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The Good Brothers On Declining WWE’s Podcast Offer: ‘F-That!”

Steve Russell
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Impact Wrestling’s Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson have opened up about declining WWE’s offer to host a podcast. Last year, WWE kickstarted its own podcast network featuring several of its Superstars. During their time with the company, the pair were offered the chance to partake in the new initiative. However, it wasn’t something that interested either of the Good Brothers.

“WWE came to us and said they were going to have a podcast network, and we want to have [Corey] Graves and you guys,” Luke Gallows told the Cut Wrestling Podcast. “And we were like, ‘Ehh, it’s not the same.’ Besides us not liking the business offer on it, it’s not the same. It’s not Talk ‘n Shop without [co-host Rocky Romero], so we declined the offer on it. We said, ‘Let’s just do it and see if it catches on.'”

Gallows noted how only four weeks after being extended the offer, he and Anderson were cut from WWE. He shared how since leaving the promotion, their podcast has taken on “a life of its own.”

Anderson added how WWE pulled them both aside and informed them, “we want you to do a podcast.” They were told how they would be given a private room before Monday Night Raw each week to interview guests.

According to Anderson, “We looked at them and said, ‘F*** that!’ If you want us you have to come to the hotel with some wine and beer, and they agreed. Then they told us the money they wanted us to do it for it, and we were like, ‘Nope, we are out.’ Podcasting ain’t that fun.”

Both Gallows and Anderson were released by WWE earlier this year. WWE claimed the cuts were due to the coronavirus pandemic and its impact on business. They would eventually sign with Impact Wrestling.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlcq0NMSeCE

Matt Cardona Responds To WWE’s Request For Wrestling Memorabilia

Steve Russell
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WWE has put out an official announcement asking fans with unique collections of “prized wrestling possessions” to get in contact. It didn’t take long for former WWE Superstar, and memorabilia collector, Matt Cardona to respond.

The official @WWEUniverse account shared the message, informing fans that WWE is on a “quest to find lost, but not forgotten wrestling memorabilia!”

It urged the WWE Universe to “unearth” their collections and contact them with a photo. It also requested information about the collection itself and their memorabilia. According to WWE, “the rarer the treasure, the better the story!”

At the time of writing, there is no indication of what these collections may be used for. With the WWE Network continually looking to create new content, there is a chance the collections could be featured on a new documentary series.

However, it’s worth noting that WWE and A&E are working on a series entitled “The Quest for Lost WWE Treasures.” This series will feature Triple H and Stephanie McMahon as they go on the “ultimate hunt” to find rare, iconic, lost WWE memorabilia. The pair will be joined by collectors and a range of WWE Superstars and Legends on their journey across the United States.

Matt Cardona Responds To Memorabilia Request

Former WWE Superstar Matt Cardona soon responded to the call out. A toy collector of rare merchandise and memorabilia, Cardona hosts The Major Wrestling Figure Podcast alongside co-host Brian Myers. The two discuss wrestling figures and often share videos of themselves hunting for elusive wrestling collectibles.

His one-word answer was succinct and to the point given his release and obvious passion for toys: “Lol”.

Cardona was cut from WWE along with Myers earlier this year. WWE cited budget cuts due to the coronavirus pandemic’s impact on business. He recently appeared in All Elite Wrestling, but has since fulfilled his limited-date agreement.

Roman Reigns Called Out By Goldberg, WrestleMania Plans

Steve Russell
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Rumors abound that WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns will be clashing with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson at next year’s WrestleMania 37. However, this matchup may only take place if The Rock’s hectic Hollywood schedule allows for it. WWE is already planning for a WrestleMania main event that does not involve The Rock.

Daniel Bryan, Goldberg and Big E have been discussed as a potential opponent for Reigns, as first reported by WrestleTalk. For fans hoping that Goldberg is a long-shot possibility, think again.

Roman Reigns: You’re Next!

The 53-year-old legend appeared on WWE’s digital show The Bump on Wednesday. He called out the Universal Champion and declared, “So Roman, it’s coming, and I’m coming for you … Roman Reigns: You’re next!”

Goldberg’s WWE contract runs through 2022 and calls for two matches per year. Reigns and Goldberg were set to clash at WrestleMania this past April, but Reigns pulled out at the last minute due to Covid-19 concerns.

The Rock’s Schedule

The Rock’s busy movie schedule is the primary factor standing in the way of a showdown with Roman Reigns at WrestleMania. Additionally, insurance issues amidst the coronavirus pandemic further complicate the chances of having The Rock return to wrestling on the “Grandest Stage of them All.”

A match between Reigns and The Rock would likely be predicated on Reigns’ current ‘Head of the Table’ storyline. Reigns has assumed the role of “Tribal Chief.” It’s a position The Rock may take issue with if a match takes place.

Roman Reigns faced off against Drew McIntyre in a Champion vs. Champion match up at Survivor Series. Reigns would win the bout via technical submission after interference from Jey Uso. This contentious victory leaves a thread that WWE could revisit if plans to feature The Rock fall through.

Sasha Banks Talks Bayley Feud, Jokes About WWE Creative

Anutosh Bajpai
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WWE has a habit of changing creative direction for ongoing storylines and nixing long-standing plans in favour of a new idea and Sasha Banks is having fun with this habit of the company officials.

The Boss recently talked to Charlotte Wilder of Fox Sports. In the interview titled The Year of Sasha Banks As Told By The Boss, the SmackDown women’s champion reflected on the incredible year she has had.

During the interview, Banks also talked about her feud with Baylay. When asked if there is possibility of her reuniting with her friend after their fall out earlier this year, the SmackDown star replied by saying that anything is possible in WWE:

“Knowing WWE, absolutely, it is so crazy here. Girl, do you not know what I do for a living? Of course, anything is possible here. We will be best friends, probably by tomorrow. This is WWE. They’ll probably make us get married. Who knows? Maybe next year. It’s WWE.”

