Raw thoughts- 10/31/11

Tonight's the Halloween edition of Monday Night Raw, so WWE could theoretically spook up just about anything. C.M. Punk, in costume as the Voice of the Voiceless looking for a WWE Championship match, goes one-on-one with the World Heavyweight Champion Mark Henry, who will be in costume as the World's Strongest Man. If Punk get the win, he'll go to Survivor Series to take on Alberto Del Rio, who will be in costume as a Mexican aristocrat. All that and more, plus the Muppets guest star! Read on for my thoughts on the show as it happens.

Query on the Hardys-WWE, Jericho "update", Questions on Storm's title win, WWE redoing the Show superplex angle, HHH vs. Nash at Mania, Carlito returning, and "revealing" headlines, more on the Halls, Masters talks addiction, Marys issues statement on release, and former WWF star has prostate cancer

It's query time again:
1. As far as I know, there are no plans for Matt Hardy to return to WWE as a performer once his stint in rehab ends. Right now, that's the #1 priority. How he comes out of that will determine where they go from there. He stated a few months back that he's done as a full-time wrestler. Jeff is still signed to TNA. I'm not sure what the odds are of him "jumping ship" but I wouldn't count on it anytime soon. We'll see when his contract comes up, whenever that may be.

Chris Jericho continues to state that he has no plans to return to WWE. New rule: I'm not going to report on this until there's a tangible update. It's not really news.

On to my take on PWInsider.com's questions:
1. Simply put, they decided at the last minute that Storm was better for that role than Roode was and changed plans accordingly. Did it throw a huge monkey wrench into what they were doing? Yes. But they might end up being right in the long run.

After the break, I go into the rest of the day's news and questions, starting with Big Show breaking the ring.

New (old) name for the unmasked Sin Cara, CeNation tops a million, The Soup pokes fun at HHH ,Questions on announcing legitimate weights, Hogan's lobbying, Roode vs. Hogan, title belts, and HHH in charge of Smackdown, Hogan character update, Hornswoggle gets his tattoos, Raw main event made, next WWE Network show name, Foley-WWE update, Mattel Q&A, and Tough Enough on G4

The Sin Cara who lost last week's mask vs. mask match is now officially being referred to as Hunico, which was (is?) his name in FCW. Glad they're going to keep using him. He's done pretty well so far.

Update: WWE.com has video of him which confirms the name change. That was pretty funny.

John Cena now has over a million Twitter followers, which is very impressive.

"The Soup" poked fun at Triple H's segment on Raw. A steroid joke. How original!

On to PWInsider.com's questions:
1. That's weird of them to do. They basically have free license to exaggerate such things and they didn't take advantage of it. If they go back to the kayfabe weights next week, it'll look like the whole roster's on yo-yo diets. Maybe this is part of the "Reality Era" thinking?

After the break, I go into the rest of the day's questions and news, starting with one on Hulk Hogan and Bobby Roode.

First matches made for Turning Point, post-Impact Wrestling show, Bryan talks not cashing in, Questions on championships, no-compete clauses, dark alleys, Savage/Elizabeth in the Hall, and Maryse, Dixie Carter to answer fan questions, "Hollywood" Hogan returning?, Nash talks attacking HHH, Windham updates, Terry Taylor shoot, WWE and FCW stars work in Puerto Rico, Maryse released, Impact Wrestling rating, WWE's dividend, Z! TLIS #37, and WWE to make content for YouTube

Three matches have been officially set for TNA Turning Point:
Velvet Sky vs. Gail Kim for the Knockouts Championship
Mexican America (including Sarita) vs. Ink, Inc. and Toxxin for the Tag Team Championships
Jeff Hardy vs. Jeff Jarrett
Nice start to that card. Hopefully they push those matches well on TV.

Speaking of Gail, she was part of the Impact Wrestling post-show.

Daniel Bryan talked about not cashing in his MITB briefcase at Vengeance. Not a bad interview. He makes good and interesting points. The beard stuff's a little weird, though.

PWInsider.com has some new questions to ponder.
1. It's a little complicated. The titles are so named because of their backgrounds. Back in the territory days, there was one World Champion who went across all of the smaller territories. In other words, when he wasn't in town defending, there wasn't a World Title match. A number of smaller territories decided to have their own titles to be secondary to that title. It's something like FCW having a Florida Heavyweight Champion since WWE has its own champions who don't compete there. As for the Intercontinental Title, it was/is a combination of the old North American and (fictional?) South American Titles. That's what makes it Intercontinental.

After the break, I go into the rest of the day's news and questions, starting with one on WWE's no-compete clauses.

Smackdown thoughts- 10/28/11

Last Sunday at Vengeance, the WWE ring found out what happens when the World's Strongest Man superplexes the World's Largest Athlete. What wasn't found out, however, was who was the better man. The World Heavyweight Title picture will be cleared up tonight, and we'll begin the Smackdown road to Survivor Series. Read on for my thoughts on the show as it happens!

Windham update, JR to Raw, details on Mania kickoff, Hornswoggle honors the Muppets, Questions on Brawler in the Hall, Hogan/Sting, the BFG crowd, and WWE's claims about long-running shows, Aries talks "10 percenters", Muppets updates, WWE looks at Ringside Fest, WWE '12 DLC, Chyna Youshoot trailer, Toys R Us exclusives, interviews with Ziggler and JR, and a Brisco rumorkiller

It has been confirmed that Barry Windham suffered a heart attack. I continue to wish him the best for a speedy recovery.

Update: He's said to be a good deal better now, but still has a long recovery ahead of him.

It has also been confirmed that JR will be at Raw, presumably to wrestle Michael Cole. How I wish that were a joke. Maybe Statler and Waldorf commentate for it?

Here are the details of who will be appearing at a pre-sale party for WrestleMania 28.

Hornswoggle, who is an avid fan of the Muppets, will be getting an additional three tattoos of characters from that franchise before Monday's Raw. That's dedication!

After the break, I go into the rest of the day's news, beginning with PWInsider.com's questions. First up, will the Brooklyn Brawler make it into the Hall of Fame?

Superstars and Impact Wreslthing thoughts- 10/27/11

If you're a Divas fan, today's WWE Superstars is for you. Kelly Kelly teams with Eve to face the Bella Twins. And if you're a Knockouts fan, tonight's Impact Wrestling is for you as well. Gail Kim returns to the ring for TNA facing fellow former WWE Womens' and TNA Knockouts' Champion, Tara. Also on that show, Jeff Hardy returns to the ring against Bully Ray, and the new World Champion James Storm addresses the Impact Wrestling Zone. Sting will name his #1 Contender. All this and more for Thursday's wrestling. Read on for my thoughts on the shows as they happen.

Melina-TNA update, Questions on Adamle vs. Laurinaitis, Wellness tests, long-term booking, and TNA, Vince and Andre in documentary, Henry interview, WWE UK appearances, TNA to cross over with new SpikeTV partner Bellator, Riley update, UK WWE tickets through Facebook?, and Windham in intensive care

This is related to a query someone sent in: In a recent interview, Melina said that she is "still deciding" about whether to go to TNA when her no-compete clause expires sometime next month. We'll see if that happens then I suppose. Of course, rumors are swirling about her relationship status with John Morrison and his contract status, so maybe both of them end up there for all I know. It's rare that scenarios like that happen.

