AJ Styles has addressed the critical reception to his return to WWE programming. Prior to his inclusion on Monday Night RAW this week, Styles was last seen being buried by The Undertaker during their Boneyard match at WrestleMania 36.
Acknowledging the criticisms over his comeback, Styles agreed that his return “could’ve been more” than what it was.
Styles addressed the topic during a recent MIXER stream. He confessed he had seen people talking about it and how they felt WWE ‘wasted’ their opportunity to bring him back in a more interesting way, whether that was as a different character, mood, or even a different look. AJ Styles agrees. He stated, “I’m with you.”
Also Read: AJ Styles Was Reportedly Expected To Stay Out Of Action Longer
AJ Styles Underwhelmed
He noted how the current coronavirus pandemic may have had a lot to do with WWE’s decision to bring him back.
AJ Styles came back as a surprise entrant in a Gauntlet Match. The competitors were vying for a spot in this Sunday’s Money in the Bank ladder match. Styles would ultimately win the match.
It was a comeback he felt was somewhat lacking, both in terms of return impact and competitors.
“[…] the circumstances, the match… maybe we needed some more star power in the match. Maybe that’s what that was,” AJ Styles said. “I don’t know, I’m not tooting my own horn here, but, I wish we could’ve waited and had times been different, that could’ve been something that we would’ve went [with].”
AJ Styles takes on Daniel Bryan, Rey Mysterio, Aleister Black, King Corbin and Otis this Sunday at WWE’s Money In The Bank pay-per-view.
WWE Superstar The Big Show was the first man to face Drew McIntyre after he won the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 36. McIntyre defeated Big Show in a match that was featured on the post-WrestleMania Monday Night RAW. In an interview with Sportskeeda, the WWE Champion revealed what Big Show told him following their matchup.
McIntyre highlighted how Big Show had watched him grow up since he first came to America when he was 22 years old. He shared how Big Show was proud of what Drew McIntyre had accomplished during his first run with the company. He noted how he is proud of where he has managed to get to “as a performer and as a man.”
Drew McIntyre acknowledged how The Big Show wanted to “test” him in the ring after his win. He noted how Big Show could see he was ready for the opportunity at be WWE Champion. Feeling it, however, was different to simply seeing the potential.
McIntyre then recalled how Big Show told him that he has “the potential to become one of the greatest champions of all time, which meant the world to me, because he is been in (the ring) with the greatest of all time.”
Drew McIntyre is set to defend his WWE Championship this Sunday. He faces Seth Rollins at WWE’s Money In The Bank pay-per-view.
WWE has been sporadically editing out Roman Reigns from recent footage on its shows. The company featured Reigns defeating Triple H during SmackDown’s 25th Anniversary show for “The Game.” They then edited Reigns out of replay footage from WrestleMania 31 on RAW.
Seth Rollins cashed in his Money in the Bank briefcase during that event, claiming the WWE Championship from Brock Lesnar. However, it was Roman Reigns that would be pinned. Footage of this title change was edited on Monday Night RAW, removing Reigns from the match entirely.
According to Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Newsletter, WWE isn’t necessarily operating under a rule to erase Reigns from its programming. The situation on how WWE is approaching Roman Reigns allegedly “changes on a daily basis, depending on which way the wind is blowing.” This accounts for his inclusion on SmackDown but obvious removal on RAW.
It was recently revealed that WWE had an edict that stated commentators were not to mention Reigns’ name on TV. There was apparently nothing said regarding the use of footage.
It was pointed out how WWE highlighted its work with Make-A-Wish but included no clips of Roman Reigns or the work he has done with the charity. Vince McMahon also avoided mentioning Reigns during a recent investment conference call.
Despite this, FS1 then broadcast a one hour special on the WWE Superstar, leading to confusion and uncertainty over whether Reigns may be being punished.
Roman Reigns’ WrestleMania Choice
Roman Reigns made the decision to not compete at this year’s WrestleMania 36 due to coronavirus concerns. He has previously battled leukemia twice and is immunocompromised.
WWE has previously stated that talent are within their rights to approach them over concerns working during the coronavirus pandemic. The company stressed there would be no repercussions for any Superstars who felt uncomfortable working.
WWE Superstar Ryback recently made some extraordinary claims on a recent episode of the Shooting Blanks Wrestling Report podcast.
Ryback and co-host Raj Giri were discussing the recent furloughing of WWE’s Gerald Brisco. The former on-screen ‘stooge’ for Vince McMahon has been a fixture in the company for a number of years, having been one of the more prolific ‘scouts’ for the company. Brisco is credited as discovering Brock Lesnar, among others.
Ryback on Gerry Brisco
“He’s done so much for WWE, and for Vince [McMahon]” Ryback would begin, talking about the recently furloughed Brisco. “He’s one of those guys. But we’ve seen Vince cut ties with people that have been a part of that company from the beginning. [People who were] with him building all of this.”
Ryback would then discuss his time in FCW with Gerry’s son Wes Brisco. “I came up with Wes Brisco, his son, in developmental. Wes was always a great guy and Gerry was always so fantastic with me.”
‘The Big Guy’ would then reveal a fascinating story from his time in FCW. Gerald Brisco told the then ‘Terminator’ character that he would be a big star in WWE; and, that there was potential for Ryback to be the person to beat the then undefeated Undertaker at WrestleMania and break the historic streak.
The Streak
“He [Brisco] came up to me when I was in FCW as the ‘Ryback The Terminator’ character. I’d had a match, and I was new to the system. I never got a lot of positive reinforcement from anyone, like as far as anyone from the office. He [Brisco] was still in the position there at the time [helping and building talent]. And he just said ‘you’re going to be a major star in this company.’ He even said ‘I could see you breaking the Undertaker’s streak.’ He was dead serious. I remember thinking like, ‘holy sh*t like he sees something in me.’ I’ll never forget that.”
