The Grapevine (8/10/18): Impact is Jericho?

Good morning, and welcome to your daily Grapevine! Our editor-in-chief, Ro Moran, is currently on an important business trip (yes, business trip) to China. Unfortunately, rumors don't stop churning even when you're abroad, so I'm taking over our rumor rundown this week!

A certain Alpha might be showing up on Impact Wrestling, apparently:

• Chris Jericho might end up with Impact Wrestling soon. According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, many believe that Jericho is destined to end up at Impact Wrestling soon. Despite Jericho having previously mentioned that he wouldn't want to do anything to get Vince McMahon mad, it is said that this belief isn't nearly as strong as it was months ago. (Source: WON)

We say: This definitely sounds intriguing, and we'd love to see Jericho wrestling again soon. With Impact being on an upward trajectory, having a name like Jericho would help them get more viewers to a show that has been putting on some solid wrestling in the past couple of months. Jericho doesn't even have to be involved in the Impact World Championship scene—a feud with, say, Eli Drake sounds like money. Let's see this happen, but in the meantime, can we do something about the IWGP Intercontinental Championship?

• Shane Strickland is also on the WWE's radar, and both Pentagon Jr. and Fenix have told  promoters that their 2019 dates are "in question." Following last week's rumors that Fenix and Pentagon Jr. were being scouted by the WWE, they have apparently told promoters interested in booking them that their 2019 schedule is still up in the air, leading to continued speculation that they might be signing by next year. Meanwhile, Strickland, who currently stars on Lucha Underground as Killshot, is the latest name linked to the WWE, and is apparently the next person that they'll be taking a look at. (Source: WON)

We say: This seems in line with the WWE's stance of poaching top-tier talent despite having an oversaturated roster, at least. As for Strickland, it's hard to see him having sustained success considering all the names in the WWE right now, but he's a good wrestler who deserves his chance at the big leagues.

• The ROH-NJPW G1 Supercard at Madison Square Garden is expected to sell out. The show, which is set to take place during WrestleMania weekend, has already sold 60% of its tickets according to ROH Chief Operating Officer Joe Koff. Tickets went up on presale last Wednesday, and is set to go on sale to the general public this Friday. (Source: POST Wrestling)

We say: This is great news, and is a good sign that the demand for non-WWE promotions is out there. It'll be a big achievement for ROH to sell out a venue like Madison Square Garden, particularly on a weekend where the WWE usually goes all out with WrestleMania and related events.

Let us know what you think of today's rumors in the comments!

Photo taken from PWMania

August 10, 2018