From our first report to being an actual registered company who is preparing for its official launch next year, All Elite Wrestling has traveled very far in the last couple of months.
However, the main people involved with the promotion are still playing with the report. Some of them are like Chris Jericho and Cody Rhodes who are just having fun.
Then there are people like the Young Bucks who also have legal limitations since they are still under contracts.
However, this is not going to stop people from discussing it. It also means that whether or not they can answer the questions, the people who are involved with the promotion are still going to be asked about it.
This was the case during the latest episode of Wrestling Perspective podcast, where the host Petey Williams talked to the Bucks about the promotion, asking them what they can say on the situation.
Answering the question both the brothers tried to protect the information and work around the question.
Matt Jackson said that they are in a situation where they don’t really know what they are going to do. Though he accepted that after All In they have offers from investors which they are still thinking about.
Nick Jackson took a slightly different route and accepted that they have offers from every major company in the world. He explained that they have not said no to anyone since they are keeping their options open.
Although whether or not they accept it, AEW has already become one of the hottest topics of discussion among fans. It doesn’t look like these discussions will be cooling down anytime soon. For now you can check out Matt and Nick’s comments in the video below:
As announced earlier, Major League Wrestling’s first-ever live special will be taking place on Friday night, December 14th. MLW Fusion Live will broadcast live on beIN SPORTS from Miami, Florida. In a press release sent in to SEScoops.com, MLW revealed the 1-hour special will feature a double main event.
The first bout will see Los Ingobernables leader RUSH taking on Rich Swann. The other blockbuster contest will be a 5-Man Ladder Match for the MLW World Middleweight Championship. MJF will put his championship on the line against Kotto Brazil, Dezmond Xavier, Andrew Everett and Jason Cade.
MLW CEO Court Bauer spoke with Sports Illustrated about the promotion’s first live special. “There is an energy and sense of expectation to live TV, and with only one or two other companies on live, it puts us in rarified air,” said Bauer. “We have now exceeded every milestone we had mapped out in our business plan within our first 13 months of operation. Once again, we now find ourselves in unchartered territory, but it’s very exciting.”
Bauer also commented on MLW’s “roster reload initiative,” which includes the recent additions of RUSH And Dragon Lee. Visit SI.com to read the full interview
MLW Fusion airs every Friday night on beIN SPORTS. Full episodes of MLW Fusion are uploaded to MLW’s YouTube channel the following night.
Welcome back to The 3 Count. Last week I discussed Becky Lynch and her meteoric rise in WWE. Every week I will be looking at the hot topic in pro wrestling, this could be WWE or otherwise. This week’s topic is WWE and the new NXT UK contractual situation.
1. The Outline
If you weren’t aware, WWE has told NXT UK talents that they will no longer be permitted to perform in certain promotions. This is across England, Scotland, Wales, NI and Ireland. Earlier this year WWE imposed a sanction that meant contracted Superstars could not perform on a show within a week of a planned NXT UK live show or taping. Fast forward to now and talents are now reportedly not going to be part of promotions outside of the ‘WWE bubble.’ Promotions that WWE have seemingly green-lit are PROGRESS, ATTACK! Pro, ICW, OTT in Ireland and Fight Club: Pro.
FCP is an interesting one, the company will be heading to Japan next year for a show at Korakuen Hall around the New Japan Wrestle Kingdom event. NXT UK Superstar Trent Seven runs FCP and you would assume he could have some pull when it comes to talent, however Pete Dunne, Tyler Bate and Seven have all been pulled from that show. This aspect of the story remains a bit of an anomaly.
Even with these companies having the ability to use NXT UK Superstars they still run into a stumbling block. Superstars CANNOT be in matches against non-WWE talent and they also cannot be shown in an on-demand capacity…this all comes into play on January 1st.
2. The UK Scene
Now, if you’ve been following this site for a while you’ll likely know that I report mostly on the UK scene. I’ve spoken to several promotors who are split into two camps; 1. WWE has taken some of the biggest stars and undercut the scene here massively. 2. Now is the time for the undercard talents to step up and make themselves known.
The UK scene was absolutely booming a year ago and it has been for around 2-3 years. Stars such as Jimmy Havoc, Will Ospreay, Zack Sabre Jr, Mark Haskins et al helped build the British scene and brought international attention to the Isles. Those four names are not contracted to WWE and there are a bunch of extremely talented individuals who are ready to step up into the spotlight and become the second wave of the new generation in UK wrestling.
If you’re not a keen follower of the UK scene then here is a rough breakdown. There are 4 “top” promotions in Britain: PROGRESS (England), Rev Pro (England), ICW (Scotland) and OTT (Ireland), whilst perception varies between different fans it is fairly common belief that these are the top dogs in the region. We then move onto a de-facto ‘second tier,’ this is where the likes of Pro Wrestling: EVE (the biggest all-women’s promotion in Europe), Fight Club: Pro, ATTACK, Futureshock, NGW and PCW all sit. There are literally hundreds of performers in all of these promotions and new stars will be made.