When Ryback first hit on the main roster at WWE he was being groomed for a major push and had a lot of potential heading into his first WWE Championship match against CM Punk. The circumstances of the situation meant that Ryback would not win the title, as Punk was on the road to his 434 day reign as Champion and a match against The Rock at the Royal Rumble.
Having said that, beating The Undertaker’s WrestleMania streak? Do you think Ryback could’ve been the guy to do so? Let us know in the comments.
Viewership data is in for this week’s battle in the WWE NXT vs. AEW Dynamite Wednesday Night War. AEW won the night in total viewers and in the key 18-49 demo, but both shows were up. Here is the breakdown of the live and same-night DVR viewership, courtesy of ShowbuzzDaily:
WWE NXT Viewership
NXT on the USA Network averaged 663,000 viewers, up from last week’s 637,000 In the 18-49 demo, they drew a 0.18 rating, up from 0.16 last week.
The episode featured the in-ring debut of Karrion Kross, NXT Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair vs. Io Shirai, The Velveteen Dream vs. NXT Champion Adam Cole, Johnny Gargano vs. Dominik Dijakovic, and the return of Finn Balor.
AEW Dynamite on TNT was watched by 732,000 viewers, up from the 693,000 viewers last week. In the 18-49 demo, Dynamite pulled in a 0.28 rating, up from the 0.27 rating that the show did last week.
AEW Dynamite featured bouts such as AEW World Heavyweight Champion Jon Moxley vs. Frankie Kazarian in a non-title match, Chris Jericho and Sammy Guevara vs. Kenny Omega and Matt Hardy, Cody vs. Joey Janela, and QT Marshall vs. Lance Archer.
The most recent edition of the Dark Side of the Ring focussed on the UWF and its charismatic and eccentric owner, Herb Abrams. Mick Foley wrestled in the short-lived promotion in the early 90s. Foley was interviewed in the documentary and talked about his time with the promotion.
The UWF had a television deal in the early 90s but after struggling, live events became more sporadic. Abrams would later die of a heart attack brought on by cocaine use in 1996, though accounts of the exact circumstances surrounding his death vary.
“I see him so clearly in my mind like it was yesterday and I cannot talk about Herb without smiling,” Foley said on the show. “Herb was the little guy with a big personality. His enthusiasm was contagious.”
Thanks everyone for tuning in last night. What did you think of “Cocaine & Cowboy Boots: The Herb Abrams Story”?
— Dark Side of the Ring (@DarkSideOfRing) May 6, 2020
Foley wrestled as Cactus Jack in the promotion. He wrestled “Superfly” Jimmy Snuka to a double-DQ on the last UWF event in 1996. The event drew a sparse crowd inside Las Vegas’ MGM Grand.
“He had the enthusiasm and I think the courage to try and live out his dream,” Foley said about Herb Abrams. “I have to believe this is the way Herb would want it. Maybe he got in death what he didn’t have in life and that is he became a legend.”
Foley was then asked what Abrams would be doing if he was still alive today.
“Time,” Foley responded with a laugh. “Yeah, there’s no way Herb is going to keep his taxes. I just think he’d be behind bars. He would have hurt no one except himself. I’d be visiting him and we’d be toasting with a glass of milk and Herbie cookies.”
Foley later posted more comments about the episode through social media:
“I was smiling the whole time and then at the end I really got very sentimental, a little teary-eyed,” Foley said about watching the episode. “Thank you to the Dark Side of the Ring for closing on my line. My wife adored Herb. I think the most surprising thing to me was how choked up people were. That he really didn’t just make people laugh and smile and tell crazy stories but he did touch people’s lives.”
Foley then began talking about how when he was reading his wife the details of Herb’s death, he couldn’t help but laugh.
“I started reading the details of his death and I couldn’t make it through without laughing. The cocaine, the call-girls, the baby oil and I don’t think it was disrespectful. I theorized in that book (Have A Nice Day), that’s the way he would have wanted it. He’s above us now, got to be, he was a good guy, he didn’t hurt anybody except himself.”
“I think he would be very happy to be immortalized on Dark Side of the Ring.”
Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler, formerly known as Scott Dawson and Dash Wilder, were guests recently on Talk is Jericho. During the discussion, the team now known as the Revolt discussed asking WWE for their release from the company.
“It was somewhere around mid-January of 2019 that we initially had talked to some of the office and asked for our release,” Wheeler said. “At the time, we were under the impression, we were told we were going to get it, things obviously changed.”
Wheeler continued to say they asked for their release after defeating the Lucha House Party on RAW.
“Dax and I, we’d been debating for months if we wanted to stay or not,” he continued.
“We had said, after this loop, let’s wait until we’re on the upswing so it doesn’t look like we’re only upset because we’re losing. Let’s wait until it’s on the upswing and then ask. That way people know it’s not just about us, it’s about the tag-team division as a whole.”
He continued to say that there is not enough attention paid to the tag-team division in WWE.
“(Braun Strowman) had steamrolled the entire tag-team division and then a 10-year-old won the tag titles at WrestleMania and then no tag-teams were featured on SummerSlam until the last minute they added the women’s tag titles,” he continued.
“We wanted to make a point, the tag-team division doesn’t get respect, it doesn’t get the time that we think a lot of these teams deserve and we want to take chances on ourselves. So, that’s why we asked when we asked.”
Dax Harwood On When It Came Out They Had Asked For Their Release
Harwood continued to talk about how it seemed everyone knew they had asked for their release after they had done so.
“I’m not kidding you, as soon as we walked out of that talent relations office, everyone knew. I don’t know how but everyone knew that we had asked for it.”
“Right after that is whenever people started saying we were complaining. We were getting tagged a lot on Twitter that we were just complaining and being crybabies but I dare you to ask any of our coworkers if they ever heard us complain.”
EC3 appears to be aligning himself with The Revolt.
