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Bleacher Report catches you up on the newest information from the WWE Universe.
Reported Plans for WWE Unhealthy Blood Foremost Occasion
Regardless of the joy surrounding the Hell in a Cell match between CM Punk and Drew McIntyre, WWE is reportedly planning to have a distinct match headline the Oct. 5 Unhealthy Blood premium stay occasion.
In line with Fightful Select (h/t Steve Carrier of Ringside Information), inner WWE plans courting again to final week had the tag crew match pitting Roman Reigns and WWE champion Cody Rhodes towards Solo Sikoa and Jacob Fatu tabbed because the Unhealthy Blood predominant occasion.
On condition that Reigns and Rhodes are WWE’s two greatest stars and attracts, it’ll come as no shock if that involves fruition.
It’s a uncommon event that Reigns shouldn’t be the headliner, and the truth that will probably be his first match since WrestleMania 40 in April maybe will increase the possibilities much more of him being within the Unhealthy Blood predominant occasion.
The intrigue surrounding Reigns and Rhodes as a crew after beforehand being heated rivals provides to the primary occasion aura, as does Reigns’ makes an attempt to take again management of The Bloodline.
Even so, a powerful argument could be made for Punk and McIntyre to be the primary occasion, since their match will nearly definitely be the perfect on the cardboard, and so they have been engaged in essentially the most compelling feud in WWE for months.
It’s unlikely that followers would complain about Punk and McIntyre being in the primary occasion slot, however there are different components that may make it tough for WWE to go away Reigns and Rhodes out.
Most notably, Unhealthy Blood is happening in Atlanta, and Rhodes is from Georgia, whereas Reigns performed soccer at Georgia Tech.
Final week on SmackDown, Reigns and Rhodes had a gathering on Georgia Tech’s soccer area with each of them discussing the affect they’ve had on the realm and vice versa.
Given their deep ties to the state of Georgia, Reigns and Rhodes determine to get large reactions at Unhealthy Blood, and WWE would probably desire to have that in the primary occasion than wherever else on the cardboard.
WWE, USA Reportedly Discussing 3-Hour SmackDown
WWE and USA Community are reportedly holding talks relating to the potential of SmackDown turning into a three-hour present.
In line with Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Radio (h/t Subhojeet Mukherjee of Ringside Information), WWE and USA are “definitely in negotiations” to increase SmackDown from two to a few hours, however nothing has been finalized.
Meltzer famous that WWE is making an attempt to barter a bigger contract in change for including an additional hour to the present, and he gave it a “higher than 50 %” likelihood of it taking place.
SmackDown formally made the transfer from Fox to USA Community a few weeks in the past, and Uncooked is getting ready to maneuver from USA to Netflix starting in January.
Till then, each Uncooked and SmackDown will air on USA, with Uncooked going from three hours to 2 starting subsequent month.
It’s anticipated Uncooked will return to a few hours as soon as it hits Netflix, however the size of SmackDown is presently in limbo.
SmackDown has sometimes been a two-hour present all through its existence, however since USA Community is dropping three hours of weekly WWE programming with Uncooked going to Netflix, it will make sense for the community to aim to exchange it with one other three-hour present.
Three hours lengthy felt like an excessive amount of for Uncooked after it expanded from two hours in 2012, however beneath the management of head of inventive Triple H, the exhibits have been way more palatable.
That might doubtlessly be the case for SmackDown as effectively, and on condition that high stars akin to Reigns and Rhodes are unique to SmackDown as of now, including one other hour would enable WWE to get them much more display screen time, which might probably lead to larger rankings.
Hikuleo Reportedly Ticketed for NXT
Former New Japan Professional-Wrestling star Hikuleo reportedly is not slated to start his WWE profession on the primary roster.
In line with PWInsider.com (h/t Mukherjee), Hikuleo is being listed internally be WWE on the NXT roster.
The 6’8″ massive man has lengthy been rumored to be beneath contract with WWE after leaving NJPW, though he has but to make his debut. The prevailing assumption amongst followers has been that WWE was saving his debut for an enormous angle involving The Bloodline.
Hikuleo is the brother of Bloodline members Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa, and he was a part of each Bullet Membership and Guerrillas of Future with them in New Japan.
Whereas it’s straightforward to ascertain Hikuleo finally becoming a member of The Bloodline, his roster placement means that he’ll at the least make a cease in NXT first.
Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa are professional wrestling veterans, whereas Hikuleo continues to be comparatively early in his profession, having debuted in late 2016. Due to that, he might doubtlessly profit from some seasoning in NXT.
WWE appears to be going to nice lengths to construct up NXT since it’s shifting to The CW subsequent month, and including a proficient and athletic massive man with some identify recognition in Hikuleo would doubtlessly present the model with a lift.
Hikuleo’s debut date and subsequent plans stay unclear, however given the scale and dominance of North American champion Oba Femi, Hikuleo stands out as somebody who could possibly be the perfect challenger for his title.
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