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Vince Russo’s The Brand Recap – Kurt Angle Controversy, Billy Gunn Criticism, Was Shawn Michaels A Draw? More!

Russo is joined on today’s show by his co-host Jeff Lane.

Russo says he usually gives WrestleZone and WrestlingInc. a pass when he rips apart dirt sheet opinions, but this past week both of these sites published stories that they simply shouldn’t have. Nearly a decade ago Kurt Angle was involved in a very troublesome relationship, and he has spent the years since getting over that time in his life.

This past week Angle’s ex went on a Twitter rampage, bringing up things that have been buried for years, and for some reason these wrestling sites thought it was a good idea to publish stories on this. Russo thinks this was an embarrassing thing to do, and he’d love to get an explanation as to why either of these sites chose to publish those stories. By publishing these stories they’ve given this women attention, and have jeopardized Angle’s position in WWE.

Lane plays a clip of Dave Meltzer and Bryan Alvarez from this past week, when they were discussing who Alvarez would be able to have a good match with in NJPW. Meltzer says that Tanahashi would be a good choice because he can have a good match with anyone, except for Billy Gunn evidently.

Russo says that Billy Gunn is a legend in this business, and at 53 years of age he looks better than ever. Russo says he’d love for Meltzer to run into Gunn in the street someday, because he’d run away like a scared little girl. Russo adds that Alvarez is an independent wrestler because he’s not good enough to have great matches with anybody.

WWE Changes RAW Superstars Name

It appears that WWE has decided to shorten Elias Samson’s name to just “Elias” moving forward.

In his bio section on WWE.com, the last name has been cleared away. This would be an indication that they have decided to shorten his name. WWE has done this in the past with Superstars like Big E Langston, Antonio Cesaro and Adrian Neville.

Rumored Matches for WWE SummerSlam

The following matches are excepted to be added to the upcoming August 20th WWE SummerSlam event:

RAW Tag Team Championship
Sheamus & Cesaro (c) vs. Seth Rollins & Dean Ambrose

Smackdown Tag Team Championship
New Day vs. Usos

Kevin Owens vs. Shane McMahon

Intercontinental Championship
The Miz vs. Jason Jordan

United States Championship
AJ Styles vs. Chris Jericho

The Hardy Boyz vs. Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson vs. The Revival

Finn Balor vs. Bray Wyatt

Big Cass vs. Big Show

Cruiserweight Championship
Neville vs. Akira Tozawa vs. Ariya Daivari

Witness Comments on Braun Strowman & Karen Jarrett’s Bar Incident

It was reported via Wrestling Observer Newsletter that there was an incident between Braun Strowman and Karen Jarrett at a bar establishment in Nashville when Global Force Wrestling had meetings and RAW was in the same city.

PWInsider has picked up the story and was informed by a witness at the bar that the altercation was just “a drunken conversation between two drunk people in a bar that got loud, nothing more.”

For those who missed the original story, you can check it out here.

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.