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What Happened With Liv Morgan After WWE SmackDown Went Off The Air

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WWE SmackDown aired live this week from the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York. It was the first episode of the blue brand following WWE Survivor Series WarGames last Saturday.

SEScoops correspondent Ella Jay was at the venue tonight and shared what happened after this week’s episode of SmackDown went off the air. Matt Riddle, Braun Strowman, Madcap Moss, and Liv Morgan defeated Legado Del Fantasma, Damian Priest, and Zelina Vega in the dark match.

After #SmackDown went off the air, Matt Riddle, Braun Strowman, Madcap Moss, and Liv Morgan beat Legado Del Fantasma (Joaquin Wilde, Cruz Del Toro and Zelina Vega) & Damian Priest in the dark match main event

Sami Zayn defeated Sheamus in the opening contest after Jey Uso interfered. The Usos had a conversation about Zayn’s lie about talking with Kevin Owens last week but Jey said Sami proved himself by winning The Bloodline the Men’s WarGames match at Survivor Series.

The finals of the SmackDown World Cup went down on tonight’s episode of WWE SmackDown as well. Ricochet battled Santos Escobar to determine which superstar will challenge Gunther for the Intercontinental Championship.

Legado Del Fantasma was kicked out ringside early and Ricochet was able to pick up the victory after hitting the 630 Splash. Gunther defeated Ricochet to win the IC Title, and beat him two weeks later on the June 24th edition of SmackDown in their rematch. It will be interesting to see if the third time is the charm for Ricochet.

A released star also made their return to help Liv Morgan against Damage CTRL on this week’s WWE SmackDown and you can check that out below.

AEW Rampage Results, Takeaways (12/2/22): Orange Cassidy Defends Title, The Acclaimed & FTR, Saraya

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AEW Rampage was taped this past Wednesday night. Orange Cassidy put the All-Atlantic Championship on the line in a Lumberjack match against QT Marshall in this week’s main event.

AEW Rampage Results

  • Darby Allin def. Cole Karter
  • Jeff Jarrett & Jay Lethal def. Private Party
  • Athena def. Dani Mo
  • Orange Cassidy def. QT Marshall in a Lumberjack match to retain the All-Atlantic Championship

Here are the takeaways from this week’s show:

Darby Allin Picked Up A Victory

Darby Allin battled Cole Karter tonight on AEW Rampage. Darby brought a baseball bat and leveled Nick Comoroto outside the ring before the ball. Allin hit his insane dive through the ropes on Karter but Cole battled back.

Karter hit a Buckle Bomb and followed it up a Falcon Arrow but couldn’t keep Darby down. Cole went for a 450 Splash but Darby got out of the way at the last moment. Allin connected with a Scorpion Death Drop and then the Coffin Drop for the pinfall victory.

Shane Taylor Interrupted Keith Lee

Renee Paquette interviewed Keith Lee backstage. Shane Taylor interrupted and challenged Swerve in Our Glory to a match at ROH Final Battle. Taylor said he will find a tag partner before December 10th.

The Acclaimed Challenged FTR

Renee Paquette interviewed AEW Tag Team Champions The Acclaimed tonight in the ring. Caster and Bowens scissored with Daddy Ass Billy Gunn before the interview.

The Acclaimed said there is a tag team that has been waiting a very long time to get a shot at these and the crowd chanted “FTR!”.

The Gunn Club interrupted and the crowd greeted them with “asshole!” chants. Austin and Colten poked fun at The Acclaimed and referred to their father as “Billy”. The Gunn Club claimed that they are the best team in the world and were quickly interrupted.

Jeff Jarrett, Jay Lethal, Satnam Singh, and Sonjay Dutt interrupted and mocked the “Ass Boys”. Billy Gunn interrupted and said they wanted the best and ROH Tag Team Champions FTR made their way to the ring. Cash and Dax shook The Acclaimed’s hands to end the segment.

Jeff Jarrett & Jay Lethal def. Private Party

Jeff Jarrett and Jay Lethal battled Private Party (Isiah Kassidy & Marq Quen) tonight on AEW Rampage. Matt Hardy showed up ringside as Jay Lethal launched Kassidy into the steel steps as Rampage went to a commercial break.

When Rampage returned, Marq tagged in and leveled Jeff Jarrett with a dive through the ropes. Quen went for a 450 Splash but Jay Lethal got out of the way. Double J hit a cheap shot and Jay followed it up with the Lethal Injection for the pinfall victory.

Saraya Wants the AEW Women’s Championship

Renee Paquette interviewed Saraya about her return to the ring at AEW Full Gear. Saraya said it was incredible to be out there again after five years with her family in the front row for her victory over Britt Baker at the PPV. Saraya stated that she wants the AEW Women’s Championship at the end of the promo.

Athena Dominated

Athena battled Dani Mo tonight on Rampage. Athena hit a series of Suplexes and then the Eclipse for the pinfall victory. Mercedes Martinez will defend the ROH Women’s Championship against Athena at ROH Final Battle on December 10th.

Juice Robinson Challenged Samoa Joe

Juice Robinson issued a challenge for ROH Final Battle. He challenged Samoa Joe to an ROH TV Championship match. Juice noted that Joe may be the “King of TV” for now, but he will be dethroned. It was also announced that Samoa Joe will defend the TNT Championship against Darby Allin this Wednesday on Dynamite.

Orange Cassidy Retained

Orange Cassidy defended the All-Atlantic Championship against QT Marshall in a Lumberjack match in the main event of this week’s episode of AEW Rampage. Mark Henry interviewed both competitors before the match.

QT was in control of the match when Rampage went to the final break of the night. Cassidy battled back with a Tornado DDT but Marshall retreated out of the ring. The Lumberjacks surrounded The Factory but QT capitalized on the distracted.

Marshall set up for a Piledriver on the ring apron but Danhausen hopped on the ring apron. He tried to curse QT but obviously, it didn’t work. A brawl broke out and Cassidy flipped onto everyone with an awesome springboard move.

