Interviews with Sydal/Low Ki/McIntyre/Braun/Bully, GFW hits big digital milestone, WWE gets new international TV deal, Flair updates, Kickoff matches set, Sasha training in NYC, Memphis show greenlit, Bayley injury note, HHH conference call, Smackdown audience, Tyrus no-showing GFW tapings, and Questions on the Jordan-Angle storyline, Takeover vs. Summerslam, a New Day PPV, and AJ winning in MSG

Matt Sydal promoted Destination X:
- He's been wrestling for 17 years????? Whoa!

- I like seeing Sydal face bigger guys. It's more interesting than small guy vs. small guy. We see a LOT of that in wrestling now.

- A LOT of small wrestlers in the business now compared to the '80s.

- Hey, Sydal has experience and has worked around the globe. He's qualified.

- YES. Learn the basics before doing crazy spots. Those moves need to mean something more than showing off.

GFW hit a billion views on YouTube. That's a very impressive milestone.

WWE in Australia will air one-hour versions of Raw and Smackdown in addition to airing the shows live.

Low Ki promoted GFW and more:
- I hope Ki doesn't get lost in the shuffle with Alberto out. They'll need a heck of a backup plan for LAX.

- Someone at GFW REALLY needed to check the meanings of manner and manor before sending that out. That's embarrassing.

- I'd like to see Low Ki vs. Sydal vs. Lashley for the title, or Ki vs. Storm.

- Alberto's actions unfortunately got bad press for GFW.

- The LAX/Alberto angle has been pretty great. A lot of big fighting going on.

- I definitely think the company has a responsibility to address when their world champion is involved in such an incident.

- Hahahaha Low Ki's been back-and-forth with GFW a lot, which makes me wonder how long this run will last.

- I'm glad to see so many new names involved in GFW.

- The X-Division got really watered down as it became about six people doing spots instead of storylines. I'm OK with there being characters in addition to wrestlers.

- I'm also surprised Ki's still taking bumps given all his history leaving companies.

- He's got a point about young wrestlers having an easier road to the business than they used to, and not getting help from the veterans.

- I don't know a lot about the issues with NJPW, but it seemed like a shot at them to wrestle in a suit.

Big Show will replace Ric Flair in signings during Summerslam weekend. Show has been an invaluable public face for WWE.

- There has been no update of Charlotte Flair's appearances. Understandably, she has more important things going on than wrestling.

Akira Tozawa vs. Neville is set for Summerslam Kickoff. The Hardys vs. The Revival was originally set for that before Dawson's injury. I'm curious what the plan will be for 205 Live going forward.

- New Day vs. Usos will also be on the long Kickoff show. Fine by me. Both matches were on TV in the past week.

Sasha Banks was training recently at House of Glory in New York. That's pretty cool. Good to see her giving back.

Jerry Lawler's Memphis wrestling show has been picked up for a weekly series in the city. No update on whether it will make its way to WWE Network.

Bayley has begun physical therapy for her separated shoulder. She could miss several months of action. I hope she's able to get momentum going when she returns.

Triple H had a big conference call to promote Takeover:Brooklyn, covered here:
- Brooklyn has become a big show for NXT. The brand has really grown a lot.

- I like WWE being open to other companies helping out in the developmental process IF that helps them be more successful as WWE superstars. That needs to be the end goal if there are going to continue to be NXT names going to Raw and Smackdown.

- What happens if WWE does sign away all these smart people from other promotions?

- It's always cool to wonder how stars would do in different eras.

- Oh, WWE definitely could have done more for women before they did. They just didn't want to treat the women's wrestlers all that seriously under the John Laurinaitis regime.

- I hope the MYC names get to bigger stages after that experience.

- I'm curious how the binge-watching thing will work. It's obviously what a lot of people like to do.

- Honestly, just skip 205 Live that week. They could use a week off anyway.

- I'm not crazy about potentially replacing Main Event with a weekly MYC show. The undercard workers of Raw and Smackdown could use exposure, too.

- I'm sure NXT will do more European shows in the future as it grows as a brand.

- I wonder if they've put up too many NXT alumni too soon. The roster is really different from years ago.

- I wouldn't mind some Raw or Smackdown names going to NXT if they'll do better there.

- I can see Vince being excited about certain talent, then moving on to someone else once he gets them.

- THANK YOU. This idea that everyone needs to be "pushed" right out of the gate is absurd. That's impossible. Some talents are needed to fill out the card. 

