In this WrestleTalk News, could William Regal be going back to WWE, Sasha Banks teases a
move to All Elite Wrestling, the future of War Games and more.
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Ahh, was it ever so great to see that big ol’ cage finally make its main roster debut
after decades of being shunned by Vince McMahon.
It must be said though, it was missing something or more particularly someone…
WAR GAMES!!
Oh yes!
While a certain Lord Regal may have crossed over the shores to AEW, Triple H doesn’t
want people to forget the iconic announcement made famous by Regal in his time as NXT GM.
Posting a short War Games montage of Regal prior to last night’s event with the caption:
“Tonight just wouldn’t be the same without…”
Interestingly Triple H’s Twitter nod led to a fan question on today’s Wrestling Observer
Radio regarding Regal’s AEW future and likelihood of returning to WWE, in which Dave Meltzer
responded:
"I would just say when his contract is up, it would not surprise me.
Tony could make him a better offer.
It is certainly something that's been discussed.
I'll just say that."
Meltzer notes that Regal only signed a one year deal with AEW upon joining the company
in February, so while fans have speculated last week’s Dynamite could be the last we
see of Regal it is unlikely he will be leaving anytime before then unless he asks for/is
granted his release.
However, as far as the links to WWE are concerned Meltzer admits there is some substance to
the rumors, "it's certainly a story that's up in the air.
It's not a non-story."
Someone that is still contracted to WWE but notably MIA is Sasha Banks, who walked out
of WWE along with tag partner Naomi back in May.
Despite sending us all on a bit of an emotional rollercoaster ever since with teases regarding
her future, it seems like Banks may have dropped her clearest hint yet at a return to the ring.
However I feel like I’ve been saying that in every WrestleTalk News video since she
walked out of WWE along with her tag partner Naomi back in f***ing May.
Posting a video on TikTok with the curious caption of “she’s coming” Banks showed
off a variety of pictures of herself training in-ring.
However, that’s not the most interesting part of all, as Banks’ also added a bunch
of hashtags to the video including both her current employers #WWE but also #AEW.
Tagging both companies is clearly an attempt to tease fans and keep them guessing however,
it is entirely possible she may not be appearing for either promotion as she also hashtagged
#prowrestling #luchalibre and other random things like #spicychallenges and #dontdrinkthewater.
Lastly she did #statementmaker which is notable due to her recent trademarking of the term
under her corporation name of Soulnado, perhaps again suggesting her next move may not be
in relation to WWE or AEW.
Dammit she told me not to drink the water!
The whole thing is interesting however, as roughly three weeks ago Banks once again made
a post that caught the attention of fans, an Instagram video that promised something
big happening in November, something that was six months in the making.
So with only a couple days remaining of this month, we shouldn’t have long to wait for
Banks’ bombshell.
And with an episode of both Monday Night Raw and AEW Dynamite still to air before the month’s
end we’ll have to wait and see if Banks’ big announcement relates to either company’s.
Did you enjoy War Games yesterday?
Well if you did, you might be in luck as it could become a new yearly tradition.
Both Oli and myself quite enjoyed WWE’s main roster debut of War Games - you can watch
Oli Davis’ review on this channel, and the pair of us discuss it in length over on the
WrestleTalk Podcast channel.
It is interesting to note though that Survivor Series didn’t feature any traditional Survivor
Series matches.
Instead putting its focus on the two War Games instead.
So the question now becomes: is War Games going to be the new Thanksgiving weekend tradition?
Well luckily Triple H was asked just that at the Survivor Series post-show press conference,
responding:
"I think we'll see.
I think it worked out incredibly well tonight.
We're in the process of looking at the overall year-to-year calendar, and seeing where things
end up, but I believe tonight was very successful, so it makes me feel positive about it.
We'll see where the future takes us."
The irony here is that Triple H was also asked about Money in the Bank, Hell in a Cell and
Elimination Chamber also being yearly events rather than match types on other shows.
There was a report a few months ago that Trips was setting up to scrap the ‘gimmick PPVs’
that were prevalent in the Vince era; making Hell in a Cell an attraction again and moving
Money in the Bank back to the WrestleMania card.
But if War Games does become a yearly tradition for Survivor Series, would this itself not
just become a ‘gimmick PPV’.
When asked if War Games could move around the WWE calendar, Hunter responded:
"It could be.
For example, with Hell in a Cell stepping away, there was a feeling that Hell in a Cell
is one of those things that is a giant blowoff.
If you're calling somebody out at the end of something, you can challenge them to Hell
in a Cell.”
But he wasn’t done there, addressing speculation on two other gimmick events that are rumored
to be on the chopping block, Money in the Bank and Elimination Chamber.
“So I hear this speculation among fans a lot, Hell in a Cell, Money in the Bank, Elimination
Chamber, maybe those things should all go away.
