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Josh Alexander on Being Impact World Champion, Slammiversary & More

Ella Jay
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Josh Alexander puts the Impact World title on the line against Eric Young this weekend at Slammiversary. The event takes place from Nashville, Tennssee and airs live on pay-per-view.

Order Impact Slammiversary 2022 now from FITE ($39.99)

Ahead of the title defense, the Walking Weapon spoke with SEScoops correspondent Ella Jay about Impact’s return to Nashville, his favorite moments in company history and what it’s like to carry Impact on his shoulders as World champion.

Watch Ella Jay’s interview with Josh Alexander:

Here are some highlights of what Josh Alexander said about:

IMPACT Returning to Nashville:

Here’s what Josh Alexander had to say about Slammiversary taking place from Nashville, TN, the city where Impact launched 20 years ago:

“Well, I’m just psyched to be back here. We spent a lot of time in Nashville during the whole pandemic era and tapings and stuff, so I’m very familiar with the city. And then we had some crowds here before we ended up venturing out, starting at Bound for Glory last year. But we’ve been on the road like crazy.”

“It’s different coming back and being able to wrestle on the Nashville Fairgrounds, maybe not the same venue because they tore it down and built a new venue there. But to wrestle on the same hallowed ground where all these people that inspired me to become a pro wrestler made their names in the asylum era of TNA. It’s coming full circle and for me to do it as champion, it’s even sweeter.”

Favorite Memories in Nashville:

“I’ve had a lot of success with IMPACT Wrestling right here in Nashville. I’ve won pretty much every championship I’ve had here. I’ve become a Triple Crown champion in Nashville. I would say my fondest memory would be the Ironman match with TJP that we did in front of no crowd, because that just don’t come along on television that often.”

“I knew it was a huge opportunity for me to not only set myself apart, but kind of put the company on the map and show them what I could do in the ring. And the chemistry I have with TJP is something that doesn’t come along very often in wrestling. So I was very excited and happy for that opportunity and then we exceeded our own expectations with it.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZfv1Ss6hB0
Full Match: Josh Alexander vs. TJP (Iron Man Match)

His Favorite Moments in Impact History:

“I always say my favorite moment, the most iconic moment that I can think of was when Kurt Angle headbutted Samoa Joe. And that Samoa Joe rose up behind him with his head bleeding and that just kicked off their feud.

Skipper doing the the run off the top of the cage, that made me jump off my sofa. But the one thing that really sticks out when you first said that was Gail Kim took a cutter off of the entrance ramp. And the way it was shot, it looked like she was just falling into oblivion, like she fell off the edge of the planet. And I remember standing up like, ‘oh, my God, she’s dead’. And then the camera cuts to just find the wreckage at the bottom beside the ring. Yeah, that that was one of the most memorable moments to me.”

Walking into Slammiversary as Impact World Champion:

“I actually was wrestling with my friend Isaac from high school on my trampoline right before he ran inside to order the very first pay per view. I had dinner with him maybe a month ago, and I was talking to him about how I just had to stop and pinch myself because not only did I never think this was possible, he certainly never thought it was possible back then that like this is where my life would have taken me. And I’m so blessed and privileged that I’m able to do what I love because this isn’t work to me. You know what I mean?”

His Favorite Stars from Impact’s 20-Year History:

“The very first episode, I remember the first match was Jerry Lynn and AJ Styles and Low Ki against the Flying Elvises. And I say it’s so often that when I saw Low Ki and AJ Styles for the first time just in that six and a half minute match they had, they completely blew my mind and just showed me this completely alternate style of pro wrestling than I ever thought possible. And that was really what got my wheels turning about, maybe getting involved with this myself and wanting to be a part of this business and pursue it as a dream. those two guys right off the bat, the entire X Division is one of the most innovative things.”

The Knockouts

“I think it’s changed the business across the entire world landscape right now. It’s all inspired by the stuff that those guys did between 2002 and 2010 and then the Knockouts Division especially, just seeing what they did like in 2007, when it really picked up steam with Awesome Kong, Gail, Kim, Tara, Mickie James, all these other people.

“It was something like you never saw before. You were used to bra and panties matches and then we were seeing kick ass wrestling coming out of the ladies like it’s carried forth to today where our entire Knockouts division was pretty much inspired by what those Knockouts did back then.”

The New Face of Impact Wrestling

Josh Alexander vs Eric Young

Holding a company’s World title comes with a great deal of responsibility. A champion represents the organization and serve as the defacto locker room leader. We asked Josh Alexander how he’s adjusting to his role as champion.

“I recognize the responsibility that I carry because being champion, being the face of IMPACT wrestling, sure, I’m the face of the brand. I’m the one that has to trumpet and rah rah for IMPACT all the time, which is so easy for me because I started as a fan. I love this place. I can rhyme off names left and right and talk about the history of this company all day long and and I enjoy it.”

