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Roman Reigns Advertised For Upcoming SmackDown Season Premiere

Jon Fuentes
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Roman Reigns is currently advertised for the upcoming SmackDown season premiere in October.

The DCU Center is currently advertising “The Tribal Chief” for the WWE SmackDown on Friday, October 7 in Worcester, Massachusetts. That will be the season premiere for the show, and it will also be the go-home show prior to WWE Extreme Rules 2022.

WWE.com is also advertising Reigns for the show. It should also be noted that The Bloodline is also being advertised for the Monday Night RAW on the post-Extreme Rules edition of the program in October.

Check out the official advertisement from the DCU Center here:

Roman Reigns currently reigns as the Undisputed WWE Champion since capturing the WWE Title from Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania earlier this year. After successful title defenses against the likes of Lesnar and Drew McIntyre, Reigns’ next opponent is already booked for Saudi Arabia.

Roman Reigns

He’ll take on Logan Paul at Crown Jewel next month. While it’s highly unlikely that Reigns’ title reign ends with Paul, it will be interesting to see who else could challenge Reigns for the WWE’s top prize moving forward.

Names such as the returning Braun Strowman, AJ Styles, and Karrion Kross have all been tossed around as possibilities.

WWE Planning Redesigned Championship Titles

Thomas Lowson
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WWE has commissioned several sets of new championship belts in what is being seen as the latest big change to the company in the post-Vince McMahon era.

Since the ex-CEO’s departure in July, several changes have been made to WWE’s roster, with talent released in recent years being brought back. WWE has also made changes on a larger scale, ending the NXT UK brand in favor of the NXT Europe show expected to launch next year.

WWE is host to plenty of titles across Raw, SmackDown and NXT, and some of those titles are set to receive a new look. WWE has had newly designed championships for weeks, with at least three new sets of title belts fully finished, according to Fightful.

WWE Superstars who spoke to Fightful off-the-record are said to welcome the new titles. It’s also believed that Triple H’s rise to power following McMahon’s retirement sped up the process to introduce new title designs.

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New Tag Gold

Championship belt creator Belt Fan Dan recently noted on Twitter that new tag team championship belts have been created and are ready to roll out.

The WWE Undisputed Tag Team Championships have been represented by the Raw and SmackDown tag-team titles since the championships were unified in May.

There are also never used tag team titles, which look like the designs used on the WWE Women’s tag titles on colored straps, but it is unclear if they will be used.

Velcro vs. Snaps

One change already made to WWE’s championships is the use of velcro on the titles.

Though WWE once used snap pins to hold titles around the waist of talent, velcro is now used, with the snap pins being used for aesthetic appeal.

WWE talent who spoke to Fightful said that they appreciate how velcro allows them to fasten and unfasten titles quickly, but it cosmetically looks bad.

More Changes

WWE’s championships are set to get a redesign, and the promotion has plans to change things across all three brands.

We recently saw WWE introduce a new logo for NXT and drop the “2.0” branding that was introduced last year. Aside from new championship belts on the main roster, there are said to be other cosmetic changes in store for the Raw and SmackDown brands.

WWE Could be About to Drop one of its Championships

WWE Hall Of Famer Thinks CM Punk’s Media Scrum Rant Was Disastrous and Counterproductive

Joey Galizia
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As the month of September comes to an end the pro-wrestling community is still reeling from the events of the AEW ALL OUT media scrum, and the tirade from former two-time world champion CM Punk, who called out the wrestling media for their “mishandling” of the Colt Cabana situation. The Second City Saint also took aim at the AEW EVPs Kenny Omega and the Young Bucks.

The situation only became worse when a backstage melee occurred between Punk and the Elite, one that got multiple names suspended and threw a wrench into several ongoing storylines that cause Tony Khan to alter his plans once again. At this point an investigation is still going on, with Punk’s status the biggest question mark up in the air. A number of top legends, analysts, and current superstars have weighed in on this monumental moment, and now we can add one more to the list.

Mick Foley Calls Punk’s tirade a disaster for AEW President Tony Khan

WWE Hall of Famer Mick Foley spoke about the ALL OUT media scrum and the ensuing backstage altercation on the latest edition of his Foley Is Pod program. The Hardcore legend begins by stating the obvious, which is that Punk’s comments at the scrum were counterproductive to his world title win earlier in the evening, and put AEW President Tony Khan in a terrible position.

“I think anything that takes away from the majesty of that moment is counterproductive. By that standard, everything Phil did, Punk did, was disastrous because it put Tony Khan in a bad position. Anything that ends up with, Punk I believe was hurt and would have probably been out. But it put a lot of eyeballs on the product the next night, that’s a given. It was just really unfortunate. You don’t want to see that side of your superstars.”

That’s not all. Foley further elaborated on the situation by comparing Punk’s victory over Jon Moxley to his victory over The Rock, his first world title win in WWE.

“You know, I know when I held that title aloft when I beat [The Rock] for the WWE Title, and I never thought I was a WWE Title guy, so I never based my career on it the way that a lot of people have. But I remember that feeling of just utter joy. I moved pretty good for a big guy when I ran my two or three laps around there and then gave the impromptu promo, Big Daddio did it. I can’t imagine going backstage and being angry or bitter, or taking the joy out of the experience for our fans. So I didn’t see Punk’s promo in its entirety, but it put Tony Khan in a bad position, and there’s a time and a place, maybe, to play with emotions. If you have something substantial that can make people feel strange in their gut, but not after a title win.”

Aside from just the incident Punk was also injured during his matchup with Moxley, which has put him on the shelf once again. At this time it is unknown if he will return when he is all healed up.

CM Punk is Probably Not Returning to AEW

WWE Postponing Shows This Weekend Due to Hurricane Ian

Andrew Ravens
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WWE has announced that they’ve postponed two NXT live events in Florida this weekend as Hurricane Ian has caused mass evacuation orders in the state. 

Live shows originally set for Friday, September 30, from Tampa, Florida’s University Area Community Complex and Saturday, October 1, from Dade City, Florida’s Dade City Armory have been postponed until December 17 and November 11, respectively.

A state of emergency has been declared in Florida due to Hurricane Ian, which made landfall in Cuba on Tuesday and is expected to impact Florida on Wednesday. Around 2.5 million Floridians are currently under evacuation orders.