As for my look at the 10/26 PWInsider.com questions:
1. They make a good point about Adamle being entertaining in a trainwreck way. I was initially going to say that at least Laurinaitis is familiar with the product and therefore better at this job. Close call. Since it was specifically worded about personality, I'll put Johnny Ace lower because his voice is just terrible for promos.

Nothing to add to 2 that I'm aware of, so I'll look at 3. I'm under the impression that the tests are random, so if they are using masking agents they must be on them a LOT of the time. I wouldn't rule it out, but there's no way to really know.

4. Of course they do. They're just kind of ignoring it for the sake of immediate gratification in the terms of higher ratings and PPV buys. Well, that's the goal anyway. It's certainly a gamble. As for Sin Cara vs. Sin Cara, they wanted to make a big splash in Mexico and they did just that. It could be leading to bigger things for both men in time.

After the break, I go into the rest of the day's news and questions, starting with a big rant on TNA.

NXT thoughts- 10/26/11

Today on WWE NXT, Titus O'Neil and Derrick Bateman finally get a chance to win a WWE contract. Just kidding! The never-ending quest for redemption is still going on. The goal is presumably still to earn a spot on Season 6, and both men will continue to try to do that. I'm sure there will be plenty of other appearances and shenanigans , too. Read on for my thoughts on the show as it happens.

Raw dark match, DGUSA announcer to FCW?, Valiant interview, Storm talks title win, WWE/Mattel at NYCC, Questions on Storm, McIntyre, and Roode, Tough Enough winner officially added to FCW, FCW star possibly released, more on WWE/Twitter, JR weighs Cole's challenge, Nash talks physical condition, Four Horsemen promo in rap song, Torrie Wilson comments on Keibler/Clooney, Torrie Wilson comments on Stacy/Clooney, WM28 seating chart, LA Times looks at Raw, TNA touts rating, Tough Enough contestant and DH Smith talk, Raw rating, HHH "injury" update, story on WM28 in Miami, and the Smackdown dark match

Sin Cara (I'm assuming the blue one) beat Michael McGillicutty before Raw. A bit surprising that someone that high up the totem pole worked a dark match. I suppose it's possible they did that because they wanted him to get more experience working the WWE style without it being on TV.

It's being reported that Dragon Gate USA announcer Rob Naylor has left the company to work with WWE's FCW.

Jimmy Valiant discussed a number of Memphis-related topics.

James Storm talked about his journey to the TNA Championship after Impact Wrestling. Good stuff.

Here are photos from WWE and Mattel's booth at New York Comic-Con. Pretty cool.

After the break, I go into PWInsider.com's questions and the rest of the day's news, starting with a look at the James Storm title win.

Questions on Vince McMahon, Daniel Bryan, Homicide in WWE, the Anonymous GM, and WWE tag teams, possible new TNA talents, new items on ShopTNA, HBK back on WWE TV?, WWE touts Mania's business in Atlanta, Maxim talks Punk, Cena shirt, WWE '12 gameplay, Smackdown rating, Henry/Show updates, official WWE Network names, new WWE trademark, updates on Booker T and Sin Cara II, Punk promotes Raw, Henry to promote Smackdown, and Taker/McCool visit Raw

Monday's news starts off with PWinsider.com's questions. Here's my look at them:
1. I do think to a degree that McMahon isn't as good at his job as he used to be. Personally, I think a good deal of it is that the business has changed since his heyday and the older ideas aren't working as well as they hope. Much like how the '90s were almost entirely different from the '80s, the current product should be different from how things were in the past. I could be stretching here, but since a lot of today's fans didn't grow up watching Nash, HHH, Big Show, Kane, and so on, there isn't the same connection that there is with newer acts like Cena, Orton, Rey (as a main eventer), Punk, Miz, etc.. The ideal audience is 18-34, and TNA has shown that stars too much older than that range aren't consistent draws. This doesn't mean they shouldn't be used to enhance careers or anything, but I don't think they should be the focal points of a promotion unless they're doing really good work (see: Mark Henry) or there's a lot of people who want to see them come back (see: The Rock, Stone Cold, Undertaker). Personally, I thought what made the superstars back in "the day" great was personality. They had defined gimmicks and a lot of them were distinct. Even the lower-card guys and Divas stood out. Maybe it's because they had a lot more freedom back then? Sometimes the best action is inaction. In other words, let people do "their own thing" more if what they do can get them over outside of the "WWE mold". That's my theory anyway.

2. He's won on NXT and Superstars, but those "don't count" to a lot of people since hardly anyone watches them. His depush has been somewhat baffling to me as well. I don't think he's been "buried" though. I think that should be saved for things like MVP's long losing streak. Times where they basically go out of their way to make someone look like a joke. It's possible that they're having second thoughts about him as MITB winner and for now just have the briefcase on him so he builds some credibility (like a midcard title) without being pushed as a title contender.

After the break, I go into the rest of the day's news and questions. Next up, would Homicide work in WWE?

Raw thoughts- 10/24/11

Last night at Vengeance, Kevin Nash left his former friend Triple H destroyed in the center in the ring after another disruption of the WWE machine. The Miz and R-Truth left their mark in the main event as well, assuring that Alberto Del Rio walked out with the WWE Championship. Controversy's a-brewin' on Raw tonight. Read on for my thoughts on the show as it happens.

FCW star works house show, Sin Cara II update, former WWE star in motorcycle crash, Questions on Punk, Hogan, and Bischoff, JR vs. Cole Tweets, new WWE jobs, and the Vengeance dark match

FCW's Tito Colon worked Saturday's WWE house show alongside his cousin Primo against The Usos. No word on what that means for a potential tryout for the main roster. Of course, it's also possible he'll be used on NXT Season 6. It has to come eventually, right?

Update:  They're testing the duo out as a potential tag team for the main roster. Apparently they had plans to use Tito alongside both of his cousins, but those plans were shelved when Carlito left the company.

The second Sin Cara (Negro) worked the same house show unmasked, so it's looking somewhat likely that he'll be sticking around in some fashion. I hope so. He's definitely ready for the main roster.

The former Gangrel, David Heath, was in a motorcycle crash and fractured his elbow, which TMZ reported.

After the break, I go into PWInsider.com's questions and the rest of the day's news. First up, a rant about C.M. Punk's character direction.

WWE Vengeance thoughts

Tonight, WWE COO Triple H steps back into the ring with the man who took him to the limit at Night of Champions. Only this time, they're teammates. Their opponents are the newly reinstated Miz and R-Truth. Also, Alberto Del Rio looks to keep his WWE Championship by fending off John Cena in a Last Man Standing Match. Mark Henry defends his World Heavyweight Championship against the man he put out of action for a number of months, the Big Show. Will anything be left when these two juggernauts collide? Plus, a number of other title and grudge matches. Read on for my thoughts on the show as it happens.