All three men were released by WWE in April. EC3 immediately released a video declaring a new direction for himself. Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler shed their former personas and put other tag teams on notice that they should #FearTheRevolt.
Their paths have now converged.
EC3 released his latest video Wednesday night. He posed questions to define work horses, team work and tag team.
“Boots, trunks, fists (no flips). The classics never die.”
He touted Dax & Cash as, “Masters of a lost art applying complicated formulas, executed to precision.” A team with the respect of their peers who paint ‘in-ring masterpieces’ only to the ire and resentment of others.
“Top Guys. Fear The Revolt. You’ve been warned.”
You can check out EC3’s promo hyping The Revolt in the video player embedded below:
Define Work Horses?? Dependable. Steady. Responsible.? ? Define Teamwork?? Putting an objective over the accomplishment of the individual.? ? Define TagTeam?? Two singularities. One vision.? ? Boots, trunks, fists (no flips) the classics never die.? ? pic.twitter.com/kxSvNE6GpW
The video prompted replies from The Revolt and longtime EC3 ally Drake Maverick (Rockstar Spud).
Dax Harwood tweeted, “I have a wine buzz (thanks MJF), so I can’t come up with something cool to say, but there was A LOT of money left on the table with this guy. #FTR”
Cash wheeler replied, “This man is a psycho. In the best sense of the word. Untouchable at his game. A revolution is coming.”
Maverick chimed in with an “FTR.”
EC3 on Cameo
EC3 has also created an account on Cameo, a website where people can purchase personalized video clips from celebrities. However, it appears he is using the platform for a different purpose. The bio on EC3’s Cameo page reads, “This is not a cameo. This is your indoctrination into The Narrative.”
EC3 is using the page to further his new persona. Typically, customers providing the celebrities with a friendly message to deliver, such as happy birthday wishes. Instead, he sends you a video providing “homework” to help liberate you from your past and free yourself for the future. He uses the hashtag, #ControlYourNarrative.
Click here to see an example of the messages EC3 is selling on Cameo.
Dr. Britt Baker DMD faced Hikaru Shida on the April 8th, 2020 edition of AEW Dynamite. During the match, Baker’s nose got busted open and poured blood for the remainder of the bout. Shida would go on to claim the victory and maintain her #1 ranking in the division. The image of Baker’s face covered in blood was later turned into a top-selling t-shirt.
Baker recently took part in an interview with the Asbury Park Press and discussed the match and nose injury. She was asked about the iconic imagery now associated with her blood-covered face.
“I didn’t know it (was iconic) at the time because my nose was just pouring blood,” Baker said. “I mean, my nose did not stop bleeding for hours. It was an all-day affair with me and Doc (Michael) Sampson (AEW physician) sticking cotton rolls up my nose because it literally would not stop bleeding.”
Baker continued to say that people approached her backstage about the match and imagery of her face. They told her it was a career-defining moment for her.
“(They) came by like, ‘Britt, oh my God. Wait until you see this, this is career-making for you,’ ” Baker said. “It’s hard to envision that until you actually see it because you want to get excited but you’re also like, ‘Oh, I don’t want to get my hopes up.’”
Britt Baker On Her Busted Open Nose From Match With Hikaru Shida
Baker also described what it was like to watch the match after. She noted it was enjoyable to hear Chris Jericho and her “good friend” Tony Schiavone on commentary calling the bout.
“When I actually got to watch the show back and hear Chris Jericho doing commentary along with my good friend Tony Schiavone, it kind of gave me goosebumps. I was like, ‘This is cool. This is one of my favorite wrestlers talking about me.’ “
On Dynamite this week, Baker was announced for a fatal 4-way to take place next week. She’ll face Hikaru Shida, Kris Statlander, and Penelope Ford in the match. Baker also got involved during the Lance Archer vs QT Marshall last night. She jumped the rail and attacked Brandi Rhodes leading to the post-match antics from Jake Roberts and Lance Archer.
Lance Archer ended his eight-year-long relationship with NJPW when he chose to leave the promotion and sign with AEW from the many opportunities he had at the time. During a recent interview with TalkSport, the former IWGP US Champion talked about his decision to join the upstart promotion and revealed the reason behind it.
Archer admitted that there was lots of stuff on his table and claimed that his decision was not a quick one. He explained that it was a long thinking process for him and according to the former NJPW star; it ultimately came down to the fact that the people in AEW were much more attentive:
“It ultimately came down to the people in AEW were much more attentive to having me apart of AEW. The numbers were adding up in the right way. As I said, the prayers I was doing were leading me towards AEW and just everything was leading me towards it.
The opportunity to be a part of something that is growing, help that and help AEW become even greater than it already is, that challenge was just too enticing.” said Lance Archer. “Nothing was quick about the process. It took it’s time and I made some tough decisions, but ultimately the right decision in my opinion. That’s what led me to AEW and now we’re here, I’m ready to kick some ass.”
The former TNA star signed a deal with AEW in February earlier this year and he made his debut for the promotion in March when Jake “The Snake” Roberts introduced him as his new client. Archer has been given a push in AEW and he is currently scheduled to face Cody Rhodes in the finals of the TNT Championship Tournament at the upcoming Double Or Nothing PPV on May 23.
When AEW started last year, many assumed Kenny Omega would be a staple in the main event picture. Then he lost a single’s match to Chris Jericho at last year’s Double or Nothing. Jericho moved on to defeat Hangman Page and won the inaugural AEW World Championship and Omega moved into storylines with the Young Bucks. He hasn’t been near the world title picture since.
Omega recently discussed his last year in AEW during an interview with SI.com. During the discussion, he mentioned that he currently prefers to help create new stars.
“To me, I would rather take more unknown names, guys that don’t have that big reputation yet, and show there is something special about them,” Omega said. “I want to be a force to help introduce new stars to the world and magnify the work of those around me.”
Omega also mentioned that many AEW fans might not be familiar with his work in Japan. He continued to say that he wants to become an all-round performer. This involves having matches in different styles with different opponents and teammates.
