Interviews with Booker/Cole/Ambrose, more Network expansion, lucha star remembered, TNA touring updates, Impact main event, TNA return update, new TNA producer, WWE special changing?, WM press, another big Mania entrance, Diva returns, WM31 music, TNA audience, and Questions on Brock's contract, the NXT Tag Champs, Zayn, replacing Dunn, and WWE grudges

Booker T. talked about the Invasion, facing HHH, and more:
- I think people really underestimate just what it would have taken to make the Invasion angle work the way fantasy bookers want it to have worked. People were being paid quite a bit of money to sit at home and recover from nagging injuries, burnout, and such. I can't say I disagree with why WWF went about it the way they did.

- People are definitely still upset about WM19. It would have been one hell of a moment for Booker to win there.

- I think King Booker was the most successful he's ever been.

- I'm split on Booker's work in TNA. It felt like the inmates ran the asylum during that time.

- I do think TNA has lacked direction at times with the seemingly constant reboots.

- I agree Joe needs to earn his stripes in WWE. Remember most of the audience doesn't know him.

- I'm very glad Sting gets to have a big moment at WrestleMania. He's earned it.

Everything else from yesterday is after the break.
WWE Network is launching in the Middle East before WM31. It's amazing they're able to get in so many countries.

A number of wrestling personalities tweeted about the passing of Hijo del Perro Aguayo, including Triple H and Stephanie McMahon. I'm glad he's being acknowledged. It doesn't get much more tragic than his circumstance.

TNA hasn't yet committed to bringing back live events. I'm interested to see what kind of attendance they can pull in 2015. Of note, it's been more than seven months since their last live event.

James Storm vs. Jeff Hardy in a steel cage will headline this week's Impact Wrestling. That should be pretty big!

Homicide will be undergoing surgery April 7. I'm unsure how long he'll be working in TNA, but I'm glad we're seeing him again.

Hurricane Helms worked as a producer at the most recent Impact tapings. That's probably a pretty good role for him.

WWE is set to move the Slammys to the first quarter of the year to align with other awards ceremonies. Meh. 

Michael Cole talked to SI about a number of WWE topics:
- Interesting thoughts about it being easier to call WM31 than when he has to push Twitter.

- I definitely think it works better for there to be a loose guideline of things, with people interacting naturally instead of planning everything out for commentary.

- He's right about never being able to please everyone on commentary.

- There are way too many voices involved in the commentary process. No one can listen to all of them perfectly.

- Interesting stuff about different people he's worked with in the booth.

- He's right about the product not being about the announcers. I feel like a lot of announcers try to get themselves over to a degree and it distracts from the in-ring action.

- I might be the only one who really enjoyed Heel Cole. He fit the role pretty well, and is easy to hate at times, especially since fans see him as replacing JR.

- I bet it is insanely tiring to do what the commentators do every week.

- It's easy to forget the toil those big news stories take on the people covering them.

- Being "on" all the time and getting so little sleep has got to have some really bad effects on Cole and others.

- Stone Cold vs. Brock would have been HUGE. I would have loved to have seen it. I also would have loved to have seen Cole call Mike Adamle vs. Tazz, but for a different reason.

NY Daily News looked at the original WrestleMania. A pretty cool look at the past and how big of a deal that show was.

WWE is making shirts for surf and skate shops around the country. I'm curious to see how that does. I definitely think it's smart to reach out to other demographics beyond just "wrestling fans".

Triple H's WM31 entrance will involve clips from the upcoming "Terminator" movie, in part of a new advertising deal for WWE. I really want to see HHH come to the ring with Terminators now...

Layla El has returned to the ring for WWE following a surgery. It's a shame her career has been negatively affected by lengthy absences. I really liked what she started to show post-LayCool.

Dean Ambrose talked about Roman Reigns backlash and more:

- He's definitely his own animal from a mental standpoint. Very dedicated. Maybe even obsessive.

- Being beloved on the indie scene is very different from being a mainstream favorite.

- Pretty interesting stuff about Roman. I pretty much agree.

A musical performance is set for WM31 with Travis Barker, Kid Ink, David Guetta, and Skylar Grey. I wonder how many people Vince is familiar with.

ESPN will do an E:60 going behind the curtain of WWE. I think they do great work.

TNA's audience Friday night was 403,000 viewers, with an additional 143,000 watching the replay. So, the audience grew, and some people might have gone from watching the replay to seeing the first airing. The audience jumping for Angle vs. Lashley is great, because that was a really good show overall.

For my take on yesterday's PWInsider.com questions:
1. There's no evidence it's a work, so there's no reason to assume that's the case. That's an insane amount of covering up to do to try to trick fans at WWE's own expense. And wouldn't Dana have to be in on it? I don't see that happening.

2. I think they're both too early in their careers to make much of a judgment call. They've got quite a ways to go before they should be considered for the main roster. I like them OK so far, but WWE shouldn't be thinking of promoting them any time soon.

3. Talk about terrible timing. He absolutely should be getting called up in the next few months, but that shoulder injury has derailed whatever they were planning for him. So, it looks like he'll be staying at the NXT level for now.

4. It's also possible WWE tries to hire some people with a lot TV experience from outside the company, like picking up Jane Geddes to work in talent relations. You never know with them. Vince is pretty difficult to please, and difficult to predict to boot!

5. It will take time for those names to be on good terms with WWE again, just like it took time for the other names mentioned. Being on the road wrestling full-time burns out people on both sides of the curtain, and can easily lead to strained relationships.

More wrestling tomorrow.