Query on WWE going back to TV-14, Interviews with Ziggler/Aries/Bad Influence/Jimmy Hart+Nastys/Jericho/Axel, wrestler sightings, Hacksaw needs surgery, new wrestling school, top new NXT talent debuts, Styles-TNA update, what's set for next week's Impact, more on ex-NXT star at TNA, special guest for TNA live events, Pope's tribute to Devon, TNA press, Where's Eve?, Where's Rey?, when DiBiase's departure will be official, wishing for AJ, more on WWE tryouts, top exec not at Impact, Magnus update, BFG Series rumorkiller, Impact audience, and Questions on the Bryan angle, TNA's six-sided ring, Divas, Velvet Sky, and a WCW mystery wrestler

First up, a query:
1. WWE has absolutely NO plans to go back to TV-14. That ship really seems to have sailed. They like to have relationships with companies that are attracted to a highly-rated PG product. It's firmly ingrained in their business model at this point.

Dolph Ziggler played up the current WWE storyline when promoting a WWE live event. Hopefully when the angle's over, guys like Ziggler, Bryan, and The Shield are positioned as the new flagbearers for WWE. It won't happen overnight, but it's obvious that those talents are willing to work hard enough to be some of the top guys in the company.

Austin Aries also talked up a live event. He's definitely one of TNA's top acts.

Bad Influence talked up that same TNA live event. Pretty entertaining. They're also pretty solid. If TNA does go out of business, it's a shame that guys like Daniels, Kazarian, and Aries might not be featured in WWE.

Everything else from yesterday is after the break.

Gail Kim and her husband, Chef Robert Irvine, made news for an appearance.

So did Naomi and Jimmy Uso. Believe it or not, sometimes wrestlers go places.

"Hacksaw" Jim Duggan needs surgery on his shoulder. After that many tackles I can't say I'm surprised. Get well soon, Hacksaw.

"Big" Vito is opening a wrestling school. I know that's kind of the trend now, but he sounds like he knows what he's doing and could be pretty successful at it. It's always good to have more trained wrestlers who know how to carry themselves. Maybe the Young Bucks could take a few lessons?

Solomon Crowe, formerly Sami Callihan, made his NXT debut recently in a loss to Xavier Woods. "Why are they burying Sami by having him lose on a house show? He should be NXT Champion by now!" Seriously, it's his first WWE match. They want to take it slow and see what he can do. He's only 25, so one would think that there's plenty of time for him to break out. More experience is not going to hurt him.

Update: Here's a photo of his debut. I like his look.

AJ Styles has agreed to a contract extension with TNA. The length of the extension is not currently known, but he's at least staying a little longer. Both sides continue to discuss Styles' future with TNA.

Update: Styles will at least be staying through Bound For Glory. Negotiations continue for him to remain beyond then. 

Set for next week's Impact is:
James Storm and Gunner vs. Wes Brisco and Garett Bischoff
Chris Sabin vs. Knux
A BFG Series Gauntlet match for 20 points. Almost anyone who wins will make it to the Final Four.
Bully Ray vs. Sting in a non-title match (which Hogan inadvertently called a Title match on last week's show).

There are some interesting directions they can go with that card. It feels like they've got to keep pulling tricks out to keep the Aces and Eights angle going.

Michael Hutter (the former Derrick Bateman) worked Impact's dark match as the patriotic character he pitched to WWE that never made it to TV. I'd like to see him get a shot in TNA.

TNA's signed Sonjay Dutt to work next week's live events. I'm under the impression that he's a free agent, since he worked ROH recently.

Elijah Burke/D'Angelo Dinero posted a tribute to Devon. I got a pretty good chuckle out of it. I'd definitely rather see Burke/Dinero in TNA than Devon in 2013. I really liked the feud about Devon's family. It wasn't just "I want to win championships because I'm a good wrestler from (place) and have wanted to wrestle all my life" like so many angles.

Update: Devon's contract doesn't officially expire until October.  I guess it's cheaper to let it run out than pay him the severance fee or whatever it's called? I think WWE has a similar system, so this isn't a lolTNA thing.

Here's a story on Hardcore Justice that somehow took this long to make news. The Slowpoke News Network. All of the news... eventually.

Here's a story on Eve Torres teaching self-defense for women. That's a great goal.

Rey Mysterio checked in from San Diego. I haven't heard any specific date for his comeback or what he'll be doing when that goes down. Maybe he'll face off with the Haitch Regime?

Update: Rey is advertised for WWE's tour of Mexico in October. I suspect we'll see him on TV before then, likely even competing.

WWE has officially confirmed Ted DiBiase's contract expiring. There's not really much else that needs to be said here.

AJ Lee granted a wish through Make-A-Wish. That's pretty cool.

Former members of the military were a part of WWE's most recent tryout. WWE thinks highly of the troops for sure.

Here's a story on Jimmy Hart and the Nasty Boys at Legends of Wrestling night. I'd love to be able to forget the Nastys' run in TNA (as I'm sure a lot of people would).

Dixie Carter wasn't present at the most recent Impact tapings. Interesting...

Magnus arrived at the Impact tapings late due to getting his work visa renewed in the UK, but was still able to work the second episode. I'm glad he's still around.

There was never any plan to do a "round robin" style tournament for the BFG Series, as some have alleged. I don't know where that one started. People will believe anything if it makes Management for either company look incompetent.

Chris Jericho was interviewed about WWE, Fozzy, and more. Part 1 Part 2 I like his thoughts about the current WWE product and the direction it's going in. WWE does have a killer roster right now. I'm grateful that Jericho comes back and passes things on to the wrestlers who are still looking on their way up.

Curtis Axel talked about the changes he's undergone in the past few months and what could have happened. He definitely had an interesting road to the WWE. The Kane idea was certainly an interesting direction they could have taken. I think it makes more sense to have the Wyatts take him out, though.

Impact's audience was 1.24 million this week, slightly lower than last week. Where were all those Hulkamaniacs who couldn't wait for his TNA return? Where were the fans of Tito Ortiz and Rampage Jackson, the 2 headliners of Bellator's first PPV? Could it be that the TNA audience wants to see people more relevant to modern wrestling?

For my take on yesterday's PWInsider.com questions:
1. I don't see how they could come up with a good reason for Orton to not cash in when Bryan was so vulnerable, especially with HHH as the referee to screw Bryan. HHH wanted the title off of Bryan ASAP. Why wait 24 hours?

2. It could happen if they get rid of Bischoff and Hogan and try to go back to what the old-school TNA die-hards want. I don't see why it makes such a big difference, personally. It's rather gimmicky.

3. Someone complaining just to have something to complain about? From the IWC? That's crazy. But WWE generally likes to put a Divas segment after something big to kind of cleanse the palates with something less monumental. They also use acts like Tons of Funk, Khali/Hornswoggle, Fandango, etc. for this purpose.

4. Interesting... they can't be cutting her, too. Can they? We'll see what goes down from here.

5. Brad Armstrong is Road Dogg's brother, for anyone who didn't know (and better call somebody).

More wrestling tomorrow.