“I want to be a true, all-around, real ‘best in the world’ performer,” Omega continued. “That means singles matches, tag matches, mixed tags, battle royals, you have to be able to do it all. With AEW, I’ve been allowed the creative freedom to develop myself as more of an all-around performer.”
Kenny Omega Still Best In The World?
Fans hoping that Omega will eventually return to the world title picture should not lose hope, however. Omega continued to say that the time is nearing for him to remind everyone that he is the best in the world.
“When it’s time, which is sooner than people think, I’ll remind people why I’m the best in the world,” said Omega. “And it’s coming. It’s not a matter of if it’s going to happen, it’s just a matter of when.”
Omega is currently 1/2 of the AEW World Tag Team Champions along with Adam “Hangman” Page. The team won the titles aboard the Jericho cruise. They have since defended the belts successfully against SCU, the Lucha Bros, and the Young Bucks.
The full interview with Kenny Omega can be read here.
The Street Profits have received a push since their arrival in the main roster and reports have suggested that the Raw Executive Director Paul Heyman is behind the success of the former NXT stars.
During a recent interview with TalkSport, the current Raw Tag Team Champions talked about their interactions with the ECW founder and revealed the advice they received from the advocate of Brock Lesnar.
According to the duo, Paul talked to them as soon as they got to the main roster and his advice for the former NXT stars was to be themselves and do what they usually did:
“As soon as we got up there, he was like ‘ay, ya’ll be ya’ll. We brought you up here for a reason, ya’ll be ya’ll. Don’t do anything else, just be the Street Profits. Do what the Street Profits would usually do. This is just like NXT for you’. And we’re like ‘alright, cool!’ He gave us the keys and we ran with it.
Any time we began to teeter and not really be like the Street Profits a little bit, he’d be like ‘woah, woah, woah! Remember, you’re the Street Profits, keep that same energy’.”
The former NXT Tag Team Champions also talked about their WrestleMania 36 match and Montez Ford discussed how he got to work with his wife Bianca Belair in the bout.
The Street Profits started making appearances on Raw back in July last year. They have been given a push since officially being called up to the main roster and they won the Raw Tag Team Championships in March earlier this year.
Former WWE Superstar Ryback recently commented on the WWE Championship situation on his Conversation With The Big Guy podcast. The ‘Big Guy’ would praise Drew McIntyre; discussing how he went from perennial jobber for life to become one of the most promising prospects of the next decade.
Another Superstar that Ryback would comment on was Jinder Mahal. The former 3MB member of course teamed with McIntyre for a big chunk of his WWE career alongside the now released Heath Slater. Both Mahal and McIntyre have held WWE main event gold; however while the seemingly ‘shocking’ WWE Championship win of Mahal seemed to be an anomaly? McIntyre looks set to remain in the main event picture.
Jinder Mahal Returns
Ryback would discuss how Jinder Mahal is a potential opponent for McIntyre down the line, seeing as both have parallels in their career paths and their history in the 3 Man Band stable. “He [Jinder Mahal] was off TV I think for like nine or 10 months? For a pretty significant period of time” Ryback would begin. “They [WWE] just assume that everyone forgets everything.”
Ryback would then talk about how WWE fans have a good memory when it comes to the perception of talent, with Jinder having previously played a lower-card comedy character. The subsequent rise of Mahal to the WWE Championship originally was such that unlike McIntyre, fans didn’t really seem to latch on to the ‘Modern Day Maharaja’ as a main event character.
In The ‘Circle’
“This is one of those things, I don’t think Jinder is in the ‘circle'” Ryback would continue. “I don’t think he ever was in the ‘circle.’ I think that he served a purpose for them by putting the title on him, because of the rumours of that whole thing with India? Whatever the reason was.”
The ‘Big Guy’ would then finish by talking about how Jinder was dropped down the pecking order by WWE after he lost the WWE Title. Ryback would also claim that talents in that coveted ‘circle’ do not get demoted after they lose a title. “You see the guys that are in the circle? They will stay [in the main event] well after. Jinder didn’t, and he was relegated back to no entrance, which is the worst thing for any wrestler. When you’re getting put out there with no entrance? That sh*ts not good.”
Scottish Psychopath vs Modern Day Maharaja?
Ryback finished by saying that he believes Jinder will get a shot at the title, but it will be a short program with McIntyre. “I think he’ll be used for a matchup for Drew. They’re [WWE] gonna make Jinder look like he was this former champion, build them up and to serve the purpose of getting a one off probably. My personal opinion? I hope it’s more for Jinder. But, just based on how they have used him throughout? He’s never, never been in the circle.”
Do you think that Jinder Mahal will get a match for the WWE Championship? Let us know in the comments
Charlotte Flair has taken an interesting route in her career in recent months and after winning the Royal Rumble, she decided to challenge for the NXT Championship instead of the Women’s Champion from Raw or SmackDown.
She won the title by beating Rhea Ripley at WrestleMania 36 and The Queen is now in a unique position where she wrestles at both Raw and NXT at the same time.
The current NXT Champion was recently interviewed by Sports Illustrated and when asked if she worries about the competition on Wednesday nights, Charlotte said that she tries not to get caught up in the business side of the things:
“I try not to get caught up in the business side. When I have that opportunity to highlight my opponent and myself, that’s what we’re here to do. Going into this match, we’re trying to raise the bar.”
The interview was done before this week’s episode of NXT where Charlotte Flair defended her title against Io Shirai in a one on one match. The bout ended in a disqualification after the reigning champion introduced a kendo stick into the match.
She continued attacking her opponent after the match but Rhea Ripley made her return to WWE programming for the first time since her WrestleMania loss. She made the save and it appears that the two will be reigniting their rivalry in the coming times.
A new SEC filing has revealed that WWE Executive Vice President of Global Talent Strategy & Development Triple H has unloaded WWE stocks worth more than $1 million recently.