Back in the ring, Cassidy climbed to the top rope as Penelope Ford watched on. Penelope hopped on the ring apron and Kip Sabian showed up from behind. Kip shoved Cassidy off the top turnbuckle and into a Cutter from QT but somehow Orange kicked out at two. Cassidy hit the Orange Punch and followed it up with Beach Break to retain the All-Atlantic Championship.

The champion leveled Kip Sabian with a dive through the ropes but Sabian battled back. Kip stomped on Cassidy on the entrance ramp before the lights went out. House of Black showed up in the ring and the crowd cheered. House of Black took out everyone and stood tall to close the show.

Samoa Joe Title Defense Set for ROH Final Battle, Title Matches Announced for Next Week’s AEW Dynamite

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Ring of Honor Final Battle will air on December 10th from College Park Center in Arlington, Texas.

Chris Jericho will defend the ROH Championship against Claudio Castagnoli in the main event. Mercedes Martinez will defend the ROH Women’s Championship against Athena at the PPV.

Another title match was added to the card during tonight’s edition of AEW Rampage. Former IWGP Champion Juice Robinson appeared in a video promo during Rampage and challenged ROH TV Champion Samoa Joe. Juice noted that Joe may be the “King of Television” for now but he will dethrone him.

Samoa Joe captured the TNT Championship as well at AEW Full Gear on November 19th. Former TNT Champion Wardlow interrupted Joe on this past Wednesday’s edition of Dynamite and warned him that he’s coming for the TNT Championship. It was also announced that Samoa Joe will be defending the TNT Championship against Darby Allin on next week’s Dynamite.

Renee Paquette interviewed AEW Tag Team Champions The Acclaimed tonight on Rampage. They said they wanted to fight the best and the crowd chanted “FTR!”. Gunn Club, Jeff Jarrett, Sonjay Dutt, Satnam Singh, and Jay Lethal interrupted but The Acclaimed ignored them. ROH Tag Team Champions FTR made their way to the ring and shook The Acclaimed’s hands. It was later announced on Rampage that The Acclaimed will defend the AEW Tag Team Championships next week on Dynamite against FTR.

Updated ROH Final Battle card

  • ROH Women’s Championship: Mercedes Martinez (c) vs. Athena
  • ROH TV Championship: Samoa Joe (c) vs. Juice Robinson
  • ROH Pure Championship: Daniel Garcia (c) vs. Wheeler Yuta
  • ROH Championship: Chris Jericho (c) vs. Claudio Castagnoli

Released WWE Superstar Returns on SmackDown

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Damage CTRL appeared on tonight’s edition of WWE SmackDown and cut a promo in the ring.

Bayley boasted about being the longest-reigning SmackDown Women’s Champion of all-time before Liv Morgan interrupted.

Liv has had an attitude adjustment since losing the SmackDown Women’s Championship to Ronda Rousey at Extreme Rules and has seemingly lost her mind.

The 28-year-old sprinted to the ring, even though she was outnumbered 3 to 1. Tegan Nox then made her shocking return to the company and made the save. Liv hit Damage CTRL with a couple of kendo sticks shots and Tegan followed it up with a Shining Wizard. Liv and Tegan stood tall as Damage CTRL retreated to the end the segment.

Tegan was released by WWE in November 2021. Following her release, she published a list of wrestlers that she would like to face outside of WWE.

Rhea Ripley Says Tegan Nox Helped Save Her Career

Rhea Ripley was interviewed by Talk Sport ahead of Survivor Series last year and credited Tegan for helping her career. Ripley noted that she was on the verge of getting fired early in her career but Tegan made her look good in a match at the WWE Performance Center.

Tegan, she doesn’t understand how much I appreciate her and what she’s done for me. But there was a time at the Performance Center where my name was on the list to get fired and I’d only been there for a year. 
I don’t know why my name was on the list, I guess people just didn’t like me at the time. It is what it is – I changed their mind! But I was on the chopping block and I had a PC live match in front of all our peers and it was against Tegan.

One of the guys found out I was on that list and he told her – he didn’t tell me because he knew I’d freak out – but he told her and was like ‘look, you’ve got to make Rhea look good because this might be her last match here otherwise.’ And that’s exactly what she did.

Kurt Angle Birthday Celebration & Title Matches Set for WWE TV Next Week

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WWE has announced two title matches for next week. On WWE Raw, The Usos will be defending their Undisputed Tag Team Championships against Elias and Matt Riddle.

The winner of that match will go on to defend against Drew McIntyre and Sheamus on next Friday’s edition of WWE SmackDown.

On this week’s episode of SmackDown, Sami Zayn battled Sheamus in the first match of the night. The Usos, Solo Sikoa and The Brawling Brutes were ringside for the match.

The action broke down and turned into a brawl ringside. Jey Uso hopped on the ring apron and hit Sheamus with a cheap shot. Sami capitalized with a roll-up for the pinfall victory.

Later on WWE SmackDown, The Usos were having a conversation backstage. Jimmy asked Jey about Sami lying to him and he claimed it was water under the bridge because of what the Honorary Uce did in the Men’s WarGames match at WWE Survivor Series last weekend.

Sheamus showed up with a shillelagh and beat both Jimmy and Jey down before saying that he and Drew will be waiting for them next week if they retain.

WWE Hall of Famer Kurt Angle was also announced for next week’s episode of SmackDown. He will appear to celebrate his 54th birthday next week.

WWE SmackDown Results, Takeaways (12/2/22): Survivor Series Fallout, World Cup Finals, Tegan Nox

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WWE SmackDown airs live tonight from the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York. It is the first episode of SmackDown following WWE Survivor Series WarGames this past Saturday night. In addition to the takeaways below, it appears Lacey Evans is getting another character reset on SmackDown.

  • 8 Best Moments from WWE Survivor Series WarGames 2022

SmackDown Results (12/2)

  • Sami Zayn def. Sheamus
  • Shayna Baszler def. Emma
  • Gunther def. Kofi Kingston
  • Ricochet def. Santos Escobar to win the SmackDown World Cup

Here are the takeaways from this week’s show:

The Usos Helped Sami Zayn Defeat Sheamus

The Usos, Solo Sikoa, and Sami Zayn kicked off the week’s show. Jimmy noted that the crowd was chanting “Sami Uso!” at Survivor Series and the Buffalo crowd started it up again.

