– WWE has announced that Akira Tozawa will make his WWE 205 Live debut on next Tuesday’s show in Corpus Christi, Texas. He made it to the to the quarterfinals of the WWE Cruiserweight Classic last year but lost to Gran Metalik. He has been working NXT live events since December.
Get ready!! @TozawaAkira arrives NEXT WEEK on @WWE205Live on @WWENetwork! pic.twitter.com/8ktfZcAv2X
— WWE (@WWE) January 25, 2017
– For the third straight week, SmackDown Live Commissioner Shane McMahon was the co-host of Talking Smack with Renee Young on the WWE Network. Smackdown Live GM Daniel Bryan usually is the host of the show. When Young suggested that McMahon might permanently take over the role, McMahon stated that Bryan has his baby on his brain right now, so he is taking care of business. Bryan and Brie Bella are expecting their first child this spring. It should be noted that Bryan appeared on Tuesday’s SmackDown Live in the opening segment with The Miz to book the main event Lumberjack match between Intercontinental Champion Dean Ambrose and The Miz.
– WWE Champion AJ Styles retained the championship over John Cena when he hit Cena with a low blow in the SmackDown Live dark match in Toledo, OH at the Huntington Center.