The following news comes from Wrestling Observer ProWrestling Insider,
Prowrestling.com

*News updated 12/01/08
-SLAM! Wrestling has an interview with Raw wrestler Charlie Haas. He told them WWE Vice President of Talent Relations John Laurinaitis pitched the idea for his impersonator character. "John Laurinaitis came up with the (character) idea and it got relayed to the writers," Haas said. Haas said the character has helped him focus on the sports entertainment side of the wrestling business. "I came to realize that it's not all about wrestle, wrestle, wrestle," Haas said. "It's about the entertainment. I looked at people like JBL and how long it took him to develop the JBL character. I never gave up, I knew I would succeed."
For the first time, Haas publicly commented on being named by Sports Illustrated in the mail-order performance enhancing drug scandal. An article on their website on August 30, 2007 named Haas as one of 10 WWE Superstars found to have purchased illegal steroids not in compliance with WWE's Talent Wellness program (alongside Randy Orton, Mr. Kennedy, John Morrison, Edge, Chavo Guerrero, Gregory Helms, Umaga, William Regal and Funaki). Haas was allegedly prescribed anastrozole (used to ward off breast tissue following a steroid cycle), somatropin (Growth hormone), stanozolol (anabolic steroid), nandrolone (anabolic steroid), and chorionic gonadotropin (protein hormones) between August 2006 and January 2007. Haas claims he thought it was legal, and he was doing it for "maintenance" after he had both his knees reconstructed.
"I got caught up in it. I thought I was doing something legal. I'd had both my knees reconstructed. I was doing it for maintenance," Haas said. "I'm not going to lie about it. I'm not proud of what I did and I have to live with it. It was wrong, a mistake that I made. I thought I was doing something to surpass the pain. But what I was doing was hurting myself. And it was embarrassing to my family and to the company.
"Since then, I've really gotten into sports nutrition (with Jackie, he opened Custom Muscle Nutrition and Smoothie Shop, a nutritional store in Frisco, Texas). Kids have to realize if you're weaker or smaller, they shouldn't take steroids to get stronger and bigger. Just eat right. It can be done right. There's no better nutrition than food."
-Rey Mysterio is still negotiating a new contract with WWE, reports prowrestling.NET. His current contract expires next spring. Mysterio appeared to be on the verge of signing a new deal a few weeks ago, but there are still problems regarding merchandising and other issues. WWE is looking to sign Mysterio to a five-year deal, but he only wants a three-year contract. Officials generally like to re-sign their wrestlers a year before their contracts expire.
-- The Raw section on WWE.com has a poll asking fans who they would rather see run Raw - Stephanie or Shane McMahon? Stephanie leads the poll over Shane with a 54% vote total to his 46%. Thus far, over 148,000 people have cast votes on the poll. Last Monday on Raw, Stephanie adamantly informed her brother that she's running things, not him.
-Mr. Kennedy appeared on the Live Audio Wrestling show this past Sunday to comment on his recent injury, his suspension last year following a violation of WWE's Wellness Policy, as well as his starring role in the upcoming movie "Behind Enemy Lines 3."
Kennedy commented on his latest injury, which he suffered during a match with Shelton Benjamin this past August. "We were basically side to side and he hit his finisher and our bodies got kind of caught between each other and I couldn't move my arm," Kennedy said. "I hit the mat on my chest and my arm was stretched across my chest, so I hit elbow-first and it just popped my arm right out of its socket. That was the most painful thing I've ever gone through in my life."
Kennedy said his arm still needs time to heal, but he hopes to be back in the ring as soon as possible. "The date that Dr. Andrews gave the office for my return date, was February 28. I could come back sooner, or I could come back later," Kennedy said.
Kennedy once again commented on the whole Signature Pharmacy mess, which resulted in a suspension from WWE last year. "I just learned to basically shut my mouth about stuff. It seemed as though any time I would turn around and say something, well they would analyze that stuff and say 'he did this, this, this and this.' I'd be reading about it at home and be like 'no, that's not right,' Kennedy said. "When they asked me if I took steroids and I said no, I didn't at the time. The thing is, my doctor was getting the stuff from Signature Pharmacy. I never once went to an Internet website and ordered any of that stuff."
Kennedy also feels newcomers don't need to take steroids to get ahead in the wrestling business. "In this day and age, in the business, you don't need stuff like that," Kennedy said. "People think that by taking steroids, you instantly turn into the incredible hulk and you beat women and children and rage and throw stuff around and kill your family members."
Lastly, Kennedy said it's a lot easier being a heel as opposed to a babyface. "I find that it's easier to get somebody to boo you than it is to get somebody to cheer you," Kennedy said. "Some of my best stuff was actually down in OVW, under Paul Heyman's direction. I'd love to go back to being a heel. I would like to be a babyface some day."
-- SmackDown wrestler Hurricane Helms got a huge tattoo on his back reading "Helms."
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