While Sasha Banks seem to be having fun with WWE’s contradictory booking decisions, some recent developments suggest that not everything is right between her and the company.

WWE has decided not to promote her appearance in Disney’s The Mandalorian web series. The current champion also recently changed her name on social media, leading to many speculations about her relationship with the company.

Kenny Omega Appears On Impact Wrestling, Promises Big Announcement

Anutosh Bajpai
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After the controversial finish to the AEW World Championship match between Kenny Omega and Jon Moxley during last week’s episode of Dynamite, Don Callis had announced that the new AEW champion will make an appearance on this week’s episode of Impact Wrestling to explain things.

The new champion then made an appearance on the show alongside Callis where he set down with Josh Mathews and the two opened up about the events of this past Wednesday night.

The interview began with Mathews asking how long the AEW and Impact alliance has been in work, to which Callis replied that it all began when he met Kenny at the age of 10. From there Callis made it his mission to be in Omega’s corner and so the idea has been in works for nearly 27 years.

Omega Explains His Actions

Josh Mathews then moved the conversation towards the AEW title match. Josh asked the former NJPW star why he decided to use a microphone as a cheap shot to gain victory over Moxley, despite saying that he wouldn’t do so during their gentlemen’s agreement.

Replying to it, the new champion explained that Moxley shouldn’t have hit Don Callis saying “When you involve family, when you lay your hands on the invisible hand – what do you expect me to do?”

Later in the interview, Kenny Omega declared that collecting world championships is his new hobby and he wants to face other world champions from different promotions, including Impact.

The duo concluded the interview by claiming that they have a big announcement to make at this week’s episode of Dynamite on Wednesday. You can check out Kenny Omega’s Impact Wrestling appearance in the video below:

https://twitter.com/KennyOmegamanX/status/1336515978281283586?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Kenny Omega’s declaration that he wants to face other world champions is very interesting. we will have to see what other crossovers it leads to in the coming times and if it means that AEW world title will be defended at other promotions.

WWE RAW Viewership & Key Demo Slightly Down Again (12/7)

Andrew Ravens
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Monday’s edition of WWE RAW averaged 1.736 million viewers with a 0.52 rating in the Adults 18-49 demographic. This was down from last week in total viewers, which did 1.741 million viewers and the 0.53 demo rating. 

WWE went up against an NFL game that aired on ESPN, which was between the 49ers and Bills that had 7.763 million viewers. 

To compare, just one year ago, RAW averaged 2.130 million viewers. Next week’s show should be up as it will serve as the go-home show for the TLC PPV. 

Here’s the hourly viewership breakdown for Raw, courtesy of Showbuzzdaily.com:

  • Hour 1: 1.852 million, 0.55 in the 18-49 Demo
  • Hour 2: 1.775 million, 0.52 in the 18-49 Demo
  • Hour 3: 1.583 million, 0.47 in the 18-49 Demo

SmackDown Viewership

Friday’s SmackDown averaged 2.130 million viewers on FOX. This is down from the 2.141 that the show did for the previous week on FOX.

The overnight rating was 2.029 million viewers, which was down from 1.987 a week ago. The first hour did 2.053 million viewers while hour two did 2.016 million viewers. This was up from a week ago with hour one doing 2.016 and hour two doing 1.957. 

SmackDown pulled in a 0.60 rating in the 18-49 demos, the same from 0.60 rating as last week’s show.

Jaxson Ryker Returns To WWE On Main Event

Sting Expected To Wrestle In AEW, Will Have Creative Input

Chris Stephens
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After Sting’s AEW Dynamite debut last week, many fans likely did not assume the 61-year-old would become an active member of the roster. According to Justin Barrasso of SI.com, Sting is expected to wrestle for the promotion.

“Sports Illustrated has learned the relationship between Sting and AEW president Tony Khan will be collaborative, which was certainly not the case in WWE with McMahon,” Barrasso wrote. “Even with his advanced age, there are plans for Sting to eventually enter the ring in AEW,” he continued.

‘A Motivated Steve Borden Can Be A Powerful Addition to AEW”

Lengthy singles matches are probably not the right vehicle for Sting at this stage in his career. However, he could be used strategically teaming with other AEW wrestlers and even in cinematic matches.

Sting’s most recent match took place five years ago. The last time he was in the ring, Sting was injured during a match with Seth Rollins at Night of Champions 2015. He wrestled 4 matches for WWE that year, including his loss to Triple H at WrestleMania 31. Last week’s AEW Dynamite was Sting’s first appearance on TNT since wrestling Ric Flair on the final episode of WCW Nitro back in 2001.

Sting speaks to Tony Schiavone Wednesday night in a reunion of sorts for the longtime colleagues.

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Update On Joey Ryan’s Lawsuit Against Impact Wrestling

Chris Stephens
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Joey Ryan was released by Impact Wrestling following numerous allegations against him as part of the #SpeakingOut movement earlier this year. Ryan filed suit against Impact in late-September and is reportedly seeking $10 million.

According to a report from PW Insider, Impact would request an additional 30 days time to respond to the lawsuit that Ryan’s team filed on September 24th. They then missed that deadline and Ryan’s team filed to have a judgment made in their favor as a result on November 27th. Impact then responded to the lawsuit in a filing on December 4th.

In their response to the lawsuit, Impact is stating that they only made a public comment about Ryan’s release so that fans would not expect to see him on their shows. There is also a dispute between the two parties over Ryan’s Impact contract and the wording around what he could be fired for and what process would have had to be followed. Impact’s response states that they believe they did not breach their contract with Ryan.

Ryan’s legal team is seeking $10 million from Anthem Sport and Entertainment, Impact’s parent company.

Ryan, along with Dave Crist, was fired from Impact Wrestling this June. The company announced at the same time that Michael Elgin would not longer be appearing on its programming.

