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WWE NXT Results & 5 Takeaways (3/4)

Andrew Ravens
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6

The March 4, 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 Roderick Strong vs. The Velveteen Dream inside of a steel cage. 

WWE NXT Results (3/4)

  • Dakota Kai def. Tegan Nox
  • Chelsea Green def. Shotzi Blackheart to qualify for the #1 Contender’s Ladder Match
  • The Undisputed Era (Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly) def. Danny Burch & Oney Lorcan.
  • Austin Theory def. Isaiah “Swerve” Scott
  • Roderick Strong def. The Velveteen Dream

Here are the 5 takeaways from this week’s show:

Tegan Nox vs. Dakota Kai

tegan nox dakota kai street fight portland

Tegan Nox vs. Dakota Kai took place inside of a steel cage on this show, which was heavily promoted. 

It was the most recent and likely final match between the two stars. It was a fun way to kick off the show with going over Kai going over thanks to Raquel Gonzalez pinning Nox up against the fence and the door. 

Their previous match was a Street Fight at the NXT TakeOver: Portland event back in February in Portland, Oregon at the Moda Center that aired on the WWE Network.

This feud started back in November at the NXT TakeOver: War Games III event with Kai turning heel by attacking Nox, which ended their friendship on WWE NXT TV. 

After such a long feud, it’s time to move on and that’s what WWE did here. 

Tag Team Program Evolves

Bobby Fish NXT 10 17

A late addition to the card was a tag team match that featured Kyle O’Reilly & Bobby Fish vs. Oney Lorcan & Danny Birch. 

This was a good hard-hitting affair and one that could be built into a program if WWE wanted to do so. The match saw The Undisputed Era go over and rightfully so. 

The former tag team champs are still due a rematch from Pete Dunne and Matt Riddle, who dethroned them as the NXT Tag Team Champions. One can only speculate that WWE officials are saving this for a big show. 

A show like NXT TakeOver: Tampa show goes down on Saturday, April 4, 2020 from the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida during WrestleMania weekend.

Thus, the reason why Riddle and Dunne, who came out after the match. However, were attacked by the Grizzled Young Veterans. They vowed to become the #1 tag team. 

Keith Lee Gets His Next Match

Keith Lee
Photo Credit: WWE.com

NXT North American Champion Keith Lee came out to the ring for a promo. He talked about how since he became the champion, many men have spoken his name.

Talent like Dominik Dijakovic and Damien Priest. He praised Priest for taking matters into his own hands. 

This is when Cameron Grimes came out to a chant from the fans of “no one likes you.” Grimes ranted about what he can do in the ring. The fans booed him pretty good. Lee said that Grimes made the gravest mistake of his life. 

Grimes bragged about beating Dijakovic in less time than Lee. Grimes said that next week he’ll have the chance to wrestle Lee for the strap. Lee then pushed him out of the ring and accepted and promised to give him an a** whopping. 

This was a fine segment that finally gave Lee a voice on NXT television. The match should be fun but I doubt anyone thinks Grimes will win. 

https://twitter.com/WWENXT/status/1235381765432381440

Battle Of The Young Lions

Austin Theory

Isaiah “Swerve” Scott vs. Austin Theory in a singles match was exactly what you thought it would be. 

A very good match between these two stars with Theory going over. This was a battle of not just former EVOLVE stars but also young talents in NXT who have a ton of upside. 

WWE only announced it a few hours before the show went live on the USA Network so it didn’t have a lot of time for promotion. 

The reason for that is likely due to them not having big names but they have been used on NXT TV quite a bit as of late. 

https://twitter.com/WWENXT/status/1235391926003785728
https://twitter.com/WWEUniverse/status/1235391149201907713

Roderick Strong vs. The Velveteen Dream

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The second steel cage of the night was saved for the main event featuring Roderick Strong vs. The Velveteen Dream. 

WWE opened the show with the first steel cage match and it only made sense to keep this match for the main event. 

WWE didn’t wait long for this feud to develop but rather went right into it and already expanded it from a singles contest and now with a gimmick match. 

It was better than their match last week but rightfully so as they had more time to prepare, more options with a gimmick and already tying up once before. 

The finish saw Dream push Strong out of the cage and lock the door only with NXT Champion Adam Cole in there with him so he could attack him. Dream stood tall and holding the NXT Title.  

Jake Roberts Makes Appearance On AEW Dynamite, Teases Talent Arrival

Andrew Ravens
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21

All Elite Wrestling had a surprise in store for fans watching Dynamite on Wednesday night and that was Jake “The Snake” Roberts. 

Cody Rhodes came out for a promo near the end of the first hour on TNT in Broomfield, CO at the 1stBank Center. 

He did so to call out MJF, who beat Rhodes at Saturday’s AEW Revolution pay-per-view event. Instead of MJF coming out, the WWE Hall of Famer did. 

This is where Roberts cut a promo about how he was tired of hearing Rhodes complain and had a message for him. He won’t take on Rhodes but his client will. Roberts never revealed who his client was but referred to the person as The Dark Side. 

He noted that they were here to not take the whole company but rather just Rhodes’ piece of the pie. 

Roberts ended his promo by stating, “Never ever turn your back on somebody you respect or you’re afraid of” before walking away and tossing the microphone behind him as he exited the ring. 

For those who may have forgotten, back at last year’s All Out, Roberts had made an appearance in an AEW video that announced some of the participants for a women’s Casino Battle Royale.

As of this writing, there’s no word yet on who Roberts’ client is or when the person will be revealed. 

Jake Roberts Shares What He Dislikes About Modern Promos

Details On Vince McMahon Making Changes To Monday’s RAW Script

Andrew Ravens
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6

Vince McMahon wasn’t happy with the original script that had been written for this past Monday’s episode of RAW.