3. Looking To The Future
Granted, WWE’s new sanctions will hurt several promotions. If you put Pete Dunne on an event poster then you are more likely to bring in fans, this is just how big of a star he has become. Before WWE decided to branch out into global NXT territories the UK scene was thriving and it is now up to independent promotions (including those WWE has green-lit) to take a chance and look to the future.
The latest update on WWE Chairman Vince McMahon’s second attempt at the XFL has been made.
The official Twitter account of the XFL confirmed that they will reveal all eight teams playing in the inaugural season of the XFL reboot on December 5th. It was written in the tweet, “The wait is almost over! This coming Wednesday, Dec. 5, we unveil our eight cities and the venues we will play in for our inaugural season in 2020. Watch LIVE at Noon ET on http://XFL.com or right here on Twitter! #XFL2020.”
The wait is almost over! This coming Wednesday, Dec. 5, we unveil our eight cities and the venues we will play in for our inaugural season in 2020.
Earlier this week it was revealed that the XFL will be bringing a team to St. Louis for its revival in 2020 with five games being held at the Dome at America’s Center. We will pass along the list of cities announced when made available.
The original XFL only had one season, which took place in 2001 and was produced by WWE and NBC. It took place during the NFL off-season and promoted as having fewer rules and encouraging rougher play than other major leagues. Although NBC signed with WWE to air two seasons of the league, NBC pulled out of its broadcast contract for the XFL after the inaugural season, citing the poor viewership. The league ceased operations entirely in May 2001.
WWE is bringing back their Tribute to the Troops special for another year. This 16th annual event will take place on Tuesday, December 4th, at Fort Hood, Texas. As of this writing, WWE did not provide an airing date for the special on the USA Network but it will likely air around Christmas.
This is the second time Fort Hood has hosted The Most Patriotic Show of the Year, first serving as host in 2010. It was noted in the announcement that Superstars will spend time giving back to military personnel and their families stationed on base and activities include a Be a STAR bullying prevention rally, as well as hospital visits and military outreach initiatives at various installations across the base. It was also noted that “WWE Tribute to the Troops began in 2003 to honor our servicemen and women and their families. In the tradition of Bob Hope, WWE brings together the best of sports, entertainment and pop culture with celebrity appearances and performances from music’s most popular acts in what is considered TV’s most patriotic and heartwarming show of the year.”
As of this writing, WWE has yet to announce any matches or segments for the show.
New Japan Pro Wrestling’s November scheduling is usually dominated by the World Tag League shows – and 2018 is no different. This year’s lineup of shows will of course feature some of NJPW’s top stars, but there are some notable exceptions. Some of the shows will be available on NJPWWorld.
Here’s the full results for the World Tag League in Ishikawa (11/26):
1st WORLD TAG LEAGUE 2018: Tournament Match: Taichi and Zack Sabre Jr b. Shota Umino and Ayato Yoshida – Taichi took the win after hitting the Taichi Style Last Ride on Yoshida
2nd WORLD TAG LEAGUE 2018: Tournament Match: Davey Boy Smith Jr and Lance Archer b. Manabu Nakanishi and Yuji Nagata – Smith Jr and Archer took the win after hitting the Killer Bomb
3rd WORLD TAG LEAGUE 2018: Tournament Match: Yujiro Takahashi and Hangman Page b. Toa Henare and Togi Makabe – Takahashi took the win after hitting the Pimp Juice on Henare
4th WORLD TAG LEAGUE 2018: Tournament Match: Minoru Suzuki and Takashi Iizuka b. Chuckie T and Beretta – Suzuki took the win after hitting the Gotch Style Piledriver on Chuckie T
5th WORLD TAG LEAGUE 2018: Tournament Match: SANADA and EVIL b. Satoshi Kojima and Hiroyoshi Tenzan – SANADA took the win after hitting the Rounding Body Press on Tenzan
6th WORLD TAG LEAGUE 2018: Tournament Match: David Finlay and Juice Robinson b. Toru Yano and Tomohiro Ishii – Ishii took the win after hitting the Vertical Brain Buster on Finlay
7th WORLD TAG LEAGUE 2018: Tournament Match: Tanga Loa and Tama Tonga b. Jeff Cobb and Michael Elgin – Cobb took the win after hitting the Tour of the Islands on Tanga Loa
Shingo Takagi, BUSHI and Tetsuya Naito b. SHO, YOH and Kazuchika Okada – Naito took the win after hitting the Destino on YOH
John Cena is set to receive this year’s Muhammad Ali Legacy Award by Sports Illustrated. The award is given annually to an “athlete or sports figure who embodies the ideals of sportsmanship, leadership, and philanthropy while using sports as a platform.”
