Ziggler update, TE cast change, Smackdown dark match and segment, Raw audience, Piper update, Legends hurt, Angle update, more fallout from Brock's Cadillac attack, WWE announcer notes leak, Interview with Vince, and Questions on Divas vs. women's wrestling, WWE/WWN, Vader in the HoF, slamming Big Show, and Cena's promos

WWE.com states Dolph Ziggler is out "indefinitely" after the attack by Rusev. This would write him off if he doesn't immediately re-sign with the company.

WWE made a replacement on the Tough Enough cast, using Lance Storm trainee Chelsea Green in the place of the departing Dianna. Dianna left the show voluntarily after one of her friends was attacked at a bar they both work at. That's pretty heavy. I hope the friend comes out of that OK.

King Barrett beat Zack Ryder before Smackdown. After the show, Big Show and Seth Rollins beat up Ryback until Roman Reigns made the save to send the crowd home happy.

Everything else from yesterday is after the break.








Raw drew 3.65 million viewers this week, pretty much in line with where they were before last week's drop.

Roddy Piper has apparently been dropped from his Legends deal due to his current heat with Steve Austin. That sucks. He's a great talent. Maybe we see him as part of GFW?

Update: Some are saying this isn't true. No telling where this one's going.

Chris Jericho hurt his neck taking a dive from Neville at BitE. That sucks. I think they had a pretty good match.

Mick Foley got his teeth fixed and will be undergoing surgery next week due to one of his legs giving him trouble. It's a shame he's so beaten down these days.

Kurt Angle had the tumor removed from his neck. If he does need to recover for four weeks, it seems highly unlikely we'll see him at the next Impact Wrestling tapings. That would be unfortunate given how much stuff they're taping. He might not be on TV until October... if DA keeps Impact on the air that long.

Jamie Noble needed stitches in his back after the Brock Lesnar angle on Raw. He's been in the line of fire a lot lately.

WWE announcer notes from a few years back have leaked. Pretty interesting stuff, and I think a lot of it is good advice. Some specific notes:
- Having some topical info here and there is fine IF it adds to the story being told. A lot of times the topical references and jokes feel very shoehorned in, like they're trying too hard to show they're relevant and aware of pop culture.

- The "title changing hands" thing is silly. He's technically right, but it's dumb.

- I definitely agree about this "five-star match" verbiage. People are WWWWAAAAAYYYYYY too obsessed with that bullshit. Sadly that extends to the people in the ring. I agree that a "five-star" match is one that gets the audience really into things and keeps them coming back for more.

- If the referee's vision is impaired or blocked, he didn't see it. Also unnecessarily picky.

- Not saying "hatred" in a wrestling feud is also pretty lame.

- Sometimes a talent DOESN'T care about winning a match because it's more about destroying their opponent or something. It's a storyline and a work.

- Banning some of those words is really unnecessary, too.

- I definitely agree the announcers shouldn't be too much a part of the show. That's been a big problem lately where they're more concerned with jokes and bantering than the wrestlers.

- Announcers should be allowed to raise their voices here and there when something really serious is happening. There are reasons people preferred JR to some of the current crew.

- As part of announcers laying out and letting the wrestlers, crowd, etc.be more important sound-wise, that's why they should go back to two people on the announce team.

- I'm completely in agreement about personal issues being more important than titles. That's part of why I'm so bored with ROH's angles.

Vince McMahon talked to Muscle & Fitness. Him working out with Mark Henry would have really been something to see. He's a character.

For my take on yesterday's PWInsider.com questions:
1. "Total Divas" is on its fourth season. To say no one wants to see Divas is ridiculous. Another comment from the "bubble" of the IWC that ignores realities. They'll bring up more female NXT talents when they have a plan for them creatively. On that end, it looks like the build to Summerslam will see at least one favorite female from NXT, possibly two. I love the women's action in NXT and on the B-shows as well, but WWE makes too much money from Divas to abandon that philosophy completely.

2. That could be quite the difference-maker for both sides. It's worth noting TNA and GFW are interested in working with the group as well.

3. Pretty much what they said. They had his son under contract not too long ago. It's not like they're blacklisting him or anything. They just haven't put him in yet.

4. We've seen Big Show so much over the years, it's inevitable they'll keep doing the "can someone slam him" thing. I think it still helps get over the one doing the slamming, and I'd much rather see him being used to put people over than being a dominant monster no one can stop.

5. Not at all. His matches are much more interesting than the same promos he's done over and over.

More wrestling tomorrow.