WWE’s Statement

wwe live 07

WWE issued the following statement regarding the shows being postponed:

“NXT UNIVERSE

Due to Hurricane Ian, the WWE NXT LIVE events this Friday, September 30th in Tampa, FL & Saturday, October 1st in Dade City, Florida will be postponed.

All tickets purchased for this Friday’s event in Tampa will be honored at the new event on Saturday, December 17th and all tickets purchased for this Saturday’s event in Dade City will be honored at the new event on Friday, November 11th.

If you have any questions about these events or would like a refund for your ticket please email [email protected] with your name and order number.”

AEW President Tony Khan announced via Twitter on Monday that it is voluntary for talent to travel to this week’s tapings.

Triple H Names the Superstar he Regrets Never Feuding With

Thomas Lowson
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Triple H has feuded with a lot of top names in wrestling, but the Game regrets never having a prolonged feud with Rey Mysterio.

When Mysterio joined WWE in 2002, he was put on SmackDown, while Triple H was the top star on Raw.

While Triple H would eventually be drafted to SmackDown in 2008, Rey would be drafted to Raw that same year.

The following year, Triple H was drafted back to Raw and Mysterio was moved back to SmackDown.

The Missed Feud

Speaking to LadBible, the Game spoke about the possibility of working with Mysterio and how the opportunity never arose.

“I always wanted to work with Rey Mysterio. I think I’ve been in the ring with him twice [in] my entire career. There’s certain guys like that… We just never ended up in the same place in the same storylines.

“I always wanted to work with Rey Mysterio.”

Triple H.

“I’ve thrown it out there a lot over the years of like, ‘Hey, what if Rey and I did something,’ But he was always on SmackDown [while] I was on Raw or vice versa. It just never panned out but he’s always a guy that I always thought ‘Man, I would have loved to have gone and done something big with him.'”

Rey Mysterio Vs. Triple H

While Rey and Triple H never feuded, the two did share the ring on occasion

Triple H and Mysterio were the #1 and #2 entrants in the 2006 Royal Rumble, which was later won by Rey.

Rey and Triple H would be on the same team as part of Survivor Series 2007, aligning with Jeff Hardy and Kane.

“I Oversee Everything” – Triple H Explains His Role As Chief Content Officer & How WWE Recruits Talent

Latest on Buddy Matthews/Malakai Black in AEW: “Nobody’s Getting Released”

Thomas Lowson
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Buddy Matthews and Malakai Black will be staying with AEW for the foreseeable future despite previous statements teasing their departures.

After taking a bow at the AEW All Out 2022 Pay Per View, it was reported that Black had asked for his release, which the Dutch wrestler confirmed in a statement.

“I did indeed ask for my release.“

Malakai Black.

Last week, Buddy Matthews spoke at an indie event where he also teased an indefinite break from wrestling.

This led to belief among fans that both men were done with the company, with reports that they were hoping on a return to WWE now with Triple H running creative.

Black has since debunked claims that he has left AEW.

The Doctrine

Speaking on Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer explained that nobody is set to depart AEW following the recent statements from Black and Matthews.

Nobody’s getting released. That’s the doctrine Tony Khan made that very clear I guess in the last couple of days. So now it’s just, he [Malakai Black] is not being released. Buddy Matthews isn’t being released. They may be back sooner than before or whatever but that’s the situation you know.

“You know what the situation is. They were wanting to go and trying to get a way out. I mean which we talked about last night and that was the decision that was made. It’s not to say it’s hard and fast and there would be no way that he [AEW President Tony Khan] will never give anybody a release but I think it’s pretty much the deal.”

Speaking about WWE, Meltzer said this wouldn’t happen in the McMahon-Nick Khan promotion.

“If this happened in the other company [WWE] would those people get releases? The answer is no.”

Dave Meltzer.

WWE has reportedly shown interest in rehiring several former Superstars who have since joined AEW.

Swerve Strickland reportedly referred to WWE to his legal representatives when approached, but is not introduced in a return and Hit Row reunion.

Options

With Black and Matthews seemingly staying with AEW, it remains to be seen when they will return.

Black has said he could be back within a matter of weeks but has given no confirmed timeframe for how long he or Matthews will be gone.

Meltzer sid that Khan could extend the contracts of either man, something seen in the past by WWE.

“Now their option is to sit at home and then he [Khan] can extend the contract if they sit at home, or wrestle. So now they’re going to wrestle. Yeah, kind of a weird thing how that all turned out you know he [Black] waved goodbye and now he’s coming back. You know now he’s gonna blame me [and] you know but that’s what happened. No release.”

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

Brody King Reacts To Malakai Black & Buddy Matthews Reportedly Leaving AEW

Trish Stratus is Working on a ‘Secret Project’ with WWE

Thomas Lowson
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The WWE Universe will be getting another dose of ‘Stratusfaction’ soon enough according to seven-time Women’s Champion Trish Stratus.

Stratus worked full-time with WWE from 2006 to 2006, before retiring in her hometown of Toronto at that year’s Unforgiven Pay Per View.

Since then, the Canadian legend has made a handful of appearances for the company.

On Twitter, Stratus shared a selfie and said that she has just begun a secret project.

She also tagged the official WWE account, signalling that she is working with the promotion.

One More Match?

Trish is keeping tight-lipped on what this project could be, but another match is a possibility for the 2013 WWE Hall of Fame inductee.

Stratus’ most recent appearance for WWE came on the August 22, 2022, Monday Night Raw, which took place in her native Toronto, and where she teased having one more match.

Her promo was interrupted by Damage CTRL, leading to speculation among fans of a Bayley-Stratus match.

Stratus’ most recent match, which was billed as her retirement match, saw her lose to Charlotte Flair at Summerslam 2019, also in Toronto.

Stratus after Retirement

Despite leaving WWE in 2006, Stratus has made several appearances since then, and had several matches.

In 2008, Trish wrestled her first match in over two years, teaming with John Cena to defeat Santino Marella and Beth Phoenix.

Stratus also returned in 2018, having a series of matches around the time of WWE Evolution: the promotion’s first all-female Pay Per View.

Outside of wrestling, Stratus appeared in a 2013 music video for Mickie James’ song ‘Somebody’s Gonna Pay,’ and had a minor role for the TV movie ‘Christmas in the Rockies’ in 2020.

In March this year, she appeared as a judge on ‘Canada’s Got Talent.’

