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CM Punk Advertised for SmackDown Live

Several of our readers have sent word that CM Punk was being advertised this week for the Hulu version of SmackDown Live. You can check out a screen shot that reader Erik Glenn sent in:

It’s obvious CM Punk isn’t appearing on the episode as he hasn’t returned to the company. Someone at Hulu screwed up and somehow this happened.

At last word Punk was under contract to UFC and has voiced in several interviews that he has no plans to return to WWE anytime in the near future.

Mike Kanellis Knocks Global Force Wrestling Over Pay Issues

Mike Kanellis knocked Global Force Wrestling over their pay issues in a Twitter exchange with a fan.

The fan pointed out how Mike was a joke in Global Force Wrestling and is also a joke in WWE. That is when Mike decided to point out that he’s getting paid now. You can check out the exchange below:

WWE Planning Match Between Shane McMahon & Kevin Owens?

As seen on Tuesday’s episode of SmackDown Live, Shane McMahon announced that Kevin Owens would defend the United States Championship against AJ Styles and Chris Jericho in the main event of the show. After the announcement, Owens and Shane went face-to-face.

Dave Meltzer mentioned in the latest issue of The Wrestling Observer Newsletter that this is it very clear that this was done as a tease for a match between Shane and Owens down the line. There is a lot of online speculation that the two could possibly face each other at this year’s SummerSlam event.

While nothing has been confirmed, there is always the possibility that the match gets added to SummerSlam as WWE is trying to book the event strong and a match between the two would definitely be something the fans would pay to see. We will keep you updated if we hear anything regarding the two facing off at the biggest even of the summer.

Do you think we’ll see Shane McMahon wrestle at SummerSlam? Sound off in the comment section below…

El Rey Exec on Lucha Underground Renewal: “Looks Good”

IGN recently interviewed Skip Chaisson, El Rey Network’s chief creative officer, about the potential of Lucha Underground being renewed for a fourth season. During the interview, Chaisson said the show’s future “looks good.” He would not confirm nor deny, however, the show itself being renewed.

Chaisson noted that one of the biggest talking points at the El Rey Network is where LU fits into their TV schedule going forward. Though he also noted that he and network head/famed filmmaker Robert Rodriguez love the show. “I can’t emphasize enough just how giving the wrestlers are,” he said, “and just working with Eric [Van Wagenen, Lucha Underground’s executive producer] and Chris [DeJoseph, co-executive producer] – it’s just so much fun.”

Luckily for LU, El Rey is still airing season 3 of the series. This leaves plenty of time for the network to decide the show’s future.

Paige Tells Total Divas Cast That She Will See Them Soon

Paige sent out the following tweets congratulating the new cast members of Total Divas and told them that she will see them soon:

As previously noted, Paige was not a part of the upcoming season because she hasn’t been on the road with the company due to her neck injuries. It is still possible that she becomes a cast regular again upon her return to WWE, that is if she returns. Her status with the company appears to be up in the air given the drama that has surrounded her personal life lately. She was suspended for a wellness violation, involved in sex tape scandal and may be facing battery charges for an assault on her boyfriend at an airport.

Predicting the Next Three United States Champions

AJ Styles just defeated Kevin Owens to become a two-time WWE United States Champion. With Styles looking to begin an open challenge, he will have many fresh challengers. One of these challengers will eventually dethrone Styles. Someone will dethrone the one who dethroned Styles. So on and so forth.

Who will be the next person to hold United States gold? Who will become a champion soon? Only time will tell, but here are some bold predictions. Who will become a United States champion before 2017 ends?

3. Kevin Owens

Styles is supposed to defend his championship next week on Smackdown. Given WWE’s recent fascination with nonsensical booking decisions, expect Owens to regain the title and become a four-time US Champion.

The match, if it’s anything like their last few matches, will be a mostly okay match. It will be good for a TV match. Eventually, though, some weird booking decision will work in Kevin Owens’ favor. Maybe the referee won’t see a weapon shot, or won’t see a rope break. Maybe Kevin Owens will pick up the whole announce table and hit AJ with it and the referee won’t know if he should disqualify Owens. At the end of a hard-fought match, though, Owens will walk away with the gold.

The next week, he’ll cut a promo saying he’s hosting an open challenge. Styles will answer, and Owens will deny him. Either Daniel Bryan or Shane McMahon will book  the match for the following week, because ratings or something. Whatever. Styles will get his rematch.

