WWE Releases Top Talent – The WWE has abruptly fired Big Cass today, just two days removed from having a high profiled match with Daniel Bryan at Money in the Bank.  I’ve asked around and no one has a real idea yet as to why.  I’m under the suspicion though that Cass was released over something significant.  The WWE doesn’t fire people if they suck, and Cass sucked.  So this had to be behavioral in nature.  Be it that he was disruptive backstage, or we’re on the precipitous of a much bigger story.  WWE released a terse statement on the matter, which you can read below.

WWE has come to terms on the release of William Morrissey (Big Cass).

If there’s any more news on the matter, we’ll update tonight on the show, at 10 p.m. EST.  WrestleCorp will lead off with the Big Cass story, over at mixlr.com/NerdCorp.

Bryan Alvarez has just reported that there was a meeting held at SmackDown today, and Vince McMahon apparently fired Big Cass.  While not stated, it’s implied he fired Cass during the meeting.

Update: Alvarez has gone on record stating that it wasn’t a meeting with everyone, but just Cass.

NXT UK – The WWE has announced the start of the long awaited United Kingdom show that has been in the works for almost two years.  The show is going to be called NXT U.K., which is the new branding idea for all forthcoming global markets that the WWE creates.

On top of launching the t.v. series, they’ll be creating new titles as well.  They’re going to be a Women’s and Tag Team championship; both under the UK banner, much like the UK Championship.

The series seems to be taping regularly going forward, twice a month starting in July, on the 28th and 29th in Edinburgh, then they’re off to Birmingham at the Insomnia Games Festival on August 25th and 26th.  Then in October they’re at Plymouth, on the 13th and 14th.  All cities are in England, for those unsure.

Brown Strowman Cash In?  – With Braun Strowman winning the Money in the Bank briefcase this past Sunday, all eyes are on him in regards to when he’ll cash in.  Dave Meltzer is under the belief that Strowman will cash in at SummerSlam, which is the next and possibly last date that WWE Universal Champion, Brock Lesnar is booked for a match (in theory).  Lesnar is not officially confirmed for SummerSlam yet, and his contract expires at the end of August we’re told.

WWE Blocks ROH? – Well the hope of seeing Madison Square Garden host Ring of Honor is dead.  Joe Koff, the COO of ROH Wrestling, spoke with PWInsider recently and revealed that the WWE reached out to Madison Square Garden officials, and essentially had them break a contract with ROH Wrestling in order to bring the WWE back to their venue.  Koff was quoted as saying;

You know, I’m going to tell you Mike because you are asking. I’m not going to discuss beyond this statement because I am not going to litigate this in the press.  We had a deal with [Madison Square] Garden and they then told us they were backing out after communications from the WWE. We are not able to get any other dates in any kind of discussion. I’m expecting that our lawyers will be contacting all the parties involved and the best we can hope is that we can find a resolution, so we can bring the kind of energy and excitement that ROH and our partner New Japan to a bigger audience and to bigger arenas and to the fans of New York City.

Considering that Sinclair and the McMahons are both in the Trump Camp, it seems odd that these two parties would be at each others throats for a venue, especially when the WWE doesn’t have much desires to run at the venue anymore.  The issue is over broadcasting rights fees, something the WWE is notoriously stingy on, and something that the MSG has raised in order to combat loss of income thanks to the Barclay Center.  Which is ironically the venue the WWE is running more of these days.

Quick Hits – Charlotte Flair will be part of ESPN’s Body Issue.  Sami Zayn is apparently dealing with shoulder and knee injuries, and he’s going to Birmingham, Alabama to be evaluated.   Mustache Mountain of the UK Brand has defeated the Undisputed Era to win the NXT Tag Team titles.