Ronda Rousey will wrestle her second match since returning to WWE last month at the Royal Rumble when she travels to Saudi Arabia this Saturday for Elimination Chamber. Rousey will team with Naomi to take on Charlotte Flair and and Sonya Deville.
But the story gets a little crazier from there.
According to a report from PWInsider, a stipulation will be added to the match during this Friday’s taped edition of WWE SmackDown. That stipulation? Rousey will have to wrestle the match with one hand tied behind her back.
This week’s SmackDown was taped last week in New Orleans due to the WWE travel schedule to get to Saudi Arabia in time for this weekend’s big event. You have may have seen the widely circulated fan video of Flair taking a slow motion bump into a table during a contract signing during the taping. It was a bit awkward, to say the least.
Rousey is set to take on Charlotte Flair for the WWE SmackDown Women’s Championship at WrestleMania 38; she used her Royal Rumble match victory to be positioned in that match. What will be interesting is whether or not WWE uses the stipulation at Elimination Chamber to actually beat her, with a built in excuse, before WrestleMania.
In a WWE Digital Exclusive backstage interview after last week’s SmackDown, Rousey alleged that she could defeat Deville with one hand tied behind her back — clearly planting the seeds for what is to be revealed about the new stipulation for this match on SmackDown this week.
After being asked if she’s worried about Deville, Rousey said, “Worried about Sonya? No, I could beat Sonya with one hand tied behind my back. She’s the last of my worries.”
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The February 15, 2022 episode of WWE NXT aired live on Syfy from Orlando, Florida at the Capitol Wrestling Center.
WWE NXT Results
Pete Dunne def. Tony D’Angelo
NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions Toxic Attraction def. Indi Hartwell and Persia Pirotta
NXT North American Champion Carmelo Hayes def. Cameron Grimes
The Creed Brothers def. MSK
NXT Champion Bron Breakker def. Santos Escobar
Here are the takeaways from this week’s show:
Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Finals
Men’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Finals took place between MSK and the Creed Brothers.
The match was the co-main event. MSK got the early advantage. There was a wild spot where Lee was tossed onto the announce table. Following the break, MSK got the hot tag and hit some dives off the top rope. The finish called for The Creeds hitting their finisher.
MSK won last year’s tournament while this marked the first time that the Creed Brothers worked the tournament since signing with WWE.
Pete Dunne and Tony D’Angelo battled inside of a steel cage match at this show. This was the opener and various weapons were used including a fire extinguisher, tables, chairs, and more. They both kicked out of their finishers. Dunne won the match.
Dunne and D’Angelo have feuded in recent months as Dunne defeated D’Angelo on the December 21st edition of NXT only for D’Angelo to then defeat Dunne in a Crowbar on a Pole match on the January 11 edition.
An NXT North American Title match between champion Carmelo Hayes and Cameron Grimes took place.
Grimes became the number one contender to Hayes’ title by defeating Tony D’Angelo in the main event of the January 25th edition of NXT.
The match started off slow and kicked off the second hour. They went back and forth with some near falls down the stretch. Grimes took out Williams at ringside. Back in the ring, Hayes hit his finisher for the win.
NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions Jacy Jayne and Gigi Dolin defended the titles against Persia Pirotta and Indi Hartwell.
The match was short. The babyfaces hit their finisher, but it was broken up on the pinfall. Persia was sent into the ring steps. Indi was knocked off the top rope and the heels hit their finishers for the win.
Over the past few weeks, the two teams have been feuding dating back to when Hartwell, Pirotta, Kay Lee Raydefeated all three members of Toxic Attraction in a six-woman tag team match.
NXT Champion Bron Breakker vs. Santos Escobar was saved as the headliner.
The match was presented commercial free. Bron was in control in the early going. Santos fought back, sent him to the floor, and hit an outside dive. Dolph Ziggler ran out and superkicked Bron, which led to a near fall for Santos. Ciampa came out and took out Ziggler. Bron with a spear then his finisher for the win.
Breakker won the NXT Championship from Tommaso Ciampa at New Year’s Evil last month. Since that time, Escobar has taken exception to Breakker becoming champion so soon into his career. Escobar has stated that he despises the opportunities Breakker has been given, and Breakker winning the NXT Championship before him.
Bron Breakker made his first title defense as NXT Champion against Santos Escobar in the main event of Tuesday’s episode of NXT 2.0, titled Vengeance Day.
The match was a slow start with Bron in control. Santos took over after tossing him to the floor and hitting an outside dive before picking apart the champion. Dolph Ziggler ran out and superkicked Bron, which led to a near fall for Santos. Tommaso Ciampa came out to fight Ziggler to the back. Bron with a spear then hit his finisher for the win.
The storyline coming into the bout was how Escobar objected to Breakker becoming champion so soon into his career and that he does not like that Breakker has been given so many opportunities so soon.
Leading up to the bout, Breakker has been offering for weeks to face Escobar in the ring, but the heel star had been delaying the match. Last week, Breakker and Santos met for a “Championship Summit” segment to hype the match.
Escobar won the Cruiserweight Title in May 2020 where he held the title for 321 days before dropping it to Kushida in April 2021. Since that time, he has been feuding with various stars, but this was his first time challenging for the top prize in NXT.
Bron won the NXT Title from Tommaso Ciampa last month at the New Year’s Evil special of NXT 2.0.
The 2022 men’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic is in the books as the final two teams battled it out for the trophy.
At NXT Vengeance Day, MSK wrestled The Creed Brothers in the finals of the tournament. MSK got the early advantage in the coo-headliner. Lee was tossed off the apron onto the announce table. After the commercial break, Carter got the hot tag and cleaned house. Carter hit a back flip off the apron. He went to the top rope and hit a front senton then Lee hit a dive off the top rope for a near fall.
The finish saw The Creeds hit their finisher. As a result, they’ve received the Dusty Cup and earned a shot at the Tag Team Champions Imperium.
The first round matches took place last month with MSK beating Jacket Time (Ikemen Jiro and Kushida), Edris Enofé and Malik Blade beating Legado Del Fantasma (Joaquin Wilde and Raul Mendoza), The Creed Brothers (Brutus Creed and Julius Creed) over Brooks Jensen and Josh Briggs, and Grizzled Young Veterans (James Drake and Zack Gibson) defeating Chase U (Andre Chase and Bodhi Hayward).
The second round bouts included MSK over Enofé and Blade and The Creed Brothers beat Grizzled Young Veterans. Past winners include:
2015: Finn Balor and Samoa Joe
2016: The Authors of Pain
2018: The Undisputed Era (Adam Cole & Kyle O’Reilly)
2019: Aleister Black and Ricochet
2020: The BroserWeights (Matt Riddle & Pete Dunne)
An NXT North American Title match between champion Carmelo Hayes and Cameron Grimes was one of the top matches featured on the card of Tuesday’s episode of NXT 2.0, titled Vengeance Day.
