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WWE NXT Results (7/20): Women’s Title Match, Samoa Joe Reacts, O’Reilly vs. Theory

Andrew Ravens
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The July 20, 2021 episode of WWE NXT aired live on the USA Network from Orlando, Florida at the Capitol Wrestling Center. 

WWE NXT Results 

  • Bobby Fish & KUSHIDA def. Diamond Mine
  • Franky Monet def. Jacy Jayne.
  • Kyle O’Reilly def. Austin Theory.
  • Odyssey Jones def. Andre Chase to advance to the Semi Finals of the Breakout Tournament.
  • Drake Maverick def. LA Knight.
  • NXT Women’s Champion Raquel Gonzalez def. Xia Li

Here are the takeaways from this week’s show:

Samoa Joe Reacts

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Samoa Joe responded to Karrion Kross’ attack from last week after Kross had successfully retained the NXT Title over Johnny Gargano. Kross choked Joe out with the Kross Jacket.

On Monday’s Raw, Kross made his Raw debut and lost to Jeff Hardy when Hardy pinned Kross while having his feet on the ropes for added leverage. Following the match, Kross was interviewed and said Hardy just made the biggest mistake of his life.

Joe opened the show by calling out Kross with his wrist taped. William Regal stated that Joe cannot be calling out wrestlers. Joe pointed out that he was told he could attack anyone if he was provoked. Joe didn’t want to hear what Regal says and that Kross needs to be put down.

Joe said that Regal can’t control Kross and he is the man to get Kross under control. Regal said Kross is on his way here and all hell won’t break loose because they will handle things peacefully. Joe said tonight will be the end of it because someone is going to sleep. 

Later in the show, Joe called out Kross, who appeared on the big screen. He said he can hurt anyone he wants. Kross was seen standing over a downed Regal. Joe chased to the back as Kross left and that’s how the show ended.

Kyle O’Reilly vs. Austin Theory

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Kyle O’Reilly vs. Austin Theory in a singles match took place. 

There was a backstage segment where Gargano was asked about his loss to NXT Champion Karrion Kross last week. O’Reilly walked up how he heard about what Theory talked about him. O’Reilly challenged him to a match and Theory accepted. O’Reilly told him that he would get his dancing shoes on. Gargano told Theory that he would be on his own tonight. 

WWE actually gave these guys plenty of time to work and Theory had various moments of offense, which is surprising. O’Reilly won with his knee lock submission. He wouldn’t let go of it for several seconds after Theory tapped. 

Mariachi Musical Madness

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Legado del Fantasma hosted “Mariachi Musical Madness” on this show. So what was it?

Santos Escobar told the performers to leave. He said that he was going to give everyone a taste of the best music in the world, but he changed his mind because he wouldn’t lower himself to entertain the fans as they’re not worth it and won’t do the Hit Row thing. 

Santos said that he would take the North American Title from Isiah Scott. Hit Row came out and said that they’re trash. Top Dolla did some jokes about how he was as tall as them in the sixth grade. A brawl broke out with Hit Row standing tall. 

LA Knight vs. Drake Maverick

07 NXT

Million Dollar Champion LA Knight vs. Drake Maverick took place in a non-title match. 

This match was set up when WWE did an angle where Knight and Maverick got into a confrontation in the parking lot prior to the show. Cameron Grimes was in Knight’s corner due to him serving as his butler, which was part of a stipulation that dates back to Grimes losing a Million Dollar Championship match against Knight at NXT Great American Bash two weeks ago

Due to accidental outside interference by Grimes, Knight rolled up Maverick for the win. Post-match, Grimes tried to warn Maverick to get out of the ring, but Knight beat him down. Grimes pushed Knight away.

Knight told Grimes to attack Maverick and while Grimes refused at first, he ended up doing it.

Tag Team Match

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Diamond Mine’s Roderick Strong & Tyler Rust vs. NXT Cruiserweight Champion Kushida & Bobby Fish took place. 

WWE set up this match last week as with Strong’s help, Rust defeated Fish. Kushida then ran out and chased Diamond Mine off after the match. 

The match went long with the typical tag team style until Kushida locked in a kimura on Rust for the win. 

https://twitter.com/WWENXT/status/1417640295215386627

Title Match

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NXT Women’s Champion Raquel Gonzalez defended her title against Xia Li. 

Last week, Gonzalez’s tag team partner Dakota Kai defeated Ember Moon. After the match, Li came out to the ring and confronted Gonzalez because she wanted a title match, which Gonzalez accepted. 

The match was the main event of the show. Li chopped Raquel down throughout the match. They did a spot where Raquel did a splash off the top rope and then Li never got up so medical staff checked on her. There was a lot of confusion. They went straight to the finish with Raquel hitting her finisher for the win. 

Gonzalez won the NXT Women’s Championship by defeating Io Shirai at TakeOver: Stand & Deliver this April. Since that time, she’s successfully defended the title against Mercedes Martinez and then Moon at TakeOver: In Your House last month. 

WWE Confirms NXT TakeOver Special On SummerSlam Weekend

Andrew Ravens
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The next WWE NXT TakeOver special has been announced.

WWE confirmed on Tuesday night during the weekly NXT TV show on the USA Network that the 36th installment of their TakeOver specials will take place on August 22nd. The theme and location of the show have yet to be revealed. 