WWE Vengeance preview

Tonight's card features a number of major matches. Both the WWE and World Titles are on the line, and the COO is in action against two superstars he fired. His partner is a man he had a war against last month. Plenty of combustible elements at play tonight. Read on for how I'd book the show.

Punk in FCW, updates on a number of FCW-WWE talents, Z! TLIS #36, Questions on Laurinaitis, the WWE Title, and Knockouts, and Cena in a Nick movie and on Smackdown.

C.M. Punk appeared at an FCW house show, wrestling the critically acclaimed Dean Ambrose in the main event. That link is a report of the show. It's a common practice for the other members of the roster and FCW students to be used as staff (putting up and taking down the ring and such as well) as part of the dues-paying process. Something similar was done on Tough Enough this season.

Also from that link: I'm thinking maybe Kaitlyn plugging NXT means we'll see more of her on there? I'd be great with that. She seems to be growing as a performer. I'm curious at how Brodus will do when he comes back. Very disappointed with Barreta's behavior if that's true. I've heard good things about everyone else. Never heard of Yuko. I'd like to see more of Ambrose, Aksana, Percy, Rollins, Clay, and Cesaro after hearing consistently good things about them.

Here's the belated 36th episode of Z! True Long Island Story. Not that I have room to talk! Great stuff as always. I love that this is working out for him and others in the company are playing along with it.

After the break, I go into the rest of the day's news and PWInsider.com questions.

Query on TNA stars going to WWE, post-Impact Wrestling show, Hart-HBK videos, Brisco update, another SuperShow made, Questions on stealing stories, Kelly, Stephanie, TNA's production, and the two Sin Caras, Tomko update "E:60" producer interviewed, Angle talks Olympics, Impact Wrestling rating, Ross update, Sheamus talks WWE '12, and Slater comments on his suspension

First up for Friday was a query sent here. I don't know of any currently contracted TNA talents who are headed to WWE anytime soon. It's been said that there are a number who are considering it, but there's no guarantee that any of them will actually make the jump (or that WWE would be interested in them). Time will tell whether we see some "TNA originals" in WWE.

Here's the Impact Wrestling post-show.

A pair of videos has been posted revolving around Hart's title reign in 1995 and Montreal Screwjob portions of the Shawn Michaels and Bret Hart rivalry DVD. Great stuff.

Jim Ross updated the status of Jerry Brisco. Glad to hear that he's coming out of this well so far.

WWE's event in Evansville, Indiana on 1/28/12 is now a Supershow. Seems like that's going to become the norm.

After the break, I go into PWInsider.com's questions. First up, one on sites that steal news without giving credit.

Smackdown thoughts- 10/21/11

We're two nights until Vengeance, where the World's Strongest Man will take on the Largest Athlete in the World for the World Heavyweight Championship. The final pieces of that show's puzzle will come into place tonight from Mexico City. Plus, Sin Cara will face off with Sin Cara in a Mask vs. Mask match! Who will have their face and identity exposed to the WWE Universe? All this and more on Smackdown. Read on for my thoughts on the show as it happens.

Storm, Hogan, and Bischoff talk Impact Wrestling ending, Hall on "E:60" and its fallout, Brisco has minor stroke, who tried out for WWE in Mexico, latest on TNA-AAA, more on TNA and Jersey Shore's Ronnie, Questions on Lesnar in WWE '12, Kelly Kelly, and Tamina, Hogan interview, more WWE '12 news, house show becomes Supershow, life of a talent in FCW, Spanish announcer done with WWE, Monday Night War show on WWE Network, Kim interview, Hart does comedy, Sheamus talks WWE '12, and Foley's WWE return made official, and a possible upcoming return from injury

James Storm, Hulk Hogan, and Eric Bischoff all tweeted about the former becoming the new TNA World Heavyweight Champion. Let's just say there are plenty of outlandish reactions to the big "swerve". As always, negativity and not looking what this could mean for the long-term picture is winning out.

Update: here's aftermath of the title win.

ESPN graciously posted the video of their feature on Scott Hall. Sad, heavy stuff. Definitely some things to think about. The contrast between Hall in '94 and Hall today is jaw-dropping. That footage from the indy shows was hard to watch in places. 

Update: Sean Waltman commented on it.

Update: So did Bret Hart, who reached out to his former WWF coworker.

Update: Add Shawn Michaels to the list. I appreciate his restraint.

Update: Sadly the reunion between father and son was short-lived. I don't pretend to have the answers here. I hope they find someone who does.

WWE Hall of Famer Jerry Brisco suffered a minor stroke recently. He's been a talent scout for WWE recently. I wish him a speedy recovery.

After the break, I go into the rest of the day's news and PWInsider.com questions. First up, specifics on who tried out for WWE in Mexico City.

Superstars and Impact Wrestling thoughts- 10/20/11

It's Thursday again, so WWE Superstars is up. Today, Air Boom prepares for Sunday's Tag Team Title match by taking on Drew McIntyre and Michael McGillicutty. Later, on Impact Wrestling, Dixie Carter takes back control of TNA. Kurt Angle appears after successfully defending his World Title against Bobby Roode, Karen Jarrett reacts to Velvet Sky winning the Knockouts Title, and former Immortal teammates face off when Abyss goes up against Scott Steiner. All that and a lot more coming up. Read on for my thoughts on the shows oas they happen.

Questions on Rhodes' kneepads, PPVs for both brands, Ambrose and Rollins, JR, and WWE's use of the internet, JR and Piper updates, preview of Hall story, Hart talks Rivalries DVD, and WWE looks at Mil Mascaras

Wednesday's news began with PWInsider.com questions:
1. It's also possible that he does it to stand out. Or, it could be as simple as they suggested.

2. It should be noted that those events weren't as successful as the current dual-branded ones. It was good in some ways, as more lower card guys got chances, but how they do things now delivers more bang for the buck and makes them more money. It's a win-win in that sense. As for their tangent, pushes for Del Rio, Sheamus, Henry, Christian, The Miz, R-Truth, and C.M. Punk is only the "same old, same old" if you have a short attention span.

3. They could be saving them for NXT Season 6 if that ever comes. I know that HHH is a fan of Rollins; and Ambrose is getting featured there a lot recently so it could only be a matter of time. I'm curious to see what they can bring to the table in the WWE environment.

After the break, I go into the rest of the day's news and questions, starting with the WWE-JR dynamic.

NXT thoughts- 10/19/11

We're now at week 33 of NXT: Redemption, which means we're only.... actually no one knows how long is left in the competition. Actually for that matter I'm not entirely sure who's still competing. Well, regardless, Titus O'Neil and Derrick Bateman continue their quests to make it to NXT Season 6 tonight, and some of the other special guests of the show will be in action, too. The main event will see Yoshi Tatsu face off with Tyler Reks, and here's no telling what else will end up happening. Read on for my thoughts on the show as it happens.