Hell in a Cell, I hear it, I had a highlight of my career Foley and I calling each other
out in Hell in a Cell, well no one is ever going to challenge somebody going, ‘That’s
it, I’m tired of you, I’m challenging you to an Elimination Chamber match with five
other guys,’ like it doesn’t work, right?
“Same thing, ‘that does it, I challenge you to Money in the Bank’ right?
Like, I feel like there’s a difference there.
“I think we have to re-evaluate all of that.
I think we have to look at that.
It’s really looking at the overall calendar and saying what is the best place to put this?
What is the best way to entertain our fans And what makes the most sense, one after the
other.”
Speaking of re-evaluating things and Triple H spoke on one of his most controversial decisions
since becoming head of creative in the summer - that being the decision to have Austin Theory
cash-in his MITB briefcase unsuccessfully on the now former US champion Seth Rollins
a few weeks back on Raw.
Despite being roundly critised for the decision online - I’d argue quite correctly as it
was a terrible bit of booking - Triple H, on the other hand, does not see any negatives.
He said in the press conference:
“Unfortunately for him, his career was dead two weeks ago and now it’s resurrected so
that’s a pretty good feat for him.
He’s going to walk on water next I think, it’ll be good.”
If he does walk on water, just make sure he doesn’t drink it.
Sasha Banks told him not to.
Triple H wasn’t the only one to take the hot seat at the Survivor Series presser as
current Raw Women’s Champion Bianca Belair appeared following her And Friends team’s
triumph over Damage CTRL and friends in the show’s opener.
Now considering Belair has now come out victorious over Bayley for three consecutive PPVs, surely
Belair is set for a fresh challenger coming into Mania season.
But who does Belair desire to face the most at the show of shows?
Answering that exact question Belair shared two notable names from the current women’s
division stating “in a perfect world” she would want to face Rhea Ripley or the
currently absent Charlotte Flair in April.
She also stated that while she has already main evented night one of a WrestleMania (with
Sasha Banks in 2021) she aims to main event night two at next year’s Mania.
Yeah, I don’t think that’s happening [Roman side screen]
There is a question mark over the return of Charlotte Flair, who hasn’t been on WWE
TV since May.
And when looking at the crop of the Raw Women’s Division coming out of War Games, Belair is
struggling to find some credible challengers amongst them.
So maybe it’s time for WWE to pick the phone up and ask for The Queen to come back.
Current WWE Champion Thinking About Wrestling Future
Or perhaps they could look to NXT, as their record breaking champ Mandy Rose has recently
been discussing her wrestling future on Chris Van Vliet’s Insight show, suggesting that
life after wrestling has crossed her mind.
“I do (think about life after wrestling).
Yeah, I always do.
I mean, I’m 32, I’m not young”
If you think you’re ‘not young’ at 32 put me in the f***ing ground now.
“I mean I’m young but, you know, I wanna have kids one day, so it’s not like I’m
gonna do this for, you know.
And I would love to do it for however long I can do it, even after kids, you know, maybe.
But I do try to think about that.”
In the interview Rose also admitted she feels Toxic Attraction are ready for the main roster,
something that has long been speculated from fans, particularly after their two appearances
on Smackdown in August and September.
Sticking with NXT and WWE have announced that this week’s November 29th edition of NXT
will be hosting a number of WWE Hall of Famers, five to be exact.
However, so far anyway, they have only released the identity of three of the five, that being
NXT head honcho Shawn Michaels (not sure if that should count it feels like he’s on
the show every week) as well as Molly Holly and “Road Dogg” Jesse James, who I’m
sure will find a way to blame AEW for not letting Billy Gunn join him again.
As for what they will be doing on the show, it seems like they will be assisting Michaels
in announcing the 10 competitors that will take part in the convoluted Iron Survivor
matches at NXT’s Deadline event on December 10th.
It seems like WWE are keeping the other two HOF names close to their chest, perhaps in
an attempt to boost ratings, which were disappointingly low for last week’s episode.
Ending with some good news for fans of New Japan, you can now cheer, boo and make all
the noise you want at NJPW live events again.
That’s right, ever since the COVID-19 pandemic NJPW had placed a ban on all crowd’s making
vocal noise in an attempt to get fans back in arenas (to help alleviate financial issues
from lack of ticket sales) but also to keep fans safe from passing infection around at
the same time.
Clapping was permitted however, but that’s just not quite the same is it?
Well, thankfully after two years it has been announced by NJPW that this ban will be lifted
(albeit not entirely) in February 2023, in time for that month’s New Beginning event
on February 11th.
However, as alluded to, the ban lift comes with the caveat that it will only be initially
trialed in certain locations of specific arenas that are deemed as designated “vocal support
areas” meaning only small sections of the crowds can make vocal noise.
Hopefully this trial will be a success and can eventually lead to full arena’s of fans
making all the noise they want, it’s just a shame that the no noise ban will still be
in place for NJPW two-night Wrestle Kingdom 17
event in January.