Should AEW Sign Brock Lesnar? “Everybody Has Their Damn Price”

Michael Reichlin
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Brock Lesnar is a free agent. The 43-year-old megastar could retire comfortably after lucrative runs with WWE and the UFC. He also remains one of the biggest box office attractions on earth. All Elite Wrestling (AEW) could garner tremendous attention by signing him. WWE Hall of Famer Gerald Brisco thinks Lesnar would entertain the right offer.

Brisco recently spoke with Nick Hausman of Wrestling Inc about Lesnar’s future. The man who recruited Lesnar to WWE twenty years ago says you can ‘never say never’ in the pro wrestling business.

“If the money is right, and I believe this with all my soul that Brock Lesnar would not do it unless he was offered one of those .. as Ted DiBiase said, ‘Everybody has their damn price.'”

Brisco says that AEW would have to offer Brock Lesnar an ‘ungodly’ amount of money to sign him. Even then, he think Lesnar would approach Vince McMahon with the opportunity to match such an offer.

“You talk about frugal,” Brisco said of Lesnar. “He is one of the most frugal guys there is on the face of the Earth. Did he save us money? Yes, every damn penny of it, but I think it would have to be an extreme circumstance, and I think he would pick up the phone and call Vince about the amount of money that he got offered and see if Vince is going to go to do anything. And honestly, I think Vince would do something.”

WarnerMedia and the billionaire Khan family have the financial resources to make Brock Lesnar an offer that would qualify as an “extreme circumstance.” It remains to be seen if they view the cost of acquiring Lesnar to be worthwhile.

Gerald Brisco hosts the “Mailbag with Gerald Brisco” podcast at AdFreeShows.com.

More News on Brock Lesnar’s Free Agency

Watch Gerald Brisco’s interview with Nick Hausman for Wrestling Inc:

Tony Khan Appearance Rumored For Tonight’s Impact Wrestling

Chris Stephens
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AEW World Champion Kenny Omega and Don Callis will appear on tonight’s episode Impact Wrestling TV. According to a HeelByNature, AEW President Tony Khan is also scheduled to make a cameo on the broadcast.

Khan and AEW broadcaster Tony Schiavone are expected to appear on the show in a “paid advertisement.” This sounds similar in format to when the NWO would run promo spots during WCW programming.

Longtime fans remember the black and white segments that began with a voiceover stating, “The following announcement has been paid for by the New World Order.”

Impact Wrestling Preview

In addition to the Kenny Omega & AEW involvement, the following matches are announced for tonight’s Impact Wrestling:

  • Cody Deaner vs Eric Young
  • Brian Myers vs TJP
  • Josh Alexander vs Chris Sabin
  • Knockouts Tag Team Title Tournament (1st Round)
    Taya Valkyrie & Rosemary vs Deonna Purrazzo & Kimber Lee

If you don’t have access to AXS TV, you can watch for free at the Impact Wrestling Twitch Channel starting at 8PM (Eastern). Melissa Santos hosts during commercial breaks. Note that a replay of the show is not available on Twitch after it has aired, however.

AEW Dynamite Preview

AEW has announced the following matches for tomorrow night’s show:

  • Dynamite Diamond Ring Match
    Maxwell Jacob Friedman vs Orange Cassidy
  • The Young Bucks vs The Hybrid2
  • FTR vs The Varsity Blondes
  • Lance Archer and The Lucha Bros. vs. Eddie Kingston, The Butcher & The Blade
  • Dustin Rhodes vs 10
  • Abadon vs TBA

Additionally, Sting will appear in a speaking segment and the Inner Circle will decide if they should disband.

Mark Henry Talks AEW and IMPACT Wrestling Partnership

Jake Skudder
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WWE Hall of Famer and co-host of SiriusXM’s Busted Open Radio Mark Henry recently discussed the working partnership between IMPACT Wrestling and AEW. Henry would say that he is a fan of the two brands working together.

“I do think it will work” Mark Henry began on Busted Open Radio. “I think that is something that for a long, long time? Fans have wanted. They’ve wanted to see fantasy booking. They wanted to see who was the best from WWE versus the best at WCW, and they got that. Look how successful that ended up being!”

Mark Henry on WWE ‘Invasion’

Henry would then address a rumor that was originally being discussed amongst the likes the of Vince Russo. “Just a few months ago there was a rumor, and it was just a rumor, because if it had any legs? It would have happened. An invasion from WWE to AEW, and I was like, ‘oh, man. That would be cool.'”

It seemed odd for Henry to address this rumor as it appeared to be fairly baseless from the get go.

“AEW made [the partnership], they made it a reality with IMPACT” Mark Henry continued. “There’s some good, really outstanding talent on Tuesday nights, so I’m looking forward to seeing how that’s gonna happen.”

Mark Henry would finish by mentioning how the relationship with NWA has helped AEW. Specifically, with the National Wrestling Alliance allowing the likes of Thunder Rosa to appear on All Elite programming and PPV. “I mean you see Thunder Rosa is coming in and wrestling the women at AEW, and she’s adding a lot to their women’s division. So it’s good relationship for both and it’s good for every company involved.”

AEW Champion Kenny Omega will be appearing on IMPACT this week. The newly crowned Champion took the belt last week with help from IMPACT’s Don Callis.

Will you be watching IMPACT this week? Let us know in the comments

Impact Wrestling Preview: Kenny Omega & Don Callis To ‘Shock The World’ Again

Michael Reichlin
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History will be made tonight on Impact Wrestling.

New AEW World Champion Kenny Omega will appear to address the events that transpired at the conclusion of last week’s AEW Dynamite. Omega will be joined by Don Callis, who promises to “shock the world” once again.

https://youtu.be/dC1l9F29I54

In addition to Kenny Omega and Don Callis, Impact will feature:

  • Josh Alexander of The North vs. Chris Sabin of the Motor City Machine Guns
  • Eric Young vs. Cody Deaner
  • Brian Myers vs. TJP

Impact Wrestling airs tonight at 8pm EST on AXS TV & Twitch.

