It has been a busy week in WWE, both on television and behind the scenes.
From an increasingly interesting contract situation involving Bayley to Ilja Dragunov’s surprising departure, here’s what you need to know from the week in WWE news and rumors.
WWE’s tag team divisions could finally be getting some needed attention.
Recent reporting indicates Shinsuke Nakamura and the newly debuted Kyoki — formerly Hiromu Takahashi — are expected to become top challengers on SmackDown, while Fraxiom should receive increased television time. On Raw, Ethan Page and Rusev are also reportedly expected to be featured more prominently.
I’m all for it. WWE has enough talent to make tag team wrestling feel important, but too often the division has existed in the background rather than as a meaningful part of weekly television.
Putting legitimate singles stars into consequential teams isn’t the only solution, but it’s an easy way to immediately give the division more star power.
WWE’s Upcoming TV Schedule Will Look Different
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There will also be an unusual wrinkle to WWE television over the next couple of weeks.
WWE is scheduled to hold a combined Raw and SmackDown taping in Cleveland on Friday, August 28, with Roman Reigns among the stars advertised. WWE had originally scheduled separate Raw and SmackDown events for the following week, but previously postponed the August 31 Raw in Charlotte and canceled the September 4 SmackDown in Cincinnati.
For viewers, the biggest thing to know is simple: spoilers could be floating around earlier than usual.
It’s also another example of WWE becoming increasingly willing to experiment with its traditional weekly touring schedule rather than treating Monday and Friday television as immovable dates.
Lil Yachty Has Reportedly Been Training for Months
Lil Yachty’s WWE involvement is apparently much more than a celebrity cameo.
WWE announced Friday that Yachty will face United States Champion Baron Corbin at Sunday Night’s Main Event on September 6. If Yachty lasts five minutes, Trick Williams receives another shot at Corbin’s championship later that night.
Bryan Alvarez reported Saturday that Yachty has actually been training for months with WWE’s Ivy Nile and her husband, Ari Levy.
Celebrity matches can be hit or miss, but WWE has become remarkably good at preparing outsiders for this environment.
More importantly, the stipulation is smart. Nobody needs to pretend Yachty can suddenly beat a WWE champion — he just has to survive five minutes.
That’s a much easier story to buy into.
