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The Bella Twins Recall the Dark Days of Women’s Wrestling in WWE

Michael Reichlin
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The Bella Twins are two of the most accomplished women in pro wrestling history. According to Nikki and Brie, they may have never made it to the WWE Hall of Fame if not for Freddie Prinze Jr.

The Bellas are the latest guests on FPJ’s latest Wrestling With Freddie podcast. During their discussion, Brie recalls that it was Prinze who kept pushing WWE officials to call them up from Florida Championship Wrestling.

“We do give you a lot of credit, because we were down in FCW for so long and they were like, ‘We just don’t know what to do with twins.’” said Brie. “We’re like, ‘Seems like it writes itself.’ It was your ideas that you kept pushing that I think it made people in the company see there was something special.”

Brie recalls training at [former developmental territory] Florida Championship Wrestling and growing frustrated because WWE couldn’t figure out what to do with them.

Bella Twins Kofi Kingston FCW
The Bella Twins and Kofi Kingston in Florida Championship Wrestling (2008)

Things did not get much better once they made it to the main roster and wrestled as “Divas.” After five years on WWE TV, they were ready to leave because they were not happy with the way women were being portrayed on television.

“We did a five-year contract, we were on TV for five years and our five years was coming up,” said Brie. “I remember at that point, we didn’t like how women were treated in WWE. The two minute matches, but we were allowed to have 10 minutes at live events. What we were working on at live events, we could never showcase on TV and our stories didn’t have depth.”

‘There needs to be a massive change here, this is not good.’

Nikki recalls that morale amongst the female wrestlers was at an all-time low during the early 2010’s.

“We needed to find a way to be treated like the men and treated equally,” she said. “That’s what we wanted for the women. We wanted to empower the women. We were about everyone. ‘Who are we getting over today? What’s the story?’ We never worried about getting our shit in. We just wanted everything to be good and for people to be happy.”

Nikki Bella describes morale as “miserable” and hopeless during the lowest points of women’s wrestling in WWE.

“The locker room was becoming so miserable, because girls were working so hard on live events and getting to Raw or SmackDown and being so disappointed. They were losing their will and their hope. We were like, ‘there needs to be a massive change here, this is not good.’”

Total Divas

Brie feels that the Total Divas reality show (2013) was a huge turning point for WWE’s perception of women’s wrestlers.

“Vince is about putting asses in seats,” she said. “He cares about money. The one thing Total Divas did was it showed Vince that people were coming to the shows to see women. It was more than just men. It started being young girls and women buying tickets just to see the Total Divas.”

Years later, WWE ultimately embraced the ‘Women’s Revolution.’ Athleticism and wrestling ability are valued over bikinis and pillow fighting. Women’s wrestling has come a long way since the Bella Twins’ days in Florida Championship Wrestling. They were a big part of that revolution and credit Freddie Prinze Jr. with helping get it started.

Listen to The Bella Twins on Wrestling with Freedie:

H/T to Fightful for the transcribed quotes

Mick Foley Explains Why Match with Jon Moxley Never Happened

Ryan Droste
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Mick Foley and Jon Moxley (Dean Ambrose at the time) were originally slated to have a match in WWE back in 2012. The symbolism of such a match would have been spectacular — a hardcore icon from years past passing the torch to a new-school hardcore performer.

However, plans for the match were dropped after Foley was unable to get clearance from medical personnel to actually participate. This followed Foley and Moxley having already put the wheels in motion, both in real life and across social media (Moxley further expands on this in his new book, Mox).

In an appearance on Busted Open Radio, Foley spoke about failing an impact test which resulted in the angle being halted.

“I did not fare well on the WWE impact test. I went to a neurologist independent of WWE and he told me I should never wrestle again. WWE’s neurologist said the exact same thing,” Foley revealed (h/t Wrestling Inc.). “This is something that I am so proud of, and it shows I am a wrestler to the end. When Robert Cantu, one of the most respected neurologists in the country tells me I should never wrestle again.

“I look him in the eye and say, ‘I can work an entire match around my left knee,’” Foley revealed. “He says, ‘Mr. Foley, you struck me as a very bright young man when I met you a couple of weeks ago. Since then I’ve been doing some research on you, you’ve got a lot to live for. If you think you can find another neurologist to clear you, then that’s up to you. But I am telling you, you should never wrestle again.’ That was the end of the Moxley angle.”

Foley Complimentary of Another AEW Star

Elsewhere in the interview, Foley talked about getting to meet another AEW star recently: Thunder Rosa.

“She strikes me as one of those really rare people who feels it every time she’s getting in the ring. I’d like to say I felt it every time. I didn’t,” Foley said. “Ric Flair did, Terry Funk did, and it’s a short list. But she’s someone that’s just like, lives, breathes wrestling. She’s such a super cool person.”

Foley continued, talking about Rosa’s drawing power, specifically in reference to a show in Texas.

“She got the biggest pop. I think it was a big reason why we had such a big house in San Antonio. We had almost 300 people on a Monday. By that time, the very high end for any of my shows, my shows are normally 150 to 200. Three years ago, I didn’t dare do a show on Monday because I thought, ‘I can’t compete with Raw.’ So she put some butts in seats and we had a good time,” Foley said.

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.

Vince McMahon Not Willing to Give on WWE Contracts

Kane (Glenn Jacobs) Eyeing Re-Election as Knox County Mayor

Michael Reichlin
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WWE legend Kane (Glenn Jacobs) will seek another term as the Mayor of Knox County, Tennessee.

Earlier this week, the “Big Red Machine” began filing the paperwork to run for re-election.

