Lashley’s MMA Debut This Weekend, Snitsky/WWE, New Talent, More

Former WWE Superstar Bobby Lashley will make his Mixed Martial Arts debut this Saturday night in the Mixed Fighting Alliance show at the American Airlines Arena in Miami. Lashley will face Joshua Franklin, a fellow MMA rookie. “It wasn’t only about the money in the WWE, I enjoyed the crowds,” Lashley told Sun-Sentinel.com. “I know what people are saying. I think I lost some of my credibility as a fighter, wrestler and competitor being in the WWE. I know I have a lot to lose.”

As noted earlier, Gene Snitsky was released from WWE. Snitsky had been with WWE since October 2003, when WWE officials sent him to Ohio Valley Wrestling following an impressive RAW dark match. He made his WWE TV debut a year later, wrestling Kane on Monday Night RAW. His bio page has already been removed from WWE.com.

As noted earlier, WWE developmental talent Hade Vansen will be debuting on Smackdown soon. Vansen was signed in 2007, but has unfortunately missed the better part of the year due to a severe knee injury. The company will begin airing video packages for Vansen, who will be portraying a masked character that is apparently similar to Christopher Daniels’ “Fallen Angel” gimmick.

The Miami Herald has an interview with WWE’s John Cena. In the interview, Cena discusses the recent tour to Iraq as well as the Tribute to the Troops Special, which will air on December 20th.

SITE NOTE: I just want to let you know that there is a MAJOR ice storm up here in Albany, NY right now. I can’t even begin to explain what it looks like outside with ice all over the power lines, roads, and trees. It looks absolutely amazing. The brunt of the storm is expected tonight and tomorrow and it’s supposed to get real nasty. The reason I am saying this is that the local news teams have pretty much guaranteed the power is likely to go out with 2+ inches of pure ice and then heavy snow on top of it tomorrow. I’m hoping to be able to continue work as normal with no issues but who knows. So if you don’t see me or any news around during the next few days, you know why. Otherwise, work will continue on as normal.