In this WrestleTalk News, WWE send out a survey asking fans if they’d be interested in an
AEW idea being on their show, FTR shoot on Bret Hart’s return to WWE, 3 huge returns
for tonight’s Raw and more.
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[SUPPORT WRESTLETALK] In 2019, we got WWE’s first bit of real
competition since the death of WCW in 2001 - sorry TNA [SCREEN] - with the launch of
All Elite Wrestling: a promotion that was backed by a billionaire with billions to spend,
some of the most popular names in the wrestling landscape, and a TV deal with a major network.
It was a company that was planned to lose money for its first three years, but turned
a profit in year one.
However going by interviews and investor calls, WWE do not see AEW as competition; even though
they are the ones who reportedly told Dominos about the Nick Gage/Chris Jericho spot on
Dynamite, and allegedly buy Fast National numbers and leak them to certain members of
the press - but only if the Rampage number is below 500,000 viewers - because that is
below what TNT would consider a ‘success’ for the show.
And that is because - internally - they do consider them competition.
As well they should.
They even admitted as such in their lawsuit against MLW.
And in a new survey sent out to fans, it looks like WWE might be considering taking one of
AEW’s most unique traits and putting on their own show: the ranking system.
WWE periodically send out surveys to fans, asking them questions about how much of the
product they watch, how much merchandise they buy, who they’re favourite wrestlers are,
things like that.
A recent survey was sent out asking fans to rank their interest in the card for WrestleMania
Backlash, and previous ones have asked about fan thoughts on ROH, New Japan and other promotions.
And they will also pepper in questions about ideas that they’ve clearly discussed in
creative meetings to gauge fan reaction.
PWInsider have seen the latest fan survey sent over the weekend, which asks: “Are
fans interested in a wrestler ranking system ?”
This is interesting, as a previous fan survey sent out in March asked fans: “What do you
like, if anything, about watching AEW Dynamite?”
This of course would not be the first time WWE have had a ranking system.
WWE.com used to have the Power Rankings back in 2018 - though that didn’t affect storylines
on screen - but SmackDown themselves had, for the briefest period of time in 2018, The
SmackDown Top 10; a ranking system that was - if I recall correctly - voted on by the
wrestlers to determine who would get future title shots and things like that.
Side note, but I’d totally forgotten about this until last night when I was reading this
news story and had a pang of nostalgia as I remember Oli Davis shouting me down about
this on the WrestleTalk Podcast because I thought it was a good idea.
In the end I guess he was right as it only lasted 3 or so weeks before they gave up on
it and changed their minds.
It’s also interesting to note that WWE might consider bringing in a ranking system like
AEW’s, as their previous mantra when fans ask why their favourite wrestlers never win
is that ‘wins and loses don’t matter’.
This would be a huge change in creative thinking for the company.
AEW’s ranking system also has its flaws too, with fans asking questions about it every
week in the company’s Twitter posts.
But speaking of WWE not thinking AEW as competition - even though they are - they recently got
a name that AEW wanted to sign, and now there is some apparent shooting going on about it.
Following AEW Revolution, FTR started a babyface turn by dumping manager Tully Blanchard and
then having some of the best matches seen all year - in both singles and tag matches;
CM Punk vs. Dax Harwood, FTR vs. The Young Bucks and FTR vs. The Briscos all happened
within a few weeks of each other.
The babyface turn was also accompanied by several nods and references to Bret Hart,
with the reported plan being that The Hitman was going to come into AEW and be their new
manager; something that is actually happening at Big Time Wrestling in June when FTR take
on Brian Pillman Jr and Brock Anderson with Arn Anderson in their corner.
However, those teases have since died down somewhat, and now we likely know why.
Dave Meltzer noted in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter last Friday that Bret had quietly
inked, “a lucrative WWE deal that would ban him from appearing on AEW shows .”
Meltzer expanded upon this on Wrestling Observer Radio, reporting that he’s signed a Legend’s
Deal with the company, as well as a merchandise one and that, “I was told that AEW believes
that Bret can not work for them because of a WWE deal .”
