[Emperor Smeat]

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Spoiler tag used since its related to a big rumored post-Mania plan for NXT.

SPOILER: show

In what can be considered a major news story because of the timing of everything, Samoa Joe is currently earmarked to start on the main roster after WrestleMania, perhaps as soon as the Raw on the next day. I was told right now the debut is earmarked for Dallas the day after, but that depends on creative and it may be delayed, but the wheels are in motion for it to happen. If Joe beats Sami Zayn and gets the title shot at Takeover in a match that was to be taped on 1/27, then there is talk he’ll beat Balor for the title and they’ll lengthen the program, meaning that would delay his main roster move. If that happens, that would also indicate a Zayn move as there has been consideration to him starting after Mania with a ready-made Owens program. What makes this significant is that when Joe was first signed, it was to be as NXT talent with a contract that would allow him to continue to do indies, similar to that of Tommy Dreamer and Rhino, as an example. Now, there were pitches from the start to bring him up but that didn’t happen. He was to be a credible star that could headline NXT shows against the NXT top stars and help the brand draw hardcore fans on the road. But his performance was impressive enough that he’s being taken from the brand and getting a main roster spot. Balor, who many expected to also debut after Mania, at least for right now, that doesn’t look to be the case as they are still looking at him to be the flagship singles star of the NXT brand past March

Originally Posted by Observer On Twitter Thursday, former WWE Champion Sheamus released a photo of himself with a cast on his left arm. We've confirmed that the injury is legitimate, but we don't have much in the way of details other than he has tendonitis in the arm. He isn't expected to be out of the ring for too long, but the timing of when he'll be able to wrestle again has not been determined. As of today, the feeling is that he will likely remain on television in storylines but won't be working matches, similar to the role Wade Barrett has been doing in the League of Nations in recent weeks ... We are also awaiting confirmation on another upper level WWE wrestler that might be hurt.

Originally Posted by Observer One person close to the situation said that Styles, Gallows and Anderson had all gotten “to a comfortable place” in the TNA talks but the contract they then all received had different language regarding flights and merchandise than what was agreed upon at the meeting, and that hurt matters. Plus, to show how much WWE wanted him, WWE was willing to put Styles immediately on the main roster, something that they’ve done for nobody new in years, and allowed him to keep his name ... Johnson wrote that Styles’ TNA deal was for three years with a one year option. Those close to the wrestlers claimed that none of the three signed finalized deals and that the contract presented didn’t reflect different things that the sides had agreed to.

Originally Posted by Observer Dwayne Johnson returned on Raw and gave no hints at all what his role in WrestleMania is. The last word we had was that he wasn’t going to be wrestling on the show, but he’s made it clear his role is something big. The obvious thing, whether that’s the plan or not, I don’t know, would be for Johnson to be in Reigns’ corner and Vince McMahon to be in HHH’s corner. That would at least help the crowd have the “right” reaction because Vince usually can turn a crowd at will ... In this case, the idea of Reigns standing there at the end celebrating with one of the biggest movie stars (and possibly that and the country’s most talked about female athlete celebrity) is a pretty strong moment for those watching. It’s the strongest possible scenario for the finish to get media play and Reigns to get the rub like the one Hulk Hogan got with Cyndi Lauper and Mr. T in his mainstream ascension.

Observer speculating on the best possible plan to use The Rock if he really isn't wrestling at Mania.

Originally Posted by WrestleInc When speaking to Lucha Underground's Shawn Daivari for the Muhammad Hassan feature we released earlier this week, I asked about his own experience as a loser in the Feast or Fired match. The story he told was shocking. "This is how much of a hot head I am. We were going to do this Feast or Fired thing, and me and Cody Deaner were supposed to come down with the briefcase at the same time for a tie. The following episode of Impact was going to be a live one, and it was going to be Hogan and Bischoff's first Impact. They were coming in with creative control, and Bischoff was going to be a producer on the show. Terry Taylor tells us Bischoff is going to decide if he really wants to keep us around. We were going to have a match on the following live Impact. The winner got the (unknowingly losing) briefcase. We open the loser briefcase, and we'd be like 'I don't want it, I didn't win it, you won it,'" Daivari said. This sounds like a plausible story line for a wrestling program, but it wasn't just a story line, it was real. Bischoff was to decide on the spot who really was being cut from TNA Wrestling. Daivari said that this didn't sit well with him and he blew up about it. "Bischoff was going to legit decide who was going to stay on the show. I was so mad and frustrated that was a question, because I just signed a new contract with them. I was so f--king pissed. We just signed this contract after they were dragging their heels, so I was like 'f--k this, give me the briefcase, it's my last night, if you're not going to fire me, I quit. Give me the briefcase and let me get the f--k out. I don't want to wait for Bischoff, let's do it tonight.' Terry said he had to ask Dixie, so he went and told Dixie how pissed I was and she said 'fine, if he wants to go, let him go.' The worst part is I thought I was possibly saving Cody Deaner's job, but they ended up firing him anyway! It's pretty s--tty," said Daivari.

