WWE not looking for big numbers, Stephanie update, Latest on Suzuki and more

- The National Enquirer continues to pick on Steve Austin as they ran yet another article on him and his girlfriend allegedly getting into a domestic dispute. However, most of the talent backstage in both the SmackDown and Raw locker rooms feel that the claims are not far fetched and they do not doubt them in the slightest.

- WWE management are currently bracing themselves for what could be the lowest PPV buyrate in recent history for this weekend's 'Judgment Day'. Things are not looking good for the PPV with Smackdown ratings in a slump, and Bradshaw's push being viewed by many as an absolute disaster.

- Chris Jericho's next album will be released in August of this year. It should be finished by this month.

- Stephanie McMahon is healed up from her nasal surgery last week, as reported right here, and since then she has been traveling full-time with the RAW roster. She hasn't come out in front of the live crowd, as it is more so that she can travel with HHH, rather than being something official. It is unknown when she will return to an on-screen role as of right now.

- As reported up until yesterday, WWE had plans to have Hirohito (Kenzo Suzuki) debut on RAW last night in San Jose along with his wife Hiroko, and a bodyguarMajor Hirohito Update, Plans/Name Dropped, New Character; Mored. Plans for Hirohito's debut were dropped, which is the reason why he was not on RAW last night.

The original plan for Hirohito was that Kenzo would represent a character that came back from Japan to avenge Japan's loss in World War II (Hirohito was the name of Japan's Emperor during the time of the war). Once word got out, the initial plan was to give the character a huge push upon debuting, and even have him go right into a program with Chris Benoit. The negative responses that WWE were getting from this whole situation were very overwhelming, and since then WWE has taken a step back to re-assess what they want to do with the Hirohito character.

From what I've heard, the Hirohito name for Kenzo Suzuki has been dropped due to said negative response on the entire idea, as the feeling was that it would give the company a very negative image over in Japan for using a character such as this one. Along with that, the debut of Suzuki (most likely under the name "Kenzo") will be held back until his character can be re-evaluated.

credit top-rope.com