AEW star Eddie Kingston appeared on this week’s episode of AEW Unrestricted. The newly signed independent king discussed a number of topics during the podcast; including Santana & Ortiz, singles run aspirations and the concept of a Hardcore division in All Elite Wrestling.
Eddie Kingston on AEW Championship
“I want to be the World Champ” Eddie Kingston began on the podcast. “Here’s the thing, isn’t that the point? You’re in the sport to be the best right? You don’t hear UFC fighters saying, ‘oh yeah I just want to be on the prelims. Oh yeah, I just want to be on the main card.’ No, you want to be champion.”
Kingston elaborated further, saying “that’s what every pro wrestler should want to be, you know? The money is great [in AEW], that’s awesome. But being the World Champion? It’s much, much better. You could say I’m ‘working’ right now, but I’m shooting. I don’t care who it is. I don’t care if it’s Cody, Moxley, or MJF, I don’t care who’s champion.”
Eddie Kingston would also discuss the concept of a Hardcore division in AEW. Kingston is a self confessed massive fan of the style, specifically ECW. “No, hardcore matches should be [saved for] when it’s serious” Kingston stated.
“I mean when you do something too much? It just takes away from it being special. It’s like if we have a cage match every Dynamite show. Sooner or later it’s like ‘okay, it’s just another one.’ The hardcore matches, the lights out matches and all that stuff? It should be saved.”
Do you agree with Eddie Kingston on an AEW Hardcore division? Let us know in the comments
The National Wrestling Alliance returns to PPV tomorrow night. In conjunction with the United Wrestling Network, Prime Time Live will air on FITE TV and on traditional PPV. The full lineup for the show has been announced.
NWA/UWN Prime Time Live – September 15th, 2020 Lineup
NWA World Heavyweight Championship Nick Aldis (c) vs Mike Bennett
West Coast Pro Championship Alexander Hammerstone (c) vs EJ Sparks
Kamille vs Heather Monroe
UWN Television Championship Dan “the Man” Joseph (c) vs Levi Shapiro
Chris Dickinson vs Dicky Mayer
Will Allday vs Jordan Clearwater
The Tribe (Hawaiian Lion and The Navajo Warrior) vs The Wolf Zaddies (Bad Dude Tito and Che Cabrera)
In addition to the above matches, NWA Women’s Champion Thunder Rosa is also expected to be on the show.
“My goal here is simple: to provide the best contests possible with the greatest talent available, carrying on the great legacy of the National Wrestling Alliance as an independent governing body. And in that we hope to feature at least one championship match on every live broadcast,” said NWA Owner, Billy Corgan in a press release announcing the weekly PPV shows.
Chris Jericho’s band Fozzy recently performed at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota. In the late 1990s, however, Jericho performed with WCW at the event every year. The Hog Wild/Road Wild shows created a unique backdrop for the promotion’s PPVs.
Arn Anderson recently spent some time on the Arn Show talking about what it was like to perform on them. According to Double-A, the conditions on the shows were difficult.
“It was difficult, to be honest with you. We were all bound in trailers but these were not air-conditioned trailers for the most part. One or two were and you know the brass had those. So, you had outdoor facilities for the restrooms, which was for the guys and the girls.”
“The hotels in the area were sold-out way in advance so you had guys scattered around at different hotels and things of that nature. It was dirt floors backstage so everywhere you went you were tracking mud and dirt.”
Anderson also didn’t sound impressed at how the live audience reacted to the matches.
“It just felt like once you got in the ring and started your match, you weren’t going to get a true wrestling reaction. You got a bunch of bikers and they are going to cheer and boo what they want at an inopportune time if that’s what they want to do.”
It’s well known that AJ Styles left Raw to join the SmackDown roster because he was unhappy in the Red Brand but latest reports suggest that he is having problems competing on Friday nights as well.
Dave Meltzer mentioned on the latest episode of Wrestling Observer Radio that The Phenomenal One has to miss his son’s football games due to SmackDown’s schedule and he is not happy about it.
This wasn’t a problem when he originally moved to the Blue Brand as shows were being taped in advance back then but the introduction of WWE Thunderdome has changed things as the shows are airing live once again.