Trish Stratus Underwent Emergency Surgery Over the Weekend

Potential Spoiler on Future Opponent for Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns

Thomas Lowson
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Roman Reigns could be in store for a phenomenal feud with AJ Styles for the Tribal Chief’s Undisputed WWE Universal Champion.

Styles, a two-time former WWE Champion, last held world title gold in 2018, losing the championship to Daniel Bryan (now AEW’s Bryan Danielson.)

Reigns has dominated as Universal Champion since August 2020, and unified the title with the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 38.

At recent WWE Live events, Reigns has been facing Styles in the main event of the evening.

Cageside Seats reports that there is belief that the two will soon be feuding on WWE programming.

WWE has used untelevised events to test possible feuds for Television.

Styles has been feuding with The Judgment Day in recent weeks but does not have a match at the upcoming Extreme Rules Premium Live Event

Get in Line

In AJ Styles could soon be challenging for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship, he’s not the only one who wants a shot at the Head of the Table.

Roman Reigns is scheduled to defend his Championship against Logan Paul at Crown Jewel in Saudi Arabia next month.

It has also been reported that WWE is considering Reigns Vs. Karrion Kross at November’s WWE Survivor Series: WarGames.

Braun Strowman is also expected to face Roman Reigns in the near future.

After returning to WWE earlier this month, it was reported that Strowman will be the top face on the SmackDown brand, making a feud with Reigns likely.

Reigns Vs. Styles

Roman Reigns and AJ Styles last feuded in 2016, mere months after the latter’s WWE debut.

The babyface Reigns, then the WWE World Champion, defeated Styles at that month’s Payback, and later defeated him at Extreme Rules.

AJ Styles Reveals the WWE WrestleMania Dream Match he Never Got

Tony Khan: AEW Stars Affected by Hurricane Ian May Miss Dynamite

Thomas Lowson
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This week’s AEW Dynamite could see a much smaller roster than usual thanks to the effects of Hurricane Ian.

Hurricane Ian is currently approaching Florida, and will pass through the Sunshine State this week.

On Twitter, AEW President Tony Khan announced that anyone involved in the show who cannot safely make it to Dynamite is allowed to miss the event for their safety.

This week’s Dynamite will take place from the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania but many AEW wrestlers live in Florida.

Hurricane Ian

According to the National Hurricane Center, Hurricane Ian is expected to be a category three storm with wind speeds of 120mph or greater.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency and has activated 5,000 National Guard troops to assist with relief efforts.

The White House has also made its own emergency declaration, which will help federal and state officials coordinate disaster relief and assistance.

Meteorologists have warned that flooding is possible today in the Florida peninsula as the hurricane approaches.

AEW Dynamite

This week’s AEW Dynamite will go ahead despite the hurricane, with matches already announced.

New Ring of Honor World Champion Chris Jericho will have his first title defense when he faces former World Champion Bandido.

AEW World Champion Jon Moxley will face Juice Robinson in a non-title match.

It has also been promoted that MJF will make an appearance on the show, as will Saraya in her first promo on AEW Dynamite.

Saraya debuted for AEW during last week’s Grand Slam special.

Tony Khan Explains His Booking Decisions to Fan on Social Media

Jim Cornette On Saraya Signing With AEW: “How Did WWE Let Her Get Away?”

Robert Lentini
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WWE legend Jim Cornette recently praised Saraya on his podcast following her debut in All Elite Wrestling.

Saraya made her debut last Wednesday at Dynamite: Grand Slam. Toni Storm defended the Interim AEW Women’s Championship in a 4-Way against Serena Deeb, Athena, and Britt Baker. Toni escaped with a victory but the heels attacked her after the match. Saraya made her debut and Britt Baker, Serena Deeb, and Jamie Hayter retreated upon her arrival.

Cornette is one of the most vocal critics of All Elite Wrestling but praised the former WWE star on The Jim Cornette Experience. He noted the impressive reaction she got from the crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

“As soon as the word Saraya came up on the screen, the place went ballistic. I don’t even know if they would have cheered if that had happened in a WWE building because none of the WWE fans would have known probably what Paige’s real name was, well maybe the most devoted.

But these fans, they are the smart ones and they knew it was Paige, and boy, the place comes apart and the heels bail out of the ring, and the fans go crazy. Paige walks into the ring, smiles at the people, and that was it.”

Jim then wondered why WWE would let her get away if she has been cleared to wrestle.

“If she has been cleared to wrestle, then why did the WWE let her get away? She’s not with Alberto Del Maniac anymore… She’s not having public meltdowns. So if she was cleared to wrestle, and could wrestle, how did the WWE let her get away?

Cornette added if she hasn’t been cleared to wrestle, then Tony Khan would have to be a complete lunatic to sign her given the circumstances.

“You would have to be a complete lunatic to sign a wrestler under those circumstances without having them check to see if they can wrestle. So what’s going on here? I’ll tell you another thing, if Paige was paying close attention to that match, she’s gotta be thinking ‘holy f***, this is worse than a shoot. I don’t want to get involved with these people.”

Please credit The Jim Cornette Experience & give a H/T to SEScoops for the transcription if you use quotes from this article.

3 Things Saraya Brings to AEW’s Women’s Division

Robert Lentini
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Saraya, formerly known as Paige in WWE, made her debut for All Elite Wrestling last Wednesday at Dynamite: Grand Slam.

The special edition of Dynamite aired live From Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York. Toni Storm defended the AEW Interim Women’s Championship against Britt Baker, Serena Deeb, and Athena. Toni won the match to retain the title was attacked from behind by Britt and Serena. Jamie Hayter made her way to the ring but it was revealed that she is still aligned with Britt Baker.

The heels beat Toni Storm and Athena down until Falling in Reverse’s “Zombified” blared through the speakers. Saraya made her debut and came down to the ring to a tremendous reaction. Britt, Serena, Rebel, and Jamie all retreated as Saraya stood tall with Toni and Athena in the ring.

Star Power

Saraya instantly brings star power to the women’s division as evident by the reaction she received during her debut. She was The Anti-Diva in because she didn’t look like other female WWE Superstars and many fans connected to her.

