WWE’s stock closed today at $9.31 and during the day the stock dropped as low as $9.24. In all the stock has dropped 24% since Monday, and like many others, WWE is feeling the pain on Wall Street. It’s going to be very interesting when they try to explain this to their investors during the next conference call. There will be some heated callers, trust me.

Dustin ‘Goldust’ Runnels is returning to World Wrestling Entertainment as he has signed his contract. Runnels recently faxed his signed contract to officials. He has not been given a start date, but is expected to end up on the Raw brand. Head Raw writer Brian Gewirtz is pushing for him the most as he’s always been a fan of the Goldust character. Upon his return, he will likely play a comedic role rather than a risque/serious one.

A few WWE & TNA stars are scheduled to appear on the same show for the retirement of Abdullah The Butcher, which will be held by the World Wrestling Council on December 13 in Bayamon, Puerto Rico at the Ruben Rodriguez Coliseum. WWE wrestlers Carlito and Primo are scheduled to appear, as are TNA’s Team 3D. Other wrestlers scheduled to appear include Sabu, Balls Mahoney, and Steve Corino. For more information on the show, check out www.SuperEstrellasWWC.com. WWC is owned by Carlos Colon, father of Carlito and Primo, which explains why they’re allowed to appear at the show.

» Ring of Honor announced an agreement with DirecTV on Thursday. The satellite company will begin carrying ROH pay-per-views in early 2009. The “Rising Above” show with Bryan Danielson vs. Nigel McGuinness will be the first pay-per-view shown. Meanwhile, DirecTV will also feature ROH Classics via their on demand service. To read the full press release, visit ROHwrestling.com.

» Speaking of ROH, the company has also has introduced a new subscription service that allows buyers to receive a discount on DVDs by ilkbatches of 6 ($119.95), 10 ($189.95) or 20 ($339.35) in advance.

» Did you guys know that Dolph Ziggler is dating a current WWE Diva (photos of the two). Maria has a HOT younger sister (pics), Jake Roberts has false teeth and we have pics of Jake himself holding them in his hands. The Great Khali has a super-HOT wife? How about MVP’s prison mugshot - ever seen it?, plus Stacy Keibler & her boyfriend clubbing + drinking and Christy Hemme working as a nude stripper before debuting in WWE and TNA. Check out these pics at http://www.thewrestlinganswer.com/specials/

» WWE.com features an article about former diva Trish Stratus, who left the company over 2 years ago to pursue life outside of the squared circle. The article notes that Trish recently completed filming for her reality TV travel show, “Stratusphere,” which currently airs in Canada on the Travel + Escape channel on Monday nights at 9:00 p.m. EST. As for plans to return to the ring, Trish told WWE.com that the door is always open for a return: “I’ve heard that Beth Phoenix and this new Diva Natalya have talked [trash] about me,” says Stratus with a gleam in her penetrating eyes. “I’ve said it before, but if they ever decided to call me out, I wouldn’t hesitate to step into the ring.”

» Speaking of Trish, she is also up for Canada’s Gemini award for “Hottest Canadian Female TV star.” The ceremony takes place November 28 and you can vote for Trish now at GeminiAwards.ca.

Seven-time WWE Women’s Champion Trish Stratus now has an account on the WWE Universe site. It’s legit as her page is linked at the tail end of the “Superstars Profile” bar on the front page of the WWE Universe site site. You can visit Mrs. Stratus’ page at fans.wwe.com/trishstratus.

Regarding WWE’s recent crackdown of marijuana use, this has frustrated a number of wrestlers. Some are telling friends they will continue to smoke pot in spite of the crackdown. Others predict those recently approached by management regarding their habit will replace it with alcohol. As noted earlier, Brian Kendrick in particular has failed for pot 12 times, with his push leveling off as a result.

Kurt Angle, Kevin Nash, The Motor City Machineguns and Team 3D will all be appearing on the January 4th, 2009 Tokyo Dome event, which is being promoted by New Japan Pro Wrestling.