And Dax Harwood has now seemingly offered his thoughts on the situation, tweeting a
photo of Bret Hart giving the middle finger with the caption: “Saturday mood.”
And just in case you thought the two things might not be connected - after all, Dax does
seem to be a Grumpy Gus sometimes - Mick Foley retweeted this post asking: “can you guys
start mentioning me on here and tag @VinceMcMahon in?”, to which Cash Wheeler responded: “As
long you agree to same rates and fees as our last client.”
Interestingly in all this, however, is that - according to Dave Meltzer - Bret Hart wasn’t
considered to be factored into AEW’s ongoing Owen Hart Foundation tournament.
He said in that Wrestling Observer Radio that Bret and Owen’s widow Martha Hart, “have
had their issues ”, and when Dave asked Bret directly if he was going to be in Vegas
for Double or Nothing - where the finals of the tournament are taking place - “he was
just like ‘they haven’t asked me,’ that’s what he said .”
It’s likely that Bret Hart won’t be on WWE TV screens any time soon, but someone
who will be on Raw tonight is Becky Lynch, with WWE announcing that the former Raw Women’s
Champion will be making her first apperance on the show since losing the title at WrestleMania
to Bianca Belair a few weeks ago.
But according to Reddit user Kerrmit125 - who has broken stories in the past - she won’t
be the only return in the segment.
This story has also been backed up by Fightful Select, who are also reporting that WWE are
currently planning on Asuka’s return - and it could be as soon as tonight’s episode
of Raw - with the plan that Asuka and Becky Lynch will have a short term feud.
Asuka hasn’t been on WWE TV since last July if you can believe that.
She had been injured for some of last year, but was rumoured to be part of this year’s
Royal Rumble.
However Asuka herself shot down rumours that she had been cleared to wrestle at that time.
And Becky Lynch and Asuka might not be the only big returns on tonight’s show.
The past few weeks of WWE Raw following the Raw After Mania have felt more like Raw After
Mania than Raw After Mania did: with several big angles taking place, NXT call-ups like
Tomasso Ciampa, and title changes like Austin Theory winning the US title.
And a new report from Fightful Select is suggesting that we may see a really surprising return
to Raw tonight: Mustufa Ali.
Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful reports that there have been discussions as of this weekend for
Ali to return to WWE TV, with one pitch being made to bring him back tonight.
Ali has had a tumultuous time with WWE since last October, with reports saying he had a
huge argument with Vince McMahon over his creative direction and he wasn’t even brought
in for TV tapings despite being available to do so.
In fact, he hasn’t been backstage in WWE for months.
He then publicly asked for his release from the company in January of this year, but it
was reported that WWE turned his offer down as Vince saw value in keeping him.
Ali then revealed that he’s got 2 and a half years left on his WWE deal, and has spent
his time on Twitter showing off his wrestling training and talking vaguely about what he
wants to do once he’s gone from WWE.
So it will be interesting to see what might have changed for Ali and WWE’s relationship
if he does come back tonight.
As always, though, nothing is for certain.
SRS adds in his report: “we can never be sure that something like that will actually
happen until he appears on the air, due to the constant changes of the program .”
And those constant changes are also reportedly set to come for wrestlers being heel and face.
On Friday Night SmackDown, we saw Xia Li randomly turn heel in a backstage segment, and in a
dark segment following the show, Mansoor turned heel and joined LA Knight’s new group Knight
Model Agency, where he’ll team with Mace who was rebranded to Face last week.
And according to WrestlingNews.co, “fans should expect more turns for several stars
in the coming weeks as Vince McMahon feels that some of the talent is being miscast right
now .” Just before we get out of here, wanted to
pat myself on the back for winning this week’s Wordle League in the office.
I beat Andy, Pete, Jena, Abbie, Angela, Teri and all of them.
I mean, I tied with Sullivan, but still, go me!