The following article may contain spoiler information about an upcoming WWE debut/return: 

WWE welcomed several new talents to the Performance Center this week in Orlando, including Ricochet, tag team War Machine and Candice LeRae. As it turns out, another free agent has been spotted at the PC.

pic.twitter.com/zmFcrrHLjY

— SEScoops (@sescoops) January 17, 2018

After wrapping up nearly 5-year run with Impact Wrestling, former Impact World Champion Ethan Carter III (Michael Hutter) was at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando this week. PWInsider reports that EC3’s contract was initially set to expire closer to the summer, but he was granted an early release and is now an unrestricted free agent, able to work anywhere.

With the Royal Rumble coming up in less than two weeks, the Rumble match would be an opportune time for EC3 to make his return to WWE. Fueling speculation that he could make a surprise appearance in the Royal Rumble, EC3 has been pulled from an independent show that takes place on Sunday, January 28th.

For what it’s worth, he’s updated his Twitter name over the past several days. His Twitter handle is still @therealec3, but he changed his display name to “iii”.

BIG THINGS COMING#staytuned

— ecIII (@therealec3) January 12, 2018

Monday’s episode of WWE RAW from San Antonio, TX averaged 3.250 million viewers, a sharp 17.5% increase from 2.766 million the previous week. This was the first week without direct competition from NFL or college football since August, so RAW definitely benefitted from the less-competitive counter-programming.

• 6 Takeaways From WWE RAW (1/8)

RAW was centered around General Manager Kurt Angle firing Braun Strowman and Strowman raising hell until he got reinstated. The show also featured a competitive match between Asuka and Nia Jax, The Revival in action against local talent, Sasha Banks vs. Sonya Deville and Roman Reigns battling members of the Miztourage.

Here’s the hourly viewership breakdown, courtesy of ShowBuzz Daily:

• Hour 1: 3.573 million viewers
• Hour 2: 3.363 million viewers
• Hour 3: 2.814 million viewers

RAW was the second most-watched show on cable for the night behind the NBA’s Warriors vs Cavaliers game on TNT.

Next week, WWE presents the RAW 25th Anniversary special, which will emanate from both the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY and the Manhattan Center. They’re going all-out with returning legends, so it will be interesting to see what kind of rating they can draw for that show – the final RAW before the Royal Rumble on 1/28.

Former WWE performer Eva Marie has written an essay for In Style magazine about being an alcoholic and how coming to terms with the disease saved her life.

Eva wrote, “I’m an alcoholic. I have relapsed, destroyed relationships, hurt my family, and disappointed myself numerous times. I will be an alcoholic for the rest of my life. The fact that I have been sober for almost five years doesn’t mean that I am “cured,” it doesn’t mean that I had a drinking phase in my 20s, and it doesn’t mean that I can have a few drinks now and again or just drink in moderation. There are no shades of gray when it comes to alcoholism—it’s black and white.”

Eva has been sober for 5 years and credits the Alcohol Anonymous 12-step program with helping her rebound from rock bottom, which involved multiple DUI’s and several months in jail. She now attends 6am AA meetings, works with a sponsor and seeks out new members to sponsor.

Today, she is married, runs multiple successful businesses and a career in the entertainment industry. However, she realizes, “this fairytale life is always one drink away from shattering.”

Visit InStyle.com to read her inspiring story.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BeCLysBByJT/?taken-by=natalieevamarie

One of the most exciting aspects of the annual Royal Rumble match is the surprise entrants. Whether it’s a superstar making their WWE debut or a legend returning to the spotlight, the Rumble has produced a lot of memorable surprises over the years.

• Looking Back at 3 Memorable Royal Rumble Debuts

This year’s Royal Ruble takes place in less than two weeks on Sunday, January 28th from Philadelphia, PA. While this is speculative, it’s worth noting that free agent and former Impact Wrestling World Champion Ethan Carter III has been pulled from an independent show the day of the Rumble.

EC3 finished up with Impact Wrestling this week after nearly 5 years with the company. He had been advertised to appear for Renegade Wrestling Revolution on 1/28, but they posted a message on Facebook stating that EC3 will no longer be appearing at their “Over The Top” event from Houston, TX due to “reasons out of their control.”