Lena Yada has issued a statement regarding her recent release from World Wrestling Entertainment. As it turns out, she was in the hospital visiting her sick father when she was informed of her dismissal from the company two Mondays ago. The WWE site a did a story on her father this past year, who is currently suffering from sarcoidosis, an immune system disorder that manifests as a restrictive disease in the lungs. Her father was sick this time a year ago as well, and almost prevented her from accepting WWE’s contract offer because she’d have to go on the road. Yada admits to seeing her release from the company coming. It’s still up in the air whether she’ll continue her career in professional wrestling. Yada posted the message at the www.Unique-Divas.com forum. Yada registered on the site when she was involved in the Diva Search contest last year, and would occasionally post during her time in WWE. Here is her message in its entirety:

So I guess its time i made a statement

Love and Aloha,
Lena

The Bella Twins are getting some more pub as they’re profiled on The Sun website today. In the article, the duo is dubbed as an “internet sensation,” apparently in light of their No. 1 search ranking on Yahoo.com today.

MMAScoops.com is reporting that top welterweight contender Jon Fitch and well as several other fighters have reportedly been released from their UFC fight contracts Wednesday over failed negotiations with the UFC regarding contracts pertaining to lifetime name and likeness rights for future UFC video games. MMAScoops.com is reporting that other fighters who have yet to sign the contracts, including welterweight Josh Koscheck and heavyweight prospect Cain Velasquez, may also be released from their fight contracts in the following days.

“We’re looking for guys who want to work with us and not against us, and frankly I’m just so [expletive] sick of this [expletive] it’s not even funny” UFC president Dana White was quoted as saying. “Affliction is still out there trying to build it’s company. Let [Fitch] go work with them. Let him see what he thinks of those [expletives]. [Expletive] him. These guys aren’t partners with us. [Expletive] them. All of them, every last [expletive] one of them…. I’m not a douche bag and I do a lot for these guys, a lot more than any of you will ever know. We’re in a horrible time in the economy now, and every guy with two nickels to rub together is making a run at us. We’ve worked too hard, given too much, to let certain guys come in and [expletive] with that.”

While full details have yet to become available about the situation, these certainly seem like strong words considering that Mr. White is referring to some of the top fighters in the world and in the UFC. The loss of Fitch and possibly Koscheck is certain to be a severe blow to the UFC welterweight division, not to mention that Affliction could finally be able to put a little power into one of their weakest divisions.

For more great exclusive UFC coverage like what you just read above including a FREE video of the entire Brock Lesnar vs. Randy Couture fight, visit our UFC website only at MMAScoops.com.

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WWE.com has an article acknowledging a packaging snafu regarding the forthcoming release of The History of the Intercontinental Championship. There is a booklet in the DVD set displaying a collage of former Intercontinental Champions. However, a wrestler who never held the belt is featured in the collage. The mystery man is Buddy Roberts of the Fabulous Freebirds tag team. The WWE Home Video staff mistakenly thought it was Pat Patterson, the first Intercontinental Champion. The snafu was discovered after the first set of DVDs were done, but they’re releasing them anyway, making it somewhat of a collector’s item. WWE has plans to release a second edition of the DVD featuring a revised booklet with Patterson’s photo in place.

Yesterday, WWE stock hit a three-year low, closing at $10.33 per share after opening the day at $11.71. It opened today at $10.16 and is currently at $9.96 per share. At one point today, it was at $9.69, setting a new 52-week low. As recently as this year, WWE stock sold for $19.86 per share.

Matt Hardy has posted a blog regarding his arrival on the WWE Universe site. You can read his message at fans.wwe.com.

Here is this week’s Billboard Recreational Sports DVD top ten list:

1. WWE: Hell In A Cell
2. WWE: No Mercy 2008
3. 2001 FedEx Orange Bowl National Championship
4. NFL History of the Cleveland B
5. NFL: Pittsburgh Steelers 5 Greatest Games
6. Beijing 2008 Olympics Opening Ceremony
7. NHL: Sidney Crosby: On The Ice And Beyond
8. NFL: Washington Redskins: Super Bowl Champions
9. WWE: The Rock: The Most Electrifying Man In Sports Entertainment
10. Pride Fighting Championships: Total Elimination 2006

Last night’s episode of TMZ had a brief segment on Randy Savage’s appearance at the movie premiere of Bolt this past week. One person held up a photo of Savage at the event and asked people to guess who it is. They couldn’t, and the person then held up a mid-Nineties photo of Savage to their shock.

