A pilot has been shot for a weekly AAA show with English commentary to air in the U.S. This is believed to be separate from the cult hit LU, but that show's success paved the way for this pilot. I'm interested to see how AAA would catch on in the U.S., and if WWE would change anything if it ended up being a hit. LU's ratings aren't even at TNA's DA level, so Vince and co. aren't exactly breaking a sweat. But it would be good for them to have a big competitor that would force them to up their game. They're lacking in the Latin market right now.
Lucha Underground will begin airing on a Canadian channel once Season 2 begins. Episodes will air a few days after they're shown in the States. It's a relatively small network, but that's still a good step for them!
John Cena's recent shoulder surgery was a success. Dr. James Andrews should be in the WWE HoF someday for all the work he's done getting athletes back on their feet.
Everything else from yesterday is after the break.
NXT's commentary team is now Tom Phillips and Corey Graves. I like the interaction between Graves and Byron Saxton. I don't know if this will work out as well.
Natalya has been undergoing physical therapy for an injury sustained in November. She competed with Becky Lynch on the WWE Kids pilot, so she's at least well enough to that. Whether we see her compete regularly going forward remains to be seen. Her absence has definitely been noticed; she's one of the cornerstones of the division.
Sasha Banks was banged up recently and has been pulled from the ring. No official word on an injury or how long she'll miss. I REALLY hope we get Charlotte vs. Sasha at WM32, and further hope for an end to this big injury bug. People are getting taken out left and right.
Finn Balor discussed the rumors of NJPW names coming to WWE:
- WWE's doing a good job of playing up this story. They've got to be careful not to get people's hopes up, though. The names in question still have to pass medical examinations.
- Triple H CANNOT officially comment on them being signed. Nakamura and Anderson are still under NJPW contract, and Styles and Gallows probably aren't done with testing.
- It's crazy in a way that WWE's mentioning a stable in another active promotion. It's giving free publicity to their competition.
- Bad Luck Fale is also rumored to be part of the deal, but nothing's official on that end, either. He's still signed to New Japan.
- I hope Nakamura does great in WWE (IF he's actually signed!). WWE could use more solid international stars.
- Bad Luck Fale isn't really being teased here, for whatever that's worth.
- I really wonder how these guys would do in WWE.
- If NJPW hasn't trademarked "Bullet Club," they better get to it. I really doubt we'll see the "Bullet Club" in WWE, but certainly some of its members could be headed to the company soon under another name.
- This is a little bit like when half of the Kliq went to WCW to become the nWo while the other half stayed and made DX.
Smackdown's debut on USA Network drew 2.76 million viewers. That's the highest number the show has gotten since January 2015. I hope that means good things for the show's future.
TNA's live production is now being handled by an outside company headed by Ron and Don Harris. This company will then pay the production staff, rather than payments having to be processed at Panda Energy corporate HQ. TNA has moved their payments from those offices in Texas to their own office in Nashville. There was apparently still some many owed to the production staff.
Snitsky was visiting at a recent Impact Wrestling taping. He had a cup of coffee in TNA during the Dixie vs. Bully Ray angle. I wouldn't anticipate him returning.
Rocky Romero has signed a new two-year deal with NJPW. So, that puts an end to his work in the WWEPC. There's nothing to say he won't end up in WWE in the future, but he's staying in Japan (and ROH) through at least January 2018.
For my take on yesterday's PWInsider.com questions:
1. Wrestling was governed the same way boxing was, so it's possible that's why. I'm under the impression they didn't allow masked wrestlers there for the same reason. Part of why WWE turned into "entertainment" was to avoid regulation as a sport.
2. Good for Kabuki for having a good revenue stream that doesn't revolve around taking bumps!
3. This probably won't be a popular choice, but I'm throwing Sheamus' name out there. Unless we get a big match between LoN and the Wyatts, in which case they could put in either Jericho or (Texas' own) Mark Henry. I think Henry might be better suited winning the Andre battle royal to pretty much cap off his career, though. Rusev and Del Rio are possibilities, too, with the same caveat regarding Sheamus.
4. I really, really doubt it. I think public opinion is still pretty heavily against Hogan for the remarks he made on the released tapes. WWE would have to be really desperate, and Hogan would have to really do something to turn perception of him around. I don't know if enough time will have passed for him to be seen as a hero again without him really working hard at that.
5. It was probably going to come out soon either way. Nothing that big stays secret long.
More wrestling tomorrow.
No comments:
Post a Comment