People around the world also found out about Saraya (Paige) on the hit reality show Total Divas. Her debut at Dynamite: Grand Slam has already garnered close to 1.5 million views in five days. She also has 2.7 million followers on Twitter, 9 times the amount of MJF and Britt Baker, and over double the total of followers former AEW EVP Cody Rhodes currently has.

https://twitter.com/Saraya/status/1572918271271108611?s=20&t=evcr94K6Rf2GnVQszGidzg

Experience

Saraya performed in WWE as Paige from 2011 – 2022. Her final match for the company happened at a house show in 2017. Sasha Banks connected with a kick to the back of her neck and it marked the end of her in-ring career for WWE.

She became the inaugural NXT Women’s Champion and held the title for 301 days. Her reign only came to an end because she defeated AJ Lee to become the Divas Champion on the RAW after WrestleMania 30. She would team with AJ Lee to defeat The Bella Twins a year later at WrestleMania 31, in what would be AJ’s final match.

After becoming the youngest Divas Champion in company history at the age of 21, she shared the ring with some of the best female wrestlers on the planet for years in WWE.

Following her in-ring career, Paige served as the SmackDown GM for a bit before becoming a manager for former WWE Superstar Kairi Sane and Asuka’s tag team known as The Kabuki Warriors. Asuka and Kairi eventually turned on Paige by spitting green mist in her face.

She also was a co-host of the talk show WWE Backstage on Fox from 2019-2020. Saraya has been a full-time wrestler, a GM, a manager, and a media pundit all before the age of thirty. WWE opted not to resign Paige and her contract expired earlier this year in June.

Leadership

In addition to accomplishing so much in her career that there has already been a movie made about her, Saraya has also experienced the downfalls of being a public figure.

She has been subjected to personal leaks, a dysfunctional relationship that played out in the public eye, suspensions, injuries, you name it, she has dealt with it.

Saraya has been through everything there is to go through when it comes to being a popular professional wrestler. AEW appears to have an abundance of backstage issues as of late, including the AEW Women’s Champion bowing out of her title match a few days before All Out.

It remains unclear if Saraya is cleared to return to the ring or has signed with All Elite Wrestling for another role. As proven throughout her career, Saraya can do just about anything in the wrestling business. Saraya will address the crowd tomorrow night on Dynamite in her first promo in AEW.

Are you excited about Saraya’s arrival in AEW? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

“I’ve Debunked It” – Malakai Black Denies Rumor That He’s Leaving AEW

Robert Lentini
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Malakai Black and Buddy Matthews of House of Black have been rumored to be on their way out of All Elite Wrestling but apparently, that is not the case.

Malakai spoke at an independent wrestling event recently and said he needed some time to recalibrate. The 37-year-old also recently released a statement that confirmed he requested for his release from All Elite Wrestling.

Buddy Matthews also delivered a promo at an independent wrestling event and echoed a similar sentiment. He stated that he needed to go away for a while and that it wasn’t a goodbye. House of Black member Brody King then sent out a GIF to signify that he was not leaving the company.

Now, Malakai Black is saying that he is taking some time off and will in fact return to All Elite Wrestling in the near future. You can check out his comments and watch the video below.

“Again guys, stop believing these things. It is unbelievable to me. Anyway, I will see you guys in a couple of weeks, maybe a couple of months. Like I said, I’m only taking some time off. That’s it. I’m just taking some time off.

There is no conspiracy to this. I’m just taking some time off. Alright? I will see you guys soon. Take care of yourself, stop believing any other narrative. I’ve debunked it. There is nothing going on.

Don’t believe these people. Don’t write opinions, don’t believe it. Nothing. I am fine. I am going to be fine. Everything is fine. You will see me right back with AEW pretty soon. I’m just going to take some time. That is it.

Last thing before I leave, don’t make me some instrument for this whole ‘tribalism, us versus them thing’ because I don’t do that stuff. I don’t do ‘Team AEW vs. Team WWE’. I don’t play that.”

https://twitter.com/BRAlNBUSTAH/status/1574616502111768589?s=20&t=evcr94K6Rf2GnVQszGidzg

What Happened With Seth Rollins After WWE RAW Went Off The Air

Robert Lentini
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Seth Rollins is set to battle Matt Riddle in a Fight Pit at WWE Extreme Rules on October 8th.

Their rivalry has been going on for months and the two were originally supposed to face off at SummerSlam. The match was canceled at the last minute but Seth still attacked Riddle during the Premium Live Event. The rivalry has gotten incredibly personal as Seth recently noted that Matt’s wife and children left him during an interview on RAW. Seth defeated Riddle at Clash at the Castle via pinfall.

On this week’s edition of RAW, Seth vowed to win the bout at Extreme Rules and battled Rey Mysterio in a singles match. Dominik and Rhea Ripley interfered and allowed Seth to pick up a submission victory over Rey.

Riddle was in action tonight in the main event. He battled Damian Priest with The Judgment Day ringside. Riddle emerged victorious after rolling up Damian in the middle of the ring. After the match, The Judgment Day attacked but Edge returned to make the save. The Rated-R Superstar challenged Finn Balor to an “I Quit” match at Extreme Rules.

What Happened After WWE RAW Went Off The Air?

Matt Riddle was celebrating his victory over Damian Priest with the WWE Universe after RAW went off the air. Seth leaped over the barricade and the crowd erupted. The two stars brawled for a little bit before WWE officials broke it up. Seth then scampered around the ring and got in some more shots on Riddle before the two were separated.

Report: The AEW Stars WWE Has Reached Out to So Far

Ryan Droste
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There has been a great amount of discussion over the last two months about WWE reportedly making overtures to AEW talent who are still under contract, and a new report sheds some light on exactly who these names are.

According to Fightful Select, there were indeed some AEW stars who did receive word that WWE would be interested in bringing them back. The first name that jumps off the page is former AEW Tag Team Champion Swerve Strickland. According to the report, he told the WWE party to contact his attorney. Strickland apparently had no interest in returning to WWE, and the pitch was reportedly for him to return as part of Hit Row.

For what it’s worth, Strickland’s partner Keith Lee has apparently not been contacted by WWE.

On the tag team front, it was previously reported that word was given to FTR that WWE would be interested in bringing them back.

Any Truth to Those Bobby Fish, Adam Cole, and Kyle O’Reilly Rumors?

Adam Cole Kyle O'Reilly Bobby FIsh
(via AEW)

There has been some chatter that Bobby Fish, prior to exiting AEW, was trying to get Adam Cole and Kyle O’Reilly to ask for their AEW releases so that the trio could return to WWE. According to Fightful Select, there’s no truth to this rumor. Several AEW sources indicated the rumor was false, and WWE sources stated that they have not been in contact with Fish about a return to the company.

