Each week, Sporting News runs down the biggest stories in the world of professional wrestling.
Daniel Bryan talking return again
It’s becoming increasingly obvious that Daniel Bryan will be returning to the ring. The question of whose ring it will be remains.
The current "SmackDown Live" general manager has talked more and more over the past few months about a comeback following his 2016 retirement due to concussions.
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Since then, Bryan has continued to be tested by doctors as we learn more and more about brain-related injuries. He recently told The Trentonian that he is currently trying to get cleared and his tests have come been “fantastic”.
His return would be a game-changer as he could work anywhere in the world he desired including Ring of Honor, New Japan Pro Wrestling and CMLL with dream matches everywhere he went.
Bryan hasn’t closed the door to a WWE return either. He admits that “WWE would love to have me back” but it’s a complicated issue considering the blowback the company would receive from the corporate world along with the potential health risk involved.
Bryan recently appeared on the Sirius XM “Busted Open” show and stated that there is an 85-percent chance he wrestles again and a 20-percent chance that WWE will clear him.
In 2013, #SDLive GM @WWEDanielBryan wrestled 227 matches for the #WWE. He says if they were to clear him, they'd likely give him a lighter schedule, but is only 20% confident that he'll be cleared. pic.twitter.com/IiQoowWDjT
— SiriusXM Busted Open (@BustedOpenRadio) November 13, 2017
It would be tricky for WWE to allow him back in the ring considering Dr. Joseph Maroon, who refused to clear him, remains the company’s medical director. A lot would have to happen for him to wrestle there again but it’s not out of the question, especially considering a Bryan return would mean for business.
It’s a complicated issue and one that has some time to be sorted out, as his WWE contract doesn’t expire until August 2018. Either way, the Bryan comeback is moving forward and come this time next year, he’ll likely be following his passion and wrestling once again.
Survivor Series preview
WWE has stacked the deck for this Sunday’s Survivor Series in matches that will pit "RAW" versus "SmackDown Live" superstars against one another. Here is the entire card for the event:
—Team "RAW" (Kurt Angle, Braun Strowman, Triple H, Finn Balor, Samoa Joe) vs. Team "SmackDown Live" (Shane McMahon, John Cena, Randy Orton, Bobby Roode, Shinsuke Nakamura)
— Team "RAW" (Alicia Fox, Asuka, Sasha Banks, Bayley, Nia Jax) vs. Team "SmackDown Live" (Becky Lynch, Naomi, Carmella, Tamina and a yet-to-be-named member)
— Universal Champion Brock Lesnar vs. WWE Champion AJ Styles
— "RAW" Women’s Champion Alexa Bliss vs. "SmackDown Live" Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair
— The Shield vs. The New Day
— "RAW" Tag Team Champions Sheamus and Cesaro vs. "SmackDown Live" Tag Team Champions The Usos
— Intercontinental Champion The Miz vs. United States Champion Baron Corbin
— Kickoff show for the WWE Cruiserweight Championship: Enzo Amore vs. Kalisto
The only drawback to Survivor Series is that there are no real stakes on the line between the brands other than bragging rights. Still, WWE did an excellent job of building the hype for the show on television this past week. Adding Triple H to the traditional elimination match in place of Jason Jordan brings even more star power and intrigue to the loaded show.
The men’s 5-on-5 match has the potential for so many moments including John Cena standing toe-to-toe with Braun Strowman and Triple H squaring off against his brother-in-law Shane McMahon.
Expect that match to close the show despite the huge showdown between Brock Lesnar and AJ Styles in what could be the match of the night.
As much anticipation as there is for his epic clash, it still feels like it is under the radar considering the two talents involved and a match that has been years in the making.
The Shield against The New Day could be another barnburner and don’t sleep on the matchup between pitting Sheamus and Cesaro against The Usos which has the potential to steal the show.
There are some notable names not set for matches that could have a big impact on the show including former WWE Champion Jinder Mahal, Jason Jordan along with Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn.
Quick predictions: The men’s Team "SmackDown" scores a big victory further infuriating "RAW" Commissioner Stephanie McMahon, the "RAW" women get the win, Brock Lesnar beats AJ Styles following interference from Jinder Mahal and the Singh brothers, Charlotte defeats Alexa Bliss, The Shield top The New Day, The Usos get a “W” against Sheamus and Cesaro, The Miz gets help from his crew to beat Baron Corbin, and Enzo retains the cruiserweight championship.
NXT TakeOver: War Games preview
The night before Survivor Series in Houston will be the latest TakeOver event highlighted by a throwback match that hasn’t been seen in nearly two decades.
Triple H has been pushing for years to bring back the NWA/WCW specialty match and now, War Games are back on the NXT brand where he is the main voice calling the shots.
