Major WWE Title Change – The WWE has pulled the trigger, removing the title from Jinder Mahal, and giving it to AJ Styles tonight in England. Jinder Mahal was supposed to go into the India tour as champion, but due to a lack of sales and enthusiasm for the tour to date, the WWE has opted to scrap those plans. Styles will now go into the main event of Survivor Series to face off with the Universal Champion, Brock Lesnar. So; here we go.
Former Champion Gone – Well, this has been expected. Ever since the spring, when Thomas Latimer got himself suspended while on tour in Japan as part of a working arrangement with Pro Wrestling NOAH, Latimer aka Bram, has been off of the IMPACT radar. As the roster starts to settle and take shape with a new regime in charge, these types of departures are expected. Bram was not in the new regime’s plans, and too be fair, wasn’t in Jarrett’s plans either moving forward. He requested his release when it became clear he wasn’t going to be used and the company granted it.
Opinion: As a fan, you shouldn’t worry until someone who’s been used a lot is gone, with time still on their contract. Someone like a James Storm makes sense, as he’s not going to be a main eventer; but a guy like Eli Drake or EC3 leaving would be a sign things are bad.
House of Hardcore/Twitch Update – House of Hardcore will be debuting on Twitch.TV here on November 18th, and will broadcast that show, as well as their December 2nd show as well. Both are Saturday nights. There’s also a rumor of the November 17th show being used as stand in material in between the 18th and 2nd shows. Here’s the lineups for all three events as of today;
Friday 11/17 in St. James, Long Island at the Sports Arena:
*Eight Man Elimination Match: Tommy Dreamer & Super Crazy & Little Guido & Shane Douglas vs. Joey Mercury & The Spirit Squad & Nick “Magnus” Aldis.
*Matt Cross vs. Petey Williams vs. Mystery Opponent making HOH debut
*Billy Gunn vs. MVP.
*Austin Aries returns to House of Hardcore.
*The HOH debut of The Luchasaurus.
Saturday 11/18 in Philadelphia at the 2300 Arena:
*First Blood Match: Tommy Dreamer vs. Joey Mercury
*Austin Aries returns.
*The Squad vs. Guido Maritato & Super Crazy (with Big Sal E. Graziano)
*Nick Aldis vs. Billy Gunn.
*Mystery three way featuring three debuting talents.
*Also appearing are MVP, Petey Williams, Shane Douglas, Bull James, Matt Cross and more.
Saturday 12/2 in Waukesha, Wisconsin at the County Expo:
Hardcore War: Tommy Dreamer vs. Abyss
*Candice Michelle vs. Lisa Marie Varon in Michelle’s retirement match.
*Austin Aries vs. Joey Mercury with Aries wrestling in his hometown for the first time ever
*Al Snow & Swoggle (with Dave Herro) vs. The Squad
*Also appearing are MVP, Carlito, Guido Maritato and more.
Quick Hits – The 30 for 30 airs tonight about Ric Flair. I’m not sure why people care, it’s the 3000th time we’ll hear about how he fucked half of the planet. A bunch of U.K. talent I’ve never heard of was at a WWE tryout earlier this week. Hideo Itami could be called up as early as tonight or next week to the 205Live roster.