Miro has not asked for his AEW release despite there being some chatter about WWE reaching out to him. These rumors were not substantiated or refuted, with no reporting either way on the matter.

Lastly, at least one AEW official stated they are expecting both Buddy Matthews and Aleister Black to be back with AEW within a couple of months. Black had asked for his AEW release and reportedly told at least one person at WWE that he wished he was back with the company, however AEW never had any intention of releasing him so that he could return to WWE. AEW officials believed that the situation had been “smoothed over” prior to All Out.

Furthermore, Black did an IG Live on Monday night where he noted he has not been released from AEW. He stated that he has been given some time off to deal with some personal things. He said he would be back with AEW soon.

Check out the Top Rope Nation wrestling podcast for your weekly dose of pro wrestling talk featuring interviews, analysis and exclusive news. Apple – Spotify – YouTube. 

7 Takeaways From WWE RAW (9/26): Edge Returns, Candice LeRae, White Rabbit, The Bloodline, Extreme Rules

Robert Lentini
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0

WWE RAW aired live tonight from Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. In addition to the takeaways below, another QR code was shown during tonight’s episode of RAW. You can check out the new clues in the video below.

WWE RAW Results

  • Bianca Belar def. IYO SKY (non-title match)
  • Seth Rollins def. Rey Mysterio via submission
  • Kevin Owens & Johnny Gargano def. Alpha Academy
  • Omos def. enhancement talent
  • Candice LeRae def. Nikki A.S.H.
  • Sami Zayn def. AJ Styles
  • Matt Riddle def. Damian Priest

Here are the takeaways from this week’s show:

Ladder Match For The RAW Women’s Championship Set For WWE Extreme Rules

RAW Women’s Champion Bianca Belair came to the ring with Alexa Bliss and Asuka to kick off the show. Belair claimed that Bayley can’t fight her battles on her own. Damage CTRL interrupted and Bayley said that Bianca has been handed everything. Belair stated that she has earned everything she has accomplished thus far in her career.

The Role Model boasted about pinning Bianca at Clash at the Castle and claimed that the only reason Belair has accomplished anything is that she was out for a year with an injury. Bianca challenged Bayley to a match tonight but she declined. It was announced that the two will face at Extreme Rules in a Ladder match for the RAW Women’s Championship.

Belair said she will get Extreme with IYO SKY tonight then and the two had a singles match. Bianca leveled IYO with a kick to the face to start off the action as RAW went to a break. Solo Sikoa and Sami Zayn arrived to the arena during the break. Sami will battle AJ Styles later tonight with Solo Sikoa in his corner.

Bianca and IYO had a back-and-forth match that was given a ton of time. Damage CTRL tried to interfere ringside but in the end the RAW Women’s Champion emerged victorious after hitting the KOD. Bayley and Bianca Belair will battle in a Ladder match for the RAW Women’s Championship at WWE Extreme Rules.

The Judgment Day Helped Seth Rollins def. Rey Mysterio

Seth Rollins cut a promo ahead of his match against Rey Mysterio tonight on RAW. Rollins said he’s not United States Champion because Matt Riddle interfered in his match against Bobby Lashley. Rollins said that they will finish things in the Fight Pit at Extreme Rules. Seth vowed to give Rey the beating he should have given to his son Dominik in their match tonight.

Rey bashed Rollins face off the steel steps and busted him open early. Seth connected with a Tilt-A-Whirl Backbreaker in the middle of the ring and took control of the action. Mysterio battled back and unloaded some strikes in the corner of the ring. Seth slammed Rey down on the entrance ramp. Dominik Mysterio arrived with a steel chair and stared at Seth. Dominik patted Seth on the back as RAW went to a commercial break.

When RAW returned, Dominik was sitting ringside for the match as Rey sent Seth tumbling to the floor. Mysterio followed it up with his sliding Splash and Dominik stood up. Dominik provided a distraction by daring Rey to strike him. Rhea attacked Rey from behind and rolled him back into the ring. Rollins capitalized and hit the Spider Twist for the submission victory.

Kevin Owens & Johnny Gargano def. Alpha Academy

Kevin Owens and Johnny Gargano teamed up to battle Alpha Academy (Chad Gable & Otis) this week on RAW. Gargano and Gable started off the match and Johnny Wrestling connected with a Dropkick. Otis and Kevin Owens then tagged in and KO hit a Dropkick of his own.

Owens and Gable then battled and Kevin hit a Moonsault off the middle turnbuckle for a near fall. Gargano hopped on KO’s back and they connected with a Senton on Gable for a two count. Otis tagged in and planted Gargano with a massive Powerslam in the middle of the ring. Chad Gable gave Otis a smooch on the cheek as RAW went to a commercial break.

When RAW returned, Owens took control and hit Gable with a Cannonball in the corner of the ring. KO followed it up with a Neckbreaker and went for the cover but Gargano kicked out at two. Owens went for a Swanton Bomb off the top turnbuckle but Gable got his knees up at the last moment.

Gable blocked a Stunner attempt but Owens was able to lock in the Sharpshooter in the middle of the ring. Otis got into the ring and broke it up with a Clothesline from behind. Johnny tagged in and Dropkicked Otis off the ring apron. He caught Gable with an Enziguri and lawn darted him into the top turnbuckle. Owens tagged in and hit the Swanton for a near fall.

Chad responded with a Northern Lights Suplex and then hit Gargano with an Exploder Suplex after he tagged in. Otis got the tag and lifted Johnny up in the Electric Chair. Gable climbed to the top rope and hit a Bulldog for a two count. Otis leveled KO with a shoulder tackle and then a Splash in the corner.

Owens rolled out of the ring and Otis followed him. Otis hit the former Universal Champion with a Clothesline before he started clearing off the announce table. Owens hit a Superkick and then sent Otis through the table with a Splash off the barricade as the crowd popped.

Johnny Wrestling set up for a Superkick but Austin Theory interfered. Austin distracted Gargano and Gable capitalized with a slam for a two count. Theory went to hit Johnny with the briefcase but he ducked. Gargano hit Theory with a Superkick and then caught Gable with a slingshot DDT for the pinfall victory. Gable then got a phone call backstage from Braun Strowman and it was later announced that he will face The Monster of All Monsters next week. Gargano versus Otis was set for next week’s show as well.

