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Latest On What Released WWE Stars Were Told About Vaccination Status

Anutosh Bajpai
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The latest wave of WWE releases has created some controversy after it was reported that the vaccination status of some wrestlers played a part in the decision.

The latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter provided some more details on this. It explains how the situation was behind the scene.

According to the Newsletter, while talents were very much encouraged to get COVID-19 vaccines, nobody in WWE was warned that their jobs would be in danger if they didn’t get vaccinated.

One top talent was told they would be less valuable to the company if they weren’t vaccinated. This was because non-vaccinated talents couldn’t travel overseas for tours.

For those who don’t know, WWE released another 18 talents on November 4, including names such as Keith Lee, Karrion Kross, and Nia Jax.

It was later reported that the vaccination status of wrestlers was a factor behind some of these releases. This created a buzz and even prompted a response from Jax.

Though this isn’t the only controversy brewing from the latest wave of releases. Keith Lee has got people talking after claiming that he paid his own medical bills when he caught COVID. WWE has since responded to the claims calling them ‘erroneous.’

Were “Perceived Attitude Issues” a factor in Keith Lee’s WWE release?

Corey Graves Says He Wants To Wrestle Again

Anutosh Bajpai
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Corey Graves has got people talking about a potential in-ring return after briefly getting involved in the action during this week’s episode of Monday Night Raw.

The Raw commentator took on his Twitter earlier today and teased an in-ring return with a tweet. He wrote “I kinda wanna wrestle again.”

This tweet has created buzz about the future of Corey Graves because he got physical during Raw and won the 24/7 championship on the show before dropping it back.

The former NXT star signed with WWE back in August 2011. He started competing in the development brand FCW before it was rebranded.

He suffered two concussions in late 2013 and early 2014. Graves officially announced his retirement from active competition due to concussion issues in December 2014.

The former tag champion has taken on commentary duties since his retirement. The 37-year-old currently serves as the lead commentator for both Raw and SmackDown.

We have seen people like Bryan Danielson and Edge making a return in recent years after previously having announced their retirement due to various issues.

Now the big question is if Corey Graves could be following in their footsteps soon and if we will see him making an in-ring return in near future.

AEW Rampage Results (11/12): Lumberjack Match, Final Hype For Full Gear

Robert Lentini
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AEW Rampage aired tonight on TNT from the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It was the final show before Full Gear tomorrow night on PPV. Orange Cassidy faced Matt Hardy in a Lumberjack Match in the main event.

Rampage Results (11/12)

  1. Jungle Boy def. Bobby Fish via submission
  2. Jade Cargill def. Santana Garrett
  3. Dante Martin def. Ariya Daivari
  4. Matt Hardy def. Orange Cassidy in a Lumberjack match

Here are the takeaways from this week’s show:

Full Gear Promos

AEW aired vignettes during Rampage for CM Punk vs. Eddie Kingston, the Women’s Championship match, and the World Title Eliminator Tournament Finals at Full Gear.

Jungle Boy Tapped Out Bobby Fish

Bobby Fish battled Jungle Boy in the first match of the night. Adam Cole introduced Bobby Fish to the Young Bucks backstage on Dynamite and asked Fish to have this match. Cole instructed Fish to beat Jungle Boy down but leave just enough of him for Full Gear. Jungle Boy went right after Bobby Fish to start off the match and connected with a Dropkick. Fish took control and bashed Jungle Boy’s shoulder into the ring apron.

Fish focused his attack on Jungle Boy’s arm for a few minutes trying to injure him before the PPV. Jungle Boy sent Fish into the ring post but Bobby quickly launched Jungle Boy into the barricade as Rampage went to a commercial break.

When Rampage returned, Fish connected with a DDT for a two count. Jungle Boy hit a Suplex and quickly went for a cover but Bobby was able to kick out at two. Fish hit an Exploder Suplex and the two traded punches in the ring. Jungle Boy brought Fish down to the mat and eventually was able to apply the Snare Trap for the submission victory. After the match, Bobby Fish attacked Jungle Boy. Adam Cole rushed the ring and shared a hug with the former Undisputed Era member before grabbing a steel chair. Christian Cage and Luchasaurus made the save and Cole retreated.

Hangman Page Warned The Young Bucks

Hangman Page confronted Adam Cole and the Young Bucks backstage during tonight’s show. Hangman admitted to be an ass a while back and costing them the tag titles. Page noted that Young Bucks already cost him a title shot back in July, so they are even. Hangman threatened Matt and Nick not to get involved in his AEW Championship match against Kenny Omega tomorrow at Full Gear or he will ruin them.

Jade Cargill Dominated, Red Velvet Attacked

Jade Cargill faced Santana Garrett on this week’s episode of Dynamite. Smart’ Mark Sterling accompanied Cargill to the ring. Red Velvet was in the front row and will face Cargill in the quarterfinals of the TBS Championship Tournament. Cargill dominated the action and made sure to taunt Red Velvet while doing so. Cargill won the match in quick fashion after connecting with Jade for the pinfall victory.

After the match, Sterling presented Jade with a cake for her 1 year anniversary of signing with AEW. Red Velvet hit Jade with a Spear and put Sterling’s face in the cake. Jade and Red Velvet traded punches to end the segment.

Team Taz Tried To Recruit Dante Martin

Ariya Daivari made his AEW in-ring debut and faced Dante Martin tonight on Rampage. Dante connected with a Hurricanrana but Ariya battled back with a boot to the midsection. Daivari hit a Neckbreaker and followed it up with a Frog Splash for a near fall. Dante connected with a Crossbody for the pinfall victory. After the match, Team Taz (Starks, Hobbs, Hook) approached Dante Martin and tried to recruit him to join. Starks told Dante to read over the contract and get back to him with an answer.

Matt Hardy def. Orange Cassidy To End Their Rivalry

Orange Cassidy faced Matt Hardy once again in a Lumberjack match tonight in the main event of Rampage. Before the match, Mark Henry interviewed both wrestlers. Cassidy and Matt Hardy agreed to end their feud after tonight’s match.

Before the bell, Hardy offered the Lumberjacks big money to help him win the match. The lumberjacks attacked Best Friends and then beat Orange Cassidy down when Matt Hardy sent him out of the ring. Hardy then attacked Orange when he got into the ring and stomped him to the canvas.

Orange battled back with a DDT and made his way to the top rope. Isiah Kassidy interfered and shoved Orange Cassidy off the turnbuckle. Orange Cassidy battled back and hit Beach Break and Orange Punches on the heels as they entered the ring one at a time. The Bunny put on some brass knuckles and punched Cassidy in the face. Hardy then covered Orange for the pinfall victory to end the rivalry. After the match, Hardy Family Office attacked Best Friends as Rampage went off the air.

Matt Cardona On Potential WWE Return

Anutosh Bajpai
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Matt Cardona has built a spot for himself in the independent circuit since his release from WWE, and he has no interest in going back anytime soon.

The former WWE star recently had an interview with WrestlingInc. He discussed things such as what was the lowest point of his wrestling career and more.

