WWN signs new distribution deal, LU roster cuts, top indie female works NXT dark match, NXT name set to return soon, Ziggler update, WM12 notes, Smackdown audience, Crash working with Japanese promotion, DDP on SYFY, Interviews with Y2J/Ellsworth/Swoggle, more MMC teams, Bryan appearance canceled, 2K18 patch, another wrestler helping Kane run for mayor, and Questions on all things Woken/Broken in WWE

WWN has signed a new deal with Fite for increased distribution of Internet PPVs. Hopefully they're able to rebound well from the end of Flosports.

A number of LU names won't be returning for the fourth season, either due to asking and receiving their releases or due to budget cuts. The season will tape in February and March for a likely summer TV debut.

Candice LeRae worked a dark match at the recent NXT tapings, leading to further speculation WWE will be signing her soon. That would make sense given her husband being Johnny Gargano.

No Way Jose has missed time due to injury, but he should be back in action in January. I've missed him.

Dolph Ziggler isn't working Smackdown's live events due to his recent TV angle. He had been advertised for the shows, but didn't end up working on them. I expect him to come back on the road to Wrestlemania to challenge the U.S. Champion with the angle that he's back to determine the "real" champion since he never lost the title. That's not a bad idea at all.

Some notes from WrestleKingdom 12:
- Delirious, Australia's Gino Gambino, Cheeseburger, and Masahito Kakihara were part of the opening rumble match. Kakihara just recovered from cancer.
- NJPW announced it was the largest Tokyo Dome crowd in 15 years. That's great news.
- Cody lost to Kota Ibushi. With this being a non-title match, that's not a big surprise.
- Kenny Omega defeated Chris Jericho to retain the U.S. Championship.

Smackdown drew 2.72 million viewers Tuesday night, a small boost from last week.

The Crash will be working with Japan's Dragon Gate promotion in 2018. That's pretty cool.

Diamond Dallas Page was on SYFY's Superstition this week.

Chris Jericho discussed getting Vince McMahon to unban the Styles Clash. Jericho has been an incredible presence at helping get people over who wouldn't necessarily fit in with Vince's vision.

New teams have been set for WWE's Mixed Match Challenge:
- Finn Balor and Sasha Banks. Ehhh. I was hoping for Finn/Bayley given their previous interactions, or even Finn/Becky.
- Rusev and Lana. That's pretty cool.
- Jimmy Uso and Naomi. Another good "Total Divas" nod. It's cool the married couple can team.
- Apollo Crews and Nia Jax. That could be really fun. I need to see them face Braun and Alexa.

James Ellsworth talked to Rolling Stone:
- Ellsworth trying to help Carmella win the Rumble like he did MITB would have been a LOT of fun. Asuka could end the match destroying them both.

- I think he had gone as far as he could as a face.

- I was disappointed to see him released.

- They could definitely have him come back looking for revenge.

- The transgender wrestler idea is an AWFUL one. I hope they mean just wrestling in drag like Santino did.

- Getting paid to job as a comedy guy is better than not getting paid to be a good wrestler.

Daniel Bryan's scheduled appearance at World of Wheels in Tennessee has been canceled for unknown reasons. That's unfortunate.

WWE 2K18 has a new patch out.

Matt Hardy is doing an appearance with Kane's mayoral campaign. That sounds amazing in kayfabe.

WWE caught up with Hornswoggle. Swoggle has kept pretty busy since leaving the company.

For my take on yesterday's PWInsider.com questions:
1. Because this side of him has woken back up after being dormant due to the Anthem legal issues, or you can say Bray pushed him to the point where this side of him has woken back up. Anthem's not going to sue WWE for anything trademark-related due to the costs involved. They've already spent plenty of money on Impact projects, and it's not worth a lengthy court battle to keep rights to trademarks of characters for wrestlers who no longer work there! As for Matt's freedom, it's not going to be as easy for them to do a lot of pre-taped stuff from the Hardy Compound with Matt constantly being on the road. Impact had weeks between tapings to put things together "on the road" and edit it for the shows.

2. It will depend on what everyone has going on then, and whether that's the best move for Matt, Jeff, etc. It might be better to have Jeff be Jeff for a while before turning him into Nero if they so choose. They shouldn't rush to use that character just to do it when they could get some mileage out of Jeff wondering what's happened to Matt and Matt taking him back to the Lake of Reincarnation or something.

3. Well, most characters aren't as over-the-top as Matt. It's different for, say, Bayley to keep up her character after the show. Matt strikes me as something of a method actor in the sense he doesn't really cut the Woken part of him off.

4. I don't see Reby and Maxel showing up as much. Going on the road or WWE is a lot to ask for a new mother and young children.

Nothing to add to 5.

More wrestling tomorrow.