Jey noted that he has doubted Sami for a long time but he earned his respect and credited Zayn for The Bloodline winning the Men’s WarGames match. Jimmy asked Sami he was feeling and Sami said he’s feeling pretty freaking Ucey. Sami did a special handshake with both of The Usos before The Brawling Brutes interrupted.

Sheamus said he hates to beat up a fellow ginger and shouted that it is fight night! The Celtic Warrior dominated the match early and sent Sami into the barricade as SmackDown went to a commercial break.

When SmackDown returned, Sami hit a Tornado DDT for a near fall. Sheamus caught him with a knee strike and brought Sami up the 2nd turnbuckle. Zayn escaped and hit a Sunset Flip Powerbomb off the middle turnbuckle for a near fall.

The crowd chanted “Sami!” as both superstars got up. Sheamus set up for the Brogue Kick but Sami rolled to the apron. Sheamus delivered 20 Beats of the Bodhran and posed in the ring. The Celtic Warrior geared up for the Brogue Kick once again but Jimmy Uso provided a distraction. Jimmy hit a cheap shot and Sami capitalized with a Blue Thunder Bomb but Sheamus kicked out at two.

Ridge and Butch Holland battled with The Usos outside the ring. Solo Sikoa joined the party and planted Butch with a Spinning Solo on the barricade. Solo booted Ridge in the face as Sheamus hit a knee strike. Jimmy distracted the referee and Jey Uso hit Sheamus with a Superkick. Sami capitalized with a roll-up for the pinfall victory.

Bray Wyatt Claims He Didn’t Hurt LA Knight, Kofi Kingston Will be in Royal Rumble

Kofi Kingston announced he is going to be in the Royal Rumble match.

Bray Wyatt cut a backstage promo and said that we are just wild animals. Wyatt noted that animals eat each other to stay alive and we have the same instincts. Bray claimed that he is not the one that hurt LA Knight.

Shayna Baszler def. Emma

Shayna Baszler battled Emma tonight. Before the match, Madcap Moss approached Emma backstage and flirted with her. She gave him a smooch on the cheek before heading to the ring. Shayna dominated the match early but Emma battled back. Shayna eventually locked in the Kirifuda Clutch for the submission victory.

After the match, Shayna went to beat Emma down some more but Shotzi made the save. Baszler delivered a knee to the face and knocked Shotzi to the canvas. Raquel Rodriguez ran to the ring and Shayna retreated.

Gunther vs. Kofi Kingston

Intercontinental Champion Gunther battled Kofi Kingston in a non-title match tonight. The champion controlled the action early but Kingston caught him with an Enziguri. Ludwig tripped up Kofi while the referee was distracted.

Braun Strowman marched down the entrance ramp and chased Ludwig around the ring. Strowman caught Vinci in midair and smashed him into the ring post. Strowman launched Imperium over the barricade as Kofi hit Gunther with the SOS for a near fall as SmackDown went to a commercial break.

When SmackDown returned, Kofi connected with a Splash and went for the cover but Gunther kicked out at two. Gunther responded with a Dropkick and followed it up with a Powerbomb for a near fall. Gunther connected with his new finisher (?) for the pinfall victory.

Sheamus Attacked The Usos

The Usos were having a conversation backstage about Sami Zayn’s lie. Jey said Roman looked in his eyes and saw what he needed to see and Sami saved the day at WarGames. Sheamus showed up with the shilleliagh and beat them down. The Celtic Warrior added that he and Drew will be waiting for them.

Tegan Nox Returned

Bayley, IYO SKY, and Dakota Kai came to the ring for a promo. Bayley noted that the three of them combined were in the WarGames match for 95 minutes. The Role Model called the crowd idiots for cheering Becky Lynch even though she was only in the WarGames match for a cup of coffee. Bayley boasted about being the longest-reigning SmackDown Women’s Champion in history before Liv Morgan interrupted.

Liv Morgan said it seems like Bayley has a problem with the SmackDown women’s division and rushed the ring on her own. Damage CTRL beat Liv down but Morgan battled back. Liv tackled Bayley and got in some punches before Damage CTRL beat her down.

Tegan Nox returned to WWE and made the save. Liv hit Damage CTRL with a kendo stick and Tegan connected with a Shining Wizard to end the segment.

Karrion Kross Warned Rey Mysterio, Uncle Howdy

Karrion Kross warned Rey Mysterio in a vignette with Scarlett. Karrion boasted about his attack on Madcap Moss recently.

Uncle Howdy appeared in a video and showed clips of Bray in the past. Uncle Howdy once again claimed Bray was lying and said “revel in what you are”.

Ricochet Won the SmackDown World Cup

Ricochet battled Santos Escobar in the finals of the SmackDown World Cup. Before the match, The Usos versus Elias & Matt Riddle for the Undisputed Tag Team Championships was announced for next week’s RAW. The winner of that match will defend the titles against Drew McIntyre and Sheamus on next week’s SmackDown. Kurt Angle will also appear on next week’s SmackDown to celebrate his 54th birthday.

Santos Escobar controlled the action early as Zelina Vega kept interfering. The referee kicked Zelina and Legado Del Fantasma out from the ringside area. Ricochet battled back and hit a Shooting Star Press onto Santos off the ring apron as SmackDown went to the final commercial break of the night.

When SmackDown returned, Santos and Ricochet battled on top of the barricade. Escobar sent him to the floor with a Hurricanrana as the crowd cheered. Escobar rolled Ricochet into the ring and went for the cover but he somehow kicked out at two and the match continued.

Santos and Ricochet battled to the top rope. Ricochet knocked Escobar to the canvas and set up for the 450 but Santos rolled out of the way. Escobar went for another Hurricanrana but Ricochet incredibly landed on his feet. Santos hit a Northern Lights Suplex but Ricochet responded with a Brainbuster.

Ricochet connected with an awesome springboard Moonsault and went for the cover but Escobar kicked out at two. Ricochet hit a reverse Hurricanrana and followed it up with a 630 Splash for the pinfall victory. He will now face Gunther once again for the Intercontinental Championship. Gunther and Ricochet had a stare down on the entrance ramp to close the show.