“Picked up my petition sheet for Knox County Mayor yesterday,” he wrote on Twitter. “It’s been an honor serving you and I would love to have your support to serve the Knox County community again.”

Mayor Kane’s Accolades

Glenn Jacobs is a Republican and won election to serve as the Mayor of Knox County, TN on August 2, 2018.

His campaign websites several accomplishments as Knox County Mayor, including no tax increases, job growth and no money to Planned Parenthood.

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Mayor Jacobs fought tooth and nail against the lockdowns and mandates.

For more information, visit JacobsForMayor.com.

Kane Reveals His Top Three Undertaker Matches Of All Time

WWE Staff & Talent Reportedly Test Positive For COVID-19

Chris Stephens
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Following Friday’s Smackdown and weekend live events, numerous WWE talent and staff reportedly started to feel ill. According to a report from PW Insider’s Mike Johnson, some have tested positive for COVID-19. Others are still awaiting test results. No names have been released, however.

“A number of talents and staff were feeling run down and some have since tested positive for COVID-19, while others who were feeling sick are still waiting for their test results to return,” wrote Johnson.

This week’s edition of Smackdown was taped last week and will air on Friday night in its usual time slot.

WWE has also postponed live events scheduled for Quebec next week. The province has issued a shutdown due to surging COVID-19 cases. A WWE live event for Toronto on December 29th still has tickets on sale even though the province of Ontario has limited live events to 50% capacity and the venue has already exceeded that amount in ticket sales for the show. According to Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the Toronto show is “in a state of flux”, which sounds a lot like they just aren’t sure what they are going to do about it yet.

The NHL has postponed all games for the next week and cancelled sending players to the Olympics. The NBA has postponed several games but has said they will continue to operate despite rising cases.

Bryan Danielson defends AEW using Time Limit Draws

Chris Stephens
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Bryan Danielson said 2021 has been a year of surprises for him. He was speaking with the Asbury Park Press recently and noted that he’s done multiple things this year that he didn’t expect to.

Bryan noted during the interview that he was surprised to be inserted into the WrestleMania main event earlier this year. He noted that he told WWE he was leaving, and didn’t think being in the main event of WrestleMania was what they would have him do on his way out.

“The thing that surprised me the most (in 2021) was being inserted into the main event of WrestleMania,” said Danielson. “When I started the year, I knew my contract was ending and I was part of the creative team with WWE and I was like, ‘OK, what’s the best thing for me to do on my way out?’ And it was certainly not (being part of) the main event of WrestleMania”.

Bryan Danielson On Time Limit Draws In Wrestling

Since arriving in AEW, Danielson has wrestled in two time-limit draws. Him and Kenny Omega went to a 30-minute time limit draw at Dynamite Grand Slam in Arthur Ashe Stadium. Then at Winter is Coming last week, Danielson and Hangman Page went to a 60-minute time-limit draw. He also spoke about these matches during the interview.

“If you would have told me at the beginning of the year that I would do a 60-minute match on television, I would have been like, ‘Where’s that happening?’” Danielson said. “So I’ve had some really cool surprises this year.”

He continued to say that time limit draws are an interesting storytelling device, one that sets the stage for a rematch.

“It’s just a story device, right?” Danielson continued. “And it’s interesting to me in the sense of in sporting events, and especially when you’re looking at MMA or boxing and the idea that there are draws in boxing and there are draws in MMA … Usually what it does is it’s a mechanism to lead to a rematch.”

Visit App.com to read their full interview with “The American Dragon” Bryan Danielson.

Danhausen in AEW? Tony Khan comments

Michael Reichlin
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AEW President Tony Khan has commented on the possibility of Danhausen joining All Elite Wrestling.

The very nice, very evil grappler is one of the most popular performers on the independent scene. He was on board for the latest Jericho Cruise. This marked his first appearance in an AEW ring and got fans wondering if he’ll ever join the company in an official capacity.

Khan was interviewed for CBS Sports this week and said the Danhausen-AEW situation is something to keep an eye on.

“Well, he was on the Jericho cruise, interacting with a lot of the AEW wrestlers and that was great,” said Khan. “He’s had an injury recently, I know, so it’s something to keep an eye on, for sure.”

Khan acknowledged Danhausen’s popularity, stating, “He’s got a big following and he does sell some merch. He’s a very nice guy, so he’s got a lot of things going for him.”

Tony Khan’s response is a bit ambiguous, so it’s difficult to get a read on whether or not there is real interest in Danhausen at this time. Danhausen is currently recovering from a broken tibia and fibia, so he won’t be wrestling for several more months.

Orange Cassidy is another comedy wrestler and he’s carved out a niche for himself on the AEW roster, so Danhausen could fill a similar role if they decide to bring him in.

Watch Shak’s complete interview with AEW President Tony Khan:

Big E Reveals How Much Longer He Plans To Wrestle

Chris Stephens
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At one point, WWE Champion Big E said he wanted to stop wrestling by the age of 35. Now that he is about to turn 36, Big E feels he still has more years left in the ring. He spoke to The Sun recently about how much longer he plans to wrestle for.

“I’ve got a few more years left in me. I don’t really know when that time will be… but when you’re 23, 35 feels like it’s ages from now and that you’ll be an old man and beat up,” Big E said.

“So 35 felt like at the time a good time to get out and I don’t want to overstay my welcome.”

Big E would continue to say, however, that some wresters aren’t hitting their prime until they are 35-40.

“We have so many guys now… Randy Orton, AJ Styles, Kofi Kingston, Bobby Roode, Dolph Ziggler – so many guys in their 40s performing at such a high level.  They look great and are ageing well,” he said.