The match took place in the second hour and was back and forth. Although Grimes had some momentum down the stretch, Grimes took out Trick Williams at ringside and back in the ring, found himself on the receiving end of Hayes’ finisher.
This was set up on the January 26th episode of NXT 2.0 when Grimes secured himself the title opportunity by defeating Tony D’Angelo in the main event. Pete Dunne made his return on this show to cost D’Angelo after losing to D’Angelo in a ‘Crowbar on a Pole’ match. He hit D’Angelo over the hand with a Cricket bat.
At New Year’s Evil in January, Hayes unified the North American and Cruiserweight Titles by beating Roderick Strong. This marked Grimes’ first shot at the North American Title since TakeOver XXX in 2020 when he worked a 5-Way Ladder Match with Johnny Gargano, Bronson Reed, Damian Priest, and Velveteen Dream. Since then, Gargano, Reed, and Dream are no longer with WWE.
The North American Title was first introduced in April 2018 and won by Adam Cole. There had been 13 champions in the original history of the title.
It’s no secret who AJ Styles wants to work against at this year’s WrestleMania in Texas. Now, the former WWE Champion once again doubled-down on wanting a match with Edge in a new interview with Ariel Helwani.
“He’s so knowledgeable, he’s such a superstar. I would love to get the opportunity to get in the ring with him,” Styles said (h/t ComicBook). “There was that time when I thought there would never be an opportunity to wrestle him, and now, it’s here. The time is limited in which we can pull it off. Whether he or I retire first, who knows, but I want to get that match. I desperately want to get that match. I think it’s the one that most fans would enjoy.”
Styles also referenced that Edge wants the match, too. Edge hasn’t been seen since he and Beth Phoenix defeated The Miz and Maryse at the Royal Rumble in St. Louis a few weeks back.
AJ Styles Has A Shot at the WWE Championship This Weekend
WWE Elimination Chamber 2022
Styles came up short in a match with WWE United States Champion Damian Priest this past Monday night on Raw, but the Phenomenal One gets a shot at the WWE Championship this weekend.
Styles will compete in an Elimination Chamber match in Saudi Arabia on Saturday that will have Bobby Lashley’s title up for grabs. Also in that match will be Brock Lesnar, Seth Rollins, Austin Theory, and Riddle.
The rest of the card for WWE Elimination Chamber is as follows:
WWE Universal Championship Match Roman Reigns (c) vs. Goldberg
WWE Raw Women’s Championship Match Becky Lynch (c) vs. Lita
WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championship Match The Usos (c) vs. The Viking Raiders
Elimination Chamber Match Bianca Belair vs. Liv Morgan vs. Rhea Ripley vs. Nikki A.S.H. vs. Doudrop vs. Alexa Bliss
Ronda Rousey and Naomi vs. Charlotte Flair and Sonya Deville
Falls Count Anywhere Match Drew McIntyre vs. Madcap Moss
The Miz vs. Rey Mysterio
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Cody Rhodes is gone from AEW. This is a blockbuster story with a lot to unpack. For those questioning if this is an angle, it’s not. This is a legitimate situation and not part of a storyline.
Cody’s AEW contract expired approximately six weeks ago, as first reported by Sean Ross Sapp. Cody has been working as a free agent since then, with negotiations ongoing.
Just two months ago, Cody tweeted, “I’m thankful to the fans that cheer and boo me because both are getting ready to go on a ride that’s just bizarre and not the path that you think. We’re not doing what’s been done before.” Little did we know at the time just how bizarre things would get.
During the early days of AEW, Cody, Kenny Omega and the Young Bucks were all involved with planning longterm storylines and feuds. SEScoops has learned learned that Tony Khan assuming total control over the creative process was a big factor in Cody leaving AEW.
Of course, this is the wrestling business and these things always come down to dollars and centers. Cody Rhodes was asking for big money. How big? AEW refused to pay his asking price and allowed an Executive Vice President to walk out the door.
The talks fell apart on Monday when it became clear Cody and Brandi would not be returning. Cody’s pending departure from AEW was a hot topic of conversation behind the scenes at Monday’s Raw.
Is Cody Rhodes Returning to WWE?
WWE is said to be “very interested” in bringing Cody. They know the type of buzz Cody Rhodes returning would generate. The company is also keenly aware of the public perception that talent is discouraged and morale is low.
AEW has signed a lot of former WWE and NXT talent, which has reinforced these optics. Cody Rhodes would be the first AEW original to jump ship and we could see him thrown into a top WrestleMania program at any moment.
WWE has the cash to get this deal done, no matter what Cody is asking for. The general feeling within the industry is that Cody returning to WWE is inevitable.
Despite the reports of tension amongst AEW’s EVP’s, Cody Rhodes was very well-liked behind the scenes in AEW. As one of the co-founders of AEW, he’s been a mentor to young talent. Many AEW stars have been expressing their gratitude towards Cody on social media since this story broke.
Lita is slated to challenge Becky Lynch for the Raw Women’s Championship at Elimination Chamber on February 19, which will mark her first singles match since 2006 where she dropped the Women’s Title to Mickie James at the Survivor Series.
While speaking with Sports Illustrated to promote the show, the WWE Hall Of Famer talked about how her training has gone for the bout:
“I really feel good. I have been away from the ring [and traveling with WWE], so I haven’t been beating myself up. I’m sleeping in the same bed and holding a regular training schedule. They gave us quite a bit of heads up for the Rumble this year, so I’ve had time to prepare, and that has shifted into making my workouts more intense. Plus, combine that with a group I’ve linked up with in the Bay Area called Hood Slam—I have an open invitation to their ring and that’s helped so much. That’s really helped put any doubt to rest.”
Prior to Lita’s latest WWE return, it was reported that she considered going to AEW. She gave some additional details on how the talks went and why she eventually decided to stay with WWE.
“They reached out to me initially, and I was intrigued. They’re doing a lot of cool stuff. It’s exciting whenever there is competition—it stokes the industry as a whole. And they’ve really fostered the rise of the star of Britt Baker. I was intrigued, but as we ended up talking, it felt like it wasn’t the right move for me. We ended it with, “Not right now. I wish you the best and I’ll be watching.” It’s a fun product and I’m glad for their success. I ultimately feel I’m home in WWE. There is something that feels right about that.”
Lita also stated in this interview that there are currently no plans for her in WWE following the Elimination Chamber event.
WWE’s 205 Live show will no longer be around in the near future.
