SD! Vs. RAW Note, Obama/MMA Update, Backstage RAW Notes Inside
? GameSpot.com reports that THQ, the video game company responsible for publishing WWE's "SmackDown vs. RAW" franchise, is closing five of its studios and laying off employees at two others. A THQ spokesman confirmed that Paradigm Entertainment, Mass Media, Helixe, Locomotive Games, and Sandblast Games have all officially ceased operations, while a portion of the workers at Rainbow Studios and Juice Games were laid off. "It's just constantly trying to react dynamically to the market," the spokesman explained, "whether it's because of things happening to our industry or the economic environment as a whole. It's making sure that we're set up over the next three to five years to be profitable and successful."
? Steve Cofield of the Yahoo! Sports MMA Experts Blog had the chance to interview Senator Barack Obama prior to Tuesday's election. Being the student of MMA that he is, he snuck in a question about former UFC welterweight champion Matt Hughes' recent criticism of Obama's patriotism. Hughes recently stated: "I want the President to be a good role model, Senator McCain always addresses Barack Obama as Mr. or Senator Obama. Barack always addresses Mr. McCain as John McCain. I like the respect value that Mr. McCain always shows. I dislike that Barack seems to show no respect for Mr. McCain. Barack not putting his hand over his heart during the Pledge also falls under the respect factor." Senator Obama's reply: "I say two things, number one I call Senator McCain 'Senator McCain' all the time. There may be times where I have slipped in something else but generally speaking if you look at the tone of this campaign, I would argue that nobody's been more respectful to Senator McCain regarding his heroism during World War II [and] talking positively about some of the work that he's done. And in terms of that whole issue of putting hand over heart, that just wasn't the case. There was one occasion when I was singing the [Star Spangled Banner] and didn't put my hand over my heart but nobody is more patriotic than I am. My Grandfather fought in World War II and was in Patton's army. He taught me early on about love of country and willingness to serve and sacrifice for country."
? Pretty much every talent associated with WWE's developmental promotion Florida Championship Wrestling was backstage at RAW last night. It was packed with the SD! and ECW stars there as well. Members of the Tampa Bay Bucs will also backstage visiting.
? The estimated crowd attendance for last nights RAW in Tampa was 12,000-13,000.