Thus, when the WWE Chairman and CEO arrived in Brooklyn, NY at the Barclays Center, he changed his mind and the script. 

Bryan Alvarez shared the news on Wrestling Observer Live. This is where he noted that despite the XFL being in the full swing of its season, McMahon is very hands-on with WWE programming even if he’s not backstage at the shows. 

While McMahon has been absent at several recent shows, he was at RAW this week. 

Alvarez stated, “I don’t know everything that happened on Monday but I do know that this guy showed up and he changed everything again. Apparently, it was worse than usual and if you watched the show, the show was worse than usual.”

By looking at the feedback from fans on social media, the opening segment with WWE Champion Brock Lesnar and Drew McIntyre, as well as the last segment with Randy Orton and Beth Phoenix, was praised. 

However, there has been some criticism from fans regarding other segments on the show. Most notably, Ricochet was defeated by WWE 24/7 Champion Riddick Moss just days after he was squashed by Lesnar at Super ShowDown. 

Some fans have felt that this was McMahon’s latest burial of a talent who is considered to be supported by Paul Heyman, who oversees the brand as the RAW Executive Director. 

Despite his new role in the company, McMahon has complete control over the creative side of things.

H/T to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription

WWE Is Moving Forward With WrestleMania Plans Despite Coronavirus Concerns

Andrew Ravens
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5

WWE is getting closer to WrestleMania 36, its biggest event of the year, while at the same time the concern over the Coronavirus increases. 

The virus is affecting business, sports, and entertainment events around the world. However, as of now, it won’t stop WrestleMania. 

WWE made that clear through a statement sent out to ESPN on Wednesday where it was noted they are moving ahead with the show. 

“The health and safety of our fans, performers and employees are our top priorities and we are monitoring the situation closely with our partners and government officials in Tampa Bay. We remain committed to hosting WrestleMania at Raymond James Stadium on Sunday, April 5, and like other entertainment properties in the U.S., there are currently no plans to cancel or postpone our upcoming events.”

There is a concern with fans traveling from around the world to the Tampa area for WrestleMania weekend. 

As of this writing, there have been 80 reported cases of COVID-19 in the United States with nine deaths. 24 of those are travel related. Worldwide the number is more with 95,000 people being affected with 3264 deaths, nearly all in mainland China.

WWE presents the WrestleMania 36 pay-per-view event on Sunday, April 5, 2020 in Tampa, Florida at the Raymond James Stadium that will air on the WWE Network. 

WWE Champion Brock Lesnar vs. Drew McIntyre and WWE Universal Champion Goldberg vs. Roman Reigns are the top matches featured on the card. 

AEW Rankings Released For 3/4/20

Chris Stephens
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0

AEW has released its weekly rankings for March 4th, 2020. The promotion releases new top-5 rankings every Wednesday for its men’s, women’s and tag team divisions.

AEW Men’s Division

AEW World Champion: Jon Moxley

  1. Chris Jericho (0-1) (-1)
  2. Maxwell Jacob Friedman (3-0) (+3)
  3. Kenny Omega (1-0) (+1)
  4. Cody Rhodes (3-1) (-2)
  5. PAC (2-2) (-2)

Jon Moxley is the new AEW World Champion and Chris Jericho drops to the top contender spot as a result. MJF’s victory over Cody at Revolution saw him jump 3 spots to the #2 spot, which is his highest-ranking yet. Cody drops two spots for the loss. PAC dropped 2 spots for his loss to Omega in an Ironman match on last week’s Dynamite.

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AEW Women’s Division

AEW Women’s Champion: Nyla Rose (4-1)

  1. Hikaru Shida (3-1) (+2)
  2. Riho (3-1)
  3. Kris Statlander (2-2) (-2)
  4. Yuka Sakazaki (1-1)
  5. Britt Baker (2-2)

Nyla Rose successfully defended the title against Kris Statlander at Revolution. Shida won a fatal 4-way against Big Swole, Shanna, and Yuka Sakazaki last week on Dynamite to see her jump up 2 spots to the #1 contender position.

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AEW Tag Team Division

AEW Tag Team Champions: Kenny Omega & Hangman Page (6-0)

  1. The Dark Order (5-0) (+2)
  2. The Young Bucks (2-2) (-1)
  3. SCU (2-3) (-1)
  4. The Best Friends (3-2) (+1)
  5. Private Party (1-0) (previously unranked)

The Young Bucks drop one spot after losing a tag title match against Omega and Page. Dark Order picked up the win over SCU on the Buy-In which saw them jump two spots this week. The Best Friends defeated the Butcher and the Blade on Dynamite and jumped one spot in the rankings this week.

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Mick Foley Talks Drew McIntyre Defying His Expectations

Jake Skudder
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2

We’re just a month away from WrestleMania 36 in Tampa, and the main event for the WWE Championship will see Royal Rumble winner Drew McIntyre take on the reigning, defending, Beast Incarnate, Brock Lesnar.

Mick Foley on Drew McIntyre

WWE Hall of Famer Mick Foley recently appeared on SiriusXM’s Busted Open Radio. The ‘Hardcore Legend’ made a point to specifically mention Drew McIntyre, who he wanted to give props to Drew for his transformation over the past few years. Specifically, how the former Drew Galloway reacted to being fired from WWE, performing on the independent scene, IMPACT et al. And also for returning to the company to become a viable main event player.

Mick Foley Talks “Loving” 3MB

“I want to give props to Drew McIntyre. Man, I love what he did on RAW” Foley began. “I thought that was really dramatic, I think it’s very believable. He’s a great opponent for Brock but even more important than being a great opponent; I think the transformation he underwent when he left the company as part of 3MB, and I love 3MB. I thought to myself, I’ve seen Drew McIntyre as a main event guy, I didn’t buy it. This is going back 5, 6, 7 years. I do buy him as a low card comedy figure. That’s as good as it gets for Drew McIntyre.”