“I take the role especially seriously because the respect of my peers matters to me a lot. And I love this locker room. I love the crew. I love everybody here so much. I think we’re all–as much as this is a singular pursuit and professional wrestling, I think we all look at this like a team and we all have a chip on my shoulder. We’re all the little engine that could fight back and show that we belong and that we are the best and to represent them as the face of IMPACT Wrestling. That’s the thing I take most serious.”

Who He Wants to See “Step Up”

“As in-ring competition goes, I followed Eddie Edwards since he was “Diehard” Eddie Edwards and Noah back in the day. And I think he’s amazing. And I think if we locked up, he could do something special. And the second name, once he works his way up the ladder and comes into contention, I really think that I could make magic and trap a bunch of lightning in a bottle with someone like Mike Bailey.”

“Speedball” Mike Bailey:

“He’s a natural born talent. Once in a million kind of guy, once in a lifetime. He’s a generational talent, as they say. And I recognize that. I think everybody else does. And now that he’s gotten his Visa, he signed with IMPACT and he’s in front of the world. Everybody’s finding out really fast.”

Catch Slammiversary this Sunday, Jun 19th live on pay-per-view:

Order Impact Slammiversary 2022 now from FITE ($39.99)

Trish Stratus is Ready to get Back in the Ring

Thomas Lowson
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The WWE Universe may be feeling a new wave of ‘Stratusfaction’ very soon as Hall of Famer Trish Stratus seems eager to get back in the ring.

Often considered one of the greatest female wrestlers in WWE history, its no wonder why countless fans want to see one more match from the Canadian legend, and their wish may soon be granted.

Trish Vs. Lynch

Speaking with Bill Apter, the seven-time WWE Women’s Champion was asked about a possible return given that she remains in incredible shape.

Trish explained why she would return, and that she’d like to face off one-on-one with Becky Lynch.

“If someone’s out of line – Becky Lynch – I might… She’s a little out of sorts right now, got a lot on her mind and I think I could take advantage of that.”

Trish Stratus on her strategy for a match with Becky Lynch.

This is the latest escalation between the two wrestlers, who recently went back and forth on social media.

After tweeting that Lynch is a “bit off” at the moment, Lynch responded that she’s “off the charts” and warned Trish not to test her.

Stratus’ Other Returns

While Trish Stratus officially retired in 2006, defeating Lita in her native Canada to win her seventh Women’s Championship, that didn’t keep the WWE Hall of Famer away.

In December 2008, Trish returned as the mystery partner of John Cena, and the pair defeated Santino Marella and Beth Phoenix on Raw.

Stratus would also have a one-night return in September 2009, and had a handful of matches in 2011, including getting a victory at WrestleMania 27.

Returning to the ring for the inaugural Women’s Royal Rumble in 2018, Trish would also wrestle at that year’s Evolution event.

Her most recent match came at Summerslam 2019, where she lost to Charlotte Flair.

Another opponent?

Sasha Banks and Trish Stratus
Trish Stratus has said she’d love to face Sasha Banks if given the opportunity against “The Boss.”

Trish may be ready to throw down with Becky Lynch, but that’s not the only opponent that Stratus is eyeing up.

Speaking with ET Canada in March, Stratus said she’d love to face Sasha Banks under the right circumstances.

Trish and Banks did collide in the 2018 Women’s Royal Rumble match but have never faced off one-on-one.

This match seems unlikely at this time though, given that Banks has been suspended after she and Naomi walked out of Raw last month.

WWE Announces Latest Class of NIL Athletes

Fernando Quiles Jr.
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WWE’s NIL program continues to add new athletes looking to become breakout stars.

The company has announced that 15 college athletes will be joining the “Next In Line” program. The second NIL class features athletes from 14 universities.

These athletes have competed in a wide range of sports from football to collegiate wrestling, gymnastics, and more.

Here is the second WWE NIL class:

