Hello and welcome to the WrestleTalk News - I’m Oli Davis.
Daniel Bryan F**** Given Update Since Hell in a Cell, Smackdown has really
become The Sami Zayn & Kevin Owens Show - which was perfectly captured in this week’s opening
promo, where Zayn mocked Daniel Bryan - in front of the Smackdown General Manager’s
passionate hometown crowd - for having to retire because he worked too hard for the
fans.
Bryan, though, has been very public about returning to the ring once his WWE contract
expires next year, prompting comedy account WWE Creative Humor to tweet their version
of Sami’s promo: "I'm still an in-ring performer.
@WWEDanielBryan, you're not anymore...until September" - Sami Zayn #SDLive
A joke Daniel Bryan not only retweeted, he also teased:
“Some things are best left unsaid...
😎” Ring of Honor’s COO Joe Koff is already
preparing his promotion for September 2018, telling the AVClub: “I would welcome [Bryan].
It would be a triumphant return.
I think we would be the right place for him”.
Given the current state of things, ROH should probably start making room for a few other
WWE wrestlers, too.
Neville, Vince McMahon & WWE Update Neville reportedly walked out of the 9th October
Raw and requested his release from WWE.
The latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports: “[Neville’s] not talking publicly, and
really can’t until he gets a release, but he is said to be very happy about his decision.”
Sports Illustrated’s Justin Barrasso has shed even more light on the situation, claiming
Neville has been “miserable” in WWE since January, and many thought he would walk out
months ago.
Despite being Cruiserweight Champion for the majority of the year, Neville apparently felt
like he was “viewed as nothing more than a very talented “get-over guy” used to
enhance other talent”.
Being in the Cruiserweight division puts a glass ceiling on wrestlers’ earnings and
appeal.
Dave Meltzer notes that Cruiserweight matches on pay-per-views are generally lower down
the card, meaning lower payouts, and because only the champion and the No. 1 contender
are used for the majority of house shows, most of the division find themselves only
working the Monday and Tuesday TV tapings - again decreasing earnings.
So when Neville’s Cruiserweight title match against Austin Aries was left off the official
WrestleMania 33 DVD release, Barrasso says that in addition to costing him “arguably
his biggest check of the year…
Neville was infuriated that his company—for which he would wrestle hurt, tired, and with
minimal complaint—would disregard his service and value.”
Being left off the WrestleMania 33 DVD was also one of the main reported reasons Aries
left WWE in July, and it seems leaving the company was a very good idea:
“Upcoming 6 weeks of "bingo hall" $ >> Last 4 months of "big league" $. Awesome to see
the #prowrestling scene thriving around the 🌎.”
A pretty decent financial situation which, according to Sports Illustrated, Neville found
out about: “Neville learned that Aries will make more
in the next six weeks—which includes considerably less travel—than he will make in that same
timespan on the WWE payroll.”
But while Aries left WWE on good terms, Neville walking out on Raw might have burnt his bridge
back to Connecticut, as Barrasso writes he “drew the ire of Vince McMahon with his
departure”, and “In McMahon’s eyes, walking out of his company is the kiss of
death.”
On today’s Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer gave another update on Neville’s
situation, saying, “He’s happy, how’s that?
He’s a happy man.
He’s happy he’s gone.”
Want to know how you can get just as happy as Neville?
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What’s the real reason Nia Jax is unhappy with WWE?
And what heel turn is planned for the Shield break up?
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I’ve been Oli Davis, and that was wrestling.