Torch Today 8/20 MORNING UPDATE: Lesnar vs. Cena re-match, Cena resurfaces, TNA debuting on Wed. nights, TNA's line-up tonight, WWE house show changes, Livecast, more
Aug 20, 2014 - 7:00:03 AM
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By James Caldwell, PWTorch assistant editor
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WEDNESDAY MORNING UPDATE...
-One of the biggest question marks when Brock Lesnar was planned to win the WWE World Title was how WWE would handle his appearances. The answer came quickly on Tuesday when they announced Lesnar for the very next PPV after Summerslam, Night of Champions. WWE could have gone the route of a #1 contender main event to determine Lesnar's next challenger at a future PPV, but the thinking is to get John Cena's title re-match out of the way, then evaluate whether to go the route of Lesnar skipping a PPV here and there as champion.
-John Cena appeared in front of the live crowd Tuesday night in Phoenix after the Smackdown taping concluded. Cena did a bit with Roman Reigns fighting off the Wyatts.
-TNA debuts on Wednesday nights tonight. TNA and Spike TV hope a themed episode, "Hardcore Justice," will minimize the TV ratings damage of suddenly shifting nights of the week, but Wednesday is just not a strong wrestling night. WWE's Main Event show being the latest example.
-Scheduled to air on H-Justice: Samoa Joe vs. Low Ki for the X Division Title, a #1 contender steel cage match, Gail Kim vs. Angelina Love for the Knockouts Title, and Abyss vs. Bram in another hardcore brawl. Plus, Dixie Carter talks going through a table.
-Last Thursday's Impact quarter-hours - X Division scramble and four-way Knockouts Title match were in the highest-rated segments of the show; Hardys vs. Team 3D nostalgia match was in the second-lowest-rated quarter-hour.
-New WWE house show line-ups for September have John Cena (no longer WWE champion) versus Kane, plus Roman Reigns vs. Randy Orton.
-VIP Exclusive: Bruce Mitchell's early-release Paul Heyman DVD Review for this week's PWTorch Newsletter.
-Livecast: Mitchell and Jason Powell of Prowrestling.net hosted Tuesday's Livecast. Coming today is Pat McNeill with Jonny Fairplay at 5:30 p.m. EST. Episodes at PWTorchLivecast.com.
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