Meltzer also noted that since the WWE drafts are scheduled for October, Styles is likely to ask to be moved back again and he has the leverage for his request to be considered.
For those who don’t know, AJ Styles left Raw because of his issues with Paul Heyman who was running the show at the time. Heyman had apparently lied to the former World Champion about the firing of Gallows and Anderson.
Though Heyman was also removed from his position not long afterwards. He has since returned to SmackDown as the manager of Roman Reigns and this could be another reason for Styles to want to return to Raw during the upcoming drafts.
The WWE release of Authors Of Pain or AOP came as a surprise to many, especially because they were being pushed on Raw as part of Seth Rollins’ stable before being taken off TV due to Rezar’s injury.
Dave Meltzer provided some update on the situation in the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter and he revealed that Vince McMahon had already given up on the duo in 2019.
McMahon had lost hopes even before the team was paired with Rollins. It was the former Raw Executive Director Paul Heyman who saw potential in AOP and brought them back.
Heyman reportedly wanted to give the duo a major push when Rezar returned from injury but Paul himself was removed from the position at Raw before the former tag champions could return.
Rezar had recovered from the injury and he was ready to return a few weeks before his release. However, the company decided not to use the two and made the decision to let them go instead.
There is no word yet on what the two are planning for their future after getting released from WWE and it would be interesting to see if AOP remains a tag team or if they go on their separate ways.
AJ Styles returned to his twitch stream recently where the former World Champion answered questions from fans related to many topics such as his time in NJPW, his relationship with Kenny Omega and more.
Talking about his stint in the Bullet Club, the Phenomenal One claimed that he was never the leader of the group and he just happened to swap places with Finn Balor when The Prince was going out of NJPW and he was coming in.
A fan then asked Styles about the possibility of forming a bullet club-like faction in WWE and which stars he would like to have in his club if it happens. Replying to it, AJ took the names of Finn Balor and Adam Cole:
“Well certainly, Finn is one of those guys,” Styles said. “I’d have to throw Adam Cole in there as well. It’s hard to know which guys I’d put in there; that’s a tough question.
It’s not just what guys would get along,” said AJ Styles “it’s what guys you have stuff in common with. With Gallows and Anderson not there, that makes it really tough for me. I don’t know who else.”
The former World Champion also reiterated his comments about wanting to team with Finn Balor in WWE and form a tag team with the NXT Champion.
AJ Styles said that he hopes to get the opportunity to win the tag titles at some point before he retires. So he will be able to say that he has done what very few others have done – winning all the titles in WWE.
Jim Ross has seen a lot of major wrestling angles unfold over the decades and the legendary wrestling commentator recently revealed his thoughts on one such angle which has been creating buzz- Roman Reigns’ heel turn.
The AEW star talked about things like the disappointing performance of the Invasion angle after WWE bought WCW, the early days of Brock Lesnar and more during the latest episode of his Grilling JR Podcast.
Discussing Reigns’ recent heel turn and his pairing with Paul Heyman, Ross said that he likes the fit and he explained that the company now has a chance to get Roman over as a viable something:
“It seems like it’s a fit,” JR said. “At least now they have a fighting chance to get Roman over as a viable something. It’s not, ‘Is he a tweener? Is he a fan favourite? Is he a villain?’ We know pretty much what he’s going to be with Heyman.”
Roman Reigns returned to WWE programming after months of absence during the SummerSlam PPV and he attacked both Bray Wyatt and Braun Strowman during his comeback.
The former Shield member then cemented his heel turn by forming an alliance with Paul Heyman and Heyman has since helped Reigns recapture the Universal Championship.
Former US Champion Rusev made his AEW debut as Miro during the latest episode of Dynamite after getting his release from WWE earlier this year and Chris Jericho believes that the company will regret letting him go.
Y2J talked about Miro’s debut on his current promotion during his Saturday Night Special stream and revealed that they have been considering signing the former champion ever since he was released from his contract.
Jericho continued by claiming that he has always been a fan of Rusev and while he fell through the cracks in WWE, the company will regret releasing him:
“I’ve always been a fan of his. He’s another guy, who, for whatever reason, fell through the cracks there [in WWE] and they are going to regret letting him go,”
Chris Jericho also revealed that he helped write Rusev’s debut promo in AEW where the newest AEW star took some serious shots at his former employers:
“When he indirectly mentioned WWE, talking about the glass ceiling and brass ring, that was actually my line. He couldn’t believe he could say that on Live television. When he asked me, ‘can we actually say that?’ I was like, ‘yes, you can say whatever you want here [in AEW].'”