He was also asked about a potential return to WWE or AEW. Cardona claimed that he is forever grateful for his time in WWE but at the same time, he has no intention of going back anytime soon:

“I’ve not been talking to WWE, listen, I love WWE. I love my time there; I am forever grateful for my time. The only thing I ever wanted to do was be a WWE Superstar.

If it wasn’t for WWE, I wouldn’t have been able to create my podcast and have the time of my life right now.” said Matt Cardona, “I’m not saying, ‘never say never,’ but I have no intentions of going back anytime in the near future.”

Though the former champion later mentioned how he previously won the IC title the last time WrestleMania was in Dallas. He claimed that he would be open to a Hall Of Fame induction when the PPV returns to the area next year.

Elsewhere in the interview, Matt Cardona also revealed that he had a chat with AEW president Tony Khan a couple of months ago. Although he explained that he wasn’t offered a deal to return to the promotion.

WWE SmackDown Results (11/12): Reigns vs. Woods, Changes To Survivor Series Team

Robert Lentini
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WWE SmackDown aired live from the Scope Arena in Norfolk, Virginia. Universal Champion Roman Reigns squared off against King Woods tonight. Two superstars were removed from Team SmackDown for Survivor Series during tonight’s episode.

SmackDown Results (11/12)

  1. Aliyah, Naomi, Sasha Banks def. Natalya, Shayna Baszler, Shotzi
  2. Los Lotharios def. Nakamura & Boogs
  3. Jeff Hardy def. Sami Zayn (Sami Zayn is no longer on Team SmackDown at Survivor Series)
  4. King Woods def. Roman Reigns via DQ

Here are the takeaways from this week’s show:

Aliyah Picked Up A Win In Her Debut But Was Kicked Off Team SmackDown

Sonya Deville was in the ring with Shotzi, Aliyah, Shayna Baszler, and Natalya (women’s SmackDown Team). Sasha Banks and Naomi made their way to the ring and a brawl broke out as SmackDown went to a commercial break.

Shotzi, Baszler, and Naomi faced Aliyah, Sasha Banks, and Naomi in a 6-woman tag team match. Natalya and Banks started off the action. Sasha connected with a Bulldog and went for the cover. Natalya kicked out at two and retreated to the corner.

Baszler tagged in and slammed Banks to the canvas. Shayna took a cheap shot on Naomi before Aliyah tagged in. Aliyah hit Shayna with a Hurricanrana and followed its up with a Dropkick for a two count. Shotzi tagged in and beat Aliyah down before bringing her to the corner.

They took turns stomping on Aliyah in the corner of the ring before Natalya hit a Clothesline for a two count. Baszler tagged in and Aliyah battled back with some punches. Shayna brought Aliyah down with a Headlock but she escaped and tagged in Naomi.

Natalya hit Naomi with a cheap shot and then a Suplex on the floor outside the ring. Natalya hit another snap Suplex and rolled Naomi into the ring. Natalya hit a third snap Suplex and went for the cover but Naomi kicked out at two. Natalya went for another Suplex but Naomi blocked it. Natalya leveled Naomi with a Clothesline for a two count.

Shayna brought Naomi out of the ring and threw her into the barricade as SmackDown went to a commercial break. They were still beating Naomi down when SmackDown returned. Shotzi applied a Headlock and dragged Naomi back to the corner.

Baszler tagged in and stomped on Naomi’s elbow before choking her against the ropes. The referee got distracted and Natalya hit Naomi with a cheap shot. Naomi finally tagged out and Aliyah hit Natalya off the top rope with a Crossbody for a near fall. Aliyah unloaded some punches and then hit Natalya with a Neckbreaker for a two count. Natalya went for the Sharpshooter but Aliyah countered into a roll-up for a two count. Aliyah sent Natalya to the corner and hit a Northern Lights Suplex.

Aliyah went for the cover but Baszler broke it up at two. Sasha sent Shotzi and Baszler out of the ring and hit Baszler with a Meteora. Natalya got Aliyah in the Sharpshooter and held onto the ropes for leverage. Naomi hit Natalya with a forearm to the face and Aliyah rolled Natalya up for the pinfall victory.

Sonya Deville approached Aliyah backstage and removed her from the team at Survivor Series. Aliyah was overjoyed after winning her debut match but was devastated after inexplicably being taken off the team.

Los Lotharios def. Nakamura & Boogs

Boogs & Shinsuke Nakamura faced Los Lotharios (Humberto & Angel). Boogs got in some offense early before Angel tagged in and beat the hell out of him in the middle of the ring. Angel unloaded some punches to the face and brought Rick to the corner. Angel tied him up in the Tree of Woe and delivered a Dropkick to the face. Humberto tagged in and applied a Headlock.

Angel tagged back in and kept Boogs isolated in the corner. Boogs battled back and bounced Angel’s face off the turnbuckle. Nakamura and Humberto tagged in. Shinsuke planted Humberto with a Slingblade before sending Angel out of the ring. Shinsuke hit the sliding German Suplex on Humberto and followed it up with a knee to the face.

Nakamura went for the cover but Angel broke it up at two. Angel slammed Boogs into the ring post and dragged Humberto out of the ring before Nakamura could hit the Kinshasa. Angel tripped Nakamura up and Humberto capitalized with a Dropkick. Ange and Humberto hit a high/low kick combo on the IC Champion for the pinfall victory.

Toni Storm Interrupted Charlotte

SmackDown Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair came down to the ring for a promo. Charlotte will be facing RAW Women’s Champion Becky Lynch at Survivor Series. Charlotte claimed that there was nothing natural about Becky Lynch and she is a fabricated champion. Charlotte ranted about Becky and called her Becky Uh-Oh. Flair boasted about her victory over Shotzi before Toni Storm interrupted. Toni challenged Charlotte to a match for the SmackDown Women’s Championship tonight. Charlotte declined and left the ring.

Sami Zayn Is No Longer On Team SmackDown

Sami Zayn was shown backstage giving a speech. Sami said he was the captain of Team SmackDown and will do whatever it takes to win. It was then revealed that Sami was just giving the speech to himself in the mirror. Jeff Hardy was watching on and an embarrassed Sami asked what Jeff thought of the speech. Jeff told Sami that it sucked and walked away. Later on SmackDown, Sami and Jeff battled with the loser being removed from Team SmackDown at Survivor Series. Adam Pearce informed Sami of the match with Von Wagner standing beside him.

Sami and Jeff locked up to start off the action. Hardy took control and sent Sami to the corner. Hardy unloaded some punches to the face but Sami responded with a boot tot he midsection. Jeff bounced Sami’s head off the top turnbuckle but Sami caught him with a knee to the face for a two count. Sami unloaded a flurry of forearms to Hardy’s face but Jeff battled back. Hardy sent Sami out of the ring and hit a Dropkick through the ropes. Hardy went for Whisper in the Wind off the steel steps but Sami got out of the way and Jeff crashed into the barricade as SmackDown went to a commercial break.

