Week in Wrestling #16
Wrestling News From the week of
November 7 - November 13, 2015
November 7 - November 13, 2015
Rollins Update
Seth Rollins was diagnosed with a torn ACL, a torn MCL and a torn medial meniscus. He underwent reconstructive knee surgery on 11/10, performed by Dr. Jeffrey Dugas of the Andrews Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Center, in Birmingham, AL. He’s expected out of action for six to nine months, putting him out of WrestleMania and making SummerSlam 2016 as a likely return period.
“I was setting up to do something I’ve done a million times, flipping over my opponent while he was standing on the second (rope),” said Rollins in an interview with the WWE web site. “I landed underneath him and then picked him up for a power bomb. And for whatever reason, I just landed on the side of my right foot, instead of flat, with my feet, and my knee gave. If you’ve seen the video, you know it looks pretty graphic. It didn’t feel as graphic, though. It just felt like my knee dislocated and then kind of popped back in. So, I hustled back up and got underneath, made sure my feet were steady and delivered the power bomb. Then, I did a self-evaluation real quick to see what was going on. I realized my knee was pretty unstable and noticed that it felt like it was flopping around. It didn’t feel like I had a lot of control over it. I was able to move around enough to finish the match, hit a pedigree and get the win. Afterwards, I just laid there and (tried to figure out what was going on). Again, I wasn’t in a whole bunch of pain. I just felt like my knee wasn’t right. I wasn’t really sure of the extent of the damage until the next morning when I got the MRI.”
Seth Rollins was diagnosed with a torn ACL, a torn MCL and a torn medial meniscus. He underwent reconstructive knee surgery on 11/10, performed by Dr. Jeffrey Dugas of the Andrews Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Center, in Birmingham, AL. He’s expected out of action for six to nine months, putting him out of WrestleMania and making SummerSlam 2016 as a likely return period.
“I was setting up to do something I’ve done a million times, flipping over my opponent while he was standing on the second (rope),” said Rollins in an interview with the WWE web site. “I landed underneath him and then picked him up for a power bomb. And for whatever reason, I just landed on the side of my right foot, instead of flat, with my feet, and my knee gave. If you’ve seen the video, you know it looks pretty graphic. It didn’t feel as graphic, though. It just felt like my knee dislocated and then kind of popped back in. So, I hustled back up and got underneath, made sure my feet were steady and delivered the power bomb. Then, I did a self-evaluation real quick to see what was going on. I realized my knee was pretty unstable and noticed that it felt like it was flopping around. It didn’t feel like I had a lot of control over it. I was able to move around enough to finish the match, hit a pedigree and get the win. Afterwards, I just laid there and (tried to figure out what was going on). Again, I wasn’t in a whole bunch of pain. I just felt like my knee wasn’t right. I wasn’t really sure of the extent of the damage until the next morning when I got the MRI.”
Plans Changed
Rollins injury led to emergency plan changes. The first was to set up a tournament for the WWE championship. The 16-man tournament had its first rounds on 11/9 and 11/10, at the Raw and Smackdown tapings in Manchester, England. The second round is set for television this coming week, Raw on 11/16 in Greenville, SC, and possibly Smackdown the next night in Knoxville.
It also results in changing the Survivor Series card on 11/22 in Atlanta, and also will change plans for WrestleMania at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX.
Rollins was scheduled to lose the title to Roman Reigns at Survivor Series. If Reigns was to remain a babyface, he and Rollins would have likely headlined house shows for several months after, before going in separate directions as Mania approached.
Rollins injury led to emergency plan changes. The first was to set up a tournament for the WWE championship. The 16-man tournament had its first rounds on 11/9 and 11/10, at the Raw and Smackdown tapings in Manchester, England. The second round is set for television this coming week, Raw on 11/16 in Greenville, SC, and possibly Smackdown the next night in Knoxville.
It also results in changing the Survivor Series card on 11/22 in Atlanta, and also will change plans for WrestleMania at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX.
Rollins was scheduled to lose the title to Roman Reigns at Survivor Series. If Reigns was to remain a babyface, he and Rollins would have likely headlined house shows for several months after, before going in separate directions as Mania approached.
