WWE's Internet Swerve, WWE Releasing "Best of SmackDown" DVD, Maria Photos

source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter

— Earlier in the week, it seemed highly certain that Ric Flair would appear on Monday’s episode of Raw.

Between Raw taking place in Charlotte, North Carolina, Flair departing early from a Ring of Honor event on Saturday, numerous Internet spoiler reports, and the promised announcement of a new General Manager on Raw — all signs were pointing towards the WWE Hall of Famer making his grand return to television. It did not happen, as it was never supposed to happen.

It was recently reported that company officials had focused once again on preventing news and storyline plans from leaking onto the Internet. While Flair was backstage at the event, he was solely brought in to serve as a red herring to trick those within the company leaking storyline plans to the online media.

WWE anticipated the story breaking online, which would throw reporters off track on the Donald Trump storyline. Ultimately, it worked as the Donald Trump storyline was not spoiled before it was revealed. In fact, plans regarding Trump were kept secret from pretty much everyone in the company except those involved in the pre-tape and a few others.

— WWE has plans to release a three-disc “Best Of Smackdown 10th Anniversary” DVD set on September 15, 2009. Click here for details.

— WWE.com has posted a new photo set of SmackDown Diva Maria. You can catch her tonight on WWE Superstars on WGN America.

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