Rusev was released from WWE as part of their budget cuts in April earlier this year and after months of rumors, he finally made his AEW debut during last week’s episode of Dynamite.
Controversial former WWE/TNA/WCW writer Vince Russo recently commented on AEW and their in-ring style. Russo was hugely critical of All Elite Wrestling, saying that the brand has ‘sucked’ for the past year that they have been airing on TNT.
“Bro, I may have done my last AEW review show” Vince Russo began on his 8 Days a Week podcast. “It’s not that this show sucks. We’re almost going on a year, and the show has sucked for a year.”
Vince Russo on AEW stars
Vince Russo would elaborate further, saying “I’ve sat through a sucky piece of crap show for a year. I don’t know how I can sit there and watch a show where I know? Somebody is going to either be crippled? Maimed? Wind up in a wheelchair or dead.”
Russo would then refer to the high-risk elements of the All Elite promotion. Although he would not outright mention the recent Matt Hardy scare he certainly alluded to it. “I know that, honestly, with good conscience? I do not feel like I can watch this show anymore. I’m not interested in seeing somebody get killed on television. I’m not interested in seeing somebody get paralysed. And I’m not interested in seeing somebody crack his skull open. No one gives a sh*t about table spots anymore.”
The former WWE writer would finish by claiming that the stars of AEW have a ‘deathwish.’ “I am not interested in any of that. I don’t have a death wish. I don’t get off on that sh*t. That was never the reason why I became a fan of pro wrestling.”
Do you agree with Russo? Let us know in the comments
Former WWE on screen personality and NWA commentator Jim Cornette recently commented on Gerald Brisco being fired from WWE.
Brisco recently took to Twitter and announced that he was informed of the departure by Vince McMahon himself. Gerald Brisco, who has worked as a talent scout in recent years; said he will still be ‘around’ to work with talent if they need help.
Jim Cornette would mention the release on the Jim Cornette Experience podcast, and he was not happy with how WWE have dealt with the situation.
Jim Cornette on Gerald Brisco
“They have released Gerald Brisco, what the f*ck seriously?” Jim Cornette began on the show. “Gerald Brisco is in his 70s at this point. He has worked for that company for almost 40 years. If it wasn’t for Gerald Brisco and his brother Jack selling the stock in Georgia Championship Wrestling? Vince McMahon wouldn’t have got the Georgia TV.”
Cornette would elaborate on this point further, saying “he [McMahon] wouldn’t have got the million dollars from Jim Crockett for the Georgia TV. Which means he wouldn’t have been able to finance the first WrestleMania, etc etc.”
Jim Cornette would then list some of Brisco’s impressive accomplishments with WWE. “Gerald was one of the Stooges, they’ve made fun of him. He’s been a scout and he signed a bunch of talent. He was the one that was chasing Brock Lesnar and Shelton Benjamin. He’s scouted all the amateur wrestling meets and he’s tracked down talent. His record as an employee? It has been pretty much impeccable.”
“On Retainer”
Cornette would finish by saying that WWE should’ve ‘retired’ Brisco and kept him on a retainer, just in case he was needed. With the company recently posting their highest quarter on record? It’s not been a good look for WWE with so many talent, backstage crew and agents/producers being let go.
“They couldn’t just say ‘okay Gerald, here’s a flat amount you’re on retainer. You’re retired now. Except when we need you to travel somewhere and scout out a piece of talent. Have a wonderful retirement. No they f*cking release him and publicise it. Would it have hurt the WWE bottom line to send Gerald Brisco $1,000 a week in his retirement as a retainer to keep his services?”
Do you agree with Cornette, should Gerald Brisco have been looked after more by WWE? Let us know in the comments
AJ Styles was asked about a potential match with CM Punk during a recent Twitch Stream.
This is where the former WWE Champion stated that this contest will never happen and it’s probably due to their history.