Obviously this is far from a confirmation that “EC3 will be in the Rumble!” but it’s worth taking notice of. EC3 would be a tremendous addition to either RAW or SmackDown and has developed into a world class performer since his first WWE run as Derek Bateman.

Discussion: If EC3 does return to WWE, do you think he’d be a better fit on RAW, SmackDown or in NXT?

Tessa Blanchard is the first female competitor confirmed for the September 1st All In live event. Blanchard, the daughter of wrestling legend Tully Blanchard, has competed for WWE (Mae Young Classic), Lucha Underground, SHINE and other independents.

https://twitter.com/tess_blanchard/status/953416632113811456

With the addition of Blanchard, the current list of talent scheduled for the event includes:

• “American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes
• IWGP US Champion Kenny Omega
• IWGP Jr. Heavyweigyt Tag Champs The Young Bucks
• “Hangman” Adam Page
• Stephen Amell
• Tessa Blanchard

Cody and the Bucks say that a lot of “heavy hitters” and news will be announced in the coming weeks and months.

https://twitter.com/all_in_2018/status/953418541943967744

Impact Wrestling Knockout Sienna was hospitalized on Tuesday and diagnosed with blood clots in her long.

The former Knockouts champion worked Impact’s TV tapings from Orlando over the past week and had been dealing with pain in her torso. She assumed it was a displaced rib or a collapsed lung, but was surprised to find out she has a clot in each lung.

Sienna says she won’t be wrestling for the time being, but plans to make her scheduled appearances.

https://twitter.com/sienna/status/953474341014040576

Wishing @Sienna a speedy recovery! Get well soon. https://t.co/7fTQaG0TYD

— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) January 17, 2018

WWE Hall of Famer Trish Stratus is the latest legend confirmed for Monday’s big RAW 25th Anniversary special. Trish announced the news on her official website.

“I’m excitedto be coming back home,” said Trish. “When the WWE Universe says they want some stratusfaction, one must deliver.”

It will be Trish’s first appearance on WWE RAW since July 2012.

#RAW25 will have 100% #Stratusfaction… and MORE!#SDLive @trishstratuscom @BellaTwins @MariaLKanellis @JackieMooreTx pic.twitter.com/fhPLL7I8i6

— WWE (@WWE) January 17, 2018

With the addition of Trish Stratus, here’s the updated list of legends advertised for Monday’s shows from the Manhattan Center and Brooklyn’s Barclays Center:

• Steve Austin
• The Undertaker
• Ric Flair
• DX (Triple H & Shawn Michaels)
• The Dudley Boys
• Scott Hall & Kevin Nash
• Jim Ross & Jerry Lawler
• Nikki & Brie Bella
• The New Age Outlaws
• JBL & Ron Simmons
• “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase
• The Godfather
• Brother Love
• The Boogeyman
• Teddy Long
• John Laurinaitis
• Sgt. Slaughter
• Jacqueline Moore
• Torrie Wilson
• Terri Runnels
• Maria Kanellis
• Michelle McCool
• Kelly Kelly
• Chris Jericho
• Eric Bischoff
• The Brooklyn Brawler
• Trish Stratus

SmackDown Live Superstar Jey Uso was arrested on Sunday in Hidalgo, Texas. WWE was in town for a live event at the State Farm Arena.

Jey Uso (real name Joshua Fatu) was charged with Driving While Intoxicated and was released after posting a $500 bond. A DWI charge in Texas comes when a suspect registers a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08 percent or greater.

WWE’s talent wellness policy states that performers should not consume alcohol within 12 hours prior to an event. There is no official policy regarding alcohol consumption after shows or alcohol-related arrests.

WWE issued the following statement regarding Jey Uso’s arrest:

“Joshua Fatu is responsible for his own personal actions. We are investigating the matter and awaiting information from local law enforcement officials.”

Jey and brother Jimmy are the reigning SmackDown tag team champions, their 5th title reign in WWE.

In addition to Ricochet and War Machine both joining the WWE Performance Center today, WWE has also announced the signing of Mae Young Classic competitor Candice LeRae.