Cena commented on the award to the Associated Press.
“To have a legacy award of any kind bestowed upon you is tremendous,” Cena said. “To be in the company of people who have received this and to receive an honor named after Muhammad Ali is an honor that means so much to me.”
“It really is a wonderful match. I never try to downplay that experience because a family has been given one wish and that is to meet you or hang out for an afternoon,” he continued.
John Cena Muhammad Ali Legacy Award
Cena’s younger brother is a survivor of brain cancer. This influenced Cena to approach WWE about doing more to raise money for cancer research and treatment.
“I saw baseball doing the pink bats, football with the pink cleats and I asked why we weren’t doing anything. I pretty much established the connection and years later we have donated millions and helped a lot of people.”
Former winners of the award include Colin Kaepernick, Magic Johnson, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
WWE officials decided to bring back the special live event, Starrcade, for the second straight year.
According to longtime pro wrestling journalist, Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, this event drew 8000 fans, which is an increase of attendance for what typical house shows are doing from a numbers standpoint. The show was a success for WWE as live event business has been down as of late.
Another indication that this show was a success is the fact that it was the most-watched show of the week on the WWE Network. This event went down this past Saturday night at the US Bank Arena in Cincinnati. WWE’s streaming service aired a one-hour edition of the event the following night.
WWE Starrcade Results
Sasha Banks, Bayley, Ember Moon & Dana Brooke defeated Nia Jax, Tamina, Mickie James & Alicia Fox
Drew McIntyre (w/Dolph Ziggler) defeated Finn Balor
The Revival defeated The B-Team
The Bar defeated The New Day (SmackDown Tag Team titles)
Bray Wyatt defeated Baron Corbin
Charlotte Flair defeated Asuka
Miz TV segment. Rey Mysterio and Shinsuke Nakamura are the guests. Nakamura says he doesn’t care about Starrcade’s history and attacks Mysterio.
Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Rey Mysterio (United States Championship). Mysterio wins via disqualification after Miz interferes, meaning Nakamura retains. Rusev evens up the numbers and a tag match is set up
Mysterio & Rusev defeated Nakamura & Miz
AJ Styles defeated Samoa Joe (Steel Cage)
Seth Rollins defeated Dean Ambrose (Intercontinental Championship Steel Cage)
The potential return date for Braun Strowman may have been revealed after a recent report by PWinsider.com was published. On Thursday morning, it was noted that Strowman is slated to appear on next week’s episode of WWE’s flagship show, Monday Night RAW, in Houston, TX at the Toyota Center on the USA Network.
WWE confirmed that Strowman underwent successful elbow surgery at Andrews Sports Medicine in Birmingham, AL on Tuesday. As noted, WWE believes the injury to be a minor issue and something the company can work around leading into the WWE TLC PPV next month where he’s scheduled to face Baron Corbin.
This is a big match for Strowman as there are important implications on the line. There are some stipulations that go along with this contest. If Corbin wins, he’ll be the permanent GM of RAW, but if he loses, he’ll lose all authority. If Strowman wins, he’ll face Brock Lesnar for the Universal Title at the Royal Rumble. This will also be a TLC Match.
WWE presents the TLC pay-per-view event on Sunday, December 16th, 2018 in Los Angeles, California at the Staples Center that will air on the WWE Network. WWE will be announcing more matches for this show in the coming weeks.
WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross has provided some new commentary on All Elite Wrestling. Ross, who has been involved in the early stages of the upstart promotion, calls it a “feast or famine” proposition whose success is predicated on securing a meaningful television deal.
“I certainly want to address the trademark issues filed by the Kahn family,” Ross said.
“If this thing happens, it’s going to be one of two things, in my opinion. It’s either going to never happen, because a television deal could not be acquired, or the television deal is going to be finalized, and it’s going to be big,” Ross said.
Later in the show, while interviewing Dave Meltzer, Ross again addressed the possibility of an All Elite Wrestling promotion.
“Two things you have to have to start a wrestling promotion: television, and talent. In that order,” Ross said.
“If you don’t have viable television, I’m not talking about Pop TV, I’m talking about a real television outlet, a major cable entity that everybody has access to, you damn sure don’t need any talent.”
“This company, if it ever happens, it’s an idea right now. If they don’t get TV, there is no company.”
Jim Ross’s Involvement With All Elite Wrestling
Ross also addressed his potential involvement with All Elite Wrestling.
“I’ve been rumored to be in every role with this company. It’s just eye-rolling. At one point it’s Jericho and me, which I thought was really stupid. Me and Jericho are going to spend all the money we’ve made over the years to get in the wrestling business? Are you crazy? Are you nuts?”