The company’s developmental system is going through a revamp. NXT was rebranded to NXT 2.0 on Sep. 14, 2021. NXT 2.0 has featured newer talent from the developmental system to build them to be the next company star. While introducing new talent like NXT Champion Bron Breakker, the company has released or let go several veterans from the NXT era like Samoa Joe on Jan.6.
Sarray faced Lash Legend during the December 17 episode of 205 Live
While NXT 2.0 features new talent, not every wrestler can compete on the show weekly. The WWE decided to have the fresh talent from developmental to compete on 205 Live. Wrestlers like Draco Anthony have competed on the 205 Live last year before his NXT 2.0 debut on Feb. 1. PWInsider’s Mike Johnson reports that 205 Live will be ending and that the WWE will rebrand it to NXT: Level Up. The taping of the new show starts on Feb. 15 and will be 60 minutes episode.
“…Instead of 205 Live, WWE are slated to tape the first episode of NXT: Level Up prior to tonight’s NXT Vengeance Day live broadcast in Orlando, Florida at the WWE Performance Center. We are told the episode is slated to be 60 minutes long, said the report(h/t Mike Johnson).
Problems With 205 Live
While 205 Live will end, fans can hope that the company will pay more attention to NXT: Level Up. 205 Live started as a show for the WWE cruiserweight division and had great talents like Cedric Alexander and Mustafa Ali, and Tony Nese. While the show had cruiserweights putting on incredible matches, the WWE failed to promote the shows. Former 205 Live talent Tony Nese shared his experience being on the show with Chris Van Vliet on Oct. 27, 2021.
“We would always say that we were in this wrestling purgatory. Even though I was there, when it comes to the company’s decisions, I’m on the outside looking in too. This is all speculation, but it seemed like they had an idea for the show. It was Triple H’s idea. It was his baby. He wanted the show to have a yearly tournament, win/loss records, all that stuff. He wanted it to be a different feel. As soon as it was announced that the cruiserweights would be a part of RAW, that was where Vince was like, ‘No, it’s my show now.’ All that other stuff went out the window,” said Nese(Fernando Quiles Jr.).
It’s unclear what WWE has planned for the first NXT: Level Up episode.
Footage of the stage and set for WWE Elimination Chamber days ahead of the show has surfaced online.
As seen below in the video, WWE already has set up the stage, ramp, ring, and tent-like structure that goes over the ring where the chamber structure is housed. All that’s left is adding the seating chairs on the floor.
The event takes place this Saturday, February 19 from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia from the Jeddah SuperDome. The pre-show will begin at 11am ET, and the main card will begin at 12pm ET. This will be the first Saudi show for WWE of 2022 with the second event expected to take place in October or November.
Eight matches have been confirmed for the main card and the pre-show bout has yet to be revealed. 5 of those bouts will feature championships on the line including WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns vs. Goldberg and WWE Raw Women’s Champion Becky Lynch vs. Lita.
There will be two chamber bouts – WWE Champion Bobby Lashley vs. Brock Lesnar vs. Seth Rollins vs. Austin Theory vs. AJ Styles vs. Riddle and Doudrop vs. Liv Morgan vs. Rhea Ripley vs. Nikki A.S.H. vs. Bianca Belair vs. Alexa Bliss with the winner challenging for the Raw Women’s Title at WrestleMania 38.
Major League Wrestling (MLW) is returning to Chicago’s Cicero Stadium this summer.
MLW boss Court Bauer appeared on ESPN Chicago’s Tuesday Wrestling Tuesday with Jonathan Hood to announce the news.
Tickets for this event go on sale Tuesday, March 1st at at MLWgo.com and Eventbrite.com. As part of a ‘fan appreciation’ experience, MLW fans can meet and greet their favorite MLW fighters ahead of the show.
Top stars advertised for the event include World Heavyweight Champion Alex Hammerstone, Los Parks, Jacob Fatu, Davey Richards, King Muertes, EJ Nduka, Calvin Tankman, National Openweight Champion Alex Kane, Richard Holliday with Alicia Atout and more.
Additional details about the card will be announced in the weeks ahead.
Cody’s lost his last match against Sammy Guevara at Beach Break on Jan. 26. The company teased a feud between Brandi and former UFC star Paige VanZant at AEW Dynamite on Feb. 2. It’s unclear what the company had planned for Brandi and Van Zant. However after failed contract negotiations, both Cody and Brandi decided to test free agency.
Now that both his brother and sister in law aren’t with AEW, fans have started to wonder if Dustin would leave the company. However, he shared on Twitter that he is still with his employer and doesn’t plan on leaving.
I love my brother #CodyRhodes. I love my sister in law @TheBrandiRhodes . Whatever they decide to do in life, I support 110%. I am sad that they are gone, but the fucking train keeps moving. ???#LFG
Before joining AEW, Dustin felt that he lost his passion for wrestling with WWE. Under the persona Goldust, he has wrestled for and left WWE on different occasions over the years. His his last stint with the company lasted for six years. After feeling underutilzed with his former employers, he requested his release. While not immediate, WWE granted Dustin’s release on Apr. 21, 2019.
In an interview with AEW Unrestricted on Apr. 23, 2020, Dustin shared why he lost his passion for wrestling in WWE.
“When you’re sitting at home for a couple of months with another company who doesn’t value you at all, and you’re sitting there knowing you have so much more to offer. You kind of lose your passion, and for the first time in my 31 years, I lost my passion for the wrestling business,” said Dustin(h/t Anutosh Bajpai).
‘The Natural’ Dustin Rhodes
He also discussed the moment he decided to ask for his release in the interview.
“They just will not give me the time of day, and I had enough.” said Rhodes,” I said enough was enough, and for the first time, I kind of stood up for myself in a big way and said, ‘I am quitting. I am asking you for my release. I am done. I’m not happy here anymore, said Dustin(h/t Anutosh Bajpai).
Dustin signed a multi-year contract with AEW on Aug. 30, 2019. While he has no interest in leaving, it’s unclear if AEW will renew his contact when it’s up.
Kofi Kingston still hasn’t fully recovered from an injury he sustained during last month’s Royal Rumble match
The former WWE champion is known for his Royal Rumble moments using his eye-popping athleticism to avoid elimination. Kingston has done incredible things like walking on his hands to get back into the ring. Every year, he and WWE try to create more moments for fans to remember. However, this year they were unsuccessful.
After Kevin Owens threw Kingston out of the ring during the 2022 Rumble, Kingston tried to catch himself on the barricade without his feet touching the floor. Unfortunately, his feet did touch. The error was caught on camera, resulting in his elimination from the match.
“It was definitely a risky move, he said. “I knew I was going to be in pain no matter what. You know, whether I hit it or not, and unfortunately, I got the pain and didn’t get the benefit of actually doing what I wanted to do.”