WWE Title Tournament
For Survivor Series, the entire card was scrapped and two weeks out, nothing was advertised except the conclusion of the title tournament.
It hasn’t been said, but it appears that the final four in the tournament will go into Survivor Series.
There were no surprises, well past the point guys like Kalisto, The Miz and Titus O’Neil were put into the title tournament, among the 16-men, which really shows the lack of star power depth in the company. A tournament for the vacant championship, even if the reasons were unfortunate, should have at least temporarily created interest and jump started the ratings, but the opposite happened, as the viewership numbers set a new modern low with 3.16 million viewers for Raw.
There was really only one first round surprise, having Kalisto pin Ryback. And that just seems to be because it’ll make for a better match if Alberto Del Rio beats Kalisto instead of Ryback this coming week.
First round matches on Raw saw Reigns beat Big Show, Cesaro beat Sheamus, Owens beat O’Neil, Dolph Ziggler beat Miz and Dean Ambrose beat Tyler Breeze. On Smackdown, Del Rio beat Stardust, Neville beat King Barrett and Kalisto beat Ryback.
The quarterfinals this week have Reigns vs. Cesaro, Del Rio vs. Kalisto, Owens vs. Neville and Ambrose vs. Ziggler.
One would expect this to lead to a final four at Survivor Series of Reigns vs. Del Rio and Owens vs. Ambrose. Reigns will almost surely be in the finals, perhaps with Jack Swagger (who was to face Del Rio at Survivor Series in a U.S. title match originally) costing Del Rio his match. Owens or Ambrose could win in the other side, depending on whether they want to do a turn or not. If Ambrose or Reigns is to turn, then Reigns vs. Ambrose should be the championship match. Clearly they need a top heel given the length of time that Rollins is out, while the face side will be getting Cena back next month, and has Lesnar likely working more dates in early 2016 since the company’s two biggest shows of the year take place in January and April.
The idea of a Reigns turn, going with the Authority, particularly since Reigns shot it down on Raw this past week, makes sense on one hand. There is the feeling that if Reigns were to become a hot heel, that when he flips back, there won’t be the crowd resistance to him that there was before WrestleMania, and, at some TV tapings, continues to be. Ambrose could also turn, since it’s unlikely he’ll ever get to be No. 1 face, but he can be positioned as No. 1 heel. Owens vs. Ambrose for the IC title was originally to be a winter program and was set for Survivor Series.
The Reigns turn question comes down to the fact that he’s just starting to get momentum as a face, and he’s the No. 2 merchandise seller in the company right now behind Cena. C.M. Punk noted that his pay went down greatly when he did his heel turn, even as champion with Paul Heyman, because of the huge decline in his T-shirt sales. But if he or Ambrose doesn’t turn, that means, almost by default, Owens would be the top heel and have little backup, since the other top heels would be Del Rio, who has been working to mostly silence, Bray Wyatt, who has already worked a program with Reigns, Big Show, who is burned out, and Tyler Breeze, who is new and small.
Also made clear at television this past week is that Undertaker & Kane will work a regular tag team match, as opposed to a traditional Survivor Series four-on-four match, against two members of the Wyatt Family. Which two may not be announced until the match takes place. Charlotte vs. Paige for the Divas title is still on the show, and The New Day would look to be defending the tag titles against either/and or The Usos or Lucha Dragons most likely. One would also expect Ziggler vs. Breeze added once/if Ziggler is eliminated from the tournament.
For Survivor Series, the entire card was scrapped and two weeks out, nothing was advertised except the conclusion of the title tournament.
It hasn’t been said, but it appears that the final four in the tournament will go into Survivor Series.
There were no surprises, well past the point guys like Kalisto, The Miz and Titus O’Neil were put into the title tournament, among the 16-men, which really shows the lack of star power depth in the company. A tournament for the vacant championship, even if the reasons were unfortunate, should have at least temporarily created interest and jump started the ratings, but the opposite happened, as the viewership numbers set a new modern low with 3.16 million viewers for Raw.
