I received official word from a WGN representative today that WWE Friday Night Smackdown would not be replaced by any programming on the network in the Chicago area at this time. Local listings in Chicago were showing Friday Night Smackdown being replaced on WGN by reruns of the old NBC comedy show "ALF" this week. Future weeks had movies in Smackdown's normal timeslot. So for those in the Chicago area, you will still be able to view Smackdown on WGN until the move to MyNetworkTV this October.

Just yesterday, the official website of the Time Warner Cable Arena, the site of next week's SmackDown/ECW taping in Charlotte, N.C., listed Big Daddy V as one of the stars scheduled to appear. However, his name has since been pulled. The site also confirmed the report of Ric Flair giving his farewell speech to his hometown fans.

JBL's company Layfield Energy has inked a deal placing the "Mamajuana Energy" drink product on the shelves of 500 MAPCO Express, Inc. stores, reports PrimeNewswire. The stores are generally located in the southeast.

I talked to another source here in Albany, NY and the RAAC arena at SUNY Albany has been ruled out as a venue for TNA in September. I'm almost positive it's at the Albany Armory and I'm awaiting to hear back from their marketing director.