One of the top female wrestlers on the independent wrestling scene, LeRae competed in the #1 contender’s Women’s battle royal in NT last October and is married to NXT star Johnny Gargano.

She's one of the best in the world and got here on her own merit. Blood, sweat and tears.. She's sacrificed and worked incredibly hard for a very long time.

I'm proud of my Wife; Candice.. But even prouder of my favorite wrestler, the toughest person I know; Candice LeRae. https://t.co/1y7PRGSGo1

— Johnny Gargano (@JohnnyGargano) January 16, 2018

WWE.com writes, “Standing at just 5-foot-2, LeRae is known for not backing down from anyone, no matter how much bigger they may be. The spunky Superstar has even battled heavyweights like Kevin Owens and Cesaro. LeRae’s tenacity and ability to endure punishment was on full display in the Mae Young Classic and will make her a competitor to watch at the WWE Performance Center.”

For more on Candice LeRae signing with WWE, check out the .com article below:

Welcome to @WWE, @CandiceLeRae! https://t.co/aMbYkhEGOi

— WWE (@WWE) January 16, 2018

IGN.com has published an interview with “Woken” Matt Hardy to promote the release of the WWE 2K18 Enduring Icons pack, DLC that includes the Rock ‘n’ Roll Express, The Hardy Boyz and Beth Phoenix.

Hardy spoke with IGN writer Matt Fowler about his favorite tag teams while growing up, The Hardy Boyz’ surprise return return at WrestleMania 33, WWE’s current tag team landscape, WWE 2K18 and more. Matt also discussed what it’s like to finally be “Woken” in WWE, gushing that’s its “tremendous” and he’s very excited for this next chapter of his career.

Some fans have complained that the character is already growing tired, but Matt is asking “hardcore” fans to be patient because the WWE Universe at large is not yet familiar with the depths of his Broken Brilliance and everything that comes along with it.

“[The slow roll-out of his zany character is] something the die hard fans are frustrated with,” Matt said. “But things are going to get where they need to be and this is a process now that’s playing out over TV. The biggest thing I’d say to people is just sit back and enjoy this truly truly fun and jubilant ride.”

One of the wildest elements of the Broken Universe was the cinematic-style battles that took place at the Hardy Family compound in Cameron, North Carolina. Delete or Decay, Final Deletion and Total Nonstop Deletion were groundbreaking presentations that were amongst the best content Impact Wrestling ever produced.

WWE took inspiration from these cinematic conflicts and produced several of their own for the Wyatt Family, including a battle against the New Day at the Wyatt Family compound and Bray vs. Randy Orton in a House of Horrors match.

With Matt embroiled in a feud with Bray Wyatt, Fowler asked Hardy if we can expect to see a Final Deletion-style match in WWE. “Woken” Matt made didn’t mince words.

“One hundred percent. Absolutely.”

Visit IGN.com to read the full interview and check out WWE.2K.com for more information on the WWE 2K18 Enduring Icons DLC pack, now available for PS4, Xbox One and PC.

The #WWE2K18 Enduring Icons Pack is out today on PS4, XB1, and PC. Add @JEFFHARDYBRAND, @MATTHARDYBRAND, @TheBethPhoenix, and The Rock 'n' Roll Express to your roster!

Details: https://t.co/IPpr4stbpN pic.twitter.com/p6tbRy9UVC

— #WWE2K25 (@WWEgames) January 16, 2018

WWE has announced the signing of popular tag team War Machine. Todd “War Beard Hanson” Smith and Raymond Rowe have reported to the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida.

War Machine has been terrorizing tag teams around the world since 2014, having won tag team gold in promotions such as New Japan Pro Wrestling and Ring of Honor.

War Machine’s hard hitting style sets up some interesting match-ups in NXT & WWE against brutish teams such as the Authors of Pain, Heavy Machinery, Sanity and The Bludgeon Brothers.

For more on War Machine signing with WWE, check out the .com article linked below.

#WarMachine @RAYMONDxROWE and @WarBeardHanson are heading to the @WWEPerformCtr! https://t.co/9mnbd3xUOZ

— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) January 16, 2018

– According to “Woken” Matt Hardy, the rest of his Broken Universe gang, including Senior Benjamin, Queen Rebecca, King Maxel, Lord Wolfgang and Vanguard One will all be appearing [presumably on WWE television] “IMMINENTLY.”