Big E still isn’t sure if he plans to wrestle into his forties, however, as he always told himself he would get out before then. He says that he feels good physically and if his body holds up, he’ll keep wrestling for years more still.

“In the ring, I feel leaner and my cardio is getting better. There’s so much about where I’m at physically that I’m really appreciating.”

Serena Deeb Working As A Producer & Coach Backstage In AEW

Chris Stephens
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Serena Deeb recently noted that when she was out with a knee injury earlier this year she began working backstage in AEW as a producer and a coach. Deeb was speaking with Wrestling Inc. when she mentioned having taken on the role.

“When I was kind of sitting on the sidelines I stepped into the coaching role and the producing role,” Deeb said. “Kind of like the stuff I was doing before at the other company,” she said. “I’m helping them with their matches, I am on headset next to Tony calling their matches, talking to the truck, doing all of that. I love that too and, you know what? That has an exhilarating component in itself. Like, especially when you really help and then you watch them go out there and they kill it. You feel like you’re part of that, it’s very rewarding.”

Deeb worked as a trainer in the WWE Performance Center from 2017 until the spring of 2020. She was released in April 2020 along with many others at the start of the pandemic.

“Yesterday I did what was supposed to be a four-hour seminar but it ended up being a six-hour seminar because we were just in it and we were just going. I felt so good at the end of it,” Deeb continued. “I really love coaching and I want it to be a part of my life and my future and I am getting to do a little bit of that at AEW, as well. So that’s a part of me, for sure. I have an innate desire to help people and I’ve kind of always been like that, I really love it.”

Deeb recently faced Hikaru Shida in the rubber match of their series at Winter is Coming. Deeb had defeated Shida on the October 6th episode of Dynamite. Shida then defeated Deeb in the 1st round of the TBS title tournament. Deeb attacked Shida after the match, targeting her already damaged knee. She then attacked Shida during her quarter-final match with Nyla Rose, again attacking the knee. Rose ended up submitting Shida with a stretch muffler shortly after. Shida then defeated Deeb in the 3rd match in their trilogy last week.

Johnny Gargano Teases Future Match With Tommaso Ciampa

Ryan Droste
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While the wrestling world waits to see where Johnny Gargano takes his talents next, the man himself is teasing one particular match that could yet be in his future — another bout with Tommaso Ciampa.

Gargano and Ciampa had one of the most notable feuds in the history of WWE NXT, with their match at NXT TakeOver New Orleans arguably one of the best matches in the history of the promotion. This all, of course, followed the pair having a successful run as the tag team DIY.

Gargano spoke about the possibility of wrestling Ciampa again during the first episode of his new Twitch show — Johnny Wrestling Stream: Episode 1.

“So, we did find out we were doing that until maybe that day obviously, it wasn’t the ending me and Tommaso wanted,” Gargano admitted (quote via Fightful). “We wanted to be able to finish our feud.

“It was supposed to be TakeOver: Tampa. [Was originally] supposed to be TakeOver: New York and then this was supposed to be TakeOver: Tampa, we wanted to have a huge crowd and all that but that’s not how things work out. Unfortunately. That’s, I guess, the story of our whole feud. It’s just timing and just thing’s not working out. Who knows, maybe we’ll finish it one day somewhere.”

The pair last shared the ring together as opponents in a fatal four-way Iron Man Match in September 2020. Their last singles match against each other was in April 2020, an Empty Arena Match. The pair teamed together in a War Games Match at NXT War Games on December 5th. War Games was Gargano’s final match with WWE NXT.

Will He Stay With WWE or Leave?

Johnny Gargano
Johnny Gargano

Gargano has said that he is currently taking some time off from pro wrestling entirely before deciding his next career move. He and his wife, WWE’s Candice LeRae, are set to welcome their first child in early 2022. At this moment in time, he has fulfilled his WWE contract and would be free to go wherever he would want in the wrestling world if he chose to do so.

Where do you want to see Johnny Gargano next? Let us know in the comments section below!

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.

Vince McMahon Not Willing to Give on WWE Contracts

Vince McMahon Not Willing to Give on WWE Contracts

Ryan Droste
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WWE has been raking in record profits over the last couple of years, but even with all of that cash flow, the company has released over 100 performers from their contracts since the pandemic began in early 2020.

The term “budget cuts” was used internally as the rationale for those cuts, despite the company reporting record financial numbers in recent months. For talent worried about their jobs moving forward, they won’t have a lot of say in the matter unless they have a “no-cut clause.” The vast majority of WWE talent do not have these clauses written into their contracts; only a select few at the top of the card have a no-cut clause.

According to a report from Fightful Select, Vince McMahon has been steadfast in his opposition to no-cut clauses being offered to talents who re-sign with the company. It was revealed last week that Kevin Owens re-signed with WWE — a deal that is reportedly worth in the neighborhood of $2-3 million per year. His new deal does not include a no-cut clause.

The Fightful report notes that some within WWE (“people of influence” is the term given) have been open to the idea of including no-cut clauses, but McMahon has ruled it out. Talent have essentially been told that the idea is a non-starter at this point.

Which Talent Will Sign WWE Contracts, Who Will Leave

Johnny Gargano
Johnny Gargano

There are currently rumors that Sami Zayn has re-signed with WWE, though the specifics of his deal have not been made public and this is only a rumor at this point (as reported in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter). One would assume that since Owens was unable to get a no-cut clause, the same would apply for Zayn.

Johnny Gargano and Kyle O’Reilly are both now free agents after their deals with WWE expired. The pair would be free to sign or appear for AEW or any other promotion as soon as they wanted. O’Reilly is expected to be the first to possibly jump ship with Gargano and his wife, Candice LeRae, expecting their first child 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.