When SmackDown returned, the action had returned to the ring and Sami had Hardy in a Headlock. Jeff escaped and hit Sami with a Dropkick followed by a Splash for a two count. Hardy flipped onto Sami and went for the cover but Zayn somehow kicked out at two. Jeff went for Twist of Fate but Sami countered into a cradle for a two count. Hardy missed with a Splash and Sami rolled him up while using his foot on the ropes for leverage. The referee caught him and Sami started arguing with her. Jeff hit the Twist of Fate and the Swanton Bomb for the pinfall victory. Sami Zayn is no longer on Team SmackDown at Survivor Series.

After the match, Hit Row had a backstage promo and hyped up their future on SmackDown. Jinder Mahal and Shanky cut a promo on Hit Row and referred to them as “cringe row”.

Cesaro Warned Ridge Holland About Sheamus

Cesaro approached Ridge Holland backstage and warned him about Sheamus. Cesaro noted that The Bar was a great team but Sheamus will stab him in the back. Ridge told Cesaro that he is well aware of The Bar but is taking Cesaro’s place. Holland added that if Cesaro has an issue with anything he is saying, he can take it up with Sheamus next week on SmackDown.

The Usos Interfered In The Main Event, Roman Reigns Put On The King’s Crown

Universal Champion Roman Reigns battled King Woods in tonight’s main event. Paul Heyman was ringside for the match. Reigns brought Woods to the corner and unloaded some punches. King Woods battled back and returned the favor with some punches to the Tribal Chief’s face. Woods knocked Reigns out of the ring with a Dropkick and taunted him.

Reigns told the referee to hold Woods back to let him into the ring. Woods leaped through the ropes with a Dropkick and followed it up with some chops to the Universal Champion’s chest. Back in the ring, Reigns hit Woods with a punch and Xavier rolled to the outside. Roman followed him and connected with a Uranage on the announce table and posed as SmackDown went to a break.

When SmackDown returned, Roman connected with a big boot and went for the cover but Woods kicked out at two. Woods backed to the corner and Reigns hit him with a Clothesline. Roman went for a Spear but Woods countered with a Clothesline of his own. Roman leveled Woods with an uppercut but Xavier responded with a Tornado DDT and both superstars fell to the canvas.

Woods and Roman traded punches and chops in the middle of the ring. Roman hit Woods with a knee to the midsection but he shrugged it off and caught Roman with a boot to the face for a near fall. King Woods made his way to the top rope but Reigns caught him with a Uranage for a two count. Roman went for the Spear but Woods dodged it. Woods sent Reigns into the turnbuckle and climbed to the top rope. King Woods hit the Elbow Drop and went for the cover but The Usos dragged him out of the ring to end the match in a DQ.

Jimmy and Jey attacked Xavier Woods and bashed him with the steel steps several times. Roman took a knee and The Usos put Woods’ crown on him. Reigns and The Usos posed for the crowd to close the show.

WWE Disputes “Erroneous” Claims By Keith Lee About Paying For His Medical Bills

Andrew Ravens
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WWE has issued a statement in response to what Keith Lee stated about how he paid for his own medical expenses. Lee wrote in the statement regarding the bills:

“Several months ago, it was not a guarantee I would make it to this day, so there is positivity in that. I paid all my medical bills from the many offices and machines I frequented. There is positivity in that. And, I do find it amusing that people believe anyone but me paid for my medical expenses.”

On Friday, WWE issued this statement to dispute Lee’s claims: 

“Keith Lee’s recent comments implying WWE failed to pay his medical bills are erroneous. WWE has an extensive healthcare program for the medical care of its in-ring performers and Mr. Lee was part of this program while with the company. Should Mr. Lee have any concerns over the payment of medical bills, he is welcome to address them with WWE.”

Last Thursday, Lee was among the 18 talents released as part of the latest wave of budget cuts.

Lee was sidelined earlier this year with COVID-19 and the virus caused heart issues that kept him sidelined for several months. He would return in July only to later be pulled from television as he started working dark matches with the “Bearcat” gimmick. Lee is under a 90-day non-compete clause.

Buddy Matthews Discusses Magnitude Of Facing Kazuchika Okada

Fernando Quiles Jr.
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0

Buddy Matthews has quite the task going into his NJPW debut.

Matthews will be sharing the ring with Kazuchika Okada, who is widely considered to be one of the greatest wrestlers today. The match will be taking place at NJPW Battle In The Valley this Saturday (Nov. 13).

Buddy Matthews Wants Classic With Okada

During an interview with Forbes, Buddy Matthews said that he’s more than happy with being thrown to the wolves in his first NJPW match.

“I feel like I’m a better performer when there’s less buildup to it, less pressure and whatnot.

“I’m just going to go out there, do what I do best and tear it up. I don’t think there’s any bigger match that you could have in a debut in New Japan Pro Wrestling. I wanted to swim with the whales and they gave me the biggest whale they could find.”

Matthews competed as Buddy Murphy under the WWE banner. He was released from the company back in June.

Matthews has been praised for his in-ring style. Many fans clamored for him to sign with NJPW since he has the style to match. Those fans will get their wish for at least one night.

NJPW Battle In The Valley will feature a NEVER Openweight Title match between champion Jay White and Tomohiro Ishii. Plus, Impact Wrestling World Heavyweight Champion Moose will collide with Juice Robinson.

The self-proclaimed “real” IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Will Ospreay will also be in action. He’ll take on Ren Narita.

Hangman Page Admits He Felt ‘Inferior’ In Bullet Club

Fernando Quiles Jr.
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Hangman Page didn’t exactly feel like a trailblazer while in the Bullet Club.

When Page was first brought up to The Elite and Bullet Club, many thought he had potential. With that said, he was part of a group with names that had been well established.

Kenny Omega was having all-time classic matches in NJPW, Cody Rhodes was making waves in the U.S., and The Young Bucks already cemented themselves as a top-tier tag team.

Hangman Page Didn’t Feel Superior In Bullet Club

During an interview with Men’s Health, Page wasn’t afraid to admit that he kind of felt like a benchwarmer in BC.

“I was the guy who was the last to join the Bullet Club—on the house show that wasn’t even on TV. I was the guy who was getting beat in all these multi-man matches in New Japan.

“I was the guy who didn’t even have a winning record in (New Japan’s G1 Climax tournament). It feels like a fresh thing in wrestling to be that honest about how you feel in that situation.

“But what other truth could there be than to feel inferior in this group?”

Japanese crowds often reacted favorably to Hangman Page and they were onto something. Page has become a star in AEW and is on the cusp of capturing his first world title.

This Saturday night (Nov. 13), Page will challenge Kenny Omega for the AEW World Heavyweight Championship at Full Gear.

Jeff Jarrett Thinks AEW-Owen Hart Foundation Partnership Is ‘Excellent’

Fernando Quiles Jr.
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0

Jeff Jarrett is all for the partnership between AEW and the Owen Hart Foundation.

Owen Hart tragically died on May 23, 1999. Jarrett and Owen were great friends and following Hart’s tragic fall at the Over The Edge PPV, Jarrett was visibly shaken and prayed for Owen before having a mixed tag team match.

