Nia Jax News – There’s been a swirling debate over why and even if Nia Jax “walked out”. I’m told unlike Neville, Nia’s is more of a protest, wanting things she sees as issues rectify before she returns. Others are saying she flat out quit, and even still, more saying it’s just her taking time off. However, the word that I’ve heard echos similar posts making their way around. It should be noted my sources might be the same as others on this story, and we may not at all know it, so keep that in mind. Apparently Jax is unhappy with several issues, the most obvious being creative. She’s unhappy with how she’s been used since being called up to the main roster. That seems to be everyone’s problem, and is unlikely to change until Vince McMahon is voted out of his company.
It’s also being reported that pay is part of the issue as well. It’s unclear if this is about wanting to be paid as much as Wrestler A, or if this is about royalties and bonus’, which everyone has been getting stiffed on since the Network launched, but pay was definitely a major factor. WWE talent, unlike most top inty stars, have to pay for travel, hotels, gyms, dietary needs and other costly measures to maintain their ability. While most indy talent only get room, board and food at the event, WWE talent only get catering. Which is often time the cheapest type of spreads; something CM Punk showed in his DVD documentary was unsustainable on specific diets. So for Nia to be echoing so many WWE wrestlers past and present about the issues with pay, it’s not surprising.
Alexa Bliss on Nia – Bliss is towing the company line and is telling the New York Post that her best friend isn’t on the road because she simply needed time off. As is the case for any WWE contracted wrestler; never believe them in interviews while they’re under contract. Too often they’ll be too afraid to actually speak out, and will often time have a WWE official tell them how to respond prior to the interview. Here’s Bliss’ reply to the article about Nia;
We have talked about it a lot. Whatever she is going through, I wouldn’t necessarily call it a leave of absence. She’s taking some time off because our schedule it very grueling. It’s very, very demanding. There are times where you are run down and your body can’t do it anymore and you get sick or you get injured from it and you get tired.
So, I feel like everyone needs a reset every once in a while. In NXT I took a few resets and it was never like public knowledge, but we all need them. We all take them once in a while. I am happy when she comes back. I feel like everyone needs that refresher week or refresher moment.
Brock Lesnar/Jinder Mahal – Brock and Jinder are set to face off at Survivor Series in a quagmire. The WWE won’t have Jinder beat Lesnar, because obviously. But the WWE also feels they can’t have Jinder lose to Lesnar either; as it would hurt the brand’s appeal. The WWE also knows that to do a screwy finish would make the fans unhappy. So now we sit here and wonder if they’re so fucking smart, and knows this is an unwinnable avenue; why book it?
Bo,Bray and JoJo – Bo Dallas is apparently off the road due to an illness, his brother Bray Wyatt, the man who dumped his wife and kids for a 23 year old ring announcer, and his home wrecking girlfriend JoJo Offerman are being kept off the road due to fear of spreading the illness to the roster. It needs to be noted that the illness is not considered deadly, just takes a while to get over, and is very contagious. All three are expected back on the road sometime this year.
(*Writers Note*: If you don’t like the fact I pointed out exactly who these people were, then perhaps you shoudln’t idolize horrible people*)
Josh Mathews on What’ll Content is Coming to the GWN – The Global Wrestling Network is about two weeks old, and every day there is a little more added from the TNA/IMPACT/GFW vault to the platform. During the conference call, Josh revealed whether or not Ring Ka King would make the platform, saying;
I think that’s just a matter of time, a matter of when all those things get uploaded. Last night, 2017 wasn’t uploaded and then it was up a little while later, so I think it’s just a matter of feeding the beast and loading all of these things. I’m super-excited to see the Destination America and Pop stuff too because I think that when we left Spike, a lot of people didn’t get to see what Impact was doing during those years. So it’s a good time to sign up, get the app and see all those things that you may have missed.
Jimmy Jacobs on Being Fired – The creator of the List of Jericho, Jimmy Jacobs, recently spoke to Live Audio Wrestling, the sister radio show for IMPACT Wrestling, and revealed that he knowingly took a photo with the Bullet Club, and knew the risks ahead of time by saying; “…No mistake was made.” He’d later go on to describe what the reasoning was for his termination from the WWE as their most vaunted writer, saying;
It was given to me as the reason. I’ve read a couple reports from a couple other places saying that there were things leading up to it, that this was the straw that broke the camel’s back. If it was, I’m not aware of any of that, but it’s certainly possible. Who knows? But, yeah, it was because of the picture, for sure.
Quick Hits – Sting believes The Undertaker never wanted to wrestle him when they were both active. Shawn Michaels to referee NXT house show match between Adam Cole and Drew McIntyre. The Young Bucks have turned down work for the WWE 2K19 video game, as motion capture workers.