Major League Wrestling has announced the long-awaited Santana Garrett vs. Priscilla Kelly match is taking place at the upcoming MLW: The World Championship Finals event on 4/12 from Orlando. Here’s the official press release recapping the events that have led us to this blockbuster match:
SANTANA GARRETT TO FINALLY BATTLE PRISCILLA KELLY ON APRIL 12TH IN ORLANDO
ORLANDO – The Modern Day Wonder Woman will finally get her chance at Hell’s Favorite Harlot. Major League Wrestling has confirmed that after four months of trying to make this blockbuster bout, Santana Garrett vs. Priscilla Kelly is officially signed for the April 12thMLW: The World Championship Finals card in Orlando at Gilt Nightclub.
You can purchase tickets now at MLWTickets.com starting at $15.
Since being attacked Priscilla Kelly at MLW: Never Say Never (watch for free), Santana has been the target of numerous disturbing encounters with the dark and mysterious Priscilla Kelly. This has included Priscilla posting a creepy video where she broke into Santana’s house while she was asleep.
Now after four months of aggressive and bizarre behavior, Priscilla will meet her “dark wonder” Santana Garrett for the first time ever in the ring on April 12th. Will the “Modern Day Wonder Woman” triumph over darkness or will Priscilla death grip over the women’s division get tighter? Find out April 12th in Orlando.
Matches signed for April 12th thus far include:
MLW WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS – MATT RIDDLE VS. SHANE “SWERVE” STRICKLAND
WrestleMania is returning to MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on Sunday, April 7th, 2019. This will be the fourth WrestleMania being held in New Jersey, following WrestleMania IV and V at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City (1988 and 1989) and WrestleMania 29 (2013) from MetLife.
Robbie Fox of Barstool Sports first broke the news on Twitter back in January. Several media outlets, including the New York Post and NJ.com, ran stories on Thursday night stating that an announcement from WWE was coming Friday morning. The company has since confirmed the reports.
In addition to Wrestlemania 35, that will weekend will also feature an NXT: Takeover event, the 2019 WWE Hall of Fame ceremony and the post-Mania Raw and Smackdown broadcasts all taking place from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY. The location of the AXXESS fan fest has yet to be announced.
“There is so much to celebrate in WrestleMania returning to New York and New Jersey in 2019, where we look forward to building upon all the amazing successes from 2013,” John Saboor, WWE’s executive vice president of special events, told The New York Post.
We are drawing closer to the end of the New Japan Cup and we now know one of the men in the finals.
Earlier today (March 16), the first semi-finals match of the tournament took place inside Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan. Hiroshi Tanahashi and Juice Robinson competed for a spot in the finals. In the end, it was Tanahashi who advanced.
This Sunday, the second semi-finals match will take place. Zack Sabre Jr. will meet SANADA for the last spot in the New Japan Cup finals. The winner faces Tanahashi on March 21 to determine who will get a title shot of their choosing at Sakura Genesis.
Peep the rest of night seven results below:
Tag Team Match: Tanga Loa & Yujiro Takahashi def. Tetsuhiro Yagi & Tomoyuki Oka
Six-Man Tag Team Match: Davey Boy Smith Jr., Lance Archer, & Taichi def. Michael Elgin, David Finlay, & Shota Umino
Tag Team Match: Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano def. Togi Makabe & Toa Henare
Six-Man Tag Team Match: Hiroki Goto, Yoshi-Hashi, & Chuckie T. def. Kota Ibushi, Bad Luck Fale & Chase Owens
Tag Team Match: Minoru Suzuki & Gedo def. Kazuchika Okada & Gedo
Eight-Man Tag Team Match: Tetsuya Naito, SANADA, Hirou Takahashi, & Bushi def. Zack Sabre Jr., Yoshinobu Kanemaru, El Desperado, & TAKA Michinoku
New Japan Cup Semi-Final Match: Hiroshi Tanahashi def. Juice Robinson
UK promotion Southside Wrestling has announced that Rich Swann will no longer be taking part in their upcoming ‘Speed King 2018’ tournament. The company released the following statement confirming the cancellation of Swann and his replacement in wXw/Cruiserweight Classic star Da Mack:
SpeedKing is cursed but @DaMack1 is here to prove why he’s one of Europe’s best.
The former 205 Live Superstar was arrested back in December for a domestic incident that included charges of battery and kidnapping/false imprisonment. The company wished him “the best in all of his future endeavors” – but still decided to release him on his birthday (February 15th), the decision was “mutually agreed” by both parties. All charges have since been dropped however Swann recently announced his plans to retire following his already confirmed independent dates.