Back in September, AEW announced a partnership with the Owen Hart Foundation. Through this partnership, AEW will be hosting a tournament called, “The Owen.”

Owen Hart’s likeness will also be used for the upcoming AEW console video game and retail goods.

Jeff Jarrett Praises AEW-Owen Hart Foundation Partnership

Jeff Jarrett appeared on That 90s Wrestling Podcast and expressed his joy in Owen Hart’s name being introduced to a fresh crop of fans.

“It’s excellent. At the very end of the day, father time’s undefeated. So, we all pass on and the only thing that sometimes living in our fast, busy world, material possessions or events or triumphs or tragedy, that really all comes and goes with life but a legacy like Owen left?

“Obviously, Owen passed away 22 years ago, so that in and of itself is amazing. But the legacy of Owen Hart is gonna be exposed to an entirely new generation in a very positive way.

“Hats off to everyone involved with all that, Martha, and Oje, Athena, the kids. Just how that legacy, but also the awareness it’s gonna bring to the foundation and doing good.

“Doing the next right thing and being able to take the life Owen lived and make an impact in a very positive way in a lot of folks’ lives.”

The Owen Hart Foundation has made it a mission to help those with limited resources. The efforts have led to those in need obtaining homeownership as well as scholarships for disadvantaged youth.

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

Bully Ray Reacts To Backlash Over His Take On Hangman Page

Fernando Quiles Jr.
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0

Bully Ray has fired back at those who ripped him over his opinion on whether or not Hangman Page should emerge victorious at Full Gear.

This Saturday night (Nov. 13), Page will be challenging Kenny Omega for the AEW World Heavyweight Championship. When Hangman first competed for the title back in Aug. 2019, he lost to Chris Jericho.

Many believe the time is now for Hangman to win the AEW gold but Bully Ray had other ideas.

He expressed his belief that it would be beneficial to get more heat on Hangman and have him win the title at another show.

Bully Ray Responds To Angry Fans

  • bully ray 1416860710 1431319432 1489185588 800
    (via Impact Wrestling)

Bully got ripped to shreds on social media for his take. During an episode of Busted Open Radio, he addressed the backlash.

“After last night and all the heat that they built up in that segment, which is exactly what I wanted to see, it was crazy to see the tweets I got. This one tweet said, ‘Bully has caused so much discourse with his takes.’

“Well, I’m glad that my takes, my opinion could cause so much discourse amongst the AEW fans or the wrestling community. It’s an opinion based on 30 years of being in this business.

“So, I’m agreeing with you [speaking to host Dave LaGreca] now that they got a good segment of heat on him where he’s signed in blood. Wow, that was awesome I loved it.

“Yes, let’s strike while the iron’s hot but will the iron be hotter in Minneapolis? Or is that a good opportunity to get a little bit more heat? Or if we don’t do it in Minneapolis, have we missed a golden opportunity? It’s just a discussion.”

Bully Ray also claimed the “IWC bottom-feeding dirt sheets” embellished his take on it not being time for Hangman to win the championship.

This is despite the fact that Bully said, “Do I feel it’s the right time for Hangman? I’m gonna say in nine days? No.”

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

Beth Phoenix Pitched Storyline to Play Brock Lesnar’s Sister

Rayan Sayyed
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Brock Lesnar is known as “The Beast” in WWE and for good reason. He is exceptionally strong and burly, and has been a force to be reckoned with. While he performed mostly as a singles wrestler, having a female counterpart to him could be a very interesting idea if the execution is done properly. Beth Phoenix had this exact same idea but it never came to fruition.

The WWE Hall of Famer recently revealed that she pitched an interesting idea to producer Michael Hayes during her time with the WWE as an extra. She wanted to play the role of Brock Lesnar’s sister. She even came up with a detailed storyline on how she could be brought in as Lesnar’s sister.

“Fun Fact: At one of my first gigs as a @WWE extra I pitched a detailed storyline to Michael Hayes to be brought in as Brock Lesnar’s sister. I had ZERO CHILL,” Beth Phoenix wrote on Twitter.

Beth Phoenix joined WWE’s developmental territory OVW in 2004. This is the same year Lesnar left the WWE to join the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (but was cut from the team pre-season). Phoenix would work in OVW till 2006, and she would make her debut on the WWE main roster in the same year. During this time, things between Brock Lesnar and WWE were strained which could be the reason why didn’t want a female counterpart of him.

Interestingly enough, Phoenix would leave WWE the same year Lesnar would make his return in 2012. Currently, Phoenix is a color commentator on NXT and occasionally makes wrestling appearances. Brock Lesnar is suspended as part of a storyline but has vowed to make his return.

Impact 11/11 Results: Eddie Edwards Earns Title Shot Against Moose

Chris Stephens
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Impact 11/11 continued the build to Turning Point on November 20th. The main event saw Moose’s first challenger for his title determined.

Impact 11/11 Quick Results:

  1. Savannah Evans defeated Rachael Ellering (BTI)
  2. #1 Contendership for the Impact Tag Team Championships
    Bullet Club (Chris Bey & El Phantasmo) defeated FinJuice (David Finlay & Juice Robinson)
  3. Minoru Suzuki defeated Kaleb with a K
  4. Decay (Havok & Rosemary) defeated The Undead Bridesmaids (Brandi Lauren & Kimber Lee)
  5. Mercedes Martinez defeated Madison Rayne
  6. Rohit Raju defeated Rocky Romero
  7. #1 Contendership for the Impact World Championship
    Triple Threat
    Eddie Edwards defeated Matt Cardona and W. Morrissey

Bullet Club Earns Title Shot Against The Good Brothers

Last week on Impact, Bullet Club interfered in a non-title match between FinJuice and the Good Brothers, leading to a no-contest. In response, Scott D’Amore booked this #1 contendership match between FinJuice and Bullet Club with the winners moving on to challenge the Good Brothers with the titles on the line.

The finish of this match came when Finjuice looked to be setting Chris Bey up for the Doomsday Device but ELP grabbed a hold of Finlay’s foot while he was on the top rope. Finlay then turned his attention HIKULEO on the outside and hit him with a diving attack to the floor. Meanwhile in the ring, Bey countered Juice into a cradle but Juice reversed the momentum and ended up on top. With the ref counting the pin on Bey, ELP hit Juice with a super kick (there have been concerns that ELP uses a loaded boot). Bey then covered Juice and got the pin.

After the match, The Good Brothers came out to confront Bullet Club and a brawl ensued. HIKULEO entered the ring and took out Anderson. This left just Gallows and HIKULEO in the ring. They brawled and HIKULEO eventually tossed Gallows out of the ring. Bullet Club stood tall in the ring with the champions on the outside to end the segment.

Minoru Suzuki Destroys Kaleb With a K While Josh Alexander Watches

Minoru Suzuki made quick work of the Influence’s Kaleb this week. During the match, the camera would cut to a shot of Josh Alexander watching Suzuki on a monitor. Suzuki picked up the quick win with a Gotch style piledriver. Suzuki and Josh Alexander will face off next week.

