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Friday, July 27, 2018

AJ DVD lineup, Moose hurt, Omega working through injury, Mexican promotions working together, Callis missing NJPW dates for Impact, Arquette injured, Punk scouted for return, more on Shelley's status, another All In name, Cobb update, Beretta update, Impact changes UK home, Impact name signs new deal, WWE interested in NJPW and LU names, Rock-WM35 update, WWE planning Starrcade return, Mexican names to WWE soon?, Mojo working hurt, Paige back on reality shows, NXT interviewer speaks, more on Truth surgery, more vintage WWE Network content, Kelley speaks at SDCC, ONO set with indie promotion, another MYC name confirmed, Goldust honored in Texas, more Evolution press, Aries working backstage for newly televised promotion, NXT return, MMA name makes NXT debut, and Questions on 205 Live's future with the FOX deal, Martha working WWE, low blows everywhere, and Purrazzo's WWE status

WWE's AJ Styles DVD lineup has been revealed. It's telling they're doing a three discs of matches for someone who hasn't even been in the company three years. It doesn't look like we'll get any footage from outside WWE on this release, but I wouldn't be shocked to see that down the line if this sells well.

Moose suffered a concussion at Slammiversary, and was not able to work the following TV tapings. I don't get the feeling they changed plans for his match with Aries because of this.

Kenny Omega is working through a small fracture on his heel. He's got an incredibly tough schedule right now, so I hope he can keep it together.

CMLL and The Crash are now working together, with talents able to work both promotions. That's good to see.

Don Callis will work Impact's August 12 and 13 events rather than the NJPW events going on at the same time. Rocky Romero will replace him on commentary. With Callis' key role in Impact, I see why he's needed there instead.

David Arquette fractured two ribs in his first match back. He did a plancha and hurricanrana during that match. I hope he doesn't hurt himself further.

C.M. Punk is being scouted for the G1 Special in Madison Square Garden. That would definitely be huge, but I don't expect it to happen.

Alex Shelley is believed to have retired following reports of him taking the rest of 2018 off to finish school for physical therapy. We'll see what things look like once he completes school and is healthy enough to wrestle again.

Bandido is now set for All In.

Jeff Cobb is booked for a number of ROH dates, but does not have a full contract. His goal is to work NJPW, which of course would let him be an ROH star as well.

Beretta should be back full-time in ROH and NJPW following surgery. It's good to see the Best Friends work together again.

Impact has changed channels in the UK to Showcase. Showcase is available in a lot fewer homes than Spike was.

Abyss has signed a new deal with Impact, presumably in a backstage role.

WWE is interested in Juice Robinson, the former CJ Parker, who is not under a full contract with NJPW. I'm curious how he'd do in a second run in NXT.

- WWE is also interested in LU's Angelico.

The Rock is interested in wrestling at WrestleMania 35 if his schedule will allow it. It could be a situation where he works with someone like Elias rather than it being a match at the level of his work with Cena and Punk. It would definitely be big for WWE to feature him again.

WWE is looking to trademark Starrcade, so they'll likely do another event under that name in November. It was a hit last time.

Ultimo Ninja is expected to join WWE soon. Garza Jr. is also believed to be coming in with him.

Mojo Rawley is working through an unspecified leg injury. He's doing pretty well for himself push-wise right now, so I see why he's working through it.

Paige is returning to "Total Divas" for the next season. She's front and center en route to The Rock's biopic of her.

NXT's Sarah Schneider spoke to WWE.com. It's good to see them hiring people with a passion for wrestling now.

R-Truth showed his recent shoulder surgeries.

WWE Network has added more home video releases to the vault:
- 1985's Andre the Giant and Roddy Piper
- 1986's Ricky Steamboat and Lou Albano
- 1994's The Undertaker and Bret Hart

Cathy Kelley spoke at San Diego Comic Con. She's been a great host for WWE panels and the like.

Impact Wrestling is doing a One Night Only show with Xcite Wrestling on August 25. Eddie Edwards, Moose, Eli Drake, LAX, Alisha Edwards, Fallah Bahh, and KM have all been announced for the event. A lot of the TV regulars aren't under exclusive contracts, so it's pretty much just these names on events like this.

Toni Storm has been confirmed for the Mae Young Classic. I expect she'll be a focal point of NXT:UK.

Goldust became an honorary sheriff in Texas. That's great! I'm glad he's able to walk around well enough to be honored there.

Evolution got press in Denver.

Austin Aries will be working on creative and other behind-the-scenes roles for Ring Warriors, the series coming to WGN America soon. It will be interesting to see what he makes of the show, which will be available in a lot more U.S. homes than any company other than WWE. Of course, being on early Saturday mornings means they won't reach but a small number of the people who get the channel.

Tyler Breeze worked NXT's July 26 show in California, losing to the returning Lars Sullivan. I don't expect him to return full-time, but it's nice to see him make a cameo.

Marina Shafir debuted in NXT on July 26, teaming with Nikki Cross to defeat Aliyah and Rhea Ripley. Jessamyn Duke did not compete as advertised. I wonder if they put Nikki there in her place last minute to have someone more experienced to lead the match. I expect we'll see Duke before long either way.

For my take on yesterday's PWInsider.com questions:
1. Basically 205 Live isn't a huge priority. I think the easiest solution would be to keep it after SDL on Friday nights, since people can watch it on-demand at any time anyway. If they go to the huge (unnecessary?) expense of doing NXT live weekly, they could do 205 Live after that. That would give fans two hours of live content at Full Sail and on the Network. Or hey, maybe they make NXT two hours a week and just fold the 205 Live roster into that? There are a lot of possibilities that depend on how much they want to use those talents and that show.

2. I don't think Martha wants any part of anything WWE can profit from. How many people want their husband's killer to promote the image of their dead spouse?

Nothing to add to 3.

4. I don't necessarily see it as Aries and Bully taking off what Nakamura's doing. There are only so many ways to be a heel in wrestling. And, yes, you'd think eventually opponents would catch on and wear a cup.

5. She's joined the WWE Performance Center and will be part of the Mae Young Classic. From there the plan is for her to eventually be on NXT TV like their other signings.

More wrestling tomorrow.

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