Tony Khan Appearance Rumored For Tonight’s Impact Wrestling

CM Punk: WWE Corporate Boot Lickers Will Prevent Unionization

Michael Reichlin
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Former WWE Superstar CM Punk was Renee Paquette’s guest on the latest episode of the Oral Sessions podcast. During their discussion, they spoke about the recent rumblings of pro wrestlers forming a union.

Punk says MMA fighters and pro wrestlers need to unionize, but it will never happen. “No, and just because there’s no such thing as the boys. It’s a trope ‘Oh, we’re on the road and these people are my family.’ Once you’re out of the bubble, you don’t hear from anybody anymore. Those people don’t pay your bills.”

Despite people like Zelina Vega making headlines about pro wrestlers unionizing, those efforts will be sabotaged by a handful of corporate ‘boot lickers’ who will sell them out to advance themselves.

“There’s always going to be a handful of people that will undercut everyone else just to get ahead a little bit,” he said. “And there seems to be a lot of people that not only are by nature boot lickers, but they just love the taste. You’re supposed to lick the boot, you’re not supposed to eat the entire thing!”

They discussed WWE shutting down wrestlers’ Twitch accounts and other ‘side hustles.’ Punk said it’s interesting how Zelina Vega can’t stream her playing of video games, but Xavier Woods can take a job hosting with G4.

Both spoke about their experience of WWE playing favorites with which talent is allowed to take outside projects. Both of them have heard stories of people telling them they were hand picked for certain gigs, only to have WWE give it to someone else or squash it entirely. Renee gave examples of a WWE cooking show, which she was perfect for. They made Bo Dallas the host. She asked WWE if she could host a podcast and they rejected her request.

Renee Paquette’s Oral Sessions podcast is available at Spotify, iTunes, Audio Boom and other services. Video of CM Punk’s appearance can be viewed here:

Mark Henry Names Company He Thinks WWE Should Work With

Jake Skudder
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WWE Hall of Famer and co-host of SiriusXM’s Busted Open Radio Mark Henry recently discussed the working partnership between IMPACT Wrestling and AEW. With those two names working together for the time being, Henry would discuss WWE and the potential for them to work with outside brands.

Triple H recently stated that WWE are “open for business” is it is the “right opportunity,” saying that there’s an incorrect perception that WWE won’t work with outside companies. WWE seemingly has working relationships with British promotions PROGRESS, ICW, Irish promotion OTT and Pro Wrestling NOAH in Japan.

Mark Henry on WWE Partnerships

“The right opportunity” Mark Henry began on Busted Open Radio, discussing what Triple H revealed. “Not every opportunity. He didn’t say ‘we’re gonna jump in the bed with anybody and everybody.’ Because if you sleep with dogs? You’re gonna get fleas.”

Henry would then reveal the company he believes WWE should be working with. “I think that the biggest one would be MLW, because you got family and lineage already. The Von Erichs, you’ve got Brian Pillman, Jr, although I have seen him at AEW. So, the guys or girls ‘moving’ around right now? They are allowed to [within MLW], so they are, they got to go where they can make money.”

Mark Henry would finish by saying that Jacob Fatu is also a name he wants to see in WWE. With the ongoing Samoan Family storyline with Roman Reigns and Jey Uso, Henry believes that Fatu would be a major asset for WWE as part of that feud.

Do you agree with Mark Henry? Who do you think WWE should work with, if anyone? Let us know in the comments

CM Punk On What He Misses About Wrestling, WWE Backstage & More

Michael Reichlin
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CM Punk is Renee Paquette’s guest this week on the Oral Sessions podcast. The longtime friends discussed the current state of pro wrestling, what he misses most about the business, paving the way for guys like Daniel Bryan and much more.

They jokingly questioned if Oral Sessions is a wrestling podcast. Punk said he hasn’t wrestled in 7 years and he’s still a wrestler. “I’m Phil, the wrestler” he said. He doesn’t resent that aspect of his past.

What does he think of the state of wrestling and how it’s changed since he left? Punk began, “The more they change, the more they stay the same.” His ego is not as big as some people say it is, but he does feel that if not for him, a lot of top WWE stars would not have the jobs they do. Wrestlers like Daniel Bryan, Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn, he paved the way for that and they filled the vacuum created when he left WWE.

They spoke about Punk’s role in the formation of The Shield. A writer pitched that CM Punk have Big Show and Daniel Bryan as his backup. He said it would be better to bring in some “new blood” from developmental.

What does CM Punk miss the most?

What does he miss the most about pro wrestling? He doesn’t think about the live crowds or the adrenaline rush you get from performing. He misses the people, the friendly faces. Unfortunately, when you are outside the bubble, you rarely talk to people inside the bubble.

They discussed WWE Backstage and Punk joked, “You got me to come back to this shit show.” Renee noted how Punk worked for Fox on that project, not WWE. They were so excited to have creative freedom at the beginning, but it did not take long for WWE to end that. It was also a bummer when the show was shut down.

Renee said everyone is dying for CM Punk to get back in the ring. She mentioned how WWE fans still chant “CM Punk” to this day. We are not hearing those right now, since WWE is running shows in the ThunderDome and controls the crowd chants.

Regarding a lack of “CM Punk” chants in the ThunderDome, Punk joked, “They should pump those in if they wanted to make the shows realistic. If they were really interested in giving the fans a true WWE experience, give the Universe what they want. Pipe in the CM Punk chants!”

His MMA Career

Punk spoke about his brief career as a professional MMA fighter. He would have preferred to go the traditional route by starting off as an amateur and building up to the big stage. Unfortunately, it’s the fight “business” and reality took him down a different path. He was told, “Let’s do this before you get too old.” As it turns out, he was too old.

“I’ve been pretty fortunate,” said Punk. “I’ve been offered some pretty cool shit to do in my life. My thing is, I never say no to an exciting opportunity. Whether it’s movies, or fighting, wrestling, whatever. If the opportunity is there and makes sense, you have to at least consider it.”