Omos Dominated, Dexter Lumis & The Miz, AJ Rejects The Judgment Day

Finn Balor once again tried to recruit AJ Styles to The Judgment Day tonight on RAW. Balor noted that Solo Sikoa of The Bloodline will have Sami’s match in the near match. AJ declined their offer and said he will watch his own back.

Omos defeated two jobbers in a Handicap match tonight as MVP was on commentary.

Dexter Lumis snuck up on The Miz in an Oilers uniform and choked out The Miz again. One day this storyline will go somewhere I’m sure of it.

Candice LeRae Debuted

Nikki A.S.H. battled Candice LeRae tonight on WWE RAW. Nikki trapped Candice in the ring skirt and beat her down to start off the action. Nikki brought Candice back inside the ring and taunted her some more. Candice quickly battled back and hit Neckbreaker finisher for the pinfall victory. Damage CTRL confronted Candice backstage after she debuted.

Sami Zayn def. AJ Styles, The Judgment Day Attacked

Sami Zayn battled AJ Styles tonight on RAW. The action started off back and forth. Sami hit the Blue Thunder Bomb for a near fall. Styles hit a Pele Kick and both men fell to the canvas as RAW went to a break.

When RAW returned, AJ battled back and went for the Styles Clash but Sami escapes. Solo dragged Styles out of the ring and hit him with a Uranage while the referee was distracted. Back in the ring, Sami hit the Helluva Kick for the pinfall victory.

After the match, The Judgment Day showed up and Balor got on the microphone. Finn said he wanted AJ to join the group as a friend. Balor threw up the “too sweet” sign and AJ responded with a middle finger. Judgment Day then attacked AJ and Balor set up for the con-chair-to. Finn stopped himself and claimed that is not what friends do and let AJ go.

Matt Riddle Picked Up A Win, Edge Returned

Matt Riddle battled Damian Priest in the main event with Finn Balor, Dominik, and Rhea Ripley ringside. Matt got distracted by Riddle and Damian leveled him with a big right hand to the face as RAW went to a break. When RAW returned, Damian launched Riddle to the floor outside the ring and Judgment Day taunted him. Priest hurled Riddle into the barricade as RAW went to the final commercial break of the night.

When RAW returned, Riddle connected with the Bro Derek but Damian Priest somehow kicked out at two. Damian responded with a slam of his own for a two count. Damian went for a Chokeslam but Riddle escaped. Riddle hit a jumping knee strike to Damian’s face but got distracted by Judgment Day. Damian lifted Riddle up but Matt countered into a cradle for the pinfall victory.

After the match, The Judgment Day attacked from behind and Damian hit him with a Chokeslam. Edge’s theme hit and The Rated-R Superstar rushed the ring. Edge hit Balor with a Spear and then delivered another one to Damian Priest. Rhea dragged Dominik away as Edge stood tall. Edge grabbed a microphone and said that The Judgment Day has tried to finish him over and over but he always comes back. Edge added that he doesn’t quit and challenged Finn Balor to a an “I Quit” match at Extreme Rules to close the show.

WWE Drops More White Rabbit Clues Featuring The Rock, Cody Rhodes, & More On RAW

Robert Lentini
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The ‘White Rabbit’ mystery has become a very popular topic amongst the WWE Universe.

WWE has been playing Jefferson Airplane’s 1967 song “White Rabbit” at live events and during a commercial break on a recent SmackDown.

On last week’s episode of RAW, WWE displayed a QR code as Austin Theory made his way to the ring for a match against Kevin Owens. The URL took fans to a hidden WWE website with a game of Hang Man. The question was “Who killed the world and the answer was “YOU DID”.

On last week’s episode of SmackDown, another QR code appeared during a backstage segment with Hit Row and The Street Profits. The code took fans to another hidden website that revealed the word “patricide”, which means to kill one’s father. Bray Wyatt had previously referenced killing his father in a promo. It also had the coordinates for the arena of tonight’s RAW (Rogers Place).

WWE has released another clue for the White Rabbit during tonight’s episode of RAW. A QR code showed up during Seth Rollins versus Rey Mysterio. The Architect emerged victorious after Dominik distracted his father and Rhea attacked from behind. The code takes fans to WWE’s TikTok page this time and shows a video featuring clips from the past.

The video features Cody Rhodes, Kurt Angle, Edge, The Rock, Randy Orton, and legends from the past saying “Who killed the world? You did”. WWE also played the song during a commercial break of tonight’s RAW.

The number 40701 was displayed in the video and Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful noted that is the zip code for Corbin, Kentucky. Happy Corbin hasn’t been seen since he left in JBL’s limo on a recent episode of SmackDown. The Fiend also defended the Universal Championship against The Miz in the town in 2020.

You can check out our deep dive into the White Rabbit mystery here.

Tony Khan Explains His Booking Decisions to Fan on Social Media

Andrew Ravens
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AEW President Tony Khan is looking to capitalize on the moment that his promotion has been on for the last several weeks with this Wednesday’s episode of Dynamite. 

On Monday, AEW announced the latest match to be added to the already-loaded episode of Dynamite as Bandido is slated to face current ROH World Champion Champion Chris Jericho in Philadelphia.

Jericho defeated Claudio Castagnoli last week on AEW Dynamite: Grand Slam to win the championship. Bandido lost the World Title to Jonathan Gresham at ROH Supercard of Honor this past April in a match to determine the undisputed champion, as Gresham was previously the Original ROH Champion.

Also announced for the show is AEW World Champion Jon Moxley vs. Juice Robinson in a World Title Eliminator Match. If Robinson can win the match, he will earn a future World Title bout. 

Tony Khan Gives an Explanation 

Tony Khan

The AEW President responded to a fan on Instagram questioning these matches being booked. 

A fan wrote: “@tonyrkhan this is what we’re talking about…WHY?!!! the match should be good but WHY is he defending against Bandido FOR NO REASON?!!! Why is Juice getting an Eliminator match? Why not a normal regular singles match?”

Khan responded, “Bandido never got a rematch for the title, which is implied in the copy I wrote. Juice has beaten Mox in NJPW, which is explicitly written in the copy I wrote.”

Also confirmed for this show includes Jericho’s Championship Celebration and promo segments with MJF and Saraya (formerly known as Paige).

