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03/26/04 Internet Rumor

There is talk of Stephanie McMahon returning to an on screen role within the company. Stephanie left TV back in October when she was fired from her role as General Manager of Smackdown! and Paul Heyman took over. Many are expecting the return of Stephanie sooner rather than later.[PW Insider]

WebMaster's Note: Actually I was surprised that after Paul quit SmackDown! that Stephanie wasn't going to come back again. Maybe they'll use some storyline between Angle and Steph since Kurt was "sweet" on her a couple of years ago.

04/23/04 Internet News

As you may have read, Paul Heyman was at the taping of SmackDown. Here is the scoop.

The original plan called for a battered Kurt Angle to appear on the show still in the General Manager role. But over the past two days, WWE decided to bring Heyman back in to assume the role and have Angle sell the injuries sustained from the Big Show. They did announce that it was only for one night, but that could change, no word on that however.

Internally, the feeling is that Angle cannot get over in the GM role. While it cut back on his in-ring schedule, due to his neck injury, the idea just isn’t working out. The ratings have fallen way below SmackDown’s average in the past few weeks. While it can’t be entirely blamed on Angle as GM, most people feel it’s clearly time for a change. In addition to a number of other bad angles and storylines on the show recently, the John Layfield angle is said to be one of the main disappointments.

The decision was made to bring Heyman back for another week. Most would agree that since the draft, which prompted Heyman’s removal, ratings have dropped severely. They wanted Heyman to take on a heel manager role, but he lobbied for the 'I quit' angle after being drafted by the rival RAW GM, Eric Bischoff.

No one truly knows how long he will stay. WWE wants to try him for a week, maybe two, and see what happens. If there are significant improvements, then they will of course keep him on the air. [Henry Walk, Rajah.com]

WebMaster's Note: I'll try this again WWE!!! Bring back Stephanie. We could have new feuds with the Divas that are left on Smackdown! AND looking at Stephanie is much more fun than looking at either Kurt or Paul.

05/21/04 Internet News

Stephanie McMahon has recovered from recent nasal surgery and is travelling full-time with the RAW brand. However, it is not believed to be in any official capacity but rather more so she can be with husband Triple H. [WrestlingObserver.com, Rajah.com]

05/28/04 Internet News

Stephanie McMahon recently appeared on a house show in Dublin, Ireland. However, there is no indication that she will be returning to television anytime soon. [PowerWrestling.com]

----- With Stephanie McMahon’s appearance at the house show in Dublin, Ireland, many people have started to question if it is a precursor to a return to WWE television. As of this report, there is no word of her TV return to either brand and was likely just a special treat to those in attendance. [Rajah.com]

09/17/04 Internet News

Last night on Smackdown! it was announced that Stone Cold Steve Austin, Hulk Hogan, Mick Foley, Stephanie McMahon and Vince McMahon would all be on the show next week to help celebrate the fifth anniversary of the show. The following are the exact words from the promo video: "Next week they're back. Hollywood Hulk Hogan, Mick Foley, Stephanie McMahon, Mr. McMahon, and Stone Cold Steve Austin return for the fifth anniversary of Smackdown."

The Torch is reporting that Hogan, Austin and Foley will likely not be in the arena next week. Their appearances will probably be taped segments, speaking of their favorite memories of Smackdown. It is unknown whether or not Vince and Stephanie will be used in the arena, or in taped segments. [PowerWrestling.com, PWtorch.com]

09/23/04 Thursday SmackDown!

In celebration of their fifth anniversary show, SmackDown! talked with various WWE employees about their favorite moments. Stephanie, during a previously taped session, said that she had two favorite moments. They were slapping her mother in the face and her love triangle with HHH and Kurt Angle when she was kissed by Angle back stage! She also said that Kurt Angle was the worst kisser ever!! [owow]

10/01/04 Internet News

Shane McMahon was not backstage at Unforgiven, which was surprising to many, because Shane attends all PPV’s and RAW events that follow them the next night. Many backstage like to keep a close eye on Shane, because it was believed for a long long time that Shane would be running the company by the ago of 40. However, more and more it looks as though his sister Stephanie and Triple H will be running the company in the future. As of now, Stephanie has much more power than Shane as far as things go with the WWE at this point. [J. Bratcher, Rajah.com]

10/15/04 Internet News

For those wondering why Gene Snitsky's promos seem old school and "goofy," Stephanie McMahon had a huge influence on the style. Apparently, after his first promo came off really silly, Stephanie McMahon found it hilarious and WWE sources decided to run with Snitsky as a goofy speaker. [WrestlingWire.net]

10/29/04 Internet News

Vince McMahon and his daughter Stephanie had a small fall out recently while discussing whether or not to show the Tough Enough contestants taking bad bumps from Big Show. Vince wants to air the footage, while Steph thinks that it would hurt the contestants because they didn’t sell the moves well. [Henry Walk, Rajah.com]

WebMaster's Note: Well maybe Steph was right! The whole Tough Enough segment of SmackDown! last night really stunk up the show.

