Angle wrestled at TLC
Raw returned to PPV Sunday when it presented TLC, and Kurt Angle returned to a WWE ring for the first time in over 11 years.
The main event was supposed to be a handicapped tag team match that will pit The Miz, Cesaro and Sheamus, Braun Strowman and the returning Kane against The Shield.
However, Roman Reigns is one of three wrestlers pulled from shows for “medical reasons,” for the time being, and Angle will fill in for him in the handicapped match.
Originally, the match had been scheduled as a six-man tag team match between The Shield and the team of The Miz, Cesaro and Sheamus.
Strowman was added last week, and Kane was added this past Monday on Raw.
Kane’s appearance was a surprise as he had not appeared on any WWE show in 2017.
It was Kane’s 21st straight calendar year wrestling on a PPV.
Something tells me that the original eight men, putting Reigns in for Angle, will be in a Survivor Series elimination match with two more wrestlers teaming with The Shield.
There were two title matches on the card as Alexa Bliss will defend the Raw Women’s title against Mickie James and Kalisto defended the Cruiserweight title against Enzo Amore.
The undefeated Asuka made her main roster debut when she faced Emma, the team of Cedric Alexander and Rich Swann battled Jack Gallagher and Brian Kendrick, and Finn Balor faced A.J. Styles.
Styles, a Smackdown Live wrestler, filled in for Bray Wyatt, the second wrestler being held out for medical reasons. The third, Bo Dallas, has not been on TV for almost a month.
Sasha Banks took on Alicia Fox on the Kickoff broadcast before the PPV began.
WWE took a chance because after the main event, it had two matches featuring cruiserweights and three women matches. Never before has WWE had a combined five matches between the women and cruiserweights.
Hopefully the performers being given the time to show their skills so they can start amassing more of a following.
Lesnar vs. Mahal a formality
Tuesday night on Smackdown Live, WWE champion Jinder Mahal challenged Lesnar, the Universal champion, to a match at Survivor Series.
The possible match was looked at last week in this column.
Update on Lesnar’s contract
The Wrestling Observer Newsletter reported earlier this week that while Brock Lesnar’s WWE contract runs out either at WrestleMania or the night after, there is more to the deal.
It was reported that WWE has some rights over Lesnar until the first week of August 2018, in the event that a new deal is not signed.
Also, there is an option clause built in that would renew his contract and the belief is that both sides will want to renew the deal due to Lesnar’s age and popularity.
Another WWE walkout?
Last in this column, we looked at Neville and his request for a release from WWE.
Now, Nia Jax has been granted a leave of absence. There are conflicting reports, but she is said to have walked out of Raw Monday.
WWE announces WrestleMania ticket date
Tickets for WrestleMania 34 will go on sale on Friday, Nov. 17, at 11:00 a.m. for the event which will take place at the Mercedez-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Ticket prices range from $35 up to $1,000, while there will also be a limited number of “Gold Circle” VIP packages available for $2,000.
On this date …
In 2000, Angle, a Pittsburgh native and current Raw General Manager, won his first WWE heavyweight title when he defeated The Rock in 21:40 at No Mercy.
Angle would win the WWE or World title four more times, the WCW title (while in WWE) once, and the TNA title six times.
Also on the card, Stone Cold Steve Austin made his in-ring return after almost a year off following neck surgery when he fought Rikishi to a no contest.