Matt posted a DELIGHTFUL photo last week with Anthem / Impact executive Ed Nordholm to mark the conclusion of their TUMULTUOUS battle over the ‘Broken Universe’ trademarks.

The INCOMPARABLE @BenjaminSenor is currently OPTIMIZING the green beans within the Greenhouse Garden at The Hardy Compound..

Trust me, #WOKENWarriors.. #SenorBenjamin, Queen Rebecca, King Maxel, Lord Wolfgang & @Vanguard1AAR will all be appearing IMMINENTLY..

STUPENDOUS! https://t.co/aymjtR1xD6

— MATT HARDY (@MATTHARDYBRAND) January 16, 2018

– Former Impact Wrestling President Dixie Carter acknowledged that her “nephew” Ethan Carter III is done with the company. Calling EC3 a special talent that deserves great things, Dixie curiously tagged @WWE in her tweet about EC3’s future.

Can’t tell you how proud I am to be the aunt of @therealec3. This guy is special. He deserves great things. Excited for your future E, whatever it holds. @IMPACTWRESTLING @wwe https://t.co/xUGkhlhKrq

— Dixie Carter (@TNADixie) January 16, 2018

– 2-time WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair announced on Tuesday that his daughter Megan is engaged to Conrad Thompson, host of the popular podcasts Something To Wrestle (w/Bruce Prichard) and What Happened When (w/Tony Schiavone).

Congrats to Megan and Conrad!

I Want to Announce The Engagement of My Beautiful Daughter Megan to My Good Friend Conrad Thompson! My Heart is Full of Love and Happiness for Both of You! So Proud and Honored to Walk My Little Girl Down The Aisle ? pic.twitter.com/GR73h3dnZT

— Ric Flair® (@RicFlairNatrBoy) January 16, 2018

Impact Wrestling has officially announced a partnership with the Twitch streaming service. The Impact Wrestling Twitch channel will feature a 24-hour live stream and exclusive programming, including monthly live events and “lifestyle programming.”

HUGE NEWS:

IMPACT Wrestling are launching a 24/7 channel on @Twitch that will have exclusive original content, monthly live events and house shows as well footage from the extensive IMPACT archive.

All the details RIGHT HERE: https://t.co/GFSbHfoXiu pic.twitter.com/l2U7AdR6gn

— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) January 16, 2018

Here’s the full announcement:

IMPACT Wrestling Channel to Launch on Twitch

New channel to feature legacy and exclusive content, including premiere of Barbed Wire Massacre III

TORONTO | SAN FRANCISCO – IMPACT Wrestling, a subsidiary of Anthem Sports & Entertainment Corp., today announced the launch of a new channel on Twitch, the world’s leading social video service. IMPACT Wrestling’s channel (www.twitch.tv/impactwrestling) will feature a 24-hour live stream and exclusive weekly programming.

The IMPACT Wrestling Channel will launch on Wednesday, Jan. 17 with a 24-hour, 7-day-a-week stream of content that leads up to the debut of Barbed Wire Massacre III on Thursday, Jan. 18 at 10:00 p.m. ET immediately following the weekly premiere of IMPACT! on Pop.

The IMPACT Wrestling Channel on Twitch will feature exclusive content, including monthly live events and house shows featuring top stars in professional wrestling. The channel will also feature lifestyle programming showcasing IMPACT Wrestling stars outside of the ring – from diets and workouts to relationships and travel. Twitch will also air IMPACT Wrestling’s live event at WrestleCon in New Orleans, La. on Friday, April 6 at 9:00 p.m. CT. Other exclusive shows on the channel include:

Monday nights: Live Audio Wrestling (The LAW) returns with a new weekly video podcast. Produced and hosted by longtime IMPACT Wrestling announcer Jeremy Borash, The LAW will cover all of the latest news in professional wrestling and feature special guest interviews, live calls, chat interaction, contests with prizes, and much more.