He continued, “The ribs are doing okay. My toe is actually in a lot of pain, which is really weird, but I didn’t expect to come down with such velocity from that height. Although looking at it now, I’m like, well, what did I expect? I don’t know.”
Kofi Kingston Has No Regrets
It’s unclear how bad is Kingston’s toe injury, but he is still competing on Friday Night Smackdown in tag team matches. The former WWE Champion also doesn’t regret his failed Royal Rumble moment and believes it’s essential to take risks.
“…I tell people that it’s so important to go out and try as hard as you can, even if there is a risk of failing and it might be a high risk of failing. You still have to go out and try. You can’t do anything epic without risk, so go out and put yourself out there, and don’t be afraid to fail,” said Kingston.
He teamed with Big E in a loss against Los Lotharios at Smackdown on Feb. 11. Kingston didn’t share in the interview if he considered taking time from wrestling to heal his injury. It seems the WWE will continue to let him wrestle unless the damage gets worse.
Cody Rhodes and Brandi Rhodes have made their exit from AEW but there seems to be no bitterness.
It had been known that Cody’s contract with AEW expired and he hadn’t re-signed despite holding the TNT Championship. Many thought it was a work but when he lost the title to Sammy Guevara, he cut a backstage promo confirming the reports.
Just minutes after a report from ESPN’s Mike Coppinger claiming that Cody was done with AEW, it was confirmed by “The American Nightmare” and the promotion.
Happy Trails
Cody Rhodes issued a statement on his departure from AEW. Here is part of it:
“I have loved my time at AEW. Amazing locker room. Amazing fans. Amazing people. The ‘revolution’ was indeed televised, and I’ve been incredibly lucky to be part of that.
“First, I want to thank Tony Khan. He’s taken the baton and run with it, and it was an honor to work for him and to know him on a personal level. He’s a beautiful soul.
“Obviously need to thank my incredible wife and the mother of my baby girl, Brandi, for all of her love and support throughout this journey together and the amazing relationships she fostered with Kulture City and the American Heart Association.
“I also need to thank Nick and Matt Jackson (these two, whether they know it or not, took an undesired and not confident lil’ cub and gifted me the confidence to become a leader of the pack), Kenneth Omega, Chris Jericho, Chicken…we started the fire. I must thank Tim W/Keith M/Greg W and the amazing production crew who understood and captured the vision with such grace.”
Brandi Rhodes also commented on making her exit from AEW.
“A heartfelt thank you to every fan that has supported me in AEW. It was an honor to be the company’s first Chief Brand Officer. The thank you list is long so I’ll try not to wander.
“Thank you to Kulture City, Special Olympics Illinois and the American Heart Association for allowing me to cultivate these amazing partnerships. Thank you to every AEW Heel that helped me build a dream community of female fans.
“Thank you to every AEW wrestler and talent that worked hard to create a great locker room environment. Thank you to the production team, make-up team, and seamstresses. Thank you, Dustin, QT, Jerry Lynn and Leva Bates, for every ounce of energy, help and encouragement you provided.
“Thank you to my husband for being that constant rock and partner every single day. Thank you to TNT, TBS and WarnerMedia for treating my family like your family. Thank you to Tony Khan for giving me this opportunity and platform. I move forward with my daughter and this quote in mind.
“‘We must take time to define our own path. Too quickly we can find the world defining it for us’ – Unknown
“Also…
‘I’ll see you on the flippity flop’ – Michael Scott.”
For those wondering about the status of Dustin Rhodes, he’ll be sticking around. He took to social media to say the following:
AEW has been dealt a massive blow as Cody Rhodes has decided to leave the company along with his wife Brandi.
Reports had swirled regarding Cody’s contract status with AEW. The promotion and Cody didn’t try to hide it either. Following his TNT Title loss against Sammy Guevara at the Beach Break edition of Dynamite, Cody gave a passionate backstage promo where he confirmed he was working without a contract.
Cody & Brandi Gone
Shortly after a report from Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Newsletter surfaced claiming that Cody’s AEW contract status was “up in the air,” Mike Coppinger of ESPN reported that Cody is indeed out of AEW.
Minutes after Coppinger’s report, both Cody Rhodes and AEW made the confirmation.
Here is a statement from AEW’s head honcho Tony Khan:
“Cody and Brandi Rhodes were integral to the launch of All Elite Wrestling. Cody’s ability combined with his boldness and his passion for our industry and his love for community outreach helped AEW deliver on our mission to give fans what they needed for far too long – something new, innovative and lasting.
“Brandi helped us shape the AEW story, and I appreciate how hard she fought for us both in the ring and out of the ring, competing in the women’s division while advancing our efforts at inclusion and civic causes, including great partnerships with Kulture City and the American Heart Association.
“I have immense respect and appreciation for Cody and Brandi, and I wish them both the best as they move on from AEW. Thank you, Cody and Brandi!”
The report from Coppinger noted that Cody does not have a non-compete clause. This means, he’s free to show up anywhere he pleases.
Speculation has run rampant for months on what Cody will do next. Many expect him to make his way back to WWE but time will tell if that’s what he plans to do.
PWinsider provided some more update on the story recently. The site revealed that WWE originally reached out to the Texas Rattlesnake in late December/early January to gauge his interest in a return.
Though there has been zero confirmation within WWE from any source in the following weeks that Steve Austin has agreed to have a match at the Show Of Shows.
The original idea pitched to the Hall of Famer was for the Mania match to be a one-time send-off for the former champion in front of a massive crowd.
Even if Stone Cold Steve Austin doesn’t wrestle at the show, WWE had always intended for him to be a part of the event in some capacity. Austin was featured in the initial announcement about the PPV last year.
His involvement would help the company boost ticket sales for the upcoming PPV. WWE needs to move around 200,000 tickets to sell out the two-night event from the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
The initial talk about Austin’s return was described as a “Hail Mary idea” to the site. The hope was that the Attitude Era star would begin his storyline at Royal Rumble which obviously didn’t happen.
The status of the whole affair is very much up in the air at the moment. If there are indeed any plans for Austin to have a match at the show, the storyline should begin post-Elimination Chamber this Saturday.
Brock Lesnar is one of the best performers of the current era. He knows how to put on a show and entertain the audience. Looking at him in the ring, nobody can say that The Beast is not comfortable being around a crowd. The truth however is very different.
The former Universal champion has discussed his dislike for social gatherings and being around people in general multiple times in the past. He opened up about it once again during his recent appearance on The Pat McAfee Show.
Brock Lesnar claimed that he has a ‘total crash’ after being in front of an audience. Per the heavyweight star, it takes him a few days to recover after a big performance:
“I have a total crash after being in front of audiences. Like I go hibernate in Saskatchewan. I like my downers, the anxiety from all that takes me a few days to recover.”