(To be clear: Our exclusive report said nothing about Jim Ross or Chris Jericho’s involvement being financial.)
Ross continued, “And then we’re not involved at all, it’s these other guys that are really the movers and shakers. There ain’t nothing to move here, folks. There ain’t nothing to shake.”
It’s worth noting that Ross never went so far as to deny his potential involvement with the proposed company, despite all of his bluster. He only stated that the company may not get off the ground.
The full episode of The Jim Ross Report can be heard below.
When referencing this transcript, please credit SEScoops.com. This transcript has been edited and condensed for clarity.
Last week, Impact Wrestling featured mainly GWN flashbacks to previous Thanksgiving-themed matches. Tonight, the promotion is back with a full episode featuring previously unaired matches.
Impact Wrestling Preview 11/29
The Lucha Bros vs Willie Mack & Rich Swann
Two of Impact’s top tag-teams will face each other tonight. Granted, Mack and Swann have only teamed up once before. They were victorious over the team of Matt Sydal and Ethan Page at Bound For Glory, however.
2 weeks ago on Impact, LAX told Konnan they wanted to defend their tag belts against Pentagon and Fenix. Konnan said he didn’t want that match to take place, however. We’ll see if anything changes regarding the LAX/Konnan/Lucha Bros situation tonight.
Eli Drake vs Tommy Dreamer
Eli Drake wants to rid professional wrestling from hardcore matches. Tommy Dreamer made his name from such a style of wrestling and plans to defend it tonight. Dreamer previously interrupted an anti-hardcore wrestling promo by Drake, leading to tonight’s match.
The Rascalz Debut
A few weeks ago we saw Trey Miguel, Dezmond Xavier, and Zachary Wentz in a “That 70s Show” style smoke circle. This week they will be in action, though their opponents have yet to be named. This could be the beginning of a good run with the promotion for 3 wrestlers who have impressed many on the independent scene.
Jordynne Grace vs Katarina
This is a rematch from Grace’s first match in Impact. Grace was victorious but the next week Katarina approached Grace in the back and let the newcomer know she thinks she can beat her. “Thick Mama Pump” seemed amused by this and a rematch was scheduled for tonight.
Taya Valkyrie In Single’s Action
Taya Valkyrie is preparing for her rematch with Tessa Blanchard at Homecoming. In the meantime, however, she’ll be in single’s action tonight, though her opponent has yet to be revealed.
Knockouts Champion, Tessa Blanchard, will likely be watching this match closely as she prepares to face Taya for the 3rd time in Nashville.
Gold Rush On Friday
Impact Wrestling is actually back tomorrow as well for a live special on Twitch. Impact Gold Rush will start at 10:30 PM est and 7:30 PM local time from Newark, CA.
Major League Wrestling has announced the Friday, December 14th episode of MLW Fusion will be a live broadcast on beIN SPORTS. MLW FUSION LIVE, a 1-hour special, will emanate from Miami, Florida at the Scottish Rite Temple.
As we’ve been covering, MLW will be holding two shows in Miami on December 13th and 14th. It’s unknown at this time what matches will be part of MLW FUSION LIVE, but the card includes:
MLW World Heavyweight Champion Low Ki vs. Konnan (No Disqualification)
Brian Pillman Jr. vs. Tommy Dreamer (Singapore Cane Match)
5-Way Ladder Match for the MLW World Middleweight Championship
RUSH vs. Rich Swann
There are reportedly plans for more live specials next year, a sign that MLW’s relationship with beIN is strengthening as we head into 2019.
MLW Fusion airs every Friday night on beIN SPORTS. Full episodes of MLW Fusion are uploaded to MLW’s YouTube channel the following night.
Despite being spotted at Monday Night Raw recently, Silas Young is expected to sign a new deal with ROH. According to a report from the Wrestling Observer, the two sides have agreed on a new 3-year deal for the 39-year-old.
“Silas Young was offered a new three-year deal that right now he’s expected to accept,” Dave Meltzer wrote. “There were rumors of him leaving because he was at the 11/26 Raw show, but he was there because his son, a big WWE fan, wanted to attend.”
Raw was in Silas’ hometown of Milwaukee, WI.
Silas Young ROH
Young is a 16-year pro, having begun his career in 2002. He made his first appearances for ROH in 2007 and was a regular by 2012. He is a former 2x ROH TV champion and won the Honor Rumble in 2016.
Young revealed in a 2011 interview that prior to becoming a pro-wrestler, he had been addicted to heroin.
