Major Update On ‘WWE Superstars’ – Debut Date & Backstage Plans

The official website of WGN America is running a contest for a trip to two to WrestleMania XXV in Houston, Texas. The contest ends two weeks from new on March 8th with runner-ups receiving copies of WWE’s Legends of WrestleMania video game. To enter the contest, go to http://www.wgnamerica.com/

WGN America is also running ads on television for the contest, as well as the new “WWE Superstars” show. According to the ad, the show will debut on Thursday, April 16, 2009 at 8:00 p.m. The ad says Superstars from RAW, SmackDown and ECW will be on the program.

As reported earlier today, the WWE Draft scheduled for April 13th at the Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia will be a three-hour program. Due to the three-hour Draft, WWE probably won’t be able to tape a slate of matches for the show’s debut. If that’s the case, the first “Superstars” taping will take place the very next week when Raw is at the London O2 Arena in the United Kingdom.

The new “WWE Superstars” show is expected to be a “C-Show,” so it will likely feature Superstars having trouble getting ring time on the televised Raw, SmackDown and ECW programs. On Friday, we did a report listing the WWE Superstars who have competed in two matches or less on television so far this year. To recap, here is a list of the Superstars and Divas you can probably expect to regularly see on the program:

Superstars: Charlie Haas, Curt Hawkins, DJ Gabriel, Dolph Ziggler, Festus, Goldust, “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan, Hurricane Helms, Jamie Noble, Jesse, Jimmy Wang Yang, Kizarny, Kung Fu Naki, Manu, Ricky Ortiz, Sim Snuka, and Zack Ryder.

Divas: Alicia Fox, Brie Bella, Candice Michelle, Katie Lea Burchill, Maria, Mickie James, Natalya, and Nikki Bella.

With the new “WWE Superstars” show taking place, it should also be taken into account that WWE will likely ease up on calling up developmental talent to the main roster (especially those on the bubble) because there’s less pressure to instantly succeed. WWE can tryout out new wrestlers and gimmicks before deciding whether to regularly feature them on the main shows or not.

*CONFIRMED* Scott Hall Booked For RAW!! WWE’s Huge Pre-‘Mania SHOCKER!