Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc. CEO Chris Ripley revealed the interesting plans that ROH has for 2019.
The Baltimore Business Journal has reported that Ring of Honor is looking to hold an event at the world famous Madison Square Garden in New York City next year. The reason for this plan is due to the successful sell-out of All In.
The article would go onto to credit WWE’s upcoming television deals with NBCUniversal to keep their flagship show, Monday Night RAW, on the USA Network and moving SmackDown Live to FOX for ROH to have a more relevant name value in the industry.
Ripley stated that the plan that the company has to grow the Baltimore-based promotion is to take advantage of a “very passionate fanbase.” He noted that they want to start running bigger venues, which started when they sold out 10,000 seats in less than an hour in Chicago. Thus, the reason they want to run MSG.
“We have been scaling in terms of our production quality,” Ripley said.
Ripley would go onto talk about why they would be open to selling the promotion if a ridiculous offer came about, WWE’s TV deal and more. You can check out the full article here.
What are your thoughts on ROH wanting to run an event at MSG? Sound off in the comment section below.
Ring of Honor has announced a new match for their upcoming Best in the World PPV.
The Baltimore-based promotion recently announced through their official website that Sumie Sakai, Jenny Rose, Tenille Dashwood and Mayu Iwatani would take on Kelly Klein, Kagetsu, Hana Kimura, and Hazuki in an eight-woman tag team match at the upcoming pay-per-view event.
The Best in the World PPV takes place on Friday, June 29, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland at the UMBC Event Center. The event will air on traditional PPV outlets and the FITE TV app. The promotion will be announcing more matches in the coming weeks.
New Japan Pro Wrestling presents Kizuna Road this weekend. The promotion will be Saitama on Friday night and then will present two shows from Korakuen Hall on Sunday and Monday night, each with a title match main eventing the show.
NJPW will continue the tour next week, including a special retirement ceremony for Super Strong Machine on Tuesday.
The company will also be in Tokyo tomorrow night for Lion’s Gate Project 13 featuring many of their top prospects.
Kizuna Road Night #1 Friday, June 15th, 2018 Saitama, Japan
Yota Tsuji vs Yuya Uemura
Shota Umino and Tomoyuki Oka vs Taiji Ishimori and Yujiro Takahashi
Ren Narita, KUSHIDA, and David Finlay vs Roppongi 3K and Rocky Romero
Toa Henare and Togi Makabe vs Yoshi-Hashi and Toru Yano
Elimination Tag Match
Hiromu Takahashi, Bushi, Sanada, Evil, and Tetsuya Naito vs Taka Michinoku, El Desperado, Yoshinobu Kanemaru, Taichi, and Takashi Iizuka
Elimination Tag Match
Ryusuke Taguchi, Jeff Cobb, Juice Robinson, Michael Elgin, and Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Gedo, Tomohiro Ishii, Jay White, Hirooki Goto, and Kazuchika Okada
Kizuna Road Night #2 Sunday, June 17th, 2018 Tokyo, Japan
Yota Tsuji vs Yuya Uemura
Manabu Nakanishi and Yugi Nagata vs Shota Umino and Tomoyuki Oka
Ren Narita and Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs Taiji Ishimori and Yujiro Takahashi
Ryusuke Taguchi, Kushida, Toa Henare, Jeff Cobb, and Togi Makabe vs Sho, Yoh, Rocky Romero, Yoshi-Hashi and Toru Yano
Hiromu Takahashi, Bushi, Sanada, Evil, and Tetsuya Naito vs Taka Michinoku, El Desperado, Yoshinobu Kanemaru, Taichi, and Takashi Iizuka
David Finlay, Juice Robinson, and Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Tomohiro Ishii, Jay White, and Kazuchika Okada
NEVER Openweight Championship
Michael Elgin (c) vs Hirooki Goto
Kizuna Road Night #3 Monday, June 18th, 2018 Tokyo, Japan
Yota Tsuji vs Yuya Uemura
Ren Narita and Shota Umino vs Taiji Ishimori and Yujiro Takahashi
Tomoyuki Oka and Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs Manabu Nakanishi and Yuji Nagata
Ryusuke Taguchi, Toa Henare, David Finlay, and Togi Makabe vs Sho, Yoh, Yoshi-Hashi and Toru Yano
Bushi, Evil, Sanada, and Tetsuya Naito vs Taka Michinoku, Yoshinobu Kanemaru, Taichi, and Takashi Iizuka
Kushida, Jeff Cobb, Juice Robinson, Michael Elgin and Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Gedo, Tomohiro Ishii, Jay White, Hirooki Goto, and Kazuchika Okada
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion
Hiromu Takahashi (c) vs El Desperado
The new IWGP Heavyweight Champion, Kenny Omega, recently spoke to Tokyo Sports. During the interview, Omega mentioned why, despite the many offers to go elsewhere, he chooses to stay in NJPW.
Kenny Omega in New Japan Pro Wrestling
We’ve run Omega’s interview through Google Translate, which doesn’t always lead to the most exact translations. Most of Omega’s sentiment still comes through, however.
“It was a really bout, I still have a pain in the whole body, but that’s why I felt again that I should stay in New Japan,” Omega told Tokyo Sports. “I want to evolve the business of professional wrestling.”
“I was touched by Mr. Takagi who was still watching my game,” Omega continued. “I am thankful to those who cheer for me from the DDT era, and my style is to tell people that I have never seen a wrestling yet I want to increase new fans in the future.”
