NXT live event notes, Network-Germany update, Interviews with Taz/Cabana, WWE trainer released, Smackdown audience, another WWEPC date set, and Questions on honoring Eddie, getting under the ring, why Hulkamania worked, more Network markets, and Gunner-WWE

Here's a report from NXT's recent live event:
- I'm glad Cameron's getting another chance to earn her keep as a wrestler.

- Eva Marie needs to be working with people better than her so she can improve. Or at least people with more experience.

- I'm impressed with Woods' accolades. I hope he's a hit.

WWE Network will launch in Germany on January 6. Their next big target after that is Japan.

Everything else from yesterday is after the break.

Taz talked about his career:
- I'm sure he's much happier with what he does now than at TNA.

- Taz was a really special wrestler in ECW.

- ECW was really insane in a lot of ways.

- Taz getting out of taking the business too seriously was good. I'm sure it's easy to get caught up in wins, losses, and pushes.

- Taz has wise words about the ratings.

- Taz replacing Lawler would work for me!

Colt Cabana's indie success was covered. Props to him for all he's been able to do outside WWE.

WWE has released Billy Gunn after he tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs at a bodybuilding competition. He has been a trainer in NXT and made some cameos in live events there and on Tough Enough. It's a shame his run there is over now.

Smackdown's audience this week was 2.29 million. That's better than they've done lately.

Here's a report from another NXT live event:
- I'm curious to see how the former Magno does in NXT.

- Awesome tribute from English.

There will be another all-access event at the WWE Performance Center during Royal Rumble weekend. That's pretty cool.

For my take on yesterday's PWInsider.com questions:
1. I'm going to give WWE the benefit of the doubt and say the anniversary totally slipped their minds. Either that or they don't want to draw attention to how he passed away.

2. You'd think that might be a little harder to pull off with some of the more recognizable wrestlers. I always just assumed Hornswoggle and all those little people he hangs out with lets them in for a modest fee. Or they're so intimidated by the larger wrestlers they just allow it to happen. I mean, we learned from DX there's a pretty sizable hallway area under the ring with its own court system.

3. There's not an awful lot to say to counteract the points made here. An effective hero needs dragons to slay. The better their adversaries are at looking like threats, the more it means when the hero wins. Obviously the hero still has a part to play in all this, too, so don't count out what Hogan did in his role. As for replicating Hulkamania now, I think it would take similar circumstances (a hero who's kept special and only shows up when it's a big deal). Cena's doing fine as the full-time version of that, I suppose.

4. No word on that. They're presumably focusing on more major markets for the time being.

5. He wasn't signed at that time, and there hasn't been anything about him getting another tryout. So, it's not happening in the near future.

More wrestling tomorrow.