– Brock Lesnar
Lesnar explained that he has been like this since his college wrestling days. According to him, he is ‘awkward as fuck.’ He puts on a show in front of the fans but likes to be left alone otherwise:
“I like to go and just get away from the people. It’s not that I dislike people. I mean, it’s not been that way but some people I don’t like.” said the former UFC star, “I just like to be left the fuck alone because if I’m in front of an audience then it just exhausts me. So I gotta go and recharge up.”
Former WWE stable Hit Row will be reuniting for the first time since their release last year for an upcoming event of MCW Pro Wrestling.
The indie wrestling promotion announced that the group will be a part of their upcoming MCW Spring Fiver event from Tall Cedars Hall in Parkville, MD on March 19.
Not only Hit Row, but the Hardy Boyz have also been announced for the show. They will be competing against Matt Taven and Mike Bennett collectively known as OGK:
The 2022 #MCWSpringFever Tour kicks off on Saturday night March 19th in Parkville, MD with special guests & former #WWE / #NXT Stars formerly known as Hit Row??
The pro wrestling stable consisting of Isaiah “Swerve” Scott, Ashante “Thee” Adonis, Top Dolla, and B-Fab were released from their WWE contracts back in November last year.
B-Fab was first to be released. She was let go by the company on November 4. The rest of the Hit Row members didn’t last long either and they were fired 15 days later.
There were some rumblings of the group reuniting outside of WWE. B-Fab had claimed that having a reunion with her former team members was her ‘biggest dream.’
She had also discussed the potential of Hit Row confronting The Acclaimed in AEW. Now it would be interesting to see if we get to see this exchange as well.
WWE RAW aired live from the Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. Damian Priest defended the US Title against AJ Styles tonight. It was the final episode of RAW before WWE Elimination Chamber this weekend. In addition to the takeaways below, Dana Brooke rejected Reggie tonight but Reggie wound up leaving as the new 24/7 Champion.
Damian Priest def. AJ Styles to retain the US Title
Omos def. Hurt Business
Bianca Belair won the Gauntlet match to enter the Elimination Chamber match last
American Alpha def. The Mysterios
Seth Rollins def. Randy Orton
Here are the takeaways from this week’s show:
Brock Lesnar Sent A Message Ahead Of Elimination Chamber
WWE Champion Bobby Lashley made his way to the ring with MVP to kick off this week’s show. Lashley claimed he was going to win the Elimination Chamber and enter WrestleMania 38 as champion.
Seth Rollins interrupted and told Lashley that he will not be champion for long and claimed that he is the only one in the Elimination Chamber match that can beat Lashley.
Riddle joined the party and was wearing a toga. Riddle said it would be cool to win the WWE Championship at Elimination Chamber and win the RAW Tag Team Championships back with Randy Orton. Riddle invited everyone to the toga party later on the show.
Austin Theory interrupted and said that he cannot let Vince McMahon down. AJ Styles quickly interrupted and told Theory that he’s had his lips on Vince’s ass so long that he’s not making sense. Styles added that he doesn’t want to lose the Elimination Chamber again and nobody will get in the way of his WrestleMania moment. Styles vowed to become the United States Champion tonight as well.
Lashley pointed out that he is the only one that has won an Elimination Chamber match. Lashley claimed that Styles will never have his WrestleMania moment, Austin Theory is too inexperienced, Rollins isn’t a visionary because he’d see that he isn’t winning if he were, and Riddle’s head is in the clouds if he actually believes he has a shot.Lashley mentioned Brock Lesnar and The Beast’s music hit. Lesnar was dressed as a cowboy again and got a big pop from the fans.
Brock used Austin Theory as a coat rack and got in Lashley’s face. Theory threw Lesnar’s jacket off of him and went for a Sleeper Hold. Brock escaped and started delivering German Suplexes to Theory. Lesnar hit Austin Theory with an F5 as the rest of the superstars in the WWE Championship Elimination Chamber match retreated. Lesnar took a selfie with Austin Theory to end the segment.
Robert Roode & Dolph Ziggler faced Street Profits (Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins in the first match of the night. Tommaso Ciampa was on commentary for the match as Dolph Ziggler has recently appeared on NXT 2.0. Street Profits won the match in quick fashion by isolating Roode. Ziggler got distracted with Ciampa and hit him with a Superkick. Ciampa threw a drink in Dolph’s face and Roode was distracted. Montez Ford hit Roode with the Frog Splash for the pinfall victory.
Kevin Owens cut a promo tonight and said that he was a realist. Owens said he probably will not be in the Elimination Chamber match and doesn’t have a path to WrestleMania. KO looked at the positives in that and noted that he doesn’t have to compete in Dallas, Texas now. Owens called everyone from Texas morons and referred to the state as the ass of North America.
Damian Priest defended the United States Championship against AJ Styles on this week’s episode of WWE RAW. Styles defeated Priest in a Championship Contender’s matchup to earn the title shot.
The action started off back and forth in the middle of the ring. Damian took control and connected with some headbutts and strikes to the midsection. Priest planted Styles with a Backbeaker and went for the cover but AJ kicked out at two.
Styles battled back and caught Damian with the Pele Kick. AJ knocked Damian out of the ring and made his way to the apron but the champ tripped him up. Back in the ring, Priest caught AJ with a roundhouse kick and rolled him up for the pinfall victory. Damian Priest is still the United States Champion. AJ Styles and Damian Priest shook hands following the match.
Cedric Alexander & Shelton Benjamin battled Omos in a Handicap match tonight. Omos absolutely dominated the match and defeated them both with ease. Omos pinned Cedric after connecting with a Chokebomb.
Becky Lynch will be defending the RAW Women’s Championship against WWE Hall of Famer Lita at Elimination Chamber this Saturday. Adam Pearce moderated the contract signing tonight for the title match. Becky Lynch came to the ring in a very somber mood and tried to play mind games with the challenger tonight.
Lynch wanted out of the match and claimed that she hasn’t slept all week. Becky said that she was kept up by thinking about her teenage idol physically assaulting her last week so close to WrestleMania. Becky called the fans demented for wanting to see this match and claimed that Lita has nothing left to prove.
Lita claimed to have a title run left and quickly signed the contract. Lynch changed her tune and told Lita that she has studied all of her weaknesses and warned Lita that she will not hesitate to go after her neck. Lynch added that after the match, people will remember Lita with a tear in their eye. Lynch signed the contract and Lita vowed to take it from her at Elimination Chamber.
Bianca Belair Won The Gauntlet Match, Will Enter The Elimination Chamber Last
There was a Gauntlet match tonight on RAW to determine which superstar will get the advantage of having their pod open last at Elimination Chamber. Rhea Ripley & Nikki A.S.H. began the Gauntlet match. RAW went to a commercial break as the former tag teammates stared at each other in the ring.