Lucha stars get WWE tryouts, another Angle interview, Big Show and Edge appearances, house show moved, Questions on JR, Goldberg, and Maven, Douglas Williams seminar, TNA releases and roster changes, press release on Prichard's roles, Aussie ratings, early take on Hall on E:60, Raw rating, Abyss at Scream Awards, and more about PPVs on the upcoming WWE Network

A number of performers for AAA, EMLL, and other smaller Mexican promotions, got tryouts at this week's WWE tapings. No specific names are known as of yet. As big as WWE is down there compared to the top Mexican companies, I can't blame them for wanting to jump ship. If there's another Mysterio, Del Rio, or Sin Cara down there, that'd be a big coup for the company. Those are big hopes, though. We'll see what comes of it and who, if anyone, gets picked up in the future.

Kurt Angle talked retirement, the Olympics, and his goals in TNA before Bound For Glory. There's definitely a lot of work to go on some of those fronts!

Big Show is in Japan doing promotion work for WWE. He's a great ambassador for the company.

Edge will be promoting WWE '12 at Paris Games Week on 10/22. He'll have more appearances this weekend.

WWE moved a South Carolinian house show from 12/10/11 to 5/19/12.

After the break, I go into a look at PWInsider.com's questions, starting with why JR came back to Raw this week.

More on JR angle, multiple Questions on the current WWE angles, more of Hogan "helping" TNA, WWE preparing to release Q3 info, Impact Wrestling preview, Legends reality show, Slater suspended, Hart interview, Holly working on autobiography, McMahons, Hogan, and Rhodes talk Scott Hall, Angle and A-Ry hurt, and Smackdown's rating

There are a number of newsworthy tweets Jim Ross made about returning to Raw among other things. It's also recapped here. Certainly words to think about. The line between wrestling and sports entertainment continues to be a point of contention for a lot of people. The announcers argue way too much, but that might not be related. The whole goal is to get the story and conflict over (and sell the product). I think it's fundamentally different from say, football, in that regard.

Update: He also blogged about Raw.

WWE.com posted a video of Ross backstage during Raw, setting up his angle. Reality Era! Not bad, but the "worked shoot" things are starting to wear thing.

As for my take on Monday's PWInsider.com questions:
1. I wasn't watching WCW then, so I can't compare, but I really think people are overreacting on this. Give  the angle more time to play out and see what it does for the participants involved before deciding whether or not it's bad. A stale, older Hulk Hogan turning heel gave us the nWo. A green somewhat generic wrestler went 173-0 and was one of the hottest things in wrestling. A rapping, dancing midcarder who's almost 40 turned heel and is one of the best things in wrestling now. Miz and Mark Henry weren't fired when a lot of people wanted them to be, and they're pretty good now as well. Point being, there are a lot of times when something looks and seems bad but ends up being a good thing in the long run.

More along this vein and the rest of the day's news and questions after the break.

Raw thoughts- 10/17/11

There's a new sheriff in town... again. With Triple H removed from his duties running Raw, John Laurinaitis has been appointed as the interim General Manager. Tonight's the first Raw in Mexico City. What will the truly global WWE bring to the table? And of course, we're just 6 nights away from Vengeance! Read on for my thoughts on the show as it happens.

More Hogan comments, JR to return, Questions on Rock vs. Cena and the walkout angle, Jarretts on ESPN, Booker back in the ring?, identity of new FCW star, new WWE job openings and trademarks, Angle and Roode interviews, Turning Point location, WWE HoF inductee announced, and the BFG preshow

Hulk Hogan further "clarified" his recent comments in interviews that rubbed a number of fans the wrong way on Twitter, chalking them up to him being a heel character. Even though Storm and Hardy were faces and he put them over while talking badly about other faces like Roode and Styles. He called a number of fans jabronis and marks as well, and retweeted comments that talked highly of him. This is bizarrely entertaining. I'm all for TNA turning into Crazy Town like WCW did at this point. (Honestly, I'd rather there be two strong wrestling promotions putting on good shows, but it looks like this path is more likely). On a serious note, there were likely fans listening to that drawn in by Hogan who could very well now have the impression that Roode and Styles aren't that great. Why would you want to potentially confuse people into thinking that?

Jim Ross will return on-screen on Raw. There's more to this story, but it involves spoilers for the 10/17 episode so I'll save it for tomorrow.

On to my take on Sunday's PWInsider.com questions:
1. No disrespect to the current roster, but I think that match (coupled with its lengthy build-up) is so big that it should in fact go on last. I don't know if anything else the company could put out would be able to top it as far as spectacle goes. It's a pretty big match.

After the break, I go into the rest of the day's news and questions, starting with another complaint about the walkout angle.

TNA Bound For Glory thoughts

Well, here it is. The biggest show in TNA history. We've got a World Title match and matches from some of the most memorable feuds in wrestling history. The fate of the company is even at stake! Read on for my thoughts on the show as it happens.

TNA Bound For Glory preview

Tonight could very well be the biggest show in TNA history. It could also end up being one of the biggest clustermesses in TNA history (and that's saying something). Either way, the show could have some pretty big implications for the future of the company. Read on for how I'd book it.

Query on a Goldust DVD, Questions on WWE mocking WCW, the Usos, Dixie's parents, and TNA's music, Interviews with Angle, Kim, Tara, Magnus, and Daniels, Styles replies to Hogan, important day for Vickie, Piper to do Roundtable?, more from Austin to Lesnar, and another Tribute to the Troops airdate

First up, someone asked the blog if there will be a DVD on Goldust. I haven't heard any suggestion of it being made or being considered to be made, though it's always possible down the line.

As for my take on Saturday's PWInsider.com questions:
1. Well, for that theory to be true, the WWE product would have to be almost as bad as that swill, and that isn't the case. I think the fact that you claim that you can better believe in a Cyclops wrestling or Kevin Nash being the Wizard of Oz than what's going in WWE says more about you than it does about them. WWE.com posts all sorts of things all the time. That was just another in the long line of things they thought people would be interested in seeing/reading about. They did a similar feature recently on boring tag teams which included a number of ex-WWE teams. For that matter, they've shown things from the Attitude Era. Don't read much into what they post there.

Nothing to add to 2. As for 3, they've been on NXT pretty regularly the past month or so. It's fairly common for there to be cameos from the main roster. Heck, Daniel Bryan worked there recently. So have Curt Hawkins, Tyler Reks, JTG, Heath Slater, Jinder Mahal, Justin Gabriel, Tyson Kidd, Yoshi Tatsu, Percy Watson, AJ, and Maxine. It's been a diamond in the rough lately.

After the break, I go into the rest of the day's news and questions, starting with whether Dixie Carter's parents will ever appear in TNA.

Query on Joey Mercury, Hogan interview, Questions on JR, Cena turning heel, where NXT's headed, Torrie Wilson, and the 6-sided ring, Diva reality show, another Tuesday Super Smackdown, Lawler at NYCC, Hardy at BFG video, TNA hires former WWE writer/ROH producer for new Indian series, Angle talks Olympics and more, Punk talks changing WWE, and an NHL player uses the GTS taunt

First up today, someone sent in a query about Joey Mercury's nationality. As far as I know, he's American (I can't find anything that suggests otherwise). He's currently a trainer in FCW for those wondering.

