Main Event Reax - 2/17/18, WWE Network Flashback Friday, more WWE Pop! figures, Swann already booked for HOH, WWE PPVs doing dual-branded, WWE shuffles PPV schedule, Henry on Hogan return, Raw matches set, Interview with Braun, Sami gets award, Network collection removed, new NXT live event faction, and Questions on Impact hiring Kevin Kelly, seeing more EC3 in NXT, favorite wrestling movie, and the Midnight Express in the WWE HOF

-- Main Event:
- Hawkins vs. Slater:
Haha. Nice start. 

HAHAHAHAHAAHAH I love Hawkins being willing to end the streak on a DQ win.

Fun work so far.

These two work together pretty well.

Fine basic action.

That was pretty good! I liked the ending sequence. 0-162!

- Cedric vs. Ariya:
I like this start OK.

Good story early. It's obvious who's the heel here.

Pretty fine stuff so far.

GOD. I wish the frog splash could get a three count here or there.

Good enough ending. 

WWE Network's "Flashback Friday" theme this week will celebrate four years of the Network itself, focusing on episodes of original series for the platform.

Shawn Michaels (WM12 outfit), Jake "The Snake" Roberts (two different versions with varying snakes), Sting ("Surfer" era), and Lex Luger (WCW era) are all getting Pop! figures. Those are really cool.

Rich Swann will work House of Hardcore on March 23, March 24, and April 7. That's a pretty quick turnaround for him. I don't know if he negotiated not having a 90-day no-compete clause or if Dreamer got a special exemption or what, but it's good that Rich will be able to get right back to work.

WWE announced all pay-per-view events after Wrestlemania 34 will feature both Raw and Smackdown talents. They further announced changes to the pay-per-view calendar for the rest of the year to compensate, dropping some events and moving others around. NXT will not be affected by the move:
- Raw's Payback PPV in May has been eliminated.
- Extreme Rules has been moved from September 16 to July 15, replacing the originally planned Battleground event for Raw.
- Hell in a Cell has been moved from September 30 to September 16.
-- Since the increased number of events wasn't resulting in more Network subscribers, I can see why they cut back and are going to load the shows up more.

Mark Henry discussed Hulk Hogan potentially returning to WWE. I hope the two sides can come together and work together in some capacity.

Announced for Raw:
- The seven men's Elimination Chamber participants competing in a gauntlet match
- Alexa Bliss, Mandy Rose, and Sonya Deville vs. Bayley, Sasha Banks, and Mickie James

Braun Strowman talked in South Africa. I wish more characters were as larger-than-life as Braun. He's so entertaining precisely because he's treated as something different from most of the roster.

Sami Zayn was given an award for his humanitarian work for Syria. That's awesome.

WWE Network removed the "Greatest Matches Ever" collection. They cycle those in and out fairly frequently.

NXT has a new faction, as the former Gunner was accompanied by Steve Cutler, Wesley Blake, and Lacey Evans in a DQ loss to Killian Dain. Chad Lail (Gunner), Cutler, and Evans all have backgrounds in the armed forces, so that could be what they play up.

For my take on yesterday's PWInsider.com questions:
1. I don't expect them to hire someone new when they can just use someone already working in the company. I wouldn't be shocked to see Callis move to commentary at some point, however.

2. That would definitely make the most sense. They could have him do a squash at Takeover or the TV taping before that show if they want, or even have him get involved in a big match if they really want to jump-start his run, but they could also wait until they're moving on from New Orleans. 

3. That's definitely one of my favorite movies, for sure. I can't disagree.

Nothing to add to 4.

5. It's possible, but there's no indication they're going in that direction.

More wrestling tomorrow.