When RAW returned, Nikki was in control and beat Rhea down in the corner. Ripley battled back with some Clotheslines and went for a Riptide but Nikki escaped. Nikki went for a Crowwbody but Ripley caught her. Rhea then hit the Riptide for the pinfall elimination.
Rhea battled Liv Morgan next in the Gauntlet match. Morgan went for a roll-up right away but Ripley kicked out. Liv connected with a Dropkick and locked in a Sleeper Hold in the middle of the ring. Back from a break, Morgan went for a Dropkick off the top rope but Ripley dodged it. Ripley applied the Cloverleaf submission but Liv got to the ropes to break it up. Rhea hit the Riptide on Morgan for the pinfall elimination.
Doudrop entered the Gauntlet match next. Ripley unloaded a bunch of strikes but Doudrop wouldn’t go down. The two superstars began trading headbutts and Doudrop got the better of the exchange. Doudrop hit a Suplex and followed it up with a Senton for a near fall. Doudrop went for another Senton but Rhea was able to avoid it. Rhea Ripley hit a Clothesline and followed it up with the Riptide for her third pinfall elimination of the Gauntlet match.
Bianca Belair was the final superstar in the Gauntlet match. Bianca connected with a Spinebuster and went for the cover but Ripley was able to power out at the last moment. Belair connected with a handspring Moonsault but Ripley kicked out again and the match continued.
Rhea battled back and went for the Riptide but Bianca was able to escape. Both superstars battled on the top turnbuckle and Bianca connected with a slam. Bianca eventually took control and hit the KOD for the pinfall victory. Belair will be the final superstar to enter the Elimination Chamber match.
RAW Tag Team Champions Alpha Academy faced The Mysterios tonight in a non-title match. Before the match, Gable and Otis cut a “Public Assembly” promo and Gable claimed that he has never cheated to accomplish anything. The Miz & Maryse interrupted and joined commentary for the match.
Alpha Academy started off the match in control. Otis had Rey set up for the Vader bomb but he was able to escape. Dominik tagged in and hit Gable with a Tornado DDT. Dominik went for Three Amigos but Gable countered the third into a Suplex of his own for a near fall. The Mysterios battled back and knocked American Alpha to the outside as RAW went to a break.
When RAW returned, Gable connected with a Belly to Belly Suplex on Dominik. Rey tagged in and booted Otis off the apron. Mysterio hit a Bulldog on Gable and went for the cover but Otis broke it up at two. Rey and Dominik hit Gable with a double 619 but Miz hopped into the ring. Rey chased The Miz around as Dominik climbed to the top rope. Dominik went for a Crossbody but Gable rolled through into a pin while grabbing Dominik’s tights for leverage. After the match, Maryse distracted Rey and Miz capitalized with a Skull Crushing Finale.
Alexa Bliss’ Journey Back to RAW continued on this week’s episode. During this week’s therapy session, Alexa Bliss announced what her next chapter is. Alexa said that she will be the final superstar in the Women’s Elimination Chamber match.
Randy Orton faced Seth Rollins tonight in the main event. Riddle held an RK-Broga party backstage throughout the show but Orton wasn’t interested in attending.
The match started off back and forth. Orton sent Rollins to the corner and hit some punches. Seth battled back but Orton knocked him out of the ring with a Clothesline. Orton followed Seth out there and slammed him on the announce table before the action returned to the ring. Orton went for the Draping DDT but Rollins countered into a Back Body Drop that sent Orton crashing to the floor. Rollins followed it up with a Suicide Dive as RAW went to a commercial break.
When RAW returned, Orton hit a Superplex and both superstars were down. Orton got an arm on Rollins for a pinfall attempt but Seth kicked out at two. Rollins hit an Enziguri but Orton shrugged it off and sent Seth to the corner. Rollins hit the Slingblade and set up for the Blackout (Stomp) but Orton countered into his Powerslam for a near fall. Alpha Academy rushed the ring but Riddle was chasing after them. Orton got out of the ring to battle Alpha Academy with Riddle. Rollins capitalized on the distraction and hit Orton with the Blackout for the pinfall victory.
Former WWE and WCW referee Mickie Jay passed away on Monday, February 14 at the age of 59 after a battle with COVID-19 pneumonia.
Per PWinsider the wrestling veteran, real name Mickey Henson, had suffered severe lung damage over the course of battling pneumonia. He was taken off life support at 6:19 PM EST.
Jay first broke into the wrestling business working as a referee for Championship Wrestling from Florida. There he worked under Dusty Rhodes and Steve Keirn.
The late talent was then hired by WCW in early 1990s. He remained with the promotion until the company got sold to the then WWF in March 2001.
Mickie Jay wasn’t brought in by WWE immediately. He was hired by the promotion in 2005 to work on Raw. He later worked on ECW and SmackDown brands as well.
As a referee, the former WWE employee officiated a number of marquee matches. This included Edge vs. Mick Foley at WrestleMania 22 and John Cena vs. Kurt Angle at Survivor Series 2005.
Jay left the ring after being diagnosed with Mantle cell lymphoma in 2008. He was officially let go by WWE in 2009. At one point he was told that he had only months to live but he battled back and defeated cancer.
SEScoops extends our deepest condolence to the family and friends of Mickey Henson.
In a WrestleMania season shocker, a new report indicates that WWE is attempting to get “Stone Cold” Steve Austin to return for a match at this year’s WrestleMania in Arlington, Texas.
A match for Austin at WrestleMania would be his first in nearly 20 years. His last match was against The Rock at WrestleMania XIX in Seattle back in 2003. Additionally, this year’s WrestleMania takes place in Austin’s home state of Texas, perhaps presenting an enticing opportunity for the WWE Hall of Famer.
According to the report from Fightful Select, WWE has made a “significant overture” for Austin to wrestle at WrestleMania 38. WWE has not commented officially on the manner, and the Fightful report indicates that WWE sources have responded in various ways to the report — everything from being “coy” to assuming the match will indeed happen.
Steve Austin vs. Kevin Owens Being Discussed for WrestleMania
Bryan Alvarez of F4WOnline followed up Fightful’s report by noting that an Austin vs. Kevin Owens match specifically has been discussed for the show. Of course, Owens has used the Stone Cold Stunner in recent years, which would make sense as an obvious tie-in.
Over the years, several stars have attempted to convince Austin to return for a one-off match, but nobody has gotten him even close to attempting a comeback. Austin is now 57 years old; he was just 38 when he wrestled for the last time back in 2003.