“Nope,” Styles said. “That will never happen… I don’t have to go into detail about that one. I think it’s pretty obvious where things stand. I’m not a fan.”
So what is their bad blood exactly? It all dates back to earlier this year in the wake of George Floyd’s killing. Punk first tweeted about other people showing their true colors by expressing their words and actions.
This got a response from a fan who wrote, “Seeing AJ Styles promote streams and shit but couldn’t be bothered to post anything made it clear how he feels. That was a tough unfollow…”
Punk referenced AJ Styles’ history of ‘insensitive’ remarks by responding, “Well. Come on. That one has been obvious for years.”
Thus, if Punk ever does make a WWE return and he wrestles again, which is a big IF, fans shouldn’t expect him to see him share the ring with Styles.
Controversial former WWE/TNA/WCW writer Vince Russo recently commented on Paul Heyman and his promo style. Russo was hugely critical of Heyman’s recent SmackDown segment, where he explained why he and Roman Reigns were now aligned.
“With the actual product on TV? Like who gives a sh*? There’s nothing to talk about. There’s nothing interesting, you know?” Vince Russo began on his 8 Days a Week podcast.
Vince Russo on Paul Heyman
“I caught up with Smackdown over the weekend and there’s nothing to talk about at all. I swear to God I wanted to put my head through a wall with Paul Heyman’s promo on SmackDown” Russo continued. “This is wrestling, the guy’s carrying on like he’s in some kind of Shakespearean act with his pauses, his facials and his hands.”
Vince Russo would then make a direct attack at Heyman, saying the he ‘can’t stand’ seeing him on WWE programming. Although Heyman’s work is widely praised by fans and critics alike, Russo believes that Heyman has cut the ‘same’ promo for the past 30 years and is stale.
“Paul, it’s freaking wrestling bro! You’ve cut the same promo for 30 freaking years now” Russo stated. “I’m just gonna say this, I can’t stand hearing you. I can’t stand listening to you. I can’t stand looking at you. You’re carrying on in a wrestling promo like it’s freakin Glengarry Glen Ross bro.”
Russo would finish by lambasting Heyman further for his presentation. “It’s horrible, with your exaggeration of words and your pace and the like. Who gives a sh*t, bro? It’s freaking fake phoney stupid ass wrestling. Nobody freaking cares bro”
Did you enjoy Paul Heyman’s recent promo on SmackDown explaining his relationship with Roman Reigns? Check it out below and let us know in the comments
The early estimates for AEW’s All Out PPV buy rate are in. According to a report from the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the show is tracking to do around 100,000 to 110,000 buys, similar to February’s Revolution event. It is trending at slightly below May’s Double or Nothing event, however. That show was estimated at around 110,000 to 120,000 buys.
“The early estimates for the show based on streaming orders through B/R Live and FITE TV, which the company gets right away, look like the show will do numbers at the level of the February 29, 2020 Revolution, or 100,000 to 110,000 buys.”
The numbers are doing slightly better than November’s Full Gear PPV which early estimates had trending below 100,000. Last year’s All Out show was trending at around 100,000 buys as well. 2019’s Double or Nothing event was also around 100,000 buys.
The Dynamite following All Out ended up doing big ratings on TNT. The show averaged over 1 million viewers for the first time in 2020.
“Thank you very much to everyone who watched #AEWDynamite last night and made it our biggest overall audience of 2020, over 1 million total viewers, and one of our biggest numbers in the demo this year as well! We’re back on TNT with another huge card next week, please join us!” Tony Khan Tweeted.
AEW star Eddie Kingston appeared on this week’s episode of AEW Unrestricted. The newly signed independent king discussed a number of topics during the podcast; including Santana & Ortiz, singles run aspirations and the concept of a Hardcore division in All Elite Wrestling.
Eddie Kingston’s run with IMPACT back in 2018 was a major highlight of the promotion. Dubbed ‘King,’ he began his time with Santana & Ortiz in LAX before turning on them to form the OGz with Homicide and Hernandez (the original Latin American Xchange).
Eddie Kingston on LAX Reunion
“No, I’m adamant about that” Eddie Kingston began on the podcast, saying that he doesn’t want to reform the LAX team with Santana, Ortiz and Diamante in AEW. “They’re [Santana & Ortiz] busy playing touch butt with Chris Jericho. I gotta move on, Diamante’s got to move on. We can’t always just keep the group together.”
