HBK's Contract, Austin/McMahon Talking, The Rock's New Movie

[Joe Kerr]

The contract of WWE Superstar Shawn Michaels expired several weeks ago and it was assumed that Shawn would be staying with WWE as one of the top stars on the RAW roster. Those assumptions have come through as WWE exercised HBK's option year on his contract, keeping him in the company at a believed $750,000 per year. Michaels is currently "injured" and taking several months off this summer to spend time with his child and his wife, who is 8 months pregnant. He will be returning for SummerSlam to avenge the brutal attack he sustained at the hands of Kane.

* Vince McMahon and Steve Austin continue to talk. Austin has been gone from the company since WrestleMania and was recently talking with Dreamstage Entertainment to join Bill Goldberg in Japan to make appearances for the company. However, because Austin felt going to Japan would hurt his chances returning to WWE down the road [possibly based on the advice on Vince McMahon], he decided to pass on that. At the moment, Austin is focusing his efforts on landing acting roles in Hollywood.

* Variety has reported that the Rock is the front-runner for the lead role in a movie called "Sup Mariner" that would be released in 2006.

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