Hulk Hogan was interviewed on the Busted Open radio show. Here are some highlights (or lowlights depending on your view) And I thought Angle's comments were off-the-wall. I don't think Roode's as big of a deal as others or as his push would suggest, but I wouldn't be saying that as a TNA employee in a media appearance to promote an event with him co-headlining! His last match was in 2010, which is hardly a "long time ago". I like how he put over that his match with Sting isn't about the performance. Not exactly a good way to sell the show, but it's amusing in a "look what you got yourselves into, TNA" way. I share his ambivalence on Styles, but he's another "TNA favorite" that the company might benefit from pushing. I'm not so sure about Hardy being a big deal in the future given where his career is at present. After over a decade of bumps and all the legal problems, it's a bit surprising that he's still around. How much faith can they put into him, and how long can he hold up?

Anyway, enough schadenfreude, let's move on to my look at PWInsider.com's latest questions:
1. I can't believe I'm dignifying this with a response. He might have just been using the phrase in general and not trying to refer to anyone. He probably doesn't care a bit about it, and I don't really blame him. He's always had colorful expressions at the announce table. I don't think it's any kind of mental disorder.

After the break, I go into everyone's favorite topics: John Cena as a heel and WWE being PG, as well as the rest of the day's questions and news.

Smackdown thoughts- 10/14/11

Tonight on Smackdown, Big Show continues on his warpath towards the World Heavyweight Champion Mark Henry. With less than 2 weeks until Vengeance, which of these massive behemoths will have the advantage? Read on for my thoughts on the show as it happens.

Hogan cuts promo on NFL player, Dana White talks Brock in WWE '12, Question on TNA, Hogan appearances, Jeff Hardy out of jail, Kim talks WWE, TNA and more, Foley update, Hall to discuss demons on "E:60", more DX in Dallas footage, JR talks standing with WWE, MMA fighters in TNA?, more on Tribute to the Troops, Angle hurt, Z! TLIS #35, more on TNA's new Knockout, forgettable WCW characters, Goldust update, WWE job opening, more SuperShows, and a ref gets Twitter

Hulk Hogan cut a promo regarding a popular NFL player.

Dana White talked about Brock Lesnar being in WWE '12 and more. Very smart philosophy.

On to my look at PWInsider.com's questions:
Honestly, all of them with the exception of #4 are straightforward fact-based questions that I can't really add anything to. However, I'll take a stab at 5. The story in of itself isn't bad to me. It's just that it's another round of Hogan/Sting and involves other characters I'm not really thrilled about (or have seen a lot of times before and am burned out on. My guess is it's targeting more casual or older fans who aren't familiar with the product. It's getting more mainstream attention than anything TNA's done in quite some time. But, ratings leading into it haven't been all that great. If it gets a big buyrate and those fans stick around (and the fans who haven't watched recently come back), then the ends might justify the means.

As for Roode vs. Angle, I honestly think that Hogan/Sting's the bigger match. Note that I didn't say better! It's been built up for longer, has more history between the competitors, and there's a lot at stake. That's the match more people are talking about and I honestly believe that it should close the show. It's mainly a case of them making their bed and having to lie in it. From a business perspective, I see why they're trying it. I'm not a fan of it from a fan perspective, just a lot of others aren't. At least with low expectations, the show (and main event) only have to be so good to impress me/us! Seriously though, I'm looking for more to care about in TNA as well. They seem to be more focused on the older audience than those of us following online and such, so that's to be expected.

After the break, I go into the rest of the day's news, including the much talked-about Gail Kim shoot promo.

Superstars and Impact Wrestling thoughts- 10/13/11

Today on WWE Superstars, former Corre members collide as Ezekiel Jackson takes on Heath Slater. Then, on Impact Wrestling, Hulk Hogan and Sting sign on for their match at Bound For Glory. RVD and Daniels face AJ Styles and Jerry Lynn, Matt Morgan takes on Samoa Joe, and Kurt Angle has something in store for Bobby Roode. We're only 3 nights away from the biggest show on the TNA calendar, so anything can happen. Read on for my thoughts on the show as they happen.

Austin responds to Lesnar, more on Dallas-Mania rumors, Duggan autobiography in the works, Questions on a WWE snub and possible HoF inductions, WWE stars on Nick, Domino update, Hogan on SportsCenter and ESPN.com, Bischoff talks TNA topics, Angle into a wrestling HoF, Hero-WWE update, Dixie returning to TV, DX in Dallas, more on Tomko, JR talks firing, Laurinaitis, and announcing, new name in FCW, WWE.com talks to JR, and JBL talks a comeback

Stone Cold Steve Austin responded to the recent comments made by Brock Lesnar. They continue to make me intrigued about a possible match-up, but I don't see it happening. I don't even think Lesnar'd be able to with his UFC deal. At least it can be done in WWE '12.

Dallas, TX is a frontrunner for hosting WrestleMania 29, but of course things can always change. Wherever would be best for everyone's fine by me. That Cowboys stadium's pretty awesome, though.

"Hacksaw" Jim Duggan has an autobiography coming out in April 2012. Potentially interesting read.

On to my take on Wednesday's PWInsider.com questions:
I'll leave 1 to them. As for 2, it's possible that it was just a mistake on their part. If not, that's pretty petty of them. They could also have seen Miss America as a more major live event than Smackdown. Something tells me that if WWE was aware of it, they'd release something correcting them.

Nothing to add to 3. They hit the nail on the head.

After the break, I look at porential inductees into the WWE Hall of Fame, and the rest of the day's questions and news.

NXT thoughts- 10/12/11

Just when you thought there couldn't be any more curveballs thrown into this season of NXT, one of the competitors gets suspended. How will the absence of Darren Young affect the continuation of the contest for redemption? Also today, the Usos look for revenge against Curt Hawkins and Tyler Reks. Read on for my thoughts on the show as it happens.

Raw dark match, what happened after Raw, HHH post-firing, Solidarity Rally, JR talks firing, Questions on the HHH-COO angle, Rhodes' mask, WWE building stars, and the number of PPVs, TNA signs new online merch deal, Hogan's game released, review of HBK/Hart DVD, TNA house show canceled, Lesnar/WWE '12 trailer and interviews, more on Hogan's new TNA contract, theme for next 3-hour Raw, chat with Hogan, Tomko arrested, DX reunion at Smackdown taping, match made official for Vengeance, Mexican legend at Smackdown taping, Raw rating, and Mania in Dallas?

Before Raw began, Brodus Clay defeated a local "enhancement talent", which has been par for the course for him. No word on when he'll "move up" to a more regular role on the main roster.

After Raw went off the air, Triple H and C.M. Punk took out Awesome Truth with their finishers. That's pretty much the standard ending to a Raw taping, just with different names involved.

As for what happened DURING Raw, here's footage of Triple H leaving the ring after being removed from his duties running Raw and here's footage of the Solidarity Rally.