Watching Drew McIntyre on the Independent Scene

Foley then recalled being contacted by Drew McIntyre shortly after he left the company. “Within a week or two after leaving, I got a message from Drew and he said ‘Mick lI know we don’t know each other that well. But I respect your opinion. I’m trying something different. I apologise in advance for the language, but it’s an 18 and older audience. I check it out, I press play and there’s a guy who looks like Drew McIntyre, but is in a sense a different human being. Cutting this impassioned promo that’s full of emotion and full of life and I’m looking at my screen like going, where did this come from? And where you know where, where was this [in WWE]?

Texting Triple H

Mick Foley then revealed that he actually contacted Triple H after seeing the video. “The first thing I did and this is not something I do often, I texted Triple H and said ‘Hunter I know he just left here, but you need to keep an eye on Drew McIntyre.’ And I think I used that phrase “he’s almost like an entirely different human being.”

Foley finished by praising Drew McIntyre for ‘upping his game’ on the independent scene instead of just ‘cashing in.’ “And so for any guy who leaves WWE, and we all reserve the right you know. to cash in and what we’ve done to work the Indies to sell our gimmicks. No one will think less of us for that, but while doing that simultaneously keep your eye on the long term game. What he [McIntyre] did is inspirational. It should be like a roadmap for everyone who leaves and believes they’re capable of doing something better, I think. But yeah, I really, I really admire what he did, he put in the work he transformed himself and now he’s a veritable WrestleMania Main Event performer”

Do you think that Drew McIntyre versus Brock Lesnar will go on last at WrestleMania? Let us know in the comments

The Young Bucks Appear In Latest Matt Hardy #FreeTheDelete Video

Chris Stephens
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4

Matt Hardy has released a new #FreeTheDelete video on his official YouTube channel. In the video, Hardy is seen talking on the phone to two unknown people. Hardy tells the unknown them that Zenith is infected and dying. He needs the two of them to come to the Hardy Family Compound and remove Zenith from his body. Zenith is the name of Hardy’s broken “essence.”

“You were the only two that have been able to separate Zenith from my body,” Hardy says in the video. “There are great higher powers out there that believe in me and if I believe in them then I’ll have everlasting life, everlasting broken brilliance. Zenith is infected. Zenith is dying. I need you two to come to the Hardy Compound and remove Zenith from my body again and bury us both.”

“In the meantime, I’m going to get my affairs in order in case anything goes wrong. Thanks, see you soon.”

Hardy then sheds the neckbrace he had been wearing, plays with his kids, and creates a tombstone for him and Zenith.

The video ends when a car containing Matt and Nick Jackson pull up to the compound.

The full video can be seen in the player below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fj3nstTudDo&feature=youtu.be

“Bucks of Youth, I knew you’d come,” Matt Hardy says to close the video.

Humberto Carrillo Reflects On Teaming With Rey Mysterio

Steve Russell
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0

WWE RAW Superstar Humberto Carrillo has opened up about teaming with wrestling legend Rey Mysterio. The two partnered up this past Monday night on RAW in a matchup against Angel Garza and the current United States Champion, Andrade.

Speaking backstage in a WWE.com exclusive, Carrillo confessed how teaming with Mysterio has been a childhood dream of his.

“It’s been a dream since I was a kid, I’ve always looked at Rey and all these lucha things that he made in WWE back in those days. I just feel blessed. Blessed for being here tonight, tagging with Rey Mysterio against my cousin, Angel Garza, and Andrade. I just feel very good.”

Humberto Carrillo Is Ready For The Gold

This Sunday Humberto Carrillo faces Andrade at Elimination Chamber for the United States Championship. Thanks to his experience with Mysterio, Carrillo believes he is now more prepared than ever to claim the gold.

“As you said: I have another opportunity for the United States Championship. I think I can handle this. And since tonight, tagging with Rey Mysterio, a legend, he gave me that stamina and that power to handle this match against Andrade. Elimination Chamber, the United States Championship is going to be here,” he said, indicating at his waist.

Elimination Chamber takes place this Sunday, March 8. The show goes down from the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 

If you use any quotes from this article, please provide a H/T to SEScoops. 

Kurt Angle On Cody Rhodes’ Evolution Since Leaving WWE

Steve Russell
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WWE Hall of Famer Kurt Angle took to his official Facebook page to once again take part in a Q&A session with fans. During the session, Angle spoke about one of All Elite Wrestling’s top stars, Cody Rhodes. He shared his thoughts on Cody’s evolution since his time in WWE, noting how WWE would probably use him more now thanks to his growth as an in-ring performer and entertainer.

“I think Cody has expanded as an entertainer after he left WWE. I believe WWE would utilize Cody much more at this time. It’s not WWE’s fault, Cody has evolved since he left. He’s at the top of his game.”

Kurt Angle On Favorite Submission & Worst Weapons

Other questions Angle answered revolved around his favorite submissions and his thoughts on the worst weapon to be hit with. As someone who utilized the ankle lock as a submission finisher, Angle has a good eye for an effective hold. For him, the current best submission in WWE belongs to Charlotte Flair and her Figure 8 hold: “Charlotte Flair. The Figure 8 is pretty impressive. Charlotte is a flexible bad ass.”

When it comes to being hit with a weapon, Kurt Angle was quick to reply with his thoughts, naming steel chairs as the worst thing to get hit with. “Steel chairs for me. I got hit by one on the head 17 years ago and it broke my neck. Makes me cringe when I think about it.”

Big E Discusses WrestleMania, Travel Schedule & Why Fans Are Crucial

Steve Russell
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0

New Day member Big E was recently interviewed by The Daily Orange where he spoke about WrestleMania 36. He also talked about wrestling in across multiple countries in two days and how important fans are to him. 

