PWTorch and ProWrestling.net are both reporting that WWE Announcer Mick Foley has officially agreed to contractual terms with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA). He will debut with the company when he is contractually able to do so. His current WWE contract ends at the end of August.

The Sun has an article on John Cena's neck injury. The article also notes that a few WWE main eventer are hurting pretty bad too. One WWE insider told The Sun that Edge desperately needed to take a few weeks off because he's so banged up. "This is why Edge is taking a few weeks off. He desperately needs to," the source explained. "His performances on the mic and limited actions kept him OK through the Hell in a Cell Match with Undertaker, but Edge is a man in a lot of constant pain, he just doesn't want to give up his top spot right now." Also, Undertaker apparently came back early for his showdown with Edge at SummerSlam. "Undertaker himself came back a little early," the source said. "His knee is still very sore, and he has to be very careful with it because he's not a youngster anymore and he could suffer an injury that could put him on the shelf for a very long time." The wear and tear of WWE’s grueling schedule is taking its toll on a number of other WWE stars as well. "It's a beat up crew right now, it's not just the injury bug. The wears and tears of WWE schedule are catching up with everyone."

Mr. Kennedy is scheduled for shoulder surgery this Friday, reports PWInsider.com. He is expected to miss four to six months after the procedure, which will be performed by Dr. Andrews. Kennedy injured his shoulder during a house show match with Shelton Benjamin earlier this month, and has been working lightly ever since. Kennedy was diagnosed with a torn labrum and damage to his rotator cuff. After two weeks of rehab and no progress, it was determined he would require surgery.

By PAUL HEYMAN
July 3, 2008

There's a tangible buzz surrounding World Wrestling Entertainment programming right now. They're shaking things up.

Major talent has switched brands, creating the opportunity for new storylines, new matches, new rivalries, new concepts, new everything.

Young talent is getting the exhilarating "sink or swim" chance to be involved in major moments, participate in the focal points of the show, and even ... perhaps ... break through into the top tier.

Just look at the title holders on Raw at the moment. CM Punk is the Raw world champion. Kofi Kingston is the intercontinental champion. Ted DiBiase and Cody Rhodes are the tag team champions.

While "new" for the sake of "new" is not good, the statement being made by WWE to its audience is: "We're taking chances, we're trying new things, we're giving the ball to new players and seeing who scores."

Smackdown, where you can see the best tag team in the industry today - Miz and John Morrison - has seen a huge influx of main event talent.

Jeff Hardy, who continues to tickle the main event ivories, is now on Smackdown. Mr Kennedy, who has everything it takes to be a WrestleMania main eventer, is going to announce his name twice on the Smackdown brand.

And while Smackdown brings aboard the best announcer in the business in Jim Ross, still presents Miz and Morrison, gains the services of the most dedicated Diva from Monday Nights in Maria, and still retains The Undertaker, the brand now has HHH as the WWE Champion as well.

Not a bad pickup for a show headed to a new American broadcast network this autumn.

But if you watched Monday Night Raw this week, and saw the memorable series of events that ended with Punk as the new champion, then you witnessed a perfect example of star power at its finest.

Jim Ross was emotional and gracious in his speech. Batista looked like the "Animal" he is supposed to be. Punk played his role exactly the way he should, and the audience ate up every moment of it.

And the proverbial "straw that stirred the drink," the centrepiece of this superb 20 minutes of television was the single best heel WWE has on the active roster, Adam "Edge" Copeland.

A phenomenal worker with rock star looks, Copeland knows how to present the "Edge" character so no one has the inclination to cheer him.

His charisma alone could carry an entire show - and, bluntly, he's had Smackdown on his shoulders for longer than most people realize - but Copeland's portrayal of the scheming, manipulative, opportunistic Edge is played in such a way that you simply want to see him get beat or perhaps more importantly, beat up.

His heat is so grand, you don't just want to see him get beat up, you need to see it. You have to see it. You crave that moment. You'll even PAY for it.

On Monday night, Edge came out with Hawkins and Ryder.

The high-tech, pyro-enhanced entrance elicited a great heel reaction from the crowd. The way Edge "psychs himself up" before coming down to the ring is played up with exaggerated facial expressions and cockiness, but it's very real within the persona he presents.

And people get their blood up just watching up pump himself up.

Edge's heel promo on Jim Ross was delivered with such conviction, the viewer at home felt the angst of the live crowd worrying that once again, Good Ol' JR was going to get slapped around in Oklahoma

Edge's range was amazing, too. From the frothing-at-the-mouth-anticipation of JR screaming "Edge wins! Edge wins! Edge wins!" to the envisioned-orgasm as he described "the love of my life" - dramatic pause, then emphasis - "Vickie Guerrero," Edge's promo was, as they say, one for the ages.

He had such heel heat by the time he punked out everyone from Ross to Undertaker to the Raw program itself, people were salivating at the mere thought that someone, somehow, someday would just smash this bastard.

Batista came out and delivered a ferocious beating to Edge, and the liv

COMPLETE LIST OF WWE DRAFTEE'S :

RAW:
JAMIE NOBLE
DEUCE
CHUCK PALUMBO
MATT STRIKER
LAYLA
KOFI KINGSTON
REY MYSTERIO
CM PUNK
KANE
BATISTA
MICHAEL COLE


SMACKDOWN:
TREVOR MURDOCH
BIG DADDY V
D H SMITH
BRIAN KENDRICK
MARIA
SHELTON BENJAMIN
CARLITO
TRIPLE H
UMAGA
MR KENNEDY
JEFF HARDY
JIM ROSS


ECW:
MARK HENRY
HORNSWAGGLE
SUPER CRAZY
FINLAY
MATT HARDY


WHICH BRAND ENDED UP BETTER OFF?
LEAVE A COMMENT