Interestingly, WWE was offering two-for-one tickets to WrestleMania earlier Monday as a Valentine’s Day special. In year’s past, a ticket special for WrestleMania was almost unheard of due to the popularity of the show. However, with WWE running two nights at one of the biggest stadiums in the country, they have a lot of tickets to move this year. No doubt an Austin return would do a lot for ticket sales.
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.
Josh Alexander announced via a statement on his Twitter account that his contract with Impact Wrestling has expired. As a result, his United States work visa has also expired.
He has been pulled from all events he was scheduled for this month including TERMINUS and AAW. He wrote the following:
“Today my contract expired & subsequently also US work visa. Unfortunately as a consequence I will not be able to honour my commitments to both @TERMINUSpro & @AMLWrestling later this month. I’m disappointed & I’m sorry. Hopefully I’ll have everything in order soon.”
Following this reveal, it explains why Alexander was removed from the No Surrender card this coming Saturday night. He is Canadian and in order to stay in the United States, he needs a work visa.
Alexander started working for Impact in 2018 and since that time, he has found a lot of success including runs as a World Heavyweight, X-Division, and Tag Team Champion.
Moose will defend his Impact World Championship against W. Morrissey at the No Surrender event on FITE TV and Impact Plus.
Three of our finest staff members have gathered to share predictions for the WWE Elimination Chamber 2022 premium live event.
Fernando Quiles Jr., Chris Stephens, and I run down the full card of WWE’s latest Saudi Arabia mega show. After this Sunday, we will have a pretty clear idea of the top matches for WrestleMania 38.
The panel was in agreement for most of the predicted winners, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be any surprises when the bell rings and the Elimination Chamber is lowered.
Here are our WWE Elimination Chamber 2022 predictions:
SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Usos vs. Viking Raiders
Michael: This match comes off as filler to me. The Viking Raiders are not on The Usos’ level and are simply the latest team up for a tag title shot to keep things churning. I can’t say what’s next for The Usos after they brush off this minor inconvenience, but a loss to the Viking Experience would come out of left field. (Prediction: The Usos)
Chris: The Usos should win this one, albeit they will do so through underhanded tactics. WWE could put the belts on the Viking Raiders if they want but the Usos and Roman all holding titles as part of the Bloodline seems like something they will want to keep intact until at least WrestleMania. I’m not sure they will have much planned for these belts at WrestleMania, however. (Prediction: The Usos)
Fernando: It’s possible that this is where WWE will begin to show some serious cracks in The Bloodline ahead of WrestleMania. An upset win for the Viking Raiders over The Usos would certainly do that. With that said, I think The Usos will keep looking strong ahead of the big event. I expect the champions to retain. (Prediction: The Usos)
Consensus: The Usos
Drew McIntyre vs. Madcap Moss
Fernando: This storyline isn’t dead? Alrighty then. I don’t think Drew McIntyre should be losing any singles match until he gets a WWE Universal Title shot. I have McIntyre winning and hopefully moving on to a big WrestleMania match. No, Happy Corbin doesn’t count. (Prediction: Drew McIntyre)
Chris: I’m expecting this to be a short and dominant win for Drew McIntyre. Reports are he is still rehabbing his injuries at the moment in the hopes that he’ll be fully ready for WrestleMania. This could be as quick as one Claymore Kick and a 1-2-3. (Prediction: Drew McIntyre)
Michael: Drew McIntyre is still working through injuries, so I don’t expect WWE will keep him out there for long. Although Moss has far more upside at this stage in both men’s careers, I think WWE feeds Madcap to McIntyre to give the crowd an exciting and short, dominant win for the former WWE Champion. (Prediction: Drew McIntyre)
Consensus: Drew McIntyre
Ronda Rousey & Naomi vs. Charlotte Flair and Sonya Deville
Chris: I don’t see Ronda Rousey losing anytime soon, let alone before her match with Flair at WrestleMania, even if it’s just in a tag match. Rousey will make Deville submit to win things for her team. Flair might attack after the match and get some heat but Rousey will get her hand raised for sure. (Prediction: Ronda Rousey & Naomi)
Michael: The real story here is the WrestleMania feud between Ronda Rousey and Charlotte Flair. Neither woman is eating a pin here. Although Rousey losing her return match doesn’t look great on the surface, I think Charlotte Flair scores the win over Naomi to put an even bigger chip on Rousey’s shoulder leading up to their showdown at WM38. (Prediction: Charlotte Flair and Sonya Deville)
Fernando: One thing that should be a guarantee with this match is that neither Ronda Rousey nor Charlotte will be taking the pinfall or submission here. This is either gonna be Ronda taking Sonya’s arm home with her, or Naomi getting screwed over by the WWE authority figure one last time before Mania. I’m leaning towards the latter (Prediction: Charlotte Flair & Sonya Deville)
Consensus: Charlotte Flair & Sonya Deville
Raw Women’s Champion Becky Lynch vs. Lita
Chris: I’d love to see Lita win this match but it’s not going to happen. As great as it is to see her back, I don’t think Lita is factoring into WWE’s plans for WrestleMania. Lynch vs Charlotte Flair will headline one of the two nights in Dallas, and having Lynch drop the belt the month before just isn’t a decision the company is going to make. Hopefully, this is the start of a full-time or part-time return to the company for her, but Lita is not winning the title here. (Prediction: Becky Lynch)
Michael: Thank goodness Lita was able to put aside her feelings about the regime in Saudi Arabia to take this booking. It will be cool to see Lita challenging for a WWE Women’s Championship for the first time in over a decade, but this is a special attraction match and nothing more. Lita gets her big payday, but Big Time Becks leaves with the gold and goes on to bigger and better things at WrestleMania. (Prediction: Becky Lynch)
Fernando: After lasting longer than most expected in the Royal Rumble, Lita will be getting a world title shot in 2022. This will certainly feel nostalgic for those who are fond of the Attitude Era and the Ruthless Aggression Era but Becky should get the win here. (Prediction: Becky Lynch)
Consensus: Becky Lynch
Women’s Elimination Chamber Match: Liv Morgan vs. Rhea Ripley vs. Bianca Belair vs. Doudrop vs. Nikki A.S.H
Fernando: There are some potential solid options for the mystery participant in this match. I’m gonna guess that it’s Asuka but I won’t pick her to win. I think this will be a win for Bianca to set the stage for a WrestleMania showdown with Becky Lynch (Prediction: Bianca Belair)
Michael: The big story here will be the mystery sixth entrant. WWE has several former Women’s Champions sitting on the sidelines and pretty close to returning. Asuka, Bayley and Alexa Bliss could all step up to this challenge to determine Becky Lynch’s WrestleMania opponent. My pick is Asuka, who I think is the “most ready” to return to WWE TV. However, the real star in this match is Bianca Belair, at least she could be, if she was booked properly. Out of all my Elimination Chamber predictions, I feel this one is the most important. WWE cut her legs out last year at SummerSlam and she hasn’t reached the same level since. I see WWE giving Belair another big push and maybe she’ll get revenge on The Man at Mania. (Prediction: Bianca Belair)
Chris: This is a tough one. It won’t be Doudrop because Lynch just beat her at the Royal Rumble. It won’t be Liv Morgan, because Lynch has already beaten her multiple times and she also just lost to Doudrop on RAW. Nikki ASH… it just won’t be. Bianca Belair is a possibility. Behind Rousey, Lynch, and Flair, Bianca is the biggest female star WWE has, so Belair vs Lynch at WrestleMania is a possibility. Ripley winning is also possible.