This year’s WWE SummerSlam pay-per-view event will take place on Saturday, August 21st from Las Vegas at Allegiant Stadium. Thus, fans will have back-to-back nights of WWE action that weekend.

In the video package about the announcement, NXT lead announcer Vic Joseph’s mentioning of the Capital Wrestling Center was added in. The date of this show has been known all the way back in June when Fightful Select first reported the news. 

Mat Men Radio’s Andrew Zarian noted on his show that the event would be held on a Sunday in Orlando, Florida at the Capitol Wrestling Center, but WWE could opt out of that location should they decide to do so. 

NXT’s last TakeOver event was In Your House in June that saw the main event being a successful defense of the NXT Title by Karrion Kross over Adam Cole, Kyle O’Reilly, Pete Dunne, and Johnny Gargano.

Jake Roberts Signs Two-Year Extension With AEW

Andrew Ravens
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Jake ‘the Snake’ Roberts has re-signed with All Elite Wrestling.

The WWE Hall of Famer shared the news when he spoke with Diamond Dallas Page in a video that was posted on the former WCW stars’ YouTube channel. The extension will see him under contract for the next two years. 

“When I originally signed with [AEW], it was for a ten week deal. At eight weeks, [a guy] comes along with some papers, ‘You need to sign these.’ I’m like, ‘What for?’ ‘Well it’s your contract.’ ‘Dude, I’ve only got two weeks left.’ ‘No, you got another year.’ ‘What?’ And then just a few weeks ago, I buzzed Tony, I said, ‘Hey, I’ve got four weeks left. What do you want me to do? I need a notice so I can start setting up my stuff’ and he says, ‘We need to sign another piece of paper’ and I signed again and then after I signed it, I found out that it wasn’t for a year, it was for more than a year. It was for two years.”

Roberts noted that Khan is a wonderful man and he gave him his love back for wrestling as it’s great to be part of AEW. He said that he’s taken this opportunity to keep his eyes open and try to help people that are struggling. 

The legendary pro wrestler made his promotional debut last year when he confronted Cody Rhodes as a way to give him a message about how he had a client coming to AEW. 

This client turned out to be Lance Archer. The two have yet to part ways. Archer is slated to challenge Jon Moxley for the IWGP United States Title in a Texas Death Match on Dynamite this Wednesday. This will be the second night of Fyter Fest in Garland, Texas.

List Of Producers For WWE Money In The Bank Matches

Andrew Ravens
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After all the build and lead-up, Money in the Bank is in the books after being held this past weekend from Fort Worth, Texas at Dickies Arena and aired on Peacock. 

Big E ended up winning the men’s Money in the Bank ladder match and has yet to cash in while Nikki A.S.H won the women’s bout. 

The WWE star formerly known as Nikki Cross has already cashed in her briefcase as she did so on Monday’s episode of Raw when she beat Charlotte Flair, who had just wrestled Rhea Ripley in the main event, to win the Raw Women’s Title. 

Pwinsider.com has gathered a list of producers for each match, as seen below: 

WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns vs. Edge – Michael Hayes

Rhea Ripley vs. WWE Raw Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair – Adam Pearce

WWE Champion Bobby Lashley vs. Kofi Kingston – Jason Jordan & Jamie Noble

Men’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match – Ricochet vs. Matt Riddle vs. John Morrison vs. Drew McIntyre vs. Big E vs. Kevin Owens vs. Seth Rollins vs. Shinsuke Nakamura – Jamie Noble & Shane McMahon

Women’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match – Asuka vs. Naomi vs. Alex Bliss vs. Nikki Cross vs. Liv Morgan vs. Zelina Vega vs. Natalya vs. Tamina – TJ Wilson & Pat Buck

WWE Raw Tag Team Champions AJ Styles & Omos vs. The Viking Raiders – Chris Parks

WWE SmackDown Tag Team Champion The Usos vs. The Mysterios – D-Von Dudley

WWE Announces John Cena’s Live Event Schedule for the Summer

Tyriece Simon
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John Cena will be back in WWE’s live event schedule tour this Summer.

WWE has officially revealed what Cena’s tour schedule would look like for the Summer. The plan will see Cena appear at Raw and SmackDown tapings, non-televised live events and a pay-per-view (SummerSlam) from July 23rd through August 21st.

WWE is promoting Cena’s return to the road as, the “Summer of Cena.”

In total, Cena is advertised for 15 upcoming shows. It’s worth noting that Cena is only appearing at select shows through SummerSlam. You can see the full schedule at WWE.com.

Cena vs. Reigns at SummerSlam

John Cena made his long-awaited return at this year’s Money in the Bank after Universal champion Roman Reigns defeated Edge. He appeared on last night’s episode of Raw to challenge Reigns to a championship match at Summerslam.

Cena explained why he returned and said Reigns “Needs to be knocked down a peg in the promo.” Cena also confirmed that he would be on Smackdown this Friday to confront Reigns.

The last time that Cena faced Reigns was at No Mercy at the Staples Center in Las Angeles, California, on September 24, 2017. Reigns defeated Cena with the spear.

Cena’s Challenging Tour schedule

The “Summer of Cena” will be Cena’s most demanding WWE tour schedule in quite some time. Over the past couple of years, Cena hasn’t toured with WWE to this level. His last WWE match was a firefly funhouse match against the Fiend at Wrestlemania 36 on April 5, 2020.

