Possible Spoiler for the Women’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match

As seen on Tuesday’s episode of SmackDown Live, Shane McMahon announced the first-ever Women’s Money in the Bank ladder match that will see 5-women fighting for a chance to win a briefcase that allows them the opportunity for a shot at the Women’s Championship anytime they want. Those names include Carmella, Tamina, Becky Lynch, Natalya and Charlotte.

Dave Meltzer indicated prior to the announcement that the match would see only four competitors because there was expected to be two women matches at the Money in the Bank pay-per-view event. With the announcement of five competitors, it is very unlikely now that two matches will take place on the card.

Bryan Alvarez suggested on today’s installment of Wrestling Observer Radio that WWE may have changed it to five competitors because the winner of the MITB ladder match may cash it in later in the night. This could be the reason why the Women’s championship match isn’t being defend on the card now and the number of competitors was switch from four to five.

No Rematch for Next Brock Lesnar Challenger

Dave Meltzer reported on the latest installment of Wrestling Observer Radio that Brock Lesnar’s Universal Title defense at the Great Balls of Fire event against the winner of Sunday’s Fatal Five Way #1 contender’s match will be a quick program.

Meltzer explained that with Braun Strowman slated to face Brock Lesnnar at SummerSlam, there will be no rematch against who challenges him at Great Balls of Fire. Meltzer indicated that either Seth Rollins or Finn Balor will win Sunday’s match at Extreme Rules for the opportunity to face Lesnar.

Hulk Hogan Reportedly In Negotiations with Vince McMahon for WWE Return

Hulk Hogan recently told fans at an autograph signing that he is in negotiations with Vince McMahon to return to WWE.

“Hulk Hogan did an autograph signing over the weekend in Los Angeles and when asked about the obvious question, just said he and Vince are talking,” Dave Meltzer said in the May 8, 2017, issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

“Then again, it is Hogan. The answer to the question of his returning is always about when the feeling it is a time when the company feels there will be no potential sponsor backlash.”

As noted earlier today, The Hulkster was featured on a double-sided poster in the WWE Kids magazine that was being handed out during WWE’s recent tour overseas. This is another indication of his return to the company.

What’s Next for the SmackDown Tag Team Titles?

As seen at Sunday’s WWE Backlash event, The Fashion Police faced The Usos in a losing effort for the SmackDown Tag Team Championship Titles. This match saw a lot of comedy and overall got a lot of negative and positive feedback from fans on social media.

Dave Meltzer discussed this match on today’s installment of Wrestling Observer Radio. Meltzer indicated that The Fashion Police are just a comedy act and shouldn’t be taken seriously. Meltzer also added that the only reason they received a shot at the tag team titles is because the company is trying to buy some time for the next challengers, The New Day.

WWE has been keeping The New Day off television while Kofi Kingston recovers from his injury. PWInsider reported earlier today that they are expected to return to SmackDown this coming Tuesday to promote a WWE Network special. It is unknown if they will actually be returning full-time on this show, or if it is just for a one-time appearance until they are ready to return.

Vince Russo’s The Brand Recap – Meltzer’s Strange Obsession, Owen Hart’s Mindset After the Montreal Screwjob, Bray Wyatt’s Promos, More!

Russo is joined on today’s show by Jeff Lane.

Earlier this week, Dave Meltzer tweeted out that RAW’s rating last week was low due to the fact that the show wasn’t taped live since they were overseas. Russo doesn’t understand why these guys can never admit that a show sucks. The ratings are going down every week, and this week’s ratings weren’t an anomaly. Meltzer needs to stop making excuses for WWE.

Lane also points out that a fan asked Meltzer if WWE had given any thought to the Tag Team Title match main eventing the Extreme Rules PPV. Meltzer answered by saying that those meetings haven’t taken place yet. Russo says that it must be nice for Meltzer to be invited to all of WWE’s meetings. Russo says that Meltzer doesn’t have a clue what he’s talking about.

Russo points out that this is the same guy who said that A.J. Styles would be moving to RAW in the latest Superstar Shakeup and that obviously didn’t happen. Meltzer didn’t issue an apologize to his error, and for the fact that he’s ripping off all of his subscribers. He says that all these dirt sheet writers just talk out of their asses.

Backstage Update on Paige’s WWE Status

Dave Metlzer discussed Paige’s status with WWE following her suspension and neck injury on today’s installment of Wrestling Observer Radio.

Meltzer mentioned that she is still under contract with the company and is still recovering from her recent neck surgery. He noted that she would not be used again if not for the WWE Studios production, Fighting With My Family.

Meltzer did not indicate exactly when the company plans to bring her back. If we hear anything new, we will keep you updated.

Vince Russo’s The Brand Recap – Dave Meltzer in the Guinness Book of World Records, Asuka Compared to Goldberg, How Much Did Russo Make Writing…

Russo is joined on today’s show by his co-host Jeff Lane.

Russo points out the Meltzer reported this past week that Alberto Del Rio and Paige had an argument somewhere in Florida. Russo says that this is not news, and it’s just another example of a wrestling ‘journalist’ who is making up a story when there’s no story to be told.

Lane points out that someone tweeted Dave Meltzer this past week, asking him for his opinion on Russo. Meltzer’s response was, “Life’s too short to worry about people desperate for attention”. Russo says that Meltzer’s responses to these fans are so lame. Russo adds that for someone who’s starving for attention, he’s doing a poor job because he just moved into a cabin in the woods.

Lane reads some comments from a recent Reddit thread, where fans discuss the differences between the attitude era and the today’s product.

One fan says that this era’s product is superior to the attitude era because there are better stories, promos, and matches. In addition, the attitude era was a racist, sexist product which was overly aggressive in an attempt to appeal to the ECW fanbase.

Russo says that he can’t even name one storyline that’s occurring on RAW at the moment. RAW was drawing a 6.0-7.0 rating back during the attitude era, and the notion that they were trying to copy ECW which was drawing a 0.8 rating doesn’t make any sense to him.