Below are a couple of top WWE news stories of the day, involving Trish Stratus and CM Punk.
• WWE Hall of Famer Trish Stratus came out of retirement at WrestleMania 39 earlier this year. Her latest run ended at Payback 2023, where she lost to Becky Lynch in a Steel Cage match.
She promoted her upcoming Canada’s Got Talent appearance by posting the following photo:
Trish recently teased another run with the Women’s Championship, which she last held 17 years ago.
During an interview with Chris Van Vliet, Trish hinted at having another WWE run:
“When I embarked on the journey, I came back for WrestleMania, ‘Let’s do this little program’. Suddenly, heel Trish had to come alive. Then, it just kept going and going. I got to do things I didn’t get to do, right? Ladder Match, Saudi Arabia, Cage Match.
To be able to dip my toes into the current landscape and check boxes that I wasn’t able to check back in the day was pretty amazing.
Yeah, I mean, I could become an 8-time champ. That sounds good to me. Why not?”
WATCH: Trish Stratus Shows Off Her Super Hot Buns:
• WWE’s talks with Warner Bros. Discovery are back on due to CM Punk.
Dave Meltzer, on Wrestling Observer Radio, discussed recent speculation about the future of WWE’s Monday Night Raw. About a month ago, WWE was reportedly exploring options, including potential moves to networks like Amazon Prime, Warner Bros. Discovery, or Disney’s FX, while also considering staying with USA Network. Meltzer mentioned the desire to secure around $400 million in rights fees but expressed skepticism about reaching that figure.
The negotiations were initially believed to be dead with Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) but have been revived, partly due to the involvement of CM Punk. Punk’s presence has added a new dynamic to the discussions, and WWE is actively finalizing the Raw deal. Meltzer highlighted that negotiations with both WWE and AEW are critical for the future of professional wrestling, impacting factors like days of the week and broadcast networks.
Meltzer speculated on the possibility of SmackDown moving from Fridays, and Raw potentially shifting to a different night. He expects significant news in the coming weeks, acknowledging that the outcome could range from maintaining the status quo to substantial changes.
Regarding the potential deal with WBD, Meltzer mentioned that it might not have an exclusivity clause, suggesting the possibility of both WWE and AEW airing on their networks. However, the decision depends on WBD’s budget constraints, especially considering their interest in retaining the NBA rights. The negotiations could significantly shape the landscape of professional wrestling in the near future.
