-- WWE has begun the process of re-signing several of their top superstars to long-term deals and pwinsider.com is reporting that some of these new contracts are up to five years in length. The new deals are said to be negotiated almost in the exact order in which current contracts are set to expire which would imply there hasn't been a case yet where has locked in on a specific wrestler in an attempt to get them re-signed ASAP.
-- With Michael Cole back on WWE Monday Night Raw, the WWE Friday Night Smackdown commentary team is now Corey Graves with Kevin Patrick. A pwinsider.com report indicates that there are WWE officials who are closely watching to see how Patrick performs without Cole around "steering the ship" and that many people that Patrick is on the hot seat to step up as a commentator over the next few months if he wants to stick around in his current role.
-- Gable Steveson, while booked for the next few WWE Smackdown shows, isn't in the creative mix for the men's Royal Rumble match.
-- Charlotte Flair is still in Birmingham recovering from recent major knee surgery with husband Andrade El Idolo by her side. The belief is that Flair will leave Birmingham by the end of this week to continue her rehab and WWE is hoping that she will be back in action by the fall of 2024. Meanwhile, Andrade has wrapped up with AEW and all signs point to him returning to join Charlotte in WWE very soon.
-- Bo Dallas remains under contract to WWE despite not appearing on TV in about a year, last seen playing the Uncle Howdy character.