Johnny Gargano Really Wants to Work with AEW’s Top Stars

WWE NXT 2.0 Results (12/21): AJ Styles Appears, Street Fight

Andrew Ravens
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The December 21, 2021 episode of WWE NXT 2.0 aired live on the USA Network from Orlando, Florida at the Capitol Wrestling Center. 

  • Raquel Gonzalez def. Dakota Kai.
  • The Grizzled Young Veterans vs. The Creed Brothers ended in an apparent no-contest
  • Dexter Lumis def. Trick Williams.
  • Edris Enofe defeated Von Wagner 
  • Io Shirai def. Elektra Lopez.
  • Pete Dunne def. Tony D’Angelo.

Here are the takeaways from this week’s show:

Tommaso Ciampa Opens

bron ciampa

Tommaso Ciampa opened the show with a promo in the ring about how being NXT Champion means you are the hunted. However, he’s different and he does the hunting. He said last week, Bron Breaker was the hunted. He said Bron should come out to the ring because he wants to say something to him. Bron came out and Ciampa said Bron wants a title match on January 4th at New Year’s Evil. Ciampa said that Bron does need the title and hopes he doesn’t drown in opportunity. He said that Bron will get that chance. He put Bron over. Ciampa said Bron isn’t ready to be a champion in his NXT. Ciampa slapped him and said that the reality will slap him in the face and it’s him. Bron lifted him up then slowly put him down. Bron said he’s a shark and he’s going to eat Ciampa alive in two weeks. 

AJ Styles Appearance

NXT

AJ Styles made an appearance on this show after a video that NXT’s Grayson Waller posted on social media over the weekend.

In the video, Waller stated that The Miz should have better Miz TV guests than Styles and that while he loved AJ as a kid, Styles is hanging on too long in his career. He mocked Styles’ haircut and called him out for riding Omos’ coattails. He called himself “The Phenomenal Grayson Waller.”

So what happened? Waller laid out Dexter Lumis, who had just worked a match. Waller cut a promo about how when he gets inducted into the Hall of Fame, he’s going to tell the fans he told them he was going to be great. Styles came out to the ring. Styles told Waller to shut up and said Waller is the biggest jackass in NXT. Waller wants to know why AJ was there and he knows because Omos left him on Monday’s Raw so he needs someone to make him relevant. AJ pointed out how Waller called him out and how Waller wants to be like him. AJ questions whether Waller can be a WWE star. AJ wanted him to attack him, but Waller backed down. He said he’s going to let Omos get him first then he will get what’s left. 

Trick Williams vs. Dexter Lumis

nxt 3

Trick Williams vs. Dexter Lumis in a singles match was booked. A short match with Lumis going over with his finisher. 

Lumis, who had been aligned with Johnny Gargano, has been feuding with Williams and NXT North American Champion Carmelo Hayes for the last several months. With Gargano leaving WWE after not renewing his WWE deal, it has left Lumis on his own. 

Street Fight

nxt 1

WWE booked a Street Fight between Dakota Kai and Raquel Gonzalez. The match started in the backstage area before going to the ring area. Various weapons were used. 

Raquel hit a powerbomb on the steel steps before hitting a powerbomb onto a trash can for the win. 

Last week, Kai lost to Cora Jade. Post-match, Kai attacked Jade until Raquel ran down to make the save. Raquel and Kai later brawled into the parking lot. Later in the show, Raquel cut a promo where she said their friendship was positive, but realizes now that she needs to end Kai. She then issued the challenge. 

This feud dates back to July when Kai turned on Raquel. Gonzalez defeated Kai at NXT TakeOver 36 in August to retain the Women’s Title. Kai made her return at Halloween Havoc and caused Gonzalez to lose the title to Mandy Rose. Fast forward to WarGames, Mandy Rose. Gonzalez, Jade, Io Shirai & Kay Lee Ray defeated Kai, Rose, Gigi Dolin & Jacy Jayne.

After the Street Fight, Raquel called out Rose for a title match. Jade came out instead and said that she knows Rose doesn’t want to face her. Jade threw out the idea to take out Toxic Attraction. Rose appeared on the big screen while in a pool. This is where it was revealed that Rose will defend the title against Jade and Raquel at New Year’s Evil. 

Von Wagner In Action

nxt 5

Von Wagner was in action this week against Edris Enofe, who actually pinned Wagner as Von was distracted by Robert Stone who stood on the rampway. Von took out Edris after the match. Von shoulder checked Stone when walking past him. 

Wagner had been in a tag team with Kyle O’Reilly, which started around the time that Wagner made his debut. After falling short at NXT WarGames in an attempt to become tag team champions, Von turned heel and tried to attack Kyle, but Kyle laid him out. The following Tuesday, they worked a steel cage match that ended with O’Reilly being laid out by Von to write him off television as his contract expired.

Big Title Matches Confirmed For WWE NXT New Year’s Evil

Andrew Ravens
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WWE has started to announce some of the matches that will be featured on the New Year’s Evil edition of WWE NXT 2.0 on January 4th. 

During Tuesday’s episode of the show, it was confirmed that Tommaso Ciampa will defend the NXT Title against Bron Breakker while Mandy Rose will put her Women’s Title on the line against Cora Jade and Raquel Gonzalez in a triple threat match. 

