BIG RAW/SMACKDOWN TAPING EXPECTED, WWE KEEPING STRICT WITH MANIA TALENTS

There are currently around 8,000 tickets sold for the combined RAW and SmackDown tapings on March 22nd in San Jose, California. WWE is expecting a sell out of around 11,000 for the show.

The WWE talents have been told to keep busy with WWE affairs during WrestleMania weekend and not to attend any Ring of Honor or Dragon Gate shows. They have also been told to expect TMZ cameras and not to do anything that would get them in trouble or on TMZ.

SMACKDOWN SUPERSTARS ON RAW TILL DRAFT, WWE IGNORED SAVAGE

For what it’s worth, the plan right now is for the SmackDown brand stars to make regular appearances on RAW from now until the Draft in April.

There was some disappointment from the Poffo family as Randy Savage contacted both WWE and TNA about sending some kind of message to be read at his father Angelo Poffo’s funeral. TNA worked with him while WWE ignored the message.

OPENING MATCH FOR WRESTLEMANIA 26

As of this week, the decision still hadn’t been made whether John Cena vs. Batista, Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels or Edge vs. Chris Jericho would be the last match at WrestleMania. The Unified Tag Team Title match is currently scheduled to open the show with Money in the Bank going on second. Vince McMahon vs. Bret Hart would likely go somewhere in the middle of the card. Of course, all of this is subject to change.

NO MORE CHAIR SHOT IN THE HEAD

WWE has updated its talent Wellness policy with a section about concussions. Part of WWE’s effort to limit the number of concussions sustained by its Superstars is a ban on chairshots to the head, which actually went into effect back in January. The section on chairshots reads:

*The WWE has eliminated using folding metal chairs to “strike” an opponent in the head.

*The WWE penalizes through fine and/or suspension the following:

-The intentional use of a folding metal chair to “strike” an opponent in the head.

-Any blow to the head that is deemed an INTENTIONAL act.

*The fine and/or suspension will be directed by the EVP of Talent Relations.

WWE spokesperson Robert Zimmerman recently commented to Connecticut’s Hartford Courant newspaper about the chairshot ban:

“In January 2010, WWE amended its Talent Wellness Program, specifically regarding the ImPACT™ Concussion Management Program originally instituted in 2008, eliminating the use of folding chairs or props to “strike” an opponent in the head.”