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Perhaps the biggest episode of WWE's new show, WWE Backstage, set the wrestling world abuzz this week. Not only were two big stars revealed to have signed new deals with the company, but a huge name from the past returned - although not to the ring.
At the end of the November 12th episode, Renee Young gave a short intro for a guest that would be coming out to close the show. The familiar song "Cult of Personality" by Living Colour" hit and out walked former WWE Champion CM Punk.
To say that it shocked the world would be an understatement. Punk had long been against returning to the wrestling ring and the WWE. But after reports emerged last month that he had interviewed for a spot on Backstage, the "Punk to the WWE" rumors started to heat up. Well, after a dynamite way to end this week's show, it appears that the Voice of the Voiceless will be working for FOX on a show about the WWE.
Samoa Joe joined the show as a guest panelist and sported a pretty sweet braid, truly taking advantage of his time off to recover from a thumb injury. Adam Cole also recounted how crazy it was to get to SmackDown the day following Crown Jewel. He and the rest of the NXT stars who appeared literally got ready on the way to the arena. It goes to show that sometimes chaotic situations can often lead to magic in the ring. WWE Backstage was full of news this week so here are five takeaways from this week's show.
#5 Mick Foley really is as tough as they say
Booker T recounted the tale that saw Foley lose his right ear in Germany. Foley was facing Vader in a match while Booker T watched from backstage. As we all know, Foley got tied up in the ropes and ended up losing his ear.
Ever the professional, Foley was able to finish the match before returning backstage. As Booker was waiting backstage, someone came through the curtains with a particular ear in his hands. The Hardcore Legend had made it backstage shortly thereafter and the man showed Foley the ear. While still in character, Foley as Cactus Jack, gave the man holding his ear the signature "Bang, Bang!!" hand gesture associated with his character.
We all know that Foley has put his body through loads of torture in hardcore matches, by falling through cages and through eating a lot of chair shots. Booker praised how Foley was able to finish the match despite literally losing a body part.
#4 The Lana/Rusev/Lashley storyline is truly polarizing, even in WWE
The panelists also took the current Lana/Rusev/Lashley storyline to task on Backstage. It has been a polarizing storyline due to the mature theme of cheating and later, false pregnancy. Of the four panelists, only Renee Young seemed to like the angle. She made the point that fans clamor for the Attitude Era but when WWE gives it to them, they don't like it. Paige added that fans want particular things from the Era, like different matches and edgier content, not necessarily raunchy pregnancy segments.
Samoa Joe wasn't sure who would come out on top at the storyline's conclusion, noting that he's not sure who would benefit the most once it is over. Booker was also not so enamored with the love triangle, but the performers like Rusev are running with the material they are given.
It might be a strange angle, but it has afforded all three stars time on RAW. Lashley gets the heat because he's with another man's wife while Lana actually comes off the worst for lying and cheating. The only logical conclusion is for the Bulgarian Brute to come out on top once the feud is over.
#3 Paige and the Miz re-upped with the company
It is nearing the end of the year and that's usually when stars either depart due to their contracts expiring or re-sign with their current promotion. While the likes of Sin Cara and Mike Kanellis have asked for their releases over the last few months, two current personalities signed multi-year contract extensions.
According to WWE Insider Ryan Satin, current WWE Superstar The Miz and former NXT Women's Championship Paige both re=signed with the promotion. The A-Lister has been an important star to help either the mid-card or the main event and serve as the gatekeeper for Superstars newer to the WWE by being their first feud.
Even though Paige isn't an active competitor, she's still a valuable asset to the WWE. The fans love her and she's a great interview/panelist on PPV pre-shows and WWE Backstage. She was even one of the judges on the most recent Tough Enough. She's been in the business for practically her entire life and she will remain with the company for the foreseeable future. Will she get the clearance to return to competition just like Daniel Bryan did two years ago? We can only hope the Anti-Diva returns one day.
#2 Johnny Gargano is out of TakeOver: WarGames
Once Finn Balor attacked Johnny Gargano during a showdown featuring he, Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa and the Undisputed Era, it appeared as if the two men would be facing off at TakeOver: WarGames. But due to the severity of Balor's attack on Johnny TakeOver, it appears as if the planned match is off the table due to the latter suffering a neck injury.
Insider Ryan Satin revealed that Gargano was not medically cleared to compete at WarGames due to a neck injury. During the attack by Balor, Johnny Wrestling was thrown into the barricade and also spiked onto the metal entrance ramp with the 1916. It appears that it likely caused a neck injury, but the severity of it was not revealed.
Now that Gargano and Balor will not be having a match at the show, will someone take Johnny Wrestling's place? Will the match be saved for a later date? Just how serious is the injury?
The card for WarGames was shaping up to be one of the best. Two matches were slated to take place in the cages with the women taking part for the first time in WWE history. Rhea Ripley and Shayna Baszler are captaining two teams in the match. The Undisputed Era is also making it a third-straight appearance in the cage against a team helmed by Ciampa. The card will still likely steal the show over Survivor Series weekend, but it was robbed of a potentially amazing dream match between two of the biggest faces in NXT history.
#1 CM Punk will return as a contributor/analyst for the show
Consider yourself lucky if you were watching WWE Backstage live. Of all the people present onstage at the end of the show, only Renee Young seemed to know what was happening. In the closing moments of the show, she said that Backstage needed some of its own historic and memorable moments.
She counted down from three and then "Cult of Personality" hit. Anyone who has followed wrestling for the last 15 years knows exactly what that song means. CM Punk shocked the world when he walked through the doors and into the ring onstage.
The panelists, especially Paige, were all pleasantly shocked and surprised to see the former WWE Champion associated with the company once more. Punk said that he'd be on next week's show, likely causing a ratings bump for WWE Backstage. It was revealed after the show that Punk joined FOX, and not technically WWE.
FOX did get the blessing from WWE according to a press release issued by WWE. A deal was apparently reached between the Best in the World and FOX over the last few days. Whatever the reasons may be, it's always great to see the Voice of the Voiceless associated with professional wrestling once again. Oh, the stories he'll tell.
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