Renee asked CM Punk to compare Vince McMahon and UFC boss Dana White. Punk said they’re both “right wing weirdos” and Dana is the more generous of the two. Some people criticize UFC fighter pay, but many fighters are getting big bonuses and extra money that the public does not hear about.

Renee Paquette’s Oral Sessions podcast is available at Spotify, iTunes, Audio Boom and other services. Listen to the CM Punk episode here:

Reason Alexa Bliss Missed This Week’s Raw Revealed

Anutosh Bajpai
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Alexa Bliss apparently missed this week’s episode of Raw because she is in Los Angeles where Bliss and several other WWE superstars are working on the upcoming reboot of Punky Brewster.

WWE Hall Of Famer and backstage producer D-Von Dudley recently posted a video on Cameo where he confirmed that he has been in LA to help produce the reboot of the sitcom.

Interestingly, the WWE legend noted that both Bliss and Charlotte Flair, who has been out of action since June this year, are with him. You can check out the video he posted below:

https://twitter.com/xBlackStarPunkx/status/1335734940445659136?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Punky Brewster is a popular sitcom of American TV from the 80s. The show’s story centers around a young girl named Penelope “Punky” Brewster who is raised by a foster parent.

A ten episode revival of the show was announced back in the summer of 2019 and the reboot is scheduled to air on NBC Universal’s Peacock network.

Alexa Bliss appeared on last week’s episode of Raw where she was part of a weird segment between Randy Orton and Bray Wyatt which was a product of Vince McMahon’s vision.

It’s unknown if Bliss will be taking an extended break from the company for the show or if she will be back on WWE programming soon. Stay tuned for updates.

Jim Ross Talks Potential Roman Reigns vs. The Rock Match

Anutosh Bajpai
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0

There has been discussion about a potential match between Roman Reigns and The Rock and legendary commentator Jim Ross also talked about it recently.

The current AEW star talked about a number of things during the latest episode of his Grilling JR Podcast including the career of Umaga and more.

Discussing a potential match between the two cousins, Ross said that people are coveting a Rock vs. Roman Reigns match but he is not sure it will happen:

“People are coveting a Rock vs. Roman Reigns match somewhere down the road. I don’t know if it will ever happen, there’s a chance, but it’s all up to The Rock. It isn’t up to anybody else, it’s up to him.” said Jim Ross, “His schedule is so crazy, he can’t afford to get hurt because he’s going to lose millions of dollars if he can’t work. Not that he’ll go broke, but nonetheless, he’s special.”

Roman Reigns Discusses The Importance Of Possibly Facing The Rock

The veteran announcer also discussed how the Samoan dynasty thing isn’t a gimmick but a real thing and how he has been connected to the family of The Great One since the early 80s.

He recalled his first introduction to the team of Afa and Sika collectively known as The Wild Samoans during his time with Mid South Wrestling and discussed recruiting The Rock for WWE.

The Rock Says He’d Be Honored To Put Roman Reigns Over At WrestleMania

You can listen to the Grilling JR podcast at Westwood One and AdFreeShows.com. The latest episode can be heard in the player embedded below:

Shaq Announced For AEW Dynamite This Wednesday

Anutosh Bajpai
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0

Shaq is All Elite. All Elite Wrestling has announced that basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal will be appearing on this week’s episode of Dynamite on TNT.

The NBA Hall of Famer will be interviewed by Tony Schiavone. AEW newcomer Jade Cargill dropped Shaq’s name on Dynamite last month when confronting Cody Rhodes. She has since attacked Brandi Rhodes, leading to speculation that we will see a mixed tag match pitting Shaq & Cargill vs. Cody & Brandi Rhoes.

This isn’t the first time Shaq is crossing over to the world of professional wrestling and he has made several WWE appearances in the past.

At one point he was even scheduled for a match against WWE’s resident giant Big Show at the WrestleMania 33 event but those plans were nixed later on.

Dynamite Preview (12/9)

This isn’t the only big segment announced for this week’s episode of Dynamite and the company has announced a number of interesting matches and segments for the show as well.

The segments announced for the show include things like Sting, who made his surprise debut for the promotion last week, breaking his silence for the first time since his arrival.

The matches announced for the show includes bouts such as The Young Bucks defending their AEW tag team titles against TH2, MJF putting his Diamond Ring on the line in a bout against Orange Cassidy and more.

Shaq’s addition to this line up makes this show even bigger and it would be interesting to see if the legendary basketball player ends up getting involved in any angle to keep him around for longer.

WWE RAW Results (12/7): The Fiend Attacks Randy Orton, Drew McIntyre & Sheamus

Robert Lentini
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WWE RAW aired live from the ThunderDome inside the Amway Center. Randy Orton battled Bray Wyatt in the main event.

RAW Results (12/7)

  1. Asuka def. Shayna Baszler
  2. Ricochet & Dana Brooke def. RETRIBUTION
  3. Kofi Kingston def. Shelton Benjamin
  4. Cedric Alexander def. Kofi Kingston
  5. The Miz, John Morrison, AJ Styles def. Drew McIntyre & Sheamus in a Handicap match
  6. Lashley def. Jeff Hardy via submission
  7. Randy Orton vs. Bray Wyatt ended in a no contest

Here are the takeaways from this week’s show:

Orton Challenged Wyatt

Randy Orton kicked off the show and said that an ordinary man would tremble at the thought of facing The Fiend but he is not an ordinary man. Orton added that he doesn’t have to wear a mask like The Fiend to let out his darkness. Randy stated that when his time comes he is going to stare the devil in the eyes and let him know that the most evil son of a bitch on earth has come home.