The WWE Hall Of Famer sold a total of 23,255 shares of Class A Common Stock on Monday, May 4. The shares were valued at $43.80 per share, totalling at approximate $1,018,569.
Triple H and others had unloaded a large number of shares last year as well and the sale included Vince McMahon selling away over $250 million worth of WWE shares to fund XFL. The filing reveals that The Game still has 144,646 shares of Class A Common Stock left.
This week’s episode of NXT saw the current champion Adam Cole retaining his title over Velveteen Dream in a one on one match with help from his Undisputed Era teammates.
The stable was interviewed backstage after the successful title defense from Cole where the reigning NXT Champion talked about his victory during the latest episode of the Black And Yellow brand.
During the interview, Adam Cole said that he has defeated everybody in NXT and the title should now be retired in his name. You can check out the post-show interview below:
The coronavirus pandemic has affected all businesses and even though wrestling companies have found a way to continue their programming, the promotions are losing money on cancelled events and live audiences. During his recent appearance on AEW Unrestricted podcast, president Tony Khan talked about this loss in revenue and discussed the possibility of releasing talents due to it.
Khan first discussed how they were on schedule to do shows with some of the largest audience in the company’s history between Revolution and Double or Nothing. He then admitted that they have lost millions of dollars in live event revenue and there might come a day when they have to let some people go, but he claimed that now is not the time:
“We’ve lost millions and millions of dollars in live events. I don’t take it lightly, but I can’t take it out on the people that work here because it’s not their fault.” said Tony Khan. “We’ve really not let anybody go here as a company, and look, I’m gonna be honest, there’s gonna come a day where somebody, we’re gonna have to, but now is not the time.
This is a hard time for everybody. It’s a hard time for us, but I have to look at the bigger picture. In the big picture, we’re in such good shape. We’re the second healthiest wrestling company in the world, and that’s a really great place to be. And we haven’t let a single person go to do it.”
Tony went on to explain how eventually they are going to have the audience back at the shows but the revenue they have lost in between will not be coming back. Apart from this, he also talked about putting together the recent AEW tapings, being excited for the upcoming Double Or Nothing PPV, and more.
The Bella Twins recently appeared on Busted Open Radio to promote their new book Incomparable and during their appearance; they revealed how it’s like to deal with Vince McMahon in real life.
Brie was the first to speak. She said that the Boss is “definitely intimidating.” Agreeing to her comments, Nikki said that you do get scared when you go to meet Vince in his office.
Though Brie continued by saying that Mr McMahon does appreciate when you come up with ideas and she then claimed that their conversation with him were always gentle:
“Every time we sat down with Vince it was always a gentle conversation. I mean, he definitely yelled at us a couple of times in ‘Gorilla [Position]’ and that was scary,
But to actually sit down and we always walked out of there either understanding our story or the bigger picture or just changing something in a way that we all were kind of like, ‘Oh, you’re right. Maybe it should go this way.'”
Nikki then jumped in to say that Vince McMahon is straight up with talent and you would know exactly which direction your character will be going to after talking to him:
“When you would talk to him, it’s kind of like, you couldn’t be disappointed on what was going to happen or what direction you’re going in, because you knew it,”
The Bellas also talked about how many talents do not build a relationship with Vince McMahon and always look at him as the ‘scary Vince’. You can check out the duo’s comments in the clip below:
Karrion Kross, accompanied by Scarlett, made his long awaited NXT debut on Wednesday night. Dubbed as the ‘Tandem of Terror’, the former Impact Wrestling star made an impressive entrance. The high production values suggest WWE is looking to invest big on their latest high-profile talent acquisition.
Kross went up against Leon Ruff who is an enhancement talent from WWE’s partners Evolve in a one on one match and he picked up an easy victory over his opponent.
The debuting star first hit two brutal looking Doomsday Saito suplexes to weaken his opponent and he then used the Jacket submission to make him tap.
You can check out footage of Karrion Kross’ debut below:
There is no word yet on what the company is planning for Karrion Kross but the previous reports have suggested that they have planned a big push for the monstrous athlete.
He has been seen in the background of a Johnny Gargano segment and Kross also attacked Tommaso Ciampa recently. So it’s likely that his first rivalry in the company will be against one of these two former tag team partners.
The May 6, 2020 episode of WWE NXT aired live on the USA Network from the Winter Park, Florida at Full Sail University.
The show was headlined by The Velveteen Dream challenging Adam Cole for the NXT Title.
WWE NXT Results (5/6)
Johnny Gargano def. Dominik Dijakovic
Akira Tozawa def. Jack Gallagher – Interim Cruiserweight Title Tournament Match
Chelsea Green def. Xia Li
Karrion Kross (w/Scarlett) def. Leon Ruff
Io Shirai def. NXT Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair via DQ
Cameron Grimes def. Denzel Dejournette
KUSHIDA def. Jake Atlas
NXT Champion Adam Cole def. The Velveteen Dream
Here are the 5 takeaways from this week’s show:
Finn Balor Speaks
Finn Balor in NXT
So Finn Balor is back on NXT television after his short absence.
Balor was attacked two weeks ago that prevented him from taking on The Velveteen Dream in one of the top matches featured on the show.
During this week’s show, Balor cut a promo at a podium where he stated that he used to think that the snakes were in the office but he’s not sure anymore. He said that wrestling playbook 101 is that someone might get the push with the lights and lasers but once you get into the ring with the prince, there is nowhere to hide.
He said that he’s a patient man but whoever attacked him, they shouldn’t expect a push but rather a squash.
Moments later, Cameron Grimes defeated Denzel Dejournette in a quick match. After the match, Grimes cut a tough-talking promo about how he would slap Balor in the face. This led to Balor walking out and taking out Grimes. Balor talked into the camera and stated that the best way to take out a snake is to chop of its head.