  • Ali Mattox of Ole Miss, a 5-foot-7 cheer & dance athlete from Little Rock, Ark.
  • Case Hatch of Arizona State, a 6-foot-1, 230-pound football player from Gilbert, Ariz.
  • Chandler Hayden of Tennessee, a 5-foot-11 track & field athlete from Pittsfield, Ill.
  • Cohlton Schultz of Arizona State, a 6-foot-2, 285-pound wrestler from Parker, Colo.
  • Derrian Gobourne of Auburn, a 5-foot-4 gymnast from Sarasota, Fla.
  • Ericka Link of Elon, a 5-foot-6 volleyball player from Hedgesville, W.Va.
  • Keshaun Moore of Hampton, a 6-foot-3, 270-pound football player from Suffolk, Va.
  • Luke Ford of Illinois, a 6-foot-6, 260-pound football player from Carterville, Ill.
  • Maliq Carr of Michigan State, a 6-foot-5, 245-pound football and basketball player from Inkster, Mich.
  • Mikala Hall of Central Michigan, a 5-foot-5 basketball player from Danville, Ill.
  • Rachel Glenn of South Carolina, a 6-foot track & field athlete from Long Beach, Calif.
  • Ruben Banks of Arkansas, a 6-foot-4, 270-pound track & field athlete from Binfield, England
  • Thunder Keck of Stanford, a 6-foot-3, 245-pound football player from Northfield, N.H.
  • Tyanna Omazic of Miami, a 6-foot-2 volleyball player from Kansas City, Mo.
  • Zachary Knighton-Ward of Hofstra, a 6-foot-2, 285-pound wrestler from Rosedale, N.Y.

WWE will be officially welcoming these athletes at the inaugural NIL summit tonight (June 13). It’ll be held inside the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta.

WWE’s inaugural NIL class was introduced back in late 2021.

That Hulk Hogan Biopic Isn’t Happening Any Time Soon

Fernando Quiles Jr.
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Fans who have been anticipating seeing Chris Hemsworth take on the role of Hulk Hogan will have to wait a while.

Back in Feb. 2019, the announcement was made that Hemsworth would be playing Hogan in a biopic. Since that time, there’s been a lot of hearsay over whether or not it’s a done deal.

As of late, however, there hasn’t been much information on the project.

Update on Hulk Hogan Biopic

Hulk Hogan
(Rolling Stone)

During an interview with Chris Van Vliet, Hemsworth said that Todd Phillips, the director of the biopic, is tied up at the moment.

“Uhhhh, maybe? Todd Phillips is busy doing, I think, Joker 2 I believe, and I’ve been off doing other films, and it’s all in conversations and in development and things like that. A lot of little different things need to come together for it to happen, but I don’t have 24-inch pythons. Yet.”

In a separate interview with Comic Book, Hemsworth said fans shouldn’t expect the film to drop anytime soon.

“Oh, that film’s a while away. It’s sort of in the development stage, you know? If it comes to fruition, great, Todd Phillips is brilliant. I haven’t ripped any shirts off yet, but you’ll be the first to hear about it when I do.”

It’s been reported that the Hulk Hogan biopic will focus on the origins of Hulkamania but details have been scarce. Eric Bischoff has been named as one of the producers of the film.

Quotes via Fightful.

WWE Extreme Rules Set for Oct. 8 in Philly

Fernando Quiles Jr.
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WWE has confirmed a report from The Philadelphia Inquirer that Extreme Rules is coming to Philly.

The company issued a statement revealing that Extreme Rules will be held inside the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, PA. Oct. 8 will be the date.

Here is WWE’s official announcement:

“As first announced by “The Philadelphia Inquirer,” WWE Extreme Rules will take place Saturday, Oct. 8 live from Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. The Premium Live Event will stream live exclusively on Peacock in the United States and WWE Network everywhere else.

“Tickets for WWE Extreme Rules will go on sale Friday, July 15 at 10 a.m. ET via www.wellsfargocenterphilly.com. Click here to learn more about registering for presale opportunities.”

For the immediate future, WWE is focusing on its two big premium live events set for July. Money in the Bank will be taking place on July 2, while SummerSlam goes down on July 30.

Both shows were set to be held inside stadiums. SummerSlam will now stand alone as the only WWE event in July being held inside a stadium.

Time will tell whether or not WWE will bring out the heavy hitters for this event. WWE’s top star Roman Reigns has taken a reduced schedule, while Cody Rhodes is expected to be out for several months and won’t be ready for Extreme Rules.

More Details on Chris Jericho-MVP Incident

Fernando Quiles Jr.
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There are some more details on the confrontation involving Chris Jericho and MVP.

It had been reported by Dave Meltzer that Jericho and MVP ran into each other at a hotel lobby following the May 18 episode of Dynamite. AEW was in the Houston area where MVP lives.

The story goes that Jericho and MVP had a falling out and the two got into a big argument that ended with Jericho telling MVP he doesn’t fight jobbers. This was said to have left MVP fuming in the hotel lobby.

Jericho & MVP Beef

Fightful has an update on the story involving Jericho and MVP. Jericho told Fightful the following:

“Nothing else to say. I don’t fight jobbers. Nuff said”.

Chris Jericho

Fightful also reached out to MVP, who said this:

“There was an exchange, but it didn’t go down like that”.

MVP

The update also noted that someone in AEW reached out to WWE Head of Talent Relations John Laurinaitis about the ordeal. It was said that Laurinaitis wasn’t too concerned about the incident once he found out nothing got out of hand.

