Ryback's next steps, Interviews with Patterson/Lilian, Raw+Smackdown dark segment and matches, Suplex City next week, Raw cameo, Ospreay to work ROH, big ROH tag set, Raw audience, and Questions on Taker returning, why WWE uses Eva Marie, TNA contacting Reigns, WWE intergender matches, and Cena vs. AJ

Ryback has already booked post-WWE dates. He's set for WrestlePro shows on October 14 and 15 in New York. We'll see if he ends up in a bigger promotion as a regular.

Newsweek talked to Pat Patterson as his new book has been released:
- I'm very glad he did end up writing an autobiography given his importance in the business.

- I'm not crazy about the marketing being centered around Patterson being gay, because that's only one aspect of who he is. He would absolutely still be an important and influential figure in the business if he was a straight man.

- I like the message of a talent being judged by their skills rather than their sexuality. I wouldn't want someone to be unfairly buried for being gay, nor would I want them to be pushed solely as a PR stunt.

- Bret definitely took Montreal HARD.

- I definitely think Vince is going to keep going as long as he can.

- I definitely don't think Roman has shot his whole career. He can rebound; it won't be easy, but he can certainly turn things around after the Wellness failure.

John Cena and AJ Styles had a brief brawl in the ring during a commercial break at Raw. They were advertised for the show, so that was WWE's way of delivering them. They then had to fly out for the Down Under tour.

After Raw, Randy Orton beat Bray Wyatt. Bray's 100% after his ankle issues last week.

Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman will be on the next episode of Raw. I'm ready to see someone get suplexed.

Braun Strowman's opponent on Raw was California indie wrestler Jorel Nelson. I'm enjoying the weekly thrashings.

Lilian Garcia gave a long interview. I wouldn't be surprised at all to see her return to WWE at some point. Right now, she has more important priorities.

Will Ospreay will work ROH's UK tour in November. I wouldn't assume that means he's ineligible to work EVOLVE in the U.S. For now, it's just a case of a UK-based NJPW talent working ROH in his home market.

ROH's October 15 event in Michigan will feature a Champions vs. All-Stars tag match. That's an important tradition for them to continue.

Raw's audience Monday was 2.91 million. That's not a good number at all. I still think the brand split was the right idea, but it's going to be a long, hard slog making it the success it can be.

Kane beat a local enhancement talent before Smackdown. I imagine they might be saving his reintroduction for when they have an actual plan for him beyond just showing up and chokeslamming people. There are a number of places they can plug him in after Summerslam.

Dean Ambrose beat Bray Wyatt by DQ after Smackdown when Bray used a chair. Dean then hit him Dirty Deeds to end the night.

For my take on yesterday's PWInsider.com questions:
1. I suspect we won't get any update until at least the build of Survivor Series. We might have seen his last match, but we won't know for sure until we approach WM33. Taker vs. Cena has a good likelihood of happening considering that was the plan for WM32.

2. WWE needs enough women for two main roster women's divisions. They've got a number of women on the shelf, and can only pull so many names from NXT. So, they're more or less stuck with trying to get her over. She has improved some through her work at the WWEPC and in NXT, but it takes a long time for someone to be at the level of most of the women on the main roster. She started pretty much from scratch a few years ago.

3. While I'm sure TNA would love to have him, there's no evidence he's been contacted to "jump ship."

4. I would actually watch Nia destroy some lower-level men. I don't think WWE's going to go that route, though.

5. I don't expect it to go on forever. One of them will presumably move into the WWE Title picture in time for fall. That said, I could easily see the rivalry being revisited down the line since there are only so many names for each man to work with.

More wrestling tomorrow.