“Ya know a lot of people think that heroin addiction would be a touchy subject which is why I chose to share that part of me,” Young said to 411Mania. “I was young and stupid as fuck (obviously) but I’m a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. Wrestling is honestly what got me to get clean then start working out then wrestling training and then getting booked on every single show I could. I got to meet my wife along the way. Maybe if I wouldn’t have become a heroin addict maybe I wouldn’t be where I’m at now in life and I’m pretty happy with what I got.”
News broke on Monday of WWE signing WALTER to be a part of the NXT brand in some form, likely first in NXT UK, and later in the likelihood that NXT Germany is established.
On this week’s X-Pac 12360, Sean Waltman gave his take on WWE signing WALTER, and specifically what having him in the locker room will mean.
“Walter is a hell of a commodity, the type of guy you want in your locker room,” Waltman said. “Not a bunch of guys who act like Walter.”
Waltman is likely referring to someone with WALTER’s natural aura and presence, something I can attest to having seen him perform live at an EVOLVE show in 2017.
WALTER has reportedly expressed no interest in joining Raw or Smackdown. Waltman sees this as the true expression of an independent contractor.
“Apparently it sounds like he knows what he wants,” Waltman said. “It’s not like he was begging to go anywhere. The buyers were coming.”
“It’s like a seller’s market, sort of, when there’s something really good to sell,” Waltman continued.
The full episode of X-Pac 12360 can be found below. When referencing this transcript, please credit SEScoops.com. This transcript has been edited and condensed for clarity.
Tuesday’s edition of Smackdown Live, which aired live from Minneapolis, Minnesota, was the most-watched show on cable for November 27 in the 18-49 demographic and finished ninth overall for the night. Smackdown’s ratings were up from a 0.7 to a 0.8 in the 18-49 demo.
TV By The Numbers reports that the show, which featured the return of Becky Lynch, scored 114,000 more total viewers than last week’s episode, beating it 2.264 million viewers to 2.150 million.
The number is still below what the show drew two weeks ago, but finishing first for the night in the key demographic can’t be taken as a negative.
Curse Of Oak Island on History and the Rachel Maddow Show on MSNBC both topped Smackdown in total viewers, with 3.408 million and 3.315 million respectively. The other six shows that topped Smackdown for the night in total viewers all aired on Fox News Channel.
Without the benefit of quarter-hour breakdowns, it’s difficult to pinpoint a single reason for the uptick in viewership this week.
The show was built around the Smackdown Women’s Championship picture. The main event featured a women’s battle royal, with the winner being added to the Becky Lynch vs. Charlotte Flair match at TLC next month. A strong promo segment between Lynch and Flair kicked off the show.
Ratings fell on Monday, and Smackdown nearly equaled Raw’s viewership this week. A growing sentiment among wrestling pundits is that WWE has become too heavy on heels.
That idea was propped up by an episode of Raw this week that featured Alexa Bliss installed as a new heel authority figure, and current heel authority figure Baron Corbin both opening and closing the show, in lengthy segments.
“I think that the company has been made famous for building fan favorites. The ‘babyface.’ Over the years, some of the biggest stars on the babyface side of the roster, have been products of WWE,” Ross said. “It seems like that’s not the focus right now.”
Ross clarified that his opinions do not always equate with the facts, but that currently, that’s what he sees.
“Maybe it is [the focus]. I’m going by what I see on television. That’s the extent of my interaction with this company.”
“I watch the product religiously, and those are my observations. They’re not tainted, they’re not influenced, they’re just what I see, and what I feel,” Ross said.
“The fan favorite machine, the babyface machine, needs to get back into business.”
The full episode of The Jim Ross Report can be found below. When referencing this transcript, please credit SEScoops.com. This transcript has been edited and condensed for clarity.
Cody, the Young Bucks, Marty Scurll, and Adam Page are all finishing up commitments in ROH and NJPW at the moment. When 2019 hits, however, it’s looking as though the group will be part of a new promotion, All Elite Wrestling.
Cody was asked recently at a Meet in Greet for World Series Wrestling in Australia about the promotion. He indicated an announcement would be made in January. Cody also stated the announcement will be bigger than expected.
Cody’s answer to the question was covered in this week’s Wrestling Observer.
“At a meet and greet in Melbourne, Australia, Cody was asked about a new promotion and said to wait for January as an announcement will be made, and said the announcement would be bigger than anyone expects,” Dave Meltzer wrote.
Cody and All Elite Wrestling
Cody has also doubled-down on his statements that he will be finishing up with Ring of Honor after Final Battle. He has said his title match with Jay Lethal will be his final match with the promotion. The angle is if Cody wins he’ll bring the title with him into free agency.
Cody also appears to be scouting talent. He sent the following out on Tuesday evening:
Curious
Who are some of the hottest male/female independent acts not signed anywhere?
James Ellsworth has released a statement regarding accusations he sent nude photos to an underage fan. Ellsworth and his legal team are stating the social media accounts which sent the photos are fake.