Decay Defeat The Undead Bridesmaids Ahead of Title Rematch

Last week, The Iinspiration sought out the Undead Bridesmaids to take out Decay. This week Decay made short work of them in tag team action. Jessica McKay and Cassie Lee came out to the stage area to watch the match and then came down to the ring area after and taunted the former champions.

Later in the show, the Iinspiration then said they were going to take out the Undead Bridesmaids next week for their failure to take out Decay.

Mickie James Saves Mercedes Martinez From Post-Match Attack, Mercedes Not Then Attacks Her

Mercedes Martinez will challenge Mickie James for the Knockouts World Championship at Turning point. Martinez would face and defeat a former champion in Madison Rayne this week. The finish of the match saw Martinez get the pin after countering a cutter into a cradle. After the match, Rayne attacked Mercedes from behind and eventually gave her the cutter she wasn’t able to during the match. Rayne then hit Mercedes in the midsection with a chair before Mickie James’ music hit and she came out to make the save. Then James went to help Martinez up but her future challenger then picked her up and slammed her down. Martinez then sauntered away from the ring area while James lay in the ring to end the segment.

Rohit Raju Picks Up Win Over Rocky Romero

Rohit Raju picked up a big win this week as he defeated NJPW’s Rocky Romero. The finish of the match came when Raj Singh distracted the ref while Rocky had Raju trapped in an arm-bar. Rocky then took out Singh and hit a running sliced bread on Raju for a 2-count. Raju fought back, however, and countered a tornado DDT with a high-knee followed by his Drive-By finish for the win.

Eddie Edwards Earns A Title Shot Against Moose

Eddie Edwards has earned a shot at Moose’s Impact World Championship. A triple threat between him, W. Morrissey and Matt Cardona headlined this week’s episode. Edwards hit a Boston Knee Party on Morrissey on the outside, taking him out of the match. The finish of the match then came when it was left to Edwards and Cardona inside the ring. Cardona missed a dive off the ropes and Edwards then followed that up with a Boston Knee Party again and got the 3-count.

Moose was shown watching the match from a private box but then getting up and leaving as soon as Edwards was declared the victor.

Coming Up In Impact Wrestling

Next Week:

  • Josh Alexander vs Minoru Suzuki
  • The Iinspiration vs the Undead Bridesmaids
  • Steve Maclin vs Laredo Kid (If Maclin wins he’s added to X-Division title match at Turning Point)
  • Sit down interview with Deonna Purrazzo

Turning Point – November 20th

  • Impact World Championship
    Moose (c) vs Eddie Edwards
  • Knockouts World Championship
    Mickie James (c) vs Mercedes Martinez
  • Knockouts World Tag Team Championships
    The Iinspiration (Jessie McKay & Cassie Lee) (c) vs Decay (Rosemary & Havok)
  • Impact World Tag Team Championships
    The Good Brothers (Doc Gallows and Karl Anderson) (c) vs. Bullet Club (Chris Bey and Hikuleo)
  • X-Division Championship
    Trey Miguel (c) vs Laredo Kid

Keith Lee Tells Fans “Patience Is Key” After WWE Release

Rayan Sayyed
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Keith Lee got released from his WWE contract earlier this month on November 4. He received a lot of support from fans online and looks like there are some who are ready to drop watching WWE altogether because they released him.

A fan wrote to Lee on Twitter saying that he will never watch WWE again and would never support the company by going to their events. They asked how they can keep supporting Lee from now onwards.

Lee responded by thanking his fans for supporting him and asked them to be patient. He said he’s looking forward to the future and only time will tell what’s next in store for him.

“Right now, I think patience is key. Time is a friend right now. And I intend to make the most of it. I feel your support right this moment. In the not so distant future, I am sure something will come about. At such a time… well… time will tell I suppose,” Lee wrote in the quote tweet.

It would be interesting to see where Keith Lee would end up next. AEW Tony Khan is interested in the recent WWE releases, and in a recent interview he said that he’s interesting in doing business with some of the people that WWE let go.

Following his release, it was reported that Lee had “attitude issues” in the company and that may have played a vital role in his release from the contract. PWTorch’s Wade Keller reported, “He just had, in general, attitude issues. Or as one wrestler told me tonight, “perceived attitude issues.” He just was frustrated. I’ve heard different things about him in terms of his mood being altered way more than it should in the modern era about being asked to do a job.”

Chris Jericho Explains Why He Constantly Changed Look In WWE

Rayan Sayyed
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Chris Jericho has a good reason behind changing his look and attire all the time while working with the WWE.

Jericho revealed that he changed his look and his ring gear in WWE to keep things fresh and relevant in the wrestling business. By doing so, he was also able to make more money from merchandising.

Speaking to Sports Media with Richard Deitsch, Jericho revealed that he did not want to turn into a nostalgia act so he made a conscious effort to keep reinventing himself.

“When I first started working on TV every week in WCW and more specifically, in WWE when SmackDown started, and we used to do both shows [before the roster split/brand drafts]. I said people are going to get bored of me pretty quickly if I am on TV twice a week and I look the same and have the same rap, shall we say? ‘We’ve got to change it up,’” Jericho said.

Jericho said that he would keep changing his ring attire subtly enough every week. This meant that multiple versions of actions figures would be made for him to accommodate all the different changes. He would do the same thing with his facial hair. This resulted in Jericho making more money from merchandise.

“I remember the late, great Pat Patterson said to me, ‘You always have different facial hair every week.’ And one of the reasons for that was because it was always something different. Subtly, it was something different,” Jericho added. “I had different tights that I changed every week, and then I noticed that they would make an action figure for every set of tights that I wore and every set of facial hair that I had. So now you’re making more money too, because there’s more diversity of what people can market from you.”

Jericho attributes this mindset of keeping things fresh and constantly staying ahead of the curve from show business and rock and roll culture. He stated that he got advice from KISS bassist and co-lead singer Gene Simmons to never stagnate and keep reinventing yourself, and that this can be applied to life in general.

Related: Chris Jericho Says Recent MJF Promo Got the “Wrong Kind of Heat”

H/T Wrestlezone for the quotes

The Undertaker To Undergo Multiple Surgeries

Rayan Sayyed
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The Undertaker is set to go through multiple surgeries for his right knee.

After having an illustrious career spanning three decades, it’s no surprise that being in the ring for such a long time has taken a toll on The Undertaker’s body. Even though he has been officially retired from wrestling for a year, he is still trying to heal from decades’ worth of wear and tear of that his body has went through wrestling.

Speaking in an interview on The Norm and D Invasion show this week (via PWInsider), The Undertaker said that he has surgeries lined up for his new right knee.

“Both my hips are partial hip replacements already,” The Phenom said. “I need, I need a right knee, so I have surgeries lined up. I just… I gotta wait until hunting season is over for [them.]”

