Wrestling Tonight: NXT COUNTERS BLOOD & GUTS WITH PUNK VS. WALLER | MICHAELS & STYLES IN WWE'S SUCCESSION PLAN | CROWN JEWEL SAFETY, HAUSER'S MLW EXIT & DARBY'S MARATHON BEFORE THE CAGE | 228

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This week on Wrestling Tonight, Acefield Retro breaks down a loaded Wednesday as CM Punk challenges Grayson Waller for the NXT Championship opposite AEW Blood & Guts. With John Cena appearing and Cody Rhodes presenting the Dusty Classic trophy, WWE is giving fans plenty of reasons to tune in. But can NXT turn the attention into something lasting for Waller, and where does Tony D'Angelo fit after the controversial finish at Halloween Havoc?

We also discuss WWE's reported backstage succession plan, with Shawn Michaels expected to replace Bruce Prichard following his reported retirement after WrestleMania 43. AJ Styles could take on greater responsibilities in NXT, but who would handle creative if Michaels moves on? We look at what these changes could mean for WWE and where Styles' interest in developing younger talent fits into the picture.

Chad Gable pins CM Punk at a WWE house show, and we explain why that result deserves a mention on television. Meanwhile, reports indicate Punk and Kevin Owens did not refuse to travel to Saudi Arabia, with their SmackDown match always planned for that show. We separate that clarification from the broader reporting about talent safety concerns and examine why WWE's assurances need to leave room for wrestlers to speak up as Crown Jewel approaches.

Over in AEW, we preview both Blood & Guts matches as Will Ospreay, Adam Copeland, Darby Allin, Steven Borden and The Young Bucks prepare to face the Don Callis Family. The women's match brings together Triangle of Madness, Divine Dominion and Persephone against The Brawling Birds, Wrathlander, Willow Nightingale and Queen Aminata. Plus, Darby goes from wrestling Hechicero in Arena Mexico to completing the New York City Marathon just days before stepping inside the cage.

Then we look at AEW's New Year's Smash schedule change, which avoids a clash with SmackDown and puts Dynamite after college football playoff coverage. Can AEW turn that lead into new viewers? We also cover Paul Walter Hauser leaving MLW over creative differences and the pointed message that closed his otherwise appreciative farewell.

In New Japan, Taiji Ishimori and Robbie X face Robbie Eagles and Kosei Fujita in the Super Junior Tag League final at Power Struggle. We discuss the redemption story, Blake Christian and Lee Johnson narrowly missing the final, and the uncertainty surroundin