The statement also says Ellsworth and his legal team will take action against any party spreading the allegations against him.
“Recently, allegations of misconduct have been lodged against me which I categorically deny. I never have, nor will I ever engage in any activity that could be deemed as inappropriate or disrespectful. My delay in publicly commenting on this situation was based on the advice of my legal team, which has just completed a thorough investigation.”
Ellsworth then mentions in his statement that they have uncovered evidence he was being impersonated online by someone interested in ruining his reputation.
“My attorneys have pinpointed a trusted witness who is willing to testify on my behalf. In addition, they have uncovered concrete evidence that supports my innocence and proves that without a shadow of a doubt the social media accounts alleged to be mine are fake and the messages from the account were fraudulently created without my knowledge or consent.”
Ellsworth then said he hopes to restore his reputation.
“My only hope is to restore my reputation as I, along with my family, friends and supporters have suffered because of a social media stunt devised to end my professional wrestling career. My team and I are prepared to pursue legal action against any party that persists with the promotion of these lies.”
This Wednesday night, WWE held television tapings for NXT at Full Sail University which saw a number of major developments.
One such filmed segment consisted of Bianca Belair defeating Io Shirai, Mia Yim and Lacey Evans in a fatal four-way match to win a shot at the NXT Women’s Championship.
The episode will air on January 2 on the WWE Network.
The EST will also put her undefeated streak on the line when she goes against the champion as the #1 contender.
Bianca Belair will face Shayna Baszler for the NXT Women’s Championship at the upcoming NXT TakeOver: Phoenix event on Saturday, January 26 from the Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Arizona.
The NXT tapings will provide enough content for the remainder of this year and take us into the TakeOver: Phoenix event. WWE is scheduled to tape more episodes for NXT on 3 January.
A main roster member made a surprise appearance at the NXT TV tapings from Full Sail University this Wednesday night.
Ricochet was set to defend his NXT North American Championship that night as it was announced that he would be challenged by a mystery opponent on the show.
Tyler Breeze returned to NXT and took on Ricochet in a title match in a losing effort.
Breeze has also made some appearances on NXT house shows before but this is the first time that he has appeared on NXT television in three years.
Breeze joined WWE’s developmental territory Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW) where he performed under the ring name Mike Dalton.
He would later work in NXT after the rebranding of FCW, and would début his heel selfie-taking pretty boy persona under the Tyler Breeze name. He made his main roster début in October of 2015.
Breeze’s partner Fandango of “Breezango” is injured and that has left Breeze out of the tag team division.
Currently directionless on the main roster, Tyler Breeze could have a fresh start once again on NXT as a singles wrestler.
While their experiences and reasons are not exactly similar, Edge knows the feeling of going out there in his prime and relinquishing a top championship due to severe health issues, much like Roman Reigns.
During his recent interview with Sports Illustrated, the Hall Of Famer talked about his SmackDown 1000 segment involving Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair and more.
While discussing Reigns’ battle with luekemia and him relinquishing the Universal Championship on Raw not too long ago, the Rated R Superstar said that the Shield Member handled it with class:
“I feel for him, but the best thing he can do is surround himself with his family, and that’s what he’s doing. As long as he gets healthy, who cares if he ever wrestles again? I watched him on Raw and thought that moment had to be really, really difficult, but he handled it with poise and class.”
Continuing on the topic, Edge also discussed how he only had to retire but in Roman’s case it’s a matter of life and death. He said you don’t expect this to hear from a guy who is in the prime of his career and looks like a superhero.
Apart from this, the WWE Legend also talked about how his recent visit to SmackDown made him realise that he no longer needs pro wrestling like he once did. You can check out his full interview here.
Cody Rhodes Wants To Know About Independent Wrestlers
After we exclusively reported about it, new signs are emerging regularly, and they are all pointing towards the rise of a new wrestling promotions involving some of the biggest names of the independent circuit.
One of these names is none other than a former WWE Star and one of the three promoters of ALL IN, Cody Rhodes and he is having fun with these reports until the official announcement.
Cody is currently out of action with an injury, but he is not letting the injury keep him out of headlines, and he is playing with all the reports about AEW with tweets such as this:
Curious
Who are some of the hottest male/female independent acts not signed anywhere?
This week’s episode of 205 Live saw the former NXT Star Hideo Itami returning to the show. He wrestled a match on the episode and defeated a local talent.
After the match, we also saw the return of Ariya Daivari and the two had a confrontation. Daivari then proceeded to beat down the local talent Itami had just defeated, and these events make it seem like Ariya and Hideo have formed a team.
It’s worth mentioning here that the local talent who was used for this segment was Levy Cruise. He also appeared on this week’s Raw as part of the conga line with No Way Jose.
