- Following Hardcore Holly’s release from WWE on January 16, reaching him proved to be quite difficult for a number of indy wrestling promoters looking to offer him work. The promoters were calling people in WWE trying to get his phone number, but almost nobody in the company had any idea what it is. Holly wasn’t particularly liked during his time in WWE and said to have almost no friends. His one close friend was Billy Gunn, who left the company years ago.

- The Triple H vs. Vladimir Kozlov vs. Edge Triple Threat match for the WWE Championship at the 11/23 Survivor Series in Boston was named “Worst Match Of The Year” in the 29th annual Wrestling Observer Newsletter readership awards announced this past week. Here is the final voter tally:

1. HHH VS. KOZLOV VS. EDGE 11/23 BOSTON 118
2. Paulo Filho vs. Chael Sonnen 11/5 Hollywood, FL 34
3. Santino Marella vs. Honky Tonk Man 10/26 Phoenix 22
5. Warrior vs. Orlando Jordan 6/25 Madrid, Spain 19
6. Kane vs. Mark Henry vs. Big Show 6/29 Dallas 16
7. Mark Henry vs. Matt Hardy 8/17 Indianapolis 15
8. Rhodes & DiBiase vs. Lawler & Cole 7/28 Washington 14
9. A.J. Styles vs. Frank Trigg 9/14 Oshawa 13

- Today’s top searches on the front page of Yahoo.com include Academy Award-nominated actor Mickey Rourke and the WWE Royal Rumble. The star of The Wrestler was listed as the fourth-most searched for person/item of the day with the “WWE Royal Rumble” falling in the ninth spot.

BACKSTAGE NEWS FROM THE ROYAL RUMBLE – GUESS WHO’S THERE???