Looking at WWE's Chinese venture, sad news for Lilian, Smackdown live event notes, and Questions on what changes we should see in 2017, announce teams, and the lack of Putin references

WWE's expansion into China was profiled:
- I can see Cena being an ambassador long after his in-ring days are over.

- Weird. So WWE doesn't want to be considered a sport at times, but it might benefit them to be considered as something like a sport in China.

- Between partnering with PPTV to get the product in the market and having no presence there, WWE made the right choice.

- WWE's doing their best to develop a crop of Hong Kong/Chinese talents going forward.

- We'll see how the Chinese recruits do in the years to come. It will take time for WWE to develop them, and the path won't be easy.

Lilian Garcia announced her father has passed away after battling cancer. Garcia had left her WWE duties in order to spend time with him; the door is believed to be open for her to return after his unfortunate demise.

At a Smackdown live event in Madison Square Garden:
- No McMahons present, as they were at the Raw taping. IRS and Michael Hayes were in charge.

- Betty Skaaland was in attendance, as she usually is.

- WWE will return to MSG on March 12 for a Smackdown live event with Brock Lesnar appearing.

For my take on yesterday's PWInsider.com questions:
1. I think a better idea would be starting with letting HHH have more control over Smackdown and seeing what he does there first. I definitely think 2017 should be a year where Vince continues to pass the torch, but I don't think it should happen suddenly and all at once.

2. No way WWE's going to do that unless USA cancels the third hour. I'd also like to see WWE cut out that third hour and stick with one, dual-branded PPV a month. There's way too much WWE content out there; it's wearing a lot of us out.

3. ROH needs (stylistic) changes a lot worse than TNA does, but TNA has a bigger footprint and could actually potentially be a place for people who don't make it in WWE, so it does make sense to want them to get things together.

4. I'm definitely in favor of a two-person booth aside from the occasional wrestler joining to push an angle they're part of. And the announcers need to be focused more on what's happening with the people in angles and less time bickering with each other. I think I'd put that above changing TNA, since it'd have a bigger and immediate effect.

5. I don't think so, but it could have been part of WWE wanting to build some distance with political issues in a very polarizing election year.

More wrestling tomorrow.