In today’s WrestleTalk News, is Bill Goldberg returning to WWE? How the WWE 2K17 commercial teased a Bill Goldberg/Brock Lesnar rematch, Cody Rhodes reveals his first massive post-WWE appearance and backstage news on why the WWE brand split is being brought back.
Why The WWE Brand Split Is Returning
Our top story today asks: did Bill Goldberg just pave the way for a WWE dream match return?
Read More: Goldberg Talks Appearing in WWE 2K17
But first, as Shane McMahon told us through the art of twerking on this week’s Raw, the WWE brand split is returning. What he didn’t tell us was: ‘why?’
According to F4WOnline, the backstage reason for the brand extension’s return is because USA Network – the television home to both Raw and Smackdown – have been unhappy withSmackdown’s low ratings. Many have criticised the show for being nothing more than a Raw repeat, and the programme very rarely contains storylines, matches or angles of any real consequence.
This reportedly led to talks between USA and WWE about how to improve Smackdown’s ratings. They both decided on making the show live, and, later, Vince McMahon came up with the idea to bring the brand split back to give Smackdown its own identity.
WWE apparently want to make Raw and Smackdown of equal importance when the brand split happens in July – with one of the rumoured names for the Smackdown brand being WWE’s top star for the last decade, John Cena. It’s said WWE think his presence on Smackdown will make the show feel as legitimate as Raw.
Cody Rhodes Announces Huge Post-WWE Match
Cody Rhodes was granted his release from WWE in late May, and it looks as though the company will force him to see through the 90 day non-compete clause in his contract – which will put him out of action until the 19th August.
Cody recently tweeted a to-do list for his post-WWE career, including wanting to face top ROHnames Roderick Strong, Adam Cole and Dalton Castle, along with New Japan stars The Young Bucks and Shibata.
Well now he can write ‘pending’ next to one of them.
Northeast Wrestling’s ‘Wrestling Under The Stars’ event on the 27th August in New York will see Cody Rhodes go up against – for the first time ever – Kurt Angle.
Who’s next? I hear you ask. A god damn smooth segue to our main story, I’ll reply…
To hear about today’s big story – is Goldberg returning to the WWE? – watch the WrestleTalk News above!
