Backstage Austin/Flair/HOF Update, WWE.com Traffic, Victoria/WWE
? WWE.com drew 13.1 million website visitors in November reports The Wrestling Observer Newsletter. This was down slightly from the month of October. Despite the drop in visitors, merchandise sales were up to 1,000 per day from 839 per day in October. This more than likely had to do with the holiday season and people purchasing items early.
? The timing of Lisa "Victoria" Varon's retirement from WWE has been described as interesting as she had given notice a while ago that she intended to leave imminently reports The Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Victoria, who turns 38 in a few weeks, had been phased down in recent months by WWE and with the company cutting so many last weekend everything seemed to work out for the better with her departure.
? As noted over the weekend here on the website, Steve Austin has requested that Ric Flair induct him into the WWE Hall of Fame. The company has mixed feelings on this, because Flair isn't with the company anymore, and his induction of Austin would be free advertising for Flair. The induction of Austin would be the centerpiece of the USA Network special that would air on tape delay that same night. One positive for WWE would be that Flair's induction did a big number last year, and with him inducting Austin, it would guarantee a big rating. From all reports, Austin will get his way.