MVP speaking tour, Interviews with Paige/Shockmaster, NXT names booked for Evolution, NFL player puts over ECW, Cena back on Today, BFG preview show, NWA National Championship brackets, custom WNBA championship, NXT live events set, Rey trademarks, NJPW notes, Evolution match changed, and Questions on which wrestlers get merch, Elias burying Seattle, Renee not standing out on commentary, and WWE working with Impact

MVP is starting a one-man show. That's seemingly the new trend in the business. I think he'll do well, though.

Paige discussed retirement and the Brie Bella backlash on Lilian Garcia's latest podcast.

The Shockmaster is on the latest Geniuscast. I wonder how that gimmick would have done if not for him slipping.

Evolution will feature NXT's Jessamyn Duke, Marina Shafir, Candice LaRae, Bianca Belair, and Dakota Kai in roles to be confirmed. Good to see all those names at the event. 

NFL player Stefon Diggs paid tribute to ECW. That's really cool!

John Cena was on the "Today Show" this morning. He has a very international schedule!

Impact Wrestling previewed Bound For Glory. That show and its followup are going to be key for Impact's future on Pop.

NWA has announced the National Championship brackets. The winner of Willie Mack vs. Jay Bradley vs. Mike Parrow vs. Ricky Starks will face the winner of Colt Cabana vs. Scorpio Sky vs. Sam Shaw vs. Sammy Guevara.

The WNBA Champions received a custom championship.

NXT has announced live events for December 6 and December 7 in Wisconsin, December 8 in Minnesota, and December 9 in Iowa.

Rey Mysterio has trademarked "The Greatest Mask Of All Time" and ""G.M.O.A.T." for merchandise purposes.

NJPW event notes:
- NJPW has signed Shingo Takagi right after Takagi finished with Dragon Gate. He's joined Los Ingobernables de Japon, so we could see him in ROH before too much longer.
- Chris Jericho attacked EVIL.
- KUSHIDA is the new IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion
- Kenny Omega retained the IWGP Heavyweight Championship in a three-way match with Kota Ibushi and Cody. This was the first three-way match for that championship since 2005. It's expected we'll see Omega vs. Ibushi at a different major show.

WWE Evolution has changed Trish Stratus vs. Alexa Bliss to Trish Stratus and Lita vs. Alexa Bliss and Mickie James. I'm not quite sure what to make of that, but it means the two Hall of Famers don't have to have long singles matches. Maybe WWE learned from Triple H vs. Undertaker.

For my take on yesterday's PWInsider.com questions:
1. I think each side plays into the other - they push wrestlers who they think will sell more merchandise, and they make more merchandise for the wrestlers they push. Certainly if someone surprises them with how much (or how little) merch they sell, WWE will take that into account. I also think to some degree wrestlers who are over are going to sell merch that's not great looking, while wrestlers who aren't over aren't going to sell much merch no matter how nice it is.

2. They don't want to run into a situation where they make a lot of merch for someone who isn't seen as a big priority, and they also want to have a lot of options available for talents who will likely sell some merch. Because while Little Jimmy in Arizona might not get his mom to buy 59 Roman items, he might ask for a different 12 items than Little Jimmy in Wisconsin.

3. WWE knew they'd get a good reaction. They just didn't know it'd be THAT good. It was pretty great, and Elias and Owens got the most out of it.

4. I think she's deferring to the more experienced members of the group. She should get more settled in as time goes on.

5. As was said, there's not much for WWE to get out of such an agreement. Most of the talents they'd be interested in are under deals with LU, so they'd be untouchable regardless. Other than licensing the video library, WWE isn't that interested in working with Impact.

More wrestling tomorrow.