Another great promo by Balor. The mic work that he has done in NXT in his second run has been the best of his career.
Karrion Kross, the former Killer Kross, made his in-ring debut against Leon Ruff with his girlfriend, Scarlett Bordeaux, in his corner.
The real life couple was first seen on NXT television as they were shown in the background after Johnny Gargano was walking to his car with his wife, Candice LeRae, after his Empty Arena Match.
This comes after he made his television debut a few weeks ago by attacking Tommaso Ciampa. Before that, WWE had been airing vignettes hyping his debut.
Kross went over strong in this contest and rightfully so. When he first signed with the company, it was reported that he was being brought in as a top star and WWE is living up to that expectation.
In a more interesting match, Johnny Gargano vs. Dominik Dijakovic in a singles bout was booked.
In the end, it was Gargano going over. WWE gave them about 20 minutes to work and they did just that in a fun entertaining bout. It was actually the opening contest.
This only had a one week build, which made it more intriguing. Perhaps, WWE is going further with these two stars and creating a program out of it. The company has been pushing Dominik for the last few months most notably a feud against Keith Lee for the NXT North American Title.
With Gargano not portraying a heel character and seemingly getting a bigger push than normal, the company could go forward with such a feud.
It would make sense due to him not feuding with Tommaso Ciampa no longer and can’t go after the top title in the NXT Championship since Adam Cole is also a heel.
The first of two title matches on this show saw Charlotte Flair put the NXT Women’s Title on the line when she defended it against the #1 contender in Io Shirai.
As expected, Flair went over to successfully retained her title. The finish doesn’t take away from the performance that these two stars put on in this contest but it was a lackluster one.
Flair hit her with a kendo stick, which led to a post-match attack. Rhea Ripley returned to TV and made the save.
Clearly, Io is someone that Triple H sees as a big star and her work in the ring, especially with Flair, only backs up that belief. Many people believe that Io can be the next version of Asuka if not bigger depending on how WWE books her.
This came after Flair had just beaten Mia Yim on last week’s show. Obviously, WWE still has the Ripley card in play for Flair but it appears that WWE is waiting on booking that rematch for a bigger date, perhaps SummerSlam. In the meantime, a triple threat match appears to be in on the table.
WWE saved the biggest match for last as The Velveteen Dream challenged Adam Cole for the NXT Title in the main event.
It was a great back and forth match. In the end, it was Cole who went over to successfully retain the title.
Cole and Dream had been feuding for several weeks up until this point and rightfully so. Throughout Cole had been doing some of his best promo work from the poolside at his home.
It will be interesting to see where Cole and Dream go from here. While yes, it’s possible due to the pandemic that WWE continues this feud going forward.
At the same time, WWE had planned for this match to take place at NXT TakeOver: Tampa Bay but due to the event being postponed, the promotion pushed it back to this show.
Typically, WWE likes to have a new feud for each TakeOver specials, but with the next special not likely until August, things are up in the air.
Adam Cole was not dethroned as WWE NXT Champion by The Velveteen Dream as he was able to retain his title.
WWE closed Wednesday’s episode of NXT on the USA Network in Winter Park, Florida at Full Sail University with Cole making his latest title defense against Balor.
This match saw Cole successfully retain the NXT championship. It served as the main event and was a back and forth affair.
WWE set up this contest over the last few months on NXT television. There had been some speculation on WWE possibly taking Dream out of the title scene due to recent accusations.
As noted, Dream has stated on social media that he denies the allegations and he’s having a third party looking into the matter.
Last month, Cole became the longest-reigning NXT Champion and did so by breaking Finn Balor’s record of 292 days.
Cole’s previous title defense came against Tommaso Ciampa in the headliner of the WWE NXT TakeOver: Portland event from the Moda Center back in February.
In advance of next week’s episode of AEW Dynamite, the promotion has announced several matches.
In addition to these matches, All Elite Wrestling has confirmed an interview segment with Jake Roberts and Lance Archer.
This will be done to further hype the upcoming contest between Archer and Cody Rhodes for the AEW TNT Title as part of the finals of the tournament at the AEW Double or Nothing pay-per-view event will take place on Saturday, May 23, 2020.
Chris Jericho will be in action against an unknown opponent while MJF returns after being out of action next Wednesday.
It’s been reported that AEW will tape this episode of Dynamite on TNT from Jacksonville, Florida at Daily’s Place on Thursday.
AEW will return on May 20th with a live show, which will be the go-home show of Double or Nothing. Here is the updated card for next week’s show:
Chris Jericho in action against an unknown opponent
MJF returns in action against an unknown opponent
Brodie Lee vs. Christopher Daniels
Interview segment with Jake Roberts and Lance Archer
Hikaru Shida vs. Penelope Ford vs. Britt Baker vs. Kris Statlander
Jurassic Express (with Marko Stunt) vs. Best Friends (with Orange Cassidy)
All Elite Wrestling has announced new matches for their upcoming Double or Nothing pay-per-view.
First up is the likely main event of this show, which will be AEW World Heavyweight Champion Jon Moxley defending the title against Brodie Lee. AEW set up this contest during on Wednesday’s episode of Dynamite that saw Moxley beat Frankie Kazarian in a non-title match.
The Dark Order attacked Moxley after the contest. Lee hit Moxley with a discus lariat. He then cut a promo about how he is just here to answer the bounty that Moxley put on his head last week.
Brodie said that there is no one here to save Moxley. Lee then challenged Moxley to a World Title Match at Double or Nothing, which Moxley accepted. The Dark Order beat down Moxley once again.
Also set for this show is a singles match between MJF and Brodie Lee as well as a Casino Ladder Match for future AEW World Championship shot.
AEW Double or Nothing Card
The AEW Double or Nothing pay-per-view event will take place on Saturday, May 23, 2020 in Jacksonville, Florida at Daily’s Place and will be held in front of no fans on a closed set.
