Source: The Wrestling Observer Newsletter
The latest word is that if WWE goes through with the international expansion, it is not going to be an attempt to do five equal brands and split up top stars. The latest indication is that only two of the “big nine” (Cena, Triple H, Edge, HBK, Orton, Rey Mysterio, Taker, Batista, Lashley ) would leave the U.S. for an international brand. The most likely “big nine” star moving is Rey Mysterio, as a natural for the top star on the Latin brand. Undertaker, HBK, Cena and Triple H are going nowhere. Of Batista, Lashley, Edge & Orton, it is believed that only one of them will be moving elsewhere. There is also talk that the stars who do end up moving to a foreign country will often fly back to the U.S. to keep themselves alive on U.S. television so that they could do pay-per-views. Of course, this is only preliminary talk because nothing is going to happen until at least 2008.
The belief is that most of the international promotion stars are going to be composed of current stars from Japan & Mexico, WWE mid-carders sent abroad to be main eventers and current developmental talent. If they go through with the expansion plans, you would also see a lot of former WWF & WCW stars from the 80s, 90s, and new millenium brought back to the company. They would help fill out the rosters and add some much needed name value to them as well.