UK based all women’s promotion Pro Wrestling: EVE has announced three bouts for their upcoming #Shevolution card on Friday March 30th from the Resistance Gallery in Bethnal Green, London.
Mae Young Classic competitor and staple of Insane Championship Wrestling – Kay Lee Ray will be facing Sendai Girls star Dash Chisako, Livvii Grace will be taking on United States based independent star Jordynne Grace and the Pro Wrestling: EVE Champion Sammii Jayne will be facing Kris Wolf.
Tickets are still available to purchase via the tweet below and tickets for their upcoming super show #WrestleQueendom at York Hall in Bethnal Green are available through EVE’s Official site.
Germany’s biggest independent promotion wXw has announced the main event for their upcoming #wXwLondon show on March 24th at The Dome in Tufnell Park, London.
wXw Unified World Champion Ilja Dragunov will be defending his belt against 16 Carat Gold 2018 finalist David Starr, WALTER and PROGRESS World Heavyweight Champion Travis Banks in a fatal four way match.
The show is part of wXw’s ‘We Love Wrestling’ tour that will see them hit cities across Germany and the UK including Leipzig, Frankfurt and Hamburg. Further information can be found via the official wXw site.
– First-ever Women’s Royal Rumble winner and RAW Superstar Asuka has made her decision to challenge SmackDown Live Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania 34. Asuka made her SmackDown Live debut this past Tuesday to confront “The Queen.”
Many fans have been wondering if this now means “The Empress Of Tomorrow” is a SmackDown Live Superstar. WWE still lists Asuka as a RAW competitor, however, if she beats Flair at WrestleMania for the SmackDown Live Women’s Title that’s likely to change.
– A fan recently took to Twitter to tell Heath Slater that he wants to see WWE give him a push. Slater said that he doesn’t need a push, if he gets just a ‘nudge’ he can do the rest:
– Former WWE Superstar Mo of “Men On A Mission” (real name Bobby Horne) took to his Facebook page to reveal he was about to undergo a kidney transplant surgery this past Tuesday. Here’s what he had to say before the surgery:
“To all my friends, fans and family. I love you all. I just received the call. I am on my way to Medical City Hospital for a kidney transplant. Please keep me in your thoughts and. prayers. For the record. I am scared.”
He also recently set up a crowdfunding effort to help pay for his medical costs related to the kidney transplant operation. Here’s his post on the matter:
“Hello, I am Bobby L. Horne and I ad suffering from end stage renal failure. I am Currently on the kidney transplant list in the State of Texas. This fund raiser is to cover the astronomical cost of anti rejection medication for the first year following a transplant. I have spent the majority of my adult life helping others and more importantly our youth. Now I need your help. Anything you can give will be greatly appreciated.”
WWE announced on Thursday that the Women’s Battle Royal match scheduled for WrestleMania 34 will no longer be known as the Fabulous Moolah Memorial Battle Royal.
Following a strong backlash about Moolah’s name being used to celebrate women’s empowerment, the company ultimately decided against honoring the controversial former Women’s champion. The company issued the following statement addressing the change:
“After further consideration, we believe it’s best to proceed with the name ‘WrestleMania Women’s Battle Royal.’
What remains most important is that this historic match is part of WWE’s unwavering commitment to the Women’s Division.”
Thank you @WWEUniverse for using your voice. What remains most important is that the “@WrestleMania Women’s Battle Royal” will be a historic match and is part of @WWE’s unwavering commitment to our Women’s Division. #WomensEvolution#ChangeTheName
For more on why the Fabulous Moolah was a profoundly poor representative for WWE’s women’s movement, check out this article by David Bixenspan over at Deadspin:
Revolution Pro Wrestling has announced a huge International tag team bout for their Wrestlecon event during WrestleMania weekend in New Orleans.
The team of Hiroshi Tanahashi and Juice Robinson will be taking on one of the best up and coming tag teams on the UK independent scene in Aussie Open. We had this to say about the incredible duo as part of our ‘Best Emerging UK Tag Teams’ article earlier this year:
Comprising Kyle Fletcher and Mark Davis, Aussie Open are one of the most dynamic and exciting teams to emerge from the UK scene in the past year. Having first formed in the ATTACK! promotion back in August they have been challenging for titles in the likes of HOPE, Rev Pro, IPW:UK and CZW which is an absolute testament to their talent and ability to gel so quickly as a unit. Aussie Open have a strong big man/little man dynamic almost akin to that of an early Hart Foundation, the stacked Mark Davis provides a powerful hot tag whilst teammate Kyle Fletcher has an agile flair to his in ring approach. If you are able to catch this team during Wrestlemania weekend in New Orleans (they will be performing on at least one card that weekend for Fight Club Pro) then you absolutely must, they are a force of nature and have no clear end in sight for their ability.
