News & Notes: WWE Network, ROH-Stardom, Corgan-NWA, Lesnar Feud

WWE Signs Deal with ICW and PROGRESS for WWE Network

WWE has recently signed a deal with ICW and PROGRESS for the WWE Network, according to website Fightful.

Fightful’s Brandon Howard tweeted a clip of WWE’s Chief Financial Officer George Barrios mentioning a deal being made allowing future ICW and PROGRESS shows to be shown on the WWE Network. While no official announcement has been made by the WWE, the Wrestling Observer’s Dave Meltzer hinted its due to Vince McMahon not giving final approval yet for the plans.

WWE CFO George Barrios implied on May 22 that there is a "deal" already in place with ICW and Progress. Listen: https://t.co/wa6JK72yvo pic.twitter.com/oNgyne2BY0

— Brandon Howard (@BrandonThurston) May 31, 2017

ROH Signs Talent Partnership with Stardom

Ring of Honor announces they have signed a talent partnership deal with Japan’s Stardom. The two companies previously held a joint tryout camp in March resulting in the partnership being formed. ROH’s upcoming Best in the World pay-per-view will be the first official ROH event featuring Stardom talent.

Besides Stardom, Ring of Honor also announced a tag match featuring talent from Mexico’s CMLL will occur at June’s Best in the World show.

Across the Pacific, STARDOM has established itself as the premier women’s professional wrestling organization in the world. In March, Women of Honor and STARDOM partnered together for a tryout camp and a partnership was formed. In Lowell, MA at Best in the World Weekend, international superstar and current STARDOM HIGH SPEED CHAMPION KRIS WOLF makes her Women of Honor debut!

Billy Corgan’s Deal to Purchase NWA in Serious Doubt

Billy Corgan’s deal to become the new owner of the National Wrestling Alliance is currently in serious doubt, according to PWInsider.

PWInsider stated problems were recently discovered during the transfer of NWA’s trademarks to Corgan and are serious enough to cause the entire deal to fall apart if not resolved soon. The main issue is trademarks for the NWA expired last year and were not reapplied prior to talks with Corgan. When Corgan’s company, International Wrestling Corp, tried to apply for ownership of the trademarks in March, the request was not officially approved making the transfer currently impossible.

Rumor: Brock Lesnar’s Return Feud to be Very Short

WWE is currently rumored to be planning a very short Universal Championship feud for Brock Lesnar’s return, according to Wrestling Observer Radio.

Dave Meltzer mentioned the WWE is currently planning on the winner of Sunday’s Extreme Rules #1 Contender’s match to have a very short feud with Brock Lesnar and conclude at July’s Great Balls of Fire pay-per-view. This feud is not planned to include another match nor extend into SummerSlam since the WWE still wants Lesnar facing Braun Strowman for SummerSlam’s Universal Championship match.