WWE star on "Cake Boss", Raw dark match, Hogan remark taken off of Impact. Questions on The Miz, Taker-HHH, Taker-McCool, the state of TNA, and building up Mania, Updates on Helms and Daffney, Barrett interview, WWE media presentation, a return for TNA and one for WWE as well, Raw ratings, and a TNA mixup involving a reported release

Santino Marella will be appearing on an upcoming episode of "Cake Boss" in a promotional synergy with WWE. He'll be ordering a "Road to WrestleMania" cake. If he does that in character, it could be one of the best things in the history of TV.

R-Truth beat Tyson Kidd before Raw last night. Not sure why they didn't use that one for Superstars.

Hulk Hogan used the word "tsunami" in a promo taped for Impact. He apologized for it on Twitter and noted that it will not air. It was somewhat of a "half-apology" because he blamed it on him not following a script like a robot with no talent, instead cutting an old-school promo. This guy never misses a chance to put himself over, does he?

Update: It was indeed Hogan who decided to use the term. Creative didn't prompt him to in any way.

After the break, I dive in to PWInsider.com's questions of the day. Starting off with a look at how Miz has been booked as WWE Champion.
I, too, was shaking my head at WWE's booking of Miz up until the last month or so. Their idea was to make it look like any top star could dethrone him at any time, and they definitely made it look like that. It means a lot more to beat a strong champion than a weak one, though, and thankfully it looks like Miz won't be totally "Ortoned" after all. There's a difference between having help getting a win and looking totally ineffective. Miz was closer to the latter, BUT had strong enough promo skills to stay afloat. As far as him becoming the face of WWE, it's a little early to tell. He has a shot though.

As was pointed out, WWE isn't bringing up Taker and HHH's match at WM17 because they don't need to. The story isn't a big rematch, it's two big stars going at it in their last big challenge. I don't really see how the story would be helped by pointing out their previous match.

I don't see Michelle McCool leaving even if her husband retires soon. WWE doesn't "need" her, but they've liked her even before her relationship with Undertaker, so I see her staying there. I haven't heard anything to suggest that Undertaker is retiring after Mania this year either.

There hasn't been anything to suggest that SpikeTV is thinking of cutting ties with TNA, nor are there any credible reports that they're losing enough money to be in a similar boat as WCW. People are indeed exaggerating such things. WCW lost millions of dollars PER MONTH as they were going under. We don't even know if TNA is losing money, period (Their numbers aren't released to the public). If there's anything about TNA losing a lot of money, I'll be sure to follow it, but until a major site says that, I'm skeptical.

I think WWE has done a pretty swell job in building up WrestleMania. They got their butts in gear, even though the show doesn't have as many big matches as in years' past.

Shane "Hurricane" Helms took issue with a number of sites saying that he was arrested recently, instead noting (correctly) that he was cited. The two are reportedly considered the same thing in that jurisdiction. If this is incorrect, I apologize. I'm just rehashing what PWInsider.com said on the situation.

Daffney, whose TNA contract has now officially expired, is suing the company over Worker's Comp issues stemming from her concussion. This issue has apparently been brewing for a while and is the primary reason why she hasn't been used by the company.

SkySports interviewed Wade Barrett at this link. It's great that Chris Jericho still gives him advice. It's also great that Barrett uses it.

Here's a link to a recap of an interesting media presentation by WWE's CFO. The reasons behind the company going PG are interesting and sound. I'm still skeptical about the Films division building more interest in the product, because so far the returns have been mediocre. I'm no willing to write off the idea just yet, though.

Spoiler link: Abyss is backstage at a TNA taping and will likely return to TV soon.

Monday's Raw got a 3.6 rating. While this is down from recent weeks, the viewership numbers are actually higher than a recent 3.8 rating they did.

Speaking of being backstage at TV tapings, here's another possible spoiler: Shawn Michales is at Smackdown.

Finally, there was a miz-up involving TNA's website. Miss Tessmacher has apparently NOT been released by the company as was originally reported. However, Kiyoshi has now been removed from their website in her place, so it's entirely possible that he has been released by the company. Tessmacher has been out due to a jaw injury.


That's all for tonight. More tomorrow!