Matt Hardy cut a promo after Slammiversary. He should have went radio silent at least until this week's Impact, and that should be the last Matt vs. Jeff feud for quite some time. I'd say they at least need to stay apart as opponents until this time next year to counter burnout to a feud that was taken as far as it could go from a match standpoint.
The Shining Stars beat the team of Dolph Ziggler and Jack Swagger at a live event, which should tell you a lot about how far the two former world champions have fallen.
Ted DiBiase, Jr. was backstage visiting at a WWE live event this weekend. I hope he's doing well with his post-wrestling life. Notably, with Orton injured, there isn't a single member of Legacy active on the current roster.
Fight Network has announced they'll soon begin airing the weekly NJPW show currently airing on AXS TV. That's something of a clip show, but this is still yet another impressive wrestling addition to FN. Good work!
WWE has sent a custom World Heavyweight Championship to the NHL Stanley Cup Champions. There are hockey players who will receive that title when Mark Henry never has and never will. Let that sink in for a second.
NXT will tour Texas from July 28 to 30. I'm glad the people on that brand will continue to get experience working bigger crowds outside Florida.
Triple H has left this week's NXT tour of the UK to head to China due to (best for) business-related reasons. There are some interesting speculations to make of that, but I don't want to imply something that might not actually be happening.
WWE put up profiles for the Cruiserwight Classic competitors:
- Ibushi's been one of the expected stars of the CWC. Really great resume and considered to be great.
- Metalik's resume is off the charts! He's got a lot of experience at a pretty young age.
- Tajiri is quite the surprise. I didn't even know he still wrestled! It makes sense to have some veterans in the tournament, though. He's pretty busy with Wrestle-1, so I don't think he'd come back full time.
- Sabre, Jr. is a no-brainer given his reputation and experience.
- The "Cedric to NXT" rumors are only going to grow from here.
- I saw Nese in his brief TNA tenure. I'm interested to see how he is now.
- Impressive international credentials for a number of performers here.
- I'm really looking forward to seeing all these international names.
- TJP is really impressive, with a lot of experience.
- I'm glad Rich Swann is going to be cleared in time to compete. He's been impressive in NXT.
- I saw Dux a decade or so ago in TNA and didn't see the hype in him, but that was quite some time ago. We'll see how he performs here. It's possible he's just here as fodder to lose in the first round.
- Kendrick's another good veteran presence who can still "go." I'd like to see him work NXT more.
- Tozawa's been pretty highly touted. With that resume, I can see why! I look forward to seeing how he fits into things going forward.
- Bennett should win just because of his hair.
- How many Samoan wrestlers are there!? Maluta could end up joining a lot of family member
- It's telling a talent like Mendoza with seven years of experience isn't considered a top-tier name to be signed. He's up against some really, really impressive talents.
- Weirdly, I can't find anything on Kenneth Johnson. Could be another early elimination.
- XL doesn't have a huge resume, but he adds another international name to the list. This will be a good experience for them.
- Another impressive Australian in Slater. I'm interesting in seeing how he does.
- Jason Lee's young, but another Hong Kong name. WWE really wants a Chinese star.
- Daivari's got a pretty impressive resume, too. Hopefully he doesn't have his brother's gimmick.
WWE has trademarked "Legion of Doom," which suggests they might refer to Paul Ellering's new duo by the name. That's an interesting idea; WWE needs to be careful using a legendary team name for performers just starting out in NXT.
The following matches have been added to WWE Money in the Bank:
- Charlotte and Dana Brooke vs. Natalya and Becky Lynch
- Dolph Ziggler vs. Baron Corbin (Kickoff show)
- Apollo Crews vs. Sheamus (Kickoff show)
- Charlotte and Dana Brooke vs. Natalya and Becky Lynch
- Dolph Ziggler vs. Baron Corbin (Kickoff show)
- Apollo Crews vs. Sheamus (Kickoff show)
-- Those are good additions to round out the card. Crews vs. Sheamus is particularly intriguing from the standpoint of trying to make a new star in Apollo. That's something of a balancing act since they don't want a former WWE/World Champion to lose even more credibility. The Social Outcasts and Zack Ryder making a run-in dressed as the TMNT for that match would make my night. It's a silly Kickoff match; Sheamus could get his heat back in the weeks leading into a rematch at Battleground.
TNA has announced their World Heavyweight, Tag Team, X-Division, and King of the Mountain Championships will all be on the line on tonight's Impact Wrestling, just two nights removed from their second-biggest event of the year. The latest TNA Hall of Famer will also be announced tonight. They're pulling out all the stops to get eyeballs on the product as they approach the start of their 15th year of operation. This episode is probably their most important one since their Pop debut given its almost-live nature and following a very big night of action at Slammiversary.
NXT's Takeover special in August has been subtitled "Back to Brooklyn." With the roster they have now, now including Bobby Roode and possibly soon to include Eric Young, it should be a really big card.
For my take on yesterday's PWInsider.com questions:
1. I think it'd water things down to have a title for people at that level. They only have a week of TV each week, so they should just make the most of what they have.
1. I think it'd water things down to have a title for people at that level. They only have a week of TV each week, so they should just make the most of what they have.
2. Yes. It was part of the angle of past authority figures coming back to pitch running Smackdown. There's potentially an opening for an administrative position in WWE, and qualified applicants are making themselves known. It also promoted the big brand split/live Smackdown coming up.
3. They've made explicit references to Bullet Club for months, so I'm not really surprised.
4. We'll have a better idea of where Taker stands as we get into WM33 season. I suspect there will at least be a pitch for Taker vs. Cena, since that was the plan for WM32. Whether Taker bites at that (or any other WM33 pitch) will depend on whether he feels he can deliver at that level one more time. If WWE has another pitch for Taker before WM33, he'll consider that. It's all a matter of how he feels physically and what idea they present to him.
5. I think Battleground will be the last show before the rosters are split. Doing the draft on that live Smackdown could be interesting, but they probably should use a three-hour show for that. So, how about the draft Monday, and live Smackdown/Battleground as the final appearances for people before being shipped off to one show or the other?
More wrestling tomorrow.
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