Originally Posted by PWInsider

World Wrestling Entertainment received the Secretary of Defense Exceptional Public Service Award earlier today during the company's "Tribute to the Troops" taping in Baghdad, Iraq. During the ceremony for the award, Vince McMahon noted that the idea was JBL's and presented it to him. There's a lot written about JBL critically (and with good reason) but he should always be praised and remembered for his part in making the annual Troops event a reality, because it's a classy move by WWE and its performers.

Brian Symmonds sent word that the 2/5/07 Smackdown/ECW house show in St. Joseph, Missouri has been canceled.

The Hollywood Reporter featured an article on the financial outlook of companies in 2007, noting that at $4 per share in cash and having no real debt, it wouldn't be shocking to see The McMahon family(noted as owning 70% of the company stock) take WWE private. I personally don't see that happening as internally, it's seen as a major boon to the company to be public. You can check out the article at this link.

The ECW website has a new audio update from Tazz discussing Paul Heyman and Big Show's ECW departures. The site also has video footage of the Sandman-Matt Striker segment that didn't air on ECW this week.

Chris Jericho's band Fozzy will be playing 12/16 in Seminole, Florida at Boomerz Boiler Room. Jericho is slated to return and perform with the Groundlings Improvisational troupe on 1/4/07 in Los Angeles.

Hulk Hogan will be doing a signing at the Hall of Heroes store in Garden City, Long Island on 1/20/07. Autographs are priced in the $80-$100 area for those of you interested.

Former WWWF champion Ivan Koloff will be releasing his autobiography this January. For details on ordering a signed copy, visit our pals at www.CrowbarPress.com.

There will be paperback editions of the ECW and Eric Bischoff books, released in May and June 2007, respectively.