At 44 years old, Cena has been focusing more on his acting career than wrestling consistently. It’s unclear if he will have matches leading to Summerslam to condition himself or if he’s been training already.

WWE’s Live Event Struggles

WWE is looking to make Summerslam a big event. Cena earned a big reaction for his return at Money in the Bank and Raw. With Cena set to appear at live events throughout the Summer, it may result in more sold-out shows.

WWE has seen mixed results with ticket sales since the return of live events. Some markets have been strong, while others have struggled. WWE recently canceled shows in Georgia and Florida after slow ticket launches.

As of this writing, tickets are still available on Ticketmaster for SummerSlam as low as $25. The announcement of Cena vs. Reigns for the Universal Championship may generate interest to help sell out the event.

If you are interested in ticket sales and the business side of live wrestling shows, the @WrestleTix Twitter account has been doing excellent work lately.

Triple H: ‘Roman Reigns Is The Biggest Star In The Industry’

Andrew Ravens
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WWE spent years to have Roman Reigns be the top star in the promotion, but the fans didn’t accept him in that role until after a global pandemic took place. Following his hiatus, WWE decided to turn him into a heel, which took his career to another level. 

While speaking with Sports Illustrated, Triple H talked about the Universal Champion, who just successfully retained the title over Edge in the main event of Money in the Bank.

After the match, Reigns had a staredown with the returning John Cena. According to the WWE Hall of Famer, Reigns is not only the biggest star in WWE but in all of pro wrestling. 

“Roman is the biggest star in WWE, he’s the biggest star in the industry. He perfected his craft at a really hard time to do so with no fans. He put so much into his character work, and his reaction to Cena was as powerful as the moment itself. Watching that, I couldn’t help but think back to how long he’s been doing this and some of the tougher times he’s been through. Right now, he’s performing on a whole other level. He’s at the point where he is no longer thinking about the character, he just is.”

Reigns will face Cena in the main event of next month’s SummerSlam pay-per-view event in Las Vegas, Nevada at Allegiant Stadium.

Backstage Reaction To Karrion Kross’ Loss On WWE Raw

Andrew Ravens
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After much anticipation for his official main roster debut, many fans were disappointed with WWE’s booking of NXT Champion Karrion Kross on his first night as an official member of the Raw roster. 

Monday’s episode of Raw saw him drop a quick loss to Jeff Hardy. Post-match, Kross warned Hardy that he just made the biggest mistake of his career so it appears that a feud will be playing out in the coming weeks. 

There was said to be a lot of “shock and frustration” within WWE NXT from talent and staff due to the way WWE handled Kross’ first night, according to Fightful Select. It was said the general mood among those in NXT wasn’t a “mad, disappointed” vibe, as they felt like this represented how the NXT brand is viewed by WWE higher-ups as a whole.

One person stated that the loss felt like a message being sent, but didn’t further elaborate. Those backstage at the show noted Kross was in good spirits backstage after the match. One talent stated Kross was put in an unfavorable position considering his spot as a protected talent in NXT while also being a new talent on another brand. 

This debut came after WWE built Kross up during the broadcast with vignettes and praise from the announcers. There’s no clear direction yet for Kross’ status in NXT. 

It’s likely we will find that out Tuesday’s NXT after he retained his title over Johnny Gargano last week, and then attacked Samoa Joe, the enforcer to NXT General Manager William Regal.

WWE Raw Ratings Up For Return Of Live Fans & MITB Fallout (7/19)

Andrew Ravens
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Monday’s edition of WWE Raw averaged 1.923 million viewers with a 0.57 rating in the Adults 18-49 demographic. This is up from last week’s 1.609 million viewers and the 0.43 rating. 

This week’s show was the post-show edition of Raw for Sunday’s Money in the Bank pay-per-view event.  It was also the first show back with fans.  This was the best viewership Raw has done since the post-Wrestlemania episode on April 12.

Here’s the rest of the viewership breakdown for Monday Night Raw, courtesy of Brandon Thurston of Wrestlenomics:

P2+: 1923 (+21%)
P18-49: 741 (+35%)
M18-49: 481 (+41%)
F18-49: 260 (+26%)
P18-34: 225 (+16%)
M18-34: 143 (+28%)
F18-34: 82 (+2%)
P35-49: 516 (+42%)
M35-49: 338 (+44%)
F35-49: 178 (+38%)
non-P18-49: 1182 (+13%)

This episode featured a promo segment with John Cena, Riddle & The Viking Raiders (Erik & Ivar) vs. AJ Styles, John Morrison & Omos, Natalya & Tamina vs. Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler, Karrion Kross vs. Jeff Hardy, Sheamus vs. Humberto Carrillo, Bobby Lashley vs. Keith Lee,  and Rhea Ripley vs. Charlotte Flair for the Raw Women’s Title. 

SmackDown Viewership

The episode drew an average of 2.185 million viewers in the overnight ratings, up from the previous week that did 1.881 million viewers. In the 18-49 demographic, it did a 0.66 rating, which was up from the 0.48 rating the week before.  The final ratings were 2.310 million viewers, up from last week’s 1.986 million viewers.