The best odds in this match must belong to TBA, however. There is a reason they aren’t announcing who this person is ahead of time, it’s because they are saving the surprise. In all likelihood, TBA will be Bayley or Asuka. Lacey Evans could be in the mix too. Ultimately, however, I think the most likely scenario is Bayley returning, winning the Chamber, and moving into a WrestleMania storyline with Lynch (Prediction: Bayley)
Consensus: Bianca Belair
Universal Champion Roman Reigns vs. Goldberg
Chris: There can be little debate that Roman Reigns is going to win this match. The only thing left to question is how much will they try and protect Goldberg in the process. Will Reigns have to cheat to win? Will someone interfere? If this is Goldberg’s last match on his WWE contract, he might just get beat clean. The Universal title has been on Roman Reigns for a very long time. He’s not dropping it at Elimination Chamber when he’s got the biggest match of his title reign already booked for WrestleMania. (Prediction: Roman Reigns)
Fernando: Roman Reigns vs. Goldberg in 2022 isn’t exactly music to my ears. Maybe these two can have a short, fast-paced match that is solid enough. Regardless, I’m taking Reigns here as he is destined to meet Brock Lesnar again at WrestleMania (Prediction: Roman Reigns)
Michael: This is the final match on Goldberg’s WWE contract. Love him or hate him, you’ve gotta admire his ability to maximize his dollars-to-minutes pay rate. Assuming this is Goldberg’s retirement match, he’s made enough money from this business to go out “the right way” and do the honors for our beloved Tribal Chief. Reigns has a date with Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania, so there’s no way he’s losing to a part-time legend at Elimination Chamber. (Prediction: Roman Reigns)
Consensus: Roman Reigns
Chamber Match for the WWE Championship: Bobby Lashley (c) vs. Brock Lesnar vs. AJ Styles vs. Seth Rollins vs. Riddle vs. Austin Theory
Fernando: I expect this to be a good one. Seth Rollins rarely disappoints in the main event and I think he’ll be the star of this match but don’t rule out AJ Styles taking that distinction. Ultimately, I think there’s no way Brock Lesnar gets pinned in back-to-back PPVs. I see a title vs. title match closing out WrestleMania this year (Prediction: Brock Lesnar)
Michael: We’ve seen the reports about Paul Heyman pushing for a title vs. title match at WrestleMania, when Lesnar and Reigns square off. I also don’t think WWE putting the championship up for grabs in the Elimination Chamber for Lashley to retain. This match was booked so WWE can shake things up one last time before the biggest show of the year. Lashley got another ceremonial title reign to pad out his record, but Brock Lesnar is the real star here and he’ll add another title reign to his own legacy as we jump the final hurdle and see the final destination WWE has planned for Mania. (Prediction: Brock Lesnar)
Chris: If WWE wants a title vs title match between Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar then Lesnar is going to have to win this match. Everything WWE is building right now is about Reigns vs Lesnar so to have Lesnar either pinned or submitted, even if it takes 5 other wrestlers to do it, probably isn’t something that’s going to happen before WrestleMania. If WWE wasn’t going to have Lesnar win this match, they would not have put him in it. (Prediction: Brock Lesnar)
Consensus: Brock Lesnar
That wraps up our Elimination Chamber predictions. Hit up the comments to let us know what you think about our picks and share your own!
Brock Lesnar has detailed the difference in his relationships with WWE Chairman Vince McMahon and UFC President Dana White.
Lesnar knows what it’s like to perform at an elite level in both WWE and the UFC. In WWE, Lesnar is a top attraction and a big draw for the company. It’s the same story in UFC and he even won the heavyweight title at one point.
Brock-Vince Dynamic
It’s well-documented that Brock Lesnar left WWE in 2004 due to burnout and a desire to make it in the NFL. Despite the nasty split, Lesnar returned to the promotion in 2012 and it’s been smooth sailing ever since … for the most part.
During an episode of The Pat McAfee Show, Lesnar talked about the differences in dealing with Vince McMahon and Dana White.
“I really can’t compare the two guys. They’re just so — Honestly, my relationship with Vince is so different than it is with Dana over the years. Vince and I have had a love-hate relationship for the last 20 years but it’s been good.
“We’ve got a lot of water under the bridge. I have a lot of respect for both men but dealing with Dana and — It’s just a totally different business approach.”
Brock went on to say that when it comes to Vince, things are a bit more personal.
“I met Vince when I was younger. I look at Vince more as a father figure actually because I’ve learned a lot of things from him. I was able to carry those things over and handle business with Dana.”
At the age of 44, Brock is showing no signs of slowing down. In fact, many believe he’s gotten even better. He’s received praise for his promo ability as of late without Paul Heyman by his side.
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It’s safe to say that Brock Lesnar’s Hall of Fame status is secure in WWE but he simply doesn’t care.
Lesnar is undoubtedly one of the biggest stars in WWE. While his first run with the company didn’t end gracefully, amends have since been made. Lesnar has been back in the saddle with WWE since 2012 and he has been relied on by the company due to his drawing power.
Not A Single Care Given
Lesnar is a multiple-time WWE Champion and remains in the main event scene. In fact, many agree that he’s a part of the most pivotal storyline in wrestling today with Roman Reigns.
Despite the accolades, Brock Lesnar told Pat McAfee that he couldn’t care less if he ever gets induced in the WWE Hall of Fame (via Wrestle Purists).
“I don’t really care or give a sh*t. I’m serious, I don’t, like I don’t give a f*ck if I’m in the Hall Of Fame or not.
“I’ve done what I did, I don’t care if I’m leaving a legacy behind. What I do care about is, you know I’m a good person.”
Lesnar is set to challenge for the WWE Championship once again at the Elimination Chamber event on Feb. 19. He’ll take part in the chamber match along with WWE Champion Bobby Lashley, Seth Rollins, AJ Styles, Riddle, and Austin Theory.
If Lesnar emerges victorious at Elimination Chamber in Saudi Arabia, then he will become a seven-time WWE Champion. It would also be his 10th world title under the WWE banner.