It’s a known fact that Raw is considered the flagship show of the company by WWE Officials and its given preference over SmackDown Live in every aspect.
However, things are expected to change after SmackDown moves to Fox Network next year and it’s very likely that WWE will have to find a balance between both their shows once they are not on the same network.
One of the top changes we can expect to see is the equal distribution of star power on both the brands and it appears that this can start with a current champion moving to the Blue Branded show.
WrestlingInc is reporting that Fox officials want current Raw Women’s Champion Ronda Rousey to move to SmackDown in 2019 when the show debuts on the network.
The Network believes that Rousey’s MMA background, popularity, and credibility as an athlete will be a selling point for the Blue Branded Show.
These reports are in line with the previous update which said that Fox wants SmackDown to be more athletically oriented as part of their sports block.
Though it’s worth mentioning here that originally Ronda Rousey didn’t intend to stay with WWE for very long. She has stated many times that she wants to start a family soon and her contract is designed keeping that in mind.
So before making any such plans with Rousey in mind, WWE will first have to confirm what her long-term status with the company is and whether or not she actually intends to stay with them by the time these changes take place.
The Mighty Attacked Burch & Lorcan After Another Loss
Danny Burch & Oney Lorcan faced The Mighty (Shane Thorne & Nick Miller) tonight on WWE NXT. Burch and Lorcan started off the match in control and isolated Thorne in the corner. They focused their attack on Thorne’s injured shoulder but eventually Shane was able to battle back and tag in Nick Miller.
Lorcan rolled up Miller for a two count and then transitioned into a Half Crag. Thorne tried to break it up but Burch got in the ring and locked him in a Crossface. Miller and Thorne retreated out of the ring to regroup. Thorne provided a distraction and Miller capitalized by attacking Lorcan from behind and then sent him to the corner.
Thorne tagged back in and taunted the San Jose crowd. Shane got in a couple more shots on Lorcan and followed it up with a Clothesline for a two count. Oney tried to battle back but Thorne ended his momentum with a devastating uppercut. Thorne applied a Headlock as Burch tried to rally his partner from the apron.
Oney escaped and leaped across the ring to tag in Burch and Danny came into the ring and cleaned house. Burch launched The Mighty all over the ring and followed it up with a Dropkick off the middle turnbuckle to Thorne. Lorcan tagged back in but Nick Miller shoved him into Burch.
Miller tackled Burch out of the ring as Thorne connected with an uppercut to Lorcan’s jaw. Thorne followed it up with an impressive Dropkick to Lorcan’s face and both Superstars fell to the canvas. The crowd chanted “Oney!” as Lorcan climbed back to his feet. Lorcan connected with a Suplex that sent Thorne out of the ring.
Lorcan dove through the ropes and landed on both members of The Mighty. Back in the ring, Burch climbed to the top rope but Thorne shoved Lorcan into the ropes and Burch fell onto the top turnbuckle.
Lorcan was still able to pull out the victory by rolling up Miller. After the match, The Mighty got pissed off and attacked Burch and Lorcan from behind as the crowd booed. The Mighty slammed Lorcan into the steel ring post and the crowd responded by loudly chanting “you still suck!”.
EC3 Called Out Bobby Fish
EC3 squared off against Marcel Barthel on this week’s episode of NXT. “The Impeccable German” Marcel Barthel came down to the ring with his epic entrance and the match started off with the two Superstars locking up in the middle of the ring.
EC3 shoved Barthel across the ring and shouted “we’ve got a fight!”. Marcel then shoved EC3 and shouted “nein!”. EC3 responded by yelling “one!” and then locked in a Headlock. Marcel broke the hold by driving EC3 to the corner and hitting him with an Enziguri to his face.
Barthel stomped on EC3 , draped across the ropes and sent him to the apron with a running Dropkick. Marcel posed on the turnbuckle to a chorus of boos and then crowd transitioned into a “USA!” chant.
Marcel slammed EC3 to the mat and quickly applied a Headlock. EC3 battled to his feet but Barthel transitioned into a standing Arm Bar. EC3 launched Barthel into the turnbuckle and unloaded a flurry of punches to Marcel’s face.
EC3 followed it up with a Body Slam and an Elbow Drop. EC3 lifted Barthel up onto his shoulders and planted him with the One Percenter for the pinfall victory. After his victory, EC3 cut a promo on Bobby Fish and said that he didn’t finish the job when he tried to take him out on a previous episode of NXT. EC3 stated that he is coming after Fish because he is vindictive and wants revenge.
"I am coming for your head, your knees and EVERYTHING in between…"
Vanessa Borne battled Mia Yim on tonight’s show. The crowd was heavily behind Yim as the two Superstars circled each other in the ring. Mia wanted a handshake before the match but Borne opted to slap Yim in the face instead.