Wednesday nights: Returning IMPACT Wrestling star Tyrus will host Nuff Said, as the Fox News contributor offers his unique take on professional wrestling, politics, sports and popular culture.

Thursday nights: At 8:00 p.m. ET, Josh Mathews will host Mathews’ Megacast with his irreverent second screen perspective on the flagship IMPACT! show Thursdays on Pop.

Programming for the channel will also include past and present episodes of the flagship IMPACT! show, the original weekly show Xplosion, pay-per-view events on a second window, plus over 1,000 hours of original programming showcasing classic content featuring household industry names like Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair, Sting, Kurt Angle, Kevin Nash, Jeff Jarrett, AJ Styles, Samoa Joe, Bobby Roode and many more.

“Our expansion on Twitch marks another important milestone in our digital expansion,” said Ed Nordholm, president of IMPACT Wrestling. “The interactive content and larger-than-life personalities of IMPACT Wrestling are a perfect fit for the platform, whose passionate communities have demonstrated an increased appetite for professional wrestling and live events. As we adapt to new content consumption methods, our partnership with Twitch gives us an opportunity to interact directly with our audience, while engaging and growing our fan base across the world.”

For more information, visit www.impactwrestling.com.

– Impact Wrestling Knockout Chelsea Green announced on Monday night that she has been granted her release from the company. She’s worked for Impact since January 2016.

Green, who is currently dating WWE Superstar Zack Ryder, has made a few appearances for WWE. In August 2014, she portrayed Daniel Bryan’s physical therapist. After admitting to having an affair with Bryan, she got slapped by Bryan’s now-wife, Brie Bella.

In 2015, she was a contestant on Tough Enough Season 6, where she finished fourth among the females.

Thank you @IMPACTWRESTLING ? pic.twitter.com/k21Y9lNqCC

— CHELSEA GREEN (@ImChelseaGreen) January 16, 2018

– Impact Wrestling has announced the signing of Gama Singh (the “Great Gama”), a 63-year-old semi-retired Indian/Canadian wrestling legend. Singh was a top heel in Stu Hart’s Stampede Wrestling in Calgary for much of the 1970’s & 80’s.

One of the most successful Indian born wrestlers of all time, one of the most successful international wrestlers ever – the legendary Gama Singh (@GR8GamaSingh) has officially signed with IMPACT. pic.twitter.com/qmYMjsxVeI

— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) January 15, 2018

Excited to announce my official signing with @IMPACTWRESTLING. The wrestling world will soon see the next generation of Indian wrestlers and Champions under my tutelage. ?? @IMPACTWRESTLING #ImpactWrestling #wrestling https://t.co/rQKvTczwQS

— Gama Singh (@GR8GamaSingh) January 15, 2018

After months of speculation, WWE confirmed on Tuesday that international wrestling sensation Ricochet (Trevor Mann) has signed with the company. He’s already reported to  WWE’s world-class Performance Center training facility in Orlando, FL.

Ricochet, widely considered one of the top free agents in the world, has thrilled wrestling fans around the world with his work in New Japan Pro Wrestling, Lucha Underground, PWG, MLW and other independents.

https://twitter.com/kingricochet/status/953279021172842496

WWE’s official announcement reads, “Standing 5-foot-9 and weighing 188 pounds, Mann brings an astonishing assortment of aerial moves to the ring. He first earned notoriety in Japan for an eye-popping double-moonsault, and his 630° senton remains one of the most potent weapons in his arsenal. Mann, who credits Guerrero, Rey Mysterio and The Rock as three of his in-ring influences, was inspired to pursue sports-entertainment after watching The Great One and “Stone Cold” Steve Austin do battle at WrestleMania XV.”

The reference to Ricochet’s weight could be an indication that he’s bound for 205 Live and the Cruiserweight division.

NJPW/ROH tag team War Machine is also expected to be joining the Performance Center this month.

For more on Ricochet joining WWE, check out the .com article below.

Innovative high-flyer @KingRicochet has officially joined the @WWEPerformCtr! https://t.co/VMxa5uAxXi

— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) January 16, 2018

As reported on Monday, WWE Superstar Paige was backstage at RAW from San Antonio. Due to the career-threatening injury that she suffered at the hands of Sasha Banks last month, WWE has confirmed she will not be competing in the first-ever Women’s Royal Rumble match.

