Shaq-WM33 update, AAA legal note, Sinclair picking up more stations?, Jarrett's Impact takes shape, Impact debuts and returns ahead, Impact tapings plan notes, Bill Banks correction, NXT callup planned, UK names booked for WM33 week, legend wants in HoF, Asuka-main roster note, big Angle update, Impact has new UK TV home, new Impact logo, Netflix lucha doc, WWE says Swagger's not released, Show gets more press, Angle on ESPN, Slammiversary set, TNA is done, Jade update, Impact backstage notes, Cody-Impact note, and Questions on Hardys not dropping the tag titles, Orton burning down the compound, UK footage on the Network, non-wrestlers becoming wrestlers, and Kane's whereabouts

Shaquille O'Neal recently suggested his Wrestlemania match with Big Show is off the table, suggesting it was due to circumstances out of his control. I was looking forward to the spectacle, but maybe it will lead to something else meaningful.

AAA is threatening legal action against promoters using Pentagon, Jr. and Fenix. Their status for any future seasons of LU is up in the air. If they do split from LU, that would open them up for other options (WWE, Impact, ROH, etc.).

Sinclair Broadcasting is looking at a possible merger with or purchase of Tribune Media, which could mean more stations end up showing ROH. ROH could also end up on WGN America if that deal goes through, but at this point it's only a possibility Sinclair will make that move with Tribune.

Jeff Jarrett is looking to continue bringing back people who worked with Impact Wrestling previously. We'll see how that plays out.

Matt Morgan will be returning to Impact as a top guy. I look forward to seeing him again; he's been impressive in the past.

Impact is looking to bring back the LAX act in some form, as Konnan will be back in the promotion soon. They could use some revitalization in the tag team scene. 

Impact tapings going forward are to be six episodes during the course of four days. That's going to be more expensive than the massive taping weeks they had been doing; I hope the risk pays off.


Bill Banks will continue working for Impact from his home in Connecticut. I previously reported he was done with the company, but that's not the case. He'll work on digital ideas on something of a part-time basis.

Elias Samson will likely be coming to the main roster soon. He was set to do so earlier, but his ankle injury delayed that. He's a heat magnet; I can definitely see him adding to things.

WWE's UK talent will be working WM33 week, likely AXXESS and the NXT dates. Pete Dunne could make at least a cameo on one of the main roster shows after WM33, which would be great.

Dick Beyer, The Destroyer, is pitching to go into the WWE Hall of Fame. They definitely should put him in with a Legacy award.

Asuka working Smackdown shows could just be while Naomi is hurt. I suspect she won't be down in NXT much longer, though. There's only so much more they can do with her down there.

Kurt Angle will be on the Raw after Wrestlemania. I assume he's in for a program with either Brock or Goldberg. That works for me! I know it's part-timers in the title picture, but we'll get some big matches out of it and no one's going to buy the regulars as main eventers over guys like Brock and Angle.

Impact Wrestling will be coming to Spike TV in the UK starting this spring. I did NOT see that one coming. Hopefully this means a lot of money for Impact, as their previous UK TV deal was one of their top sources of Impact.

Impact Wrestling has a new logo for the new regime, dropping the Anthem owl. There's speculation the green in the logo is a reference to GFW. Hey, M. Night Shyamalan just pulled off something similar with the poster for his latest movie, so I wouldn't rule anything out.

A lucha libre documentary from PBS has been added to Netflix.

WWE disputes Jack Swagger being released, insisting he's still under contract with the company. That doesn't bode well for him. If he wasn't honest in that podcast, now they'll probably bench him out of spite and make him sit at home for the remainder of his contract.

- Swagger has been announced for a show in the UK next weekend. That could really blow up into something if WWE insists on keeping him under contract. I hope Jack's lawyered up.

New York Post covered Big Show's absolutely amazing weight loss. I'm incredibly proud of Show's transformation.

Kurt Angle was on Sportscenter to talk about going from the Olympics to WWE as well as showing off the ankle lock. I just got flashbacks to "Double J Double M A" with Jeff tapping little kids out in one of my all-time favorite segments.

Paige was backstage at Impact Wrestling as Alberto El Patron debuted for the promotion. Obviously I and others were mistaken in him being off the table due to John Gaburick being moved out of Creative. I hope Alberto has a good run there and stays out of trouble. Paige is still under WWE contract, so she won't be joining him there at this time.

Slammiversary 2017 will be on July 2 in Orlando. So it will be a little later than the actual 15th anniversary for Impact.

Elias Samson worked under a mask as The Rambler at an NXT live event due to his Loser Leaves NXT match recently. I assume that's so he can keep working NXT shows while they plan on him moving up to Raw or Smackdown after WM33. 

Impact Wrestling dropped the TNA name at the ongoing tapings as part of the move toward the new regime.

Magnus and Chris Masters were backstage at the first Impact taping this week, so they could be working there soon. I'd like to see them both involved. 

Jade has officially left Impact after not signing a new contract. 

Anthem senior VP and new head of Impact Ed Nordholm was available for talent at the first night of Impact tapings. Glad he's listening to them; everyone's going to need to be working well together as things transition.

Some GFW staff were involved backstage at Impact. It's definitely a new day in a lot of ways with Jeff back.

There were music changes at Impact, as part of the new era and potentially for rights issue reasons. Impact wants to have control over talents' theme music as WWE has.

Leva Bates and Santana Garrett will be working a One Night Only PPV taped this weekend. Santana really needs to be signed somewhere given her work.

Cody's segments taped for Impact will be spread out across several episodes. He might be sticking around after all; he was likely just already booked for a lot of dates.
 
For my take on yesterday's PWInsider.com questions:
1. They're hitting the ground running with the new regime, new talents, etc. at this taping. Everyone they're moving forward with is locked into Impact contracts, so everything's streamlined for whatever they're doing next.

2. A lot of times less can be more. When you have so much time to fill every single week, not every segment's going to be amazing. Game of Thrones, The Walking Dead, etc. don't have three hours of content 52 weeks in a year, so they can be good in small doses.

3. A number of promotions are likely headed to WWE Network as part of a new tier. I think they'll roll it all out once everything's all put together and Wrestlemania's done with. It would make sense to put that out during more of a "down time" for subscriptions. Announcing it right after Mania's not a bad idea, though.

4. The closest thing that comes to mind is DDP going from manager to wrestler, but that's not at the same level.

5. Kane hasn't been in action in three months. I assume he's getting time off to deal with nagging injuries, get in better shape, etc. It's not super uncommon at this point for him, Show, and Henry.

More wrestling tomorrow.