Another story about TNA using the Feast or Fired match to actually fire someone. In the end both guys involved with the Fired case got fired by the time Bischoff arrived.

Originally Posted by Observer Right now, TNA has no house shows scheduled going forward after running only a handful last year. It looks like the business model is to use the foreign revenue to keep afloat, produce the television doing multiple day tapings to save on money, make additional money selling the talent to indie shows, and hope to rebuild interest in the U.S. to where they can make money running house shows down the line. .. .While no dates are official, TNA has told talent, including some talent they are looking at trying out, that they will be taping in Orlando in March, so it looks like they will return to the old Impact Zone after the U.K. tapings play out. It’s not the best place, but it is better than Bethlehem as far as the feel of the show

Wednesday's episode of MLW Radio, Konnan clarified that the latest round of heat on Lana and Rusev within WWE stems from an incident that happened at an airport last week. Lana yelled at Rusev in public at the airport, which once again has her in hot water with WWE management, while Rusev is now getting heat of his own for not standing up to her. The valet can't seem to stop irritating the powers that be in WWE, although this is the first time that Rusev has really fallen victim to the heat she has generated. Lana first ran afoul with management in October, when she accidentally revealed she was engaged to Rusev while she was in an onscreen relationship with Dolph Ziggler. In November, Dave Meltzer reported there was "nuclear heat" on Lana backstage over the incident. Her stock in WWE has drastically plummeted since April of last year, when she was reportedly being groomed to be one of the new faces of the company.

Pro Wrestling Sheet reported that Batista was at the Royal Rumble and was offered an appearance spot at WrestleMania, but that it was unlikely to happen. It was aid that McMahon’s pitch was not for him to do a match and that he turned the offer down, but the door was left open for creative to come up with a new idea for him and that he wasn’t closed to doing the show

Originally Posted by Observer At least some talents on the WWE roster were expecting Daniel Bryan to make his WWE return at the Royal Rumble on Sunday. While the return obviously did not happen, it was being talked about even though Bryan hasn't been cleared by WWE doctors. We noted last week that Bryan has been cleared by concussion specialists at UCLA, but not by WWE and Dr. Joseph Maroon. At one point WWE officials reportedly told Bryan outright that he would not be cleared and he has been offered other non-wrestling roles in the company. Bryan later argued his case to Vince McMahon and Vince said Bryan probably wouldn't be cleared but didn't say 100%.

Latest update on Bryan's quest to return to the ring.

Originally Posted by 411Mania Ring of Honor announced today, via press release, that ROH Champion Jay Lethal and reDRagon (Bobby Fish and Kyle O’Reilly) have re-signed with the company. Terms of the deals were not revealed.

Originally Posted by Observer A pre-sale for the final Raw and Smackdown prior to WrestleMania, at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, is on right now through tomorrownight at 10 p.m. You need the code BKRAW. HHH, Brock Lesnar, Roman Reigns, Dean Ambrose, Sheamus, Kevin Owens and Alberto Del Rio are the listed stars.

Figured that might be useful for TPWW NY/NJ and those near the area.


Some other sheet news includes:

• TNA currently offering a new non-wrestling contract to Kurt Angle as a last ditch attempt to keep him in the company. Angle is also considering a deal with Bellator if Bellator is interested.
• Lucha Underground is still struggling to find a new Spanish network to carry their shows with the Observer saying the situation could become really dire for the company's future the longer it takes (or if it never happens).
• According to the Observer, Hideo Itami is not close to returning back to NXT due to recent complications related to his shoulder surgery.
• Add Naomi to the heap of wrestlers currently injured in the WWE.
• According to PWI, another plan for the Rumble match was changed based on Roman Reigns' suggestion. The original plan was for him to get stretchered away to the back to create more doubt for his return but Reigns refused and wanted to walk away instead.
• WWE is currently selling AJ Styles's debut WWE on iTunes for those interested: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/ww...e/id1079614530
• In a "WWE Did You Know" type fact, baring any sudden changes 2011 will be the last time the actual main event for Mania didn't involve a part-time wrestler. Mania 27 had Cena vs Miz for the WWE title as the actual main event.