SD! Rating, New RAW Star, Edge/Shelton, & More Notes

The 12/15 edition of WWE Friday Night Smackdown drew a final 2.6 broadcast rating with a 4.7 share. That is the same rating the show drew last week.

For those who did not see our report last night, the Vladimir Kozlov character that appeared on Monday Night Raw last night in Washington, D.C. was the debuting Oleg Prudius. Prudius has been training in WWE's Deep South Wrestling developmental territory in Georgia for some time now and will now take on the Kozlov character in WWE who has a background in MMA. Prudius has been working at recent WWE House Show events this year to help prepare him for his television debut. For those who remember, he was the Russian talent that Jerry Jarrett brought to WWE Headquarters for a meeting earlier this year, a move that eventually saw Jerry exiled from the company he helped found with son Jeff, TNA Wrestling.

Edge and Shelton Benjamin will be appearing on CNN Headline News' "Showbiz Tonight" later tonight promoting the WWE Tribute to the Troops event that will air next Monday on Christmas night.

WWE.com has an article up about WWE Champion John Cena and Torrie Wilson appearing on NBC's Today Show earlier this morning where they collected toys for NBC's toy drive.