Wyatt interrupted from the Firefly Fun House and said that Alexa would be here too but Orton was too mean to her last week. Orton told Wyatt he wasn’t interested in games and Wyatt turned into a game show host. The puppets were playing for a crucifix and the corpse of Friendship Frog. The question was how should Orton be punished at TLC and Ramblin Rabbit suggested that The Fiend should sit down with Orton and calmly discuss his feelings.

Bray said none of the guesses were correct and took off his game show host wig. Wyatt said that “he” always has the right answer as images of The Fiend were shown. Orton stated that he wanted a match against Bray Wyatt tonight and then he will face The Fiend at TLC. Wyatt accepted the challenge to end the segment.

Asuka def. Shayna Baszler

RAW Women’s Champion Asuka battled Shayna Baszler in the first match of the night. Lana and Nia Jax were ringside for the match. Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler will defend their Women’s Tag Team Championships against Asuka and Lana at WWE TLC.

Asuka applied an Ankle Lock early but Baszler countered into a Heel Hook in the middle of ring. Asuka countered into a Knee Bar but Shayna broke free and connected with a Suplex. Asuka rolled out of the ring to regroup but a brawl broke out. Nia sent Lana over the steel steps and Shayna bounced Asuka’s face off the announce table as RAW went to a commercial break.

When RAW returned, Baszler was in control and went to work on Asuka’s arm. Asuka battled back and connected with a Codebreaker. Asuka went for the Hip Attack but Shayna got her knees up. Baszler went for the Kirifuda Clutch but Asuka escaped as Nia Jax shoved Lana into the ring post. Lana shoved Nia into the steel steps and followed it up with a Hurricanrana that sent Jax into the announce table. Asuka capitalized on the distraction and rolled up Shayna for the pinfall victory. It was later announced that Nia Jax will face Lana next week on RAW.

RETRIBUTION Lost Again

Slapjack & Reckoning faced Ricochet & Dana Brooke. Mustafa Ali was ringside for the match. Dana Brooke and Reckoning started off the match by trading punches in the middle of the ring. Ricochet and Slapjack tagged in and Ricochet connected with a flip outside the ring. Mustafa Ali distracted Ricochet and Slapjack capitalized with a Falcon Arrow for a two count.

Dana and Reckoning tagged back in and Reckoning leveled Dana with a Dropkick. Mustafa Ali shouted at Reckoning and she got distracted. Dana connected with a slam for the pinfall victory. After the match, Mustafa Ali scolded Reckoning and Slapjack for embarrassing him again.

McIntyre & Sheamus Interrupted Miz TV

AJ Styles was a guest on Miz TV tonight. Miz said that they couldn’t find a chair big enough for AJ’s associate and then turned his attention to Styles’ WWE Championship TLC match against Drew McIntyre at the PPV. AJ noted that this will be the first time he has ever faced Drew McIntyre and vowed to wrap a steel chair around McIntyre’s back until it breaks.

Styles added that he was going to put McIntyre through so many tables that he will be coughing up splinters for months. Styles claimed he was going to knock McIntyre out and capture the WWE Championship. The Miz noted that the three of them have a chance to demolish McIntyre and Sheamus later tonight in a Handicap match.

Morrison and Miz poked fun at Drew McIntyre’s accent for a bit until Sheamus interrupted. Sheamus said Miz & Morrison nailed the accents but he is sick of people saying that he is going to betray Drew McIntyre. Sheamus added that if he heard them using those accents in a pub he would nail their faces to the bar.

McIntyre then made his way to the ring in a kilt. Drew joked that Miz and Morrison keep coming back for more no matter how many times they knock them down. McIntyre claimed people in the back were claiming that Miz had no balls and Drew joked that he took Morrison when he made him a sidekick bitch. A brawl broke out and Miz and Morrison retreated. McIntyre launched Miz’s MITB briefcase all the way to the entrance ramp and it broke a panel on the jumbotron.

Cedric Alexander def. Kofi Kingston

Kofi Kingston battled Shelton Benjamin tonight. Xavier Woods, MVP, and Cedric Alexander were ringside for the match. Shelton dominated the beginning of the match and leveled Kofi with a boot to the face for a two count. Benjamin followed it up with a Body Slam and sent Kingston to the corner.

Kingston connected with a Double Stomp and then a couple Clotheslines. Kofi caught Shelton with a Dropkick and went for the SOS but Benjamin countered into a Powerbomb for a two count. Benjamin applied an Ankle Lock in the center of the ring but Kingston fought his way to the bottom rope to break the hold. Kofi then hit Trouble in Paradise for the pinfall victory. After the match, Cedric Alexander challenged Kingston and Kofi accepted.

Cedric went after Kofi’s injured leg and applied a Heel Hook. Kofi escaped and rolled up Cedric for a near fall. Kingston hit a terrible looking SOS for another two count. Alexander booted Kingston in the knee and connected with a Brainbuster for a two count. Kingston leaped off the top rope but tweaked his leg on the landing. Cedric took advantage and hit the Lumbar Check for the pinfall victory.

Sheamus Accidentally Brogue Kicked McIntyre

Sheamus & WWE Champion Drew McIntyre faced The Miz, John Morrison, and AJ Styles in a Handicap match. McIntyre launched Morrison to the corner and dared AJ Styles to tag in. AJ declined and McIntyre responded with the Glasgow Kiss to Morrison. Sheamus tagged in and applied a Headlock to Morrison.

Morrison escaped and knocked Sheamus out of the ring. Sheamus charged at Miz but he ducked and he almost hit McIntyre. Sheamus and McIntyre sent Morrison flying over the announce table as RAW went to a commercial break.

Sheamus hit Miz with a Clothesline and then a Knee Drop for a two count. McIntyre tagged in and slammed Miz to the canvas. The WWE Champion continued to mock AJ Styles for refusing to tag in. Styles finally tagged in and beat McIntyre down in the corner.

Morrison tagged in and continued to beat McIntyre down. Drew battled out of the corner and tagged in the Celtic Warrior. Sheamus booted Miz in the midsection and threw him to the apron. Sheamus clubbed away at Miz’s chest as Morrison and Styles watched on.

