Nothing’s official yet, but it’s expected that former WWE Intercontinental champion and TNA heavyweight champ Christian Cage will return soon to WWE.

Christian (Jay Reso), whose contract with TNA recently expired, is banking on a much higher-profile status with WWE than the one he held when he left the company at the end of 2005.

Mired in mid-card territory, with little upward mobility in sight, Christian refused to re-sign a WWE contract three years ago when he felt he had gone as far as he could in that company. It didn’t help that WWE owner Vince McMahon didn’t recognize his star potential or view him as the main-event player others in the company saw him as. As a result he left WWE for TNA, went back to his old ring name of Christian Cage, traded his “Captain Charisma” moniker for “The Instant Classic,” and was given a bigger role in the smaller company.

Three years later Christian feels he has a good shot to make an immediate impact in WWE and, at age 35, this could be his last chance to deliver. Many top stars in WWE, including longtime friend Edge (Adam Copeland), strongly believe Christian can break into that rarefied realm and become a top-tier player.

While Christian enjoyed a good relationship with TNA brass, was assured of maintaining a strong position on the roster and had a more relaxed schedule with limited travel that kept him close to his family in Tampa, sources say Christian realized that this could be his final opportunity to prove himself as a main-eventer in WWE and establish himself as a future WWE hall of famer. And while Christian is one of the higher-paid performers in TNA, a long run in WWE could ensure long-term financial stability for the wrestler and his family.

Christian could resurface in a WWE ring as early as this month’s Royal Rumble when Jeff Hardy defends the WWE title against Edge at the Royal Rumble. He also is expected to be revealed as the person who attacked Hardy on the morning of the Survivor Series pay-per-view, according to prowrestling.net, setting up a possible Christian vs. Jeff Hardy match at Wrestlemania 25.

Christian Cage and Edge as tag team partners.

(source: Mike Mooneyham at www.charleston.net)

Former WWE star Bobby lashley joined James Guttman on ClubWWI.com.

‘On the subject of professional wrestling, JG asked the question that almost everyone asks Bobby when they meet him – TNA. Any chance we could see Bobby tear it up in Total Nonstop Action? Lashley answered and was clear about his intentions.

“I’ll put it this way. I WILL be (professionally) wrestling again. So if there is anything going on with WWE and there’s people there who don’t want to see me wrestle anymore and I can’t be back in WWE, then there will be a TNA. Because I really, like I said before, I really would like to wrestle again. Whether it’s years down the line, whether it’s short stints now where I do matches here and there while still training to fight, I still want to wrestle. So whoever will take me, I’m willing to work.”

Bobby also spoke about no longer harboring any ill-will towards the company. He spoke positively about working with the McMahons both in and out of the ring, but also expressed a desire to wrestle TNA’s Kurt Angle.’

Bobby Lashley won his first mma match.

WWE’s response:
“While ‘The Wrestler’ is a very engaging movie, it portrays how wrestling was conducted in some independent wrestling circuits, unlike WWE, which is a global brand with millions of fans.”

TNA’s response:

“We’re happy to see professional wrestling in the mainstream spotlight through the movie ‘The Wrestler.’ Mickey Rourke’s performance is nothing short of sonsational; Mickey Rourke is the movie. His portrayal of an over-the-hill wrestler struggling to fing his own meaning in life has already been talked about as Oscar-worthy, and rightfully so.”

ROH’s response:

“Jerry Lynn was in attendance at a private ROH screening recently, and (was) said to be very emotional about his career and its similarities to the career of Rourke’s Randy ‘the Ram’ Robinson.”

Movie Poster for ‘The Wrestler’

TNA used the final episode of Impact in 2008 New Year’s Eve to look back on an incredible 2008. The night’s main event featured the first title defense of 2009, as Beer Money Inc. defend the tag belts against LAX.

Mike Tenay and Don West start the show on the entrance ramp and hype what’s on tap for this reflection episode of Impact. They also tout the tag team championship main event match between Beer Money Inc. and LAX.

1) Kurt Angle vs. Jeff Jarrett - Guest Enforcer: Mick Foley

In this match from TNA’s Bound For Glory 2008 PPV, Jeff Jarrett returned to TNA and Mick Foley had his first TNA PPV. The match itself was really good, going back and forth throughout. After a ref bump and a few chair shots from Kurt Angle, Foley got involved, unleashing Mr. Socko on the Olympic Gold Medalist and sending him into a guitar shot that earned Jarrett the victory.

Winner Via Pinfall - Jeff Jarrett

After the commercial break, a package was shown on the TNA Knockouts division, as well as the feud between Awesome Kong and Gail Kim.

2) TNA Knockouts Championship Match - Awesome Kong w/ Riesha Saeed vs. Gail Kim (C)

This was from a January 2008 broadcast of TNA Impact. Gail Kim took three Kong Bombs in this match that left her titleless and with a concussion. Gail Kim also put up a hell of a fight.This match began Kong’s first reign as TNA Knockouts Champion.