It appears the beef between Jericho and MVP stems from political disagreements. At one point, Jericho even blocked MVP on Twitter.

Possible Backstage Heat on Thunder Rosa

Fernando Quiles Jr.
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Thunder Rosa may have made herself some enemies and we’re not talking storylines.

Rosa is the reigning AEW Women’s Champion. Some haven’t been impressed by her title reign thus far. She had a well-received title defense against Serena Deeb at Double or Nothing but the build was lackluster.

She then had a match with Marina Shafir, which wasn’t very good but some have pinned the blame on Rosa for deliberately sabotaging the performance of her opponent.

Thunder Rosa’s Reputation

Thunder Rosa Britt Baker
(via AEW)

Twitter user @ericinsarasota, who happens to be Erick Stevens, a former ROH star, recently shared two interesting tweets on the Thunder Rosa vs. Marina Shafir match from the June 8 episode of Dynamite. The user believes that Rosa was blatantly “sandbagging” her opponent, making Shafir look weak in the process.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a match where somebody so obviously tried to make themselves look better than their opponent by sandbagging and no selling, but I just saw a perfect example of it on Dynamite.

“It might just look like a bad match to the untrained eye but it’s pretty clear when somebody doesn’t want to play ball. Which sucks because it just makes you and your opponent look bad.”

One might think the tweets are from someone sharing a wild theory but there could be something to this.

Britt Baker, the biggest female star on the AEW roster, actually ended up liking the first tweet, while Marina Shafir liked both.

Britt Baker Tweet
Marina Shafir tweets

This isn’t the first time Thunder Rosa has had an incident in the ring with her opponent. Back in Sept. 2020, she had a match with Ivelisse that went off the rails. Ivelisse told Chris Van Vliet that Rosa forgot her spots and the match ended up turning into a shoot.

Rob Van Dam Finds A Lot of Modern-Day Wrestling ‘Offensive’

Thomas Lowson
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For countless wrestling fans, the action they see on WWE TV these days can’t compare to what was going on just a few decades earlier.

In 2008, WWE implemented a PG rating, banning chair shots to the skull, blood, and other staples of the industry, and the consensus among audiences is that the rating has only hurt the wrestling fans see from Vince McMahon’s promotion.

Viewerships and attendances are certainly down from the days of the envelope-pushing Attitude Era, and it’s not just the fans who think things have changed for the worse.

What offends Rob Van Dam?

Speaking on the Two Man Power Trip of Wrestling podcast, WWE Hall of Famer Rob Van Dam spoke about how wrestling has changed, not just in WWE but throughout the entire industry.

RVD explained how things are entirely different today compared to when he was competing full-time (via WrestlingInc.)

I’m still offended by a lot of the stuff that I see nowadays… I hate it when people say, ‘Oh, I wasn’t brought up that way,’ no one was brought up that way, we have to adapt. Your perception changes when you’re an adult.”

Rob Van Dam.

Van Dam added that when he was breaking into wrestling, the number one rule was to protect the business, but that’s changed in recent years.

“Somewhere way down the road, it became, ‘number one rule: safety first.’ Like, what?”

Rob Van Dam

The future of wrestling

While AEW has proven to be a hit with fans, offering an alternative to WWE and a more unsanitized product compared to Vince McMahon, RVD isn’t hopeful for the future of the industry.

“What’s it gonna be, eventually? Unless it just goes straight up to a broadway play.”

Rob Van Dam.

RVD’s most recent match came at Ireland’s Over the Top ScrapperMania VI event this past March, where he defeated Scotty Davis.

Toni Storm Reveals Pitched Love Triangle Storyline In WWE

Anutosh Bajpai
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WWE had talked about putting Toni Storm in a love triangle storyline with Rick Boogs and Dolph Ziggler before her release from the company.

The AEW star recently appeared on Chris Jericho’s Talk Is Jericho podcast. She discussed things such as her debut for Tony Khan’s promotion and more.

Storm was not used on TV for the most part of her main roster career. Though she revealed a storyline idea that was pitched during her early days:

“There was bits and pieces here and there, like, ‘Oh, you’re in love with Rick Boogs and the love triangle with Dolph Ziggler,’ and that never really went anywhere. Just bits and pieces here and there.”

After spending most of her time sitting in catering, Toni Storm finally got into a storyline with Charlotte. However, it wasn’t enough to keep her around:

“Then I was working with Charlotte and stuff seemed to be picking up from there, but then, with a lot of contributing factors, kind of just led to me saying, ‘You know what? I can’t f*cking do this anymore'”

Toni Storm requested her WWE release in December last year. She made her AEW debut almost 3 months later on March 30.