Solo Sikoa Responds to Praise from Popular AEW Star: “He Knows How to Get Down”

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The Bloodline’s Solo Sikoa has responded to praise from AEW star Ricky Starks. Ricky took to Twitter recently and complimented Sikoa and said that The Enforcer of The Bloodline was a “beast”.

Sikoa recently joined the Superstar Crossover show and was told about the kind words from Ricky Starks. Solo complimented Ricky and said that he’s a great promo.

That’s big, man. I didn’t know he said that. Shout out to Ricky Starks. I know who he is. I’m also a fan of his mic work, man. He knows how to use a microphone. He knows how to get down, you know. I think it’s cool. I think it just shows respect, man.

At the end of the day, we both know, and everybody knows this. This is a hard business to do. Not everybody can do it. If it was easy, everybody would do it, but everybody doesn’t do it. I think when one worker shows love to another one, especially in a different company, I think that’s much respect. At least that’s what I think. That’s cool, man. Shout out to Ricky Starks.

H/T: 411Mania

Ricky Starks is set to battle MJF for the AEW World Championship at Dynamite: Winter is Coming on December 14th. On this week’s Dynamite, Ricky vowed to take everything MJF has, including the Dynamite Diamond Ring during the Battle Royal next Wednesday.

  • 11 Best Moments from AEW Full Gear 2022

MJF brutally attacked William Regal last night and bashed him over the back of the head with brass knuckles. At AEW Full Gear on November 19th, William Regal betrayed Jon Moxley in the main event and slid the brass knuckles to MJF. Maxwell hit Jon Moxley with them to win the AEW World Championship.MJF’s attack on Regal this past Wednesday apparently was done as a way to write Regal off of television as he is reportedly expected back in WWE soon.

Robert Roode Undergoes Neck Fusion Surgery

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WWE’s Robert Roode is on the road to recovery after undergoing neck fusion surgery

The former WWE NXT Champion posted photos after his surgery on Instagram, which he indicated was for fusion to his C-5 and C-6 vertebrae that was done in Birmingham, Alabama. He wrote the following on the surgery: 

Roode’s Statement

Robert Roode

“Big thank you to Dr. Andy Cordover and his amazing staff at @andrews_sports_medicine and St Vincent’s Hospital in Birmingham, Alabama. C5/6 fusion is complete. Now the work begins. Recovery and Rehabilitation. Looking forward to the challenge. Thanks @deneane__17. You’re the best.”

In September, the veteran wrestler shared a picture of Southlake Orthopaedics in Birmingham, Alabama, and mentioned going home after what he believed was a successful trip. He also mentioned that he was suffering from an injury.

Roode expressed his thanks to Southlake and Andrew Sports Medicine, which typically performs surgery on injured WWE stars. He posted a picture in the post that indicated he had surgery, but he didn’t explain why he was going to the facility.

Since the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal on the April 1st episode of Friday Night SmackDown in Dallas, Texas, Roode has not competed and has not made an appearance on television. Before he left, Dolph Ziggler was paired with Roode on WWE television.

Details on Becky Lynch Filming a Role for Marvel

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Becky Lynch made a great impression portraying Cyndi Lauper on NBC’s Young Rock, a series about the life of The Rock. She’s also done voice acting for the Rumble movie after making her movie debut in The Marine 6. 

Lynch’s appearance on the comedy series wasn’t t the only on-screen role she’s had of late. In 2021, Fightful Select learned Lynch was cast for a Marvel movie. Rumors then came out that Lynch would appear in a Marvel movie, but details were far and between until late 2021 when the media outlet confirmed Lynch had a role., However, nobody connected to Marvel would confirm it on the record. 

Didn’t Make The Cut

Becky Lynch
(WWE)

After speaking with Marvel sources, it was revealed that her scenes had been left on the cutting room floor, which is something writer Kris Tapley had recently tweeted about. 

Per the report, the role was for Marvel Eternals in a post-credit scene to set up something for a future installment. It’s unclear what the role specifically was. One person who knew about the situation noted that the post-credits scene was “too depressing,” although no further context was given.

Although the post-credits scene ended up being nixed, the possibility of using Lynch in future films is not out of the question. Lynch previously confirmed earlier this year about having conversations with Marvel, but not that she’d filmed for the movie. Sources at Marvel said that they were happy with the portrayal.

The future of Marvel Eternals is in doubt due to mixed reviews and an underwhelming box office performance. The release date was pushed back multiple times due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sheamus Will Battle a Member of The Bloodline to Kick Off Tonight’s WWE SmackDown

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A huge match has been announced to kick off tonight’s edition of WWE SmackDown.

Sheamus will battle Sami Zayn to begin tonight’s show in a few hours at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York. It is the first episode SmackDown following WWE Survivor Series WarGame this past Saturday night.

  • 8 Best Moments from WWE Survivor Series WarGames

WWE uploaded a video of Cathy Kelley making the announcement that the Honorary Uce versus the Celtic Warrior will begin tonight’s show. Sheamus took to Twitter and promised another banger for the WWE Universe.

The Bloodline battled Sheamus, Butch, Ridge Holland, Drew McIntyre in the Men’s WarGames match in the main event of WWE Survivor Series WarGames.

Sheamus didn’t play much of a factor in the match, despite The Bloodline’s brutal attack on him on the October 21st edition of SmackDown. The Celtic Warrior may be able to get some revenge tonight against Sami.

Sami Zayn proved his worth to The Bloodline at Survivor Series WarGames. Jey Uso eavesdropped on a conversation between Sami and Kevin Owens on last week’s SmackDown. KO suggested that Sami turn his back on The Bloodline before they betray him. Jey asked Sami if he had spoken to anyone and the Honorary Uce lied to his face.

At Survivor Series WarGames, Roman confronted Sami about the lie and Zayn claimed that he was just trying to protect Jey because The Usos had a big match last week on the blue brand. Sami proved he had The Bloodline’s back by hitting Kevin Owens with a low blow, a Helluva Kick, and then stepping aside so Jey Uso could have the moment. Jey hit KO with a Frog Splash for the pinfall victory. Sami shared a hug with Jey and the Tribal Chief after the match and it appears that The Bloodline is as strong as ever.