----- Vince McMahon is once again absent tonight backstage at Smackdown, however, Stephanie McMahon, Triple H, & Brian Gerwitz are backstage helping run things. It is notable that Shane McMahon is not backstage in what again is a hint at what the future of the company could be with Stephanie & Triple H taking the reigns. It has been widely reported that more and more it looks as though the company will be passed down too either one of them. The running joke backstage is that Triple H is preparing himself for when he will one day be running the company as opposed to Stephanie McMahon. [J. Bratcher, Rajah.com]

11/05/04 Internet News

There is still a lot of talk backstage revolving around John Laurenaitis replacing Jim Ross as talent relations V.P. While several wrestler’s are still not sold on the move, including Triple H, he does have the backing of Stephanie McMahon.

What ever progess Triple H made backstage over the summer in terms of his rapport with the other wrestlers is said to be regressing. He was able to win over some of the guys in the back by elevating some of the other talent on the show, but since then has returned to his old ways of making himself the centerpiece of the show. This has once again ticked several of the other workers off that Triple H makes sure the show revolves around him and many of them feel that he has been given everything, but has still never reached the popularity of The Rock or Steve Austin. [J. Bratcher, Rajah.com]

----- There has been speculation that has been ongoing for quite sometime as too the future of WWE after Vince give's up the reigns. Someone close to WWE spoke with Pwtorch about the situation and stated that he/she feels that "Shane will eventually become the CEO and Steph will handle creative."

They went onto say, "Obviously Triple H will have a major role, too, which will actually be good in many ways, probably consulting with creative and more than likely working with talent."

They also went onto too comment on the reported power struggle backstage between the parties and basically said that there is no power struggle and will NOT be as long as Vince is around. [Jared Strunk, WrestlingWire.net]

12/31/04 Internet News

Stephanie and Vince McMahon are reportedly in disagreement about the talent to be used on the show. Stephanie wants to use only talent that are currently under contract with WWE while Vince thinks that idea will flop unless they bring in other former ECW wrestlers not with the company. [Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Rajah.com]

12/31/04 Internet News

It is said that Stephanie McMahon was the main catalyst in having Paul Heyman removed from the Smackdown! writing team with encouragement from Brian Gewirtz. Vince McMahon originally put Heyman on the writing time, despite the wishes of Stephanie. It is not known exactly what “caused” Heyman to be pulled off the team, but it could have been something as small as Heyman saying he was disappointed that Taz lost to HHH on Raw (On the ECW DVD) since it is widely known that both HHH & Stephanie’s ego’s are very fragile.

Heyman was also said to make some of the hire’s that Stephanie McMahon had made look incompetent, because of their lack of knowledge for wrestling and that this was probably another factor which weighed into him being removed. It has been reported that Heyman did not let personal issues get in his way as a member of the Smackdown! writing team.

Heyman would reportedly get upset after putting together a Smackdown! script and then having it changed on a whim by either Stephanie McMahon or Vince. Heyman was also well known for his inspired “pre-Smackdown!” meetings in which he would go over the script for the show with the wrestlers, whereas on the other hand, Dave Lagana is much more matter-of-fact and bland in his presentation.[PW Torch Newsletter, Rajah.com]

----- According to the PWTorch.com Newsletter, there was more to WWE’s decision to remove Paul Heyman from the writing team than originally reported. Initial reports indicated WWE, based on Stephanie’s dislike for Heyman, removed the former ECW head from the writing team due to a clash of opinion. While that information is somewhat true - the clash of opinion was part of the decision to remove Heyman - another instrumental reason was an invasion of privacy. If the rumor is true, Heyman’s action undoubtedly broke the trust of the WWE higher-ups.

The incident happened during a conference call with the RAW writers. In the midst of the conversation, a caller disconnected. However, all the writers expected to be in the call were still present, indicating a breach had occurred. WWE later traced the disconnecting number to Paul Heyman.

As a SmackDown! writer, Heyman was only given the right to attend SmackDown! calls. His decision to invade the call without permission infuriated Stephanie, who many believe will never trust him again. The breaking of trust may prevent Heyman from ever getting an instrumental role in the WWE booking process, despite having a great creative mind. Stephanie was opposed to his recent reinstatement and now has a legitimate reason, other than difference of opinion, to oppose a future Heyman return to the writing team. [PW Torch Newsletter, Rajah.com]