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Bleacher Report catches you up on the most recent information from the WWE Universe and AEW.
Contract Updates for Rey Fenix and Penta
Amid rumors that the Lucha Bros want to go away AEW to signal with WWE, the contract standing for each Rey Fenix and Penta has been made out there.
Per Dave Meltzer within the Wrestling Observer E-newsletter (h/t WrestlePurists) Penta’s AEW contract is ready to run out throughout the subsequent two months and he’s anticipated to signal with WWE.
Although Penta cannot formally negotiate with WWE till his deal expires, Meltzer famous WWE has made him a “aggressive supply” and that sealed his choice to go away amid “frustration” with AEW.
It might be awhile earlier than each Lucha Bros are in WWE collectively as a result of Meltzer reported that “proper now” AEW is anticipated so as to add roughly one yr to Rey Fenix’s contract to make up for time missed because of accidents.
WrestleTalk @WrestleTalk_TV
Dave Meltzer stories that “proper now” AEW is including practically a yr of damage time onto Rey Fenix’s contract:
So far as Fenix goes, proper now AEW is tacking on damage time which is almost however not fairly one yr. Khan made each vital gives to remain however they would not signal a… pic.twitter.com/d8Yi6F9Um8
Penta and Fenix have been with AEW since 2019 after they challenged the Younger Bucks for the AAA world tag group titles on the first Double or Nothing occasion.
The Lucha Bros have held the AEW tag titles and trios titles, together with Pac, throughout their run with the promotion. They’ve principally been relegated to tv matches, be it as singles or as a tag group, for many of this yr.
Fenix missed six months from October via April because of an undisclosed damage. He missed one other month after revealing at Home of Glory’s Cinco de Mayo occasion on Could 5 he wasn’t medically cleared to wrestle.
WWE has been looking for a masked successor to Rey Mysterio, who continues to be one of the vital dependable performers within the firm, for years with no success. Each Penta and Fenix are two of one of the best high-flying wrestlers on this planet and will fill that void if both or each be part of the promotion.
WWE Nonetheless Debating Dangerous Blood Primary Occasion
One week away from Dangerous Blood, WWE goes forwards and backwards on which match goes to shut the present.
Per Meltzer (h/t WrestleTalk), the plan as of proper now’s for the tag match that includes Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns taking up Solo Sikoa and Jacob Fatu to headline the premium dwell occasion.
The unique plan was for the CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre Hell in a Cell match to be the primary occasion, and there stay “folks on each side of the dialogue” in the intervening time.
There are positively arguments for each matches to headline the present. The Punk-McIntyre feud has been probably the greatest issues in WWE all yr. If this finally ends up being the blow-off match to their rivalry, it could be a superbly nice selection for the main-event spot.
Alternatively, every part in WWE has been constructed across the Bloodline angle for 2 years working. Plus, this can be Roman’s first match since dropping the undisputed WWE common title to Rhodes at WrestleMania.
The tag match additionally figures to additional the storyline construct to a potential Reigns-Fatu match at WrestleMania 41. There’s additionally the upcoming Survivor Collection: WarGames occasion on Nov. 2 that would find yourself that includes a Bloodline Civil Struggle, particularly with rumors that Jimmy Uso might be returning quickly.
When you’ve got all of that happening, to not point out Rhodes and Reigns teaming up for the primary time after their memorable feud, it is exhausting to not argue that the tag bout is an important match on the present.
SmackDown Anticipated to Be Three-Hour Present
Amid rumors earlier this week that WWE and USA had been in talks to make SmackDown a three-hour present, the expectation is that would be the case beginning in January.
Per Meltzer (h/t WrestleTalk), WWE is formally saying that nothing is finalized proper now, however “they’re probably ready to make that announcement” till it turns into official.
WrestleVotes Radio (h/t WrestleTalk) reported on Sept. 19 that SmackDown is anticipated to turn into a three-hour present beginning on Jan. 3.
Meltzer famous that monetary particulars for the additional hour usually are not identified and he was informed “negotiations are ongoing” with the USA community at this level.
That is definitely going to be testing the bounds of how a lot time wrestling followers are prepared to decide to weekly reveals. It hasn’t been confirmed that Uncooked, which can be a two-hour present beginning Oct. 7 via the top of the yr, goes to stay three hours when it debuts on Netflix on Jan. 6.
Since Netflix is not held to the identical scheduling constraints that USA is, Uncooked might fluctuate in size from week to week relying on how a lot stuff is booked for the present.
But when Uncooked stays at three hours with SmackDown shifting to 3 hours, that is already six hours of programming to maintain up with every week. In weeks with a normal premium dwell occasion, they’ll add one other roughly three hours on Saturdays.
With SummerSlam going to 2 nights subsequent yr and WrestleMania being a two-night occasion, then followers might be as much as 14 hours of programming in every week. The third hour of Uncooked was a pleasant monetary increase for WWE, however the last hour routinely drags down the general score.
WWE’s recognition is on hearth proper now, however there’s a danger of burning out your viewers in some unspecified time in the future. However a three-hour SmackDown will even imply extra money tv cash, so that may outweigh some other considerations.
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