“I may not agree with everything that Jericho does in the Inner Circle or whatever” Eddie Kingston continued. “But he’s taking care of my boys. Now, you know I’m not making a threat here because I don’t make threats, I make promises. If Jericho messes with my boys? Then, yeah, then you know I got to get in. But for right now?”
Eddie Kingston would then discuss the idea of him actually joining the Inner Circle group. “There’s no need for us to get together. And there’s no need for them to leave the Inner Circle, I guess? There’s [also] no reason for me to join.”
Would you like to see LAX ‘reform’ in AEW? Let us know in the comments
He’s not just Kip Sabian’s best man, he’s The Best Man. The wrestler formerly known as Rusev and now known as Miro debuted on AEW Dynamite this week. He released a video on his official YouTube channel talking about his experience with AEW so far.
“I’m definitely excited,” Miro starts the video with. “I’m just excited I have this opportunity, I’m thankful to Tony Khan that we got in contact. He got in contact, everything was fine. He’s such a good dude, he’s such a great owner. He’s very open to talk to in creative and ideas and everything.”
Miro also answered a question on how the “best man” angle came about.
“They needed a best man and they know that, you know Kip and Penelope are going to get married and congratulations to them, and who has more experience in weddings than this freaking guy? Nobody. I’ve got married 4 times, 2 in the real life, 2 in the fake life. Well, one of them I was a guest, in the last one I was a guest. The previous 3, I was the groom,” Miro said.
Rusev also revealed that one of his biggest influences in wrestling was the Sheik, Ed Farhat.
“All my NXT promos were Sheik like. So, I’ve studied Sheik day in and day out,” Rusev said. He mentioned this while discussing a dispute he had with Dave Meltzer over a Tweet Miro sent complimenting Randy Orton.
Mandy Rose has been drafted to the WWE RAW brand. The news was first revealed by The Miz on an episode of Talking Smack and then later reported on WWE.com. Rose herself commented on her move from Smackdown to Monday nights.
In storyline, it appears that the Miz was the one who lobbied for Rose to switch brands. Apparently, this is all part of a ploy between Miz and John Morrison to get back at Otis. On Smackdown recently, Morrison attempted to steal Otis’ Money in the Bank briefcase only to find that Otis keeps the actual contract in a smaller lunch box style MITB briefcase.
“The Miz crashed the set of WWE Talking Smack to break the news of Mandy Rose’s trade to Raw. The move was the latest tactic in The Miz & John Morrison’s ongoing quest to part Otis with his Money in the Bank Contract,” reads a WWE report on Rose being drafted.
Mandy Rose In WWE
30-year old Mandy Rose’s romance with Otis and feud with Sonya Deville have been major angles on Smackdown in recent months. She would go on to defeat Deville in a Loser Leaves WWE match at SummerSlam. Rose hasn’t wrestled since the event. She holds an 8-14-1 record in televised WWE singles matches dating back to her time in NXT.
WWE SmackDown aired live from the ThunderDome in the Amway Center. Jeff Hardy put the Intercontinental Championship on the line against AJ Styles. Bayley also addressed her brutal attack on Sasha Banks during tonight’s show.
AJ Styles def. Jeff Hardy via DQ (Sami Zayn interference)
Lucha House Party def. Cesaro & Nakamura
Nikki Cross def. Alexa Bliss, Lacey Evans, Tamina to earn a shot at the SD Women’s Title at Clash of Champions
Otis def. John Morrison
Roman Reigns & Jey Uso def. Sheamus & King Corbin
Here are the takeaways from this week’s episode of WWE SmackDown:
Corbin & Sheamus Interrupted Roman & Jey
Universal Champion Roman Reigns and Paul Heyman kicked off tonight’s show. Heyman said that two weeks ago they let the secret out of the bag and two days Roman Reigns wrecked everyone and left as the Universal Champion at Payback.
Heyman noted that Reigns’ cousin Jey Uso stepped up last week to emerge from the Fatal 4-Way as the #1 contender. Paul introduced Jey Uso and he made his way to the ring.
