Reported by Adam Martin of WrestleView.com
On Monday, October 23, 2006 at 6:48 PM EST

The Wrestling Observer is reporting that WWE has hired Tully Blanchard as a producer (formerly known as an agent). Blanchard will be replacing the spot Jimmy Garvin had held with WWE before he quit last week.

Devin Cutting sent this in: The ECW event that was originally scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 26 at the Boutwell Auditorium in Birmingham, Ala. will now take place on the same date at 7:00 p.m. at the Gadsden Convention Hall in Gadsden, Ala. Birmingham will still be able to experience Extreme Championship Wrestling on Monday, Jan. 22 at 7:00 p.m. at the Boutwell Auditorium. For more, click here.

The CW Network issued the following press release today touting the strong fast national number that WWE Friday Night Smackdown drew this past week. As noted earlier, Smackdown has been one of the few shows on the new CW Network that hasn't seen a huge drop in ratings when The WB and UPN merged:

THE CW'S "FRIDAY NIGHT SMACKDOWN" CLIMBS TO ITS MOST WATCHED TELECAST OF THE SEASON

"SmackDown" Also Scores Best Adults 18-49, Men 18-49 and Teen Ratings of The Season

The CW Ranks First in Men 18-34 and Teens, Places Second with Men 18-49

October 23, 2006 (Burbank, CA) -- "Friday Night SmackDown" climbed to its largest audience on The CW (4.6mil), with growth of 21% over last week, according to preliminary live plus same day Nielsen ratings for Oct. 20. "SmackDown" also scored its best adults 18-49 (1.5/5), men 18-49 (2.0/7) and total teen (2.6/12) ratings of the season.

In addition to the week-to-week growth in total viewers of 21%, "SmackDown" improved over last week by 73% in teens, 11% in men 18-49 and 7% in adults 18-49.

"Friday Night SmackDown" lifted The CW to first place from 8-10:00 p.m. among men 18-34 (1.9/8--tie) and teens. The CW was second from 8-10:00 p.m. among men 18-49 (2.0/7).

Compared to the same night a year ago on UPN, "SmackDown" is up 12% in viewers (4.6mil) and 7% in adults 18-49 (1.5/5).

"SmackDown" delivered double- and triple-digit increases of 36% in adults 18-34 (1.5/6), 217% in men 18-34 (1.9/8), 36% in adults 18-49 (1.5/5), 150% in men 18-49 (2.0/7) and 82% in viewers (4.6mil) versus The WB's Friday delivery last year.