There was really only one first round surprise, having Kalisto pin Ryback. And that just seems to be because it’ll make for a better match if Alberto Del Rio beats Kalisto instead of Ryback this coming week.
First round matches on Raw saw Reigns beat Big Show, Cesaro beat Sheamus, Owens beat O’Neil, Dolph Ziggler beat Miz and Dean Ambrose beat Tyler Breeze. On Smackdown, Del Rio beat Stardust, Neville beat King Barrett and Kalisto beat Ryback.
The quarterfinals this week have Reigns vs. Cesaro, Del Rio vs. Kalisto, Owens vs. Neville and Ambrose vs. Ziggler.
One would expect this to lead to a final four at Survivor Series of Reigns vs. Del Rio and Owens vs. Ambrose. Reigns will almost surely be in the finals, perhaps with Jack Swagger (who was to face Del Rio at Survivor Series in a U.S. title match originally) costing Del Rio his match. Owens or Ambrose could win in the other side, depending on whether they want to do a turn or not. If Ambrose or Reigns is to turn, then Reigns vs. Ambrose should be the championship match. Clearly they need a top heel given the length of time that Rollins is out, while the face side will be getting Cena back next month, and has Lesnar likely working more dates in early 2016 since the company’s two biggest shows of the year take place in January and April.
The idea of a Reigns turn, going with the Authority, particularly since Reigns shot it down on Raw this past week, makes sense on one hand. There is the feeling that if Reigns were to become a hot heel, that when he flips back, there won’t be the crowd resistance to him that there was before WrestleMania, and, at some TV tapings, continues to be. Ambrose could also turn, since it’s unlikely he’ll ever get to be No. 1 face, but he can be positioned as No. 1 heel. Owens vs. Ambrose for the IC title was originally to be a winter program and was set for Survivor Series.
The Reigns turn question comes down to the fact that he’s just starting to get momentum as a face, and he’s the No. 2 merchandise seller in the company right now behind Cena. C.M. Punk noted that his pay went down greatly when he did his heel turn, even as champion with Paul Heyman, because of the huge decline in his T-shirt sales. But if he or Ambrose doesn’t turn, that means, almost by default, Owens would be the top heel and have little backup, since the other top heels would be Del Rio, who has been working to mostly silence, Bray Wyatt, who has already worked a program with Reigns, Big Show, who is burned out, and Tyler Breeze, who is new and small.
Also made clear at television this past week is that Undertaker & Kane will work a regular tag team match, as opposed to a traditional Survivor Series four-on-four match, against two members of the Wyatt Family. Which two may not be announced until the match takes place. Charlotte vs. Paige for the Divas title is still on the show, and The New Day would look to be defending the tag titles against either/and or The Usos or Lucha Dragons most likely. One would also expect Ziggler vs. Breeze added once/if Ziggler is eliminated from the tournament.
Wrestlemania Changes
The Rollins injury means that HHH’s opponent for WrestleMania has now changed twice in a short period of time. HHH vs. Rollins, always a planned destination when Rollins was given the pedigree as his finisher and linked so strongly with him, had just replaced HHH vs. The Rock as one of the planned Mania main events.
WWE creative had been told that both Rock and Ronda Rousey are not going to be available to wrestle, and they were the two headliners hoped to be the mainstream draws for the show. Rousey is filming a movie in Indonesia at the time and would also need UFC clearance.
Rock is currently wrestling with an insurance issue, as a movie he will be filming next year, was having an issue with insurance coverage if Dwayne Johnson did any pro wrestling before the movie was filmed due to the injury risk. Johnson can and may very well be on the show in some form, probably similar to the past two years, but not in a match situation, unless that issue is worked out, and that’s why the match was changed. With the show on the network at a $9.99 price, him not in a main event match won’t have as much effect as if it was still an expensive PPV show. But it does leave the show missing a lot as far as the “special” match feel for a WrestleMania.
