NXT this week will feature:
- Aleister Black vs. Tommaso Ciampa for the NXT Championship
- Adam Cole vs. Sean Maluta
- Lacey Evans in action and more.
WWEPC signing Stacey Ervin got local press. I'm curious to see how he'll do. I wouldn't be shocked to see him get a "more masculine name" unless they think he's known well enough under his current name.
UpUpDownDown has launched a Dungeons & Dragons series. It's good to see wrestlers doing things to get themselves an audience when they're not on TV.
WrestleMania 34's build will be covered in a book releasing on August 7. Writers and producers are interviewed in addition to the workers themselves. That sounds particularly interesting.
Summerslam weekend has a sweepstakes with Tap Sports Baseball.
Dolph Ziggler and Drew McIntyre promoted Raw on local TV.
The 1000th episode of Smackdown Live is set for October 16 in Washington, DC. WWE is making plans for it to be a big event. It will be interesting to see what they do for the show.
Petey Williams was originally going to work backstage at Slammiversary. We'll see if/how he slides into an office role there going forward.
Impact ran a promotion where fans who attended the local MLB game where Johnny Impact threw out the first pitch could attend Monday's TV taping for free. That's a fine move to get people in the door.
The former Santino Marella was backstage at Slammiversary ahead of working this week's TV tapings.
Matt Riddle is being scouted by both WWE and NJPW, with him pulling out of events in Ireland on the same weekend as Takeover:Brooklyn. Riddle has really made a name for himself in EVOLVE and elsewhere following the end of his UFC career, and is currently EVOLVE's champion.
- Riddle will no longer be part of PWG's Battle of Los Angeles, suggesting he has signed to WWE. Trevor Lee will be replacing him. It's unfortunate they won't let him finish what he's already agreed to wrestle, but I understand why they want to start using him immediately.
Gino Hernandez will be the subject of a Viceland documentary.
Randy Savage bobbleheads were given out by a minor league baseball team in Florida. WWE isn't involved.
Adam Page vs. Joey Janela is official for All In. I like the combinations of workers on the show.
WWE is believed to be working on designs for at least one women's tag team championship. I think having one set across Raw and Smackdown Live would be enough. There are definitely a lot of female workers not doing anything from a creative perspective.
Nikki Cross worked this weekend's Smackdown Live live events. We'll certainly see her at Evolution.
Announced for WWE Evolution, on top of the usual Raw and Smackdown Live talents:
- Ronda Rousey
- Trish Stratus
- Beth Phoenix
- The Mae Young Classic's finals
- the NXT Women's Championship on the line
- the NXT UK Women's Championship on the line
- WWE released an official press release on the show. This will be a significant event for the company, and will hopefully be a draw where a different October PPV might not be as successful.
- Triple H and Stephanie McMahon spoke to ESPN about the event. I definitely don't see it as a make-good for the Greatest Royal Rumble, as there has been a push for a greater role for women for years now.
WGN America will soon feature Ring Warriors, a promotion whose August 8-9 TV tapings in Nevada will feature Austin Aries, Eli Drake, Marty the Moth, Michael Tarver, Wes Brisco, Luke Hawx, the Hotshots (Chase Stevens and Cassidy Riley), Melissa Anderson, Santana Garrett, and more.
- The show debuts Saturday September 15 at 8:00 a.m. That's an interesting timeslot. We'll see how it does.
- Ring Warriors' commentary team will be Blake Chadwick and Larry Brannon. "Killer" Ken Resnick will be conducting interviews for the series.
Top WWE executives recently sold significant quantities of company stock. Kevin Dunn, Michelle Wilson, and George Barrios all sold more than 120,000 shares, while Triple H, Stephanie McMahon, and WWE Studios' Michael Luisi all sold more than 16,000 shares. As high as the stock price is right now, it was a good time to make a lot of cash from the sale.
Seth Rollins vs. Drew McIntyre and Finn Balor vs. Baron Corbin have been set for Raw. I'm looking forward to one (and only one) of those matches.
For my take on yesterday's PWInsider.com questions:
1. YOU SEE NORMALLY WHEN YOU GO ONE ON ONE WITH THE WWE, YOU GOT A 8 1/3 CHANCE OF SELLIN OUT. BUT THE G1 SPECIAL IS ON WRESTLEMANIA WEEKEND, AND THAT AIN'T NORMAL! YOU SEE THE METLIFE STADIUM CAN SEAT ABOUT 80,000 FAT ASSSSSSES, BUT THE BARCLAYS CENTER CAN ONLY SEAT 16,000 AT BEST! NOW WWN KNOWS THEY CAN'T BEAT ROH AND NJPW, AND THEY'RE NOT EVEN GONNA TRY! SO THERE'S A 141 2/3 PERCENT CHANCE OF THE G1 SPECIAL HAVIN MORE THAN ENOUGH WHITE TRASH REDNECKS TO FILL UP MADISON SQUARE GARDEN. THE NUMBERS DON'T LIE, AND THEY SPELL RECORD ATTENDANCE FOR ROH. HOLLA IF YOU HEAR ME!!!
2. I mean, they did Mixed Match Challenge. I can see WWE bringing that back at least. I don't know about King of the Ring specifically, but I could see them doing a tournament again at some point.
3. Lashley vs. Lesnar would have been fresh, and at one point that was a dream match. I definitely don't think the beachballers will be happy with yet another Roman/Brock match, but Vince is determined to make it work.
4. The Hulkster needs to take a long beatdown before he can fire up and drop the big leg. I'd have him do the job at some charity events and cut promos putting over the audience directly affected by his remarks before he can run wild on Raw, Smackdown Live, or the award-winning WWE Network. The "be careful not to be taped, brother" angle needs to be dropped in favor of a "don't be a racist, jack" storyline, as well.
5. I wouldn't be shocked at all to see specials on FOX at some point. FOX is very glad to have them on board.
More wrestling tomorrow.
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