Next Stone Cold podcast set, NXT live event note, Interviews with Maddox/JTG, Orton injury update, big Raw sells out, WWE surveying fans on NXT vs. main roster shows, NBCU on Raw ratings, ECW name passes, and Questions on Punk's first UFC fight, Heyman returning to Creative, how Vince views NXT, and the LoN

The next Stone Cold podcast, featuring Shawn Michaels, will air immediately after TLC. That should be a good interview given the history those two share.

Here are results from a recent NXT live event. It looks like the Dawkins/Fulton split is official. I'm curious how they'll do individually. Dawkins has shown some personality that distinguishes him from Fulton.

The now-former Brad Maddox talked about getting fired from WWE:
- I wouldn't be surprised if the controversy over the line was just a justification for getting rid of someone they were going to drop anyway. I do think it's hilarious he's selling T-shirts referencing the promo.

- I think he did good things with his role on the main roster, but I can see why he wanted to wrestle after all that time in FCW.

- I wish we would have seen more of Maddox as an authority figure. God knows we got plenty of Kane, HHH, and Stephanie in the role.

- I wouldn't mind seeing him in TNA at all.

Everything else from yesterday is after the break.
The president of Full Sail University met with HHH and Stephanie McMahon recently. WWE and Full Sail have had a great partnership.

JTG talked about racism in wrestling and more. For better or worse, Cryme Tyme got a lot of mileage out of their stereotypical characters. I have a feeling characters like that wouldn't be introduced in 2015.

Randy Orton is expected to undergo neck surgery after recovering from shoulder surgery. So he could be out for a while. He's had a number of bad breaks in his career. I hope he's still able to contribute in important ways when he recovers.

The Raw taping for the day after WM32 has officially sold out. That should be a wild night.

WWE sent out a survey to select members of their mailing list to compare what they think about NXT and the main roster shows. I'm intrigued to see what that leads to, if anything.

NBC Universal responded to a New York Post piece about WWE's ratings. Ratings for TV in general are down, and WWE's still an important contributor for NBCU.

ECW original Hack Meyers has passed away just shy of turning 42 due to complications from recent brain surgery. That's sad to hear. Thoughts are with his family, friends, and fans at this time.

For my take on yesterday's PWInsider.com questions:
1. I think it does set Punk off as a "sideshow" attraction to the rest of UFC, kind of like a celebrity bout or part-timers' match at WrestleMania. They definitely want to match Punk off with someone of similar skill and experience. In a way, this helps build more interest for his first fight and could potentially be a springboard for Punk AND his opponent if it goes well. We'll see.

2. I don't see either side wanting to deal with those headaches. If Heyman didn't have to deal with the WWE "suits" influencing his creative decisions, MAYBE he'd consider it. I think he's much happier doing what he does now and also doing his side projects like Heyman Hustle.

3. They definitely see it as a different product for a different audience than what we see on the main WWE shows.

4. This kind of attitude is why WWE doesn't try to appease the IWC. Even when they do try to shake things up with a new heel faction, people try to shoot it down before it even gets going. People complained guys like Rusev, Del Rio, and Barrett weren't doing anything, and now that WWE is addressing that, people still complain.

Nothing to add to 5, other than an E-C-Dub chant I guess.

More wrestling tomorrow.