Our live coverage for tonight’s WWE SmackDown will begin alongside the show at the link below.

WWE Has Yet to Decide on Raw Plans for Post-Christmas Episode

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WWE usually puts on a special edition of Monday Night Raw around Christmas, where fans typically get a Christmas-themed street fight that is just fun to watch.

The status of this year’s edition of Raw after Christmas is unknown. In the latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer reported that plans are still up in the air regarding the December 26th edition of Raw. 

WWE is planning two shows that night in Columbus, OH, and the other in Madison Square Garden, but there isn’t much information available regarding these shows as Meltzer explained. 

Where Things Stand

WWE Raw
(via WWE)

“For whatever reason, the decision was made not to tape that night. The two ideas looked at right now were either taping two shows on 12/19, which you can do with Smackdown but I don’t know how you do that with a three-hour draw or doing a Best of 2022 show. An announcement is expected to be made any day now. But both shows are advertised as house shows.”

This year’s RAW after Christmas will be the first one under Triple H’s regime. Here is what the WWE schedule during the holidays looks like: 

  • Monday, December 19: Raw – Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, IA
  • Monday, December 26: WWE Live Holiday Tour – Nationwide Arena in Columbus, OH
  • Wednesday, December 28: WWE Live Holiday Tour – Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland
  • Wednesday, December 28: WWE Live Holiday Tour – Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, N.C.
  • Thursday, December 29: WWE Live Holiday Tour – FTX Arena in Miami
  • Friday, December 30: WWE Live Holiday Tour – Coca Cola Coliseum in Toronto, Ontario
  • Friday, December 30: SmackDown – Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla.

Kota Ibushi Training Again as his NJPW Contract is Set to Expire

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Despite the issues, Kota Ibushi has remained with New Japan Pro Wrestling, but that will change soon. 

Kota went public about his issues with the promotion via social media as Ibushi stated that he was going to expose the “cheaters-gun and sexually harassing bosses.” He also shared conversations between himself and New Japan higher-up Yusuke Kikuchi where he alleged Kikuchi threatened to terminate Ibushi’s contract for making an appearance accompanying wrestlers to the ring at TAKA Michinoku’s Just Tap Out promotion.

In the latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer gave an update on the status of Kota Ibushi as it was noted that Ibushi’s NJPW contract is scheduled to expire at the end of January 2023. 

Kota’s Upcoming Free Agency

Kota Ibushi
(via NJPW)

Meltzer wrote: “Kota Ibushi has been in light training in the ring of late and thus far the shoulder has held up well so that’s a good sign. His New Japan contract expires at the end of January and he made a tweet hinting at that. There was a lot of bad feelings over the past year but nothing is definite regarding staying or leaving at that point past he brought it up in a cryptic way about being a free agent in two months.”

Ibushi hasn’t wrestled since his match with Kazuchika Okada in the 2021 G1 Climax finals which ended in a stoppage when Ibushi injured his shoulder.

In June, NJPW announced Ibushi, Kikuchi, and NJPW president Takami Ohbari were being penalized by having their pay reduced by 10 percent for three months. Also, Kikuchi was also transferred to a different position within the company.

Former Olympian Receives New WWE Ring Name

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25-year-old G’Angelo Hancock is slated to make his WWE debut on NXT Level Up. 

Hancock competed in the Men’s Greco-Roman 97 kilograms competition at the 2020 Olympics, where he defeated Mikheil Kajaia of Serbia in his first match before being eliminated in his next contest after a loss to Tadeusz Michalik of Poland. At the 2020 Pan American Championships, he won the Gold medal after winning the bronze medal at the 2019 Pan American Games and bronze at the 2021 World Championships in the same category.  

The Name

GAngelo Hancock

WWE has announced that he will wrestle under the name Tavion Heights and take on Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo on NXT Level Up this week. 

The match was taped on Tuesday from the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida, and will air tonight on Peacock before SmackDown. 

Hancock took part in WWE’s tryouts in Dallas over WrestleMania week earlier this year and later confirmed as one of 17 recruits to sign with the company and begin training at the Performance Center in August. 

The announcement read like this, “Heights, a former Olympian will make his WWE debut and bring his Greco-Roman style to the squared circle against the hard-hitting Lorenzo,” reads WWE.com. 

Also announced for the show is Thea Hail vs. Sol Ruca in a singles match.

Top WWE Star Training for in-Ring Return (Photo)

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Charlotte Flair is currently training for her WWE return.

Flair’s most recent match happened at WrestleMania Backlash in May, which saw her drop the SmackDown Women’s Title to Ronda Rousey. WWE did an injury angle to write her off television. 

While away from the company, The Queen has teased her comeback several times on social media, most recently sharing a photo of her wrestling boots in late November.

The Photo

flair training

On Friday, Flair shared a photo to her Instagram story of herself with NXT’s Zoey Stark and Alba Fyre in a wrestling ring. She tagged the two stars and thanked them for the training session.

Although the reason for Flair’s extended absence is unknown, her husband and AEW star Andrade El Idolo previously noted that she has been off TV for ‘personal reasons‘ that she’ll explain one day.

Flair and Andrade notably tied the knot during Flair’s WWE hiatus, getting married over the summer. 

Once Rousey became the SmackDown Women’s Champion, she had a notable reign before losing it to Liv Morgan in July before winning the gold back at Extreme Rules in October.

WWE has reportedly decided on Rousey’s opponent for Royal Rumble next month: 

Celebrity Match Rumored for WWE WrestleMania

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One big match for WWE WrestleMania 39 may have been revealed as the company is looking to load up the card for the show. 

On the latest episode of The Ringer’s Masked Man Show, former WWE creative writer Kazeem Famuyide said that he has heard about a big show that WWE is planning between the Royal Rumble in late January and WrestleMania 39 in April. 

The main event of the show is rumored to be Damian Priest and Dominik Mysterio teaming up against Rey Mysterio and Bad Bunny. This match would lead to Bad Bunny vs. Dominik at WrestleMania 39. 

