Chairshot Wrestling News Shuffle (2/21/19)

Jason shuffles into your Thursday with the Chairshot Wrestling News Shuffle! Today we take a look at news on Tye Dillinger, a Hulk Hogan movie, Kota Ibushi turning down AEW and more!

Tye Dillinger Requests Release From WWE

Tye Dillinger has been off of WWE TV since his injury in October, though he was recently cleared for return. However, Tuesday night, Dillinger took to Twitter to let fans know he requested his release from WWE.

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— Ronnie Arneill (@perfec10n) February 20, 2019

Hulk Hogan Netflix Movie In The Works?

The Hollywood Reporter broke the news today that actor Chris Hemsworth will play the role of Hulk Hogan in an upcoming biopic of the Hulkster. A deal with Netflix for the rights to the movie is currently being finalized. The movie does not plan to cover the recent negative press on Hogan, but more on the rise of Hulkamania.

Does The Undertaker Have Heat With Vince McMahon?

We know that the Undertaker will be appear at Starcast II which will be the weekend of AEW’s Double Or Nothing event. While the Undertaker will not be appearing at Double Or Nothing, Dave Meltzer noted on the latest edition of Wrestling Observer Radio that Vince McMahon is rather upset about the appearance noting “there is definite unhappiness about him doing the Starrcast thing. A lot.”

Vince Unhappy With TV Ratings?

RAW ratings have recently reached all time lows, and many have complained about the stale storylines. According to Wrestling Observer Radio, Vince McMahon agrees about the stale product. Many feel that this was the reason behind the NXT call ups to RAW and SmackDown this week. Dave Meltzer said, “Vince felt that the reason the ratings are down is because the product is stale, the stars are stale and ‘we don’t have any superstars and these guys that we have aren’t gonna be superstars so we need to make new superstars so we gotta get guys that we haven’t ruined.”

Kota Ibushi Turns Down AEW

With Kenny Omega off the market, many were considering Kota Ibushi as the next biggest free agent. However, Ibushi is a free agent no more as he has decided to sign a two-year deal with NJPW as well as entering the New Japan Cup. Ibushi noted that he turned down an offer with AEW. Ibushi discussed that he turned down an offer to join the roster of AEW and signing with NJPW while speaking to ShuPro (translation via NJPW commentator Chris Charlton)

‘I want to wrestle exclusively for New Japan. If I can, I want to be on every card, every tour,” said Ibushi. “AEW said they just want me in their ring in some form. The ideal for them was for me to move to America and be there full time. I turned them down just after Wrestle Kingdom. If I went it would be the end of my career. There wouldn’t be anywhere else to go after that. No step up, nothing left to do. That would be the last step to make, and after that things would just go down. Great money, but I want to keep developing.”

Jason’s Thoughts On Today’s News

I am definitely interested in a Hulk Hogan movie. If there were a wrestler that deserved an in depth ESPN style biography (like Ric Flair) or a full length featured film, it’s Hogan. Yes, I know he has been under heat. I don’t condone anything he has said or done, but the large majority of wrestling fans grew up with Hogan. I don’t think the younger wrestling fans understand the true impact Hogan made on the business.

Dillinger to AEW!!!!!  I kid, or do I? WWE underutilized Dillinger since his main roster debut, and if there was a wrestler who actually could jump to AEW it would be him. It actually makes sense. I think Dillinger matches with Jeircho, Cody Rhodes, and Kenny Omega would have the potential to be great matches.

I understand the frustrations with the low WWE ratings and stale product, but this shouldn’t be anything new to Vince. The flagship program has been hovering over historic low ratings for at least a year, and at times has been unwatchable at 3 hours. You can however start to see a shift in creative storylines with the NXT call ups, the push of Mustafa Ali (before the injury) the push of Kofi Kingston, and hopefully the resurrection of the tag team division. Maybe, just maybe, we will see some change in WWE. Fingers crossed.

It will be weird seeing the Undertaker involved in something non-WWE related. I would imagine he wouldn’t be appearing at Starrcast in character, but as I’ve said before, I am really hoping we get all out shoot interview/podcast from the Undertaker.