New Orleans we've got some huge tag team action coming your way when the combination of HIROSHI TANAHASHI & JUICE ROBINSON collide with AUSSIE OPEN!
– It looks like WrestleMania 34’s card will feature two Triple Threat matches for WWE titles. We’ve already seen that Monday Night RAW General Manager Kurt Angle has announced The Miz will be defending his Intercontinental Title in one against Seth Rollins and Finn Balor. Wrestling Observer Newsletter’s Dave Meltzer reports that SmackDown Live will have a Triple Threat Title match of their own.
United States Champion Randy Orton is expected to defend his strap against both Bobby Roode and Jinder Mahal in New Orleans. Roode announced his intentions to use his rematch clause at WrestleMania against Orton, after losing the strap this past weekend at Fastlane to “The Viper.” Mahal recently picked up a singles win over Bobby Roode, however, so it’s possible he’s added to the match on SmackDown Live next week.
– As for the finals of the 205 Live Cruiserweight Championship Tournament, Meltzer reports the plan has always been for Cedric Alexander vs. Mustafa Ali to take place in the finals. After Alexander already solidified his place in the finals, Mustafa Ali vs. Drew Gulak will take place on next week’s 205 Live to determine Alexander’s opponent. It was also added that Alexander vs. Ali was the idea for the finals once the idea was developed to have the match take place at WrestleMania.
– We’ve noted that the Fabulous Moolah Memorial Battle Royal announcement from WWE has received a ton of backlash from the professional wrestling world. Fans were so upset they started a petition to have the name changed, a petition that has received nearly 10,000 signatures. WWE seems to be aware of the backlash from fans now, as they have turned off commenting abilities on their YouTube video about the Battle Royal:
– Wrestling Observer Newsletter’s Dave Meltzer was recently asked on Twitter why the WWE doesn’t have an actual, physical WWE Hall Of Fame. Meltzer responded by saying Vince McMahon doesn’t see the economic value in it and nobody else has offered to ‘foot the bill’:
No reason other than they don't because Vince doesn't see the economic value to it and nobody else has offered to foot the bill https://t.co/5Dg7bqVvJZ
Former WWE Universal Champion Kevin Owens recently took to Twitter to heap praise on one of Europe’s best up and coming independent performers.
Ilja Dragunov is the current reigning wXw Unified World Wrestling Champion, he captured the belt during last weekend’s wXw 16 Carat Gold tournament in a bout against WALTER and Bad Bones, he also successfully defended the belt on Night 3 of the tournament against Matt Riddle.
Check out the tweet that Owens sent below praising the Soviet star:
As we’ve noted, SmackDown Live Commissioner Shane McMahon announced that Kevin Owens would be taking on Sami Zayn at WrestleMania 34. This was announced shortly before Shane took an indefinite leave of absence from his duties as SmackDown Live Commissioner. Shortly thereafter, Owens and Zayn viciously attacked McMahon which caused a storyline injury.
Bryan Alvarez speculated on Wrestling Observer Live that he can’t imagine another scenario other than a Triple Threat match between Owens, Zayn, and McMahon at WrestleMania 34. He also expects General Manager Daniel Bryan to serve as the Special Guest Referee for the bout.
Alvarez said WWE has put too much effort into this storyline for it to simply conclude with Owens vs. Zayn in a singles match:
“There are four weeks left until WrestleMania, I presume it will be Shane McMahon, Sami Zayn, Kevin Owens in a three-way with Daniel Bryan as the guest referee. I don’t know that for sure but I can not fathom the idea that they spent this much time building up something and then at the end of the day he’s just off the show because he got beaten up.
“I mean they played it up like it was near death but he’s a McMahon and I presume he will be back in a few weeks and build up that match with those two guys. So, I think that match will be added to Mania.”
– WWE currently doesn’t have any plans for Rusev to perform in a match at WrestleMania 34. It’s likely that WWE uses him in the Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal. “The Bulgarian Brute” recently took to Twitter to comment on his WrestleMania status and said he’d like to fight a celebrity in New Orleans:
– Per a report from Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Newsletter, WWE Uk Superstar Tyler Bate has been sidelined with a minor knee injury. Bate was originally scheduled to team up with Trent Seven in the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Tournament.