Backstory

Damian priest bad bunny

Dominik turned on Edge and Rey at Clash at the Castle by joining The Judgment Day. Rey was moved to SmackDown to get away from his son in storyline. On Thanksgiving, WWE shot an angle where Dom and Rhea Ripley attacked Rey at his home during dinner. 

Fans praised Bad Bunny for his tag team match at WrestleMania 37 – Night 1 in 2021 when he teamed up with Damian Priest against The Miz and John Morrison. Bunny then worked at this year’s Men’s Royal Rumble Match in January.

During the WWE Clash at the Castle post-show press conference, Triple H was asked about the possibility of Bad Buddy returning to do more with the company. This is where Triple H noted he and Bunny were going to have a conversation soon. Perhaps that discussion was about this idea. 

AEW Talent Questioning Recent Tony Khan Booking Decision (Report)

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AEW talent have reportedly been left scratching their heads over a recent booking decision made by Tony Khan.

At AEW Full Gear, William Regal turned on Jon Moxley and the Blackpool Combat Club to help MJF become the new AEW World Champion.

During this week’s Dynamite, MJF turned on Regal, and mocked the British wrestling veteran for making a deal with ‘the Devil.’

Questions

This week’s attack on Regal is being seen by many as the way he’ll be written off of TV, and the former King of the Ring is not expected to return.

It has been reported that Regal’s contract is expected to expire soon, which is something those high up in the company have known for some time.

In the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer questioned why Tony Khan put so much emphasis on Regal’s turn and alliance with MJF, knowing he would be leaving soon.

According to Meltzer, several others in AEW have also questioned the decision of making a big deal about Regal and not having a big payoff.

“I can’t understand putting so much heel steam to the point of being the point man in stealing the title on Regal, when it was known by the key people by this point he was gone in a few weeks. I mean, story or not, the guy was leaving. A lot of talent has questioned that in the same way now that everyone knows he’s leaving.”

Dave Meltzer.

Regal is expected to return to WWE when the time is right after being released in January of this year.

MJF’s Title Win

MJF’s AEW World Championship victory at Full Gear was a long-time coming in the eyes of fans, as the Devil has been a highlight of the promotion for years.

In the Observer, it was reported that there were other pitches for his title win, with some not involving Regal as much, though there was always the need to write him out.

Meltzer writes that the core plan that has remains the same was for MJF to be champion, Bryan Danielson to be challenging and for Regal to be out of the picture.

MLW War Chamber Headed to NYC April 6

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Major League Wrestling has sent in word that the infamous War Chamber match is headed to New York City for the first time ever.

What is the War Chamber? According to MLW, “Locked in a carbon steel chamber with the perimeter of the top fortified with barbed wire, two teams of four will clash in combat that only the War Chamber can contain.”

MLW brings WarChamber to NYC on Thursday, April 6 at the Melrose Ballroom. The event will be a Fusion TV taping (airing on beIN Sports and streaming at Pro Wrestling TV).

War Chamber Rules

  • A coin toss determines which team enters first
  • 1-on-1 for 5:00 in stage 1 of the War Chamber
  • The winner of coin toss comes out for 2-on-1
  • Alternating teams have wrestlers enter every 2 minutes
  • Once all combatants are in the War Chamber, victory is won by submission, surrender or pinfall

Tickets for MLW War Chamber 2022 go on sale Thursday, December 8 at MLWNYC.com. If you’re in the NYC area, this is definitely an event to check out.

“The IRONY” – Saraya Undergoing Oral Surgery After Wrestling a Dentist

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Saraya is headed to the dentist’s chair just weeks after her first match in over five years (against a dentist) and yes, she sees the irony there.

On Thursday evening, Saraya noted on Twitter that she just landed home and was going”straight off the plane to the dentist.”

She’ll be undergoing oral surgery, but it’s unrelated to anything that happened in the ring. She’s having her wisdom teeth removed, a procedure that most people recover from within two weeks.

https://twitter.com/Saraya/status/1598495362809233409

What’s Next for Saraya?

Saraya has been feuding with Dr. Britt Baker since arriving in All Elite Wrestling. After their match at Full Gear last month, she had positive things to say about her rival. During the post-PPV media scrum, she stated bluntly, “Britt carried me through the whole thing.”

It will be interesting to see if Saraya continues her feud with Baker, or if she moves on to a program with someone else. It’s likely too soon into her run to jump into the title picture. Other heels in the AEW women’s division include Anna Jay, Nyla Rose, Red Velvet, Serena Deeb and Tay Melo.

In an unrelated note, Saraya has been outspoken about wanting to work with Sasha Banks again in the future, which is interesting on several levels. She recently revealed that she spoke with Banks after announcing she was medically cleared to wrestle again.

Just days after Full Gear, Saraya name-dropped Banks again:

Cody Rhodes ‘Back to Normal’ and Bulking Up for WWE Return

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Cody Rhodes is gearing up for (another) triumphant return to WWE. Nearly six months after undergoing surgery to repair a torn pectoral muscle, the American Nightmare is healthy, back in the gym and patiently waiting for the right moment to strike.

As the year comes to a close and the focus shifts to the Royal Rumble and the Road to WrestleMania, we have an encouraging update regarding the man who may be destined for a career-defining moment in just a few months time.

According to the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Rhodes is “back to normal when it comes to his ability to train.”

Rhodes’ WWE return is a huge deal and it’s likely they’ll incorporate the element of surprise to maximize the impact of the moment.

Cody Rhodes Bulking Up

Cody Rhodes Bulking Up

Now that his injury is healed, Rhodes has been lifting heavy weights and bulking up. The Observer notes that he’s been working with top level trainers to put on size and strength.

His goal is to be 240 pounds when he returns, “which may be the thickest he’s been in his life.” Based on this report, we won’t have to wait long to meet the new and improved Cody Rhodes.

WrestleMania Plans

Rhodes is expected to be a featured in a top program headed into WrestleMania 39. Prior to his injury, WWE was planning for an eventual showdown between Rhodes and Roman Reigns, the company’s Undisputed Universal Champion.

