sources: Pro Wrestling Torch, Wrestling Observer Newsletter, WWE.com
Jim Ross's WWE contract expires this month, but its highly unlikely that he'll be leaving, especially after last year's fiasco with the attempts to sign UFC announcer Mike Goldberg away from UFC. WWE soon found out that J.R. is more difficult to replace than they had figured. J.R. was scheduled to do play-by-play with Joey Styles on at least the main event of the September 26 ECW broadcast on Sci-Fi. Plans were changed over the weekend, then J.R. was booked in the opening segment of the show to use his loyal Oklahoma following to put over The Sandman and Matt Striker in the segment. When the show was laid out prior to the taping, Joey Styles and Tazz were not scripted to question who invited Ross to the show.
Nattie Neidhart (Jim Neidhart's daughter) and T.J. Wilson (long-time friend of Bret Hart's kids) recently went to Deep South Wrestling to get a look from WWE officials. If they did well in their tryouts, they'll probably land WWE developmental deals. There is no word yet on how their tryouts went or if they landed developmental deals. Also, Neidhart and Wilson are currently dating.
The world premiere of John Cena's new movie The Marine takes place this Tuesday, Oct. 3 at the Camp Pendleton Marine Base outside of San Diego. WWE.com will be there live on the scene, and will be covering the event in real time. Starting late Tuesday afternoon (ET), WWE.com will have all the pre and post-premiere festivities, interviews and photos. You can also expect footage from the premiere to air on WWE programming next week. The Marine opens in theatres on Friday, October 13, 2006.
Click here to see footage from the No Mercy press conference held earlier today.
