Hello and welcome to the WrestleTalk News - I’m Oli Davis.
Happy Birthday, Chris Jericho Yesterday was the birthday of Chris Jericho.
Eat some cake, maaaaaan.
With the first ever Undisputed WWF Champion turning 47 years old, and showing no sign
of slowing down - shocking the wrestling world last Sunday by challenging Kenny Omega to
a match at New Japan’s biggest show of 2018, WrestleKingdom 12.
Which makes one of his well-wishers all the more confusing.
The guy WrestleZone claim Jericho didn’t tell he was defecting from WWE to New Japan:
his old boss Vince McMahon.
“Happy birthday to the curator of #TheListOfJericho, @IAmJericho!”
It’s unlikely Vince actually wrote that tweet himself, with the WWE Chairman probably
having a social media team managing his account, but it lends support to one of the crazier
wrestling theories of the year: that McMahon has sent Jericho to New Japan to get Kenny
Omega to join WWE, because his contract expires at the end of January.
A crazy wrestling theory that gathered more momentum when a New Japan official claimed
to Tokyo Sports “Although Jericho is not full-time, he still has a deal with WWE, so
of course Vince McMahon is also giving permission.”
Thank you, Google Translate.
The latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter, however, denies this, reporting Jericho’s
WWE contract expired in May, “so he’s been a free agent for the past six months.”
Y2J’s live event appearances for WWE in Japan, and his Smackdown appearance in July
were one off deals with the company.
But that’s not to say relations between Jericho and Vince have deteriorated in the
wake of the Omega match.
Unlike WrestleZone’s initial report that Jericho’s New Japan announcement came as
a surprise to WWE, PWInsider claim he did in fact clear the appearance with WWE.
The Observer continues that “those close to the situation expect [Jericho] back in
WWE in 2018”, possibly even as early as the Raw 25th anniversary special on the 22nd
January - which would be just 18 days after his WrestleKingdom 12 match with Omega.
If only there was an annual 30 man over-the-top elimination match famed for its surprise debuts
and returns at the end of that month, just three days before Kenny’s New Japan contract
expires.
In the same article that claimed Jericho was still with WWE, Omega is quoted as saying:
“I’m staying [in New Japan].
100%.”
Which practically confirms Omega’s Royal Rumble WWE debut.
And there’s another major wrestling star who could also make a shock appearance in
the match.
James Storm Leaves TNA Following numerous talent releases from TNA
IMPACT Wrestling over recent months - which include Robbie E, Madison Rayne, Jeff Jarrett,
Low Ki, Taryn Terrell, Eddie Kingston, Reno Scum, Rockstar Spud, and referees Earl and
Brian Hebner, PWInsider warned last week that former World Heavyweight Champion James Storm
could be the next to go.
The TNA original’s contract is reportedly up in January 2018, which the Wrestling Observer
note is “one of the highest paid remaining deals” in the promotion.
And it seems PWInsider’s warning has come to pass, going by last night’s IMPACT TV
taping.
Storm cut a farewell promo at the show, saying goodbye to IMPACT wrestling and thanking former
TNA officials Dixie Carter, Bob Ryder and Jeff Jarrett - which Pro Wrestling Sheet reports
is a legit exit, and he’s “free to negotiate elsewhere starting tomorrow.”
The last time Storm’s TNA contract expired back in late 2015, he debuted in NXT, getting
TV wins over Danny Burch and Adam Rose.
But Storm eventually decided to return to TNA, resigning for another two years with
the promotion from January 2016.
Was Paul Heyman behind AJ Styles’ WWE Championship win?
And what other ex-TNA star is heading to WWE?
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issue 1 of the WrestleTalk Magazine now.
I’ve been Oli Davis, and that was wrestling.