Reigns vs. John Cena for the WWE title was scheduled as another key main event before the Rollins injury. Whether Reigns would have gone heel, or this would be a face vs. face match with Cena doing the ultimate passing of the torch was not clear. The show’s goal was to establish Reigns as the company’s top star going forward, just as was the original goal for the show last year. Keep in mind that Undertaker vs. Brock Lesnar was also scheduled, but that’s off the books when the blow-off match was moved to the Hell in a Cell show. It is still unclear who Lesnar and Undertaker will be facing. There have been reports, denied to us, that Cena would face Undertaker instead. By process of elimination, that would lead to Reigns vs. Lesnar, which could happen given the television tease this week of the idea that we don’t know who would have won that main event match at this past WrestleMania. It’ll be clear in January, as if Reigns wins the tournament, his opponent will likely be the winner of the Rumble.
The Rollins injury means that HHH’s opponent for WrestleMania has now changed twice in a short period of time. HHH vs. Rollins, always a planned destination when Rollins was given the pedigree as his finisher and linked so strongly with him, had just replaced HHH vs. The Rock as one of the planned Mania main events.
WWE creative had been told that both Rock and Ronda Rousey are not going to be available to wrestle, and they were the two headliners hoped to be the mainstream draws for the show. Rousey is filming a movie in Indonesia at the time and would also need UFC clearance.
Rock is currently wrestling with an insurance issue, as a movie he will be filming next year, was having an issue with insurance coverage if Dwayne Johnson did any pro wrestling before the movie was filmed due to the injury risk. Johnson can and may very well be on the show in some form, probably similar to the past two years, but not in a match situation, unless that issue is worked out, and that’s why the match was changed. With the show on the network at a $9.99 price, him not in a main event match won’t have as much effect as if it was still an expensive PPV show. But it does leave the show missing a lot as far as the “special” match feel for a WrestleMania.
Reigns vs. John Cena for the WWE title was scheduled as another key main event before the Rollins injury. Whether Reigns would have gone heel, or this would be a face vs. face match with Cena doing the ultimate passing of the torch was not clear. The show’s goal was to establish Reigns as the company’s top star going forward, just as was the original goal for the show last year. Keep in mind that Undertaker vs. Brock Lesnar was also scheduled, but that’s off the books when the blow-off match was moved to the Hell in a Cell show. It is still unclear who Lesnar and Undertaker will be facing. There have been reports, denied to us, that Cena would face Undertaker instead. By process of elimination, that would lead to Reigns vs. Lesnar, which could happen given the television tease this week of the idea that we don’t know who would have won that main event match at this past WrestleMania. It’ll be clear in January, as if Reigns wins the tournament, his opponent will likely be the winner of the Rumble.
Daniel Bryan Update
At last word, he and WWE were awaiting the results of a third doctor’s opinion on whether he could return after Dr. Joseph Maroon, the WWE’s head of medical, ruled that due to his number of concussions, he shouldn’t wrestle again. However, Bryan got an Arizona Cardinals doctor who tested him, and his brain tested above average for his age, and that doctor gave him clearance. If that testing has been completed, the results are being kept secret, although they may be back as one source said Vince McMahon is going back-and-forth on the subject.
If he can return, and the plan is to make Reigns the babyface star in 2016, it would be a huge mistake to bring him back before the Royal Rumble, unless the plan is to have him win the Rumble and challenge for the title. Anything else and it’ll create the same environment over the past two years where the company has made plans for a top babyface to headline the show, only for the crowd to ruin those plans because the choice wasn’t Bryan.
At last word, he and WWE were awaiting the results of a third doctor’s opinion on whether he could return after Dr. Joseph Maroon, the WWE’s head of medical, ruled that due to his number of concussions, he shouldn’t wrestle again. However, Bryan got an Arizona Cardinals doctor who tested him, and his brain tested above average for his age, and that doctor gave him clearance. If that testing has been completed, the results are being kept secret, although they may be back as one source said Vince McMahon is going back-and-forth on the subject.
If he can return, and the plan is to make Reigns the babyface star in 2016, it would be a huge mistake to bring him back before the Royal Rumble, unless the plan is to have him win the Rumble and challenge for the title. Anything else and it’ll create the same environment over the past two years where the company has made plans for a top babyface to headline the show, only for the crowd to ruin those plans because the choice wasn’t Bryan.