Jey told Heyman that he goes way back with his family and thanked him. Heyman told Jey that he doesn’t owe him any thanks because this was all Roman’s idea for Jey replace Big E last week.
Reigns said that he is proud of Jey and that he earned this. Roman told Jey that he is about to be in the main event of Clash of Champions and earn a pay day. However, he is going to whoop Jey’s ass at Clash of Champions and then it is all love.
Jey stated that they aren’t little kids anymore and that is not going to happen at the PPV. King Corbin interrupted and claimed that this was a setup all along. Corbin added that this is a classic case of nepotism and it makes him sick.
Sheamus joined the party in his ridiculous outfit and made his way down the entrance ramp. Sheamus agreed with Corbin and Jey challenged them to a tag match. Jey said it will be the The Blood versus Butt Mud and sent Corbin and Sheamus out of the ring.
Opinion: I was enjoying this promo until Corbin and Sheamus interrupted. Jey’s “butt mud” line was embarrassing and whoever came up with it needs to go live in the woods and not bother anyone. I liked how Reigns just stood there as Corbin and Sheamus went after Jey.
Jeff Hardy defended his Intercontinental Championship against AJ Styles tonight on SmackDown. Sami Zayn was shown in the production truck freaking out because he believes he is still the Intercontinental Champion.
Sami Zayn came down to the entrance ramp and once again said he is the Intercontinental Champion. Zayn noted that he won the title on March 8th and successfully defended the title against Daniel Bryan. Sami added that he is back now and this is not an Intercontinental Championship match. Adam Pearce came to the ramp with security guards and escorted Zayn to the back.
Match Recap: AJ Styles hit Jeff Hardy with a cheap shot before the match began. Hardy battled back and went for a Swanton Bomb. Styles rolled out of the way and Jeff crashed to the canvas as SmackDown went to a commercial break.
When SmackDown returned, Styles was in control and was stomping on Hardy outside the ring. Jeff bounced Styles face off the steel steps and brought him back into the ring.
Jeff connected with an Atomic Drop and followed it up with a Leg Drop. Hardy hit Whisper in the Wind and went for the cover but AJ kicked out at two. Jeff went for Twist of Fate but AJ countered into a Neckbreaker for a near fall.
Hardy connected with a Dropkick and followed it up with a Splash for a two count. Styles battled back and set up for the Phenomenal Forearm but Sami attacked AJ from behind. Zayn sent Styles into the steel steps and hit Hardy with the Helluva Kick. Hardy collapsed on the entrance ramp and it was reported it was from dehydration for some reason. Styles was then interviewed and said he wants to prove he is the real Intercontinental Champion.
Hardy and Sami Zayn then battled in the trainer’s room as SmackDown went to a commercial break.
Opinion: I couldn’t tell if Jeff Hardy stumbling around and collapsing was a reference to the Matt Hardy situation at All Out and a shot at AEW, or he was actually just hurt. The dehydration explanation was bizarre and I’m not entirely sure of WWE was going for with that. Either way, I’m looking forward to a Triple Threat match between these three superstars.
Lucha House Party faced the SmackDown Tag Team Champions Cesaro and Shinsuke Nakamura in a non-title match tonight.
Match Recap: Kalisto and Cesaro started off the action and the SmackDown Tag Team Champions took control. Nakamura tagged in and hit Kalisto with a knee to the face for a near fall. Cesaro tagged back in and applied a Headlock. Street Profits were shown on the jumbotron partying and Cesaro and Nakmura got distracted. Kalisto rolled up Cesaro for the pinfall victory. Street Profits will battle Cesaro and Nakamura this Monday on “RAW: In Your Face”.
The next challenger to WWE SmackDown Women’s Champion Bayley will be Nikki Cross and it’s the latest match to be added to the card of the upcoming Clash of Champions event.
During Friday’s episode of SmackDown on FOX, WWE held a match that would determine who is next in line for a title shot.
A Fatal 4-Way Match between Alexa Bliss, Nikki Cross, Lacey Evans, and Tamina took place with the winner becoming the next challenger to the title. It was a decently lengthy match that featured a finish where Cross scored the pinfall.
Cross was victorious, earning the right to challenge Bayley for the SmackDown Women’s Women’s Title.