– It looks like WWE could have called off its plans to have Sasha Banks vs. Bayley at WrestleMania 34 this year. Wrestling Observer Radio’s Dave Meltzer is reporting that the match may no longer be taking place in New Orleans, as per his count he has 14 matches currently on the card. At this point WWE doesn’t really need to add another match to the card, meaning Banks vs. Bayley could get the snub:
“I think we got the whole WrestleMania card. I got 14 matches listed and I don’t think they need more than 14. I don’t think they are going to have any more. They could still throw in a Bayley vs. Sasha Banks match but I’m guessing they are both in the Battle Royal.”
– Meltzer also reports that NXT TakeOver: New Orleans seems to be besting the post-WrestleMania episode of Monday Night RAW as far as ticket sales go. TakeOver is actually near a sellout and will be going head-to-head with a Ring Of Honor (ROH) show which seats 5,000 fans – as opposed to NXT’s venue that can hold double that at 10,000.
Kenny Omega’s Golden Lovers teammate, Kota Ibushi, will face Bullet Club’s Hangman Page at Supercard of Honor XII on April 7th, 2018. The match will take place just two weeks after the Golden Lovers face the Young Bucks at Strong Style Evolved on March 25th, 2018.
Ring of Honor announced Ibushi’s Supercard of Honor opponent recently:
Rousey has praised CM Punk in previous interviews and says she’d be honored if she could work with him in WWE one day.
“I think everybody on Earth would love to see [CM Punk] back in WWE, and I would completely fall all over myself and be honored if he wanted to be involved with me in any way, shape or form.”
As much as she (and many wrestling fans) would love to see Punk back in a WWE ring one day, Rousey says it’s Punk’s life and he needs to be passionate about whatever he’s doing. Many people would love for her to fight in UFC again, but she never fought for the fans, she fought because it’s what she loved.
Rousey continued talking about Punk, stating that he had a special gift as a pro wrestler. She’s eager to work with him in WWE, but he’s got her full respect no matter what the future holds for him.
“Everyone in the world knows he has a gift for wrestling and he has something special, and if he ever feels like sharing it with us again, then hell yeah, please, even if it’s not with me, I just hope I’m there to see it. If he never wants to get back in that ring again, he has every reason not to, and all the respect in the world from me.”
Visit our affiliate site MMANews.com for much more on CM Punk’s next fight and all the top stories in UFC and MMA.
Former WWE Intercontinental Champion Jeff Jarrett recently spoke with Ryan Ryder on the latest edition of Main Event Radio (transcript courtesy of PWinsider.com) to talk about various topics. During the interview, he was asked about becoming a WWE Hall of Famer this year and if he has spoken with WWE Chairman Vince McMahon yet.
“I got asked in January and had some time to digest it. It’s still sort of surreal to me. I’m incredibly humbled by the amount of the exposure that’s gone with it. It’s an honor. There are less than 200 wrestlers in there and I’m one of the lucky ones in there. It was a shocker. Without question, a lot of our history is quite documented if not quite accurate. In 2001, when Vince acquired Turner’s organization they went their way and I went my way. I didn’t think it would be in the cards . I don’t believe in coincidences. It’s going to be 32 years from the day I started my career to the day I get inducted into the Hall of Fame.”
“I’m very excited about the weeks to come and I’m very looking forward to seeing and speaking with him [Vince McMahon].”
WWE holds their 2018 Hall of Fame ceremony on Friday, April 6th in New Orleans, Louisiana at the Smoothie King Center. Bill Goldberg will headline the class. Other names that have been confirmed to be inducted this year include Ivory, The Dudley Boyz, and HillBilly Jim.
Also during this interview, he was asked about NXT and Triple H, who oversees the developmental brand, building it up to being considered a third brand that the sports entertainment company has to offer to its fans alongside their flagship show, Monday Night RAW as well as SmackDown Live.
“NXT is growing; it is truly a 3rd brand. The network gives it a platform that is so unique. It’s a live touring business with merchandising. In essence, almost an entirely own promotion. Cudos to HHH and his staff and all the hard work that’s gone into it and certainly all the talent. No wrestling promotion has any wheels unless talent drives it. And all the names that have gone through NXT and the crop that they have there now including my close personal friend Eric Young. HHH and NXT have their pulse on the talent and I’m interested to see where that continues to go. The growth in a relatively short period of time is amazing.”
New Japan Pro Wrestling may have a quick return to the United States after Strong Style Evolved.
On March 25, NJPW will hold an event inside the Walter Pyramid in Long Beach, California. Strong Style Evolved will feature an IWGP United States Heavyweight title match and a tag team dream match between the Golden Lovers and The Young Bucks. Rey Mysterio is also set to be on the card as he’s penciled in to face Jushin Thunder Liger.
