Ex-WWE Champ Joining IMPACT? HHH Doubles Down on Saudi Arabia Show and More! – WrestleCorp News

 

Ex-WWE Talent Getting Name Back – On this week’s Wrestling With Wregret interview with Brian Zane, Simon Grimm (formerly Gotch) revealed he’s changing his name back to Simon Gotch.  He claims the WWE let go of the trademark claim on his name, and has applied to acquire it.  While it’s not gone through yet, he’s expecting to acquire the trademark and go back to his WWE name as he works the indies.

Ex WWE Champ at IMPACT Tapings – Rich Swann was allegedly backstage at IMPACT’s tapings on Monday but was not used.   There’s no word on if he’s being brought in or if he was just there to support his wife, who had a big showing at the tapings.

WWE to Saudi Arabia – Well the WWE sold their souls, that’s for sure.  The WWE is heading to Saudi Arabia this week for their big Rumble event.  Despite fans already getting screwed over with tickets (a single male was forced to give up his seats because the seats he bought were designated “family” sections), there is buzz for it from the WWE and the country as a whole.  The Prince of Saudi Arabia is said to be progressive, for someone from that region, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t issues still.  Triple H commented on the negative attention they’re getting by claiming they can’t affect change from outside.   He’s quoted as saying;

I understand that people are questioning it, but you have to understand that every culture is different and just because you don’t agree with a certain aspect of it, it doesn’t mean it’s not a relevant culture. You can’t dictate to a country or a religion about how they handle things but, having said that, WWE is at the forefront of a women’s evolution in the world and what you can’t do is affect change anywhere by staying away from it. While, right now, women are not competing in the event, we have had discussions about that and we believe and hope that, in the next few years they will be. That is a significant cultural shift in Saudi Arabia. The country is in the middle of a shift in how it is dealing with that – the position is changing, and rights are changing, as are the way women are handled and treated in society. We think that’s a great thing and we’re excited to be at the forefront of that change.

Except, that’s exactly how boycotts work.  No one tell Triple H that.  By not going, and publicly stating the reasons why, you put pressure on the country to get up with times.  The WWE didn’t need this payday.  So to go was strictly for the financial windfall.

Because of this, many are unhappy.  And one of their biggest names, Paul Heyman, won’t be attending the show.  After checking around, no one has said one way or another why; but the conventional wisdom is that Heyman himself thought it was probably a bad idea for a Jewish man to go to a notorious anti-semantic country.  The issues that Jewish individuals face in the Middle East are long and noted.  Heyman was smart to avoid this trip, assuming it was his choice.

Quick Hits – PWG may not be done with their Reseda, California location, as the sale for the American Legion Hall they wrestle out of has apparently fallen through, for now.  Enzo Amore posted a cryptic text, saying “It’s been real” with shoes dangling from power chords, no other posts exist on his Instagram account.  Zack Ryder was injured last night in the tapings for Main Event against Mike Bennett.