Query on Sheamus, Steph talks WWE, Interviews with Hogan/Rhodes/Otunga/Merriman/Ryback, Sandow's good deed, big star at NXT, Update on top ROH team to WWE, TNA's big January show set, WWE and JR remember Vachon, a look inside TNA's new home, WWEPC to feel the bang, Angle to join 1DDay, TNA negotiating contracts with two top players, TNA trolling, defending wrestling, Turning Point audience and Questions on Bischoff post-TNA, wrestling photos, wrestling bears, wrestlers in other TV shows and Mania sets

First up, a query:
1. Sheamus is out injured, fella. I think we could see him back by Mania season, though.

Here's a piece on WWE having a large female audience. The WWE Network could be huge for them.

Hulk Hogan talked about WrestleMania XXX and other stuff. That's a minute of my life I can't get back. I'm warming up to the idea of Piper and Hogan vs. the Real Americans for that date, if for no other reason than the idea of a Piper's Pit segment with Zeb Colter. I picture Hot Rod returning to WWE only for Zeb to interrupt him leading to Hogan returning at WM30 for the match. The match could easily be a beatdown of Piper until Hogan gets the hot tag and cleans house on the Real Americans and Zeb. The purpose of the match is to give people some nostalgia, so it need not be a technical classic built to elevate Cesaro and Swagger.

Damien Sandow visited a teenager with a rare disease. That was sad to read. It makes complaints about college life seem very petty and minor.

Everything else from yesterday is after the break.

Batista was backstage at the most recent NXT taping. Get those rumors started!

Davey Richards and Eddie Edwards worked the NXT taping as the American Pitbulls. Let's not jump the gun here, but that's definitely a step in the right direction as far as them getting signed.

TNA Genesis is set for 1/16/14. It will apparently be just a special edition of Impact, not a full-fledged PPV. Are they dropping PPVs other than the One Night Only shows?

Update: TNA put out a press release about the event. Interestingly, while the press release lists Sting and Jeff Hardy as part of the roster, it doesn't list either as being a part of the event. I'm under the impression that Hardy is signed with TNA through 2015. I haven't heard anything about Sting being locked in past December or January.

WWE put out a press release about the passing of Mad Dog Vachon. I wonder how much AWA footage will make its way to the WWE Network.

Here are some notes about TNA's new setup in Universal Studios. I wonder where the company would be if Universal couldn't help them out.

Diamond Dallas Page will go to the WWE Performance Center at the behest of Triple H and Bill DeMott. That's not a bad thing! That's a GOOD thing.

Kurt Angle will be part of a day centered on the band One Direction. How does that even happen?

Cody Rhodes gave a big interview ahead of Survivor Series. We'll see if he's right about what Mysterio still has to give. He looked pretty good on Smackdown. It's like time and time again when performers are given freedom on the mic, good things come out. Obviously not everyone can hit home runs under those circumstances(proof here), but there are definitely people who do well with less structure. I'm glad he doesn't just try to be the next Dusty or Goldust; it's really helped him to do well. As for Cody vs. Goldust at Mania, I think that could be great if they "do it right".

David Otunga talked about his new magazine cover. I'm a little surprised we didn't see him have more of a role in Big Show's lawsuit angle. For those keeping score, Otunga hasn't had a match in WWE in more than eight months. Not on live events. Not in NXT. Nowhere. He makes a great ambassador for the company given his public persona and speaking abilities, but if he's going to make a bigger impact in the company, he's going to need to step in the ring from time-to-time.

Ex-NFL star Shawne Merriman talked briefly about his recent work at the WWE Performance Center. It doesn't sound like he'll be heading to work there.

Update: Sources say his tryout didn't go too well. That'll do it.

TNA is said to be in negotiations with both Hulk Hogan and AJ Styles in regards to new contracts. One of those performers should be a big part of the company, and the other is Hulk Hogan.

TNA is taping a number of segments out of order to try to fight spoilers. I don't know if that's worth the hassle. I figure most people who want to find out spoilers will be able to put things in order and figure it out.

Ryback talked about Survivor Series, Goldberg and more. Ryback vs. Goldberg would be cool for WM30 if Goldberg would be willing to put his ego aside and do the job.

Jim Ross remembered "Mag Dog" Vachon. Glad JR gets it takes more than in-ring talent to be a star.

MTV.com had an article defending being a wrestling fan. I'm personally really "over" the whole hardcore, crazy bumps thing.

This week's Impact did 1.19 million viewers, up slightly from the previous week. That's really disappointing given how big of a show it was.

For my take on Friday's PWInsider.com questions:
1. I also think he'll focus on non-wrestling endeavors. I think he's still officially under contract for another few months, but he likely won't be a big player in the company going forward.

2. You know, I never really thought about that. Good to know.

3. I sure hope so. We need an animal wrestling league. Kangaroos would be cool to see wrestle as well.

4. That actually sounds kind of cool.

5. I'm actually not really keen on there being huge, expensive sets for the show. I get why they do it, but to me the ultimate purpose of the show is the in-ring stories.

More wrestling later in the day.