With Big E and Kofi Kingston suffering a SmackDown Tag Team Championship loss at last week’s Super ShowDown event, Big E isn’t too sure what WrestleMania has in store for the New Day.

“It’s hard to say. I think this time last year we were deep in KofiMania, and that was something that kinda came out of nowhere,” he said. “We always just try to do our best and be hopeful. But at the end of the day, whether it’s a singles title run or regaining the tag team titles, we’ll just continue doing our best and roll with whatever happens.”

He admitted that performing across two countries in two days was a “whirlwind.” The Superstar competed in Saudi Arabia on Thursday before returning for an episode of SmackDown the next day. 

“I’ve been signed for over a decade, but I’ve kind of gotten used to it. We actually had an event last night in a makeshift arena, and then just two hours ago, we landed in Boston to prepare for tonight. You kind of get in that mode of working. It’s what the job is.”

Big E On The WWE Universe

When it comes to the WWE Universe, Big E stressed how important they are to the whole process. He noted how they are crucial, and that “without the fans, none of us would be here.”

“The reason that The New Day had any kind of success is because of them. I remember when The New Day actually started out as heels (the bad guys), but the fans pushed us to turn face (the good guys). I remember we had a SummerSlam match in 2016, where we continued our record-breaking reign, and I remember sitting in my hotel room after that match and I was looking at social media at fans being so loud even after it was over. When I’m an old man, I’ll look back and remember nights like that.”

Big E and Kofi Kingston have the chance to reclaim the SmackDown Tag Team Championships this Sunday at Elimination Chamber. They will participate in an Elimination Chamber match for the titles. Their opponents include The Miz and John Morrison, The Usos, Heavy Machinery, Lucha House Party and Dolphy Ziggler and Robert Roode. 

William Regal On Being NXT General Manager, If The Role Still Works

Steve Russell
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1

William Regal has opened up about his role as NXT’s General Manager during an interview with Sportskeeda. He explained why he doesn’t consider the job a “role” compared to the previous times he’s played a General Manager on-screen. In real life, Regal is the Director of Talent Development and Head of Global Recruiting.

“For me, it’s not really a role because it’s what I do – which makes it very different than whenever I’ve done this role before,” he said. “Although it’s not exactly what I do, it is in a lot of ways, if that makes any sense. It’s the first time that has probably been… When I played that role anyway, where I am actually a big part of that and, fortunately for me that I am.

William Regal’s Request

William Regal explained how, when he was first asked to assume the role, his one request was to not be put on camera. He noted how he doesn’t need to be on camera “unless it’s absolutely necessary.”

“This isn’t about me, it’s about the talent, and everyone that works in NXT, that’s what we think. It’s about the talent but you do need the odd person.”

When it comes to the role of General Manager, Regal believes there is still a place for that kind of character in today’s modern landscape. He noted how, if done right, it can still be “very valuable.”

Kevin Nash Believes Eric Bischoff Deserves Solo Induction Into WWE Hall Of Fame

Steve Russell
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3

Kevin Nash will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame for the second time this year. He receives the honor as a part of the nWo alongside Hulk Hogan, Scott Hall and Sean Waltman. One integral member of the nWo during their peak was former WCW President, Eric Bischoff. According to Nash, Bischoff deserves to be inducted into the Hall of Fame as a solo induction.

Replying to a fan who was tweeting that Bischoff deserved to be included as a part of the nWo, Nash shared his thoughts on the matter:

“I feel Eric should go in alone. His contributions warrant a solo induction”

Eric Bischoff’s nWo Supporters

Kevin Nash’s Outsiders partner, Scott Hall, has previously mentioned that he believes Bischoff should be inducted as a nWo member. Sean Waltman shared this sentiment, adding how he feels the Big Show also deserves to be included with the nWo.

Eric Bischoff previously replied to Waltman’s comments, saying “That’s nice of him to say, but he’s not calling the shots, so it really doesn’t matter. I wish he was. That’d be great.”

He continued, “I’d like to hang out with my buddies at WrestleMania, that’d be wonderful, but I don’t worry about that. I knew as soon as I saw that, I go, ‘Oh my gosh, my Twitter feed is going to be overloaded with comments about this, I’m going to be dealing with it now for weeks.’ But I love those guys. Those four guys, especially Hulk, these are guys that I have deep affection for, and respect for, so I couldn’t be happier.”

The nWo will be a part of the 2020 Hall of Fame Class. They join ‘The Animal’ Dave Batista, The Bella Twins and the recently announced John Bradshaw Layfield.

CM Punk’s Next Movie Announced

Chris Stephens
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3

CM Punk just finished up shooting a new movie by horror-legend Barbara Crampton. The film Jakob’s Wife was shooting in Canton, Mississippi and recently wrapped up. Travis Stevens, who worked with Punk on “Girl on the Third Floor,” directed the film.

The film is a supernatural horror that follows a woman in her late 50s who develops powers. Also set for the film are Larry Fessenden (Stake Land), Bonnie Aarons (The Nun), Robert Rusler (Weird Science), Sarah Lind (Edgemont), Mark Kelly (Fear the Walking Dead), and Nyisha Bell.

“I’m thrilled to be able to bring Jakob’s Wife to life with such highly experienced producing partners at AMP International. It’s been wonderful working closely with Bob Portal in developing this amazing project, and reuniting with two of my favorite colleagues in the business, Travis Stevens and Larry Fessenden,” said Crampton.

“Since making We Are Still Here together; I’ve been looking forward to telling more scary stories with Barbara and Larry. Jakob’s Wife has been a chance for us to dig deep in to the lives of these fictional characters and test them in ways I think genre fans are going to love seeing,” added Stevens.

AEW Dynamite Preview: Tag Team Headliner, Revolution Fallout

Andrew Ravens
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0

AEW will present a new episode of their weekly television show, Dynamite, tonight that will feature the fallout from their first pay-per-view event of the new year, Revolution. 