In this RAW Fallout video, Paige briefly addressed her neck injury, but didn’t say much aside from the fact that she’ll be at the Rumble to support her Absolution partners Sonya Deville and Mandy Rose. In the event that Paige is not not cleared to compete again in the near future, she could serve as a manager/mentor of sorts to Deville and Rose.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding Paige’s future as an in-ring competitor, the original Anti-Diva maintains an optimistic outlook for what’s ahead in the year to come.

https://twitter.com/realpaigewwe/status/953299146739474432

As noted earlier, Impact Wrestling’s next pay-per-view offering will be Redemption, which takes place on Saturday, April 22nd.

It was announced at Monday’s Impact Wrestling tapings from Orlando that Redemption will emanate from Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

The following matches are now confirmed for show pay-per-view:

– Impact World Champion Austin Aries vs. Alberto el Patron

– X-Division champion Matt Sydal vs. Petey Williams

– Impact Tag Team Champions LAX vs. Eli Drake & Scott Steiner

– Hardcore Match: Tommy Dreamer, Eddie Edwards & Moose vs. oVe

Former WWE and WCW performer Torrie Wilson announced on Monday that she will be appearing at next week’s RAW 25th Anniversary special from New York City.

The announcement came during a panel at the Ace Comic Con event from Phoenix, Arizona.

After debuting in WCW back in 1999, she worked for the company until it was acquired by WWE in 2001. She joined WWE as part of the Invasion angle and was a regular television character through 2008.

Will @Torrie11 be in the #royalrumble and will you be at 25th anniversary of #WWERaw? #ACEComicCon #WWENetwork pic.twitter.com/NVpp7rr6aS

— DualScreenVisionQOTD (@QOTDDSV) January 15, 2018

WWE confirmed on Monday that Jim Ross and Jerry “The King” Lawler will reunite at the commentator’s desk next week for the RAW 25th Anniversary special. JR and the King will call the action from the Manhattan Center, with the usual announce team calling the action from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

Rounding up a few rumors we’ve been hearing regarding the 25th Anniversary show, it’s expected that approximately two hours of RAW will air from the Barclays Center and one hour of the show will air from the Manhattan Center.

With fans paying top dollar to attend the Manhattan Center show (due to high demand and limited seating capacity), you can be sure those fans will be treated to several “bonus matches” that could air later on Youtube or the WWE Network.

Additionally, WWE going with a “retro” set for the Manhattan Center show that will closely emulate the look of RAW’s first few episodes from 1993.

• Updated List Of Legends Returning For RAW’s 25th Anniversary

Following the news that Paige’s WWE career is likely over as a result of her latest neck injury, the Absolution leader is currently backstage at San Antonio’s AT&T Center, site of tonight’s RAW. It remains to be seen if she’s used on the show.

Paige was injured during WWE’s holiday tour at a live event at the Nassau Coliseum on Long Island. The injury took place during a tag match when Sasha Banks delivered a stiff double-legged kick to Paige’s upper back. The match ended shortly thereafter when it became clear Paige was in a lot of pain and could not continue.

Sasha Banks’ kick effectively ended Paige’s in-ring career, but PWInsider reports that people behind the scenes see the incident as a freak accident that could have happened to anybody.  During a recent appearance on Lilian Garcia’s podcast, Paige said doctors advised her after her 2017 neck surgery that she should not wrestle again. In light of that revelation, it seems that odds were high that she could suffer a career ending injury at some point.

Paige has not said much publicly since news of her situation broke last week, but she did tweet the following on Sunday:

https://twitter.com/RealPaigeWWE/status/952756638708051968

As noted over the weekend, Jason Jordan did not appear at this weekend’s RAW-brand live events as advertised.

Jordan (and Seth Rollins) had been scheduled to defend the RAW tag team titles against The Bar, but was replaced by Roman Reigns in 3-on-2 matches against The Miz and The Miztourage instead.

