Impact Wrestling preview, wrestling-Netflix updates, cover art for upcoming wrestling books, TTTT dark match, Questions on Austin returning, HBK post-2002, Ryder, Nash, and Sandow, HHH celebrates Metallica, names confirmed for TNA's India project, USA and SyFy press releases don't (initially) mention WWE, no more Classics on Demand?, Smackdown rating, WWE.com exclusive Slammys, and JR's rap

Advertised for this week's Impact Wrestling is Jeff Hardy being in action, one of the Jarretts being fired, and the start of a month-long "Wild Card" tag team tournament to declare new #1 Contenders for Matt Morgan and Crimson. Unexpected pairings will be par for the course there. They've run roughshod over the division, so they NEED someone new to face.

Update: Jeff Hardy will face Bully Ray. Should be good.

Here's an updated list of wrestling-related Netflix titles.

Here's cover art for a number of upcoming books.

The Tribute to the Troops dark match saw Santino Marella defeat Jinder Mahal. So much for Jinder being a serious threat. I guess maybe they don't want to push him too much, too soon.

On to my take on Monday's PWInsider.com questions after the break. First up, an Austin return scenario.
1. I think that one's a longshot. There's no way WWE would blow that big of a return for a surprise in the Rumble. That's something that deserves a lot of build, like Rock's in-ring return. There hasn't been much of anything on the Austin return or Tough Enough fronts, so I wouldn't consider it realistic to expect. I don't see them putting him in the Rumble if he comes back for a big match anyway.

2. He was really over during his last run, and almost certainly could have been in the Title picture more, but wisely they used him in other places to get over other people and feuds. And as they mentioned he wasn't on the road full-time (which probably had a lot more to do with it). It was a really great run that let him be a legendary performer, so I have no issues with him being a face.

3. Haha. Maybe it's just the changed color? He's only 26.

4. One thing I will give Nash credit for is that he's not out of shape. Worn down from a long career of bumos and surgeries, yes, but not out of shape.

5. Given that he's had a number of dark and house show matches lately, I think there are at least decent odds of him going on to the main roster. Now, how they use him if/when he gets there is another story altogether.

Triple H was featured via video at Metallica's 30th Anniversary show.

Joey Ryan, who had a WWE tryout not too awful long ago, will be working with TNA in their as-yet-unnamed project in India.

Sheamus was interviewed to promote a number of WWE-related endeavors (tapings and the anti-bullying campaign). I like this guy a lot. Hopefully big things are coming from him.

USA Network issued a press release hyping its performance over the last 6 years. It initially didn't include WWE's info for some reason. A nice chunk of DVR viewers add to the ratings each week, but that isn't included in the initial numbers.

SyFy also had a press release, but no WWE numbers are included (despite their programming being the top-rated on the network). Not sure what the deal is here.

WWE could be ending its Classics on Demand (formerly WWE 24/7) at the end of the year. That would make sense with the upcoming WWE Network launch. It would take a lot of energy and effort to run both, and they kind of overlap. I could see why fans would prefer Classics, though.

Smackdown got a 2.24 rating on 12/9. Very impressive!

The following talents have been confirmed for TNA's upcoming India project. The former WWE stars will almost certainly have new names and personas, but I'm listing them as most people would know them:
Joey Ryan
Chris Masters
Harry (DH/David Hart) Smith
Luke Gallows (Festus)
Nick Dinsmore (Eugene)
Jimmy Rave
Daivari (Sheik Abdul Bashir)
Sonjay Dutt
Zema Ion

Not a bad start by any stretch. Maybe some talent can "move up" to TNA proper if they perform well enough (and other talents can be switched over if they're not doing as well as hoped).

Here's WWE.com's exclusive Slammys. Joy. Not only do I remember when Ryder looked like Edge, but I remember his stint as one half of the Major Brothers. Thank goodness he and Curt Hawkins are a long way from there.

Finally, here's what JR was going to rap on Raw. That was seriously painful to watch.

That's all for Monday's news. More to hopefully come later in the day. Thanks for reading!