Jim Ross tweeted about his Raw firing. It seemed unlikely that he would have stayed on the road full-time as an announcer when they brought him back, so this shouldn't be as much of a surprise as some people are taking it as.

After the break, I look at PWInsider.com's questions and the rest of the day's news. First up, WWE's possible mindset about the HHH-COO storyline.

Punk to appear at FCW, Angle interview, more news on Sin Cara cover, note on Lesnar-WWE, Crimson talks Goldberg, Gunner gets a t-shirt, Questions on the dangers of bleeding, PG Cell matches, ROH's ring, and Punk/Del Rio, WWE live event site returns, Jericho in talks with WWE, Morrison update, UK Diva hopeful profiled, Aussie ratings, Young addresses suspension, WWE Network updates, new names for WWE '12, Foley on PBS, Edge DVD update, negative feedback to Hogan appearance, Kanyon book update, TNA auctions, Punk interview, HBK e-book, Smackdown rating, empty WWE locker room, Sting talks BFG, ex-WWE and TNA star getting a tryout as a WWE agent, and TNA to stream pre-show on Facebook

C.M. Punk will make a special appearance at an FCW event on 10/21 as part of a meet-and-greet before the show. Also appearing from the main roster will be Mason Ryan, Jinder Mahal, Ricardo Rodriguez, and Kaitlyn. Some of those names alternate between appearing/wrestling down there and with the main roster. Ditto for a couple of others who aren't advertised.

Kurt Angle gave an interview to promote Bound For Glory. He's been the gift that keeps on giving lately. There's putting over the younger stars, and then there's saying Bobby Roode is as good as Michaels, Benoit, Guerrero, and HHH. Come on now. He's been impressive lately, but that's overkill. Taking shots at Hogan/Sting's a bit bizarre since that's supposed to be the marquee match of the card. I agree with a lot of what he said about elevating newer talents. Plenty of stop-start booking in TNA. Amazing Red's not even there anymore, so they don't really "have" him (and I don't see him being near Mysterio's level. Mysterio is better with ring psychology and looks like a realistic threat against main eventers). It takes time for new talent to break through. I'm not as sure as he is that the current crop of TNA stars can compete with WWE ratings-wise. That being said, they need to utilize their older stars in roles to help those younger guys grow into roles where the audience WILL want to see them on a mainstream level.

The Sin Cara-cover edition of WWE '12 will be sold at retail in Mexico, with the cover also available for download elsewhere. Cool enough.

An interesting note to point out about Brock Lesnar appearing in WWE '12 is that both WWE's and UFC's games are made by THQ. That likely had something to do with the deal.

After the break, I go into the rest of the day's news and PWInsider.com questions. First up, what does Crimson think about being compared to Goldberg?

Raw thoughts- 10/10/11

The show must go on. Despite the walking out of the majority of the WWE roster, COO Triple H has elected to continue with tonight's show. John Cena, Randy Orton, C.M. Punk, Big Show, and Sheamus will all be appearing. Meanwhile, the disgruntled superstars who voted No Confidence will be holding a Solidarity Rally. Which side will blink in WWE's largest-ever labor dispute? Read on for my thoughts on the show as it happens.

Flair surgery postponed, Questions on TNA's production, going after HHH, Angle/Olympics, and Henry/Show/Long, Lesnar in WWE '12(!!!), and Miz/R-Truth invade another house show

Ric Flair has stated that his surgery has been postponed after his doctor noted that his torn triceps was healing itself. He might not even need it! They should check his genes like they did Ozzy Osbourne's.

On to my look at PWInsider.com's questions:
1. Honestly, I've pretty much stopped trying to figure out TNA. Someone there apparently likes the sound of it or thinks it adds to the product. Actually, I guess that applies to anything someone doesn't "get" about wrestling.

2. I have a suspicion that Stephanie's involved, personally, given that she's been on TV as part of the angle. Given how little we've heard about Vince since he was removed as COO, I'd be somewhat surprised if this was all just a set-up for him to come back to TV. I think that would render the whole storyline meaningless to a degree.

After the break, I go into the rest of the day's questions and news, beginning with how serious Kurt Angle is about the Olympics.

Santino interview, Punk slimed, Questions on the re-emergence of Matt Hardy, ECW names in the HoF, and Angle's claims, Jimmy Hart interview, Von Erich correction, and new wrestling books in the works

Santino Marella talked to WWE.com about his return from injury. Glad to hear he can still do the Cobra.

C.M. Punk did indeed get slimed at the Australian Kids' Choice Awards, along with the cast of iCarly.

On to the 10/8 questions sent to PWInsider.com:
1. As soon as they let him use YouTube. Seriously though, I hope rehab's going well for him and when we do see him he's changed for the better. I'm not sure if they'll let him do anything involving him being in the public eye while he's there.

After the break, I go into ECW Originals possibly getting into the WWE Hall of Fame, and the rest of the day's questions and news.

Cabana talks WWE, Dixie talks Impact Wrestling, BFG lineup official, Questions on TNA's creative direction, Chavo in the Sin Cara storyline, and Angle in WWE, Grisham talks WWE/ESPN, 1 year of Smackdown on SyFy, another WWE '12 cover, HHH previews Raw, TNA planning another Jersey Shore crossover, new wrestling book in the works, Roode interview, Hogan video game trailer, Impact Wrestling rating, and more on the Raw walkout

Colt Cabana talked about his current standing or lack thereof with WWE recently. As over as Zack Ryder is and they can't find a use for this guy? Ridiculous. Ditto for TNA using Eric Young. The man works his tail off to entertain the crowd and get his personas over. That's exactly the kind of hard work that should be rewarded by a major promotion. Their loss is the indie scene's gain.

Dixie Carter tweeted in-character about the end of Impact Wrestling. I'm pretty much ready for her to be back in charge on-screen. The product in general could use a revamp/new direction soon.

The finalized line-up for Bound For Glory is:
Winter vs. Mickie James vs. Madison Rayne vs. Velvet Sky for the Knockouts Championship
Austin Aries vs. Brian Kendrick for the X-Division Championship
Mexican America vs. Ink, Inc. for the Tag Team Championship
AJ Styles vs. Daniels in an I Quit match
Samoa Joe vs. Crimson vs. Matt Morgan
Bully Ray vs. Mr. Anderson in a Falls Count Anywhere match
Rob Van Dam vs. Jerry Lynn in a Full Metal Mayhem match
Kurt Angle vs. Bobby Roode for the World Championship
Hulk Hogan vs. Sting in a No Disqualification match for control of TNA.

On paper/screen, that's actually not a bad card and certainly a pretty important one. We'll see how it goes, though. There's no guarantee it will be as good as it can be.

After the break, I go into the rest of the news for 10/7, beginning with a look at PWInsider.com's questions. First up, a rant.

Smackdown thoughts- 10/7/11

Mark Henry successfully retained his World Heavyweight Championship inside Hell in a Cell, but not without taking a beating from Randy Orton. If one ticked-off challenger wasn't enough, tonight features the return of another victim of the Hall of Pain, Big Show. Plenty more fallout in store tonight as well. Read on for my thoughts on the show as it happens.

