12/22 Wrestlezone Recap: Batista Returning to WWE, Updates on the WWE Network, TNA Fires Former Champion & More

Will He, Won’t He

Will AJ Styles sign a new contract with TNA Wrestling? Has he already? Some sources claim the contract is already in place. His booking agent claims nothing has been signed. He’s on board for 11 independent events through April of 2014, but we’ll have to see how many of them he’ll be able to honor should he sign a new deal with TNA. 

I know this might be an unpopular opinion, but I don’t want AJ to re-sign with TNA. Yes it would be a major loss for the roster, but how many fresh angles can Styles really work on Impact Wrestling? I’m sure we’ll get the obligatory champion vs. champion feud with Magnus, but who can AJ really work with that we haven’t seen already a dozen times? 

There are so many new and exciting matches that fans could see if AJ chooses to return to the indie scene full time. Working with Ring of Honor or Pro Wrestling Guerrilla would afford him chances to work with the likes of Adam Cole, Kevin Steen, Michael Elgin, Drake Younger, Johnny Gargano, etc. Who’s left in TNA that fans want to see? Ethan Carter? 

WWE Looking at Neflix for the Network? 

According to multiple reports, WWE is looking at companies like Netflix, Hulu and Amazon for inspiration on the upcoming WWE Network. While reps from WWE still claim they are looking at multiple options, and a release date hasn’t been set yet, a lot of “experts” are certain we’ll see a subscription-based On-Demand service ala Netflix launch before WrestleMania. There have even been reports stating that for a $60 6-month payment up front, WWE will throw in WrestleMania. 

I’m sold. I will gladly pay out the $10-12 every month if it includes each monthly WWE PPV as it’s happening. And the ability to easily go back and watch each Raw, Smackdown, NXT and PPV makes reviewing things so much easier, and eliminates the need to illegally obtain copies of each show. Since WWE has the media libraries for companies like WCW, ECW, AWA, and NWA, there’s so much potential in a Netflix-like product. 

At the very least, this is a much better idea than coming out with another TV network very few of us will actually purchase. I watch almost none of my television ON my actual television. WWE just needs to look at its own digital sales and page views for this quarter – which are astronomical – to see how much better an internet-based product would be for the future.