Kenny Omega’s Next Challenger Revealed For Impact World Title

Michael Reichlin
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Kenny Omega retained the Impact World Championship over Sami Calihan this past weekend at Slammiversary.

The next challenger to Omega Impact title was determined at Monday night’s television tapings from Nashville, TN. (Spoilers)

In the final match of the second set of tapings, Brian Myers won a #1 contender’s battle royal to earn the championship opportunity. This episode of Impact is expected to air Thursday, August 12th on AXS TV.

Kenny Omega vs. Brian Myers will headline Impact Wrestling’s next special event, Emergence. Impact has not yet confirmed the date(s) for Emergence, which took place over two weeks last year.

In the video below, you can see Don Callis and Kenny Omega backstage after Omega’s title defense from Slammiversary:

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

WWE & Tik Tok Partner for Ring Announcer Search

Tyriece Simon
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WWE and Tik Tok are looking to the WWE Universe to find a new ring announcer.

WWE announced yesterday that they would be doing a talent search for ring announcers through Tik Tok. The announcement also confirmed Pure Life Purified Water as the official sponsor for the contest. Contestants have to upload videos that showcase their skills on the app using the hashtag WWEAnnouncerContest. WWE and Tik Tok will hold the competition until August 16th and will select two winners. The winners will receive a trip to Summerslam on August 21st at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada, as they will serve as announcers for the event.

WWE & Tik Tok Relationship

WWE has over 11 million followers on Tik Tok. Tik Tok marks WWE’s third most prominent social media platform, with Facebook with over 59 million followers and Instagram with over 24 million followers. WWE is looking to grow its followers and expand its relationship with Tik Tok with this contest.

WWE’s Vice President in Digital Media Steve Braband released a statement regarding the ring announcer search on WWE.com. “Our engagement on TikTok to date has been incredible, and we couldn’t think of a better platform to help us find the next great ring announcer,” said Braband.

The WWE announcement also alludes that this will be a new way to recruit talent in the article. “Today’s announcement follows another innovative TikTok activation, through which WWE aims to discover and recruit its next generation of Superstars via the TikTok Resumes product, said WWE.”

Lack of Clarity for Ring Announcer Contest

This year Men’s Money in the Bank Winner Big E did a Tik Tok video to promote the contest. The video, however, doesn’t explain the criteria to be considered eligible to win.

@wwe

Want to ring announce a match live at #SummerSlam ? Show us your best Superstar intro and use #WWEAnnouncerContest for a chance to win! @purelifeus

? original sound – WWE

WWE will also be hosting invite-only tryouts in Las Vegas during Summerslam weekend from August 18th to August 20th.

The winners of the ring announcer contest will also have to appear at the invite-only tryout. However, unlike the ring announcer search, the tryout has criteria for applicants like wrestling experience, public speaking, and acting experience. It’s unclear if this indicates that the contest winners will not have a permanent position as ring announcers after SummerSlam.

Toni Storm Expected To Be A Babyface On SmackDown

Jake Skudder
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WWE Superstar Toni Storm will be making her official debut on SmackDown this Friday. The former NXT UK Women’s Champion has had a rocky road on the NXT brand in the United States, but now she will be part of the main roster on FOX.

Storm has worked as a heel during most of her time on NXT, although he did portray a babyface for her entire run on NXT UK.

According to a report from PWInsider, WWE is planning to bring Toni Storm up to SmackDown as a babyface.

Storm, 25, was signed to WWE back in May 2018. The Australian star was initially signed for the NXT UK brand, where she held the aforementioned Women’s Championship.

Toni Storm Plans Revealed

Toni Storm moved to WWE NXT to live in the United States full-time last year, where she then played a heel on USA Network television for the first time in her WWE career.

Storm has worked several WWE dark matches before television tapings, although Storm’s debut for SmackDown was promoted several weeks back.

It is currently unknown what the plans are for Storm when she gets to the main roster, however a potential showdown between the Australian performer and WWE SmackDown Women’s Champion Bianca Belair looks extremely promising.

Check out the promo for Toni Storm’s move to the main roster and SmackDown below:

Eva Marie: “I Hope Fans Boo Me Out of The Building”

Jake Skudder
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WWE RAW Superstar Eva Marie made her return to the show earlier this year; however, she has not yet made an appearance in front of a live audience since she got back to the company due to the WWE Thunderdome essentially being behind closed doors.

During a recent interview with Erin Silvia and Russ Weakland of Hollywood Life, Eva Marie would say that she is more than prepared for fans to boo her once she does make her way out in front of a live WWE crowd.

“There is nothing like performing and walking into our upcoming tours that start July 16th with SmackDown out in Texas and Monday Night Raw in Dallas,” the leader of the Evalution began. 

Eva Marie On Being Boo’ed

“I just moved there, so I feel like it is a little bit of my hometown now, but to walk out there and embrace the fans… actually I hope they boo”, Marie continued, describing what she wants to happen when she gets out there in front of a crowd.

“I hope they boo me out of the building. Every movie and every show or book, you always need a good villain, and I’m okay wearing that hat. Coming back, I think the WWE Universe has no problem making me that villain either,” the RAW Superstar concluded.

Eva Marie and Doudrop are currently in a feud with Alexa Bliss that will likely take them to some sort of handicap match at SummerSlam in August.