Jackman mentions Raw, Averno talks WWE, Questions on Hogan talking TNA, Big Show, and Nunzio, Foley charity, Henry in hometown, DDP talks Sting match, NXT rookie suspended, Ross talks walkout, Big Show returning to the road, Tara doing charity show, looking at unions/WWE, Miz to host satellite radio show, TNA creative shakeup?, Orton talks walkout, Hogan talks Sting, JR previews Raw, no Rey at Mexican Raw, HHH not stepping down, Miz on H8R rating, Regal gives advice, press release on Hogan/Sting, and Z! TLIS #34

Hugh Jackman talked about working with Dolph Ziggler and more when promoting Real Steel. Cool guy.

Mexican wrestler Averno clarified his status with WWE, saying that there was never a concrete deal for him to down. Given that his signing was reported months ago and there hasn't been any indication of him doing anything with the company since then, we could very well have been wrong on this one. Not sure what happened there.

On to my look at the questions sent to PWInsider.com:
1. Hogan's about Hogan. TNA's just one of his current endeavors, and he treats it as such.

There's really not anything to add to 2, so I'm going on to 3. I personally always considered that to be different from what Flair and Michaels did, but I don't know if the company did. As they said, without those two there it shouldn't be a problem either way.

There's also not much to say on 4. For 5, I don't see TNA signing him. They basically used him as a stepping stone when he was in the EV2.0 angle, and I don't see what else there is to do with him there. There's no telling with ROH. If they think he can still go well enough in the ring, they might give him a look. In 2011, I honestly don't see all that much use for him when there are plenty of other people not being used who are younger and fresher. For some reason when it's ECW-related, people stop complaining about the business not moving on from the '90s.

After the break, I go into the rest of the day's news.

Superstars and Impact Wrestling thoughts- 10/6/11

Today on WWE Superstars, Ted DiBiase faces off with Tyson Kidd in a rematch from a lauded contest a few weeks ago. Then, on Impact Wrestling, Hulk Hogan tries to retire in order to get out of his Bound For Glory match with Sting. Bobby Roode prepares for his match for the TNA World Title by facing his long-time partner James Storm, Crimson comes back to face Samoa Joe, and Jeff Hardy continues his path to redemption. All that and more coming up! Read on for my thoughts on the shows as they happen.

Mysterio talks surgeries, Questions on ROH TV, Roode, title unifications, and Hogan vs. Austin, Angle DUI reduced to lesser charge, Flair on Cleveland Show, McCool talks, TNA interested in former WWE Tag Team Champion, DiBiase, Sr. documentary trailer, nude photo on WWE.com, Mickie and Magnus talk TNA, Sting talks Hardy, WWE high on Sheamus, future of brand split discussed, why NXT was moved, Angle appearing on Philly TV, Fund manager talks WWE stock, Flair and Foley talk charity, Hogan to make ESPN appearances, WWE.com talks HHH, Eve is a star, where Tribute to the Troops will be, Lawler talks walkout, Mania in Mexico?, another WWE encyclopedia in the works, Big Show on Nick, house shows continuing post-walkout, Superstars back online, and the history of the Sin Caras

Rey Mysterio posted a video going through his recent knee surgeries.

On to my look at PWInsider.com's questions:
1. Given the rate at which they're adding markets, I think it could end up happening at some point in the not-so-distant future. No guarantees, though.

2. I know that the Impact (Wrestling) Zone fans have been supportive of him for years, so a lot of it could indeed be legitimate. Of course, the big test is how well he'll get over with audiences that aren't as familiar with TNA.

3. It doesn't look like they're thinking of ending the brand split just yet. There's a good deal more crossover, but the shows are still treated as different entities with different superstars. It's still loosely in effect for now.  As for combining the midcard titles, I don't think they should at all. They're useful tools to elevate talents and feuds. It makes more sense for them to have an important Raw midcard champion and an important Smackdown midcard champion than just elevating one midcarder across both brands. They've got enough depth on both shows to do things as they are now, but I think they could make the unified title idea work in the midcard, too. Their answer is ludicrous to me. It sounds to me like "the air conditioning isn't working as well as it could be. Let's just not have air conditioning". Of course they're seen as lower than the top titleholders. That doesn't mean they're not holding an important title that adds to their resume, and being groomed for those top titles. WWE actually has a number of lower-card feuds/storylines at present, and are elevating talents left and right by having them work with more over names and get more ringtime than they have in the past.

After the break, I go into the other question (about Hogan vs. Austin), then the rest of the day's news.

NXT thoughts- 10/5/11

Today, Derrick Bateman, Darren Young, and Titus O'Neil continue to compete to join NXT alumni AJ, Alex Riley, Brodus Clay, Daniel Bryan, David Otunga, Heath Slater, Johnny Curtis, Justin Gabriel, Kaitlyn, Michael McGillicutty, Skip Sheffield, and Wade Barrett on the main roster. It's a new day and time for the show and anything can happen. Read on for my thoughts on the show as it happens.

JR and JoMo talk walking out, TNA talks BFG in cinemas, post-Raw happenings, Lawler charity, All-Stars on 3DS, Sheamus interview, Questions the best "poster boy", wrestlers in movies, saving money, WWE.com release notices,and the tie-choking "double standard", Mysterio update, Hart talks Rivalries DVD, Hardy begins jail sentence, Pete Rose briefly talks WWE Hall, Roode talks BFG and more, Australian ratings, piece on Raw, HHH talks walkout, Khali and Punk updates, Hardy talks Victory Road, Cena at MLB playoffs, Raw rating, Punk addresses fans and coworkers about Raw, Superstars spoilers, WWE moves NXT, and Hogan signs a new deal with TNA

Jim Ross and John Morrison played up the "walking out" of Raw on Twitter. I love it. One of Morrison's best promos ever.

Speaking of Morrison, WWE just released a new T-shirt for him, so it looks like he could end up staying with the company.

TNA has a released a press release for its airing of Bound For Glory in a number of cinemas around the country. It notes the stipulation for Hogan vs. Sting, which is a wise choice given the physical condition of both men. They're going to need the help.

After Raw, Zack Ryder changed his mind about not supporting Triple H. He ate a Pedigree for his troubles. I guess he had to get it out of his system since he isn't laying people out on-screen at the moment. Footage will be on this week's Z! True Long Island Story.

Update: WWE.com has footage as well.

Jerry Lawler will be working charity events in Mississippi this weekend. Nice piece. All those crowns...

Here's the trailer for WWE All-Stars coming to the Nintendo 3DS.

Sheamus was interviewed by Insidestl.com.

After the break, I go into the rest of the day's news, starting with PWInsider.com's questions. First, who's the best company poster boy?

More on Angle-MMA rumors, Questions on HHH as COO, dirtsheets, "closure" for Rock, WWE name changes, and Cena as heel, Rhodes talks IC Title to WWE.com, Punk promotes Supershow, post-HIAC happenings, WWE star "injured" by Henry, TNA appearances, Hogan game update, more on Helms charity, WWE sued for wrongful termination, another 3-hour Raw, Raw dark match, Superstars spoilers, more on boxer tryout, and DiBiase Sr. talks

UFC boss Dana White clarified the persistent Kurt Angle claims about going into the UFC.

