- WWE�s Talent Relations Department has announced that Chris Kanyon has been released from his contract as of Monday, Feb. 9.
- We have just been told by several backstage sources that Ernest 'The Cat' Miller was informed of his WWE release at the SmackDown! tapings last night in Tacoma, WA. Miller had been on commentary on Velocity for several months prior to being moved to SmackDown! as a full time worker.
Miller is the latest name to join the likes of Zach Gowen and Chris Kanyon who have both been cut as well.
- In what looks to end speculation that Steve Austin will be wrestling a match at WrestleMania, WWE has officially come up with a role for Steve Austin at WrestleMania.
Stemming from the developments on RAW, the plan is currently for Steve Austin to serve as the guest referee for the Lesnar/Goldberg match at WrestleMania. This is not 100% definite, as WWE's plans do change, but this is far more than a rumor, as it is "the plan" right now.
- It was originally expected that Austin would end up working a match with Vince, but such plans were scrapped. He was also rumored for a match with Hogan, but nothing materialized on that front, and unless Hogan is signed immediately, that's not expected to happen either. Thus, the guest referee angle looks to be where WWE is headed.
- There is some discussion of re-signing Goldberg to a new contract, or at least offering him one. However, if the company does offer Goldberg a new deal, it will not even approach the money he is currently making. The company figures that Goldberg isn't going to accept less money for the same number of dates, so if they do make him an offer, it will probably be a special appearance contract that would require him to work a select number of pay-per-views per year, and make television appearances to build up to those matches.
Observers say Austin and Goldberg get along well and hang out together backstage. Austin has taught Goldberg a lot about wrestling and given Goldberg somebody he trusts behind the scenes. Austin has also helped Goldberg feel more confident about when he's being treated fairly and when he should be suspicious, a distinction he had a problem with when he didn't have anybody he felt he could rely on for the truth. Since Austin has had his differences with McMahon over the years, including times where he felt McMahon was playing head games with him, he has been able to speak from experience when helping Goldberg through the political minefield of WWE.
Credit: WrestlingAttitude.com