Update On Bray Wyatt’s Absence From WWE

Chris Stephens
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Bray Wyatt hasn’t wrestled since WrestleMania 37. He lost a match to Randy Orton on Night 2 of the event this year. According to a report from PW Insider, Wyatt was originally scheduled to win that match but the result was changed last minute. Wyatt hasn’t been back in the company since.

There is said to be no timetable for Wyatt’s return to the company. There are those within WWE who believe Wyatt’s absence is not due to any creative issues either.

“WWE sources have remained quiet about Wyatt’s circumstances beyond the idea that he’s being held off for a specific reason,” writes Mike Johnson. “The belief among some is that it’s not a creative issue.”

Before WrestleMania 37, Wyatt’s last match in WWE was at December 2020’s TLC PPV. Wyatt lost to Orton in that match as well. Alexa Bliss has been hosting episodes of “Alexa’s Playground” in the months since Wyatt has been gone.

Wyatt popped up on social media not long after WWE announced SummerSlam will be held at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. Wyatt is a fan of the Las Vegas Raiders, who play their home games in the venue.

Wyatt also posted to Twitter recently that he misses the WWE Universe.

Calvin Tankman Wants Another Shot At Jacob Fatu (Exclusive)

Samira
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Major League Wrestling returned to live wrestling last Saturday night for their Battle Riot III from the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia, PA.

I was on-hand at the Battle Riot as a correspondent for SEScoops where I spoke with a few MLW wrestlers and one being Calvin Tankman.

When I asked if he was happy to be at the famous 2300 Arena for his first taping, Tankman answered that it was a dream come true.

“Definitely. My first taping with fans and it’s in a legendary arena where you know, growing up you watch a lot of matches and moments from this very place and dream of wrestling here. So, definitely a dream come true to finally get the opportunity,” Tankman said.

The discussion then moved onto me asking Tankman about who he hopes to wrestle with in MLW by the end of 2021. Tankman names Alex Kane, but then goes on to talk about current MLW World Heavyweight Champion, Jacob Fatu.

“I think I got a little screwed in the title match, so I think there is something to be said with round two with me and Fatu. I mean if anything was proven, it’s that his crown was threatened,” Tankman said.

Other topics discussed include wanting to wrestle Alex Hammerstone, Rhyno/Rhino giving him advice on which cheesesteak place to go to in Philadelphia, and more.

You can watch MLW’s Battle III for free on July 24th with beIN SPORTS or on MLW’s YouTube channel at 10 p.m. EST.

Watch my full interview with Calvin Tankman here:

Update On Daniel Bryan’s Future With WWE

Chris Stephens
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Daniel Bryan’s last match in WWE was a loss to Roman Reigns on the 4/30 episode of Smackdown. The match carried the stipulation that if he lost, Bryan would have to leave WWE. He hasn’t been back since. According to a report from Pwinsider, all signs point to Bryan not returning to WWE.

Sources within the company have said there have been no internal discussions regarding Bryan returning and he is not listed on internal documents regarding the talent roster. Although this cannot be confirmed, there are those who are taking this to mean Bryan is headed to AEW.

Evidence that Bryan will not be returning to WWE include him not appearing on an internal document regarding plans for licensing and merchandising in 2021-2022. Bryan was also not mentioned as it concerns upcoming Mattel action figures.

What Does Daniel Bryan Want?

Daniel Bryan has made several public statements about wanting to wrestle for promotions outside of WWE.

“It’d be interesting if I could wrestle in different companies and WWE,” Bryan said at a WM37 meet and greet. “That’s actually something I’m trying to weasel my way into right now.”

He would also that he’s hoping to find the right balance between his home life and life in wrestling.

“My contract is up soon,” Bryan said. “We need to figure out what a good balance between home life and wrestling. I never want to stop wrestling, I love it, it’s just figuring that out.”

Big E Unsure WWE Locker Room Would Welcome Conor McGregor

Alex Laybourne
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Mr. Money in the Bank, Big E, has weighed in on the possibility of Conor McGregor appearing for WWE.

The Notorious One has been subject to rumours of a switch from the octagon to the squared circle. There have always been strong ties between WWE and UFC, with several fighters over the years making a similar move.

However, Big E was cautious when discussing the welcome Conor McGregor would get should he make the change. During an interview with ViBe and Wrestling, Big E says he’d welcome McGregor to WWE, but isn’t sure everybody would have the same minset.

“So yeah, I would never have a problem with that,” he began. “Not everyone would welcome him or feel the same but he’s extremely entertaining. And I think if he did come to WWE, I think he would get a lot of attention. I think he would be worth the investment I’m sure for a lot of people so yeah, I would not have a problem with it.”

Big E on McGregor’s Baggage

Big E is a well-known fan of MMA, and he often shares news and stories relating to the UFC. However, even he has some doubts about the impact Conor McGregor would have on the WWE locker room. There is a fine balance that he feels the Notorious One might upset.

“For me, I guess the only stuff that bothers me, and it’s not my position to really judge him, but it’s the legal stuff you know what I mean?” Big E continued. “I take some pride in when I look around our locker room, and I’m not saying things are perfect, but I want to be in a locker room with people who are good people who obey the law, you know what I mean? Who aren’t getting in trouble and that’s the only thing.”

