Cody Rhodes and WWE are negotiating for the rights to that ring name and to the name Dusty Rhodes. If and when Cody wrestles on TV, he won't be able to use that last name unless the two sides reach a compromise. He also wouldn't be able to publish a Dusty Rhodes book using that name without the company's permission, as they still have the rights to make Dusty merchandise and the like.
- Cody is not expected to make many more wrestling-related appearances anyway, beyond completing his "bucket list" of opponents before seeking a career as an actor.
- Cody will be working ROH for a number of dates starting at Final Battle. He wants to work with Adam Cole specifically. Cole beating Cody to further establish him as champion makes sense. Cody is not expected to sign with ROH, or any other promotion, full-time.
- Cody also wants to work a program in TNA with Mike Bennett and Maria, alongside his wife, the former Eden Stiles. The timetable for this is unknown, and there's no word on TNA signing off on it at this point.
TNA is expected to remain on the air in India following their TV station buying the TV station WWE airs on. There was speculation that deal would lead to a choice having to be made between airing one or the other, but that ended up not being the case. Unfortunately this feels like a story that took on a life of its own even though there was no indication one promotion would be kicked off the air. So myself and others were speculating on others' speculation of a situation only loosely centered on wrestling. I try to avoid doing that, but that's often how the world of "dirtsheets" operates.
Ethan Carter III is believed to have signed a new deal with TNA that allows them to control his outside bookings. The company had been trying to get such a deal in place for some time. He'll still be taking non-TNA bookings, but they have to be run through TNA first.
Paige is believed to be considering her options regarding her wrestling future. She's under contract to WWE until 2019, but could be seeking a way to get out of her deal in order to join Alberto Del Rio once his own WWE commitments are complete. It's unknown what her options are if WWE doesn't grant a request for her to be released. Even if she "retired," she would have to wait out her contract before working elsewhere.
Raven has joined Buff Bagwell in the lawsuit seeking royalties from WWE Network footage. That lawsuit is ongoing in court.
It's expected NXT will begin regularly running Takeover specials during weekends with "Big Four" WWE events, meaning Royal Rumble, Wrestlemania, Summerslam, and Survivor Series. I would assume NXT will continue having specials in Full Sail on occasion, too. It will be interesting to see if NXT "outgrows" Full Sail and begins regularly doing TV tapings in other venues at some point.
Gran Metalik will be moving his family to the U.S. as he joins the WWE roster. He's still taking regular bookings in Mexico as Mascara Dorada in the meantime, but will become a full-time part of the cruiserweight division once he's been relocated and finishes the dates he's been booked for as Dorada.
There are still offers for Zack Sabre Jr. and Kota Ibushi as full-time members of the WWE roster. ZSJ is not expected to join WWE for the time being, and Ibushi is considered unlikely to sign a full-time deal as both men want to continue wrestling elsewhere. Ibushi could end up making further appearances in NXT and/or WWE on occasion while taking further work in Japan.
William Regal was scouting talent at PWG's Battle of Los Angeles. Many talents working the event are currently under contract elsewhere, but could be on WWE's radar once their current deals end.
There continues to be talk of a second Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. This could feature more talents from outside NXT having something of a tryout. That could be another foot in the door for some CWC competitors who weren't signed.
Tommy End will join the WWE Performance Center next month. The company has not yet officially announced his signing.
TJ Perkins discussed the CWC. TJP is really talented and has a lot of personality. I'm glad we're getting to see that on display. His match with Ibushi should be incredible based on what they've each done so far.
Stephanie McMahon tweeted about the delay to her memoir. I expect it will come out around WM33, where they could have her in a match or something to really sell it.
Smackdown this week drew 2.45 million viewers, significantly down from last week's 2.84 million. That's disappointing after strong growth for the brand and for the Backlash go-home show.
WWE has signed seven new Chinese wrestlers from the tryouts earlier this year. They'll report to the WWEPC in January. It's a good mix of people with impressive and diverse backgrounds. Gao Lei is a HOSS.
Terri Runnels was at WWE HQ recently. It's believed she was filming material for something for the Network. It's good she's back in the fold.
C.M. Punk talked about the ongoing lawsuit against him and more. Amann has a case for libel IF Punk's claims were false.
Billy Corgan is actively trying to purchase TNA. The other stakeholders he would have to buy out are Dixie Carter and Aroluxe Productions. Aroluxe could also try to buy the company.
- TNA is facing a lawsuit from Fraley International, which alleges they're owed money from TNA merchandise they imported following its production in the Far East.
- Corgan is now in charge of TNA Creative, leading the previous creative team. Madison Rayne is now part of Creative, helping out on the Knockouts end.
-- I don't know how much money Corgan's willing to put into TNA, but it's great it's getting another chance to turn things around. Healthy wrestling companies giving people opportunities at a big level is always a good thing if those people are being paid, etc.
Matt Taven will be working CMLL for a few weeks as he returns to the ring. In return, CMLL is sending the team of Ultimo Guerrero/Shigeo Okumura/Hechichero to work a match at ASE VIII as part of the tournament to declare the first ROH Six-Man Tag Team Champions. It's good to hear Taven's back in action after a long time on the shelf, and that the relationship with CMLL continues to help out ROH.
At an NXT live event in Florida:
- Rich Swann beat Patrick Clark. Swann getting experience on NXT shows until the cruiserweight division gets in full swing is a good move.
- Angelo Dawkins and Kenneth Crawford worked as a team, losing to Alexander Wolfe and Sawyer Fulton. So, NXT's testing out new duos to fill up the tag team division.
- Dallas Harper worked what I believe might have been his first live event, losing to Oney Lorcan.
- Kishan Raftar worked the second-to-last-match, losing to Tino Sabbatelli. So Raftar might be on the short list to come to NXT TV soon. Tino will make an appearance on a soon-to-be-airing episode.
- Tye Dillinger worked as a face, teaming with Shinsuke Nakamura and Asuka to beat Wesley Blake, Riddick Moss, and Billie Kay. I'm a little surprised they didn't use Hideo in that main event instead. That'd be quite the dream team.
1. I learned something new today. It makes sense, though. TNA, ROH, LU, etc. have the rights to the likenesses of their contracted stars for purposes of TV, PPVs, streaming, etc. PWG is lucky those companies let them use those talents in the first place given that.
2. WWE wants there to be plenty of content for people to watch when they want to. Some people will just watch the VOD library. Some will just watch NXT and Takeover specials. You get the idea. They want to cast a wide net for potential subscribers.
3. The show is specifically something of a Best Of/from the vault show rather than an episodic show leading to PPVs and such. If it does well, it's possible NJPW gets a show with more current content.
4. They could have the Wyatts run roughshod as heels on Smackdown or try him out as a singles competitor on Raw. Either way, he's going to have to compete with a LOT of other acts. If they push him above Cesaro, Cesaro fans will complain. If they push him above Owens, Owens fans will complain. Ditto for Rusev, etc. It's more or less inevitable for someone to be lost in the shuffle, or perceived as being such. Really, if someone's getting consistent TV time and PPV spots, I don't see them as lost in the shuffle. That's reserved for people who don't appear all that much and aren't in any real programs.
5. They're definitely keeping Miz and Bryan apart for the most part so Miz doesn't cross any more lines. Still an amazing promo, and could have gotten Miz even more heat from fans if done on TV.
More wrestling tomorrow.
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