WWE presents the Clash of Champions pay-per-view event on Sunday, September 27, 2020 in Orlando, Florida at the Amway Center that will air on the WWE Network. WWE will be announcing more matches for this show in the coming weeks. Here is the updated card:
Updated WWE Clash Of Champions Card
WWE Champion Drew McIntyre vs. Randy Orton
WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns vs. Jey Uso
WWE SmackDown Women’s Champion Bayley vs. Nikki Cross
WWE is looking to load up this coming Monday’s episode of RAW.
WWE had previously announced that RAW Women’s Champion Asuka will put her title on the line against Mickie James and Shinsuke Nakamura & Cesaro vs. The Street Profits (Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins) in a Champions vs. Champions non-title match would take place.
During Friday’s episode of SmackDown, WWE confirmed two new matches for the broadcast, which has the tagline of “In Your Face.”
Dominik Mysterio vs. Seth Rollins in a Steel Cage Match and WWE Champion Drew McIntyre vs. Keith Lee in a non-title match has been added to the show.
This coming Monday, WWE will face some heavy competition. Not only is it the premiere of the 2020 NFL Monday Night Football season, but WWE will face two games airing back-to-back on ESPN.
The Pittsburgh Steelers vs. the New York Giants and the Tennessee Titans vs. Denver Broncos will air during the same time as RAW.
The viewership for Monday Night RAW has dropped the past two weeks after getting a bump for the post-SummerSlam episode.
Last Monday’s edition of WWE RAW averaged 1.725 million viewers with a 0.47 rating in the key 18-49 demographic.
On Thursday, WWE made a series of cuts that was across the board in the company. The number was in the range of 60 through 70 people who lost their jobs. None of the firings included wrestlers.
Wrestling Inc reports that more WWE cutbacks took place on Friday. It was noted that WWE’s live events department is “in shambles.”
Per the report, there were between 12 – 15 people from WWE’s live events division that were let go. This includes a high ranking Vice President, which should be made public soon.
It was noted that news was heartbreaking and would seem to signal WWE will not be getting back to doing live events anytime soon. Although the cuts were said to be extensive, some of the “higher ups” could be retained.
Mike Rotunda’s release was an indicator that WWE’s plans for more upcoming live events have been scrapped. Many of WWE’s furloughed employees will be let go and the cuts were “spreading like wildfire” in every part of the company.
Although WWE live events have been declining for decades, in recent years, attendance has fallen hard.
Earlier this year, McMahon told investors that he wasn’t sure whether WWE would remain operating the live event business the way they had been.
Although WWE Clash of Champions is still a few weeks away, the company already has matches in mind for the show.
The company has only announced two matches thus far. Dave Meltzer reported in the latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that Intercontinental Champion Jeff Hardy vs. AJ Styles vs. Sami Zayn in a Triple Threat Match or a singles match between Hardy’s title and Zayn’s championship is expected.
The original plan called for Asuka to defend the RAW Women’s Title against Shayna Bazler, but that won’t be happening as Bazler is one half of the Women’s Tag Team Champions with Nia Jax, who will also defend their titles against unknown opponents. Natalya could end up being the challenger for Asuka’s title.
Cesaro and Shinsuke Nakamura are believed to be defending the SmackDown Tag Team Titles against either Heavy Machinery or Street Profits.
Bobby Lashley defending the United States Title against Apollo Crews is rumored, but not confirmed. Finally, if WWE brings back Sasha Banks from the injury angle in time then she’ll challenge Bayley for the SmackDown Women’s Title.
WWE presents the Clash of Champions pay-per-view event on Sunday, September 27, 2020 in Orlando, Florida at the Amway Center.
Jeff Hardy recently mentioned that he would like to bring his Willow character to WWE. He even suggested he would like for Willow to feud with Bray Wyatt’s “Fiend” character. Hardy was speaking with BT Sport when he mentioned possibly bringing Willow into WWE.
“Years ago, I would be Jeff Hardy and then I’d be this guy Willow and Willow is my go-to wrestling persona. So, man, and that’s another dream of mine that I would like to do before I’m done, to bring Willow into the WWE Universe and see what happens,” Hardy said.
“I just have a strange feeling that something crazy cool could happen between Willow and The Fiend.”