You don’t get a nickname like the Notorious One without being a bit of a rebel, and much has been publicized about Conor’s wild side. However, it would seem that Big E at least, could see being Conor McGregor as being the best for business.

Becky Lynch Responds To Charlotte Flair’s “Breastfeeding” Comments

Chris Stephens
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At both Money in the Bank on Sunday and on WWE RAW last night, the WWE Universe chanted for Becky Lynch while Charlotte Flair was in the ring. At Money in the Bank, the camera cut to black as Flair flipped off the crowd who were chanting that they wanted to see The Man return. Then last night on RAW, the crowd chanted for Becky while Flair was in the middle of her championship coronation.

“Yes guys, Becky Becky! is home breastfeeding while I’m dominating the entire women’s division,” Flair said to silence the crowd.

Lynch took to Twitter shortly after to issue a response to Flair’s comments.

Flair would end up losing the RAW Women’s title later in the show after Nikki ASH cashed in her Money in the Bank briefcase.

Lynch has teased appearing at the Royal Rumble, WrestleMania, and Money in the Bank this year. She posted the following on Sunday:

Lynch hasn’t wrestled since the first night of WrestleMania 36. She defeated Shayna Baszler on the show. She would vacate the RAW Women’s title the night after Money in the Bank last year. Asuka was declared the new champion after having won the women’s Money in the Bank ladder match the night before.

Spoiler On Jay White’s Role In Impact Wrestling

Chris Stephens
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The conclusion of the Impact Wrestling Slammiversary show featured “Switchblade” Jay White confront Kenny Omega. The camera cut away before fans could see if White would give The Elite the 2 Sweet hand signal, however.

Spoilers for the last two days of Impact Wrestling tapings have leaked and we now know what White’s role in the promotion will be over the next month.

Jay White Denies The Good Brothers Re-Entry Into Bullet Club

7/18 tapings:

On the shows taped on the 18th, White cut a promo on facing David Finlay at NJPW Resurgence for the NEVER Openweight title. He also said that he was not letting the Good Brothers back into Bullet Club. This led to Anderson and Gallows coming out to attack White but Chris Bey ended up making the save. The Good Brothers would then pick up a win over White and Bey in tag action later in the tapings.

Chris Bey Added To Bullet Club

7/19 tapings:

While White won’t let the Good Brothers back in Bullet Club, he did add a new member to the faction from the Impact roster. Impact posted a clip recently featuring Chris Bey finding a Bullet Club shirt near his locker.

On the second night of Impact’s tapings, Bey formally joined the group after being offered a spot by White himself. This occurred after Bey defeated Juice Robinson in singles action.

Later in the tapings, Bey and White would face FinJuice in tag-team action. The match ended in a disqualification after White hit Robinson with a chair.

The episodes filmed will take Impact up until mid-August. White will face David Finlay at NJPW Resurgence on August 14th.

Jay White In Impact Wrestling

White’s involvement with Impact Wrestling was addressed recently on Wrestling Observer radio.

“It’s part of the deal for getting the New Japan talent. Jay White and Finlay is the co-main event for the Los Angeles New Japan Show,” said Dave Meltzer. “So, I’m sure that we’ll see this on New Japan World, and perhaps part of the deal to get some of these guys on the show, especially Jay White, is that they get to shoot that angle for their own show.” 

Impact Spoiler: Jay White Adds New Member To Bullet Club

Chris Stephens
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“Switchblade” Jay White arrived in Impact Wrestling at the conclusion of the Slammiversary PPV this weekend. White also took part in the recent Impact television tapings in Nashville. During the tapings, the leader of Bullet Club added a new member to his faction.

Recently Impact Tweeted out a short clip featuring Chris Bey discovering that someone left a Bullet Club shirt by his locker. Live reports from the recent Impact tapings are stating that White formally invited Bey into the group and Bey accepted by throwing up the 2 Sweet hand signal.

Chris Bey Joins Bullet Club

The 25-year-old Bey is a highly-touted up-and-comer. He was trained by the Future Stars of Wrestling promotion in Las Vegas and made his pro-debut in 2017. In 2020, he ranked at #202 in the PWI Top-500. Last year, Impact Wrestling viewers voted Bey the “One to Watch in 2021.” He’s also a former X-Division Champion.

The faction he just joined was formed 4 years before Bey made his pro-debut in 2013. The 4 founding members of the faction are Prince Devitt (Finn Balor), Bad Luck Fale, Tama Tonga, and Karl Anderson. Bey is the first new member of the group in over a year since Dick Togo was added to the faction last summer.

Dr Britt Baker Will Show Nyla Rose No Mercy at Fyter Fest

Alex Laybourne
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Dr Britt Baker D.M.D has a big test ahead of her if she wants to keep hold of her AEW Women’s Championship. She is facing Nyla Rose on Night 2 of Fyter Fest this week. However, if her recent social media interaction is anything to go by, the doctor will show no mercy this Wednesday night.

However, Dr Britt Baker will need to do more than just sweep the leg if she wants to beat Nyla Rose and walk out with the championship still around her waist.

This past weekend fans found Dr Britt Baker hanging out with Martin Kove at a Comicpalooza event. Hopefully, Britt was able to pick up a few pointers from the ultimate karate badass which could help her take down the beast.