Thus, it’s time to look ahead to tonight’s episode of AEW Dynamite on TNT.

Although not confirmed, the belief is that Jon Moxley and Darby Allin vs. Chris Jericho and Sammy Guevara will serve as the headliner. 

This match comes after Saturday’s AEW Revolution pay-per-view event in Chicago, IL where Allin defeated Guevara in a singles match while Moxley won the AEW World Title from Jericho in the main event. 

AEW holds this show in Broomfield, CO at the 1stBank Center on TNT at 8 p.m. ET. AEW is advertising the following items for tonight’s broadcast:

  • The fallout from AEW Revolution 
  • Jon Moxley and Darby Allin vs. Chris Jericho and Sammy Guevara – Tag Team Match
  • The debut of Lance Archer. There’s no word yet on whether he’ll be wrestling on this show and if so, who his opponent will be. 
  • PAC vs. Chuck Taylor
  • SCU & Colt Cabana vs. The Dark Order

AEW will also be creating new programs and building on the hype for existing feuds coming out of the Revolution pay-per-view event. 

Matt Hardy Teaser Featured In Being The Elite, His Response To WWE’s Statement

Impact Wrestling Results & 9 Takeaways (3/3/20)

Chris Stephens
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3

Impact Wrestling this week emanated from Sam’s Town Live in Las Vegas and featured a main event of Tessa Blanchard defending the Impact World Championship against Taya Valkyrie. It was the first Impact World Championship match to feature two female wrestlers in history.

Impact Wrestling 3/3/20 Quick Results:

  1. TJP & Fallah Bah defeated the North (Non-title match)
  2. Moose defeated Petey Williams
  3. Acey Romero defeated Joey Ryan
  4. No Disqualification: Su Yung defeated Havok
  5. The Deaners defeated the Swinging Disco Balls (Disco Inferno & Johnny Swinger)
  6. Impact World Championship
    Tessa Blanchard (c) defeated Taya Valkyrie

Here are 9 takeaways from Impact Wrestling 3/3/20:

Tessa Blanchard Retains Over Taya Valkyrie

A historic title reign resulted in a historic title match this week as Tessa Blanchard took on Taya Valkyrie with the Impact World Championship hanging in the balance. John E Bravo attempted to interfere in the match, grabbing at Blanchard’s ankle as she hit the ropes. Taya attempted to take advantage of this and charged at the champion but missed and hit Bravo instead. Blanchard then took advantage with a head-scissors into the buckle followed by a Buzzsaw DDT for the win.

Blanchard celebrated on the stage with the belt to bring the show to a close. In terms of what may lay ahead for Blanchard, Eddie Edwards told her earlier in the night that after he defeats Michael Elgin in the finals of their best of 5 series next week, he’s coming for Blanchard’s belt.

Joey Ryan, Katie Forbes, & Rob Van Dam Becoming Allies?

Joey Ryan seems conflicted. As Acey Romero was being made to “touch it” this week Ryan did not execute the penis suplex move he usually does in such a situation. Instead, Ryan seemed as though he did not want to use the move for whatever reason. This allowed Acey Romero to capitalize and hit a devastating elbow for the win.

Later on in the back, Ryan was seen talking to Katie Forbes. Rob Van Dam walked up to the two and Forbes again stated to RVD that Ryan understands what they go through with entitled fans on social media. Is there an alliance brewing between these 3 wrestlers?

Su Yung Gets Revenge For Her Own Murder

The rivalry between Su Yung and Havok is a little personal. That tends to be the case when one or both of two feuding wrestlers have attempted or succeeded in murdering the other one. Previously, Havok had tossed Su Yung over the side of a stairwell with a noose around her neck. This led to “Suzie” wandering around the halls of possibly the undead realm as James Mitchell attempted to manipulate her into doing his bidding. Rosemary helped bring the old Su Yung back, however, and she got her revenge this week on Havok.

Su Yung finished off her rival by wrapping a noose around her neck and using the mandible claw type finisher of hers. After the match, the Undead Bridesmaids made their return to Impact as well, Su put Havok in a coffin and the undead bachelorette party walked off with her inside. After, Rosemary was interviewed in the back about what had happened.

Rosemary Feels Nothing

Rosemary may have thought that rescuing Suzie from the grips of James Mitchell would bring her some type of satisfaction but it hasn’t. After Su Yung got her revenge on Havok, Rosemary was interviewed but seemed surprised that she doesn’t feel as she thought she would, possibly because nothing can bring the Bunny back (because she died, not because she signed with AEW). Rosemary may have to go searching now to find what it is that she is missing.

The Swinging Disco Balls Make Their Debut….and Lose

Johnny Swinger wanted to form a tag team with Willie Mack but Mack is not interested, noting that he has a tag partner in Rich Swann who just happens to be injured at the moment. Swinger and Disco Inferno opted to form a team instead and this week took on the Deaners.

Disco and Swinger attempted to use a roll of quarters to attack their opponents but the Deaners outsmarted them, causing Disco to hit his partner and the Deaners to pick up the win.

ICU Strikes Again

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2mSdkF5iXU

Disturbances to Impact Wrestling’s broadcasts have been taking place in recent weeks. It’s not yet clear what “ICU” wants or why they are stalking Impact broadcasts but its disturbances aren’t limited to Impact’s television broadcasts. ICU has been active on social media as well, hacking the accounts of people on Twitter.

Moose Is Ready To Take On TNA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psZog_WMN1s

Impact Wrestling has a special event planned for WrestleMania weekend in Tampa Bay. On April 3rd, Impact presents “Impact Wrestling TNA: There’s No Place Like Home.” There will be a King of the Mountain match and an Ultimate X match on the old school TNA themed card. Moose has let it be known that he has no time for wrestlers from TNA’s past and that includes X-Division pioneer Petey Williams. They met in single’s action this week on Impact with Moose coming out the victor.