No Jason needed… Roman and Seth took care of business and brought the house down!!! Champs standing tall.#RomanReigns #SethRollins #WWEAmarillo credit to owners pic.twitter.com/OIlQffwE0h

— Handy ||•Roman Reigns Era•|| (@HandyRed) January 13, 2018

PWInsider reports that Jason Jordan missed the weekend shows in Texas due to injury. We are awaiting more details on the nature of his injury.

As of this writing, Jason Jordan and Seth Rollins are scheduled to defend the RAW tag team  titles against The Bar at the Royal Rumble on January 28th.

Several top performers finished up with Impact Wrestling at the latest round of television tapings, including EC3, Bobby Lashley, Chris Adonis and Laurel Van Ness. As it turns out, there are several more wrestlers with deals seat to expire soon (via PWInsider):

– Alberto El Patron’s current deal runs through March. He is scheduled to compete at the Redemption pay-per-view in April, he should be sticking around if he hasn’t signed an extension already.

– Eddie Edwards, who was badly injured at a taping over the weekend, could be a free agent by the end of this month (ie. after tonight’s tapings).

– Eli Drake’s contract expires this summer.

While there has been a mass exodus of talent in recent months, Impact has been bringing in a lot of new (and familiar) faces. Austin Aries made his Impact Wrestling return last week, while Lucha Underground star Brian Cage also made his debut for the company.

Backstage at tonight’s tapings from Orlando are Scott Steiner and Tommy Dreamer.

Ring of Honor has announced the following dates and locations for the upcoming War of the Worlds tour. The annual tour features talent from New Japan Pro Wrestling:

• May 9th: Lowell, MA at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium
• May 11th: Toronto, Ontario, at the Ted Reeve Arena
• May 12th: Royal Oak, MI at the Royal Oak  Music Theatre
• May 13th: Chicago, IL at The Odeum

Tickets for these events go on sale Wednesday, Jan. 17 at 10 a.m. Eastern for Ringside Members and Friday, Jan. 19 at 10 a.m. Eastern for the general public.

Click here for more information on the upcoming ROH War of the Worlds tour.

During Sunday’s Impact Wrestling TV tapings from Orlando, Florida, it was announced that a new pay-per-view called Redemption will take place on Sunday, April 22nd.

Impact Wrestling: Redemption will air on traditional PPV and can also be purchased on the FITE TV streaming app.

While not yet confirmed, it appears Impact is building towards an Austin Aries vs. Alberto El Patron main event for Redemption.

The first confirmed match is Matt Sydal defending the X-Division Championship against Petey Williams.

Also at the taping, Impact Global champion Austin Aries defeated Sydal capture the Impact Grand Championship.

A fan on Twitter asked Impact booker Don Callis if this meant Impact would be merging the Global and Grand Championships at Redemption in favor of a unified Impact Wrestling World Heavyweight Championship. Callis gave a reply that indicates the Grand and Global Championships are, in fact, being phased out.

Scoop #32: Austin Aries defeats Matt Sydal and is the new Grand Champion pic.twitter.com/OjyQ1Xojyb

— Jacob Cohen (@MrJacobCohen) January 15, 2018

?

— The Invisible Hand (@TheDonCallis) January 15, 2018

– Over the weekend, news broke that Florida man Shane Missler won the Mega Millions lottery jackpot, which was valued at $451 Million Missler opted for the lump sum amount of $281 million and is vowing to “do some good for humanity.”

Nick Jason of the Young Bucks took notice of Missler’s good fortune and floated the idea of starting a wrestling company. Worth a shot, right?

https://twitter.com/NickJacksonYB/status/952602563165106176

– PROGRESS World Champion Travis Banks tweeted this awesome photo of himself with fellow Brits Pete Dunne (WWE United Kingdom Champion) and Will Ospreay (IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion).

https://twitter.com/Travis_BanksPW/status/952685318582538241

– New Japan Pro Wrestling tweeted that the upcoming The New Beginning: Osaka event on February 10th is sold out.

?THE NEW BEGINNING ???????
2?10?(?)????????????????????????
?????????????????????????????https://t.co/68jQs9geNQ#njnbg #njpw pic.twitter.com/dEQgd4Qef3

— ?????????????? (@njpw1972) January 15, 2018