Winner Via Pinfall and NEW TNA Knockouts Champion - Awesome Kong

3) TNA Heavyweight Championship MMA Rules Six Sides of Steel Match - Samoa Joe vs. Kurt Angle (C)

This was from TNA’s Lockdown 2008 PPV. For weeks leading up to the match, vignettes were shown of Samoa Joe training under MMA conditions for the MMA rules that the match was being contested under. This was an excellent match that was capped off with Samoa Joe landing a Muscle Buster on Kurt Angle and earning his first TNA Heavyweight Championship.

Winner Via Pinfall and NEW TNA Heavyweight Champion - Samoa Joe

Mike Tenay and Don West were shown in the ring, hyping the rest of the show and the TNA Tag Team Championship main event.

4) TNA Heavyweight Championship Match - AJ Styles vs. Sting (C)

This was from TNA’s Turning Point 2008 PPV. This match was built around the Main Event Mafia vs. Frontline feud which is currently still going on in TNA, making this an excellent selection to round out the recap portion of this Impact episode. After a hard fought match, Sting walked away with the victory and retained the TNA Heavyweight Championship.

Winner Via Pinfall and STILL TNA Heavyweight Champion - StingBack from another commercial break, a package was shown on TNA’s tag team division, as well as Beer Money Inc’s rising within the ranks and the return of LAX.

Mike Tenay and Don West hyped the TNA Tag Team Championship match, then pitched it to the ring for live action.

5) TNA Tag Team Championship Match - LAX (Homicide and Hernandez) vs. Beer Money Inc. (James Storm and Robert Roode) w/ Jackie Moore (C)

LAX was hot out the gate and took the fight right to Beer Money Inc, with Homicide hitting a Tope Con Hilo, then reaching into the beer cooler to grab some refreshments. Back from the commercial break, Beer Money Inc. had things going their way, distracting referee, Earl Hebner, and forcing a tag to Hernandez to go unseen. Eventually, Homicide made the hot tag and the match broke down, with both teams scoring several near falls. LAX had the match won, but Jackie Moore distracted Hebner, allowing Robert Roode to send Homicide into a steel chair shot that knocked him, giving Beer Money Inc. the pinfall victory.

Winners Via Pinfall and STILL TNA Tag Team Champions - Beer Money Inc. (James Storm and Robert Roode)

The show concluded with a highlight package that featured TNA’s greatest moments from 2008. All in all, a good episode that featured good match choices and served it’s purpose.

(source: slam.canoe.ca)

Former WWE and TNA superstar Tomko returned to World Wrestling Entertainment Monday night in Pittsburgh, PA. Tomko defeated Paul Burchill in a dark match, a match designed to make the returning Tomko look good and to help him get over with the Raw audience.

Our source is saying that Tomko’s return may already be over and he may be released at anytime.

John Laurinaitis pushed to have Tomko back to the company.Tomko resigned with WWE a few months ago, and was expected to work out with Florida Championship Wrestling until the company was ready for him to return to the road. Tomko lives about an hour from the training facility, but only showed up a couple of times. Tomko’s physical condition when he arrived was unimpressive and when Vince mcMahon got a good look at Tomko, Vince chewed Tomko a new one. Not only that, but Tomko blew up in his short two minute match.

What wrestler would seriously show up at WWE in less than excellent physical shape, with Vince’s well-known expectations on talent?

Tomko has apparently burnt his bridge with TNA. Our source is telling us that Tomko’s return to TNA is unlikely, as the general feeling is that Tomko hasn’t been honest with the company in the past.

Tomko did leave TNA to work in Japan, but with no steady offers he returned to TNA.

TNA decided to pass along by mobile text that Homicide and Hernandez, LAZ, have signed a new three year deal with TNA Wrestling. Hernandez’s deal with TNA was set to expire next month and now LAX is signed with TNA through 2011.

Kaz has apparently reinjured himself according to Jason Powell. Kaz apparently suffered a biceps injury and is expected to miss some ring time. Kaz has been wrestling as Suicide and apparently there is talk of putting someone else in the Suicide costume until he can return.

If TNA wants another iMPACT! video game, they’re going to need to push Suicide. In the latest of bad news for Midway, today the company laid off 25 percent of its staff and ‘suspended’ all of its 2010/2011 projects. Midway is still committed to a sequel for the TNA video game, but the value of its assets to debts pending is so bad that the company is being threatened with NYSE delisting.

WWE has named Robert Zimmerman as Vice President, Public Relations and Corporate Communications. Zimmerman will be a strategic member of WWE’s management team, and overseas business, consumer, financial and trade press relations and strategy.
Zimmerman brings 17 years of experience having worked for Dan Klores Communications and Edelman Public Relations Worldwide, among others. Zimmerman has headed corporate activities, media affairs and crisis management for such well-known brands and personalities as Michael Eisner and his new media studio, Vuguru; Howard Stern; Sean “Diddy” Combs’ The Wall Street Journal Weekend Edition; Ziff Davis Media; Donatella and Allegra Versace; Bill Hemmer; and Bill O’Reilly. From 1998 to 2004, Zimmerman served as spokesperson for FOX News as Vice President of Media Relations, where he developed and oversaw press strategies that supported corporate initiatives for the company’s cable news channel.

Congratulations, Zimmerman!