Candice LeRae Returns to WWE on Raw

Andrew Ravens
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Candice LeRae is back in WWE as she made her return to the company on Monday’s episode of Raw when she wrestled Nikki Cross in a singles match. WWE internally had Doudrop listed as Nikki’s opponent on the show. LeRae went over in a short match. 

Moments after LaRae’s appearance on WWE Raw, her husband Johnny Gargano tweeted that they’ve been training in the ring together over the past month:

Candice LeRae’s WWE History

Candice LeRae returns

After working on the independents for several years, she signed with WWE in 2018. LeRae was a one-time NXT Women’s Tag Team Champion with Indie Hartwell. LeRae became a free agent as her contract with WWE had expired this past May, and she was added to the alumni section of WWE.com.

Her deal was expected to be up this spring, but it was unknown whether WWE would add time to her deal because of the missed time she had due to her pregnancy.

LeRae and Johnny Gargano had their first child this past February. Johnny departed from WWE in December when his contract expired but returned to the company last month. 

LeRae is the latest star that Triple H has brought back, including Karrion Kross, Hit Row, Braun Strowman, Dakota Kay, and more. 

John Cena Attends James Gunn & Jennifer Holland’s Star-Studded Wedding

Michael Reichlin
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John Cena attended the wedding of filmmaker James Gunn and actress Jennifer Holland over the weekend. The star-studded event took place at Dunbar Ranch in Aspen Colorado, a breathtaking property owned by Academy Award winner Kevin Costner. Other guests in attendance included Chris Pratt, Seth Green, Dr. Anthony Faucci and Zoey Saldana, according to Deuxmoi.

Dunbar Ranch Wedding
Dunbar Ranch

Shortly after Gunn and Holland were engaged, Cena jokingly offered to officiate their wedding dressed up as his Peacemaker character.

Gunn wrote for and directed John Cena and Holland in the Suicide Squad film and popular HBO series The Peacemaker. Following the recent news that The Peacemaker is returning for a second season, Gunns said, “Creating Peacemaker has been one of the true highlights of my life, both professionally and otherwise, with John Cena and the incredible creative team around me, as well as our partners at HBO Max.”

Gunn also wrote and direct the Guardians of the Galaxy series, featuring Cena’s former WWE rival Dave Bautista. Bautista’s GOTG co-stars (Pratt and Saldana) were in attendance, so it’s possible Bautista was there as well.

Cena and wife Shay Shariatzadeh celebrated their marriage in July with a second wedding ceremony. They were first married in 2020.

Cena recently made headlines across the world for his Guinness World Records achievement of granting 650 wishes for the Make-A-Wish Foundation benefitting critically ill children.

Congratulations to James Gunn and actress Jennifer Holland!

Watch: John Cena and James Gunn with Margot Robbie on Jimmy Kimmel Live!:

H/T: Deuxmoi

Braun Strowman Shows Off Insane Body Transformation (Photo)

Jon Fuentes
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Braun Strowman showed off his insane body transformation since returning to WWE.

Since returning to WWE, Strowman has looked to be in ridiculous shape since his last departure. Strowman took to Twitter to show a photo of himself from his days beginning with WWE, compared to how he looks now.

The change is quite a thing to see. Check it out below:

Strowman began with WWE back in 2013, and eventually made his debut with The Wyatt Family in 2015. After branching out from the group, Wyatt began a singles run in 2016. He became one of the most dominant big men on the main roster, accomplishing quite a lot.

“The Monster Among Men” is a former Universal Champion, Intercontinental Champion, a two-time RAW Tag Team Champion, a 2018 Money In The Bank Ladder match winner, and the winner of the Greatest Royal Rumble in 2018.

Braun Strowman
Braun Strowman

Strowman also won the 2019 Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal. Unfortunately, Strowman was released from WWE as part of a large series of cuts in June of 2021.

However, earlier this month, Strowman was brought back on an episode of Monday Night RAW, laying waste to several tag teams, making his presence felt.

AEW Will Use Less “Controversial Language” Going Forward

Thomas Lowson
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All Elite Wrestling will be cleaning up some of the language used on programming, according to commentator Jim Ross.

Since launching in 2019, AEW has been rated TV-14 and has tried to differentiate itself from WWE and its PG-rated product.

It has been reported in the past that TNT and TBS have not had an issue with AEW’s choice of colorful language, as the promotion has proven to be a consistent ratings hit.

Cleaning up the Language

TNT and TBS may not have a problem with AEW’s language, but Ross is insisting that changes are coming.

Speaking during a Q&A with AdFreeShows.com, Ross said that some language will be cleaned up.

“We had a string in AEW where there was a lot of controversial language. I think you’ll see less of that.”

Jim Ross on AEW using less coarse language.

Ross gave his own view that using foul language is often a crutch for wrestling promotions who can’t find a better way to engage audiences.

“It’s unnecessary and shows a lack of creativity if you can’t come up with an adjective or adverb that is better than something a little coarse. The times are going to dictate that.”

Jim Ross on why AEW doesn’t need foul language.

The WWE Hall of Famer did not state any specific words which will no longer be used on AEW programming.

No confirmation has been made by Tony Khan at this time regarding whether AEW plans to clean up some of its more colorful language.

Latest on Relationship Between AEW & Warner Bros. Discovery

Kurt Angle Thinks AEW Isn’t As Organized As It Should Be

Jon Fuentes
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Kurt Angle thinks All Elite Wrestling (AEW) might not be as organized of a company as it should be.

The WWE Hall Of Famer was recently interviewed on The Wrassingh Show podcast, and asked his thoughts on the current situation going on within AEW. Angle explained that he thinks things are more like the “Wild Wild West” in AEW.

Specifically, he pointed to giving talents control over their own promos and pre-tapes, suggesting AEW tighten things up similar to how WWE does.

“I just think the company might be a little too loose … it’s more like the Wild West … not as organized as it should be,” Kurt Angle said.

“The wrestlers are making up their own promos, saying their own thing, doing their own thing, and I think there needs to be organization within the company where you have the writers telling the wrestlers what to say and enhancing their characters.”

“Putting the wrestlers in charge of their own promos and pre-tapes … and even their matches, I don’t know if they have agents for the matches, producers for their matches.

“So, I think they need to be overlooked, the talent. That’s what makes WWE so good, why they’re so organized, and why the show is always so tight.” 