We never knew we needed a Willow vs. 'The Fiend' @WWEBrayWyatt feud until @JEFFHARDYBRAND said it to us ???
Hardy used the Willow persona in the OMEGA promotion he founded with his brother Matt in the late 90s. The promotion only lasted a couple of years and was folded after the Hardys signed with WWE. Hardy would bring the Willow character back in TNA in early 2014. He would return to his Jeff Hardy character later that same year.
Hardy will face AJ Styles on Smackdown tonight for the Intercontinental title. Hardy defeated Styles for the title on the August 21st edition of Smackdown. This is the 5th time in history Hardy has held the title.
The man behind the legendary voice of TNA’s promo packages, Barry Scott, has passed away. He was 65 years old at the time of his passing. No cause of death is currently available.
Impact Wrestling and TNA stars have been paying tribute to Scott online.
“We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Barry Scott. For years Barry was the iconic voice of TNA Wrestling, lending us gravitas and credibility. He will be dearly missed,” Impact Wrestling Tweeted.
“Very saadened to hear about the passing of Barry Scott, the longtime TNA Voice behind some of the most Iconic Videos in IMPACT History. Here was the last one he voiced, featuring Moose as TNA World Heavyweight Champion. Godspeed. Rest Well and Thanks Barry,” wrote Impact referee Brandon Tolle.
“Sad to learn the passing of Barry Scott the voice of all those @IMPACTWRESTLING (TNA) packages, PPVs voice overs,” wrote Tommy Dreamer.
“RIP Barry Scott… Barry was a great talent but even a better man… Barry’s voiceover work in the early days of TNA was so instrumental for our product… This picture was taken from production work for Slammiversary XV “cold open”…Love ya my friend!” wrote Jeff Jarrett.
“I am heartbroken to hear about Barry’s passing. Not only was he an amazing talent, he was a true gentleman that I adored. You will be missed Barry. Sending love and prayers to your family,” Tweeted Dixie Carter.
Very saadened to hear about the passing of Barry Scott, the longtime TNA Voice behind some of the most Iconic Videos in IMPACT History. Here was the last one he voiced, featuring Moose as TNA World Heavyweight Champion. Godspeed. Rest Well and Thanks Barryhttps://t.co/Q0HuugSG11
WWE has been releasing staff this week who had been furloughed at the start of the pandemic. According to a report from PW Insider, two names recently released include Mike Rotunda (the former IRS/VK Wallstreet) and Sarah Stock.
Rotunda had been with the company as a road agent since 2006. As the pandemic caused a halt to WWE live events, he was furloughed in April. Rotunda is the father of current WWE Superstars Bray Wyatt and Bo Dallas. He is a 5x former WWE tag team champion having won the titles 3x with Ted Dibiase (as Money Inc) and twice with his brother-in-law Barry Windham.
Sarah Stock wrestled under the names Dark Angel and Sarita. She wrestled all over the world before signing with TNA in 2009. Stock then was hired by WWE in 2015 as a developmental trainer. Like many others, Stock was furloughed by the company in April.
It was also confirmed recently that longtime WWE employee Gerald Briscoe had also been released by the company. He had been with the company for 36 years working as a talent scout and in other roles. Briscoe had been furloughed in April as well.
Wednesday’s edition of AEW Dynamite from Jacksonville, Florida at Daily’s Place averaged 1.016 million viewers, up from 928,000 last week. This was the most-watched episode of the year and their best number since the October 16th episode last year that did 1.014 million viewers.
The show did a 0.37 rating in the Adults 18-49 demographic, which was up from last week’s 0.36, and finished #7 on cable for the evening.
This was the fourth consecutive week that AEW ran unopposed and without direct competition from WWE NXT, which aired on Tuesday night on the USA Network.
This episode went up against competition from NBA and NHL playoffs. Both did good numbers. Next week’s episode of Dynamite could air in its normal day and time slot, but we won’t know for sure until Monday.
If the series between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Houston Rockets ends in 6 games on Monday then Dynamite will air on Wednesday at 8pm ET. However, if the series goes to 7 games then the regular weekly Dynamite episode will air at 8pm ET on Thursday night.
AEW will also air a one-hour edition of Dynamite, which will air following the Wednesday NBA game at around midnight.