Quotes via WrestlingInc

Road Dogg Addresses Rumors About His WWE Release

Anutosh Bajpai
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Brian ‘Road Dogg’ James is one of the most prominent backstage figures released by WWE this year. Some people wondered if his departure was related to Triple H losing power in the company.

The Game had to step away from WWE due to heart issues last year. The company has revamped the NXT brand since then and released numerous key members of his team.

Road Dogg addressed the rumors of his release being related to it during an interview with ITRWrestling.com. He noted how WWE released over a dozen people on the day he was let go and it probably saved the company $5 to $10 million per year:

“So from a business perspective, ‘Hey, we got to trim some fat down there.’ Now, if by trimming that fat, my name came into play because I was a Hunter guy. I can’t speak to that and I don’t think that would be the case.”

Per Road Dogg, the officials must have decided to just cut down people who were making the most money. He also revealed that he talked to Vince McMahon after his WWE release and thanked him:

“These are the people that are making the most money, to be quite honest with you, but how else do we trim the fat? Vince and I spoke after that via text and it’s all gravy, I thanked him for the ten years of life experience and ten years’ worth of pay.”

You can check out Road Dogg’s full interview below:

WWE Hall Of Famer Is Worried Ric Flair Could ‘Drop Dead’ In Upcoming Match

Anutosh Bajpai
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A lot of people are worried about the health of Ric Flair after he announced an in-ring return at the age of 73. WWE Hall of Famer Gerald Brisco is one such star who is worried that the worst can happen.

The former WWE star recently had an interview with Sportskeeda. He discussed the Nature Boy’s decision to wrestle one final match later this year.

Brisco gave words to the fear of a lot of fans. He mentioned how Flair has a pacemaker installed in his heart and a wrong bump can lead to catastrophic results:

“He’s got a damn pacemaker and it worries me. I’ve talked to doctors and a certain bump in the wrong direction, or a certain chop or something like that, and that thing can dislodge and he can drop dead.

I don’t want to see Ric Flair drop dead.” said Gerald Brisco, “I don’t want to be a part of that. I wish him well.”

The wrestling veteran noted that this is the worst-case scenario and Ric Flair will probably get through the match with flying colors.

Brisco said that what really scares him is what will happen if the 16-time world champion does emerge from the bout unscathed. He noted that it can encourage Ric to do it once again and take even more risks down the line.

Quotes via WrestlingNews.co

WWE Struggling To Sell Tickets For Tonight’s Raw

Anutosh Bajpai
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WWE appears to be struggling to sell the tickets for this Monday’s episode of Raw from the Intrust Bank Arena in Wichita, Kansas.

According to WrestleTix Twitter account, the company has sold a little over 3000 tickets for the show as of a few hours ago.

This is the lowest number of ticket sales for the red branded show since the company returned to touring last year in July.

The next closest number is 3,995 for an episode which took place from the Chase Center in San Francisco, California. The main event of that show saw Drew McIntyre teaming up with Big E to face The Usos.

The last time WWE ran the Intrust Bank Arena was in 2021. The company taped the October 22 episode of SmackDown from the venue and sold an estimated 4,580 tickets.

The blue-branded show featured a confrontation between the Undisputed Champion Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar among other things.

WWE has since announced a couple of segments for the upcoming Raw episode. The first is Seth Rollins explaining his actions against Cody Rhodes.

The other segment will see Judgement Day revealing what’s next for the group. This comes after they introduced Finn Balor as their newest member and kicked out Edge from the faction last week.

John Cena Recalls Meeting With Vince McMahon Before WWE Debut

Anutosh Bajpai
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John Cena has developed a good relationship with Vince McMahon in the 20 years since his WWE debut. Though his first meeting with the boss was very short and awkward. WWE is celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Cenation Leader’s main roster debut this month. As part of it, they recently posted a video of the Hollywood star reflecting on his first main roster match against Kurt Angle.

In the video, Cena revealed that he found out about his bout in the afternoon of the show. He also detailed a meeting he had with Mr McMahon before the match:

“I found out at 2:45 in the afternoon that I’d be wrestling Kurt Angle. I had one meeting with Mr. McMahon before this.” recalled John Cena, “I was pushed into his office and Michael Hayes asked like ‘What do we do with this?’ Mr. McMahon’s first sentence to me, it was a short meeting. He said ‘Cut his f*cking hair.’ Then I was out of the office.”

The 16-time world champion went on to discuss his match with the Olympic Gold Medallist. He noted how the crowd wasn’t as interested in the match as he would have liked. Cena said that if he was doing it now, he would have slowed down and tried to tell a story during the segment.

You can check out the video of John Cena below:

WWE Releases NXT 2.0 Superstar

Fernando Quiles Jr.
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WWE has released another NXT 2.0 star but this situation is a bit different.