Tickets for the event were sold out in about 20 minutes. NJPW is believed to have sold 4,500 tickets. The venue choice left many puzzled, as many fans and critics believe that the promotion can fill an arena with 10,000+ people in it.
It appears NJPW is listening. In a recent report on the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer revealed that the promotion has a preliminary hold on a July 7 date for the Cow Palace in San Francisco. This is the same date as UFC 226, which is one of the biggest mixed martial arts events of the year.
NJPW continues to emerge in the United States. The promotion is opening up a Dojo in Los Angeles. They’ll be holding a pre-show event at the Dojo on March 24.
Finn Balor has just released a new line of clothing he says is designed, imagined, worn, and loved by him. The clothing line is also said to be ethically and ecologically sourced.
Balor even serves as the clothing line’s model (complete with plank pose) on the website: SmileItsPeak.com
In what is arguably the most high-profile match scheduled for WrestleMania, Kurt Angle & Ronda Rousey are scheduled to face Triple H & Stephanie McMahon. The 49-year-old Kurt Angle appears to be relishing the opportunity to team with Rousey. After spending years away from WWE, he probably felt he’d never receive another opportunity like this.
Angle posted the following pic of the two training together yesterday:
While rumors state WWE was hoping the Rock would be Rousey’s partner, Angle works too. The Rock as Rousey’s partner would better play up the WrestleMania 31 segment they were involved in but substituting Kurt Angle for anybody is rarely much of a downgrade.
Kurt Angle and Ronda Rousey have a shared Olympic history and it makes sense Angle would want to keep Triple H and Stephanie from exploiting her.
WWE legend Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson appeared on Conan O’Brien’s talk show this week to promote his new movie Rampage, which hits theaters April 13th.
Based on the 1980’s arcade video game from Midway Games, Rampage is about three giant monsters (a gorilla, a wolf and a lizard) that wreak havoc on various cities and landmarks across the United States. The official synopsis reads,
“Primatologist Davis Okoye shares an unshakable bond with George, an extraordinarily intelligent, silverback gorilla that’s been in his care since birth. When a rogue genetic experiment goes wrong, it causes George, a wolf and a reptile to grow to a monstrous size. As the mutated beasts embark on a path of destruction, Okoye teams up with a discredited genetic engineer and the military to secure an antidote and prevent a global catastrophe.”
As seen below, Conan slips on a bald cap and proves to Dwayne Johnson that he has the looks, physique, and acting chops to be The Rock’s “Rampage” stunt double.
The two New Japan Cup matches earlier today (March 15) were to determine who would move on to the semi-finals. SANADA took on Toru Yano, while Kota Ibushi went one-on-one with Zack Sabre Jr. In the end, SANADA and Sabre Jr. pulled off victories to advance.
As a result of today’s tournament outcomes, Sabre Jr. will meet SANADA on March 18 in the semi-finals. Joining them for semi-finals action will be Hiroshi Tanahashi and Juice Robinson. They’ll be competing two days earlier on March 16.
Night six of New Japan Cup action also featured tag team mayhem. You can check out the rest of the results below:
Tag Team Match: Ren Narita & David Finlay def. Shota Umino & Tomoyuki Oka
Tag Team Match: Hiroki Goto & Yoshi-Hashi def. Togi Makabe & Toa Henare
Eight-Man Tag Team Match: Davey Boy Smith Jr., Lance Archer, Taichi, & Takashi Iizuka def. Bad Luck Fale, Tanga Loa, Yujiro Takahashi, & Chase Owens
Six-Man Tag Team Match: Minoru Suzuki, Yoshinobu Kanemaru, & El Desperado def. Tetsuya Naito, Hiromu Takahashi, & Bushi
Six-Man Tag Team Match: Hiroshi Tanahashi, Michael Elgin, & Juice Robinson def. Kazuchika Okada, Tomohiro Ishii, & Chuckie T.
New Japan Cup Match: SANADA def. Toru Yano
New Japan Cup Match: Zack Sabre Jr. def. Kota Ibushi
Dusty Rhodes Classic First Round Match: SAnitY vs. Riddick Moss & Tino Sabbatelli
Riddick Moss beatdown Wolfe to start off the match. Sabbatelli wanted to be tagged in and Moss obliged. Tino unloaded a couple of right hands and connected with a Dropkick as the NXT crowd chanted “Tino sucks!”. Tino taunted the crowd and posed in the ring before aggressively tagging Moss back in.