Sheamus planted Miz with a rolling Senton but got poked in the eye by Miz while the referee was distracted. Miz hit Sheamus with a chop block to the knee and Morrison followed it up with a cheap kick to the face while Sheamus was against the ropes. Styles tagged in and stomped on Sheamus before lighting him up with some chops to the chest.

AJ locked in the Calf Crusher in the middle of the ring but McIntyre broke it up. AJ set up for the Styles Clash but Sheamus countered into White Noise. McIntyre and Morrison then tagged in and Drew connected with a couple Clotheslines. McIntyre launched Miz and Morrison across the ring at the same time and then hopped right up to his feet.

McIntyre slammed Morrison to the canvas and geared up in the corner. The Miz dragged Morrison out of the ring and Styles booted McIntyre in the back of the head. Sheamus tagged himself in and planted Styles with a Backbreaker. Sheamus hit Miz with the Brogue Kick and tried to hit Morrison with one but he ducked. Sheamus accidentally hit McIntyre with a Brogue Kick and then turned around into a Phenomenal Forearm. Styles then covered Sheamus for the win.

McIntyre and Sheamus then beat the hell out each other backstage before Pat Buck broke it up. Sheamus and McIntyre then attacked Pat Buck and slammed him through a table. McIntyre and Sheamus then said they were going for a pint.

Lashley Tapped Out Jeff Hardy

Lashley squared off with Jeff Hardy tonight. Before the match, Riddle suggested he and Jeff team up and call themselves the “Hardy Bros”. MVP was ringside for the match. The United States Champion controlled the action early and beat Hardy down in the corner of the ring. Jeff battled back and connected with a Leg Drop. Hardy went for Twist of Fate but Lashley blocked it.

Jeff climbed to the top rope but MVP hopped on the apron for a distraction. Riddle rushed the ring and tripped up MVP as RAW went to a break. When RAW returned, Lashley was back in control and planted Jeff with a Suplex for a two count. Lashley locked in a Sleeper Hold but Hardy broke free with a Jawbreaker.

Hardy connected with a Clothesline and followed it up with an inverted Atomic Drop. Jeff hit a Dropkick and then a Splash for a two count. Jeff hit Whisper in the Wind and went for the cover but Lashley kicked out a two. Lashley planted Jeff with the Flatliner for another near fall. Jeff hit the Twist of Fate but Lashley got up and leveled Hardy with a Spear. Lashley then applied the Hurt Lock for the submission victory.

After the match, Lashley wouldn’t let go of the hold. Riddle tried to break it up but MVP held him back. Lashley then launched Hardy onto Riddle and celebrated his victory with MVP on the entrance ramp.

The Fiend Attacked Randy Orton

Randy Orton squared off against Bray Wyatt in the main event. Before the match, Ramblin Rabbit showed up at Orton’s locker room and said that Bray cannot wait for the match tonight.

Wyatt waved to the virtual crowd in the ThunderDome and blew Orton a kiss before entering the ring. Orton applied a Headlock but Wyatt escaped and leveled Randy with a shoulder tackle. Wyatt brought Orton out of the ring and slammed him on top of the announce table as RAW went to a break.

When RAW returned, Orton was in control and was stomping away on Wyatt in the corner. Bray was laughing while getting the hell beat out of him and Orton looked confused. Wyatt battled back and connected with a Crossbody and then a DDT for a two count.

Wyatt went for Sister Abigail but Orton countered into a Nckbreaker for a two count. Randy stomped on Wyatt’s knees and then slammed Wyatt on top of the announce table. Back in the ring, Orton blocked Sister Abigail again and poked Bray in the eye. Orton connected with the draping DDT and geared up for the RKO but the lights went out. Orton ignored it and hit the RKO and went for the cover but it got completely dark in the ThunderDome. When the lights came on, The Fiend was in the ring and locked in the Mandible Claw to end the show.

Opinion: I guess Wyatt turning into The Fiend in a matter of moments was an interesting way to end RAW. The rest of tonight’s show was completely forgettable. SmackDown has been a very good show as of late but RAW has a bunch of feuds that are difficult to get invested in as we head towards TLC a week from Sunday.

Latest On Eva Marie’s Status With WWE

Anutosh Bajpai
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The reports of Eva Marie possibly returning to WWE first came out in October and at the time it was said that she could be returning to the company within a few weeks.

However, we haven’t heard much about the female star since then and a couple of months have passed without either WWE or the star herself providing any confirmation of her return.

In an update, PWinsider is reporting that Eva Marie is listed as part of the WWE roster internally but the former NXT star has not been assigned to a brand.

The Total Divas star had undergone the required medical testing for her WWE return and the report reveals that she has been seen at the WWE Performance Center a number of times since September.

Eva Marie signed a development contract with WWE back in 2013 and she was promoted to the main roster after just 2 weeks of formal training.

She stayed with the promotion till 2017 and had a run in NXT in 2015-2016 as well but the female star never won any titles during her tenure with the company.

While the signs still point towards a WWE return for Marie, there doesn’t seem to be a locked timetable for it. So it wouldn’t be a surprise if the company holds off her comeback for some big occasion such as the upcoming Royal Rumble PPV.

Jaxson Ryker Returns To WWE On Main Event

Andrew Ravens
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Jaxson Ryker is back on WWE television, but just not on RAW or SmackDown. Instead, he appeared in the opening segment of this week’s episode of Main Event. 

The show was taped on Monday night before RAW went live. Those who appeared in the crowd for the taping noted that Ryker made an appearance as he was in a segment with Elias. 

R-Truth, who is the WWE 24/7 Champion, interrupted the two WWE stars. Thus, it appears that WWE has paired the two stars together. Keith Lee vs. Angel Garza was also taped for this week’s WWE Main Event. 