The company has had a sizable amount of roster cuts in recent months. Most of the time, budget cuts are the main reason given by the company. In some situations, budget cuts are simply used as an excuse.

In this case, however, it was a different issue entirely.

Troy “Two Dimes” Donovan Released

Troy Two Dimes Donovan
(via WWE)

Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer is reporting that WWE has released Troy “Two Dimes” Donovan. The report notes that this was due to a policy issue.

Meltzer notes that it’s possible Donovan could be brought back in a year if both parties are interested by that time.

Bryan Alvarez had reported that more NXT talent cuts were coming but that those were related to improvement issues. Bryan never made mention of cuts being made as a result of policy matters.

Donovan had signed with WWE back in March. He recently aligned with Tony D’Angelo and Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo on NXT TV.

WWE Tag Team Could Be Getting Name Change

Fernando Quiles Jr.
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A WWE tag team may be on the verge of a slight name change soon.

WWE officials aren’t afraid to make some alterations to its characters. From attire, to music, to name changes, the company will make any changes it sees fit. WWE has even reversed changes in the past.

A tag team that recently resurfaced on Raw could possibly get their own change.

Dirty Dawgs Getting Name Change?

The Dirty Dawgs Dolph ZIggler Robert Roode

After a brief stint on NXT, Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode, Dirty Dawgs, returned to Monday Night Raw. They started a feud with Omos and MVP.

According to USPTO, WWE has filed a new trademark for “Dirty Dogs,” which is a slight change from what the company currently calls the team.

“Mark For: DIRTY DOGS™ trademark registration is intended to cover the categories of wrestling exhibitions and performances by a professional wrestler and entertainer rendered through broadcast media including television and radio, and via the internet or commercial online service; providing wrestling news and information via a global computer network.”

As mentioned, Ziggler and Roode had been on NXT for a little while. Dolph captured the NXT Championship but eventually lost it to Bron Breakker.

Time will tell if WWE actually goes through with a slight change or if they’ve trademarked the “Dirty Dogs” version just to get ahead of anyone who may try to use it.

Yet Another AEW Star Possibly Injured

Fernando Quiles Jr.
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Spring has been a nightmare for top wrestling promotions.

The injuries are piling up within the industry. The “Summer of Punk” got derailed when CM Punk was forced to undergo surgery on his foot. Punk remains the AEW World Champion but an interim title will be used in his absence.

Adam Cole has reportedly been dealing with a torn labrum but is expected to work Forbidden Door on June 26. TNT Champion Scorpio Sky will be undergoing an MRI to see if there’s any significant damage to his right knee.

There might be another AEW star added to the list.

Red Velvet Potentially Injured

Red Velvet
(via AEW)

Fightful is reporting that Red Velvet was being carted around in the backstage area following last week’s AEW Dynamite and Rampage shows. The report notes that she may be dealing with an injury.

It’s unknown exactly what Red Velvet could have issues with at the moment.

Velvet is a part of Jade Cargill’s Baddies faction. She was in action against Kris Statlander on the June 10 episode of Rampage.

Former WWE Talent Retires From Wrestling?

Fernando Quiles Jr.
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A former WWE superstar has announced his retirement but some think it may be a ruse.

The wrestling business can be unforgiving. Wrestlers are constantly putting their bodies on the line to entertain fans. The risks are very real and in some cases, the action has led to debilitating injuries or worse.

In the case of one former WWE star, the feeling is the juice simply isn’t worth the squeeze anymore.

Damien Sandow Retires?

Damien Sandow
Former WWE Superstar Damien Sandow (Aron Stevens)

Aron Stevens, better known to WWE fans as Damien Sandow, was beaten by Trevor Murdoch at NWA Alwayz Ready, which was built as Stevens’ final match.

Ahead of the match, Stevens said the following about leaving the wrestling business in an Instagram post.

“This match against Trevor Murdoch at Alwayz Ready, my swan song as it were, not only marks the finale of an unparalleled wrestling career but the dawn of a new age.

“When I first left wrestling, the business experienced one of the biggest lulls in its history. Since returning, my presence has not only proven a blessing to fans everywhere but the entire industry has been better off because I was a part of it.

“After June 11th I will keep the wrestling fans, all staff, the competitors, and the entire industry in my thoughts and prayers going forward as they all proceed without me. Thank you.”

Some are questioning whether or not Stevens is actually retiring. There is a feeling among the wrestling community that this could be part of a storyline.

Time will tell whether or not this retirement is legit.

Eddie Kingston’s Mom Knows Best When it Comes to Her Son’s Career

Thomas Lowson
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Eddie Kingston has been with AEW for two years now, after years of toiling in several promotions.

