Some Lucha Underground notes as the creators plan for Season 4:
- S4 will have fewer than 30 episodes, with less vignettes, and will tape in February and March for a likely Q2 2018 debut. They're shooting on a much tighter schedule due to budget restrictions. That's going to be a really tough stretch of time for the workers.
- S4 will have fewer than 30 episodes, with less vignettes, and will tape in February and March for a likely Q2 2018 debut. They're shooting on a much tighter schedule due to budget restrictions. That's going to be a really tough stretch of time for the workers.
- There are options for up to three additional seasons. The original contracts were for seven seasons, so it looks like that's still the plan. Should those seasons be greenlit, the plan is to tape one season a year at around the same time. There will be no further taping in 2018.
- LU is still looking at touring.
- LU is actively seeking bookings for its talents in other promotions during the off-season, particularly Impact, ROH, NOAH, and Stardom. This is a move aimed at giving their talents further exposure and more work. I like that idea; Impact has definitely benefited from being able to use their wrestlers.
- LU is looking at using talents from other promotions as "guest stars" working a few dates, and bringing in new regular cast members from AAA. That could be good for AAA talents looking for extra incentive to stay there. Additionally, LU is open to using wrestlers who have left AAA.
- They may or may not have use of The Temple after such a long period away from using it. There are backup plans in place.
NJPW is coming off its most successful fiscal year since 1997 in terms of revenue, with increased attendance being the driving factor.
ROH sold out its November 11 live event and its November 12 TV taping. They're drawing impressive ticket sales these past few months.
Survivor Series will be available on DirecTV, which hasn't carried any WWE events since the Network launched. I hope that goes well for both sides.
ESPN is looking at more wrestling content following the success of the Ric Flair special. That special will be released on DVD with content that didn't make it to the TV version.
WWE's weekly UK show could begin taping in early 2018, as the company is looking to book venues. The recent UK tryouts were partially to scout for talents for that project. I hope it gets moving soon and turns a profit.
Cody will be part of Chris Jericho's cruise on ROH's behalf. We'll see if he's still champion then.
Chris Jericho will almost certainly miss Royal Rumble, as Fozzy will be starting a tour that day. Mid-February would be the earliest he could return as a regular. He's expected to work Wrestlemania season.
Hulk Hogan is talking to a wrestling promotion that isn't WWE. I don't know who would be willing and able to spend big money on him at this stage.
WWE Network is no longer in the top ten streaming services by subscription numbers. The service is underperforming in that regard.
Scott Dawson should be returning in mid-December. I'm ready for more from The Revival!
Sky is changing the replay times for Raw and Smackdown in the UK. Raw will now replay on Tuesdays at 9 p.m., while Smackdown will replay Wednesdays at 10 p.m.
Jonathan Coachman will work with WWE in some capacity soon. We'll see if he ends up doing something there regularly. Coachman says ESPN had turned down a lot of his ideas before his departure, so hopefully he can do those independently now.
NXT's "seasons" from before the WWE Performance Center days are now being uploaded to WWE Network. That version of the show was kind of a mess at times.
A South African rugby player trained at the WWE Performance Center at WWE's invitation. He's getting training for MMA currently.
John Cena was on Entertainment Tonight to promote an upcoming movie.
Sting, Diamond Dallas Page, Alexa Bliss, and New Day will be part of a WWE edition of Disney XD's "Walk The Prank." Family-friendly WWE is a trip.
Impact is cutting staff at their Nashville office as they prepare for the office to move to Ottawa. That's not a big surprise, even independent of budget cuts going on.
Konnan intends to work for Impact in addition to Arolucha, with Crash talents being available for both projects. That's probably good for his workers.
Impact is interested in Brian Cage. He's definitely a spectacle.
Sonjay Dutt is taking an increased backstage role in Impact management. Good to see him stepping up like that.
Survivor Series week 2018 will be in Los Angeles. The hope is for that to be one of their biggest weeks of business every year with four straight nights of events.
