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Why Did IMPACT Pull LAX? Big NJPW News and More!

IMPACT Wrestling took flack yesterday by some for removing LAX from an upcoming EVOLVE show but apparently the pressure is actually on Gabe Sapolsky.  Sapolsky has come under fire in recent days for his practices with EVOLVE.  Now apparently IMPACT was said to be “…beyond disappointed” with Sapolsky, according to someone I spoke with.  Sapolsky booked LAX against the NXT tag team champions the Street Profits, which was a big “no-no” from IMPACT officials in the first place.  When IMPACT realized that Sapolsky wasn’t doing business correctly, they pulled the talent.

IMPACT now has a booking page set up for promoters to hire their talent, partly because of this debacle.  Sapolsky’s sterling reputation has taken a huge hit this year, as he’s gone from the top indy promoter to being a WWE stooge.   He’s even harassing people who criticize him through Twitter DM’s.

Huge news for New Japan, as they’ve announced that Excalibur will be joining the promotion for the final three days of the World Tag League.  Don Callis is the usual color guy but with his duties in Canada with IMPACT Wrestling taking precedent, he’s not always able to make shows.  Excalibur is known by Pro Wrestling Guerilla fans but reached a bigger audience at the All In event back in September.

 

The WWE/XFL has announced that St. Louis, Missouri is the first city to land an XFL team.  This will be St. Louis’ first football team since the Rams left for Los Angeles.  There’s a rumor floating around that claims on December 5th, we’ll get the whole city role out.  The reason for the long delayed announcements is rumored to be because of two other leagues.   The XFL is competing with The Alliance for American Football (AAF) and the American Patriot League (APL) for cities.  The AAF is actually assembling their roster already, and has announced markets in Daytona, Florida and Mobile, Alabama.

 

Tyson Kidd is a member of the famed Hart Dynasty.  His wife, Nattie Neidhart, is the daughter of future Hall of Famer Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart.  She’s the niece to Bret Hart, the cousin of Teddy Hart and Davey Boy Jr. and others.  Kidd was seen as a worker, not charismatic but could build the mid card around.  He was finally given a shot with Cesaro as a work-horse themed tag team; and even won the tag titles together.  Yet an injury from Samoa Joe crippled his career, putting him into early retirement with a neck injury so severe that it nearly killed him.  Kidd opened up about his post-retirement career as a WWE producer, talking to Jan Murphy of The Kingston Whig Standard, and revealed who got him to take on the role;

That was (Vince McMahon’s) idea.  He thought I’d be good at it or I could get good at it. (McMahon) said to me, ‘You’ll be like me.’ I didn’t know if I’d be good at it and I didn’t know what all it entailed. I didn’t know if I would get any real fulfillment out of it. But right off the bat, maybe two weeks in, I was a part of a battle royal and I had an idea that Tye Dillinger would be one of the last three guys. I thought his ‘10’ stuff was getting over and I thought it would be good and he could have a good showing. I’ve been given those same things where maybe you’re not being super featured but they throw you a little something and then see what happens out of it.

The audience was completely with (Dillinger). When he came back, he was happy and I felt that fulfilment (McMahon referred to), which now I’ve felt a million times over. I love my job. I’ve been doing this now almost a year and a half and I haven’t taken a week off yet.

Kidd is now working with the female talent, a huge promotion for him as Stephanie McMahon has been vocal about using the women more to build the WWE’s Jenga-esque image.

 

Finally, IMPACT (former??) star DJZ will make his debut with Major League Wrestling on December 13th and 14th when the company goes to Miami, Florida.  I’d post the press release, but it’s so garbage, and I don’t want that mess on the site.