Before signing with Tony Khan, Kingston honed his craft in CHIKARA, CZW, and Ring of Honor to name just a few.

After becoming a mainstay on the independent scene, Kingston signed with AEW, but nearly made what he now considers a terrible mistake, and would have made that choice if not for a relative.

Mother knows Best

Kingston has proven to be a popular act in AEW, but that may not have happened if not for his mother’s intervention.

Speaking this week to Weekend Joe, Kingston said that after his AEW debut match against Cody Rhodes, both AEW and WWE showed interest in signing him.

The “Mad King” admitted that he was considering joining WWE, a company he said had never shown any interest in him in the past, but it was his mom who swayed him to AEW (via Wrestling Inc.)

“I had a chance to pick and choose … My mom was just like, ‘Look, you ain’t going to be happy at WWE.’ That was her feeling

Eddie Kingston.

Kingston said his mother’s advice meant a lot, given that she’s an “outsider” and despite not knowing either company too well, knew her son would be better suited in AEW.

Taking his mother’s advice, Kingston would commit to AEW, where he’s faced some of the company’s top stars including Rhodes, Chris Jericho and AEW World Champion CM Punk.

Japanese Wrestling Legend Keiji Muto Set to Retire

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Keiji Muto is ready to call it a career.

During the big CyberFight Festival event in Saitama, Japan, Muto announced that he will be done with in-ring competition in Spring 2023. The 59-year-old icon will have just five more matches before he rides off into the sunset.

Muto gained international recognition as “The Great Muta.” He has heavily influenced many wrestlers today in Japan and all over the world.

He started his career back in the Fall of 1984. For almost 40 years, Muto has been cementing his legacy as an all-time great.

Keiji Muto has wrestled for NJPW, WCW, AJPW, the now-defunct Wrestle-1 which he used to own, and Pro Wrestling NOAH.

Muto is a four-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion, a former GHC Heavyweight Champion, a three-time AJPW Triple Crown Heavyweight Champion, and a former Wrestle-1 Champion.

These accolades don’t even scratch the surface of what Muto has been able to accomplish.

Top NXT 2.0 Star Seemingly Injured At Live Event

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NXT 2.0 Star Tony D’Angelo seemingly suffered a shoulder or arm injury during the latest WWE Live Event from Largo, Florida.

The young star was scheduled to face Cameron Grimes in a one-on-one match at the show on Saturday but the bout had to be stopped mid-way.

There is no word yet on what caused the injury and if it was any specific move that resulted in the damage. Some photos of D’Angelo holding his shoulder from the show have surfaced online which you can see below:

Tony D’Angelo made his WWE debut back in October 2021 and quickly became one of the faces of the revamped NXT 2.0 brand.

He took part in a WarGames match only a month after his NXT debut. D’Angelo also defeated Pete Dunne in a Crowbar On a Pole match in January.

While WWE’s premier shows have been touring since last year, the NXT 2.0 only just returned to touring this week. It provides many of the young talents the opportunity to experience life on the road for the first time.

There is no word on how serious D’Angelo’s condition is. So it’s hard to say if he will miss any ring time due to it. We will keep you posted about his health.

WWE Superstar Explains Why He Ditched Old Finishing Move

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In the wrestling business, finishing moves are often changed.

Many times, we see performers turn an old finisher into a signature. An example of this is Kevin Owens. His finishing move used to be the Pop-up Powerbomb. That is now a signature that often results in a two-count.

For one WWE superstar, the decision to ditch his old finisher completely has to do with safety.

Mustafa Ali Drops 054

Mustafa Ali
(via WWE)

A fan on Twitter recently asked Mustafa Ali if he has done away with the 054. The move is a reverse 450 splash.

Ali said he did indeed put the move to rest and he has a very good reason for it.

“Yeah, risk isn’t worth the reward.”

Ali recently returned to WWE after asking for his release earlier this year. He had a program with United States Champion Theory, which led to a title match at Hell in a Cell.

Ali lost the match and wasn’t seen on WWE Raw the next night. Instead, he was back on the Main Event show where he defeated T-Bar.

With Money in the Bank approaching, Ali would seem to be a perfect choice to put in the match. While the odds of him winning are slim to none, his exciting style could make for some memorable moments in the ladder match.

Dream Match Made Official For Forbidden Door

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Jon Moxley vs Hiroshi Tanahashi is now official for AEW X NJPW: Forbidden Door.

After the AEW world champion CM Punk had to step away due to a foot injury, the promotion confirmed that they will be crowning an interim world champion until the Straight Edge Star returns.

The company had announced an Eliminator Tournament to determine the interim champion. The tournament started with a battle royal at Wednesday’s Dynamite.

Kyle O’Reilly won this battle royal and went on to face Jon Moxley in the main event of the show. Mox won the match and earned himself a spot at the Forbidden Door.

