source: prowrestling.net

As noted earlier, Shawn Daivari (a.k.a. Sheik Abdul Bashir) lost the “Feast or Fired Match” at Final Resolution because he was legitimately leaving TNA. Original plans called for Daivari and Cody Deaner to simultaneously grab the briefcase containing the pink slip with Daivari beating Deaner in a “Loser Leaves TNA Match” on an upcoming episode of iMPACT!. However, booking plans changed because Daivari had asked for his release.

Reportedly, he was upset because TNA’s Director of Talent Relations, Terry Taylor, told him that creative didn’t have any significant plans for him. He was subsequently asked to take a significant cut in pay from the rumored six-figure per year contract he inked over the summer. The ten-year veteran was offended by the request and opted to ask for his release rather than take the pay cut. The former “Red Rooster” obliged his request and the booking plan was changed as a result.

As far as Deaner is concerned, his future with the organization appears to be in doubt considering TNA originally planned on having him lose the match. Sources have indicated that Hulk Hogan feels Deaner’s gimmick makes the company look “low budget.”

See *NEW* photos of Abyss unmasked (eek) ->

source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter

Former WWE performer Dwayne Johnson was asked to guest host next week’s episode of Monday Night Raw, but he will be in Mexico this coming Sunday and Monday promoting the much anticipated release of Tooth Fairy, which comes out the following week.

For the first time in a few years, the former WWE Champion is being billed as Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson rather than simply Dwayne Johnson. He claims he’s not going back to the name, but because there is a line in the promotional trailers saying, “Get ready to get rocked,” 20th Century Fox is using “The Rock” name as a play on words. He said it doesn’t matter — to him — whether “The Rock” name is used or not.

Johnson will be appearing on a number television shows and networks over the next few weeks including The Jay Leno Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Late Show with David Letterman, Live with Regis and Kelly, Good Morning America, Today, ESPN, BET and the NFL Network. He will also be appearing on the cover of an upcoming issue of Muscle & Fitness.

Too bad Stephanie McMahon doesn’t run Hollywood ->

— Mickie James is today’s “Daily Diva” on WWE.com while Trent Baretta is the “Superstar of the Day.”

— WWE announced yesterday that Jerry Springer will host the February 15, 2010 edition of Monday Night Raw. The company website is teasing his appearance with the following: “What does Springer have in store for the WWE Universe?”

— After numerous years in WWE’s developmental system, Ryan Reeves participated in his first dark match before last night’s Raw telecast. Going under the name Skip Sheffield, he defeated Chavo Guerrero. Reeves, who has undertaken a cowboy persona, cut a promo before his match about being from the South. He got the crowd to chant “yip yip yip” with him, which is something he does at Florida Championship Wrestling live events.

After being one of the eight finalists on WWE’s fourth installment of Tough Enough, Reeves was signed to a developmental contract. He spent time in Ohio Valley Wrestling and Deep South Wrestling from 2005 to 2007 before being released in January of the latter year. Reeves later returned to OVW and managed to score a second developmental contract with WWE following a September 2008 tryout.

He initially debuted in FCW with a Terminator-esque character he developed called Ryback, but adopted the Skip Sheffield persona this past fall.

See video of Skip Sheffield ->

TNA President Dixie Carter was interviewed for the latest issue of the UK’s Fighting Spirit Magazine. Carter spoke at length about Hulk Hogan’s new role in TNA, where she sees the company going and more. Here’s what she said about:

Dealing with Big Egos In TNA: “To me, it’s not hard at all I feel if you treat somebody with respect, that’s the only way you can win it back. If you work hard, that’s the way to expect other people to work hard. I don’t have tiered systems of how I treat different people, I treat everyone as the same. don’t care if you’re Kurt Angle or the newest guy on the roster, you’re gonna be treated with the same level of respect, and I expect that back. To me, that’s the easiest way to keep individual egos in check, because I’m not playing a game with different people or favouritism.”

Her Leadership Style vs. Vince McMahon’s: “I have a philosophy and it may not be right, but I feel that if people are happy personally, they’ll work harder for you than if you motivate them through fear. I want to make TNA a place where they bring their families, where their wives are welcome, where their husbands are welcome, where their children are. It creates a different type of atmosphere backstage, but it creates a place where we are all in this for the same goal.”

** VIDEO: Bobby Lashley’s Saturday Night MMA Opponent Threatens To Use The Hogan Legdrop On Him!

JIM CORNETTE LOOKS AT THE TNA MONTREAL SCREWJOB ANGLE THIS WEEK ON WHO’S SLAMMING WHO

This week on Who’s Slamming Who, Tommy Fierro and Brian Solomon look at the passing of Jack Brisco, Edge winning the Royal Rumble, Bret Hart/Vince McMahon angle from Monday’s RAW, looking at the Raw and Smackdown (Spoilers) Elimination Chamber matches for the next PPV, Chris Jericho winning the title and wrestling Edge at WrestleMania, whether or not Sheamus will go into WrestleMania as the champion, Joey Mercury resigning with WWE and what his gimmick is rumored to be, HHH vs. HBK at WrestleMania, possible reason why Batista was inserted into Vince/Bret angle on Monday, ROH suing Ric Flair, Chris Jericho/Gregory Helms TMZ fiasco, info on WrestleMania 27, Vince McMahon announcing the end of ECW in three weeks on last night’s ECW, Tommy Dreamer & Taz responds to ECW shutting down, WWE NXT, WWE 24/7 news, first name announced for 2010 WWE Hall of Fame, news coming out of Hulk Hogan & Eric Bischoff’s State of the TNA Address on Bubba The Love Sponge, and much more.

This week on Cornette’s Commentary, Jim Cornette takes a look back at the late great Jack Brisco, talks about the TNA/Bret Hart angle with Kurt Angle, tons of ROH news, whether or not Marty Jannetty gets the credit he deserves for the success of The Rockers, The Sheepherders run in WWF as The Bushwhackers, his favorite memories of Chris Candido in SMW, and more. Also anyone out there that is good with website hosting/designing, Jim talks about how you have a chance to work with him on a new project he’s working on.

Plus all new exclusive segments this week on Who’s Slamming Who with Kenny Bolin, “The Genius” Lanny Poffo, Pro Wrestling Illustrated, Joe “The Assassin” Hamilton, Bill Behrens, Evan Ginzburg, Michael Modest, The History of WWE, RF Video, and more.

Listen to the show now at: WhosSlammingWho.podomatic.com

sources: PWInsider.com, Wrestling Observer Newsletter

— WWE has reportedly purchased the Ultimate Pro Wrestling video library.

The California-based UPW — which is now defunct — was often used as a training ground for prospective wrestling talent as it was stepping stone in the development of many past and present mainstream performers including John Cena, Samoa Joe, Chris Masters, Tara (a/k/a Victoria), Christopher Daniels, Jon Heidenreich, The Miz, Melina, Sim Snuka, Mike Knox, SoCal Val and ECW’s formerly infrequently seen backstage announcer Lena Yada.

— Vince McMahon was reportedly pleased with Daniel Bryan’s performance on last night’s premiere episode of WWE NXT as he felt they made him “a star” in one night as a result of his interaction with The Miz and match with Chris Jericho.

— The final episode of ECW drew a 1.14 cable rating with 1.45 million viewers, up from its final weeks.

How short is Daniel Bryan? See pics of him standing next to The Miz ->