Why Was UFC Champ at NXT? – Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer is claiming to know why former 2x UFC Heavyweight Champion Cain Velasquez was at the WWE’s Performance Center recently; to flex his proverbial muscles.  Velasquez is in talks with the UFC over a new deal, and this move was apparently to show Dana White that Velasquez has options.  With Bellator and Rizin becoming real players as of late, it’s a little perplexing that he didn’t just start taking meetings with them to show Dana he means business.

Velasquez would be a huge get for the WWE, probably even bigger than Ronda Rousey in terms of reputation.  He’s 14-2, having only lost to Junior dos Santos in 2011 and Fabricio Werdum in 2015.  He hasn’t fought though in over two years, possibly due to bone spurs in his back.   Ironically enough, Velasquez actually holds a win over Ronda Rousey’s husband, Travis Browne.  That could be far more awkward than Alicia Fox drunkenly yelling at him…

IMPACT’s Beautiful People In the News – Velvet Sky recently talked to the Press Slam Podcast, with her former partner Angelina Love.  Both confirmed that they’re going to be attending the Starrcast portion of “All In”, and are now making appearances together as their former moniker, the Beautiful People.  Sky confirmed though, via the interview, that she’s retired from in ring work but still wants to work as a manger/valet with Love.  When asked why the duo never popped up in WWE at any point, Sky was very candid saying;

This is like the million dollar question: How come The Beautiful People were never in the WWE.  Well, it’s because [WWE] wanted to create their own version of what is already out there that they see that works. And, The Beautiful People, Angelina and I, we would never want The Beautiful People to be tainted or twisted or anything that I feel WWE would try to do to us if we were ever there. We would never be allowed to be The Beautiful People. The entrance? Forget it. We’d never be able to let the pigeons loose there. It wouldn’t work there, and like I said, they’ve created their own version of The Beautiful People, so they even knew that we worked.

Joining them in the news is former Beautiful Person Madison Rayne.  Fresh off of putting Su Yung over at Slammiversary XVI, Rayne has officially been booked for the WWE Mae Young Classic as Ashley Rayne.  She’ll join Priscilla Kelly and Xia Brookside, daughter of NXT trainer Robbie Brookside.

Now all we need is Billy Gunn and Lacey Von Erich to do something today and we’ll have Beautiful People Bingo.

Sheriff Claims Lawler Was Not Suicidal – Yesterday we lost three names in the Wrestling Business.  Nikolai Volkoff and Brickhouse Brown both passed away yesterday.  Both men were dealing with health issues, and ultimately it was just their time.

However, Brian Christopher Lawler, also known as Grand Master Sexy, also passed away yesterday as well but for far different reasons.  Lawler was arrested for a DUI and had been locked up  since July 7th and had been in legal issues just prior to this arrest as well.   He had been arrested earlier in the summer for evading payment on a hotel room.  Just recently he had been arrested for drunk driving and evading the police, which is part of the reason why he was locked up for so long.

Lawler was found hanging from a homemade noose in his prison cell, cut down, and given CPR. He made it to the hospital where he was declared brain dead and taken off life support.  The Sheriff says though that Christopher was not showing signs of suicide prior to him being found hanging.

Which I say is suspect, as a broke, nearly 50 year old pro wrestler, with a major felony arrest now to his name?  Yeah, any idiot would assume he’d be at least a lot depressed.

Quick Hits – Zelina Vega will make her in ring debut on SmackDown this Tuesday.  All In will feature Rey Mysterio, Bandido, and Fenix vs. The Young Bucks and Kota Ibushi at the event.