Regarding the likely main event of this show, Ciampa first beat Bron to retain the title at Halloween Havoc. Ciampa called out Breakker and predicted that the young star would ask for a championship opportunity. Ciampa told Breakker that he hopes he doesn’t drown again because he doesn’t think Bron is ready to be a champion in his NXT. He mocked the Steiner family, which led to Bron picking Ciampa up and then putting him down before telling him that there was blood in the water and he’s the shark is coming to feast.

As far as the women’s match goes, Rose defeated Gonzalez to win the NXT Women’s Championship at Halloween Havoc with the help of Dakota Kai. On Tuesday’s show, Jade stated that she wanted a title match while Raquel said she would go through anyone to get her belt back.

Rose appeared on the big screen and threw out the match challenge. Gigi Dolin and Jacy Jayne then attacked the babyfaces. 

Jim Ross Wasn’t A Fan Of Stone Cold’s Smoking Skull Title

Fernando Quiles Jr.
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Jim Ross isn’t one to pick apart wrestling titles but he didn’t like the Smoking Skull gold.

During his second WWE Championship run in 1998, Stone Cold Steve Austin was given a custom title. This featured a skull logo as well as rattlesnake logos. The title matched Austin’s persona but not everyone was a fan of it.

Jim Ross Dismisses Custom Titles

During an episode of his Grilling JR podcast, Jim Ross explained why he wasn’t exactly gung-ho over Stone Cold’s custom piece of hardware.

“I didn’t like the rattlesnake belt. The reason for it — it was a great idea. Steve made a lot of money on his royalties because they sold a hell of a lot of those belts but God dang, man.

“It flew in the face of what the belt’s supposed to symbolize. So, it didn’t symbolize a world champion or whatever. It symbolized an individual and it’s strictly made for reselling.”

Ross also mentioned that he didn’t like John Cena’s spinner belts either.

Cena introduced his first custom championship back in 2004 with the United States spinner belt. The following year, he had another spinner title but this time it was the WWE Championship.

JR isn’t the only commentator who takes issue with custom gold in wrestling. Back in 2019, Corey Graves admitted that while he thought the Smoking Skull belt was cool, he felt it devalued the meaning of the WWE Championship.

Of course, The Rock wasn’t digging the title either.

  • ieZQBR

Please H/T SEScoops with a link if you use any quotes from this article

Tony Khan Admits He Would’ve Made A Play For Kevin Owens If He Didn’t Re-Sign With WWE

Fernando Quiles Jr.
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AEW boss Tony Khan says he would’ve had interest in Kevin Owens had he not re-signed with WWE.

Owens had a decision to make regarding his in-ring career. His WWE contract was running out and he had the choice of staying with the company or testing free agency. Ultimately, he signed a new deal with WWE which is said to last for three years.

Tony Khan Praises Kevin Owens

Speaking to Shakiel Mahjouri of CBS Sports, Tony Khan said that Kevin Owens is a great talent and that he would’ve looked into possibly signing him had he been available.

“I would have been interested in that. He’s a great wrestler. I think he ended up signing for what I believe is probably a lot of money. I think that’s great and good for him. We have a lot of people spotlighted here and he’s great. Any company he goes to he’ll be a great wrestler for them.”

Tony Khan speaks with Shakiel Mahjouri

Owens’ new deal with WWE is said to be quite lucrative. Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Radio reported that Owens’ contract is in the $2-3 million range per year.

The report also noted that the feeling is AEW wouldn’t have matched such an offer. WWE has been releasing plenty of talent as of late so it’s clear that the company wanted KO to stick around and didn’t hesitate to throw out a hefty offer.

KO will be featured in a WWE Title match at the Day 1 PPV. He’ll challenge WWE Champion Big E. KO won’t be the only challenger as this will be a fatal four-way match. Bobby Lashley and Seth Rollins will also be competing for the gold.

Tony Khan Responds To Reports Of WWE Being Interested In MJF

Fernando Quiles Jr.
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Tony Khan is aware of the report claiming that WWE as well as FOX and USA Network executives have great interest in MJF.

MJF will tell anyone who listens that his AEW contract will expire in 2024. He even mentioned it following the Long Island show on Dec. 8. MJF got on the mic and said Khan will need to roll out the big bucks in order to keep him.

While MJF is having some fun playing things up, it’s a very real situation that AEW will have to face in a couple of years. Many consider MJF to be a top heel in the wrestling business and at the young age of 25, there is plenty of upside.

Tony Khan Welcomes WWE’s Interest In MJF

  • MJF
    MJF (Photo: AEW)

Andrew Zarian recently reported that WWE, along with FOX and USA Network execs have their eyes on MJF. Speaking to Shakiel Mahjouri of CBS Sports, Tony Khan explained why WWE’s interest in MJF is a good thing.

“I think that’s great. I encourage that. I think they should keep talking about him because he’s a wrestler that’s a big part of AEW and is signed here for a few more years.

“So I think please keep giving us that buzz because he’s been getting great ratings for his segments and those have also been featuring CM Punk pretty regularly as they continue to interact.

“They’ve had a war of words and now there’ll be on opposite sides of this huge trios match where you got Sting [and] Darby Allin teaming with CM Punk against MJF and FTR.

“I think that’s great. You know, [WWE] had some wrestlers I really wanted to sign there and I signed him, Bryan Danielson and Adam [Cole] and Ruby Soho.”

As Khan mentioned, MJF is currently in a feud with CM Punk. A match hasn’t been made official between the two but it’s bound to happen.

MJF may have more issues to deal with other than CM Punk, however. His bodyguard, Wardlow, has been showing signs of frustration. Wardlow told Busted Open Radio that his “contract” with MJF won’t last forever.