TJP & Fallah Bah Gunning For The North’s Tag Titles

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zDW3jBLtlI

TJP and Fallah Bah have beat the members of the North in single’s matches and now have defeated them in non-title 2-on-2 action as well. TJP and Fallah Bah scored the clean victory on the tag champs this week and have seemed to have their number for a while now. With the non-title victory, TJP and Fallah Bah have no doubt earned a tag title shot somewhere down the line.

Next Week On Impact Wrestling

Here is what is scheduled for next week’s show:

  • Jordynne Grace Open Challenge
  • Rhino vs Madman Fulton
  • The Desi Hit Squad vs the Rascalz
  • Best of 5 Series (Tied 2-2) Michael Elgin vs Eddie Edwards

WWE NXT Preview: Steel Cage Matches, Tag Team Bout

Andrew Ravens
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The road to WrestleMania weekend is getting closer and that could play a factor in the latest NXT show. 

Thus, it’s time to look ahead starting with tonight’s episode of NXT. The company is building up this show around two Steel Cage matches.

First, we have Tegan Nox vs. Dakota Kai, which is a lengthy program WWE has been presenting on television that started back at TakeOver: WarGames III back in November. This will likely be the final match in the feud. 

In the likely main event, Roderick Strong vs. The Velveteen Dream will go down. This comes after their first match last week that served as the main event. 

WWE holds this show in Winter Park, Florida at Full Sail University. As usual, fans should expect more matches and segments to be revealed this afternoon for NXT. WWE is advertising the following items for tonight’s broadcast:

  • Steel Cage Match: Roderick Strong vs. The Velveteen Dream 
  • Steel Cage Match: Tegan Nox vs. Dakota Kai
  • Kyle O’Reilly & Bobby Fish vs. Oney Lorcan & Danny Birch

WWE will also be creating new programs and building on the hype for existing feuds. 

Join us here later tonight for our post-show WWE NXT Results and Takeaways feature.

Dana Brooke On Her Future Goals And Championship Aspirations

Steve Russell
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Dana Brooke has shared her future goals in WWE after signing a new five-year contract. Speaking with The Pop Break, Brooke spoke about her intentions to continue improving in the ring. She also discussed her championship aspirations, which includes not only the SmackDown Women’s Championship but the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships.

“I’ve signed a new five year contract. So right now I just want to keep improving and strive for the best. In my mind, I think Lacey Evans and I work great together,” Brooke said. “She always pushes me to the best of my abilities. When we can come together I feel like we’re a very dominant team.”

She continued, “With that being said, I would love to go up for the tag team titles. And you know the Kabuki Warriors have the titles right now – Asuka and I have quite the history as well. So I definitely have some unfinished business with her.”

Dana Brooke then confessed how she’d love for Ronda Rousey to return. She talked about how they are close friends and complimented Rousey as a great competitor. For her, Rousey always helped her improve. “She really makes me step up my game so that would be amazing. […] The sky’s the limit!!”

Lance Archer Responds To Online Trolls And Haters

Steve Russell
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Newly signed All Elite Wrestling (AEW) talent Lance Archer has lashed back at online critics. Having teased his interest in multiple promotions including NXT and Ring of Honor, the former IWGP United States Champion eventually signed with AEW.

Taking to Twitter, Archer promised that he doesn’t intend to block social media trolls and haters. Instead, he will simply ignore their very existence. He added how they can catch him performing on AEW Dynamite on Wednesday nights.

“To all the trolls n haters. I will not block you. I will not respond to you. I will not acknowledge your existence. I will ignore you and let you and your maybe 20 followers disappear into insignificance. Buh buh now. Watch me on Wednesdays on TNT and keep hating.”

Lance Archer Is All Elite

Previously addressing his decision to sign a multi-year contract with AEW, Lance Archer said:

“I’ve been in the business for almost half of my life, but with AEW, I’m setting my sights on the best chapter of my career so far. This company champions the creative, competitive and electrifying environment that I’ve been waiting for my whole career. No matter where I go—no matter who steps in front of me—I’m the one you should be afraid of at AEW.”

AEW President Tony Khan added how Lance Archer’s explosive, dynamic and unpredictable nature makes him “perfect for AEW” before noting how “He’s brutal, colorful and will be a factor the minute he steps into the ring.”

Jeff Hardy Declares He Is “Officially Cleared” For In-Ring Return

Steve Russell
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Jeff Hardy has revealed he has been “officially cleared” for in-ring action. Hardy joined the team of WWE Backstage for this week’s episode where he provided the update. The Superstar has been present backstage at SmackDown for the past few weeks. He had been sidelined thanks to an unfortunate leg injury just before WrestleMania 35 last April. 

Hardy’s WWE contract was set to expire on March 1. The time he has spent recovering will likely be added, as has been the case other injured Superstars. His brother, Matt Hardy, allowed his contract to recently expire. 

It has been speculated that Matt would eventually be revealed as the Exalted One in All Elite Wrestling. When asked by Renee Young about his brother’s next steps, Jeff confessed they had hardly spoken about what Matt would do next. 

Jeff Hardy Reflects

When asked about his time recovering, Jeff admitted that “the last 9 months have been very crazy.”

“When I had knee surgery, it was a blessing in disguise because my dad was in real bad shape, away from home. So I was able to be over there with him every day and walk with him—he would walk with me but not the nurses. Long story short, I got him home halfway through September, so he’s been home for about 5 months now, and he’s doing much better.

He continued, “[…] on the night of October the 3rd, I got into some trouble. On the morning of October the 4th I arranged for me to go to inpatient rehab for the first time in my life and it was one of the best things I could have ever done for myself, y’ know. And I’ve done something every day to better myself, and it’s just gonna be so good to be back in front of all those people.”