The Undertaker also said that he still misses performing in front of live audiences, especially during WrestleMania season. However, he is thankful and feels blessed that he had a very long career in the ring. “…but the body can only take so much and deliver so much, and for me that time.  I realized at the last WrestleMania that I had, that I did [WrestleMania 36] that my time had come.”

In a recent interview, Undertaker said that he is simply unable to meet the standards of a traditional wrestling match these days, due to his age and the condition of his body.

“I think it’s always in my head and in my heart, especially getting ready for WrestleMania here at AT&T Stadium it’s just like … man. But it’s just at a point where physically, I can’t perform at a level. I mean, I could go out and walk through something and I could get through a match. But I can’t give people what they expect at this point.”

The Undertaker had his Final Farewell at Survivor Series in November 2020. His last match was with AJ Styles at WrestleMania 36. The match was cinematic and narrative-heavy, and was dubbed the “Boneyard Match”. He won the match and his performance was heavily praised.

More Details On Eddie Kingston & CM Punk Backstage Dispute Referenced On Rampage

Chris Stephens
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Eddie Kingston and CM Punk’s intense promo segment from last week’s Rampage focussed on a beef Kingston had with CM Punk going back to their days on the independent circuit. More details regarding what actually did happen between the two of them was covered in the most recent edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

A source speaking on the condition of anonymity noted that they were backstage at a show when Punk and Kingston had an altercation.

“I can fully vouch for Eddie’s promo on Punk the other night. I was sitting right there in an IWA Mid South locker room when Punk called Eddie and his partner at the time, Blackjack Marciano, fat, lazy and unsafe. Marciano had just accidentally injured Delirious in a previous match and Punk was hot about it, so just buried them nonstop. I could see why Eddie hung onto that hate and anger for so long,” the anonymous source said.

This week on AEW Dynamite, Punk and Kingston had to be separated from brawling in the back. The two will face off in singles action at AEW Full Gear on Saturday. It will be the first time the two have ever been in a match together.

The IInspiration Say Impact Wrestling Feels Like Home

Rayan Sayyed
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The IInspiration made their debut for Impact Wrestling at the Bound for Glory event and picked up a big win by winning the Impact Knockouts Tag Team Championship. The duo feel at home working with Impact Wrestling, with Cassie Lee and Jessica McKay both talking about signing with the company and how Impact turned out to be a perfect fit for them.

Speaking to Alex McCarthy on the Wrestling Daily podcast, Lee said that they had many options to choose from but in the end they decided to go with Impact and it was a perfect fit for them.

“I feel like it was a perfect fit for us or not to toot our own horn but we’ve had many options and what it came down to Jess and I just felt like we just fit perfectly with IMPACT in the knockouts division they just use their talents so incredibly well and the women are just you know put on a pedestal which they should be they’re so good and I just feel like we slipped right on in you know became not hesitating champs did the damn thing and you know, [we fit in IMPACT] like a missing puzzle piece,” Lee stated.

“We found a home because that’s how it really felt. We wanted it to feel like the best decision and it really did, it fits so well. We were so happy,” McKay added. “We’re just incredibly grateful to be part of IMPACT and The Knockouts Division I’m super stoked. That’s all I have to say.”

According to McKay, one of the biggest plus points of working with Impact is the open communication the company maintains with its talents. The company provided them with all the information they needed and kept in touch with them frequently. They also spoke about the freedom Impact gave them regarding their characters.

“The freedom that we’ve had is, I mean, it just makes me so freakin’ happy. Because we know The IInspiration better than anyone we have built this from the ground up is a 17-year-old friendship, you cannot force anything on that and they respect that and they respect us as performance. It’s just beautiful and that was a big decision in us joining IMPACT,” McKay said. “We felt that respect and we felt wanted, to be honest, and that’s it. That’s an awesome feeling to have.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFEF2s7vhKU

H/T to Fightful for the quotes

Brock Lesnar Vows To Make Return To SmackDown

Rayan Sayyed
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Brock Lesnar is likely to make a return to WWE television. The Staples Center in Los Angeles, California made an announcement which stated that Brock Lesnar has vowed to buy a ringside ticket to the December 10 edition of SmackDown.

“The suspended Brock Lesnar vows to buy a ringside seat in Los Angeles for @WWE Friday Night Smackdown on December 10!,” says the caption of the post by Staples Center’s official Twitter account.

There are no details available yet on what this particular episode of SmackDown will have in store for us. Brock Lesnar got suspended in storyline on the post-Crown Jewel SmackDown episode. He started a locker room-clearing brawl with Roman Reigns, which earned him the suspension by WWE producer and on-air authority figure Adam Pearce. Lesnar also proceeded to attack Pearce afterwards. He was drafted to SmackDown on October 27 despite being suspended. On the following SmackDown episode, Lesnar was fined $1 million by Pearce.

It is possible that we will see Lesnar involved in a storyline that will continue on till Royal Rumble 2022. The Ticketmaster pre-sale for the event went live in October and the promotional material features Brock Lesnar prominently. The Royal Rumble poster features Lesnar in the middle with other stars like Roman Reigns, Big E, Becky Lynch, and Bianca Belair beside him.

Royal Rumble will take place on Saturday, January 29, 2022 from The Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis, Missouri. We could see Lesnar appear in action on the event. It wouldn’t be surprising if he is featured in a main event match, apart from the Men’s Royal Rumble.

Related: Update On Post Draft Plans For Brock Lesnar And Other Free Agents

Full Card For TripleMania Regia II Announced Including FTR vs the Lucha Bros

Chris Stephens
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AAA has announced the full card for TripleMania Regia II. The show will take place December 4th from the Estadio de Beisbol Monterrey in Monterrey, Mexico.

Kenny Omega will defend his AAA Mega Championship on the show against El Hijo del Vikingo. Cain Velasquez will also make his return to AAA as he teams with Psycho Clown and Pagano to take on the team of LA Park, Rey Escorpion and Taurus.

The feud between FTR and the Lucha Bros will also continue on December 4th. Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler will defend the AAA World Tag Team Championships against the team they took the titles from, the Lucha Bros. At Full Gear this weekend, the Lucha Bros will defend their AEW World Tag Team Championships against FTR.

TripleMania Regia II Lineup

  • AAA Mega Championship
    Kenny Omega (c) vs. El Hijo del Vikingo
  • Cain Velasquez, Psycho Clown & Pagano vs. LA Park, Rey Escorpion & Taurus 
  • AAA World Tag Team Championship
    FTR (c) vs. The Lucha Brothers
  • La Empresa (Sam Adonis, Puma King & DMT Azul) vs. Monster Clown, Murder Clown & Dave the Clown
  • Dragon Lee & Dralistico vs. Laredo Kid & a mystery partner
  • Vipers (Psicosis, Abismo & Arez) vs. Poder del Norte (Mocho Cota Jr., Tito Santana & Carta Brava Jr.) vs. NGD (Sanson, El Cuatrero & Forastero)
  • Marvel Lucha Libre match
    Leyenda Americano & Gran Mazo vs. Venenoide & Enganso
  • Faby Apache, Lady Shani & Sexy Star vs. La Hiedra, Flammer & Lady Maravilla
https://twitter.com/manrayk/status/1459027372099915779

Eric Bischoff Thinks NXT 2.0 Is Having An Identity Crisis

Fernando Quiles Jr.
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Former WCW President Eric Bischoff is of the belief that NXT 2.0 doesn’t quite know what it wants to be.