Moss drove his shoulder into Wolfe’s midsection and followed it up with a Neckbreaker for a two count. Sabbatelli tagged back in but held up Wolfe in the corner. Moss went to punch Wolfe but Alexander ducked and Moss accidentally hit Sabbatelli. Moss and Sabbatelli argued for a moment and that allowed Wolfe to regroup and tag in Eric Young.
Young tagged in and immediately blasted Moss off the ring apron before turning his attention to Sabbatelli. Young connected with a boot to the face, followed by a Clothesline that decked Tino. Young got fired up and planted Sabbatelli with a Body Slam. Eric climbed to the top and hit an Elbow Drop. Young went for the cover but Moss dragged him out of the ring.
Nikki Cross hopped up on the ring apron and connected with a Crossbody on Moss. Back in the ring, Wolfe tagged in as Sabbatelli was still in the ring. Eric Young and Wolfe teamed up for a Belly to Back Suplex/ Neckbreaker combo. Young rolled to the ring apron and Wolfe pinned Tino Sabbatelli for the victory. SAnitY advanced to the semifinals of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. After the match, Killian Dain and Nikki Cross celebrated with Young & Wolfe in the ring.
Tommaso Ciampa came down to the ring to the same chorus of boos he recieved from the NXT crowd last week. Everyone in the crowd held up pieces of paper with Johnny Gargano’s logo on it. Ciampa stood silent in the ring as the crowd chanted “Johnny!”. Ciampa lifted the microphone towards his mouth but the entire crowd started to boo again. The crowd then transitioned into a “Johnny Wrestling!” chant as Ciampa paced around the ring. Tommaso shouted “he is gone!” as the crowd kept chanting. A few folks started to chant “Johnny lost!”.
Ciampa lifted the microphone again and the crowd booed. Ciampa dropped the microphone and the crowd cheered. The audience started to chant “yes!” as Ciampa rolled out of the ring. Ciampa stopped near the commentary table for a moment and looked into the crowd as they booed him. Ciampa slowly walked around the ring as the crowd began to chant “Ciampa sucks!”. Ciampa held his head in anger as the crowd began to chant “we want Johnny!”. Ciampa walked back up the entrance ramp and stopped to look back at the crowd as they sang “na-na-na-hey-hey-hey-goodbye”. Ciampa shook his head and walked backstage as the crowd continued to sing.
Lacey dodged a kick from Dakota Kai and then grabbed Kai’s arm and slammed her to the canvas. Lacey stretched out Kai’s arm and went for an Arm Bar but Kai reversed into a roll-up for the quick pinfall victory.
After the match, Shayna Baszler’s music hit and Shayna marched down to the ring as Dakota looked concerned in the ring. Baszler cornered Dakota in the ring as the referee stood in between them. Ember Moon’s music hit and Moon stormed down to the ring. Moon slid into the ring and had a stare down with Baszler as Kai got the hell out of there. Moon grabbed a microphone and said that it doesn’t matter if she has one arm or two, Baszler started this but she is going to end it at NXT TakeOver: New Orleans. Ember Moon tackled Baszler to the canvas and punched her in the face a few times. A couple of referees tried to break it up but Baszler and Moon kept fighting in the ring.
Shayna connected with a big punch that knocked Moon to the mat. Shayna waited for Ember to get back up and went for another punch but Moon was ready and booted her in the face. Ember climbed to the top rope but Baszler caught her with a kick. Shayna went to apply a Wrist Lock but Dakota Kai hopped up on the ring apron and booted Baszler in the face. Ember then leaped off the top and connected with the Eclipse. Ember Moon stood over Baszler in the ring as the segment concluded. NXT GM William Regal then made the NXT Women’s Championship match official between Ember Moon and Shayna Baszler at NXT TakeOver: New Orleans.
Dusty Rhodes Classic First Round Match: Street Profits vs. Heavy Machinery
Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford danced their way down to the ring to face off against Heavy Machinery. Tucker Knight and Otis Dozovic chest-bumped on the entrance ramp and made their way to to the ring. Montez Ford and Dozovic started off the match. Dozovic leveled Ford with a shoulder tackle and Montez crawled to corner and took a sip from his solo cup. Otis asked for a sip and Ford slowly slid towards him. Dozovic took a sip from the cup as the crowd chanted “drink!”. Otis got pumped up after taking a drink and then planted Ford with a Body Slam.
Tucker Knight tagged in and Heavy Machinery hung up Dawkins in the corner. Heavy Machinery then used Montez Ford as a battering ram and slammed him into Dawkins. Knight tried to cover Ford but Montez kicked out at two. Knight locked Ford in a Bear Hug. Ford hit a couple of right hands to escape and tagged in Dawkins. Angelo planted Knight with a Dropkick and followed it up with a 360 Splash. Knight shrugged it off and slammed Dawkins to the canvas. Knight hit a Splash on Dawkins in the corner and tagged in Dozovic.