Bret Hart made an appearance yesterday in Orlando, Florida as part of his U.S. book signing tour.

Reader “Degenerate” sent in word that technology blog TechCrunch.com features an article about the new WWE Universe social network. The writers don’t give WWE or the new social network much respect, mocking them throughout the piece. They write, “Just because Mark Henry is the ‘world’s strongest man’ doesn’t mean he doesn’t cry at night when all he has to keep him company is his pit bull, Theodore, and a can of beans. Or Zack Ryder. The poor guy might be a tag team champion, but when he goes home all he has to look forward to are watering his plants and watching reruns of Smackdown with his cat, Fluffy. Be friends with them. Don’t block them out of your life. They need you.”

WWE has released the cover art for the upcoming Starrcade: The Essential Collection DVD set, which is set to be released in January. Sting, Ric Flair and Dusty Rhodes are featured on the cover of the DVD. The DVD set counts down the top 25 matches in Starrcade history, as voted on by the fans. The matches are currently airing on WWE 24/7 by the way. The DVD set also features a documentary on Starrcade.

Lance Storm discusses Brock Lesnar’s Title Victory and the fact that he feels TNA in finally on the right track in his latest commentaries. They can be read at StormWrestling.com.

CableFAX named Chief Executive Officer of World Wrestling Entertainment Linda McMahon in their “Top 50 Most Powerful Women in Cable.” McMahon was ranked No. 43.

Reid Flair, who has been training with his father and George South has been sent to train with former NWA World Champion Harley Race at his WLW Wrestling Academy. Flair will be training there through the end of the month as he prepares for his debut match next month. Ricky Steamboat Jr. as well as Joe and Amy Hennig have spent time in Race’s academy as well.

There will be two preemptions for WWE Smackdown this week:

*Chicago, IL (WPWR): Nov. 21, 10pm-12am
*Lafayette, LA (KLAF): Nov. 21, 9:30pm-11:30 pm

WWE announced today that the recently-concluded European Tour in November grossed $15.1 million with sell-outs in the U.K., France, and Germany. This was the highest grossing international tour in WWE history, breaking the previous record of $14.5 million from WWE’s last European tour in April of this year. I posted the press release a little bit ago here on the site.

WWE Hall of Famer Bret “The Hitman” Hart is featured on the main page of TMZ.com. TMZ cameras caught Bret in Washington D.C. yesterday and asked him if he’s still “The best there is, the best there was and the best there ever will be.” TMZ calls Bret’s response “depressing”.

As reported earlier tonight, a video recently surfaced online of WWE Hall of Famer “Rowdy” Roddy Piper smoking marijuana from a bong in front of a crowd. TMZ.com has an article (and video) on the situation, which you can check out at the following TMZ.com. The incident took place this past August at the Gathering of the Juggalos — an Insane Clown Posse fan festival. Regarding the incident, Piper issued the following statement to TMZ: “I am not an advocate of using drugs, however due to the lack of appropriate medicine, this alternative treatment was recommended to alleviate the symptoms associated with cancer.” Piper was diagnosed with cancer in November 2006. Last nights episode of TMZ featured a segment on the story, which included footage of Piper wrestling Hollywood Hogan at WCW Starrcade 1996. In the segment, the TMZ narrator questioned Piper’s decision to smoke weed passed on from someone who’s obviously not a doctor after running his statement on it being medical. They lampooned Piper’s “medical excuse” more by running down the excuses Arnold Schwarzenegger, Snoop Dogg and Woody Harrelson likely would have used in order to smoke pot.

WWE.com currently has a video up of Charlie Haas playing Freebird Michael “P.S.” Hayes. It also includes a backstage meeting of Haas and Hayes.

According to the The Milton Canadian Champion’s website, former WWE performer Tiger Ali Singh is making a comeback to the wrestling business for the HUSTLE promotion in Japan. Even though he once filed a lawsuit against WWE, he speaks kindly of his run with the company.

WWE.com has a “Where are they now” article on former AWA Champion Rick Martel.

Scott Steiner is scheduled to sign autographs at the New York Comic Con this February at the Jacob Javits Center in NYC.

Yesterday, the Bella Twins and Batista were both at one point #1 on Yahoo’s daily search.