AEW invested a long time in Dr Britt Baker, and her organic growth in popularity especially following her Light’s Out match with Thunder Rosa make her a huge draw. Having her drop the title so soon would be a shock. However, shocks happen in wrestling all the time.

Dr Britt Baker Knows There Are No Losers in AEW’s Dojo

A fight with Nyla Rose is always going to be a hard-hitting affair, however, the best has been felled before. Dr Britt Baker D.M.D knows what she has to do, and will undoubtedly dig deep in order to get the job done.

All she needs to do is remember that Mercy is for the weak. Here, in the AEW Ring, in competition. A beast confronts you; they are the enemy. An enemy deserves no mercy.

Night 2 of AEW Fyter Fest has the makings of a great night of action, including a Texas Death Match for the IWGP US Championship. However, all eyes will be on Dr Britt Baker as she aims to continue building her legacy as the face of AEW.

Spoilers: Impact On AXS TV Tapings Results Through Mid-August

Michael Reichlin
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Impact Wrestling held another round of television tapings on Monday night from Nashville, TN. They now have four weeks of TV recorded, so we have a good look at how storylines will play out through mid-August.

You can find results from Sunday night’s Impact on AXS tapings here. Those shows will air this Thursday (7/22) and next Thursday (7/29).

Here are the results from Monday’s tapings, courtesy of Darryn Simmons and Impact Asylum:

Impact on AXS Tapings Results
Airing 8/5

  • Knockouts Champion Deonna Purrazzo and Drama King defeated Chelsea Green and Matt Cardona in a Homecoming tournament match.
  • Decay defeated Rachel Ellering and Tommy Dreamer in a Homecoming tournament match.
  • Eddie Edwards defeated W. Morrissey in a Hardcore Match.
  • Sam Adonis defeated Joessa.
  • Jake Something defeated Daivari, Rohit Raju and Trey Miguel in a 4-Way Match.
  • Chris Bey w/Jay White defeated Juice Robinson w/David Finlay. Afterwards, Jay White presented Bey a Bullet Club shirt and gave him a “too sweet” salute.
  • Taylor Wilde defeated Kaleb.
  • Moose defeated Chris Sabin. There was a big brawl to end the show.

Impact on AXS Tapings Results
Airing 8/12

Chris Bey Bullet Club
Chris Bey joins Bullet Club
  • Deonna Purrazzo and Drama King defeated Decay in the Homecoming tournament finals to be crowned Homecoming King and Queen.
  • Tenille Dashwood defeated Taylor Wilde. Dashwood got help from the returning Madison Rayne.
  • Maclin destroys Jah-C.
  • Josh Alexander defeated Daivari.
  • FinJuice picked up a DQ win over Bullet Club’s Jay White and Chris Bey after White hit Robinson with a chair.
  • John Skyler defeated Matt Cardona after a distraction from Rohit Raju and Mahabali Shera.
  • Homecoming Queen and King Deonna Purrazzo and Drama King came out for a promote. They were interrupted by Mickie James, who has a contract for Deonna Purrazzo to work the upcoming NWA Empowerrr all-women’s PPV. Deonna refuses to sign it unless she knows her opponent. Mickie then introduces Melina. They signed the contract and the match is on.
  • Brian Myers won a battle royal to earn a World title shot at Kenny Omega at Emergence.

Scarlett Offers Cryptic Response to Shocking Karrion Kross Defeat

Alex Laybourne
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There were several shock moments on RAW last night. With the return of live crowds, WWE went all out and gave it a RAW after Wrestlemania feel to it. Yet, on a night of surprises, there was one moment that stands prouder than the rest. The shock defeat of Karrion Kross at the hands of Jeff Hardy. After the match, Kross’s valet Scarlett took to social media to share her thoughts.

It was strange that Scarlett was not by Karron’s side for his main roster debut. Nor was she backstage for RAW. Regardless, that didn’t stop her from saying a few words.

“This is only the beginning,” she said in a short but direct tweet.

The loss certainly came as a surprise, and fans can only assume that this will be used to present an even angrier Karrrion Kross to the audience. However, it remains a baffling way to introduce the man to the RAW audience.

Scarlett on Damage Control After Quick Loss for Karrion Kross

The tweet from Scarlett could have been a form of damage control for her fighter. The loss to Jeff Hardy came barely two minutes into a match, from a powerbomb, a move that is nowadays as common as a headlock. Yes, Jeff Hardy had his feet on the ropes, but Karrion Kross was fresh. WWE spent the entire evening building up to his debut, and for it to end in such a quick and surprising fashion can only be regarded as an upset.

As of the time of writing, Kross and Scarlett are both firmly part of the NXT roster. His debut would seem to be a once-off affair, at least until the NXT title has been removed from his waist. However, it would seem from Scarlett’s words and Kross’s post-match statement, that the feud with Hardy is just beginning.

EC3 Explains Why He Destroyed His WWE Action Figures

Alex Laybourne
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EC3 was a shadow of his former self during his time with WWE. He has spoken openly about how he has only just started to refind the passion WWE stripped away from him. Talking in more detail during an interview with Wrestling Epicenter, he went on to talk about how he went to great lengths to put his WWE run behind him.

EC3 spoke about the need to make sure the past was left in the past. In a speech that was heavily laced with frustration and an eagerness to not just move on but forget the experience entirely.

