News: Flair, Sandman & Booker

Ric Flair is reportedly still in talks with the WWE to work out things with his WWE career. 24wrestling.com gives 6 backstage reasons why Flair reportedly "gave his notice" to World Wrestling Entertainment including bitterness over being demoted to the Smackdown roster from Raw, losing a match to Finlay on the show and the fact his scheduled match vs Carlito for Wrestlemania 23 was scrapped. There was a planned retirement story in the works as well to slowly ease Flair into his leaving the WWE as a wrestler.

Read the full 24wrestling.com article here.

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WWE.com reported on 9/11 that Sandman (Jim Fullington) has been released by the WWE. According to wrestling-edge.com, Sandman posted a note on his Myspace page urging fans to not stop watching WWE due to his release. He also has vowed to return. From Sandman's Myspace page:

"I will make damn sure I am back in the WWE one day. WWE treated me well, I had a great time on WWE Raw and on ECW on SciFi...I loved every moment of it and the wrestling business is and has always been one big family combined with entertainment purposes. I appreciate all of your messages and all and I can not thank you guys enough! I will be back in WWE one day again...count on it. "

Read WWE's statement on Sandman's release here.

View TheExtremeIcon.com (official Sandman website)

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Phillyburbs.com had the following to report regarding King Booker quitting the WWE:

"King Booker has reportedly been unhappy for awhile following several issues behind the scenes in the WWE. It was a surprise to me when it was reported that he signed a new deal with the WWE a few months ago.

Out of all of the recent swaps as a result of the WWE "lottery", Booker definitely benefited most of any of the other talents. Booker's character was rejvenated going from a Smackdown mid-carder to being arguably the best thing on Monday Night Raw. I don't think it is a stretch to think that a full blown out Boooker vs. John Cena feud would have been great business. Booker was recently involved in a feud with Triple H which ended with a loss to Triple H at Summerslam."

Read the full story here

Reactions to Raw

Last night's Raw came on the heels of the news of the WWE suspensions. Faced with potential disaster and fallout, the WWE obviously had to scramble just a bit in terms of how it would work this show and upcoming shows. Two things stood out:1) the Vince McMahon illegitimate child storyline; and 2) how they handled 3 wrestlers who are rumored to be suspended, as far as their Raw status.

1) Vince's paternity suit/child - Many wrestling rumor sites and fans all were in agreement that Mr. Kennedy would most likely be the son of Vince McMahon. It made sense due to his last name being Vince's middle name. It also made sense because it could make for some great storylines. However, on last night's Raw they threw us for a loop, with a lawyer appearing on behalf of the woman suing Vince. He claimed DNA tests say Kennedy is not the son and the clue he left us with was "things are starting to look up". That immediately made me think Great Khali or other taller wrestlers, like Snitsky, Kane or Undertaker even. I wouldn't discount Randy Orton, or perhaps someone who wasn't standing around the ring like Stephanie said. WWE may have quickly changed up the story too based on the fact Mr. Kennedy was among the names on the rumored suspension list. Either way it was a pleasant surprise to see so many thrown for this loop and not know what to expect.

2) Three suspended wresters - Almost half of the rumored names of suspended wrestlers are on the Raw roster. Last night, 3 of those rumored names seemed to be worked out of the show through injury angles. Umaga was completely decimated by Triple H in classic Game fashion. That is only interesting in the fact that Umaga is usually the one dominating. Second, we saw Sandman beat up an already injured Santino Marella (also rumored as suspended) with his Singapore Cane. Finally, we saw John Cena attack GM William Regal and put him in the STFU, causing Vince to replace Regal with Coach as temporary GM. Two other names mentioned as rumored suspended wrestlers, Randy Orton and Mr. Kennedy both made appearances (Orton via sattelite).

I think another approach could have been taken in WWE fashion, and that is to actually have Vince suspend the wrestlers on the show. He could have been angry and on the warpath based on his family being present to confront him. The stress gets to him and the 3 names mentioned; Marella, Umaga and Regal happen to do something that sets Vince off. He suspends them on the spot, along with a few extra guys who don't wrestle as much, just to make it more interesting, if they weren't actually suspended. It would be part truth, part mockery which is often what WWE is famous for, making fun of itself and its critics.