Drew McIntyre discussed his previous WWE run and more:
- Interesting the NXT Title is a bigger deal than the GFW Title. He will be in front of a larger crowd in Brooklyn. On that note, Drew was REALLY good in GFW.

- Man, Drew had a REALLY, REALLY busy schedule before NXT.

- I give Drew credit for making himself invaluable after his WWE release. Not everyone gets this kind of opportunity.

- GFW lost a talented guy.

- Drew's previous run wasn't planned out well. He's a lot more well-rounded now.

- 3MB was amazing. I don't get all the hate for it.

- Glad to have someone like HBK giving their time to help younger wrestlers.

- You've absolutely got to feel what you're saying and doing if you're going to be successful.

Braun Strowman promoted Summerslam:
- I'm very glad Braun has been successful where other big guys have failed. Kane, Henry, and Big Show have had to carry the torch for a LONG time.

- It's funny to see Braun as a Rosebud and singing.

- Big Show deserves a lot of praise for making the most of his last years in the business.

- I hope Big Show can keep working with current wrestlers. He's had a lot of experience and done a lot of things.

- Reigns vs. Strowman has been one of the best things in wrestling in years.

- Good to see Braun listening so much to the veterans backstage. They've been successful in the business for a reason, and can pass on valuable advice.

- I hope Braun does get the strap at Summerslam.

Smackdown drew 2.53 million viewers, slightly down from the previous week. Cena vs. Jinder should have been a pretty big deal.

Bully Ray promoted ROH going to the UK:
- Drink every time he puts himself or ECW over.

- I hope Cole and Castle have bright futures.

- Cole was spinning his tires in ROH after so many main events.

- You only get one main roster debut. Everyone involved needs to be prepared.

- Top names can build a following for NXT and get more people familiar with their work by performing there instead of just relying on their work elsewhere making them known to the audience at large.

- The Dudleys did have to adjust their act to a degree for WWE.

- ROH having a veteran like Bully is definitely valuable. It'd be good for them to have more.

- GFW wasn't going to push Bully as a top guy. He had a lot of crutches to be a main eventer, as he alluded to, with the Aces angle and his opponents. I think he realized he wasn't going to be as protected if he returned.

- Um, the Alberto/Paige situation wasn't an everyday kind of argument.

- Florida still might press charges on Paige.

- GFW didn't want the negative publicity of their world champion being involved in a domestic battery incident. I see why they did what they did.

- Unless it's a financial thing, I think Punk's only coming back to do something he hasn't done before: headlining Wrestlemania. WWE made up with Goldberg, Brock, etc., so I wouldn't completely rule it out. WWE knows he'd be a big draw.

Ric Flair had surgery on his bowels, not his colon. There was a miscommunication about that. He also had problems with his kidneys, and underwent dialysis to help with those. Flair remains in critical condition and is expected to need at least one further surgery. He could be in the hospital for several weeks as a result. I hope he's able to fully recover and live a life as free from pain as possible when the ordeal's over.

Tyrus will not be working GFW's TV tapings due to frustration with how he's being used. That's a bold move that could backfire and result in GFW parting ways with him. It seems like there are other people the new regime would rather push, and this could just make that decision easier. To Tyrus' credit, he has been able to cross over with his media appearances, and I can see why he wants recognition for that.

For my take on yesterday's PWInsider.com questions:
1. I think they could have done something like Kurt signing him from Smackdown because he's been impressed with his work, but Jason "being the son of" a Hall of Famer and one of the best ever is a pretty big rub. They're trying to make a talented guy into a star. No complaints at all on my end. Just be glad they're not having someone threaten a paternity test or something else involving an actor playing Jason's mom (yet).

2. I'm glad they're giving new life to someone who was spinning his tires in a tag team. It's been a good start to what will be a long-term project.

3. NXT has the advantage of being a shorter show. Sunday is going to be a LONG night. No matter how good something is, more than six hours in one sitting is a lot to take in. But both shows have the potential to be really good with some of the matches involved.

4. I think they've probably passed the time where the act was hot and fresh enough to have a whole PPV built around them, BUT I don't dislike the idea of all three men getting singles shot at one PPV. Or maybe that can be Taboo Tuesday? Determine the stipulations for each New Day match?

5. It was a nod to MSG still being a big deal to WWE, and it added a new dimension to Owens vs. Styles. I don't think it was directly related to MLB.

More wrestling tomorrow.