There’s still hope within WWE that The Rock will work WrestleMania. Plans for the WrestleMania main event are typically locked in by mid-January, ahead of the Rumble.

CM Punk Ready to “Move to His Next Project” After AEW

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CM Punk is ready and willing to move on to his “next project” and part ways with All Elite Wrestling.

Punk joined the promotion in August 2021 after over a seven-year hiatus from wrestling.

The two-time former AEW World Champion hasn’t been seen on TV since All Out due to his role in the backstage fight.

Moving On

Last month, it was reported that CM Punk is the one seeking a buyout of his contract, something that AEW is in no rush to grant.

In the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter, it is reported that Punk remains under contract with Tony Khan at this time, and is still being paid.

Sources close to Punk reiterated that delays in his being released are all down to AEW’s side of things.

Those same sources added that CM Punk is “ready and willing to move to his next project.”

Outside of wrestling, Punk provides commentary for Cage Fury Fighting Championships and has previously written comics for Marvel.

Punk also has appeared in multiple films, and was critically acclaimed for his role in 2019’s ‘Girl on the Third Floor.’

Going Back…

CM Punk may have options outside of wrestling, but moving on from AEW may lead to going back to WWE.

Punk walked out of the promotion in 2014 and was sent his termination papers on his wedding day, an unfortunate coincidence according to former WWE CEO Vince McMahon.

It has been reported that Triple H is open to working with Punk, realizing the huge deal that having arguably AEW’s biggest star on his roster would be.

While the Game is open to discussing a Punk return, others in WWE absolutely do not want him back.

Huge Name Rumored Backstage for WWE Men’s Royal Rumble Match Return (Report)

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Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson could be mere weeks away from his return to WWE as part of the Royal Rumble Premium Live Event.

The 2023 Royal Rumble will take place on January 28, at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas and will kickstart the road to WrestleMania 39.

The 36th Rumble Premium Live Event, next year will be the sixth year that the show has featured a men’s and women’s Rumble match.

If You Can Smell…

For months, rumors of The Rock’s return to WWE have circulated, with many believing he will challenge Roman Reigns at WrestleMania.

Both men have teased the highly-anticipated collision, which has also been referenced on NBC’s Young Rock.

In the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer reported that discussions within WWE have called for The Rock to not only compete in the Men’s Rumble match but to also win.

Meltzer stressed that rumors exist within WWE, and while this could be the plan, as “far as those who would be in a position to know,” nothing has been confirmed as the plan.

A win would see The Rock earn an Undisputed WWE Universal Championship match against Reigns at WrestleMania, but it’s noted that WWE would make a Mania match happen even if The Rock doesn’t make the Rumble.

Sources who spoke to the Observer said that plans for the WrestleMania main event will need to be locked down by mid-January so a decision from Johnson will be needed by then.

The report adds that a “pie-in-the-sky” idea is for The Rock to be a surprise as the #30 entrant.

Last Match

The Rock Vs. Roman Reigns, whether for a championship or not, is worthy of the WrestleMania main event, but could also mark Johnson’s final match.

Meltzer reports that the belief in the past has been that The Rock wants Reigns to be his last opponent, given they are related.

This is a match that has been talked about for years, and it’s reported that The Rock has hoped for his last match to be in Los Angeles, the home of WrestleMania 39.

Kevin Owens Feels Return to the Indies is Possible Under WWE’s New Regime

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Kevin Owens could soon be tearing it up on the independent scene once more, despite being a WWE Superstar.

Prior to signing with WWE in 2014, Owens competed as Kevin Steen in various promotions, including CZW, PWG and Ring of Honor.

The Prizefighter is one of several indie names to make it big in WWE, including El Generico (Sami Zayn,) Tyler Black (Seth Rollins,) and Matt Riddle.

Nakamura Vs. Muta

On January 1, Shinsuke Nakamura will face the Great Muta for Pro Wrestling NOAH, as part of Muta’s retirement tour.

Speaking about the match on WWE After the Bell, Owens expressed his excitement as a fan of both men to see the match.

“When I saw the announcement for the match, they had it when Shinsuke’s music hit in the video, it gave me absolute goosebumps. Knowing how incredible that is for the fans, it’s such a treat, it’s such a surprise. You never would have thought that it was something that could happen. Not only is it happening but it’s something I’m sure means a lot for Shinsuke.”

Muta Vs. Nakamura will take place as part of NOAH’s The New Year 2023 event at Budokan Hall.

Return to the Indies

The idea of a WWE-contracted Superstar working for Pro Wrestling NOAH would have seemed unfeasible during the Vince McMahon era of the company.

Since McMahon’s retirement, Stephanie McMahon, Nick Khan, and Triple H have made several changes to a WWE that feels much different.

When asked if he hopes to see more crossover between WWE and other promotions, Owens expressed a desire to return to the independent scene while still working for WWE.

“Yeah, for sure [I’d like to have matches on the indies.] I’m very deeply rooted in the independent scene. That’s where I came up. I still have so many friends there. There are a few wrestling companies, independent companies that I still hold very near and dear to my heart that I’d love to maybe one day show back up on just for fun whether it’s a promo or maybe it’s a match.

“Now it feels like more of a possibility than ever.”

Kevin Owens on return to the Indpendents whilst working for WWE.

“That’s stuff that over the years I’ve always thought ‘hey man, it’d be really cool if I get to do that one day.’ Now it feels like more of a possibility than ever. And that doesn’t mean it’s going to happen but it feels that it could now. And that’s very exciting. The fans and the wrestlers.”

Owens concluded by highlighting how there is incredible talent on the independents, as people have dedicated themselves to an industry where it is difficult to make a living.

“If you get someone from the independent scene, most of the time, you’ll get someone who is very passionate.”

For use of these quotes please give a h/t to SEScoops.

Kevin Dunn was Missing Backstage at WWE Survivor Series WarGames

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WWE’s Executive Vice President of Television Production was nowhere to be found last weekend at Survivor Series WarGames.

Survivor Series Wargames, the 36th Survivor Series Premium Live Event, saw the iconic double-ring cage stipulation be used on the main roster for the first time ever.

