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Thursday, September 12, 2019

Network adding more Thunder, more on Taker on ESPN, MSG donates to Connor's Cure, Asuka comments on facing MMA star, Mojo cuts promo on Gronk, Super J Cup now online, another MLW taping, more AXS cuts, Angle's new job, WWE hires former Impact interviewer and lead HOH announcer, more on tiered Network plans, NXT UK names working in U.S. more, ROH signs female UK star, Interviews with HHH/Sasha/Mandy, Network updates, Rollins family expands, ECW name starts podcast, SDL audience, Owens teases future, AEW names wrestling in Taiwan, new Bloodsport match, Atlanta wrestling profiled, WALTER set for EVOLVE, and Questions on statistics in wrestling, NXT vs. AEW, AEW replaying on TNT, streaming wrestling, brand battles at Survivor Series, and AEW making B/R shows available outside the U.S.

WCW Thunder will have more episodes added to WWE Network Monday.

The Undertaker's ESPN appearance was detailed.

Madison Square Garden made a donation to Connor's Cure.

Asuka shot down facing Cris Cyborg. There has been regular talk over the years about Cyborg wrestling, but obviously she's still competing in MMA.

Mojo Rawley fired back at Rob Gronkowski. That 24/7 Title has Gronk's name all over it.

NJPW's 2019 Super-J Cup is now available on New Japan World.

MLW is taping Fusion in Florida on November 9. The return to Orlando got local press.

Anthem has also released a number of AXS employees from the California and Colorado offices, putting the total of releases past 40.

Kurt Angle is now a producer on Raw. I'm glad he's still able to contribute.

WWE has hired former Impact interviewer McKenzie Mitchell for a currently unspecified role.

- WWE has also hired House of Hardcore announcer Matt Camp as a host and digital talent. They're really filling up that end of things.

WWE Network is looking at launching its tiered service in January. WWE has been reaching out to independent promotions and lucha promotions to gauge interest for streaming them on the premium tier. That could be a game changer for everyone involved.

Pete Dunne is moving to the U.S., so he will be more of a part of NXT.

Toni Storm is expected to shift to NXT. That makes sense as the series expands.

ROH has signed Session Moth Martina. She will continue to compete for outside companies in Europe and Japan as part of the deal. WWE was looking to sign her to NXT UK, but she chose to go a different route. WOH could use another consistent player, so this works out well for her.

Triple H spoke to Newsweek about NXT's move to USA Network:
- The notion that the possibility of NXT moving to TV popped up in the last three months or whatever is patently false.

- It will be REALLY interesting to see if there's pressure to use certain names to draw ratings instead of spotlighting more up-and-coming workers.

- I also wonder what the chances are of NXT taping on the road.

- Having one-hour shows the first two weeks might end up working in NXT's favor.

- I really want to see more shuffling around of rosters among brands. There are talents on each show spinning their tires who could use a new environment.

- Yeah, it's time to start preparing to drop 205 Live as a separate entity. Those talents can still have great matches on other shows.

- I really hope talents don't become NXT lifers. I'd rather see Raw and Smackdown be able to use them effectively.

- I do like NXT being its own thing with its own style. Some lower-level talents could move there and reinvent themselves while the names who are clearly ready for bigger things can move to bigger shows.

WWE Network has been updated on Amazon Fire and Roku. They continue to work out bugs there.

Seth Rollins recently learned he has a brother and sister. There's a reality show waiting to happen!

Francine has launched a podcast. 

Smackdown Live drew 2.06 million viewers Tuesday night.  

Kevin Owens has teased going to NXT after his Smackdown Live firing. Honestly that's a clever idea, though the end goal needs to be him getting his Smackdown job back after a Hell in A Cell match with Shane McMahon.

Sasha Banks promoted Clash of Champions locally.

Mandy Rose discussed her training and more.

AEW, through OWE, is putting on Kenny Omega and Riho vs. Michael Nakazawa and Yuka Sakazaki in Taiwan Saturday.

Bloodsport II has added Killer Kross vs. Nick Gage. I'm curious how that will go given the issues with Impact's First Blood match.

Wrestling in Atlanta was profiled.

WALTER is booked for EVOLVE 135 on September 20 and EVOLVE 136 on September 21. That's pretty cool.

For my take on yesterday's PWInsider.com questions:
1. It sounds like they're going to push some of those ideas and similar ones. It's not something I care for, but it's certainly an alternative.

2.a. No, because that was NXT's timeslot before it was AEW's and there had been talk of putting NXT on TV when The Elite were still in ROH. That doesn't mean I don't think for a second they wouldn't have moved NXT to another night and time if AEW was airing at that time, though. WWE is intentionally running against AEW.

2.b. There's no indication that's in the works. TNT might want to see how things go with the show before making a move like that.

3. Possibly. It will depend on how the shows do compared to non-wrestling shows that can also be seen in other ways.

4. If the brand split was protected more, it would be more meaningful to see Raw and Smackdown names face off. I do think they can tell a story this year of each show trying to establish itself in the "new era" of FOX vs. USA, but of course followup will be key there as far as not having much brand crossover in the months that follow. I definitely wouldn't mind WWE dropping the brand battle theme for one of faces vs. heels spreading across brands.

5. I don't know how much of that AEW can do anything about, but, yeah, that's something they need to keep in mind.

More wrestling tomorrow.

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