Various: Returning Stars WWE Poll, WWE Network Hidden Gems, Indies

WWE Poll Asks Fans Which Injured Star They Are the Most Excited to See Return Next Year

WWE.com is currently holding a poll asking fans which currently injured RAW or SmackDown Live Superstar they are the most excited to see return to the ring next year. The choices available are Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, Bray Wyatt, Braun Strowman, The Bludgeon Brothers, Matt Hardy, Fandango, Tye Dillinger, and Sin Cara.

At the time of this report, Braun Strowman leads with 28% of the fan vote, followed by Kevin Owens at 23% and Bray Wyatt at 21% of the vote each.

WWE Network Hidden Gems Addition; AWA & NWA Themed Classic

Tuesday’s addition to the WWE Network’s Hidden Gems series is American Wrestling Association themed, featuring one classic event.

The final gem of WWE Network’s Christmas themed set of Hidden Gems is the near-complete December 29, 1985 Nite of Champions II event from AWA featuring a NWA World Heavyweight Championship match of Dusty Rhodes vs. Ric Flair (c). This event is notable in wrestling history for being co-promoted under the Pro Wrestling USA banner with the National Wrestling Alliance as part of AWA’s attempt to fight off WWE’s national expansion at the time.

Full card of AWA Nite of Champions II:

• Ron Bass vs. JJ Dillon
• Little Tokyo vs. Cowboy Lang
• Sherri Martel vs. Debbie Combs
• Carlos Colon vs. Konga the Barbarian
• Jake Roberts vs. Paul Ellering
• NWA World Tag Team Championship match – The Long Riders (Bill Irwin & Scott Irwin) vs. The Rock ‘n’ Roll Express (Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson) (c)
• Two-on-One Handicap match – Sgt. Slaughter vs. Chris Markoff & Boris Zhukov
• NWA United States Heavyweight Championship match – Tully Blanchard vs. Magnum TA (c)
• NWA World Heavyweight Championship match – Dusty Rhodes vs. Ric Flair (c)
• The Road Warriors (Road Warrior Animal & Road Warrior Hawk) vs. The Russians (Ivan Koloff & Krusher Kruschev)
• AWA World Heavyweight Championship match – Stan Hansen vs. Rick Martel (c)

Official synopsis:

AWA 12/29/1985 – AWA Nite of Champions II

The AWA and NWA join forces for a supercard of epic proportions when Ric Flair battles Dusty Rhodes at Night of Champions II.

Misc. Wrestling News & Notes

Shane Taylor recently announced on Twitter that he has signed a contract with Ring of Honor and will officially debut in the company next year.

STARDOM announced that they will be holding two events in the United States during next year’s WrestleMania 35 weekend in Queens, New York. One of the events will take place at the NYC Arena on April 5, 2019.

Major League Wrestling is reported to be working on plans to add a Women’s division and Women’s championship belt at some point next year, according to PWInsider.