At the time of writing, there is no indication as to when Jeff Hardy will return to the ring despite being cleared.

JBL Announced For WWE Hall Of Fame 2020

Steve Russell
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John Bradshaw Layfield is officially heading into the WWE Hall of Fame. News of JBL’s induction was confirmed during last night’s episode of WWE Backstage.

The former Superstar joined WWE back in 1995, wrestling regularly under several gimmicks until his retirement in 2009. His final match took place at Wrestlemania XXV where he lost the Intercontinental Championship to Rey Mysterio in only 21 seconds. Having left in-ring competition, JBL segued into a commentator role with WWE before focusing on his humanitarian work in and out of WWE. He has worked with organisations such as Beyond Rugby Bermuda and Beyond Sport, where he is a Global Ambassador.

JBL won copious amounts of gold during his tenure in WWE. He is a former WWE Champion, Intercontinental Champion and United States Champion. During his time in WWE, he also won the Hardcore, European and Tag Team championships. He is one of the few Superstars to not only be a Grand Slam Champion but a Triple Crown winner.

He joins “The Animal” Batista, the Bella Twins, and the nWo (consisting of Hulk Hogan, Scott Hall, Kevin Nash and Sean Waltman) as a part of the 2020 Hall of Fame Class. The ceremony will take place during WrestleMania week on April 2 from the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida.

John Cena On JBL’s Induction

One of JBL’s most notable rivals delivered a special message after the Hall of Fame announcement was confirmed. John Cena congratulated JBL on the accomplishment, stressing how he absolutely earned the recognition for all he has done.

“Hey John, it’s John. Remember that young whippersnapper that you put over at WrestleMania for the strap? I just want to thank you for everything you’ve ever done for me. I have great perspective of all the people that have helped me along my journey, and there is no me without you.”

He continued, “We had some wonderful times. I hope that as you get inducted into the Hall of Fame, maybe you can relive some of those times and enjoy some of those memories like I do every single day. I’m just really thankful for what you have done for me. As far as I’m concerned, this is something that you’ve absolutely earned. I never use the word ‘deserve’—you have earned every inch. I hope that you enjoy the Hall of Fame ceremony and all that it encompasses because it is well earned. Thank you, John.”

JBL dropped the WWE Championship to Cena during WrestleMania 21. This was the first time Cena had claimed WWE’s top prize, moving him from the roster’s upper mid-card and firmly placing him into the main event picture.

WWE RAW & SmackDown Viewership

Andrew Ravens
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Viewership data is in for this week’s episodes of Friday Night SmackDown and Monday Night RAW. 

Here is the breakdown of the live and same-night DVR viewership, courtesy of ShowbuzzDaily:

SmackDown Viewership

SmackDown averaged 2.687 million viewers on FOX in Boston, MA at the TD Garden. This is up from the 2.484 viewers that the show did for the previous week’s episode of SmackDown on FOX. 

The show averaged 2.717 million viewers in the fast nationals, which was up from the 2.490 million viewers a week ago. This number measured the top metered markets. 

The first hour drew 2.736 million viewers while the second hour did 2.697 million viewers. For comparison, the first show of last week’s show did 2.542 million viewers while the second hour did 2.438  million viewers. 

SmackDown pulled in a 0.80 rating in the 18-49 demos, up from the 0.70 rating as last week’s show.

RAW Viewership

Monday’s edition of WWE RAW averaged 2.257 million viewers in Brooklyn, NY at the Barclays Center on the USA Network, which is up from the 2.210 million viewers the previous week. 

Here is the hourly viewership breakdown, courtesy of ShowbuzzDaily:

  • Hour 1: 2.358 million – Last Week: 2.278
  • Hour 2: 2.297 million – Last Week: 2.246
  • Hour 3: 2.115 million – Last Week: 2.106

Here is the hourly 18-49 demos breakdown:

  • Hour 1: 0.76 – Last Week: 0.73
  • Hour 2: 0.75 – Last Week: 0.71
  • Hour 3: 0.70 – Last Week: 0.68

Michelle McCool Calls Out WWE For Women’s History Month Snub

Chris Stephens
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Michelle McCool was not included in a recent WWE.com article focussing on some of the greatest women’s champions in company history. 45 women wrestlers from WWE’s past were mentioned in the article, but not Michelle McCool. The list was later updated to include more entries, including McCool.

The list was evidently updated at some point:

McCool is a former 2x Divas Champion and held the title for a combined 278 days.

WWE’s List Of 50 Women’s Wrestling Champions

The updated list (which now includes McCool) is as follows:

  1. Becky Lynch
  2. Nikki Bella
  3. The Boss N Hug Connection
  4. Trish Stratus
  5. Michelle McCool (added later)
  6. Alexa Bliss & Nikki Cross
  7. Naomi
  8. Shayna Baszler
  9. Charlotte Flair
  10. Eve
  11. AJ Lee
  12. Rhea Ripley
  13. Asuka
  14. Melina
  15. Jaqueline
  16. Ronda Rousey
  17. Nia Jax
  18. Bayley
  19. Carmella
  20. Maryse
  21. The Kabuki Warriors
  22. Brie Bella
  23. Kaitlyn
  24. Natalya
  25. The Iiconics
  26. Kay Lee Ray
  27. Sasha Banks
  28. Alundra Blayze
  29. Alexa Bliss
  30. Ivory
  31. Beth Phoenix
  32. Toni Storm
  33. Candice Michelle
  34. Alicia Fox
  35. Victoria
  36. Chyna
  37. Layla
  38. Molly Holly
  39. Kairi Sane
  40. Ember Moon
  41. Paige
  42. Mickie James
  43. Lita
  44. Kelly Kelly
  45. Stephanie McMahon
  46. Bull Nakano
  47. Jazz
  48. Jillian Hall
  49. Sable
  50. Wendi Richter

The list does not include the Fabulous Moolah, who holds the record for the longest time spent with a WWE women’s title. Sensational Sherri also held the title for 441 days but does not appear in WWE’s article. Gail Kim is also absent from the list.