Here is the lineup for the show:
— War Games Triple Threat match: The Undisputed Era (Adam Cole, Bobby Fish, Kyle O’Reilly) vs. The Authors of Pain and Roderick Strong vs. Sanity (Eric Young, Alexander Wolfe, Killian Dain)
— NXT Championship: Drew McIntyre vs. Andrade Almas
— Fatal 4-Way for vacant NXT Women’s Championship: Kairi Sane vs. Nikki Cross vs. Ember Moon vs. Peyton Royce
— Aleister Black vs. The Velveteen Dream
— Kassius Ohno vs. Lars Sullivan
— Non-televised match for the WWE U.K. Championship: Pete Dunne vs. Johnny Gargano
Despite the excitement for War Games returning, it didn’t come without some eyebrow-raising with the rules being tweaked. This match will have three teams of three rather than the traditional two teams of either four or five.
Previously, one member of each team started the match and others entered one at a time after a few minutes until everyone was inside the double-ring cage. Now, there will be three people to start (one from each team) and after five minutes, the other two members of one team will enter, then another after three minutes and the final pair after another three minutes. Plus, either pinfall or submission rather than only the latter can win the match.
Triple H further upset some people when he stated during a media conference call this week that there will not be a top on the cage as in the past and this will allow the talent to do more in the match.
Despite the changes, the spirit of War Games should be there and these teams should deliver something special. NXT always makes it a challenge on these shows to “steal the weekend” from the main roster and you can expect for them to push for that again in their work effort.
Quick predictions: The Undisputed Era takes the War Games, Drew McIntyre retains the NXT Championship in what could be Andrade Almas’ final match with the brand before being called up, Peyton Royce wins the vacant women’s title, Aleister Black defeats “Dream” in a potential show-stealer, Lars Sullivan outmuscles Kassius Ohno to a win while Pete Dunne beats Johnny Gargano to keep his title.
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News and notes
— It is not a foregone conclusion anymore that Jinder Mahal will win back the WWE Championship from AJ Styles before the WWE heads to India in early December. The tour has already been trimmed down from two shows to one and that night it will Mahal against Triple H who threw out to the challenge on social media in what he is calling “the biggest match in Indian history”.
Mahal no longer needs the title considering it’s just the one show and he is set for a match that doesn’t need the championship to feel bigger. The smarter move is for the incredibly popular AJ Styles retains the title heading into WrestleMania season.
— It was bittersweet earlier this week when WWE announced it has released James Ellsworth. The underdog who proudly stated that “anyone with two fists has a fighting chance” got to live out his dream of working with the WWE over the past year and made the most of the opportunity.
Last week’s episode of "SmackDown" turned out to be his television swan song as he finally squared off with Becky Lynch and was soundly defeated followed by his gal-pal Carmella sending him off with a superkick.
Ellsworth was classy in his exit and he'll probably pop up from time to time in WWE.
Thank you @WWE for letting me live my dream,thank you fans for all the support, l'll continue to prove #AnyManWithTwoHandsHasAFightingChance
— James Ellsworth (@realellsworth) November 15, 2017
— Jack Hager, better known as Jack Swagger, announced this week that he is jumped into MMA and signed with Bellator to compete in the heavyweight division. Hager has been talking about trying the sport following his WWE release in March. He does have an excellent amateur wrestling background having been an All-American while at the University of Oklahoma.
Just announced in studio on #TheMMAHour with @arielhelwani, @RealJackSwagger is now a part of the heavyweight division! #BellatorNation pic.twitter.com/6VXMACJQkX
— Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) November 13, 2017
— WrestleMania 33 proved to be big business not only for WWE but also for Orlando with the event reportedly generating a record $181.5 million in economic impact for the host city. It’s no wonder why the event is in such high demand with some intense bidding wars between cities to land it. New Orleans will host Mania 34 come April and in the coming months the 2019 host will be announced. My guess: a return to New York with the 2020 event going in Los Angeles with the opening of the state-of-the-art stadium that will be home for the NFL’s Rams and Chargers.
— Speaking of L.A., WWE just announced that it will host next year’s Survivor Series weekend with four straight nights at the Staples Center including NXT TakeOver, "RAW" and "SmackDown Live" from Nov. 17-20.
— Who will be left with Impact Wrestling once the company completes its cutbacks? James Storm has already announced he is out with his contract expiring and the company not able to afford him moving forward. Both Bobby Lashley and EC3 could be leaving with their deals coming up in the next few month. Anthem, its parent company, is also in the process of moving the Impact office from its longtime home of Nashville to Toronto where it is based.
— Can you smell what The Rock’s daughter is cooking? Dwayne Johnson’s oldest daughter Simone Garcia — this year’s Golden Globes Ambassador — recently told The Hollywood Reporter that she would like to pursue a career in wrestling. The proud poppa would like the 16-year-old to get a college degree first but, if she does follow in the family tradition, she would be the first fourth-generation wrestler.
Brian Fritz can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @BrianFritz and listen to his Between The Ropes podcast on Blog Talk Radio.