RAW Rating keeps Falling
Raw on 11/9 fell to another new audience low, doing a 2.22 rating and 3.16 million viewers (1.49 viewer per home), based on a disastrous third hour.
The rating was the second lowest since 1997, trailing the 2.20 on 10/19, but that show did far more viewers and had tons tougher competition with both baseball and football. The audience dropped from last week’s 3.24 million, which was the lowest to watch the show since 1997.
The number was terrible considering the show was built around a tournament to crown the vacant WWE title. The first hour wasn’t too bad, not being far off what it’s been on a number of weeks this fall. But the second hour drop was significant and the third hour became the first third hour ever to fall under 3 million viewers, and that includes shows on Christmas and New Year’s Eve in 2012. It also went against the weakest competition in several weeks as the Chicago Bears vs. San Diego Chargers game did 11.44 million viewers, slightly down from what the games have been doing. It’s also possible, and next week will probably tell the tale, that we have reached a point where taped vs. live matters in the ratings.
The problem was clearly a lack of star power and building up anything people wanted to see in hour three. With it made clear that John Cena, Brock Lesnar, nor any surprises like Undertaker or Daniel Bryan would not be in the tournament, and then Roman Reigns, the biggest star in, wrestling in the first hour, there was little compelling to watch. Dean Ambrose was saved for late, but it was against Tyler Breeze, who had never even wrestled on Raw yet. They were pushing a Bray Wyatt interview segment as the show’s main event, and while it got over great live, and probably to the viewers, with Undertaker & Kane coming out at the end, nobody knew that was happening nor was it hinted.
Raw on 11/9 fell to another new audience low, doing a 2.22 rating and 3.16 million viewers (1.49 viewer per home), based on a disastrous third hour.
The rating was the second lowest since 1997, trailing the 2.20 on 10/19, but that show did far more viewers and had tons tougher competition with both baseball and football. The audience dropped from last week’s 3.24 million, which was the lowest to watch the show since 1997.
The number was terrible considering the show was built around a tournament to crown the vacant WWE title. The first hour wasn’t too bad, not being far off what it’s been on a number of weeks this fall. But the second hour drop was significant and the third hour became the first third hour ever to fall under 3 million viewers, and that includes shows on Christmas and New Year’s Eve in 2012. It also went against the weakest competition in several weeks as the Chicago Bears vs. San Diego Chargers game did 11.44 million viewers, slightly down from what the games have been doing. It’s also possible, and next week will probably tell the tale, that we have reached a point where taped vs. live matters in the ratings.
The problem was clearly a lack of star power and building up anything people wanted to see in hour three. With it made clear that John Cena, Brock Lesnar, nor any surprises like Undertaker or Daniel Bryan would not be in the tournament, and then Roman Reigns, the biggest star in, wrestling in the first hour, there was little compelling to watch. Dean Ambrose was saved for late, but it was against Tyler Breeze, who had never even wrestled on Raw yet. They were pushing a Bray Wyatt interview segment as the show’s main event, and while it got over great live, and probably to the viewers, with Undertaker & Kane coming out at the end, nobody knew that was happening nor was it hinted.
WrestleMania tickets
Tickets went on sale to the public on 11/6, and while it was not a first day sellout like they’ve had in the past, it was a very strong first week advance. With the exception of some $2,000 seats, all of the expensive seats for more than $200 are gone. Seats are available at a number of prices and more tickets will be released. The initial configuration would be about 75,000 seats and it would expand from there, with 82,000 possible by adding bleachers.
Apparently the stage will get in the way of about half of the standing room due to site lines, so in theory the max is 92,000 if they use a stage. With no stage at all they really could do more than 100,000 if you include those standing outside the stands, but I can’t see them doing WrestleMania with no stage. Either way, they are almost surely announcing a number well over 100,000
Tickets went on sale to the public on 11/6, and while it was not a first day sellout like they’ve had in the past, it was a very strong first week advance. With the exception of some $2,000 seats, all of the expensive seats for more than $200 are gone. Seats are available at a number of prices and more tickets will be released. The initial configuration would be about 75,000 seats and it would expand from there, with 82,000 possible by adding bleachers.
