• Wrestling News & Wrestling Rumors – WWE & TNA

- Plans for next week’s ECW will see Tony Atlas get in to the ring and face Evan Bourne.

- Former WWE star Al Snow and Tiger Chung Lee are featured in independent movie Mountain Mafia. The film has just finished filming.

- Despite initial worries, stemming from the last quarter’s poor results, WWE’s Wrestlemania Buyrate has come out quite strong, at about at about 970,000 buys. This of course is still down from 1.25 million buys in 2007 and 1.05 million buys in 2008, but it is higher than what the company expected.

A great portion of WWE’s buyrate now comes from overseas markets that initially didn’t get PPV. Domestic sales have decreased significantly.

- Jim Ross is back with more JRSBARBQ.com blog thoughts. He interestingly discusses Mickie James going in to country music:

“Mickey James, arguably the WWE’s most talented in ring diva, is contemplating trying her hand at country music as Mickey has apparently written several songs and is preparing to do a demo as I understand it. This doesn’t mean Mickey is leaving wrestling whatsoever. I wish her luck if she decides to travel the country music road as it won’t be easy but neither was her getting in WWE.”

24/7 Legend’s Roundtables:
“The two Roundtable shows will be concerning “Wrestling with Patriotism” and “Giants” in the wrestling biz. The “Patriotism” show will address utilizing stereotypes in creating rivalries while “Giants” will be about wrestling’s biggest superstars and what made them great and who came up a little short and who should have been better considering their natural gifts. I do not know when these two shows will air on 24/7 but assume it will be a few months as these programs take enormous editing. Mean Gene Okerlund will host this foray and the panel will include, as of now, Michael Hayes, Sgt. Slaughter, perhaps Pat Patterson (not confirmed) and me.”

On Flair:
“It looks like Ric Flair is completely finished with ROH, or at least that’s my take on it, and that Flair will eventually wrestle again for promoters abroad but not wrestle for WWE. Flair seems destined for a reoccurring role on WWE TV but I don’t know the details of such or the time line. After being punted by Randy Orton Monday night in Birmingham, one wold not expect to see Naitch back on WWE TV for quite some time. Right?”

On Wrestling Names:
“My pet peeve of the week….wrestling names. I’ve always had the philosophy that wrestling names of individuals should sound viable and approiate for headlining such events as Wrestlemania. That’s akin to recruiting and signing talent. If one doesn’t sign a talent that one feels has the chance, no matter how remote, to headline an event like Wrestlemania then one is off course in my view. Stupid sounding wrestling monikers pigeon hole wrestlers into a mid card role at best which also limits an individuals potential earnings. And what is the obsession to have so many wrestlers with only one name? I get having some with one name but what is the aversion of a wrestler not having a last name. I read the names of some indy wrestlers from time to time and I don’t know whether to roll my eyes, laugh or cry.”