In the show’s opener, Team Bianca defeated Team Damage in the Women’s WarGames match, while The Bloodline stood tall at the end of the night over Team Brutes.

Kevin Dunn

Despite being in such an important role, Dunn wasn’t backstage at last weekend’s Premium Live Event, Fightful Select has confirmed.

The report specified that Dunn remains with WWE, and that there have not been any plans for him to not be working there anytime soon.

After Vince McMahon’s retirement earlier this year, questions arose about what role Dunn would have under the new regime led by Nick Khan, Stephanie McMahon, and Triple H.

Here to Stay

Earlier this year, it was reported that Dunn was expected to leave WWE within the coming 12 months, either of his own accord or by being forced out.

It has been said that Stephanie McMahon is no fan of Dunn, and that he is not a Triple H ‘guy’ either.

Speaking to the media ahead of Summerslam this year, Triple H namedropped Dunn as someone who will be a key part of the new vision for the company.

To take it [WWE] beyond where it is now, the only way we’re gonna do that is with a team. That’s with Steph [McMahon.] That’s with Nick Khan. That’s with myself. That’s with Kevin Dunn

Triple H.

Matt Hardy Discusses Chris Benoit Tribute Show

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While the latest episode of The Extreme Life of Matt Hardy was focused on Jeff Hardy’s WWE return in 2006, the conversation turned to Chris Benoit.

Hardy reflected on how eerie it was that day. Benoit missed the pay-per-view. Hardy ended up filling in for Benoit on house shows earlier that weekend. “It was very strange because Chris was not one to be late. I’ve told you stories about how Chris and Eddie would stay by the gym. They would get a hotel near the closest Gold’s Gym so that they could work out first thing in the morning. They were very timely and very punctual, so Chris never missed shows, never missed shots, people always heard back from him. So, it was very strange the whole weekend. Very strange.”

“And I’ll never forget that day when they called a talent meeting to get everybody together. And keep in mind, we’ve been walking around all day long. There’s caskets in several different places for shots they’re going to do about Vince. There’s all these wreaths everywhere. There’s flowers everywhere, like it’s really like a funeral home. There’s so many weird, eerie vibes floating around that day as we’re doing the show that followed Vince’s explosion and the supposed “death” of the boss.”

Matt Hardy on How He Learned of Chris Benoit’s Death

Matt Hardy WWE

“They had this talent meeting, they call everyone together. I’ll never forget I saw ‘Taker coming out slowly, walking out to where all the crowd was gathered around. I saw Michelle McCool like, crying. I remember turning to Ken Kennedy and going, ‘Chris is dead.’ I saw Undertaker and Michelle coming and Undertaker would’ve been given the heads up and Michelle’s just so upset, I thought ‘he’s gotta be dead.'”

“And then I remember them coming out and proceeding to tell us Chris had been found dead and his family had been found as well. We’re going to change the whole show that night and they’re going to go a different direction and remember Chris Benoit that night. It was a super eerie day and even having walking around all day seeing that funeral stuff, it was just a weird, creepy day. Corpus Christi, Texas. I’ll never forget it. I remember it like it was yesterday and how shocking it just was.”

Final Thoughts

Jon Alba clarified that they will never do an episode dedicated to Benoit. He will come up only in stories. Since it’s the only time they’ll talk about him out of respect for the victim’s families, he did ask a few more questions.

Vince McMahon and the top people in the office broke the news of Benoit’s death. “They told everyone about it and what their intention was for the show. I was asked to do a testimonial, but I said, ‘I’m okay’ and declined to do it because as the day was going on, as you know, more info started coming out and they weren’t really sure how his family died. There were some guys who were suspicious, it could be foul play. I was one of those guys who declined to speak just to be safe. I mean, very sad day, obviously.”

“Extremely sad. Just remarkably eerie in every way possible because of what we were there to do that day, the Vince storyline; the explosion angle. And then to have that real life storyline set in on you like that. It was so crazy. So yeah, there were guys who did to testimonies and it is what it is. It was meant to celebrate Chris Benoit’s wrestling career and life and it’s just very unfortunate how it all ended with him. It’s inexplicable to even try to explain why that happened or how that happened or could have happened. At the end of the day, it’s just heartbreaking. It’s just sad.”

“It hit everyone hard. Everyone was just floored. It came out of left field, no one was expecting that. Chris Benoit’s gone the whole day and not only is Chris Benoit dead, his family has passed away as well. That’s mind-blowing. It strongly effected everyone, even worse when we found out what truly happened.”

Hardy gave his final thoughts on that time. “That was just a very tough day, very tough day at work. Learning that information about someone you worked with very closely hand in hand, you spent time with, that you went on car rides with, that you shared hotel rooms with, to learn that was heavy, man. It’s the first time I can ever say I’ve been in some criminal, traumatic event like that and known someone that close. It was a heartbreaking day all the way around.”

WWE Considering Huge Stipulation Match for Royal Rumble 2023 PLE

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WWE Royal Rumble 2023 will see two Rumble matches as expected, but another high-profile stipulation match could be in the works.

With WWE scrapping its Day 1 event, the Royal Rumble will be the first Premium Live Event of 2023 and the starting point on the road to WrestleMania.

A Cold Day in Hell

In addition to the two Royal Rumble matches, WWE is considering bringing the Hell in a Cell match to next month’s event.

That’s according to Wrestling News, which reports that there has been “talk” about a match on the card.

If it goes ahead, this will be the first Hell in a Cell match in the history of the Royal Rumble, and the earliest in the year a Hell in a Cell match has ever happened.

Hell in a Cell

Since 2009, the Hell in a Cell match has had its own Premium Live Event, and has rarely been used outside of that show.

Earlier this year, it was reported that the Hell in a Cell PLE was “completely dead,” thanks to decisions made by Triple H.

The Game has been vocal about using stipulation matches when the storyline calls for it, instead of when it’s the right time of the year.

At the Survivor Series WarGames post-show press conference, the WWE Head of Creative and Talent Relations described Hell in a Cell as a “blow-off match” which should mark the end of a feud.

Triple H’s career saw him enter Hell in a Cell nine times, and won six of his matches in the structure.