Dark Side Of The Ring Season 2 Premiere To Focus On Benoit Family Tragedy

Chris Stephens
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In 2007, the world lost Nancy, Daniel, and Chris Benoit. In the years since the case has been a difficult one for many wrestling fans to come to terms with. The Vice documentary series “Dark Side of the Ring” plans to dedicate their premiere episode of Season 2 to the case. The episode will air on March 24th, 2020 at 9 pm.

Former AEW World Champion Chris Jericho will serve as the narrator for the series.

The following topics are confirmed to be covered this season on the documentary season:

  1. The murder of Dino Bravo.
  2. Brawl for All tournament.
  3. An episode on New Jack’s career
  4. David Schultz’s run-in with a 20/20 reporter.
  5. The death of Nancy Argentino and allegations against Jimmy Snuka.
  6. Story on Hawk and Animal the Road Warriors
  7. Herb Abrams’ attempt to build a wrestling empire.
  8. Owen Hart’s death at Over the Edge 1999.

“The first season of ‘Dark Side of the Ring’ was a massive hit,” said Morgan Hertzan, executive vice president and general manager of Vice Television. “These powerful stories transcend wrestling fandom and resonate with both fans of the sport and newcomers who were captivated by this incredible storytelling. We rise to the challenge and do not shy away from the truth. I am proud and excited to continue telling these courageous stories in season two.”

“As lifelong fans, we have always been fascinated by the behind-the-scenes, human stories of the world of professional wrestling,” said executive producers Evan Husney and Jason Eisener. “For our second season we’re going even deeper into its secretive past. Many wrestlers and family members we interviewed have never spoken out before. Our series seeks to help bring closure to their stories.”

Eric Bischoff Talks The Fiend’s Merchandise Success, Calls Him An Undertaker Esque Character

Jake Skudder
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Co-host of the 83 Weeks podcast Eric Bischoff recently discussed ‘The Fiend’ Bray Wyatt on the show. Bischoff referred to the recent Super Showdown event where Wyatt lost his Universal Championship against Bill Goldberg; calling it ‘shocking.’ Eric Bischoff would discuss how The Fiend was a massive merchandise mover during his short time in WWE. Also how he believed that WWE were building a new ‘Undertaker-esque’ character at the time.

Bischoff at The Helm of SmackDown

Bischoff was the Executive Director of the SmackDown brand back in 2019. Although The Fiend wasn’t actually on the blue brand around the time that Bischoff was in charge; there’s a good chance that ‘Easy E’ would’ve been privy to that sort of merchandising information at the time.

“I found that shocking particularly, the way they did it [and] as quickly as they did it” Bischoff began, talking about how Goldberg would get the win against a previously dominant in-ring presence in The Fiend. “When I was in WWE, I don’t know what the situation is now. But The Fiend’s merchandise, they couldn’t produce it fast enough” Bischoff revealed.

The Fiend as a new Undertaker?

Bischoff elaborated further, saying “it appeared to me at least, that The Fiend was going to be one of those characters that could be an Undertaker esque type character over the long term.”

Bray Wyatt is currently scheduled to face John Cena at WrestleMania 36 in Tampa. The creative direction for The Fiend is currently uncertain. Wyatt has been alluding to the character’s mentality on social media. With Wyatt making allusions to the fact that Goldberg wasn’t “part of his journey.” And that John Cena at WrestleMania is “where it all began.”

The Fiend

It will be interesting to see how WWE play off the feud heading into WrestleMania season.

Do you think that The Fiend could be the next Undertaker? Let us know in the comments

Konnan Offers Insight On AEW/AAA Relationship

Chris Stephens
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One year ago, All Elite Wrestling announced a strategic partnership with Mexico’s AAA promotion. Since that time, AEW talent has appeared on AAA shows. Last summer’s AEW TripleMania show saw Cody Rhodes, Kenny Omega, The Young Bucks and the Lucha Bros. in action. AEW tag team champion Kenny Omega is the reigning AAA Mega Champion. However, we never saw an influx of AAA stars on the AEW roster.

On the latest episode of his Keepin It 100 podcast, Mexican wrestling legend Konnan shed some light on the situation. According to Konnan, he believes AEW put the AAA partnership on hold when they realized the grind of doing weekly television.

“When (AEW) first started they were very high on El Hijo del Vikingo, they were very high on Laredo Kid,” Konnan said.

Disco Inferno then interjected that Vampiro has been high on Vikingo as well.

“Well he actually discovered him, Vamp’s the one that discovered him. When I got to AAA, Vamp hadn’t used him. I was like ‘how come you’re never on TV? How long has it been since you’ve been on TV? He said ‘like 5 months’ I was ‘bro, you need to be on TV every week.’ So, he was just one of the guys I started to push.”

Konnan on AEW Using AAA Talent

Konnan then continued to talk about how AEW wanted to sign Laredo Kid.

“They wanted El Hijo del Vikingo, they talked to Laredo Kid and then just as Laredo Kid was about to sign, he got on this humungous reality show in Mexico and he was there for like 3 or 4 months, so they’ve been interested.”

Konnan then continued to talk about his feeling that AEW discovered the weekly grind of TV and that changed their approach to dealing with AAA temporarily.

“This is what I think, I think that once they got in there and they saw the grind of what weekly TV is and everything that it entails, they’ve got bigger things to do than right now bring in AAA wrestlers but I’m sure they’re going to bring in some people in the future and we’re going to keep bringing in people from AEW.”

You can listen to Konnan’s thoughts on the AEW-AAA relationship below:

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