WWE will have Monday ‘playoff’ of its own at Staples

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World Wrestling Entertainment’s Monday night ‘Raw’ broadcast on USA has already received a wealth of publicity due to the double-booking schedule conflict that forced the show out of Denver’s Pepsi Center -- where the Lakers and Nuggets will play Game 4 of the NBA Western Conference finals -- and moved it to Staples Center.

Now, in another effort to further tighten the Monday night television ratings battle, WWE announced today that it will stage its own ‘5-on-5 Playoff’ at Staples.

The Miz, WWE champion Randy Orton, Ted DiBiase, Cody Rhodes and Big Show will square off against broadcaster/ex-wrestler Jerry Lawler, John Cena, Batista, U.S. champion MVP and a yet-to-be-announced fifth member who will appear at the live broadcast (set to begin at 5:30 p.m. PDT inside Staples).

WWE Chairman Vince McMahon, who could be that mysterious fifth team member, is scheduled to hold a news conference later this morning to elaborate on the Denver-Staples move and other topics, a WWE spokesman said.

-- Lance Pugmire

Actress Sherri Shepherd smacks WWE wrestler dolph Ziggler during a match between Ziggler and M.V.P at WWE SmackDown at Madison Square Garden on April 28, 2009 in New York City.