Weekend Roundup: XFL Lawsuit Update, NXT India Update, Candice Michelle, AEW & Miami Update, Dalton Castle, Indies

WWE

• WWE reportedly currently does not have any plans to allow fans to attend their upcoming Royal Rumble event at Tropicana Field later this month, according to Spectrum Sports 360.
• WWE reportedly has removed WrestleMania 24 from their WWE Network service due to unknown reasons at the moment, according to HeelByNature.com. It was reported that a potential reason might be due to musical rights issues involving the Big Show vs. Floyd Mayweather match which featured “I Got Money” by 50 Cents as the entrance theme for Mayweather.
• Fightful Select reported that rumors of Snoop Dogg having heat with WWE over his involvement with AEW are false and instead WWE officials had expected for some time for Snoop Dogg to work with AEW due to his love for wrestling and his working relationship with Cody Rhodes on TBS’ Go-Big Show reality competition series.
• Cable network A&E recently interviewed Jim Ross for several of their upcoming WWE documentaries, according to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
• WWE filed a new trademark for “MSK” for wrestling and entertainment-related purposes on January 4th to the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
• WWE also filed trademarks for “Omos”, “Dabba-Kato”, “Mansoor”, “Sha Samuels” and “Leon Ruff” on January 5th. As well as, “Left Right Left Right” and “Katrina Cortez” on January 6th. All of the trademarks were filed for similar purposes.
• As noted before, former XFL commissioner Oliver Luck is currently suing Vince McMahon over allegations of wrongful termination and breach of contract. USA Today reported that McMahon recently filed a countersuit against Luck claiming that Luck defied his orders on league personnel decisions and was derelict with his duties on the job. McMahon reportedly is asking for around $573,000 in monetary damages.
• WrestlingInc.com held a recent interview with Candice Michelle and one of the topics discussed included Michelle revealing why she did not appear on WWE’s Legends Night episode of RAW this past Monday. Michelle stated “I was actually in Orlando, which is ironic, and I was hanging out with Torrie (Wilson). We got to go to Disney World having a magical time, and she told me how she was going to go to RAW. I was like, ‘Oh, what are you gonna do?’ ‘Legends Night,’ and I was like, ‘Oh, that’s awesome,’ and I just didn’t think I was invited. I thought ‘Oh, she’s in the Hall of Fame. They’re inviting Hall of Famers.’ That’s not where I’m at with the company, yet. So, I just thought that was it. And then I happened to look at the announcement and see who’s going to be back. Hulk Hogan and Ric Flair, some of the greatest wrestlers that I love, and then I saw my name on a list. And I was like, ‘Wait, I’m on the list, but they didn’t call me.’ It’s just a simple thing. I just didn’t make the cut.”
• WWE announced that they will be airing a Superstar Spectacle special on the WWE Network soon. This upcoming special was announced to feature the company’s Indian based talent. A recent advertisement for the special revealed that it will air on January 26th.

AEW

• As noted before, AEW is removed to be moving to Miami next month for television tapings to resolve growing issues from their talent in regards to wrestling in outdoor winter weather. Dave Meltzer reported in this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter that AEW officials have yet to make an official decision regarding potential plans to hold tapings in a new warmer venue in Miami.
• AEW reportedly generated an attendance of 870 for their New Year’s Smash episode of AEW Dynamite on January 6th at Daily’s Place, according to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Dave Meltzer reported that the split was 650 paid and 120 as comp tickets given to sponsors and others associated with the company and its talent.
• Matt Hardy announced on Twitter that he and his wife Reby are currently expecting their fourth child.
• During a recent episode of the Talk Is Jericho podcast with Cody Rhodes as the guest, Rhodes revealed that the booking of his Dog Collar match against Brodie Lee for the TNT Championship was inspired by Vader’s debut match in NJPW 1987. Vader faced off against Antonio Inoki in a quick squash victory that led to a riot by NJPW fans afterwards in the venue.
• Post Wrestling’s John Pollock reported that the January 20th episode of AEW Dynamite will be preempted on TSN2 in Canada due to the Montreal Canadiens game on that night. That week’s episode will air instead on TS1 and TSN5.

Other Wrestling

• Major League Wrestling officials reportedly currently have plans for Gino Medina to receive a big push soon, according to PWInsider.
• MLW also reportedly is currently expected to officially announce soon that their upcoming scheduled event in New York City on February 4th will be postponed due to coronavirus related reasons, according to PWInsider.
• Former Ring of Honor wrestler Pelle Primeau reportedly managed to get a defamation lawsuit filed against him by Joey Ryan to be dismissed, according to PWInsider. Mike Johnson reported that Primeau’s lawyers successfully argued that Ryan’s lawsuit was filed in the wrong jurisdiction which led to the dismissal ruling and the case being transferred from the United States District Court, Central District of California to the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Ryan is currently suing Primeau as part of a series of lawsuits filed against his sexual abuse accusers from this past Summer’s #SpeakingOut movement.
• New Japan Pro Wrestling reportedly generated their second highest amount of new subscribers for their New Japan World service during the week of Wrestle Kingdom 15, according to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
• NJPW reportedly generated a paid attendance of 1,019 for their New Year Dash 2021 event on January 6th at the Tokyo Dome City Hall in Tokyo, Japan, according to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
• Tajiri and Ryuki Honda reportedly recently signed full-time contracts with All Japan Pro Wrestling, according to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
• Wrestling legend Les Thatcher announced on Twitter that he recently contracted COVID-19 and is currently battling COVID Pneumonia.
• Dalton Castle’s contract with Ring of Honor reportedly has expired and he is currently a free agent, according to the Wrestling Observer. It was reported that ROH have recently offered a new deal to Castle but he is currently exploring his options.
• ROH announced that Tracy Williams and Sumie Sakai have recently signed new contracts with the company.