Three matches set for next week's Impact, DiBiase update, interviews with Gangrel, DDP, and JoMo, Questions on holding the WWE Title, Taker/Austin, WCW DVDs, and WWE-OVW, more on the state of WWE developmental including FCW talents working AXXESS, Layla update, who's inducting at the HoF, important TNA exec recovering from heart attacks, Edge interview, Ziggler promotes live event, more Mania promotion, Z! TLIS #59, Impact Wrestling rating, Hart talks Hogan, Big Show interview, why the Nash angle got derailed, AJ the Marvel Fangirl, and why Cena's character is what it is

The following matches have been set for Impact Wrestling:
Matt Morgan vs. Crimson
Mr. Anderson vs. Jeff Hardy
Madison Rayne vs. Velvet Sky
I only really care about that first one.

Ted DiBiase posted a video update about his recovery from surgery. Good for him for keeping his name out there while he's off of TV. How well he hits the ground running after his return will be pretty important in where his career goes from here.


Gangrel was interviewed on a number of things. I like the Territory League concept, teaming veterans with newcomers. That can be quite helpful. That music and entrance was pretty badass. Al Snow's old theme song also has a backwards message. Spooky.

DDP was also interviewed. I'm very high on Christian as well.

Here's Part 3 of "Cut that promo" with John Morrison. Funny opening story.

After the break, I go into everything else from Friday. Next up, PWInsider.com's questions.
1. Tough to disagree with that one.

2. I'd be kind of surprised if they did that one, though given their reliance on past names I guess I shouldn't be. I'd also rather see Punk vs. Austin.

3. Unless you count DVDs WWE put out, apparently not.

Nothing to add to 4. As for 5, I think it could also have a lot to do with the fact that they completely own FCW (as opposed to having a working agreement like they did with OVW).

The additional branch of WWE developmental set for Stamford, CT is something that has been in the works for a few months now. There could very well be a new hiring who would play a big role in it, but nothing was officially confirmed as of Friday. Al Snow's in TNA, so I guess my hope is Lance Storm. No idea who it will actually be, though.

A number of FCW talents are set to work at WrestleMania AXXESS. Presumably that would mean the company's looking at those people as potential call-ups.

Update: Seth Rollins, Dean Ambrose, Xavier Woods, and Antonio Cesaro have all been specifically mentioned as wrestling there. I've heard good things about all four, so the sooner I get to see what all the fuss is about in a WWE setting the better for me personally.

The returning Layla was said to be really impressive in the ring after her surgery last year, working quite hard and adding new things to her arsenal. She could make a big splash in the Divas division.

As of 3/23, here were the plans for the Hall of Fame induction:
Edge inducted by Christian
The Four Horsemen inducted by Dusty Rhodes (changed from HHH/HBK)
Mike Tyson inducted by HHH/HBK (changed from Austin?)
Yokozuna inducted by Rikishi and The Usos (changed from The Rock, who could very well have overshadowed the inductee. I wonder if the Usos will get a big push coming out of that?)
Mil Mascaras inducted by Alberto Del Rio
Ron Simmons inducted by JBL

All good picks.

Bruce Prichard, Head of Talent Relations and Creative at TNA, is recovering from a pair of heart attacks last week. Very unfortunate. My thoughts are with him.

Edge gave a good interview with Between The Ropes. One last Edge/Christian match would have really been something.

Dolph Ziggler spoke as part of a promotion towards a Raw live event. Good for what it was.

Fox News did a good piece on WrestleMania, with quotes from John Cena.

Here's the 59th episode of Z! True Long Island Story. Funny stuff as always. Zack's dad is in pretty impressive shape. Big O's in the O Zone, but Zack's in the Friend Zone. The jab at Otunga was actually kind of funny. I cracked up at the Eve poster, too.

Impact drew an unimpressive 1.09 on Thursday. For a show coming off of a pretty newsworthy Victory Road, that's kind of low. It could be that people are getting their weekly wrestling fix from WWE and don't feel the need to watch TNA.

Bret Hart talked about not facing Hulk Hogan in 1993. Interesting comments!

Big Show was interviewed to hype Mania. Pretty good guy.

Kevin Nash talked about the angle he could have had in WWE in 2011. That actually sounds pretty cool, though I'm certainly not a Nash fan (it could have gotten guys like Miz, R-Truth, and Del Rio further over). WWE letting him compete before getting him thoroughly medically checked was quite foolish.

Marvel interviewed WWE's AJ on her love of comic books and wrestling. Quite entertaining as expected from her. If it's "a gimmick" like some suggest, she's very dedicated to it. (I personally believe that she legitimately likes "geeky" things given the evidence to support it).

Finally, here's more with John Cena on why he's so "kid friendly". Solid rationale.

That's it for Friday's news. More to come tonight. I should be 100% caught up by tomorrow night. Thanks for reading!