Jon Moxley vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi Now Official

On NJPW’s side of things, it was announced that the winner of the Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Hirooki Goto match at Dominion will go on challenge the AEW competitor for the title at the show.

Tanahashi won this match. Shortly after this, AEW posted the following graphic, making this dream match between the two wrestling veterans officials.

No other match has been announced for the PPV till now. More bouts are expected to be made official in next few days.

The AEW X NJPW Forbidden Door PPV will be taking place from the United Center in Chicago, Illinois on June 26, 2022.

Naomi is Spreading Positive Vibes During WWE Suspension

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WWE Superstar Naomi is spreading some positive vibes on Twitter, in her first tweet since being suspended by the company.

During the May 16 2022 Raw, Naomi and Sasha Banks, then the WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions, walked out of the show.

The pair did not agree with the plans for them to enter feuds for the Raw and SmackDown Women’s Championships, believing it made their Tag Titles seem unimportant.

Naomi’s Five Tips

On Twitter, “The Glow” shared an inspirational video detailing five “things you need to hear today.”

  • 1. Important people come and go. That’s ok.
  • 2. You can look at it as rejection or you can look at it as redirection.
  • 3. You define what fun is. Don’t allow someone to make you feel like what you like is stupid.
  • 4. Sometimes, you’re gonna have to let other people down to make yourself happy.
  • 5. Diet isn’t just what you eat. Your diet is what you watch, listen to and allow around you.

In the comments, fans responded by referencing Naomi’s walkout, with many believing the video was related to her and Banks’ departure last month.

Interesting, WWE ring announcer Samantha Irvin tweeted that number 4 was especially important.

Is Naomi leaving WWE?

Naomi has been serving her suspension since May 20, but some believe that she may not be returning to TV at all.

It’s been reported that Naomi’s contract, like Banks’, expires soon, and there’s been no word yet on whether WWE has frozen her deal due to the walkout.

WWE has taken steps to distance themselves from both former champions, with Banks and Naomi having their merchandise pulled from WWEShop.com.

The Superstars are reportedly not getting paid during their suspension either.

Former WWE Divas Champion Could be Joining AEW Very Soon

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All Elite Wrestling is home to several former WWE Superstars, with both the men’s and women’s divisions hosting several talents who once worked for Vince McMahon.

While AEW has faced criticism for hiring a lot of former WWE Superstars, one particularly interesting name could soon be signing with Tony Khan.

Paige to AEW

This week, former WWE Divas Champion Paige announced that she will be leaving WWE, with July 7 marking her last date with the promotion.

The announcement has shocked fans who believed WWE would always have a role for Paige, especially as it’s been four years since her retirement due to neck injuries.

During her first Twitch live stream after the announcement, Paige was asked about the possibility of joining AEW and is open to the idea (via eWrestlingNews.)

“Sure [I’d Join AEW,] if the money is right.”

Paige.

With a net worth of over $1 billion, Tony Khan certainly has enough to afford the inaugural NXT Women’s Champion.

Khan himself has not publicly commented on whether he’s interested in bringing Paige to the company.

With no non-compete clause to her name, Paige will be able to work wherever she chooses after her contract expires on July 7.

Paige’s Huge Revelation

Paige may soon be appearing on Dynamite or Rampage, but the decision to leave WWE wasn’t her own.

In that same Twitch Stream, the British Superstar said that it was WWE’s decision not to renew her contract, but that there are no hard feelings.

In recent years, Paige had remained hopeful that WWE would one day clear her to wrestle again but that never came.

New NWA World Champion Crowned At Alwayz Ready

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Trevor Murdoch has become the NWA World Heavyweight Champion again.

Matt Cardona had defeated Murdoch to become the new NWA world champion during the NWA PowerrrTrip event in February this year.

However, in late May it was revealed that Cardona has suffered a torn bicep and he will require surgery that will keep him out of action for sometime.

During the Alwayz Ready PPV, the NWA champion confirmed that he will be out of action for 3 to 5 months. President Billy Corgan then came out and told Cardona that he must relinquish the title.

Nick Aldis made his way to the ring next and he told Matt that he is a typical ex-WWE parasite. Aldis then issued a challenge to anyone for the championship.

Trevor Murdoch, Thomas Latimer, & Samuel Shaw all answered this challenge. Corgan booked a fatal four-way match for the vacant title.

The ending of this match saw Trevor Murdoch escaping a cloverleaf from Aldis. He then caught Nick with a top rope bulldog and pinned him to become the new NWA world champion.

This wasn’t the only title change of the night as Doug Williams & Harry Smith won the NWA tag team championships while Pretty Empowered became the new NWA women’s tag champions during the show.

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