Heavy Machinery went for the Compactor but Ford pulled down the top rope and Knight tumbled to the floor outside the ring. Back in the ring, Dawkins connected with a DDT to Otis and then tagged Montez Ford back in. Ford scaled to the top rope and hit an awesome Frog Splash for the pinfall victory. Street Profits advanced to the semifinals of the Dusty Rhodes Classic. Nigel McGuinness danced at the commentary table to the Street Profits theme after their victory.
Winners: Street Profits
United Kingdom Championship Match: Pete Dunne (c) vs Adam Cole
NXT Tag Team Champions Bobby Fish and Kyle O’Reilly accompanied Adam Cole to the ring and the Undisputed Era posed on the ring apron. United Kingdom Champion Pete Dunne came down to the ring with the title belt hanging from his mouth. The crowd chanted “Bruiserweight!” as he entered the ring. Adam Cole casually leaned against the turnbuckle and watched on as Dunne posed for the crowd. Dunne raised the title and got right in Cole’s face in the corner.
Cole drove Dunne to the corner to start off the match and the referee broke it up. Dunne rolled out of the ring and stared down Fish and O’Reilly. Dunne slid back into the ring and Cole greeted him with some stomps. Dunne connected with a spinning elbow to the face and Cole crashed to the mat. Dunne placed his foot on the side of Cole’s head and started bending back Cole’s fingers. Dunne leaped in the air and stomped on Cole’s back.
Dunne booted Cole’s extended elbow and Adam rolled to the apron. Dunne leaped off the second turnbuckle and booted Cole in the left arm. Dunne Suplexed Cole on the ring apron and smirked at Fish and O’Reilly outside the ring. Fish and O’Reilly hopped up on the ring apron and distracted Dunne, which allowed Cole to boot him to the floor as NXT went to a commercial break.
When NXT returned, the action had returned to the ring and Cole was in control. That didn’t last long as Dunne lifted him up for a Suplex, but elected to just drop Cole on his back. Dunne chopped Cole and unloaded a flurry of punches. Dunne connected with an Enziguri in the corner and followed it up with another stomp to the arm off the second rope. Dunne planted Cole with a Powerbomb for a two count.
Pete Dunne kicked Cole in the side of the face and went for the Bitter End but Cole countered it into a Backstabber. Cole was the first Superstar up and went for a Suplex but Dunne countered into a body scissors and applied a Wrist Lock. Cole escaped and hit a Neckbreaker for two. Cole called Dunne a chump and started smacking him in the face. Dunne responded with a forearm to the face that sent Cole flying to the corner.
Fish and O’Reilly checked on Cole in the corner. Cole went for a Superkick but Dunne blocked it. Cole connected with a Superkick but Dunne shrugged it off and hit Cole with an Enziguri. Dunne charged at Cole in the corner but Adam got out of the way. Dunne scaled the turnbuckles and went tried to flip on Cole but Cole booted Dunne in the back of the head while he was in midair. Cole went for the cover but Dunne kicked out at two.
The crowd chanted “this is awesome!” as Cole went for a Shining Wizard but Dunne dodged it. Dunne hit a German Suplex and went for a Bitter End but Fish and O’Reilly hopped up on the ring apron. Dunne got out of the ring and took out Fish and O’Reilly. As Dunne got back into the ring, Cole connected with a Superkick and followed it up with the Last Shot. Cole went for the cover but the U.K. Champion was somehow able to kick out.
Cole draped across Dunne and was completely shocked that Dunne kicked out. The crowd chanted “fight forever” as Dunne snapped back one of Cole’s fingers. Cole missed with a kick and Dunne got him in position for the Bitter End. Fish and O’Reilly rushed into the ring and beatdown Dunne and the referee called for the bell. Fish and O’Reilly held up Dunne and Cole booted him in the face. Roderick Strong sprinted to the ring but Undisputed Era beat him down. Fish and O’Reilly held up Strong but Pete Dunne blasted Cole in the face before Cole could attempt a kick. Undisputed Era rolled out of the ring and retreated as Dunne and Strong stood tall in the ring. Strong tried to shake Dunne’s hand but Dunne decided to pat Roderick on the shoulder before heading backstage.
Winner via DQ & Still United Kingdom Champion: Pete Dunne
NXT GM William Regal came down to the ring for the NXT Championship match contract signing for NXT TakeOver: New Orleans. Regal introduced Aleister Black first and he came down to the ring to a great reaction from the crowd. Black was decked out in an all black suit as he circled the table where the contract was. Regal introduced NXT Champion Andrade “Cien” Almas but Zelina Vega came down to the ring alone.