Update: Kurt Angle responded to all of the media attention he's gotten lately about the issue. Maybe he should stop bringing it up in interviews? Unless he's being misquoted, he's the one starting these rumors.

On to the day's questions sent into PWInsider.com:
1. I'm enjoying it a good deal as well. I see the complaints about Punk and Cena, but in general I think it's been a good spark for something different in WWE. HHH has a lot of credibility and is someone people are drawn to/talk about, so he's a good catalyst in the role. As for him being the focal point of the show, it makes sense  since he's working with a lot of things and people as COO. Of course the other wrestlers are generally going to be seen as beneath someone who's held the title that many times and headlined that many events, at least for now. I think they're missing the fact that he's being used for up-and-comers (and rejuvenated veterans) to play off of. Having those guys interact with him (in a way that isn't "HHH Pedigrees them and makes them look weak") is a good building block. If the storyline ends up with the big group of heels suing and being elevated by the whole storyline, that's got to be seen as a plus. Not to mention that Punk got the rub from having such a strong showing against him at Night of Champions.

2. I kind of get that "hey look, we know it's fake" vibe from it too at times. It's like some kind of "rebellion" against who "they" want the wrestlers to be called. Also calling out executives and such ("Hey Vince, do you see these ratings?") is pretty dorky. It makes the sites that do it look like angsty teenagers in a way. And this is coming from someone who used to be part of the "anti-establishment" group that crapped on everything because it was cool to do so. As for star ratings, obviously they're subjective. I wouldn't use them as gospel by any stretch. Just like reviews in other genres for that matter. Again, coming from someone who used to just read the (negatively worded) play-by-play of an event and taking it as the truth.

After the break, I go into the rest of the day's news and PWInsider.com questions.

Raw thoughts- 10/3/11

This one practically sells itself: Following the absolute chaos that was Hell in a Cell, COO Triple H has a lot on his official WWE-licensed plate. Former talents assaulting WWE Superstars? COOs assaulting executives? New Champions? Check, check, and check. The fallout to all of this and more tonight. Read on for my thoughts on Raw as it happens.

Another Angle-MMA update, Haku/Meng interview, Questions on selling HIAC, HHH as Champion again, Hardy in rehab, and Angle's claims, Hall of Famer at Supershow, and the HIAC dark match,

The latest clarification about Kurt Angle possibly going to UFC is that he failed a physical there and as thus unable to appear on The Ultimate Fighter. I'm guessing his history of injuries was the lynchpin. Something tells me he won't be able to pass the Olympics physicals either.

Haku, who also worked in WCW as Meng and legitimately considered to be the toughest man who ever laced up a pair of wrestling boots, had an interview recently. I've heard a number of stories about him roughing up challengers. We're talking Incredible Hulk-level stuff here. Wrestling's Chuck Norris, if you will.

After the break, I give my take on PWInsider.com's questions, and look at the rest of the day's news. First up, why buy Hell in a Cell given the build for it?

WWE Hell in a Cell thoughts

Tonight, WWE brings out one of the most feared structures in all of wrestling. Locked inside will be Mark Henry, defending his World Championship against Randy Orton. In Raw's main event, John Cena will face the threats of C.M. Punk and Alberto Del Rio. Who will leave the Cell as WWE Champion? Also on tap, two Sin Caras collide, Sheamus gets "one more match" with Christian, and Beth Phoenix gets her hands on Kell Kelly once more. Read on for my thoughts on the show as it happens!

WWE Hell in a Cell preview

Tonight's a pretty big night for WWE, with one of their most storied specialty matches being put in center stage. Hell in a Cell will be the battleground for Mark Henry vs. Randy Orton and John Cena vs. C.M. Punk vs. Alberto Del Rio. There are also grudge matches on the card. Read on for how I'd book the show.

Turning Point poster, Punk to appear at FCW, Roode and Young interviews, comedy charity for Gregory Helms, Questions on a team of Sin Caras, skinny fat asses, Nailz, and Dreamer, Foley does AMA on reddit, new WWE trademarks, WWE.com talks to Otunga, and WWE to tour Asia in January

Here's the poster for TNA Turning Point in November. You can guess who stands a good chance of being featured then.

C.M. Punk will appear at the 10/21 FCW house show.

Bobby Roode and Eric Young were interviewed on a number of TNA topics. Interesting to hear how the angle with The Band (former nWo) was originally going to play out. It definitely looked like they were planning something for him there. The latter's interview was revealing of how "ADD" TNA can be a lot of times.

Mick Foley, Edge, and Ric Flair will be part of a comedy show to help offset the medical expenses incurred by Shane Helms after his motorcycle crash.

After the break, I go into the rest of the day's news, starting with my take on PWInsider.com's questions.

Bobby Roode hype videos, note on Hardy's rehab, Dundee talks Memphis, Cena on Nick film, Questions on entrances, Tessmacher, and Andy Leavine, WWE looks at Curtain Call, Impact Wrestling post show, Austin talks Cena and Del Rio, Morgan interview, Rock trains, Punk signing before HIAC, more WWE anti-bullying work, Kim officially gone from WWE, Impact Wrestling rating

TNA released two videos to promote Bobby Roode ahead of his big title match at Bound for Glory. I can't say I'm overly excited that he's getting that spot, but there are certainly older and staler people they could have given it to so maybe the risk pays off.

Matt Hardy entering rehab was part of his release order. It was either that or face going to a detention center under a million-dollar bond. Wise choice. I really hope he's making the best of this.

Old-school wrestling legend Bill Dundee talked about a number of past and present topics. I should really read more about the old Memphis days. Very successful territory, even when WWE was expanding rapidly. The bookers and workers there just simply "got it" and everything fired on the right cylinders. There's a lot to go into there, but he's very knowledgeable. I particularly like the thought process about stunts, spots, etc. and goofy gimmicks taking the place of well put-together angles with strong workers. It's a huge problem, especially in smaller promotions. And they wonder why they don't draw...

John Cena will appear in the Nickelodeon movie "Fred 2", airing on 10/22. I have no idea what most of the rest of the press release is talking about. Sounds pretty crazy.

After the break, I go into the rest of the day's news, starting with a look at PWInsider.com's questions.

Smackdown thoughts- 9/30/11

Time's counting down until Sunday's Hell in a Cell PPV. The seemingly unstoppable juggernaut Mark Henry will defend his World Heavyweight Championship on that date against the man he took the title from, Randy Orton. But before he finds out exactly how dangerous being locked in a cell with a Viper is, he comes to Orton's home town of St. Louis for Smackdown. With a $250,000 fine levied against him recently by the COO Triple H , he will NOT be in a good mood. As for Orton, tonight he has one more match against a constant thorn in his side lately, Christian. Everyone else from Smackdown will be looking to impress heading into the event as well. Read on for my thoughts on the show as it happens.