Yim got fired up and connected with a couple of Arm Drags before locking in an Arm Bar. Vanessa broke the hold by throwing Yim to the mat by her hair. Mia went after Borne as she desperately held onto the ring skirt. The referee became distracted by this and Borne capitalized with a poke to Mia’s eye.
Borne stomped on Yim in the corner and then bounced her face off the second turnbuckle. Borne followed it up with a Bronco Buster and called Yim pathetic as she crawled across the ring. Vanessa clubbed Yim in the back and followed it up with a Suplex for a near fall.
Vanessa applied a Headlock in the center of the ring as the crowd rallied behind Yim. Borne stomped on Yim once again and told the crowd to cheer for her. Yim tackled Borne to the mat and locked in another Arm Bar but Borne reached the bottom rope to break the hold.
Borne tripped Mia up and sent her to the corner. Yim locked in the Tarantula on the top rope and broke the hold before the ref counted to five. Mia hit a Dropkick and then a second one that sent Vanessa to the corner. Yim followed it up with running kick and then the Eat Defeat for the pinfall victory.
Kairi Sane, Dakota Kai, and Io Shirai backstage about what went down at NXT TakeOver: WarGames II. Sane lost her title rematch in a 2 out 3 Falls match against Shayna Baszler at the event. Jessamyn Duke and Marina Shafir interfered in the match, which led to Shirai and Kai running down to the ring to help out Sane. Baszler picked up the win by countering an Insane Elbow into a roll-up. Sane’s shoulders were off the mat but the referee didn’t catch it.
Sane stated that the referee’s decision was final in the interview tonight but added that she wasn’t done with Shayna Baszler. Kai stated that she simply doesn’t like Baszler for the way she treated her in the past. Shirai chimed in and said that Sane was her best friend and will fight with her. Sane, Shirai, and Kai then challenged Baszler, Duke, and Shafir to a fight.
Lars Sullivan and Keith Lee battled in the main event of this week’s episode of NXT. Sullivan drove Lee to the corner and shouted “this is Lars Sullivan territory!”. Lee showed off his strength and shoved Lars away but Sullivan responded with a massive shoulder tackle.
Lee responded with a Crossbody and went for the cover but Sullivan kicked out at one. Sullivan connected with a boot to Lee’s face and drove him back to the corner of the ring. Lars clubbed Lee across the chest and then drove his shoulder into Lee’s midsection. Sullivan picked up Lee with ease and launched him across the ring for a one count.
Sullivan connected with a Clothesline and followed it up with a headbutt off the middle turnbuckle for a two count. The crowd got behind Lee as Lars hit him with a few forearms to the face. Lars applied a Headlock in the middle of the ring and then clubbed him back to the canvas.
Lee fought back and tried to get Sullivan off him but Lars held onto a Bear Hug. Lee broke the hold by slamming Sullivan into the turnbuckle but Lars went right back to it. Lars shoved Lee to the corner and hit him with a gigantic Splash. Lars charged at Lee in the corner but Keith leaped over him and Sullivan crashed into the ring post.
Keith Lee blasted Sullivan in the face with a flurry of strikes. Lee bounced Sullivan’s face off the top turnbuckle and followed it up with a Crossbody for a near fall. Sullivan and Lee traded shots in the middle of the ring. Lee shoulder tackled Lars out of the ring and leaped onto him in an impressive fashion.
Lee rolled Sullivan back into the ring and went for the cover but Lars kicked out. Keith Lee went for a Moonsault off the second rope but Sullivan got out of the way and Lee crashed to the mat. Lars powerfully lifted him up and slammed him to the canvas with the Freak Accident for the pinfall victory.
WWE Hall of Famer Mark Henry recently gave his take while on Busted Open Radio about how WWE officials should book Nia Jax after she punched SmackDown Women’s Champion Becky Lynch a few weeks on RAW during an invasion angle where she would cause Lynch to suffer from a broken nose and concussion.
Henry stated that he wants Nia to not smile but rather brag about how she did what she did and if anyone has a problem with that, do the same to them. Taz also thinks that he could see Jax punching a guy to do one of those mixed challenge matches. This is after segments with Elias and Nia’s pairing with Tamina.
He thinks that they should incorporate a male superstar alongside Jax in order to convince her of her new ‘Facebreaker’ gimmick. “She should be knocking out everyone on that Women’s roster with that fits. Everyone.” Henry noted that the current state of professional wrestling is not so much thinking about wrestling but rather thinking about entertaining too much. “I’m tired of seeing everybody cry when they get a** whooping. There’s no crying in wrestling.”
Ronda Rousey will defend the RAW Women’s Title against Nia Jax at the upcoming TLC pay-per-view event that takes place on Sunday, December 16th, 2018 in San Jose, California at the SAP Center and will air on the WWE Network.
