondering who will eat defeat first. They predict Lord Tensai’s association with John Laurinaitis will cause him to lose first, followed by Brodus Clay. They wrote about Ryback:

“Meanwhile, Ryback could very likely prove to have the longest winning streak. Undefeated and unchallenged thus far, it seems probable he will continue winning and working his way up the WWE roster. Long story short, the WWE Universe should get used to the phrase, “Finish him!””

“Congrats @mariamenounos 4 doing SO amazing on DWTS! I’m still in shock that u didn’t win, but wow u r quite an inspiration! Luv ya girl!”

Speaking of DWTS, they will hold their first-ever All-Star Season this coming Fall with cast members who have appeared in the past. They are keeping tight on casting for the season but it’s always possible that Chris Jericho could be invited back.

- While announcing the 2013 Major League Baseball All-Star game yesterday, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg touted WWE’s WrestleMania 29 as a major event coming to the area next year.

- Matt Hardy wrote the following on Twitter yesterday regarding WWE’s policy of not mentioning Chris Benoit:

“I totally understand why WWE has adopted a non-Benoit policy, that’s a business move to attempt to distance themselves from Chris’s terrible final actions. My point is that I don’t have to cater to & speak by “WWE history”, as opposed to actual, factual history. WWE can treat the Benoit situation as if he never existed, but in reality, he absolutely did.”