Apparently the stage will get in the way of about half of the standing room due to site lines, so in theory the max is 92,000 if they use a stage. With no stage at all they really could do more than 100,000 if you include those standing outside the stands, but I can’t see them doing WrestleMania with no stage. Either way, they are almost surely announcing a number well over 100,000
A.J. Styles rumors
WWE had not made any contact with Styles. Styles’ New Japan deal is up in January after the Tokyo Dome show, and has said he’ll go with whoever offers him the best overall deal.
WWE had not made any contact with Styles. Styles’ New Japan deal is up in January after the Tokyo Dome show, and has said he’ll go with whoever offers him the best overall deal.
Undertaker week
WWE has announced Undertaker week next week on the network to build to the 25th anniversary of is 1990 Survivor Series debut with the company. After Raw on 11/16, there will be the first of a two-part a panel discussion show with Layfield, HHH, Austin and Michaels discussing Undertaker’s career. The second part will air after Smackdown on Thursday at 10 p.m.. On 11/17 at 10 p.m., there will be a highlight show called “Undertaker: 25 Phenomenal Years.” On 11/18 at 9 p.m., is a show called “Undertaker’s Greatest Matches.
WWE has announced Undertaker week next week on the network to build to the 25th anniversary of is 1990 Survivor Series debut with the company. After Raw on 11/16, there will be the first of a two-part a panel discussion show with Layfield, HHH, Austin and Michaels discussing Undertaker’s career. The second part will air after Smackdown on Thursday at 10 p.m.. On 11/17 at 10 p.m., there will be a highlight show called “Undertaker: 25 Phenomenal Years.” On 11/18 at 9 p.m., is a show called “Undertaker’s Greatest Matches.
New Japan Tokyo Dome Show
After the completion of the Power Struggle PPV show on 11/7 at the Edion Arena in Osaka, New Japan has announced four championship matches for its biggest event of the year, Wrestle Kingdom 10 on 1/4 at the Tokyo Dome.
Besides the already announced Kazuchika Okada vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi IWGP heavyweight title match, also announced is Shinsuke Nakamura vs. A.J. Styles for the IC title, Kenny Omega vs. Kushida for the IWGP jr. title and a four-team match with Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly defending the IWGP jr. tag titles against Super Juniors tournament winners Ricochet & Matt Sydal, Rocky Romero & Trent Baretta and The Young Bucks.
Other matches teased at Power Struggle would be either a single or tag match involving Hirooki Goto vs. Evil (Takaaki Watanabe) and Katsuyori Shibata vs. Tetsuya Naito, and an NWA jr. title match with Tiger Mask defending against Jushin Liger (which may take place on another show but the angle was already shot for the match). Karl Anderson & Doc Gallows are expected to defend the heavyweight tag team titles against the winners of the upcoming World Tag League tournament. Jay Lethal vs. Michael Elgin is still on the schedule, although that could still change.
After the completion of the Power Struggle PPV show on 11/7 at the Edion Arena in Osaka, New Japan has announced four championship matches for its biggest event of the year, Wrestle Kingdom 10 on 1/4 at the Tokyo Dome.
Besides the already announced Kazuchika Okada vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi IWGP heavyweight title match, also announced is Shinsuke Nakamura vs. A.J. Styles for the IC title, Kenny Omega vs. Kushida for the IWGP jr. title and a four-team match with Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly defending the IWGP jr. tag titles against Super Juniors tournament winners Ricochet & Matt Sydal, Rocky Romero & Trent Baretta and The Young Bucks.
Other matches teased at Power Struggle would be either a single or tag match involving Hirooki Goto vs. Evil (Takaaki Watanabe) and Katsuyori Shibata vs. Tetsuya Naito, and an NWA jr. title match with Tiger Mask defending against Jushin Liger (which may take place on another show but the angle was already shot for the match). Karl Anderson & Doc Gallows are expected to defend the heavyweight tag team titles against the winners of the upcoming World Tag League tournament. Jay Lethal vs. Michael Elgin is still on the schedule, although that could still change.