 “As long as you live in the past, you’ll forever remain in the past,” EC3 said. “So if you’re shopping at a Target and you see your likeness, your image captured in toxic chemicals made in China sold for commerce. When something destroyed a part of your soul and took your pride and tried to destroy your passion, you truly have to let everything go! Let that which does not matter slide. So I threw out my own action figure. Eventually, I burnt one too. If you’re going to destroy your past, you must commit. If you’re going to do something, go all in. Be bold! Be brave! Don’t stop! Sometimes things work out, sometimes they don’t. Everything happens for a reason.” EC3 said

EC3 is Focusing on Building a Future Not Looking to the Past

A man reborn, EC3 is very much focused on the future. His words scream of finality with WWE. He has since signed with Ring of Honor and is excited to get back to doing what he loves. A love that he openly admits was stripped away by WWE.

When the interview pressed on why he was released, or what reasons he was given, EC3 had no answer.

“That’s not a question for me,” EC3 said. “That is a question you would have to ask the powers that be there.”

He is simply a man happy to be looking forward. Moreover, he has no plans to look back or waste time ruminating on things that he has no interest in. EC3 is not alone in expressing his relief at finding his ‘freedom’. However, he is certainly dedicated to cleansing himself with all eyes on the horizon.

Jeff Hardy Writes a Poem to Welcome the WWE Universe Back to RAW

Alex Laybourne
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WWE’s Jeff Hardy is the ‘Charismatic Enigma’ and this certainly extends beyond his in-ring antics. Known for his creative side in all avenues of life, he recently took to social media to debut a new poem he had written. The words were scribed ahead of his return to RAW this week, moreover, as an ode to the fans who returns alongside him.

In fact, Jeff Hardy returned to claim what can only be classed as a shock victory over the debuting Karrion Kross.

Universal Adrenaline: A Poem

2020 shortly evolved into the unknown,

A return to silence made me question everything.

Hearing your voices only in my head,

From past memories your chants are engraved in my brain.

It feels like a decade since you’ve been gone,

Virtual worlds have reset normality.

I imagine a world without the pandemic,

A world where sanity and insanity develop a perfect compromise.

In this world were close,

In this world we were free,

In this world we were fearless,

It’s been over a year since I’ve seen your smiles.

The empty arenas are about to fill,

Adrenaline again changing now from then.

Re-emerging to life,

Re-inventing the show,

Re-creating the auroa,

Re-assuring, I know.

It feels like a decade since I’ve felt it,

The virtual worlds have replaced live energy.

It’s time to get it back,welcome back,

It’s time to re-engage, turn the viral page of WWE’s infinitive chapter,

It’s Universal eternal, inspiring ever after

I see a world without the pandemic,

A world where you and I develop the perfect adrenaline.

In this world we are close and free,

In this world we are bold and fearless,

In this world we are not alone,

In this world we are home, again

  • Jeff Hardy

Jeff Hardy Lead a Night of Returns for Monday Night Raw

It was a big night for Jeff Hardy. Not only did he create his work of lyrical art, but he returned to action in stunning fashion. He also marked the return of live audiences with the return of his No More Words entrance theme.

It was certainly a big night for the multi-time champion as he became the first man to ever defeat Karrion Kross via pinfall. However, the manner of his victory is teasing a heel turn for Jeff Hardy. Hardy’s last heel run came in 2011, so it will be interesting to see how this plays out.

Mick Foley Critical of Drew McIntyre’s Chair Assault on RAW

Alex Laybourne
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WWE Hall of Famer Mick Foley has taken to social media to speak up about Drew McIntyre’s chair assault on Monday Night Raw.

If there was ever a wrestler who knew a thing or two about chairs and taking nasty bumps it is Mick Foley. A hardcore legend if ever there was one. While taking the time to voice his discontent, it wasn’t because of the violence of the attack. Rather, it was because he felt such a violent attack needed to serve a grander purpose.

“Big fan of Drew’s…but 20 chair shots should either be done to build a feud of epic proportions…or they shouldn’t be done at all #RAW,” Mick Foley wrote.

The assault, delivered to Jinder Mahal’s lackey Shankey, is the latest in a series of attacks between the pair in a feud that started after Mahal stole McIntyre’s sword. There is a history between both men stretching back to their days in 3MB. How destinies have changed for both since those goofy days. Mick Foley’s comments about the ferocity of the attack and its lack of meaning might be slightly misplaced.

Mick Foley Knows a Thing or Two About Chairs

The feud is running, and it is running deep. It is nothing new for a heel to use his lackeys as a human shield. Subjecting them to the assault while they skip out of town. Shankey was one of the men who carried McIntyre away from the Money in the Bank ladder match. While Mick Foley is correct, chair shots should be used sparingly in the days of concussions and dementia. However, the feud between Mahal and McIntyre is building, and could certainly be something epic.

 Both men are former champions, both men want to have the gold again, and with the return of the WWE Universe to events, it’s only natural to ramp things up a little bit in the process. Mick Foley is a legend and there is no question, but on this occasion, his comments might not be completely valid. He has been there for some of the most violent matches wrestling have seen. While things have toned down in the interceding years, there is no denying that the current feud between Mahal and McIntyre is going to be hard-hitting.

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