NWA is soliciting bookings for their world champion, Tim Storm, as independent promotions are reaching out to have him on their events. So, he and the title will be touring more going forward. That's a pretty cool concept in 2017.
The Rock's daughter will be the ambassador for the Golden Globers' 75th anniversary. That's pretty great for the family!
- Simone Garcia Johnson has plans on pursuing a wrestling career after graduating college. That's several years from now, so we'll see if it ends up happening. Should she do so, she'd be the first fourth-generation superstar.
Triple H did a big conference call before Takeover:WarGames:
- I like the ROH trio working as a faction. They play off each other well, and don't have to compete with each other for screen time.
- The angle definitely works to do that style of match. They're not just doing the match for novelty.
- I definitely expect at least one move off the top of the structure.
- Triple H definitely adds name value and wrestling expertise to matches and angles he's in. It means something more to work with him compared to the regulars on the roster.
- It is crazy that we're getting WarGames and Starrcade in WWE in 2017. I mean. Wow.
- I'm glad WWE worked something out to do that style of match.
- I wasn't aware of the issues with Full Sail.
- I'm glad the UK names are getting work.
- Oh, HHH vs. Angle is pretty much a given. It's a natural extension of Stephanie being Kurt's boss on Raw.
Michael Rapaport narrated Kevin Owens' "WWE 365" episode. I'm glad Owens is getting such a push.
Finn Balor is doing a signing in Texas on Saturday to promote Survivor Series.
The Club are no longer advertised for Starrcade. They were originally set to face The Rock 'N' Roll Express at that show. The WWE Hall of Fame tag team is still advertised for the event, but not for a match.
Dustin Rhodes, wrestling under that name, is set to face Dash Wilder at Starrcade. I'm glad he'll be able to honor his father there.
Deonna Purrazzo vs. Karen Q in a street fight is set for ROH's November 18 event. The Women of Honor are getting pretty regular bookings now. No word on a championship lately, but I'd think that would be something to look for in the future.
Roman Reigns vs. John Cena is now advertised for Raw's December 26 show in Madison Square Garden, with Reigns replacing Samoa Joe. Oh, that will go over REALLY well with the hardcore fans. It's a bigger match for WWE, though.
WWE has announced they will return to Great Britain for events from May 9 through May 18, 2018, including Raw and Smackdown TV tapings.
For my take on yesterday's PWInsider.com questions:
1. Triple H pushed to use WarGames for NXT. It's possible we see something similar for Raw or Smackdown at some point if it goes well. I'm sure HHH is looking at a lot of classic match types to see what else can bring back. I miss "falls counts anywhere" matches that have falls backstage or outside the building, but obviously those aren't as fun for the live audience. Things get repetitive in the ring.
1. Triple H pushed to use WarGames for NXT. It's possible we see something similar for Raw or Smackdown at some point if it goes well. I'm sure HHH is looking at a lot of classic match types to see what else can bring back. I miss "falls counts anywhere" matches that have falls backstage or outside the building, but obviously those aren't as fun for the live audience. Things get repetitive in the ring.
2. I wouldn't be surprised if Jinder got involved. He lost his PPV main event AND might not get to be WWE Champion in India anymore. I'd be pretty upset if I was him!
3. NXT is mainly made of people who haven't been successful at the stage of Raw or Smackdown. It makes sense that just because someone can be a top name at that level, they're going to have more trouble with people who have already passed "developmental" and have spent years of experience at a higher level. A great college athlete isn't likely to jump right into the top of a professional league for this reason. People get really attached to NXT to the point they forget it's considered several steps down from Raw and Smackdown.
4. As said above, NXT is still something of a minor league. It's not as impressive to be champion there compared to being successful past that stage.
5. WWE keeps changing plans with Paige. They probably figured Triple H's return would overshadow hers, so it looks like they're saving her for a potential surprise entry at the show itself as part of Team Smackdown. The original plan was for her to return as part of that brand. As for trusting any source, it's rare for any outlet to be 100% accurate, but everyone tries to get things as correct as they can.
More wrestling tomorrow.
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