What will happen after Styles gets his rematch? It’s easy.

2. AJ Styles

At the rematch, AJ Styles will channel the strength of his home state of Georgia. With the weight of 10 million people squarely on his shoulders, Styles will vanquish that dastardly Canadian Kevin Owens and become a three-time United States champion. Ideally, the match would be a no holds barred street fight. The Atlanta Falcons will all be at ringside (despite the show being held in Providence, Rhode Island), and they’ll all attack Kevin Owens. Then the Montreal Canadiens will show up and attack the Falcons. Styles will then perform a Styles Clash to Kevin Owens off the top rope, outside the ring, and onto both teams, who are conveniently brawling near the turnbuckle. Amidst all the strewn bodies at ringside, Styles will roll Owens’ lifeless body into the ring and get the three-count.

Next week, AJ will announce that he’s holding an Open Challenge. John Cena will answer, because reasons. Kevin Owens will also appear, along with Jinder Mahal. They’ll have a tag team match, and Owens will face Styles at Summerslam for the United States Championship.

What happens at Summerslam? I think you know.

1. Kevin Owens

At Summerslam, Kevin Owens will defeat AJ Styles in a 60-minute 6-pack Iron Man Elimination match that will also feature Sami Zayn, Tye Dillinger, Aiden English, and Mike Kannelis. Owens will eliminate Styles by fighting with the weight of 35 million people on his shoulders. Styles will be fighting with the weight of 323 million people on his shoulders, but since his burden is heavier, Owens capitalizes on that and wins.

Owens will once again proclaim that he will be hosting an open challenge. Styles will demand a match, but Owens will deny him, saying he’s fought him too many times. Styles moves to the back of the line, and Kevin Owens faces new challengers.

Kevin Owens will then hold on to the United States Championship for the rest of his career. He’ll retire 10 years later, still the United States champion. At his last ever match, it will be for the championship. The match will end in a DQ, and Owens gets to retire with the title, forever the New Face of America.

Who’s Idea Was For AJ Styles to Win the US Title at Madison Square Garden?

While appearing on Edge & Christian’s podcast, AJ Styles revealed that it was actually Vince McMahon’s idea for Kevin Owens to drop the United States Championship title to him at the Madison Square Garden event a few weeks back.

“To me, it’s smart. It’s something that hasn’t been done in a long time and to do it at Madison Square Garden and everybody with WWE knows that’s a big deal. I think it was awesome. I think it was very clever and I loved it.”

Styles recalled, “there was a pop, ‘he won! Yes!’ but, ‘well, who’s going to walk out there?’ and then, there was another pop because nobody walked out there. It was really cool, but it was smart to not do that every year, but every couple of years to do something like that. I think it just came down to doing something different and it was Vince’s call and no one else’s. And yeah, it was great.”

Styles went on to explain how he wouldn’t be surprised to see the WWE Championship change hands at a SmackDown Live live event.

“You never know. And who knows? When the guys wrestling, whoever it may be wrestling Jinder Mahal, they may switch it. If you’ve got John Cena working Jinder Mahal on the main event or whatever, it could possibly happen. That’s a good idea. That’s a business move to some extent.”

The Taz Show Recap – NXT Analysis, Effective Commentary in Wrestling, Will Taz Return to the Announce Booth? More!

Block 1:

Taz opens today’s show speaking briefly about last night’s episode of NXT. He says that Velveteen is a very captivating character with a terrific look, great size and a ripped body. He thinks Velveteen Dream has a plethora of potential moving forward, and if he had to pick two NXT Superstars who he believes will become legitimate stars he’d choose Dream and Aleister Black.

Speaking about the NXT commentary team, one line in particular really bothered Taz during last night’s episode. After Velveteen Dream dropped his elbow finisher from the top rope, Mauro Ranallo said, “The elbow was Macho like Randy!”. Taz cringed at that line, and he really wishes Ranallo wouldn’t have compared Veleveteen Dream to ‘Macho Man’ Randy Savage.

Taz understands that Ranallo is not making this comparison maliciously and he’s doing his best to get Velveteen Dream over, but Taz doubts Vince McMahon is aware that this type of comparison is happening on a weekly basis on NXT. He doubts McMahon would approve of these young talents being compared to some of the business’ all time greats, and Taz believes Ranallo is simply trying too hard to get these guys over.