This marked his first appearance on WWE television since The Forgotten Sons were pulled from SmackDown back in late May. At the time, they were in the middle of a big push while contender for the SmackDown Tag Team Titles. 

Last week on SmackDown, Wesley Blake and Steve Cutler made their returns to WWE programming. They did so by aligning with Baron Corbin in order to help him score a win over Buddy Murphy.

Ryker found himself in hot water after pro-Trump comments he made on Twitter. There had been talk of WWE possibly releasing Ryker, but that may have changed. 

Backstage Update On The Status Of Jaxson Ryker

Pat McAfee Wears Neck Brace After WarGames Match, Teases WWE NXT Future

Andrew Ravens
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Pat McAfee is selling the damage he suffered while working the main event of Sunday’s WWE NXT TakeOver: WarGames event. 

The headliner saw The Undisputed Era (Adam Cole, Roderick Strong, Bobby Fish, Kyle O’Reilly) defeat McAfee, Pete Dunne and NXT Tag Team Champions Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch.

McAfee was sporting a neck brace on The Pat McAfee Show on Monday for what he called precautionary reasons. 

“Hell of a match, my guys and I ended up losing to the scumbags that are Undisputed ERA. And I’m not happy about it.”

McAfee noted that he was awaiting test results he had done earlier in the day regarding his neck. He joked that he felt like his body was broken this morning to the point where he couldn’t get out of bed, couldn’t walk or move much at all. 

“So, not an overreaction. This is my life now, okay? And although we did not get the W, I will let you know we did not go down without a fight. And the next time we get our hands on them, they’ll be the ones wearing the neck braces.”

As of this writing, there’s no word yet on when McAfee will be back on NXT TV. After his first pro wrestling match, the former NFL punter took several weeks off before returning. 

Undisputed Era Wins Men’s WarGames Match

Mauro Ranallo Addresses His Decision To Leave WWE

Andrew Ravens
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Mauro Ranallo parted ways with WWE for a second time earlier this year and now has opened up on it. 

Ranallo’s first run saw him as the lead announcer for SmackDown Live before he left the company only to return and be in that same role on WWE NXT brand. 

Ranallo did an interview with POST Wrestling where he opened up on his decision. 

“WWE is one of the most mentally grueling places — and that’s not necessarily a criticism by any means — there’s a reason Vince McMahon has built a multi-billion dollar empire. Is it perfect? Not by any means, but neither am I.”

Joining WWE was a dream come true because of his love of pro wrestling. He brought up how his childhood friend envisioned him working for the company and although his late friend didn’t get to see it, he did get a chance to join the company. 

Ranallo felt good chemistry with Jerry Lawler and Bryon Saxton on SmackDown, but WWE made changes. He can work with anyone, but he wasn’t a fan of having several people on the broadcast at the same time such as a four or eight-man booth. 

“I get it, but that’s not what I want as a commentator. I get the stressful situations, I get the changes on the fly and the system there, but for my mental health, even moving to NXT. When we were live, it was the best experience I could ask for, and that’s a testament to what Triple H and everyone down in NXT have done. I just felt, for my own mental health, even doing the show from home, it was to the point where I would have a panic attack in the morning of the recordings in the last few months.”

He continued, All respect, I didn’t like what was happening and who was involved. I didn’t like…all due to respect to all announcers, I believe in chemistry. Maybe I was the problem. On show day, I’m not a great guy to be around because I’m completely focused. I’m prepared and I expect everyone else to be the same. There’s another reason, I’m a play-by-play announcer, and I think I’m one of the best in business, I need to be left alone at times.”

He thanked WWE for everything, noting that his work there improved his standing in the world. It opened other doors for him, as well.

“It was like my life, it was filled with ups and downs and aberrations. Sometimes when a dream comes true, it doesn’t remain a dream, sometimes you’re not supposed to meet your heroes.”

Ranallo voiced his appreciation for the company and while he didn’t see eye to eye with Vince McMahon and vice-versa, he still respects him. NXT was Vince McMahon’s vision, and ultimately it became too much for him. 

Check out the full interview in the YouTube player embedded below. His comments about WWE begin around the 17-minute mark.

WWE ThunderDome Moving This Week, First Look Inside Tropicana Field

Michael Reichlin
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WWE’s ThunderDome is on the move. Tonight’s edition of WWE Raw will be the final show at the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida.

The ThunderDome, WWE’s state-of-the-art wrestling arena featuring virtual fans, then moves to St. Petersburg, FL. It will establish residency at Tropicana Field, home of Major League Baseball’s Tampa Bay Rays. Friday’s SmackDown will be the first show ThunderDome show from the new host venue.

Reporter Jon Alba has been leading the charge with news developments related to the ThunderDome. Alba has received a “first look” photo of the production setup underway inside Tropicana Field.

As seen below, the larger venue will make for an impressive backdrop for WWE programming over the next several months.

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The stadium is far larger than the Amway Center and accommodates well over 40,000 people for baseball games. No live fans will be permitted, however, as WWE has stated this will be a “closed set with only essential personnel in attendance.”

Jon Alba is a co-host of the popular Living the Gimmick podcast.

WWE Raw Preview: Orton Enters The Firefly Fun House, Hardy vs. Lashley & More

Michael Reichlin
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Tonight’s WWE Raw takes place from Orlando, Florida at the ThunderDome.

The following items have been confirmed for this week’s show:

  • Jeff Hardy will battle United States Champion Bobby Lashley in a non-title match. Hardy took a beating last week against Elias in the Symphony of Destruction match. He looks to overcome the Hurt Business leader and get back into the US title picture.
  • WWE Champion Drew McIntyre & Sheamus will team up in a 3-on-2 handicap match against AJ Styles, The Miz, & John Morrison.
  • Randy Orton has invited himself to the Firefly Fun House.

Check back later tonight for our weekly WWE Raw Results & Takeaways.

WWE has released this video looking at 2 things you “need to know” before Raw:

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