Main Event Reax - 9/16/14, Query on GFW's roster, Lesnar update, TNA names at HoH, indie names work Raw, JR on Brock, in-depth look at TNA, X-Division talent missing tapings, Angle promoting TNA, a look at Melendez's first match, WWE seeking German goalkeeper?, Jake Roberts update, NXT names in 2K15, Hogan rumorkiller, Raw audience, Interview with BNB, Bully-TNA update, and Questions on WWE commentary, Cena's promos, wrestling as a work, jobbing in WWE vs. headlining on the indies, and Taker vs. Brock at WM31

Main Event:
The action was good in the opening tag match. I'm just getting tired of seeing this same combination of people wrestle each other. It's hard for Miz vs. Ziggler to feel special when they've already wrestled so many times.

I enjoyed Rollins' promo and think it was effective in getting his heat back after his loss to Reigns. They're just going to have to be really careful with how they book Sunday.







The sooner we get away from Brie vs. Nikki, the better. If this angle isn't getting "Total Divas" viewers to watch WWE, I question the value of it.



Fine enough Brie vs. Cameron match. Cameron makes for a good heel.




Rollins vs. Big E was pretty solid. I don't think it made up for Rollins' loss, but it's a step in the right direction.



Everything else from yesterday is after the break.
First up, a query:
1. It's difficult to really tell a roster for GFW at this point. Right now, the project is more or less a series of working agreements with various international promotions. So, instead of a GFW roster, it might be more like AAA's roster meets NJPW's roster and the rosters of other promotions Jarrett's working with.

Brock Lesnar's injuries from John Cena on Raw were 100% kayfabe. He's fine. Night of Champions should be great, but where does the WWE Title go from there?

The Wolves and The Hardys will be working for Tommy Dreamer's House of Hardcore. TNA also let talents work Chikara's King of Trios 2014. I think generally TNA's OK with talents working indie dates as long as it doesn't conflict with TNA tapings and isn't aired. TNA owns the rights to the wrestlers' likenesses on air and doesn't want others profiting from that.

Some talents from Wildkat Sports made cameos as security members on Raw. WWE recently signed Wildkat's Bu Ku Dao.

Jim Ross looked at the history of the current reigning and defending World Heavyweight Champion of the WWE, the one in twenty-one and one, and the beast incarnate BROCK LESNAR. From an athletic and look standpoint, you can't get a much better signing than Brock.

Grantland.com looked at the current state of TNA, with quotes from Dixie Carter, Jeff Jarrett, Vince Russo, and more. In order:

- I do think some people are going to be negative toward TNA no matter what, for not being what they want it to be (whatever that is).

- I don't think there are many people on the Internet who actually want the show to be exclusively in-ring action. They definitely want more serious in-ring action than soap opera stuff, comedy matches, etc., however.

- I don't think I ever expected Dixie Carter to use the terms "props" and "mad respect".

- I'm very glad the Jarretts and Angles get along now.

- The dichotomy between Jarrett and Carter is an amusing one when it comes to talking about GFW.

- A youth movement in 2009 with names like Hogan assisting those names getting to the next level would have been my pitch for bringing the name-value guys in.

- I think Hogan was a team player in TNA as long as his ideas and his friends were used.

- The Aces and Eights angle was miserably long and didn't really get anyone over outside of Bully Ray.

- I do think there's something off about having fans cheer to see a 49-year-old woman go through a table by a man.

All in all, a great piece on where TNA is now.

Homicide is unable to work this week's TNA shows due to nagging shoulder and elbow issues. I seem to remember him having problems with those during his previous run in the company.

Kurt Angle will soon be touring India to promote TNA. I can easily see that turning into him doing interviews about possibly jumping to WWE. His contract's up soon, and there's no guarantee he'll stay put.

Chris Melendez signing to TNA was profiled. That seemed like more of a fan blog than a news story, but I'm glad TNA got press.

A former German goalkeeper has gotten an offer from WWE. He's got a pretty impressive physique, and WWE making headway with more international markets is a smart move. I say it's worth a chance.

Jake Roberts tweeted about his current health and the possibility of returning to the ring. His health should come first at this point. I don't think anyone should reasonably expect him to get in the ring now.

A number of NXT talents are expected to be included in WWE 2K15. That's really cool! I hope that doesn't curse them as far as making it to the main roster (though I'm not sure why it would).

Hulk Hogan was not in Nigeria, despite rumors to the contrary. The amount of time I have to spend covering non-stories is depressing.

Raw dropped to 3.83 million this week, the lowest number since May. The return of Brock Lesnar sadly couldn't compete with the more than 14 million people watching football.

Bad News Barrett gave an update on his recovery, talked about his injury, and more. The career mode sounds pretty cool, and I'm glad BNB is expected back for that European tour.

Bully Ray was backstage at the first Impact Wrestling taping this week, so he could very well come to terms to finish out the tag team title series. That'd be great. I think it'd be nice for him to go into the Hall of Fame, even if he's done. I expect the "Dudleys to WWE" rumors to start right after BFG when both contracts are up.

For my take on yesterday's PWInsider.com questions:
1. This one's a repeat, but the answer's new. I wish commentary was focused on getting the wrestlers and their angles over more often.

2. Serious Cena is certainly a much better promo than joking Cena. If we have to listen to him so much, I hope we get more of him talking like his fights matter.

3. I'm guessing since the carnival days? It goes back a century or more.

4. I think I'd be much better at getting the pros over as a jobber than actually having to sell tickets and put on wrestling matches like a trained pro. If I was a trained wrestler, I'd also probably like to make more money and on a consistent basis. That might be more likely as a jobber in WWE.

5. There are a number of objections here:
a. How much does Taker have left in him? Could he get physical at both the Rumble and Mania, as well as making appearances during that time period? Would he even want to?

b. It'd really put the focus on two part-timers who are presumably near the ends of their runs. I'd rather the spotlight be on the more up-and-coming names so they can be the Mania headliners for years to come like Brock and Taker have been.

c. That's kind of a complicated way to end Taker's career and what's left of The Streak gimmick. He'd end up at 22-2, and there'd be two WWE Title changes in one night.

In other words, while it works from a story perspective, I don't think it's the wisest move for the long-term of the company.

More wrestling tomorrow.