Lashley's MMA Debut This Weekend, New Masked WWE Star To Debut & More

— Former WWE Superstar Bobby Lashley will make his Mixed Martial Arts debut this Saturday night in the Mixed Fighting Alliance show at the American Airlines Arena in Miami. Lashley will face Joshua Franklin, a fellow MMA rookie. “It wasn’t only about the money in the WWE, I enjoyed the crowds,” Lashley told Sun-Sentinel.com. “I know what people are saying. I think I lost some of my credibility as a fighter, wrestler and competitor being in the WWE. I know I have a lot to lose.”

— SmackDown rookie Ryan Braddock has cut his hair and will soon be introduced with a new Elvis-like gimmick.

— Tomorrow night on Smackdown, WWE developmental talent Hade Vansen will debut in the first of a series of vignettes to introduce his new masked character. PWInsider.com reports that the “dark” character will similar to Christopher Daniels’ “Fallen Angel” gimmick . Vansen is a British talent who was signed to a developmental deal in May 2007. He was out of action for most of 2008 due to a knee injury, which has healed.

* News on KURT ANGLE Returning to WWE & The Undertaker’s WrestleMania 25 Opponent