WWE news and notes: 16th September, 2013

Ryback

• WWE Hall of Famer and current on-screen General manager for TNA, Hulk Hogan, was recently in yet another boating accident. Hogan himself broke the news over Twitter, stating the following: “How come everytime we go out on the boat someone ends up bleeding? Today both me and Dr Crespo ended up covered in blood,the windshield on my boat exploded because of the wind and speed on the water,crazy… And it wasnt the go fast Scarab,it was my slower Searay, oh well time to sadle up again brother. HH” Hogan was in a similar accident earlier this year back in May when the radiator on one of his boats “exploded” in his hand.
• Former WWE Women’s/Divas Champion Mickie James, who is currently the Knockouts Champion in TNA, is set to have her contract expire with WWE’s chief rival promotion, and it is being reported she rejected the first set of negotiations to renew her contract. As of right now, her future with TNA is uncertain. Talks of her returning to WWE have already begun surfacing on the internet, however, it is unlikely to happen. James left WWE in 2010 with bad blood being spilled on both sides, not to mention she has several enemies in WWE, including both John Cena and CM Punk, both of whom she dated at one point or another, that likely would prevent her from coming back. Plus, Vince McMahon himself is not a big fan thanks to her reportedly poor backstage attitude the last couple of years she was with the company.
• Former WWE star Zack Gowen now has a position at PWMania.com as a wrestling columnist. His debut column is available for reading now, and he talks at length about his short-yet-memorable time in WWE and pro wrestling in general.
• Dolph Ziggler defeated Dean Ambrose tonight on RAW in a non-title rematch from their US title bout at Night of Champions. As a result, Ziggler has once again earned a championship opportunity that will likely happen at the next PPV, WWE Battleground. Also on RAW, the Usos became the new #1 contenders to the WWE Tag Team titles, defeating Tons of Funk and the Real Americans in a triple threat elimination match.
• Last night at Night of Champions, Ryback helped Paul Heyman defeat CM Punk after Curtis Axel was already eliminated from the match. On RAW, Ryback was announced as the new “Paul Heyman Guy”, and this is being done in order to continue the feud between Punk and Heyman.
• Also on RAW, the Miz was involved in an injury storyline with Randy Orton. At this time, it is believed Miz will be taken off TV for a while and go back to being a heel when he returns. Vince McMahon and the creative team have reportedly given up on Miz being a face, finally realizing that the fans are just not buying into it.
• Despite winning the WWE title for a second time at Night of Champions, Daniel Bryan was stripped of the belt earlier tonight on RAW after controversy surrounding referee Scott Armstrong making a fast count at the PPV. As part of the storyline, Armstrong has been fired from WWE (he will be back in a couple of months), and there is currently no WWE Champion, making the title vacant for the first time in a few years. As another part of the storyline, several WWE faces finally stepped in at the end of RAW to prevent another beatdown on Bryan by the Shield and Orton, including Rob Van Dam, Kofi Kingston, the Usos, the Prime-Time Players and Dolph Ziggler. Ziggler is currently involved in this feud already, and a couple of these men like Kingston and RVD will likely be officially added after tonight. This also could fuel the rumors that War Games: The Match Beyond will return at Battleground.