The event is expected to begin at 8 p.m. ET will be available for purchase via BR Live, iN DEMAND cable operators, DirecTV, DISH. AEW fans outside the United States can order via the FITE streaming service. Here is the updated card:
AEW World Heavyweight Champion Jon Moxley vs. Brodie Lee
Cody Rhodes vs. Lance Archer – AEW TNT Title Tournament Finals
Jungle Boy vs. MJF
TBA vs. TBA – Casino Ladder Match for future AEW World Championship shot
What are your thoughts on this match being added to the card? Sound off in the comment section.
Charlotte Flair’s first title defense as the NXT Women’s Champion is in the books.
Flair successfully retained the title in a hard-fought yet entertaining bout against Io Shirai during Wednesday’s episode of NXT on the USA Network in Winter Park, Florida at Full Sail University.
Flair lost the match but kept her title due to the DQ finish that saw Flair hit Io with a kendo stick. Post-match, Rhea Ripley made her return to TV by making the save.
WWE set up this contest on the April 8th episode of NXT when the company held a match that would determine who would be next line for a title shot.
A Ladder Match that saw Chelsea Green, Mia Yim, Tegan Nox, Io Shirai, Candice LeRae, and Dakota Kai took place with the winner becoming the next challenger to the title.
Shirai was victorious, earning the right to challenge Flair for the NXT Women’s Title.
Flair beat Ripley to win the NXT Women’s Title at WrestleMania 36 – Night 2 in Orlando, Florida at the WWE Performance Center last month. Up to this point on NXt TV, Ripley hadn’t been seen since Mania.
AEW Dynamite aired live from Daily’s Place this week. Chris Jericho & Sammy Guevara battled Kenny Omega & Matt Hardy in a Street Fight to close the show.
AEW Dynamite Results (5/6)
Cody def. Joey Janela
Nyla Rose def. Kenzie Paige
Jon Moxley def. Frankie Kazarian
Lance Archer def. QT Marshall
Le Sex Gods (Jericho & Guevara) def. Kenny Omega & Broken Matt Hardy
Here are 5 takeaways from this week’s show:
Cody Picked Up A Win
Cody Rhodes
Jim Ross and Excalibur made their returns to Dynamite tonight and joined Tony Schiavone on commentary. Cody squared off against Joey Janela in the first match of the night.
Match Recap: Cody and Janela shook hands before the match and then locked up after the bell rang. Cody took control early and hit a couple of shoulder tackles. Janela and Cody traded a series of roll-ups and then some chops in the middle of ring.
Cody lifted Joey up for a Suplex for a near fall. Joey tripped up Cody and hit him with a kick to the face. Joey launched Cody into the turnbuckle and followed it up a Splash. Janela hit a Back Suplex and went for the cover but Cody kicked out a two.
The action spilled out of the ring and Janela threw him into the barricade. Janela ran down the entrance ramp and leaped but Cody dodged him. Cody connected with a Disaster Kick and followed it up with a Moonsault off the stage.
Back in the ring, Janela hit a Superkick and made his way to the top rope. Joey hit an Elbow Drop and went for the cover but Cody was able to kick out at the last moment. Cody battled back and hit a reverse Suplex off the top rope for another near fall.
Janela avoided the Cross Rhodes and hit an elbow to the face. Cody battled back with a Powerslam for a two count. Joey hit a German Suplex and then a massive Clothesline. Joey climbed to the top rope and went for a Moonsault but Cody got out of the way.
Cody connected with a Cutter for another two count. Janela and Cody traded shots in the middle of the ring. Cody got the better of the exchange and connected with Cross Rhodes for the pinfall victory.
Opinion: It is great to have Dynamite back live and back at Daily’s Place. Cody and Janela had a very good match tonight and the wrestlers making noise in the crowd makes the show feel as close to normal as possible.
AEW Women’s Champion Nyla Rose made her return and was in action tonight on Dynamite. Tony Schiavone interviewed Nyla before the match. Rose shouted that she is the most dominant force in AEW and told Tony to shut up and go do his job. Kenzie Paige was Nyla Rose’s opponent.
Match Recap: Nyla Rose marched to the ring and booted Kenzie in the midsection. Rose shoved her boot in Paige’s face and beat her down in the corner of the ring. Kenzie went for a roll-up but Nia didn’t budge. Rose absolutely leveled Paige with a Clothesline as MJF was shown in the crowd.
Rose made her way to the top rope and hit a Senton. Nyla went for the cover but opted to get up after a two count. Rose hit three Powerbombs in a row for the easy victory.
Match Recap: Moxley and Frankie battled in the corner of the ring to start things off. Kazarian brought Jon to the canvas and applied a Headlock in the middle of the ring. Moxley broke free but Frankie hit him with a shoulder tackle and went right back into the Headlock.
Jon escaped and applied a Wrist Lock before stomping on Frankie’s wrist. Moxley and Kazarian traded a couple of chops before Moxley brought Frankie back to the mat. Kazarian got Moxley trapped in a Headlock once again.
Moxley battled back with a Backbreaker for a two count. Jon sent Frankie flying out of the ring and Kazarian landed on his knee as Dynamite went to a commercial break. When Dynamite returned, Moxley was in control and hit a knee to the face that sent Frankie tumbling out of the ring.
Jon climbed to the top rope and went for a Splash but leaped right into a Superkick from Kazarian. Back in the ring, Frankie hit a Dropkick and followed it up with a DDT for a two count. Moxley hit a German Suplex but Frankie shrugged it off and connected with a Backstabber.
Moxley and Frankie traded Dropkicks and both wrestlers fell to the mat. Moxley got up first and went for the Paradigm Shift but Kazarian countered into an Ankle Lock in the middle of the ring. Jon went for a Spear through the ropes but Frankie countered into a Leg Drop.
