AAA/LU issues?, top NJPW name injured, Impact ratings note, World Cup returning to Impact?, Aleister Black update, Impact signings official, Dixie update, Impact party in the UK, Interviews with AJ Lee/Roode/Dunne/Ambrose/Nigel, ROH signing gets press, more classic Network content, WWE live events set, NJPW special airing live, Takeover match in jeopardy, and Questions on Cena's absence, Shane vs. Rusev, future WWE libraries, Tough Enough's Josh, the Impact Hall of Fame, and Kurt's in-ring future

AAA was recently unable to air a match featuring LU characters Killshot and Marty the Moth. That's odd given the relationship between AAA and LU.

Hiroshi Tanahashi tore a biceps at ROH's May 14 TV taping. Should he have surgery, he could miss six to eight months. This could easily put him out of the big U.S. shows in July, where he would likely have been in at least one night's main event. It's possible he tries to rehab without surgery in order to "keep his spot" and whatnot. I can't say I support that mentality at all.

- Tanahashi has been announced as returning at the June 9 NJPW show. There's tough, and then there's stubborn.

Impact is doing quite well on German TV. I wouldn't expect them to tour there anytime soon, but the UK is certainly a possibility.

Impact could bring back their World Cup idea from years past, featuring talent from AAA and Pro Wrestling NOAH. I like them being able to pull from international rosters.

Aleister Black working Main Event should just be considered something of a cameo for now. He was on the road for the European dates, so they used him on that show.

Impact has officially signed Ava Storie, the Veterans of War, Kongo Kong, Matt Sydal, Dezmond Xavier, and Diamante. They've got a LOT of people there now.

Dixie Carter's next project is unrelated to Impact Wrestling (and therefore not something to really cover on a wrestling blog).

Impact is holding a UK party on May 26 with Jeff Jarrett, Jeremy Borash, Grado, and Rockstar Spud. No official word on live events there, but it's definitely something they want to do.

AJ Lee promoted her book on Last Call with Carson Daly as well as WTF with Marc Maron. I'd love to see her mix it up with today's WWE superstars, but I don't see that happening.

Bobby Roode and Pete Dunne promoted Takeover: Chicago. Both men could have bright futures in WWE, although I wouldn't think Bobby's will last as long as the younger star's.

ROH put over signing Flip Gordon to an exclusive deal. It's believed he chose the company over a deal with Impact.

Tuesday Night Titans episodes are being added to WWE Network. I really wonder when they're going to get to Thunder.

Dean Ambrose and Nigel McGuinness talked in the UK. Plenty of wacky Lunatic Fringe in that first piece.

Raw will run a live event in Tennessee on July 17, while Smackdown will run a show in Georgia on that date.

NJPW's July 1 event will air live on AXS TV. That's a pretty big deal for the company.

-- NJPW held a press conference about the events. The IWGP Heavyweight, Intercontinental, Tag Team, Junior Heavyweight, and United States Championships will all be defended between the two nights.

Tommasso Ciampa seemed to suffer an injury to his ankle or foot in a tag match at a NXT live event in Kentucky. More information as it comes in. It would suck if he had to miss the ladder match in Chicago. I assume the Authors are going over, so that wouldn't be the place to use Kassius or Kyle O'Reilly or whomever. They'll definitely a good surprise to win over that crowd, though.

For my take on yesterday's PWInsider.com questions:
1. Part of the time off is believed to be spending time with Nikki while she recovers, celebrating the engagement, etc.

2. It's possible, although Shane vs. Brock never happened so I wouldn't assume it will. This is mostly keeping Rusev visible while he recovers and they build to what comes after Backlash.

3. No real word on anything there. I think they're more focused on doing the kind of deal they're putting in place with ICW and PROGRESS. They had been in talks to license ROH content, but it doesn't look like that's happening.

4. He's fallen completely off the map. He's still part of developmental, but he's sidelined.

5. I'd like to see Jeremy Borash get the nod. James Storm was my original choice, but maybe they should wait on that one until he's close to retiring.

6. I get a feeling they're going to have issues between Kurt and Stephanie leading to Kurt vs. HHH at WM34. I don't know if they'll have him wrestle before then, although certainly there are options for great matches there.

More wrestling tomorrow.