WWE pulls contracted UK talents from FloSlam broadcast

[Big Red Machine]

Source: www.F4WOnline.com

By Joseph Currier | @josephcurrier | Jan 19, 2017 3:32 pm

Two promotions in the United Kingdom announced changes to upcoming cards for FloSlam broadcasts as it seems WWE is setting guidelines for where their UK contracted talent is allowed to appear.

IPW:UK, who will be airing a supershow on FloSlam live on Sunday, posted on Facebook that Pete Dunne will now face Tom Dawkins in a bonus match for the live crowd that won't be streamed on the service. Dunne had been scheduled to face Matt Riddle, who will now face Ryan Smile instead. Joseph Conners has been pulled from the show entirely.

The promotion posted, "Unfortunately in the early hours of this morning we learnt that due to contractual obligations with the WWE, certain wrestlers will be unable to appear on our FloSlam live broadcast this Sunday, namely in this instance, Pete Dunne and Joseph Conners."

In a move that seems to be related given a tweet they posted, Lucha Forever also announced that the main event of their debut show on April 17th would now be Shane Strickland vs. Travis Banks after Strickland had been scheduled to face Dunne, who will still be appearing on the show in some capacity. The promotion recently signed a deal to broadcast events on FloSlam.

Though he recently returned to NXT as Kassius Ohno, Chris Hero's final two matches for EVOLVE during Royal Rumble weekend still seem set to appear on the service.

The news comes during what could be looked back on as a transformative period for professional wrestling going forward as WWE attempts to further expand into the UK market after last weekend's tournament. Dave Meltzer reported on the moves being made in this week's Wrestling Observer Newsletter, including a deal for ICW events to appear on the WWE Network with possibly more to come.

[cero2k]

the contrast between WWE's relationship with EVOLVE and pulling talent from the other FlowSlam promotions set a really bad precedent. It's a perfect display of Kidani's words, if you're not with WWE, you're against them (at least in their eyes)

[Big Red Machine]

the contrast between WWE's relationship with EVOLVE and pulling talent from the other FlowSlam promotions set a really bad precedent. It's a perfect display of Kidani's words, if you're not with WWE, you're against them (at least in their eyes)

If I had to guess, they realize that FloSlam paying Evolve will do more to f*ck with ROH (See: Lee, Keith), so it's basically someone else doing that for them. Also, Dave said that the amount WWE is paying ICW for their shows is minuscule compared to what FloSlam is paying Evovle.
Also, I think the only guy under a WWE contract who works Evolve is Hero, and that's just Hero finishing up his commitments, so it doesn't really effect Evolve.

[cero2k]

even if no one is working the EVOLVE shows, we all now know that EVOLVE is in WWE"s buddy group now, surely right now it's only Hero, but maybe later they'll ask for someone else, or they'll send WWE guys to EVOLVE.

[XIV]

I'll tell you now WWE will NOT do business with WCPW. At all. Apart from their channel contantly abusing the WWE product, they also allowed Rhodes & Alberto to slate them on their show.

[cero2k]

I wonder if they'll try to join the NJPW/ROH/CMLL et al relationship

[Big Red Machine]

I wonder if they'll try to join the NJPW/ROH/CMLL et al relationship

I don't see it. There is a reason that ROHand NJPW have chosen to work with RevPro. RevPro develops stars. WCPW seems to just buy them or bring them in.