Frankie planted Moxley with a German Suplex and followed it up with some right hands to his face. Jon hit a powerful Clothesline but Kazarian rolled up Jon for a two count. Kazarian connected with a Suplex that sent Moxley into the ropes. Kazarian climbed to the top rope but Moxley caught him. Jon then hit the Paradigm Shift for the pinfall victory.
After the match, members of the Dark Order rushed the ring and beat the hell out of Moxley. SCU tried to make the save but the numbers game caught up to them. Dark Order attacked Frankie outside the ring as well. The Exalted One Brodie Lee made his way to the ring and leveled Moxley with the Discus Lariat. Brodie said that he was just hear to answer the bounty that he put on his own head last week. Lee stated that he is a leader and that he makes lives extraordinary.
Brodie added that he wants the AEW Championship and challenged Jon to a match. Lee demanded that Moxley answer his challenge or they will make him. Brodie dropped the microphone next to Jon and Moxley told Lee that all he had to do was ask. Moxley laughed before Brodie Lee leveled him with a boot to the face. Dark Order stomped the hell out of Moxley once again as The Exalted One left the ring with the AEW Championship.
Opinion: I thought this was a terrific old school wrestling match between Moxley and Kazarian. I’m also all for Moxley versus Brodie Lee at Double or Nothing. This week’s episode of Dynamite has been excellent so far.
Lance Archer made quick work of QT Marshall tonight in a singles match. Before the match, Brandi Rhodes told Jake Roberts to keep his name out of her mouth during a vignette.
After Archer defeated QT Marshall with the Blackout, Britt Baker attacked Brandi Rhodes outside the ring. She rolled Brandi into the ring and Jake Roberts made his way through the ropes.
Jake then took out the snake and placed it on Brandi. Roberts then laid above Brandi and mocked her while doing so.
Opinion: I thought this was awesome and it just adds to how personal the rivalry between Archer and Cody has become. Their match for the TNT Championship at Double or Nothing is one of the bouts I’m looking forward to the most.
“Le Sex Gods” Sammy Guevara and Chris Jericho faced Kenny Omega & Broken Matt Hardy in a Street Fight. It was the main event of this week’s episode of Dynamite.
Match Recap: Matt Hardy bit Sammy’s hand right when the bell rang. Omega and Jericho battled outside the ring and Le Champion sent Kenny into the steel steps. In the ring, Matt planted Guevara with a Powerbomb for a two count.
Matt and Jericho then battled outside the ring as Omega went for a Moonsault but Sammy got his knees up. Chris and Hardy battled through the entrance tunnel and to the backstage area.
Jericho returned by himself and joined Sammy in beating Kenny Omega down for the next several minutes. Matt Hardy rushed the ring and sent Sammy flying with a Back Body Drop. Matt hit the Side Effect and went for the cover but Guevara kicked out at two.
Hardy connected with a Cutter on Jericho and went for the cover but Sammy broke it up. Kenny planted Sammy with a Snap Dragon Suplex as Jericho brought a bat into the ring. Jericho hit Kenny with the bat and Sammy made his way to the top rope.
Guevara went for a Shooting Star Press but Omega got his knees up. Hardy threw Jericho out of the ring and then brought a ladder inside. Omega set up a table in the ring and set Sammy on top of it. Matt climbed up the ladder and hit a Splash through the table. Jake Hager pulled the referee out of the ring to break up the cover. Hager slammed Kenny’s face onto the ring apron before trading some words with Pineapple Pete as Dynamite went to a break.
When Dynamite returned, the action had spilled backstage and into the concourse area. Matt hit Jericho and then Hager with a pipe. Jericho grabbed a bag of ice and hit Matt across the face with it. Hager and Jericho put Hardy on ice before Omega showed up with a trash can.
Kenny bashed Jake and Jericho in the face and then sent Chris flying onto a golf cart. Sammy hit Kenny over the head with a trash can before sending him into the ATM machine. Some money flew out of it and Sammy pocketed it.
Omega Powerbombed Sammy into a garage door and then sent Hager flying on top of him. Kenny hit Hager with the V-Trigger before Jericho came out of nowhere and ran a storage cart into Omega’s midsection.
Jericho Suplexed Omega on top of a barricade as Hardy emerged from the ice. Matt was in his Damascus character and hopped in the golf cart. Hardy drove the golf card and clipped Jericho. Omega hopped in the cart and they ran down Sammy.
Kenny climbed to the top of a scissor lift and Moonsaulted onto Jericho, Hager, and Matt Hardy. Santana and Ortiz came out of nowhere and Inner Circle beat Omega and Hardy down. Hager Powerbombed Matt through a table and then Jericho Powerbombed Kenny on top of the golf cart. Jericho then hit Omega with the Judas Effect for the victory. Inner Circle then flipped everyone the bird as their logo was shown on the screen above the football field in the background.
Opinion: I enjoyed every second of this match and this week’s episode of Dynamite. It was one of the best shows AEW has done in some time and the two hours absolutely flew by. The epic final shot of the show was just the icing on the cake.
WWE Champion Drew McIntyre recently did an interview where he looked back on his big championship win.
McIntyre beat Brock Lesnar to win the WWE Title at WrestleMania 36 last month.
This came in his second run with the company. While WWE Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon deemed McIntyre a future world champion during his initial run with the company, that didn’t happen. Instead, McIntyre had to be released by the company, reinvent himself and then be signed by WWE and prove himself again.
While talking with Alan John of Sportskeeda, McIntyre looked back on his special night at a unique WrestleMania setting.
McIntyre started out about how the backstage reaction was non-existent because of the setup there was nobody back there initially.
He called it kind of weird as WWE had such minimal personnel there. He did point out how the people who were there, especially the crew, had watched him grow up.
“You know everybody was very happy and very proud. I think for Vince and Hunter themselves, they were just very happy to see that I have finally kind of grown up and realized the potential they had seen in me all those years ago.”
McIntyre is now slated to defend the WWE Title against Seth Rollins at Money In The Bank this Sunday.