JONAH Explains Difference Between Western & Japanese Wrestling Fans

Fernando Quiles Jr.
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JONAH knows what’s it’s like to travel around the world as a wrestler and he’s got an idea of the big difference between western and Japanese fans.

The man who was known as Bronson Reed on WWE’s NXT brand found himself in the free agency market after being released. It didn’t take long for JONAH to find work as he was signed by NJPW and was allowed to take bookings for Impact Wrestling.

JONAH Details Culture Differences

It is undeniable that there are differences between western and Japanese crowds. JONAH already has experience working in “The Land of the Rising Sun” thanks to his time in Pro Wrestling NOAH.

During an appearance on Busted Open Radio, JONAH went over the key difference between western and Japanese wrestling fans.

“I did work with Pro Wrestling NOAH for about a year. Yeah, I lived in Japan for about a year.

“So, I know what the Japanese crowd is like and what the fanbase is like. I think the big difference is obviously wrestling fans in the western world, they love professional wrestling, they love everything about it but it’s almost like the Japanese fans watch it as a sport.

“So, they’re a little bit more engaged during the match. Promos and things like that maybe not so much but during the match, you can see that they’re with your every move.”

JONAH has wasted little time making his mark in both NJPW and Impact. At Battle in the Valley back in November, JONAH laid out both Juice Robinson and David Finlay.

He took things a step further over in Impact. At the Turning Point PPV, JONAH attacked Josh Alexander and left him bleeding from the mouth. The two will collide at the Hard To Kill PPV on Jan. 8.

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Bully Ray: Brock Lesnar Doesn’t Get The Respect & Props He Deserves

Fernando Quiles Jr.
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Bully Ray thinks that despite Brock Lesnar’s popularity, “The Beast” doesn’t get his due from fans.

Lesnar has been enjoying his role as a babyface on the SmackDown brand. He has been involved in a highly praised feud with WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns. The two will collide at the Day 1 PPV on Jan. 1, 2022.

Brock Lesnar Underappreciated?

It’s hard to picture a superstar the magnitude of Brock Lesnar being underappreciated but Bully Ray is targeting the “smart” fans. Here’s what he said during an episode of Busted Open Radio.

“Just as Roman is going to cave in Paul’s [Heyman] head via what looked to be a one-man Con-Chair-To, the music hits and the place erupted.

“Did the place erupt for a babyface? No. Did the place erupt for a heel? No. The place erupted for a superstar.

“A superstar that people refuse to give the right amount of respect and props to. You know, Roman has this whole thing, ‘Acknowledge Me,’ as as ‘The Head of The Table.’ If anybody should truly be acknowledged in the wrestling business it’s Brock Lesnar because Brock is so damn good at what he does.

“And he’s so smart but a lot of ‘smart’ fans who are actually dumb as the freakin’ day is long don’t get it. Brock is a megastar. Brock is on the same level as Austin and Rock but because Brock had come and gone a little bit, you don’t really see it.”

Bully went on to express his belief that Lesnar is better than he’s ever been. He credits Brock’s current successful run with experience and being an elite-level star in an industry where making it to the top isn’t easy.

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Kevin Owens Explains Why WWE Didn’t Send Videos for ROH Final Battle

Tyriece Simon
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Kevin Owen says WWE has a good reason for not sending any tribute videos to ROH Final Battle. According to Owens, they never asked.

 Les Anti-Pods de la Lutte’s Patric Laprade and Kevin Raphael spoke with Owens about ROH. When asked why no one from WWE did promos for ROH Final Battle, he replied that ROH didn’t ask WWE. Unlike WWE talent, former ROH wrestlers in All Elite Wrestling and Impact Wrestling sent in videos thanking the promotion during ROH Final Battle.

Laprade transcribed the interview from French to English. He shared the transcription with SEScoops.

“The answer is quite simple: Ring of Honor didn’t ask any wrestlers from WWE to do that, nor contacted anyone at WWE. I knew it was going to be their last show, but I didn’t think to send a video so they could play it at the show. I’ve watched it. I was at a WWE show, and I was watching it on my phone, so it was not something I simply ignored. I’ve read some people on the Internet saying that probably WWE didn’t let us do it, but that’s incorrect. It’s just ROH who didn’t ask us, and I bet that if they had, we could have done it, but that wasn’t the case,” said Owens.

End of an Era for ROH

ROH Final Battle took place on December 11. The event marked the end of the current format of the wrestling promotion, as they are looking not to sign talent exclusively. ROH will book independent wrestlers to appear for them per event. However, it is unclear how they will book talent for events or ROH TV episodes. ROH also plans not to do any shows until April 2022.

Kevin Owens on How ROH Impacted his Career

After explaining why he didn’t send a tribute video to ROH, he shared why the promotion helped his career. While he appreciates his time in ROH, he’s unsure if he needed ROH to get into WWE. He also credits his time in Pro Wrestling Guerilla for growing his popularity.

“It’s funny cause I often ask myself that same question. Of course, it gave me a very important platform in the United States. But at the end of the day, William Regal saw me at a PWG show. And even before I started full-time with ROH in 2007, I had a good name on the indies because of PWG. So sometimes I wonder if things would have not become what they became with ROH if I would have made it to WWE anyway. Maybe, maybe not, I don’t know,” said Owens. He also admits that he once thought he’d stay with ROH for his entire career.

While he’s unsure if ROH helped his popularity, he does credit ROH for helping change his priorities. “…However, with time, my priorities changed a little, my family’s priorities changed a little, and that’s when WWE became my goal again. So ROH was a big influence and a huge part of my career, but I often wonder if ROH would have not been part of my career if I would have made it to WWE anyway. A huge part of me thinks so. That said, I have plenty of good and fun memories with ROH, and I’m very happy to have been apart of ROH for all those years,” said Owens.

