The following press release was issued last week, announcing that Mickie James had signed on with the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, an organization that tracks and protects recording artists’ royalties and compensation:

WWE’s® MICKIE JAMES JOINS ASCAP FAMILY AS DEBUT ALBUM NEARS COMPLETION

(Nashville, TN) – Mickie James, one of the WWE’s® (World Wrestling Entertainment) top female competitors, announced today the signing of her ASCAP membership.

ASCAP Senior Vice President Connie Bradley and Nashville Director of Membership Relations Mike Sistad were on hand as James signed off on her affiliation with the organization.

James co-wrote with Nashville songwriters on several of the cuts scheduled for inclusion on her debut album.

James and producer Kent Wells expect the project to reach completion this week, with the album’s first single impacting radio in February. The full album is currently projected for a March, 2010 release.

— This past Thursday’s episode of WWE Superstars on WGN America scored a record high 1.1 cable rating.

source: PWInsider.com

WWE Diva Kelly Kelly spoke to the UK’s Daily Star this week about the untimely death of her ex-boyfriend, former WWE & TNA star Andrew “Test” Martin.

“Not a day goes by when I don’t think about Andrew. … He was a big part of my life, we were together for two-and-a-half years. When I first started, Andrew looked after me. We were there together, we had some good times and some hard times – he wanted more than anything to be healthy,”

Andrew Martin, who Kelly Kelly calls the “love of her life,” died back in March 2009 prescription pill overdose after a long battle with addiction.

Kelly Kelly is dedicating the remainder of her wrestling career to Andrew MArtin and vows to become a respected in-ring worker. She explains that even though women wrestlers aren’t having “25 minute matches” like the men, the Divas are still on the road upto 300 days a year and live the same hectic lifestyle.

“We’re on the road for the same amount of time as the guys, I know we don’t have to wrestle 25-minute matches like the guys but we travel 200 to 300 miles a night exactly the same as them. But this is my life – I’ve been doing it since I was 18 so by now I’m used to it! I’m young and I have no plans to settle down!”

To read the full interview, including which WWE Diva is helping Kelly improve in the ring, visit the Daily Star website.

— TNA newcomer Orlando Jordan had a reputation for developing a big head and exhibiting some unusual behavior during the final months of his tenure in World Wrestling Entertainment four years ago. Jordan was fired from the company on May 26, 2006 because he had been traveling with someone not authorized by the company.

Before his untimely release from the organization, there were creative plans for Jordan to be repackaged with a bisexual gimmick in a storyline that would have involved former TNA performer Stephanie Finochio (a/k/a Trinity) and a friend of his with no prior background in the wrestling industry. While bisexuality is considered taboo in some wrestling circles, it was passed for Jordan since it is his lifestyle in the real world. It should be noted that the storyline was Jordan’s idea because creative team had no plans for him at the time.

Shortly after his departure from the organization, Jordan became embroiled in a bit of controversy online as he had uploaded photos of himself embracing two young males on his MySpace account. Furthermore, Jordan also uploaded nude photographs of himself to an account on the photo sharing website Photobucket.com. The images were discovered because Jordan also stored wrestling photos of himself on the account for his MySpace page.

That said, there were said to be no issues with Jordan backstage at the live Monday Night iMPACT! on Jan. 4.

— The storyline of Jay Lethal losing to wrestling stars of yesteryear was supposed to lead to the young grappler dropping the “Black Machismo” persona. At this time, however, Lethal remains situated in a state of limbo as there’s no telling whether the angle will be continued now that Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff are in charge.

— BG James was back working as an agent this past week at television as he was filling in for Scott D’Amore. The word backstage is that D’Amore was unable to attend this week’s tapings due to shoulder surgery. James was called in as a replacement, though he only worked Monday. D’Amore is the primary agent in charge of the Knockouts division.

(Source: pwtorch.com)

— Beer Money, Inc. — James Storm and Robert Roode — have been expressing their frustration to people backstage after they received word that TNA creative director Vince Russo said he didn’t see them as top stars. Actually, Russo said that they were expendable, but the Pro Wrestling Torch notes that he may have been trying to send the outspoken Storm a message.

Storm was said to be very upset with Beer Money, Inc.’s limited role on the live Monday Night iMPACT! on Jan. 4. In one scene, they were shown shaking hands with Ric Flair upon his arrival to the Impact! Zone. Later that night, they were shown selling a beat down from an unidentified assailant.

It should be noted that there is no noticeable friction between the duo and Russo as observers say they get along fine backstage. (source: pwtorch.com)

— The Nasty Boys made their much anticipated return to the squared circle last night on iMPACT!, defeating Eric Young and Kevin Nash. Before last night, The Nasties had not tagged together on national television in over thirteen years — since the December 9, 1996 episode of WCW Monday Nitro.

— TNA’s house show on March 19th, 2010 will be held at the Civic Center in Pensacola, Florida. Tickets go on sale February 5th, 2010 at 10 a.m. (Thanks to Devin Cutting)