A lot has been made about NXT 2.0. Various reports noted that WWE Chairman Vince McMahon was changing the look and feel of NXT and is straying away from signing indie talent.

As a result, the NXT brand is now full of talent that is quite green and not ready for primetime despite being seen on the USA Network every week.

Eric Bischoff Questions NXT 2.0 Identity

During an appearance on the Generation Of Wrestling podcast, Eric Bischoff gave his take on what issues lie in front of the NXT makeover.

“I think what I’m seeing thus far, and we don’t know yet because NXT 2.0 is new at this point, but I think NXT 2.0 is having an identity crisis. I think deep down inside, there are people that know, hey, we just have to go back and be a little gritty and it needs to have an edge.

“It can’t be so pretty. It can’t be so WWE in order for it to have its own identity. It needs to be different from the RAW and SmackDown product.

“What I’m seeing so far is a tendency to lean into the RAW and SmackDown product in terms of its presentation, which if I’m right, and I could be wrong, I hope I am, but if I’m right, it will just further distance the audience away from NXT because they want something different.”

NXT 2.0 hasn’t been all doom and gloom, however. Many have praised Bron Breakker, the son of Rick Steiner. Breakker lost his first NXT Title match against champion Tommaso Ciampa but vowed to claim the gold one day.

H/T to WrestlingNews.co for the quotes.

Tony Khan Teases New Look For AEW Dynamite With Move To TBS

Fernando Quiles Jr.
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AEW Dynamite is moving to TBS and with it may come a new look.

Dynamite is transitioning from TNT to TBS beginning on Jan. 5, 2022. AEW Rampage will remain on TNT and the network will also be receiving special live events here and there.

Now that Dynamite is moving to a new channel, albeit under the same umbrella, it’s left many wondering if there will be a new look.

Changes To AEW Dynamite?

  • AEW Dynamite
    AEW Dynamite

AEW boss Tony Khan spoke to media members during a conference call. Khan revealed that he might be making changes to the presentation of Dynamite next year.

“The great wrestling and the great wrestlers and what people love about Dynamite, for the most part, I think that’s all going to be the same. But the look of the show, you know we may do some tweaks in presentation and it’ll be fun.

“We’ll do our best and if you don’t like it, then we’ll go back to what we have [laughs]. I think we’re gonna look at the presentation of the show going into TBS but the wrestling, the wrestlers, all the stuff you love about the show, for the most part, I think will be the same.

“Hey, if I mess with the look of the show and you don’t like it I can always go back [laughs].”

The finals of the TBS Women’s Championship tournament will take place on Jan. 5. Jade Cargill, Thunder Rosa, and Ruby Soho have emerged as favorites to win the tourney.

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

Tony Khan AEW Media Call Highlights (11/11/21)

Michael Reichlin
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All Elite Wrestling President Tony Khan participated in a media call on Thursday afternoon to promote Saturday’s AEW Full Gear pay-per-view.

Here are some highlights from the Q&A. The questions and answers have been edited for brevity and clarity.

Q: Full Gear has a stacked card with 10 matches. Is this the ideal length for an AEW PPV? (Chris Mueller, Bleacher Report)

TK: They’ve received great reviews for their quarterly pay-per-views. He really likes the format and length they’ve been working with: a 4-hour main card, plus a Buy-In kickoff show featuring a match or two. This has been working really well for them and expects it to continue this way.

Q: Why is now the right time to pull the trigger on Hangman Page? (Jon Alba, AdFreeShows)

TK: They’ve talked about homemade stars – Hangman is the epitome of a homemade star. He had some exposure before AEW, but not on national television. He’s blossomed in AEW from the beginning. The fans have been along for the ride and seen him grow. He was one of the challengers to determine the first AEW World Champion. Today, it’s a different company and Hangman Page is a different person. Page and Omega have something special between them. They had great chemistry as a team and you could tell they’d be great rivals. Khan picked up some character elements from Being the Elite, including Hangman’s drinking. People are ready to see him rise up from the lowest lows and conquer his biggest obstacle yet.

Q: Will we see an AEW pay-per-view from California or the Pacific / Mountain time zones in the near future? (Jonathan Hood – ESPN Chicago)

TK: Double or Nothing will take place from Las Vegas once again next year. There’s a good chance AEW will bring Dynamite and Rampage to the west coast round that time.

Q: Is AEW interested in acquiring the ROH video library, or signing ROH talent that is being released from their contracts? (Sean Ross Sapp, Fightful)

TK: Ring of Honor has a lot of great stuff in their library and some very talented performers that have worked for them this year. “We’ll see what happens on the business side.” He said to stay tuned to AEW. He’s good friends with many people in ROH.

Q: Any plans for AEW to present an All-Women’s event? (Ella Jay, SEScoops)

TK: AEW has made great strides with building their women’s division and featuring women prominently on television and pay-per-views.

When the NWA presented their all women’s pay-per-view, he provided them with a lot of that talent and paid them to wrestle for the NWA. The highest paid wrestlers on that show were sent and paid by him. He doesn’t think the NWA did a great job acknowledging that. He feels like he picked up the tab for everybody at dinner and nobody thanked him.

Q: Could we see Bray Wyatt in AEW? (Nick Hausman, WrestlingInc)

TK: He likes Windham a lot, but has never spoken to him about joining AEW. He thinks Windham is a wonderful person and a great talent.

Q: Will AEW Dynamite have a new look when it moves to TBS in January 2022?(Sebastian Diaz, Over the Top Rope)

TK: The great wrestling that people have come to expect from AEW will remain the same. As for show’s presentation – the staging, the graphics, the music – fans can expect some tweaks. He said, “It will be fun!” and if he hears that fans don’t like the changes, they will go back to the current look.

He said to expect less “time shifting” (preemptions) on TBS and plugged the “Battle of the Belts” special that will air Saturday, January 8th on TNT.

Q: When will the Owen Hart Memorial Tournament take place? (Russ Weakland, Hollywood Life)

TK: Fans can expect some big news shortly after Full Gear. There’s so much going on with the PPV, he doesn’t want to let the cat out of the bag just yet regarding the Owen tournament. The Owen will be a big prize in AEW. They have some interesting announcements coming at next week’s Dynamite or Rampage. They have “something fun planned” that everyone will really enjoy.

Q: When Eddie Kingston first joined AEW, could he envision what Kingston’s contributions would be? (Mark Madison, Pro Wrestling Post)

TK: Yes, pretty quickly. He didn’t know Eddie before he answered Cody’s TNT Championship Open Challenge, but they connected immediately. They’re now close friends.

Q: Will AEW continue taping Dark from Universal Studios? (Jim Varsalone, Miami Herald)

TK: Yes, they plan to continue taping from Universal Studios, when they can and when it makes sense. On weeks where they have live Rampage tapings (like this week), they tape Dark before Rampage.