ROH is planning not to do any shows until April 2022. For ROH fans, the hope is that the promotion will have a successful fresh start.

Kevin Owens feels no attachment to NXT 2.0, not interested in returning

Michael Reichlin
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Kevin Owens says he feels no connection to NXT 2.0, despite being a former NXT Champion and one of the most successful Superstars to pass through developmental.

The 37-year-old grappler from Quebec recently appeared on les Anti-Pods de la Lutte to discuss his decision to re-sign with WWE and much more.

During his discussion with Pat Laprade and Kevin Raphael, Owens said he barely recognizes the current incarnation of NXT.

Kevin Owens doesn’t recognize NXT 2.0

Kevin Owens NXT Champion
Kevin Owens as NXT Champion (2015)

“Today’s NXT is very different than the NXT I was part of, to the point I believe it should have a totally different name,” he said. “And I don’t think it’s better or worse, but it’s just too different. So when I’m watching NXT, I don’t see the NXT I was part of. It’s not the same thing.”

Owens says NXT is a bit like Ring of Honor, in that it evolved so much that it’s barely recognizable anymore. “I don’t even consider that to be the same show,” he added. “I don’t really feel any attachment to NXT now.”

He still checks in on NXT 2.0 and sees talented people down there. However, the brand is so different that he’s not interested in returning there like Finn Balor did.

“I don’t think I fit in the new NXT as I was fitting in the NXT I was part of, with guys like Sami, Finn, Samoa Joe and Nakamura. When I watch NXT now, I don’t feel the same thing I felt when I was watching NXT two years ago.”

Original Plans For Kevin Owens’ 2019 NXT Return

Rikishi Calls For Umaga To Be Inducted Into The WWE Hall Of Fame

Chris Stephens
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Rikishi took to social media recently to call for the “Samoan Bulldozer” Umaga to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2022.

Umaga had two different stints in WWE. He first signed with the company in 2001 and debuted as Jamal of 3-Minute Warning along with Rosey. He was released in 2003 but would return to the company in 2005 and was repackaged as Umaga.

Umaga was Vince McMahon’s representative in the hair vs hair match at WrestleMania 23. He lost to Bobby Lashley resulting in Vince McMahon having to have his head shaved.

Umaga was also a 2x Intercontinental Champion in WWE. In 2009, WWE released him due to his refusing to go to rehab following a violation of the company’s wellness policy. He would pass away due to a heart attack just 6 months later at the age of 36.

Last year, Jim Ross spent some time on his Grillin Jr. podcast speaking about Umaga.

“Umaga was the prototype that in a different era would’ve been a perfect NFL nose tackle. He had amazing athleticism for a guy that big. He was a super heavyweight that had light heavyweight feet. Just was so athletic and good-hearted. I just loved being around him – he was just a big kid and a good dude. Like you said, he left us way too early,” Ross said on the show.

AJ Styes & Omos Split: Backstage News on WWE’s plans

Michael Reichlin
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Monday’s edition of WWE Raw saw the breakup of AJ Styles and his Own Personal Colossus, Omos. The split came after the former tag team champions battled the father-son team of Rey and Dominik Mysterio.

If it feels like WWE rushed this storyline, you are on to something. According to WrestleVotes, the company did in fact accelerate plans to have both men return to go their separate ways.

“Source says both superstars have significant plans in early 2022, and wanted any type of blow off program done prior to the major Rumble & Mania events.”

– WrestleVotes

There’s no word yet on what WWE has planned for Styles and Omos headed into WrestleMania season. However, don’t be surprised to see Omos have a strong showing in the Royal Rumble en route to a feature program at WrestleMania 38.

AJ Styles & Omos

Now that Styles and Omos are a thing of the past, we can look back and see the pairing achieved WWE’s primary objective.

The company sees huge potential in the giant Omos. He commands attention with his larger than life presence. There’s no doubt he improved during his time working with the Phenomenal One.

It will be interesting to see who Omos is paired with after his program with AJ Styles winds down. There are several people on the Raw brand who would be a good fit to work with him. Similar to AJ Styles, WWE will want to select on a performer who can accentuate Omos’ strengths as he continues to develop.

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WWE has announced the former partners will square off against one another next week on Raw. The show airs Monday, December 27th on the USA Network.

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Liv Morgan has been training in Natalya’s “Dungeon”

Chris Stephens
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Natalya has a wrestling ring in her home and regularly helps train a lot of wrestlers in the industry. She recently noted on the Tuesday Wrestling Tuesday with Jonathan Hood show that Liv Morgan has been putting in a lot of extra time in Natalya’s “dungeon”.

“A lot of really talented men and women come and train with us, Liv Morgan being one of them. I was so proud to see Liv put her skills to the test,” Natalya said. “A lot of the things that she’s been working on in the dungeon, she did in her match last Monday with Becky Lynch as they main evented Raw, which was really cool.”

The original “Hart Family Dungeon” was opened by Natalya’s grandfather, Stu Hart, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Natalya now keeps up the family tradition along with her husband TJ Wilson (aka Tyson Kidd).

“I am proud of Liv because she has been training with us in the dungeon,” Natalya continued. “She’s been training with us for over a year. I said to Liv, ‘it’s so cool to see.’ Because training isn’t once every six months. Training is being consistent every single week, on days that you’re tired.”

Natalya continued to mention that the wrestlers who train in her dungeon are a very special, elite group.