Zelina picked up a microphone and informed the crowd that Andrade “Cien” Almas was not here tonight. Vega said that if Almas was here, he would destroy Black so that there was nothing left. Black ignored Vega and Zelina got pissed off. Vega told Black to listen to her but Black put his hand in her face. Black moved the table to see if Almas was hiding under there and took a seat in the ring. Black said to Vega “at least now we are on the same level” and asked Vega to continue.
Vega shouted at Almas before signing the contract. The crowd chanted “too short!” at Vega as she tossed the contract at Black. Aleister signed the contract and joked that Almas was afraid that NXT TakeOver, much like Zelina Vega, he was coming to come up a little short. Black added that maybe was afraid to show up because he doesn’t measure up to him. Vega slapped Black in the face and demanded that he sign the contract. Aleister signed the contract as Vega shouted that he just made the biggest mistake of his life. Black got out of the ring with the microphone as Vega continued to shout at him.
Black said that he didn’t come here alone tonight and Candice LeRae rushed the ring. Candice knocked Vega out of the ring and connected with a few punches. Vega tried to run away but LeRae trapped her on the commentary table and hit her with a few more punches. LeRae brought Vega back into the ring and planted her with a Bulldog before taunting her. LeRae joined Black on the entrance ramp with a smile on her face as NXT went off the air.
When Braun Strowman faced both Brock Lesnar and Kane at this year’s Royal Rumble there was a palpable sense that Strowman was finally set to take his place atop the WWE as one of its biggest players. Fast forward to this week’s RAW and it looks as though Braun will e part of a mid-card Tag Team title match that no one really asked for…it’s easy to class this move as a major oversight on WWE’s part for a Superstar that has garnered himself a huge following over the past year.
But what’s done is done and now the talk will turn to who will be standing alongside Braun at WrestleMania when he competes for the RAW Tag Team Championship. Here are the three Superstars that we feel have a shot at challenging for the belts with Braun…assuming he even needs a partner:
Bray Wyatt
Bray Wyatt (via Instagram @WWE)
Out of the three Superstars we will be listing, this one will be the most unlikely. It is ironic given that Braun was brought up to WWE’s main roster as a member of the Wyatt Family stable, where he was positioned as the muscle of a (somewhat) dominant group in an attempt to keep Bray Wyatt and his cult leader character fresh and relevant…yet the inexperienced and fairly uncharismatic early portrayal from Strowman was just one of the reasons that the ‘family’ faded into obscurity and eventually broke up.
With all of this in mind there is still an opportunity to be explored here, whilst Bray is in the midst of a lukewarm feud with ‘Woken’ Matt Hardy they are set to have their biggest and most extravagant bout yet at Ultimate Deletion next week on RAW. This could easily be the blow off to a feud that has not set the WWE universe alight and used to transition Bray into an intriguing pairing with his former ‘family’ member who has ascended far higher on the totem pole than the ‘Eater of Worlds.’
Lars Sullivan
Lars Sullivan (formerly Dylan Miley)
Monster Among Men? Meet Lars Sullivan. This 6 ft 3 in beast made his debut appearance for WWE’s NXT brand back at WrestleMania 31’s Axxess event in March 2015, yet he only made his television debut in April 2017 in a losing effort to the former #DIY tag team of Johnny Gargano and Tommasso Ciampa. This unstoppable monster is not only a physical presence in the ring but he is also extremely eloquent, his promo work belying his build and destroying any sort of preconceived notion that he is purely a powerhouse and nothing more.
In terms of sheer spectacle a team consisting of Sullivan and Strowman would tower over all others and could be a very different way to introduce Sullivan to the main roster, it is fair to say that the landscape of NXT is not naturally suited to a performer such as Lars and a move to the main roster could be extremely beneficial.
Elias
Photo Credit: WWE.com
Speaking of acts that work far better on the main roster…we get to our final name on the list: Elias. The ‘Drifter’ has been completely rejuvenated following his call up to the RAW brand and he has begun to build a following amongst the WWE fan base. There have been rumblings online that Elias is the early favourite to join Braun at WrestleMania and he would certainly be a good fit for the Monster, creating an odd couple dynamic and giving Elias to opportunity to hold a championship for the first time in his WWE tenure.
There are a plethora of ways in which to book an Elias/Strowman partnership, with the opportunity to help further establish Elias on the main roster before potentially building Strowman back into a program amongst the Universal Title picture.
Who would you like to see Braun team with at Mania?
