U.S. WWE News(January 14, 2011)(HBK, UT, HHH, Hall of Fame)

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From ProWrestling.com
Date Added: January 14, 2011
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Spoiler: Latest on The Undertaker and WrestleMania 27

Story By: Steve Carrier
- The Undertaker was backstage at Tuesday's WWE SmackDown tapings in Alabama and surprised most people when he entered the backstage area.

Taker was mainly there to visit with Michelle McCool but also was there to watch the angle where Heath Slater, Justin Gabriel and Ezekiel Jackson joined Wade Barrett in a new Nexus faction.

Both Jackson and Barrett have been talked about as possible WrestleMania 27 opponents for Taker, with Kane being a candidate also. Jackson and Barrett are likely opponents if due to his health, Taker can't perform like he has in recent years with Shawn Michaels.

The idea would be to put Taker into a match where he keeps his streak in tact but not one where they would attempt to outdo his past two WrestleMania matches.
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HHH Discusses WWE Return, State of the WWE Locker Room

Story By: Steve Carrier
- The February 2011 issue of WWE Magazine features Triple H on the cover and talks about his return to WWE TV, focuses on him being a headliner at WrestleMania 27. Here are some highlights:

HHH on top guys leaving and new guys stepping up, and whether it affects him:
"It does. I'd been in the ring a million times with a lot of the guys who left. Now, when you look at Wade Barrett or The Miz, these are guys that I've never been in the ring with. Do I know them? Sure, I see them all the time, but from an in-ring standpoint, I just know them the way everybody else knows them. I've never had my hands on them."

His upcoming return:
"If I can't do this the way I feel like I should be able to, then I want to be done. And I don't want to come back here and tarnish that. I don't want to do the nostalgia run where I come out and say I'm the greatest in the world."

Wanting to be that guy:
"There was a time when I would have argued that I was the best in the business. When I don't feel like I can perform at that level, I don't want to do it anymore. I don't want to be just a guy in the ring. I want to be the guy in the ring."

How his next run will differ from his previous runs:
"In the past, my goal was just becoming WWE champion or World Hvt. champion. But, there's a certain time when you get beyond that. Shawn moved beyond that... I don't have to be contending for a championship. Undertaker doesn't have to be in contention. We've moved beyond needing a title to prove that we're the best. That's where I am now. (John) Cena will eventually be there."

Triple H went on to talk about how he and The Undertaker are the last two veterans left in the WWE locker room. He mentioned how there were "20 veterans and three green guys" when he started and "now, you walk into our locker room and there are 30 green guys and two veterans."
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Latest on Plans for WWE's 2011 Hall of Fame, More

Story By: Marc Middleton
- WWE Hall of Famer Antonio Inoki underwent surgery on January 5th for stones in his gall bladder. He's recovering well but won't be out of the hospital until January 17th.

- Based on recent talks within WWE, other names considered for this year's Hall of Fame class include Arn Anderson, Dean Malenko, Lex Luger, Ron Simmons, Madusa and The Honky Tonk Man, who turned it down last year because he had a prior commitment that paid better.

Vince McMahon has wanted Ted Turner to be inducted, for the publicity value, but Turner accepting the induction isn't likely.

WWE officials will make a push for Sting to be inducted if he doesn't re-sign with TNA but he's expected to stick around for another year. Another name talked about is Bill Goldberg, as noted before.
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Evaluating WWE Rookies at FCW, WWE Hall of Fame, More

Story By: Steve Carrier
Jim Ross is back with another blog over on jrsbarbq.com. Here are some of the highlights:

- Good to visit w/ Arn Anderson Wednesday in Tampa @ FCW. I hope the trainees learned some useful info as both Double A and I enjoy interacting w/ the rookies. Thursday night FCW will tape three, one hour TV shows.

The rookies are evaluated daily which is why it's imperative that they come to work each day and give 100% of themselves mentally and physically. I've encouraged them all to read plenty of wrestling books and self help/financial books. Financial planning is so important for individuals who potentially have shorter 'shelf lives' than those in other vocations.

- Yes, my wife and I plan on being in Atlanta for WM27 but I have no plans at this time in doing any broadcasting. However, I wouldn't miss HBK being inducted in the WWE HOF for any thing. Plus, it will be fun to attend an event in the Georgia Dome where I used to broadcast Atlanta Falcons football.

- I'm not in the SD vs Raw video game but am in the upcoming WWE All Star video game that will be released the Tuesday of WM27 week. I hope everyone buys it as 'baby needs new shoes.' It was a blast to do. Old school mixed w/ new school.

- I have no idea who will induct HBK into the WWE HOF. HHH would do a great job IMO. So would Ric Flair among many other notable individuals. It's Shawn's call as it should be.
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Former WWE Star Rips Shawn Michaels, Jericho Comment

Story By: Marc Middleton
- Former WWE star Gregory Helms, who ripped Shawn Michaels on Twitter a few months back, had more comments against Shawn this week after his Hall of Fame induction.

Helms wrote: "The HOF is great but I take more pride & comfort in the fact that I've never "screwjobbed" ANYONE in life or the biz! $$$ isn't everything."

Later, Chris Jericho wrote that Shawn was the greatest performer of all-time. Helms re-tweeted Jericho's message and added his opinion: "BS! Flair did more & got more people over.

Helms then wrote another message, which sounds like it was directed at Jericho: "If u got something to say, say it public. Enough ass-kissing. He wasn't the greatest when he was cussing u out in catering."

Helms continued to rant:

"Flair got over people that absolutely SUCKED!! Shawn hadn't gotten over anyone but himself in the last decade!!

I'm sorry being honest comes off bad on Twitter, I'm not hating, I'm stating FACTS!! Facts that I would swear by on my life.

And wearing a cross doesn't make u right. Hitler wore one too! Don't be FOOLED by a TV persona!! I'm always honest. NO ONE can accuse me."
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Tough Enough at WrestleMania?, WWE Hires Shrink, More

Story By: Marc Middleton
Source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter

- WWE has hired Dr. Mark Unterberg as their new psychiatrist. He is currently the team psychiatrist for the Dallas Cowboys and involved in the NFL Players Program of Substance Abuse.

- WWE has been wanting Michael Cole to learn to take bumps for his RAW dark main events where he has been acting as special referee.

- WWE is planning to introduce the cast of Tough Enough either at WrestleMania or RAW the next night to hype the show's return.