Lucha Underground
The plan for the new season is to go farther in the “supernatural” direction. Ultimately their long-term plan is to create a super babyface and monster heels to spin off for a movie or movies, and recreate something like the El Santo genre, with Rey Mysterio most likely in the Santo role. That was big in the 50s and 60s in Mexico, but they don’t have any television in Mexico
While we don’t have this as official, the strong belief is that Flamita, perhaps under the name Fireball, will be on the new season which starts filming on 11/14 and 11/15 in Boyle Heights. We know that he called all indie promoters in Mexico saying he’s not taking anymore bookings. He had said that when he was offered a deal by AAA which he just accepted that a Lucha Underground spot was part of it. Fireball is one of the best flyers in the world, similar to guys like Fenix, Matt Sydal or Ricochet
Melina Perez, who showed up at the Ultimata Lucha show to help boyfriend Johnny Mundo, has said that she hopes she’ll be involved with the new season of the show.
The plan for the new season is to go farther in the “supernatural” direction. Ultimately their long-term plan is to create a super babyface and monster heels to spin off for a movie or movies, and recreate something like the El Santo genre, with Rey Mysterio most likely in the Santo role. That was big in the 50s and 60s in Mexico, but they don’t have any television in Mexico
While we don’t have this as official, the strong belief is that Flamita, perhaps under the name Fireball, will be on the new season which starts filming on 11/14 and 11/15 in Boyle Heights. We know that he called all indie promoters in Mexico saying he’s not taking anymore bookings. He had said that when he was offered a deal by AAA which he just accepted that a Lucha Underground spot was part of it. Fireball is one of the best flyers in the world, similar to guys like Fenix, Matt Sydal or Ricochet
Melina Perez, who showed up at the Ultimata Lucha show to help boyfriend Johnny Mundo, has said that she hopes she’ll be involved with the new season of the show.
TNA
There were all kinds of rumors last week regarding TNA and Spike, which as best as we can tell, have no validity. What happened was that people saw the Bellator show on 11/6 and Kurt Angle being there, plus Lei’D Tapa (who doesn’t work for TNA anymore), King Mo (who hasn’t even heard from TNA in months) and Bobby Lashley (who fought on the show) and figured there must be something to it. Lashley has had a separate deal with Bellator for some time, as has Mo, Tapa appeared because she’s fighting on Rizin and Angle signed a short-term P.R. type deal with Bellator which has nothing to do with TNA. Angle will be back with Bellator announcing and doing the Fan Fest on the 2/19 show in Houston.
Adding fuel to that fire was Dixie Carter, on Twitter, when asked about going to Spike, said, “I hear you. Stay tuned,” Those at Spike have spoken about possibly being interested in wrestling and we’re aware of talks with both ROH and the NWA that ended up with Spike deciding not to follow up. But we’re told there’s nothing going on there at this point in time
There were all kinds of rumors last week regarding TNA and Spike, which as best as we can tell, have no validity. What happened was that people saw the Bellator show on 11/6 and Kurt Angle being there, plus Lei’D Tapa (who doesn’t work for TNA anymore), King Mo (who hasn’t even heard from TNA in months) and Bobby Lashley (who fought on the show) and figured there must be something to it. Lashley has had a separate deal with Bellator for some time, as has Mo, Tapa appeared because she’s fighting on Rizin and Angle signed a short-term P.R. type deal with Bellator which has nothing to do with TNA. Angle will be back with Bellator announcing and doing the Fan Fest on the 2/19 show in Houston.
Adding fuel to that fire was Dixie Carter, on Twitter, when asked about going to Spike, said, “I hear you. Stay tuned,” Those at Spike have spoken about possibly being interested in wrestling and we’re aware of talks with both ROH and the NWA that ended up with Spike deciding not to follow up. But we’re told there’s nothing going on there at this point in time