Q: Are there plans to keep Dante Martin & Lio Rush as a tag team? (Bill Prichard, WrestleZone)

TK: It’s a story. Without saying too much about where things are going, he’s enjoying the pairing. He worked closely with them on their Dynamite match this week. He sees a lot in Lio Rush and actively recruited him to come out of retirement.

Q: How is the relationship with NJPW? Could we see AEW talent at Wrestle Kingdom in January? (Samantha Shipman, DailyDDT)

TK: “It’s a great relationship.” It was rocky when AEW first launched, but things have smoothed over. Enjoys working together and they talk on a regular basis. Expect more talent sharing in the months ahead.

Big E Expresses Disappointment on New Day Split

Tyriece Simon
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WWE Champion Big E is not happy with WWE separating the New Day. However, he is trying to make the best of the situation and is wishing for their success.

TalkSport’s Alex McCarthy interviewed Big E and asked him about WWE splitting up the New Day. The group separated for the second time, with Big E going to Monday Night Raw, Kofi Kingston, and Xavier Woods going to Friday Night Smackdown. The champion shared that he wished WWE had kept the group together.

McCarthy transcribed the following quotes.

“It’s always disappointing. I will say, I think the last year of being on SmackDown while they were on RAW did help me grow as a wrestler and a performer,” said Big E. He continued, “There are some benefits, but really I’m just trying to find the silver lining of it all – it still sucks.”

He also shared that while he’s disappointed, he wants Woods and Kingston to have opportunities. “But at the same time, I want to make sure I’m not standing in the way of those guys growing or putting us in a situation where they’re just running out there for my matches and being my cheerleaders, I don’t think that would be best for them. So we’re all trying to make the best of it,” said Big E.

WWE Motivation Behind New Day Split

The WWE has slowly pushed Big E to become a successful singles wrestler over the last year. However, this came at the expense of separating the New Day. In the 2020 WWE Draft, the company moved Big E to Smackdown, and the other group members went to Raw. Big E had success on the Smackdown brand, winning the Intercontinental Championship and Money in the Bank.

He became the WWE Champion when he defeated Bobby Lashley at Raw on September 13th. The win also helped reunite the New Day on Raw. However, this year WWE Draft separated the group once again. In the interview, Big E confirmed that he knew ahead of time they were splitting the group again.

“We got some heads up, so we knew it was coming, and I wasn’t shocked,” said Big E. He continued, “I was hoping, though, that we’d be on the same brand, and they could have done their own thing, and I could have done mine.” 

While the group isn’t together, they haven’t broken up or had internal disputes. The WWE could bring the New Day back together. However, it seems the company wants Big E to stand alone as a singles superstar.

Kurt Angle Reveals Most Dangerous Moonsault He Ever Landed

Fernando Quiles Jr.
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0

Kurt Angle has reflected on the most dangerous moonsault he ever landed.

Oftentimes, Angle went above and beyond in the ring. While he had great technical wrestling abilities, he was also the definition of a performer.

If Angle was in a steel cage match, fans knew there was a good chance the Olympic gold medalist would do a moonsault from the top.

Kurt Angle’s Scariest Moonsault

On an episode of The Kurt Angle Show, Angle explained why a moonsault he did against Ken Anderson at TNA Lockdown 2010 was his most dangerous one.

“They were all dangerous but I did one in TNA. The TNA cage was about two feet higher than the WWE cage. The first time I did a moonsault off a cage was against Chris Benoit in WWE and I actually had to have knee surgery because of it.

“But the most dangerous one I did was when I moonsaulted on top of Ken Anderson in TNA and the cage was about two feet higher than the WWE cage, and when I came down I landed on his face [laughs].

“My hip landed on his face, I almost broke his nose. I jammed my toes into the ring from that and my toes were never the same. They’re still not the same. I got some major arthritis in my toes from that moonsault. It was very dangerous.”

Kurt Angle Shares Hilarious Story Involving Stone Cold

The first time Angle did a moonsault off the cage was when he faced Chris Benoit back in 2001. Both men tried impressing Stone Cold, but they almost scared him away.

“The first time I did it was the first time with Chris Benoit. Stone Cold Steve Austin was actually watching it from the announce table, I remember that. The match was incredible.

“The crazy thing about that match was we were doing so much crazy stuff that Austin was like, ‘I ain’t working with these two assholes ever.'”

Of course, Stone Cold did end up working with Angle. In fact, Angle credits Austin with teaching him how to blade.

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

Bobby Lashley Reflects on his Time as WWE Champion

Tyriece Simon
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0

WWE superstar Bobby Lashley gave his perspective on being WWE Champion and dropping the title to Big E.

TalkSport’s Alex McCarthy interviewed Lashley and asked him if he was proud of his time as the WWE Champion. He held the championship for six months. Lashley expressed gratitude for the opportunity and praised his former opponents.

Mccarthy transcribed the following quotes.

“Yes, I think it was one [a reign to be proud of]. Especially who I got to defend it against and who I won it off. Man, Miz is great,” said Lashley.  He continued, “Defending at ‘Mania against Drew. Everyone was like ‘how is it going to go, what are they going to do?’ And then me and Drew tore down the house. I think it’s just given me the legitimacy that I’ve wanted.” 

Bobby Lashley Reign as WWE Champion

Lashley defeated The Miz in a LumberJack match for the WWE Championship at Monday Night Raw on March 1st. After his win, WWE had Lashley defend his title against Drew McIntyre at Wrestlemania 37 on April 10th. Most WWE fans were surprised by Lashley successfully retaining his title at the event. However, WWE wanted to push him as a dominant champion. His reign as champion ended when Big E defeated him at Raw on September 13th.

When asked about his feeling about losing the title to Big E, Lashley seems happy about it. He shared that it was great to drop the championship to Big E and that he wanted to help other WWE talent succeed.

“It felt great to drop it to Big E. There’s a few guys who just need a push, and during my time as champion, I was trying to help out a lot of guys,” said Lashley. He explained, “Like Riddle and [Xavier] Woods, look what they’ve done afterwards. It helped elevate them, and that’s what I tried to do.” He also shared his time when he first came to WWE and the people that helped him.

“When I came back, I wanted the title, but I wanted to be that guy. When I started out, I had Booker T, Big Show, JBL, Undertaker, Finlay, and all these guys that wanted to work with me and help me, said Lashley.  He continued, “It’s all about respect, and that’s what I want to do with a lot of these young guys coming up. We have some superstars coming up, some of the guys in NXT too, that have got it.” 

Lashley attempted to regain the WWE Championship at Raw on September 27th but was unsuccessful. It seems WWE is keeping him out of the title picture for now. He took some time off WWE TV after his loss to Goldberg at Crown Jewel on October 21st. However, he made his return at Raw on Monday by defeating Dominick Mysterio. As a result, he took Mysterio’s place as a member of Team Raw in the elimination tag team match at Survivor Series on November 21st.

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