WWE back to Japan, veterans added to NXT roster, Andre battle royal updates, more exposure for NXT, Interviews with Otunga/Neville, WWE comic update, more on Rey, Smackdown audience, more veterans to NXT?, MSG honors Hulk, and Questions on Joe's ROH status, Rey leaving, Jon Stewart, the state of TNA, and Kidd

WWE will head to Japan for July 3 and 4 shows. That's cool. I wonder if any other Japanese names will be scouted by the company in the near future.

Brian Kendrick and Rhyno have been added to the WWE NXT roster, although there's been no word of either signing a deal. I don't see them being regulars over the long haul, but they should get a chance to show what they can teach to the trainees.

Adam Rose, The Miz, Fandango, Ryback, and Curtis Axel are all official for the Andre the Giant battle royal. I guess I'll have to root for Mizdow to win that instead of the IC Title, then.

More NXT names are likely to be included in WWE 2K16, which is great!

Everything else from yesterday is after the break.

David Otunga talked about his new role in WWE. I could see him ending up in the big battle royal. I don't know if they'll use him much beyond that. I'd like to see him work off some ring rust in NXT and team with Curtis Axel again.

Here are some highlights from an Adrian Neville interview. I think we can see some really good things from him on the main roster. I don't think they should do an NXT match at Mania, though, unless they really have some time to fill and it's a big enough match to warrant it. Maybe at Summerslam or another upcoming PPV?

WWE is canceling its comic book series, but graphic novels are in the works. I definitely prefer having a completed story available at once to having to get a chapter every so often. I think a lot of others feel the same way.

In regard to Rey Mysterio's WWE contract expiring, while it was renewed last year, they only added a number of months based on him being injured. He originally would have been free to work as of May last year. It's expected he'll go to AAA and LU and could even wrestle there.

The audience for Smackdown Thursday night was 2.62 million viewers. That's a pretty good jump from the previous week.

WWE.com looked at more names they'd like to see pop up in NXT:
- Chris Masters would be great for it. He's still young and has even more experience now.

- I'd pass on Tajiri based on his age. He wasn't that impressive when we last saw him in TNA. The NXT guys would wrestle circles around him. Tajiri in his prime? Absolutely. But not the guy now unless it's as a trainer.

- Shelton Benjamin would be another good choice. I haven't seen his work in a few years, but he does still wrestle regularly. He'd make a good trainer, too.

- Victoria might be too old to contribute more than a few matches. Another name to put in the "trainer" pool.

- I don't see much reason to have Albert wrestle anymore. That ship's pretty much sailed. Alex Riley on the other hand...

- Hopefully Carlito would have a good head on his shoulders and be able to contribute. Another name worth a look.

- I don't know if McCool would be interested in getting back in the ring. Very talented and athletic when she wrestled, but I don't see it happening.

- Morrison would be perfect, but I don't think it's happening. He's working the new Lucha Underground promotion.

Madison Square Garden put up a banner to honor Hulk Hogan. That's pretty cool!

For my take on yesterday's PWInsider.com questions:
1. So, yes, technically it's still possible he could end up in WWE. I think he'll take whatever big dates he can get outside there, but it's not out of the question for him to go to WWE at some point.

2. The fact it expired instead of being ended prematurely could be why.

3. That's an irrelevant question since he's not lowering himself. He's guest-starring on a show he enjoys watching.

4. They're still floating. They're just in a smaller, slower boat than they were in their prime. TNA's allowing their names to work elsewhere, so they can get dates outside the company. I wouldn't be shocked to see them continue to adjust the talent roster as they try to make things work on their lower budget, but I also don't see them going belly-up anytime soon.

5. He's married to Natalya, so Bret's more or less his uncle-in-law. It's great either way.

More wrestling tomorrow.