PWTorch Report – WWNLive Roster Shake-Up Imminent?, WWE relationship likely to affect future shows

The relationship between WWE and WWNLive is about to shift after WrestleMania.

PWTorch has independently confirmed that as part of their working agreement, WWE wants WWNLive to mainly book talent that has potential to be signed by WWE. The news was first reported by PWInsider.

It’s a subtle shift, but has ramifications for the current WWNLive roster. Specifically, top WWNLive stars will likely be unable to work EVOLVE shows going forward.

PWTorch has confirmed that Sami Callihan is out of EVOLVE, fresh off a hot return to the promotion after leaving WWE’s NXT brand. Callihan has signed with Lucha Underground to be part of their Season 3 TV tapings.

It also seems that Chris Hero’s WWNLive future is questionable since he already went through the NXT system as Kassius Ohno. The same questions surround Drew Galloway, who is the current TNA Hvt. champion. WWE is likely not interested in signing them because of Hero’s previous NXT run and Galloway’s affiliation with TNA, making their WWNLIVE futures up in the air.

As for now, both are booked for the next set of EVOLVE shows in May. Hero is scheduled for EVOLVE 60, only, and Galloway is scheduled for both EVOLVE 60 and 61. It points to the talent shift likely happening after the May shows.

The relationship still allows for outside wrestlers to have guest spots from time-to-time on EVOLVE shows to bolster the line-ups.

WWNLive still has a lot of good, solid wrestlers on the roster, but the challenge going forward will be booking talent who they or WWE think has potential to be signed to NXT, such as former UFC fighter Matt Riddle.

It also points to why WWE talent scouts/trainers like William Regal, Matt Bloom, and Canyon Cemen attended the WWNLive training seminar in Dallas last weekend. They want to evaluate the EVOLVE roster to see who has potential to be signed to WWE.

WWNLive’s next shows are EVOLVE 60 on May 6 in Joppa, Md. and EVOLVE 61 on May 7 in Queens, N.Y. The announced talent roster includes:

• Drew Galloway
• Zack Sabre, Jr.
• Chris Hero (E60 only)
• Drew Gulak
• Tracy Williams
• “TJP” T.J. Perkins
• Matt Riddle
• Lio Rush (ROH signee, who was part of a tug-of-war between ROH and WWNLive that eventually led to Rush staying on the EVOLVE shows since he does not have an exclusive ROH deal)