Vince Changing WWE Films

Variety reports today that Vince McMahon has taken full control over how WWE Films distributes their future movies. Samuel Goldwyn Films will now handle WWE’s theatrical releases while Vivendi Entertainment will distribute the direct-to-DVD movies.

According to Variety, WWE Studios will finance and produce nine movies through 2010. They’re hoping to retain the rights to movies in case WWE starts its on TV channel, they can air them there.

Budgets for the movies will be in the $5 million range so that’s at least $45 million that WWE will be spending on their film division over the next few years.

Orton in a New Movie

As mentioned before, WWE will be releasing a new movie called Big Red soon about a boy growing up in the 1960’s. Word is that Randy Orton will be starring in the movie but it’s not clear yet who he will be playing. The plot for the movie reads like this:

“In 1965, as the world changes all around him, 12-year-old Andy Nichol comes of age when he’s asked by his favorite teacher, Mr. Simon, to partner with school outcast Big Red for an English assignment.”

WWE superstars 1/21

Kelly Kelly vs. Jillian Hall, Kane vs. Chris Jericho and Shelton Benjamin vs. Vance Archer was taped for this Thursday’s WWE Superstars on WGN America

New Diva Called Up

The woman who appears with CM Punk on this week’s Friday Night SmackDown as a fan is actually WWE developmental Diva Serena Deeb, who had a brief appearance on ECW last year. There’s talk that this could be her call-up to the main roster

Smackdown Spoiler of 1/22

Dark Match:
* Kung Fu Naki beat Johnny Curtis.
WWE SmackDown, Airing Friday:
* Finlay d. Batista by DQ when Batista refused to break the referee’s 5-count I guess. Then he cut a promo saying Finlay represented the other Royal Rumble competitors and that he would win the Rumble and end Taker’s undefeated streak at Mania.
* Match 2: Dolph Ziggler beat Jimmy Wang Yang with a rear naked choke hold.
* CM Punk and Luke Gallows come out saved another fan. This time it is a hyper fan named Serena (Mia from FCW) and Punk shaves her long hair off till she is completely bald!!!
* Handicap match: Chris Jericho & Drew McIntyre vs. John Morrison. Teddy Long comes out and makes it a tag team match. Morrison’s tag partner is R-Truth.
* John Morrison & R-Truth win when Truth pins Jericho after a scissor kick. Great match!
* They show highlights of Rey winning the world title at Mania 22 while the ring crew sets up food and balloons for the next segment… Involving McCool & James.
* Michelle McCool and Layla make fun of Mickie James with a buffet of food. Maria interferes and calls them morons. Mickie comes out and says Michelle and Layla think they are great but really they are nothing. She points at the audience and says this is what real women look like. She says Michelle will never run her off Smackdown. Michelle says the WWE fans get to watch Animal Planet and WWE at the same time when Mickie is on TV. Catfight ensues. Beth Phoenix runs in and helps Michelle and Layla. They shove a ‘Piggie’ cake into Mickie’s face and dump punch on her. Actually a great segment, believe it or not!
* Mike Knox & Charlie Haas (he still works here too!) vs. Cryme Tyme gets interrupted by Kane, who lays everyone out. I guess he wants to win the Rumble too…
* Matt Hardy & Great Khali (there’s an odd team for you) d. The Hart Dynasty when Hardy rolled up DH Smith.
* Rey calls out Taker. He says he is not afraid of him. Taker says he admires Rey’s bravery but at the Royal Rumble he will defeat Rey and Rey will rest in peace. As Taker walks out, Batista lays out Rey and runs away through the crowd.
* Vickie Guerrero comes out and makes Rey vs. Batista for tonight. I’m guessing this is a dark match.
* It’s a no DQ match. They brawl with weapons for a bit. Jericho interferes and hits the codebreaker on Rey. Matt Hardy runs in with a twist of fate to Jericho. CM Punk runs in and hits GTS on Hardy. Kane runs in and chokeslams Punk. Batista spears Kane. Rey jumps back in and attacks Batista. Kane chokeslams Batista and Rey splashes off Kane’s shoulders and pins Batista. Crowd goes home happy.
* Overall an average episode of Smackdown, meaning it was great!