IMPACT News – Petey Williams spoke last night and revealed on the Wrestling Perspective Podcast that Austin Aries’ contract had expired and that he was done with the company in the interim. Now though we have a new report from Damon Martin of SEScoops. Martin is reporting the current rumor involving Aries doing a “loose cannon” angle, similar to what Brian Pillman tried to do in the 90’s with WCW, before taking the better offer and jumping to the WWE.
Martin also goes on to say that IMPACT Wrestling has hired Andrew Whitaker to help develop a new relationship with other stations. The one being on most people’s mind being Paramount, the formerly Spike TV. Whitaker used to work for Glory Kickboxing when they were on-then Spike TV, and the idea is to pitch the new IMPACT to Paramount in hopes of getting back on a major network, following the news of the time slot change on Pop TV.
JBL Can’t Shut Up Fast Enough – JBL should shut up when he talks. I know, that didn’t make much sense, but in my defense it made more sense than what JBL just said. In talking with Varney and Co. on Fox Business, the (probably still) concussed JBL said that despite Saudi Arabia torturing and killing a journalist who’s a known political enemy to the Saudi Royal Family, JBL praised the WWE for sticking to their guns and following through with the Crown Jewel event. He’s quoted as saying;
From what I understand, yes [it is taking place]. The idea is that WWE is going to go there. Right now, the official line is that they are monitoring the situation. My personal opinion is that they should go. I think the only way to promote change… look what we did with Cuba, you isolate a country and all you do is impoverish that country. You want to promote change. WWE went to Abu Dhabi, did the first women’s match that had ever happened in the Middle East, and the crowd was chanting, in English, ‘this is change.
…For these Senators to come out and bash WWE on this… I’ve spent 7 Christmases in Iraq and Afghanistan with WWE,” JBL continued. “I was with the WWE, first group to go down and visit the Twin Towers, while they were still burning and bodies were pulling out. We were the first group on 9/13 to have a mass gathering. Right after 9/11, people didn’t know what was gonna happen. For these guys to hide behind their patriotism and their flag waving, to me, to try and improve their abysmal approval ratings, to me, is wrong. WWE has been at the forefront of change and if you want to change Saudi Arabia, you send something like WWE there.
JBL isn’t as smart as he thinks he is. Firstly because Cuba never had a problem importing and exporting goods, they’re a poor nation due to communism not American isolationism. Secondly, that doesn’t even make sense as Saudi Arabia is one of the most well off nations despite their outdated views and third world status. More over, the only change that we’ve seen since the first WWE event earlier this year was Saudi Arabia officials going into another country and killing a journalist for speaking out against the crown.
So yeah, JBL, WWE incites change alright. The wrong change.
It should be noted that news broke last night via Sports Illustrated (take it for what you will) that some talents talked to them anonymously and revealed they’re unhappy about going. WWE responded that they are monitoring the situation and that talents may go to them if they have any concerns. Sami Zayn previously talked to management and was allowed off the event.
Major Japanese Pro Wrestling Show Happening – Pro Wrestling NOAH tweeted out the news last night that they will join forces with New Japan Pro Wrestling, Big Japan, Wrestle1 and All Japan Pro Wrestling to put on a joint show in February of 2019, to honor the 20th anniversary of the late great Giant Baba’s passing. This according to Twitter user Hisame. The bad blood between NJPW and NOAH though still continues to linger after attempts by NJPW to acquire NOAH fell through, and NOAH was bought by another company.
All Japan and Big Japan have been trying to rebuild their image in recent years, and Wrestle-1’s involvement will be particularly interesting as it’s owned and ran by Great Muta, a man who helped run NJPW and AJPW at various points in his career.
Quick Hits – The NWA has announced that AAA and former IMPACT Wrestling star Laredo Kid will face Barrett Brown as the 70th Anniversary Show on Sunday. No word if Brown’s NWA Light Heavyweight Championship will be on the line. RAW was up from last week, going from 2.373 million viewers to 2.396 million viewers. Shane McMahon was interviewed by Bruce Prichard on Opie Radio and when Prichard revealed to him about the long rumored Steph/Vince/Shane incest angle from the mid 00’s, Shane said he wouldn’t of minded because his sister is “hot”.