LOS ANGELES (LALATE) – The Rock is returning to WWE; Dwayne Johnson is rejoining WWE with WrestleMania 27 as his first match. The Rock made the news announcement during Monday Night’s Raw broadcast. The announcement came as a complete surprise to Miami fans.

The Rock left the WWE in 2004 to pursue a lucrative acting career. But after last appearing in WrestleMania XX, the Rock will suit up for WrestleMania XXVII he told fans last night. The match will be at the Georgia Dome April 3 in Atlanta. WWE confirms to news that it has secured TV distribution deals to air the broadcast in 80 countries in live simulcast.

Since appearing in countless films including Get Smart and the upcoming Fast and the Furious installment, the Rock told fans last night “The Rock has come back to WrestleMania. The most electrifying man of all of entertainment is hosting the most electrifying event of all of entertainment! Do you smell what the rock is cooking?”

The Rock’s return marks the latest WWE personality to return to the ring following Mick Foley and Steve Austin. The Rock’s fifteen minute speech followed an elaborate orchestration by show producers to suggest another host would hit the stage Monday night.

“I’m absolutely thrilled and fired up to be the host of WrestleMania. My goal was to partner up with Vince McMahon and WWE to create and deliver something globally entertaining and electrifying,” the Rock said.

But while the Rock left as a professional wrestler, last night he made it clear he is proud to be an actor, entertainer, and sports personality. “As an actor, entertainer and someone who both loves and has grown up in the sports entertainment business, the opportunity to host 75,000 passionate fans in a live venue, not to mention the millions that will be watching worldwide, is not only thrilling but quite honestly the opportunity of a lifetime. It’s going to be one helluva an epic night.”

He added “The most electrifying man of all of entertainment is hosting the most electrifying event of all of entertainment!”

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HILLSBOROUGH, FL (LALATE) – Jim The Anvil Neidhart faces six counts after his arrest Sunday. He is the father of Natalie “Nattie” Katherine Neidhart aka WWE’s Diva Natalya, former husband to Ellie Hart, and is featured in the current Hart & Soul: The Hart Family Anthology DVD released this April.

Jim The Anvil Neidhart’s arrest stems from the alleged theft of Mary Cutillo’s prescriptions.. Cutillo is allegedly a family friend of the former WWE Tag Team Champion. That all changed when the 55 year old allegedly broke in and stole her pills for his own use. The former wrestler is still reportedly in custody on  two counts of possession of a controlled substance, two counts of trafficking in illegal drugs, one count of burglary and one count of grant theft.

His recently competed against Jay Lethal in TNA for the Legends challenge. As the brother-in-law of Bret Hart, he is featured in the Hart Family Anthology that compromises home movies and never before seen family interviews. Among his signature moves were the  Anvil Flattener, the  Anvilizer  and the  Camel clutch.

Tampa police arrested him after they found him in possession of 95 Oxycontin pills and 28 Methadone pills Sunday. Tampa Bay Online claims he had pulled into a gas station in Thonotosassa where, while pumping up his Pontiac Sunfire, “began yelling and causing a disturbance.” He then was seen allegedly “opening pill bottles located in the trunk” of his Sunfire and “ingesting multiple pills that he dropped on the ground while inside the trunk of his vehicle.”

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LOS ANGELES (LALATE) – Wrestler Gertrude “Luna” Vachon is dead at 48. Luna Vachon’s death was confirmed today just two weeks after news that Vachon lost all her wrestling belongings in a house fire. Vachon’s cause of death is currently unknown.

Chris Mueller on Bleacher Report said of the home fire that “I, for one, will be searching through some of my old merchandise and send her whatever I am willing to part with.” Luna’s father was father Paul “Butcher” Vachon, her uncle was Maurice “Mad Dog” Vachon; she also trained with aunt Vivian Vachon.

Vachon retired in November 2007 and in recent days had been a tow truck operator. Fred Johns in his interview with Luna said “Gertrude Vachon is bi-polar and medically diagnosed as being manic depressive. Her condition was not known to everyone she worked with in the wrestling industry, but those close to her knew full well”.

Luna said she was offered a spot in Nintendo’s first WWF video game. “I didn’t just want to get attention in the wrestling industry, I wanted to get attention in all industries”. Fans and industry insiders have taken to twitter to post their remarks. David Herro tweeted at roughly 10:30 AM PST today “With a broken heart I am crushed 2 tell u that one of the most amazing people I have ever known has died. God Bless Luna Vachon. I love u.”

For more on her life, click here

Funeral arrangements have not been announced. Luna Vachon will be greatly missed.

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LOS ANGELES (LALATE) – Monday Night WWE Raw early results for August 23 are in, and there are some surprises. Monday Night WWE Raw for August 23 started with Sheamus telling the crowd that the Nexus ban has been ended. Sheamus is also given the opportunity to choose the top contender for Night of Champions.

The opening match is Edge vs R-Truth. It ends with Edge pulling the early win. Match two features Chris Jericho vs The Great Khali with RunjIn Singh. Jericho earns the apparent win, and microphone. That is until Khali knocks one at Jericho from behind.

In Monday’s Divas Championship Match of Jillian vs Melina match, Melina wins courtesy of a powerful sunset flip powerbomb. Then Cena vs Miz take to the ring. Daniel Bryan returns, going at Miz, in a lackluster showing. Later Santino and Kozlov defeat the Usos with Tamina. And in the triple threat of Orton vs John Morrison vs Ted DiBiase, Orton pulls off the win.

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LOS ANGELES (LALATE) – Early results of WWE Raw August 16 2010 with Daniel Bryan are in from Los Angeles. WWE Raw August 16 featured tonight a battle at Staples Center that included Chris Jericho, Jack Swagger, Sheamus, Kane and John Cena, and company. Celebrities in appearance tonight at WWE Raw included Justin Long and Jason Sudeikis. Long made the unusual remark that the Lakers have only won two NBA titles.

The night started with coverage of Team WWE’s win against Team Nexus at SummerSlam last night. Wade Barrett then addressed the crowd about last night. But he left the stage, John Cena came in and dissed Barrett. “To h–ll with Stallone, Willis, and Austin, the Nexus are The Expendables.” Cena then called David Otunga a “below average male … who clings to someone’s arm on the red carpet.”

After a break, it was time for Chris Jericho vs Wade Barrett. Barrett, who faced Nexus elimination tonight, pulled off the win following an overhead slam.

Daniel Bryan vs Michael Tarver took to the ring next. Bryan won tonight despite visits from Miz and Riley. Bryan’s return to the WWE comes after a controversial firing in June. “WWE has come to terms on the release of NXT first season rookie Daniel Bryan (Bryan Danielson) as of today June 11, 2010. We wish Daniel Bryan the best in all future endeavors” said WWE in a statement  at the time.

The WWE return of Daniel Bryan at SummerSlam last night gave Daniel Bryan (Bryan Danielson) fans a new surprise, and a new name. He recently tweeted “I’m no longer the American Dragon… I am now the ULTIMATE DRAGON. I will start wearing facepaint and tie ties around my biceps.”

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