News + Notes (4/4-4/10)

- After losing his Intercontinental Championship at Wrestlemania 25, JBL announced on Monday that he has wrestled his final match. It had been a rumor for weeks that JBL would be hanging up the boots. Also, John Layfield revealed that since his final match couldn't be against the late Eddie Guerrero, that he wanted to retire to Eddie's good friend Rey Mysterio Jr, the man who beat JBL for the IC Title on Sunday.
- When asked by the Baltimore Sun on if she would join TNA, Torrie Wilson responded, "No. Nothing against TNA, but WWE is where you would want to be in that industry." On her possible return: "...You know, I get anxiety going to visit my mom on a plane now because I was just traveling so much before [laughs.] So the thought of being gone even one day a week doesn't sound like something I'd want to do."
- TNA star Kevin Nash is reportedly angered over Eric Bischoff calling him "Big Lazy" in a recent interview.
- Ayako Hamada, Japanese female star and daughter of legend Gran Hamada, has signed on with TNA to join the Knockouts division. Hamada, a former protege of Joshi legend Aja Kong, has ARISON, AAA, the Ito Dojo, and briefly WWE. Her last match on the Japenese circuit is scheduled for April 19th.
- The death of Andrew "Test" Martin, former WWE and TNA star, has been ruled an accidental oxycodone overdose.
- Beginning tonight, Jim Ross will assume the color commentary role on Friday night Smackdown. This is ocurring becuase of Tazz's decision to not re-sign with WWE last week. On Tuesday, Josh Matthews took the play-by-play role on ECW which moves his predecessor Todd Grisham to play-by-play on Smackdown, the job JR had taken. These assignments could change after the draft on Monday. Nothing is official.
- Yesterday, Hulk Hogan returned to the courtroom. His plea was to ban his estranged wife Linda's boyfriend Charlie Hill from driving his vehicles. With evidence from a previous employer, Hogan cites the reason as Hill being drunk and stoned frequently. No verdict was reached.
- Sylvan Grenier is opening a wrestling school in Montreal.
- Although DirecTV lists him as the announcer for the new WWE program Superstars, former WWE employee Kevin Kelly denies involvement.
- TNA, as of last night, has started teasing the arrival of a former World Champion who has previously appeared in another company. I speculate it is either Tazz or Rob Van Dam.
- Ric Flair's reason for his recent ROH work as been confirmed as a deed of solidifying a spot for his son Reid in the promotion.
- It is now being reported top ROH draw Bryan Danielson will not be signing another contract with the company.
- Ratings:
4/2 Impact: 1.3 rating
4/3 Smackdown: 1.9 rating
4/6 Monday Night Raw: 3.9 rating, 5.9 million viewers
4/7 ECW: 1.26 rating
Hall of Fame Ceremony: 1.8 rating