John Cena has been confirmed as a "free agent" between Raw and Smackdown. I really hope they don't make him Raw-exclusive. I'm concerned they'll fall back into the old habit of making Raw the "A" show no matter what.
Stephanie McMahon will be honored as a sports humanitarian of the year by ESPN. That's definitely an important honor for her as she looks to establish WWE as a philanthropic leader.
WWE is teasing something for Monday, believed to be WWE 2K18-related. I look forward to seeing what they have planned.
WWE is seeking feedback on potential future Wrestlemania hosts, including London and Toronto. I would be VERY surprised to see them do a show of that size in a place with such a time difference from the U.S. I wouldn't rule out a lesser event coming live from the UK, but I really don't see it happening with Mania anytime in the foreseeable future.
ESPN alum Robert Flores and Don West will be calling Slammiversary. That's a good move, since Matthews and Borash are involved elsewhere on the show. Interesting that Pope's not at the table that night, but it's cool to have those guests.
Randy Orton and AJ Styles have next weekend off from live events. That would seem to suggest Jinder will retain at MITB, but plans can always change.
Raw will not have live events next weekend ahead of a big trip to Singapore and Japan. That's a good move.
Lana talked to promote MITB:
- I hope she has a good in-ring career head of her. She could really write a new chapter for herself if she can hang as a wrestler.
- Lana has definitely put in a lot of work ahead of getting in the ring.
- I'm very interested to see what she does as a wrestler, and what the future holds between her character and Rusev's.
- She put in some really intense work for ballet.
NJPW's live July 1 special will be broadcast on AXS TV commercial-free. That will be a really big night for NJPW.
Announced for ROH's June 24 TV taping:
- Kelly Klein vs. Karen Q vs. Deonna Purrazzo
- Mandy Leon vs. Jenny Rose
- Jay White challenging for the TV Championship
- Bully Ray & The Briscoes vs. Hangman Page & The Young Bucks for the ROH Six-Man Tag Team Championship (should Bully & The Briscoes retain at BITW)
- Motor City Machine Guns vs. War Machine (so MCMG will stay together even if Seek and Destroy disbands)
- Matt Taven vs. CMLL's Ultimo Guerrero
ROH is releasing a two-DVD special for the Young Bucks. Those two guys are definitely doing really well for themselves outside of WWE.
ROH officials will be attending NJPW's upcoming California shows. I'm really interested to see what the ROH/NJPW relationship will look like as NJPW expands into the U.S.
WWE will tape Raw in Tennessee on August 28 and Smackdown in Arkansas on August 29.
Jeff Jarrett is holding meetings in California on behalf of Impact. Impact's TV deal with POP expires at the end of the year, so he could be planning the next move there.
Impact is looking to bring NOAH's Taiji Ishomuri in for Slammiversary week in addition to Naomichi Marufuji.
Impact is also looking to have AAA talent work with LAX. That could be a good use of the relationship with that company.
Impact has brought back former WCW and Impact employee Ross Forman as head of media relations. They're restocking the back office after the big losses at the tail end of Dixie's tenure.
Impact has confirmed a live event in Connecticut on August 6, making a three-date loop for their roster. This tour will be important for planning their next steps on the live event front.
For my take on yesterday's PWInsider.com questions:
1. Considering Brock has destroyed Vince McMahon himself in the past, I don't think anyone's eager to try to take the title from him in such a manner. It could also be "part of his contract" that he's immune to the 30-day rule. Or maybe Angle just doesn't care to enforce it as Raw GM, as is his prerogative.
1. Considering Brock has destroyed Vince McMahon himself in the past, I don't think anyone's eager to try to take the title from him in such a manner. It could also be "part of his contract" that he's immune to the 30-day rule. Or maybe Angle just doesn't care to enforce it as Raw GM, as is his prerogative.
2. ROH will be doing War of the Worlds UK around that time, so I think they've made up for missing that show.
3. I don't think we'll see it after the drug test failures. I assume he's done with MMA after getting that last (tainted) dominant victory and going out like a conqueror.
4. It looks like they're going to test the waters with Impact-only shows before involving other companies. They do have bigger plans for live events down the road, but it's going to take a while for it to all roll out.
5. I'm sure they've taken bids and the like. I know Minneapolis was on the short list for WM33, so they and Philadelphia could both be options. There's a lot of time between now and WM34, so it's pretty much all up in the air.
More wrestling tomorrow.
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