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Rumor Mill - WWE Network PPV Plans

As of right now, the monthly pay-per-views will be available on the WWE Network according to The Wrestling Observer. The only pay-per-views that will remain exclusive to traditional pay-per-view ordering is WrestleMania, Royal Rumble, SummerSlam and Survivor Series.

This will being once the network launches which is expected on April 1st, the day of WrestleMania 28. This means that the Extreme Rules PPV would be the first to be available for those who have the WWE Network.

source: wrestlezone.com

This Day in Wrestling History

The Monday Night Wars continued, WCW Monday Nitro's 4.6 rating defeated WWF Monday Night RAW's 3.6 rating. RAW in Uniondale, New York featured Owen Hart defeating WWF Champion Shawn Michaels by disqualification when Triple H broke one of his crutches over Hart's head while he had Michaels in the sharpshooter. Nitro was just over 200 miles away in Baltimore, Maryland, and featured Ultimo Dragon defeating WCW Cruiserweight Champion Eddie Guerrero by submission to win the title for the second time, Booker T winning his first of a record six WCW World Television Titles from Disco Inferno, and a main event of WCW World Champion Sting defeating Hollywood Hulk Hogan.
December 29, 1997

Mick Foley (as Mankind) defeated The Rock for his first WWF(E) Title after Stone Cold Steve Austin returned knocking out The Rock with a steel chair. The show would air on the following Monday, January 4, 1999. That night Tony Schiavone would reveal the result during WCW Monday Nitro, airing live that night, noting that Mankind as champion "ought to put a lot of butts in the seats." Schiavone would later claim Eric Bischoff fed him that line to say. D-Generation X celebrated with Foley after the match.
December 29, 1998

On an edition of ECW on SyFy from East Rutherford, New Jersey, Tommy Dreamer wrestled his last match for WWE's version of ECW, facing Zack Ryder in a match where Dreamer promised to leave ECW if he lost.
December 29, 2010

WWE Announces Randy Orton’s Absence, Offers Refunds to Fans

It was announced at tonight’s WWE SmackDown live event in Detroit, Michigan that Randy Orton will be out of action for six months, meaning he will most likely miss WrestleMania 28.

WWE were offering refunds at tonight’s live event to anyone who wanted them, since Orton couldn’t appear.

source: f4wonline.com

Rumor Mill - WWE Officials Discuss Michael Cole's Commentary

WWE officials held a meeting last week after the RAW ratings came in where Michael Cole's commentary was discussed according to F4Wonline.com

TV ratings patterns show fans have little interest in seeing anyone on TV besides the top Superstars. Consideration was given to maybe that's because of Cole burying the talents for the past year.

E:60 Feature on Scott Hall Nominated

ESPN's E:60 documentary on Scott Hall from earlier this year is nominated for Sports Illustrated's "Best News Feature on a Sports Program" award in their 2011 Media Awards. SI.com wrote:

"The superhero physique he had during his days in the WWE is long gone. Scott Hall is now 53 and says he takes 11 heart and seizure medications daily. He has a pacemaker and says he suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder. He looks shockingly frail. In October, E:60 aired a 16-minute piece on one of the more interesting figures in pro wrestling history, given his fame and self-destructive nature. For those of us of a certain age, it was a devastating portrait, a man wrecked by drug addiction and alcoholism. There's no narrator and no reporter fronting the piece, which adds to the sullen mood. Lead producer Ben Houser and associate producer John Minton III are to be commended for their work. Same with the terrific job of video editing by Bluefoot Entertainment's Matt McCormick."

Details And Update On Randy Orton's Injury

Wrestlezone.com is reporting that WWE Smackdown main eventer Randy Orton's back injury was discovered last week, and that the storyline played out on Smackdown last night was to cover the injury.

Orton is expected to undergo several tests in the next few days to determine the severity of the injury. If you're reading elsewhere that Orton "will be back for WrestleMania," or that Orton "will miss WrestleMania," both of those reports are premature. Orton's status for WrestleMania is unknown. Right now Vince McMahon and Stephanie McMahon Levesque have asked the writers to prepare for scenarios with Orton included in Mania, and for Orton to be out "at least until a month or two past Mania."

Orton himself is said to be upset with the injury, "but dealing with it much better than in the past when he faced similar situations with time off," we were told by a key WWE insider this afternoon. We will keep you up-to-date with our inside information on Randy Orton's injury as it becomes available.

Triple H's Video Tribute to Metallica

Randy Orton Injured

From wwe.com:

Due to an injury he sustained at SmackDown in Indianapolis, Randy Orton will be replaced by Sheamus in scheduled Street Fights against Wade Barrett at WWE live events this week. Check back with WWE.com for more updates on Orton's condition.

Video: Kane to John Cena - "Embrace the Hate"

This Day in Wrestling History

Sting defeated Hulk Hogan for the WCW World Title at Starrcade in Washington, DC.
December 28, 1997

Update on Seth Rollins

WWE developmental wrestler Seth Rollins, who was scheduled to work this week's Raw house show tour, will instead appear on SmackDown events this week.