“She will get off the plane and come and train with me and my husband and a few of the other Superstars that come in and train with us. It’s a very special, elite group that come in and hone their craft,” Natalya said. 

https://twitter.com/NatbyNature/status/1472657825042161669

Brodie Lee Jr. (-1) Trains With Liv Morgan In Natalya’s Dungeon

Footage of Natalya’s dungeon was posted this summer when The Dark Order’s -1 (Brodie Lee Jr.) spent some time training with Liv Morgan. The ring has WWE turnbuckles and there is a cutout of Bret Hart attached to the door.

“Liv is always so patient with Brodie and they work really well together. Nattie has done a great job making sure Brodie learns how to keep himself safe, as well as whoever he works. Also, who better to learn the basics of wrestling from than a Hart?” Amanda Huber wrote on Instagram.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CQFU9jXhmGi/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=61561381-5054-40cd-93a9-94792e7f459c

H/T to Wrestling Inc. for the transcriptions

Drew McIntyre working on a new signature move

Michael Reichlin
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Former WWE Champion Drew McIntyre is looking to beef up his move set just in time for WrestleMania season.

McIntyre has been with WWE on-and-off since around 2007. You don’t get career longevity like that without constantly improving yourself.

The Scottish SmackDown star recently spoke with The Daily Record about the ongoing effort to stay in shape, refine his character and stay relevant.

Prior to re-signing with WWE in 2017, McIntyre said he didn’t like what he saw in the mirror. He had a deep conversation with his wife and realized he wasn’t giving his all, in terms of his training. He cut back on his drinking and got himself into the best shape of his life.

“I needed to look like I could beat up Brock Lesnar,” McIntyre recalls. “I didn’t believe it, so I started putting in the work like crazy and eating properly.”

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McIntyre has an incredible physique. He’s learned what works and what doesn’t. Of course, it’s important for him to put in serious hours at the gym. However, he believes it’s “100% true” that staying in shape is mostly about diet, not training.

We are less than four months out from WrestleMania 38. WrestleMania season is about to kick into high gear and Drew McIntyre is already working on improving his move-set. In fact, he’s working on a new move that he hopes will bring him another championship in 2022.

“I’m really proud my headbutt is know as the Glasgow Kiss,” he said. “Now, the world knows about the Glasgow kiss. I’m working on a new one when I threw the guy across the ring. Thinking I might call it the Highland Fling.”

Visit the Daily Record to read their full interview with Drew McIntyre.

Drew McIntyre is scheduled to face Madcapp Moss at the WWE Day 1 pay-per-view on January 1st from Atlanta, GA.

Drew McIntyre Recalls Hilarious Hotel Story Involving The Undertaker

Alexander Hammerstone Re-Signs With MLW

Chris Stephens
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MLW has locked down its current World Champion in Alexander Hammerstone to a multi-year contract. Hammerstone originally signed with the company in 2019 and his contract was set to expire shortly. According to a report from Fightful, Hammerstone noted the schedule MLW offers was one of the reasons he chose to re-sign. He is able to work independent shows as well but not for any promotion with national television.

“I’ve been in the business for ten years now and it’s nice to finally be in a position where I’m really starting to see a return from it,” Hammerstone said to Fightful. “Beyond that, there are a lot of things that MLW offers me that other companies might not. Not an intense schedule, not the demand of being on the road five days a week or something like that. That’s not something I might ever want to do.”

Hammerstone won the Battle Riot match this year in MLW leading to him getting a title shot against then champion Jacob Fatu. He then defeated Fatu at Fightland on October 2nd in Philadelphia.

“As my time goes on in wrestling, I always say, ‘I wrestle for free, but you have to pay me to travel.’ I love the wrestling part, but the traveling kicks my ass and is the most frustrating part of it. There are a lot of advantages at MLW right now. As far as the contract goes, we were able to come to something I was happy with.”

Hammerstone is the 9th wrestler in history to hold the MLW World Championship. No wrestler has held the belt more than once. Fatu had previously been the longest reigning champion in the company’s history. His title reign lasted 819 days.

Seth Rollins on His Current Character: “If The Joker Were A Narcissist Going Through A Midlife Crisis”

Chris Stephens
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Seth Rollins believes his current character is similar to if the Joker going through a midlife crisis. This is according to comments he made to Z100’s Josh Martinez recently.

When asked to describe his current character, Rollins had the following to say:

“God, it’s as if — it’s as if this crazy — if The Joker were a narcissist going through a midlife crisis. I guess that’s the best way to really put it,” Rollins said. “I don’t really know any other way to do it. But yeah, it’s a lot. It’s a lot happening but the cool thing about the character is it can kind of go any which way. There’s a lot of unpredictability with it and I think that’s fun, you know?”

“You can have matches like a Hell In A Cell match with Edge, but you can also have television segments where I just laugh with my best friend Bayley for five minutes. So, you know, I just think that there’s not a lot of characters on our television program that can do all these different things and so, that’s kind of just my approach to where I’m at right now.”

WWE recently celebrated Rollins “Year of the Drip” with the following video posted to social media:

Rollins will be part of the fatal 4-way match for the WWE Championship on the Day 1 PPV. Big E will also defend the title against Bobby Lashley and Kevin Owens in that match. Last night on RAW, Owens and Rollins continued to be loosely aligned as they orchestrated a post-match attack on Bobby Lashley.

Should Rollins win the title on January 1st, it would be his 3rd time holding the WWE Championship. Rollins is also a 2x Universal Champion and the inaugural NXT Champion. He’s also a 6x tag team champion, 2x Intercontinental champion, and 1x United States champion.

Rollins comments can be heard in the player below.

H/T to Post Wrestling for the transcriptions.

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