Kurt Angle Entrance
(WWE)

There has been a lot of controversy going on backstage in AEW as of late. While a few talents have seemingly had issues with one another backstage, the most notable story, of course, has been CM Punk’s confrontation with The Elite after All Out.

Punk had some harsh comments about the likes of The Young Bucks, Hangman Page, and Kenny Omega after the show during his post-event press conference. Shortly after, he was confronted by The Elite in his locker room, which lead to a physical confrontation.

Since, The Elite have been handed suspensions, while Punk is taking time away to nurse an injury, vacating the AEW World Title in the process.

Quotes via Wrestling Inc.

Ric Flair Says he Will Never Retire After Teasing Wrestling Return

Andrew Ravens
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Ric Flair has fans talking again about the possibility of him coming out of retirement again to have his final match again. 

The wrestling legend broke into the business in 1972, which marks 2022 as his 50th year in wrestling, and has become one of the most decorated wrestlers of all time. In addition to being a 16-time world champion, he’s also held other titles in the NWA, WCW, and WWE.

During his career, he has shared the ring with several legends such as Sting, Shawn Michaels, Hulk Hogan, Dusty Rhodes, and more.

One More Match?

ric flair last match

In a post on Twitter, Flair said he will never retire, which comes after he previously hinted at coming back after hearing about Ricky Steamboat coming out of retirement.

Steamboat will be stepping back into the ring on November 27 for Big Time Wrestling, although his opponent has yet to be confirmed. Steamboat turned down the offer to compete in Flair’s final match at Starrcast V. 

Flair won his last match on July 31 by teaming with Andrade El Idolo to defeat Jay Lethal & Jeff Jarrett. Since then, he has continued making wrestling appearances and will be cornering his son in law Andrade for his World Wrestling Council match against Carlito on August 6.

Ric Flair is Inspired To Have One Final Wrestling Match, Again

Buddy Matthews On Recent Reports Of His AEW Status: “Fake, Fake, Fake, Fake”

Joey Galizia
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Buddy Matthews is denying recent reports made about his status with All Elite Wrestling.

The House of Black member was trending yesterday after a promo he cut at Saturday’s Fight Life Pro Wrestling event surfaced, where the former NXT cruiserweight champion said he was stepping away from pro-wrestling to figure some things out. Matthews added that the things had been weird since the AEW release of Malakai Black, but that he appreciated the fans support since the group was formed earlier this year.

However, that would not be the end of the story. A report would emerge later in the day revealing that Matthews, like Malakai, was also unhappy with how his run with AEW was going, and that he could potentially be on his way out. It was not specified whether Matthews was trying to get out of his AEW contract, or if the company was attempting to get ride of him since the group’s plans fell through. His stablemate Brody King confirmed on Twitter that he wasn’t planning on leaving AEW anytime soon.

Matthews Has Denied The Reports

This would all spell disaster if not for one thing…Matthews calling all the recent reports lies. He took to Twitter late last night and released a GIF from the all time classic sitcom Seinfeld, which shows Elaine shouting out “Fake, Fake, Fake, Fake.”

To add fuel to the fire the AEW Twitter account shared a happy birthday post for Matthews, who just turned 34.

Stay tuned for more updates on the situation.

Drew McIntyre Thought WWE Would Cut Iconic WrestleMania 36 Moment

Thomas Lowson
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Drew McIntyre was pleased to celebrate his WWE Championship victory at WrestleMania 36, despite being confident part of his celebration would be cut.

McIntyre’s win over Brock Lesnar marked the Scottish Warrior’s first of two WWE Championship wins, with his second coming in late 2020 over Randy Orton.

His win also came over a decade after being declared ‘The Chosen One’ by Vince McMahon, and nearly six years after his release from the promotion.

Cutting it Short

McIntyre’s monumentous title win was a long time coming but played out in front of zero fans due to COVID-19 protocols at the time.

Speaking to SEScoops correspondent Steve Fall, McIntyre spoke about his post-match moment, when he reached out to the camera.

“I was so grateful for that moment and wanted to let them [the fans] know ‘hey you might not be here but you’re here with me and it was an organic moment.”

McIntyre was thrilled to see his moment with the fans make it to the broadcast, as he first believed it would be cut by WWE.

“WrestleMania was pre-taped the week prior. I assumed that moment would be edited out because generally we don’t look down the camera lens and break the fourth wall, but it just felt like the right thing to do with nobody there because I couldn’t look out to the crowd and make that connection because there was nobody there.

“I assumed that moment would be edited out because generally we don’t look down the camera lens and break the fourth wall.”

Drew McIntyre on reaching out to fans after his WrestleMania 36 win.

“So I just looked right into the camera lens had that moment assumed they would never see the light of day, and it was cool to see it during WrestleMania and people to have such a positive response.”

The Pandemic Champion

Drew would carry WWE as the World Champion throughout the majority of the Pandemic, defending his title to absolute silence several times.

It wouldn’t be until Summerslam 2020 that WWE would introduce the ‘Thunderdome’ allowing a fan-like atmosphere without live audiences

Addressing what was an unprecedented time, McIntyre acknowledged his work as the face of the company, but called it a team effort.

“I appreciate when people give me credit for stepping up during that period but I always say everybody stepped up during that period. Our entire rosters across Raw, Smackdown and NXT when every other entertainment and sports company shut down, we pushed ahead.

“Everybody [in WWE] said ‘okay if we’re gonna be the only place around to take people’s minds off what’s going on in the world, we’re going to give it our all.’ And for me personally as champion, I get to lead by example.”

WWE would bring back fans for WrestleMania 37 in April 2021, before allowing audiences to return full-time in July that same year.

3MB

Years before McIntyre became WWE Champion, he was part of 3MB, the comedy trio of wannabe musicians comprising of himself, Jinder Mahal and Heath Slater.

While McIntyre has said in the past that the group felt like a downgrade from the lofty heights once expected of him, he acknowledges how the group has remained popular.

“I think Nostalgia is a hell of a thing because I don’t know if a lot of people who were watching 3MB as kids maybe and got a little older or just people remember it different than actually was but the way that people talk to me about 3MB now you would think over the shield. So I’m like ‘okay you remember a little different than me I’m gonna go with that.'”

McIntyre and Mahal would be released from WWE in 2014, with both returning and becoming WWE Champion.

Slater was released by WWE in 2020 and has since gone on to work in Impact Wrestling.

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

Drew McIntyre Names Where WWE Should go Next After Clash at the Castle

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