The Tokyo Sports article then concluded with the following statement:
“It is because Kenny’s constant efforts are widely known to be able to honor his accomplishment beyond nationality and genre. A foreign champion to be loved will be a new leader in the Japanese wrestling world.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3841EKmcF_8
Omega on Pro-Wrestling Revolution
Omega has consistently said he wants to evolve professional wrestling. He expressed the same desire during a pre-Dominion interview he gave to New Japan World.
“You (Okada) may be the best wrestler on the planet. I’ll admit it, you are,” Omega said “It’s not even an opinion thing anymore, this is something that you’ve proven. But you can’t say you are the best performer. That goes to me. If we’re going to move this thing forward, if we’re going to cause this revolution of professional wrestling and make it worldwide and something cool, we can’t just have the best natural wrestler steering the ship. We need someone who captures the imagination, who captures the heart. We need a professional wrestler and a showman. Which is why I’m doing everything in my power, to overtake your natural wrestling ability.”
“Switchblade” Jay White does not appear to be a team player. This is likely the sentiment being expressed by his stablemates in CHAOS following a controversial social media post from the IWGP United States Champion.
CHAOS had a chance to leave Dominion with the IWGP Heavyweight, Junior Heavyweight, NEVER Openweight, Jr Heavyweight tag-team, and IWGP United States Championship gold over the weekend. In the end, however, White is the only member of the stable still carrying a title belt.
White referenced the recent losing skid from the stables’ champions in a Twitter post below:
“Switchblade” Jay White, IWGP United States Champion
In the above photo, only White still holds their title. Roppongi 3K lost their titles at the New Beginning in Sapporo but had a chance to win them back at Dominion. They were defeated in Osaka by the Suzuki-Gun team of El Desperado and Yoshinobu Kanemaru, however.
Hirooki Goto lost the NEVER Openweight Championship to Michael Elgin on Saturday in a triple threat match also involving Taichi. Will Ospreay lost his IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship on Saturday as well. He dropped his belt to the winner of the 2018 Best of the Super Juniors tournament, Hiromu Takahashi.
Finally, Kenny Omega defeated Kazuchika Okada of the IWGP Heavyweight title in Osaka.
Jay White and CHAOS
White joined CHAOS earlier this year after turning down an offer to join Bullet Club from Kenny Omega. White would then defeat Omega at the New Beginning in Sapporo to win the IWGP United States Championship. Despite joining his faction, however, White has said he wouldn’t mind facing Okada someday. He’s also chosen to come out separately from his teammates during ring entrances, something Kevin Kelly has noted on commentary.
It seems Jay White may have joined CHAOS for his own reasons. He doesn’t appear committed to the stable as much as he is to his own career. We could see White leave the faction in the not too distant future.
Original Bullet Club member, Tama Tonga, does not appear pleased with the events which took place at Dominion. The Young Bucks and Kenny Omega won heavyweight gold in Osaka, Japan on Saturday. Omega defeated Kazuchika Okada to win the IWGP Heavyweight Championship and the Bucks defeated Evil and Sanada to win heavyweight tag gold for the first time in their NJPW careers.
Although the Bucks and Omega are technically his Bullet Club stablemates, Tonga does not appear happy for their success. He has posted several ominous messages on his Twitter recently.
This isn’t the first time Tama Tonga has appeared less than happy with members of the Elite. Tonga and Omega previously beefed over Omega’s commitment to the BC sub-faction during the G1 last summer. Although the two appeared to squash their differences, Tonga (and at times other members of the Bullet Club OGs as well) may still harbor some resentment.
A further Tweet has led many to believe Tama Tonga is planning something.
Although it looked as though the Bullet Club OG sub-faction (Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa, Bad Luck Fale, Yujiro Takahashi, HIKULEO, Chase Owens, etc.) would play a role in the Bullet Club civil war angle, it never played out that way. The Young Bucks and Tama Tonga squashed their beef on an episode of Being the Elite before Supercard of Honor.
Despite this, there are plenty of Bullet Club fans who would rather the NJPW faction be further separated from the American contingent.
The Bullet Club OGs were not on the most recent NJPW tour. Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa, and Bad Luck Fale have not wrestled for the promotion since Wrestling Dontaku 2018. On that show, they teamed with the Golden Lovers to defeat Cody, Marty Scurll, Hangman Page, and the Young Bucks.
Lio Rush is no stranger to Twitter. The recent 205 Live signee earned some heat from fans and co-workers last year after Tweeting that Emma was not “ready for Asuka” following her WWE release.
Now it seems Lio Rush is involved in another Twitter-related incident. This time, however, Lio is dealing with someone still on the roster.
The Twitter beef started after Rush posted the below Tweet:
Moose, from Impact Wrestling, decided to make it an inter-promotional war by pointing out Rush was standing in front of a 2006 Jaguar. Moose will face Eli Drake this week on Impact Wrestling. The winner will face Austin Aries for the title at Slammiversary.
Ricochet then claimed Rush hasn’t been watching NXT. The show has recently featured Ricochet and the Velveteen Dream building to their match at NXT Takeover: Chicago II. While there has been mic work from both, Ricochet has also demonstrated some flips during the feud.
Rush then began to claim Ricochet’s in-ring style will shorten his career. He then said he’ll be going into the Hall of Fame and Ricochet can induct him when the time comes.
Rush then answered back with, “Oh I guess you want me in that parking lot selling them snazzy snaz #Ricochet T-shirts with you right?” Rush Tweeted. “I’m good.”
Ricochet then quipped back, “You can go to @WWEShop and get my shirt, where can you get yours? Oh wait, you don’t have one.”
There has been speculation that Ricochet could be heading to 205 Live after an abbreviated stay in NXT. If that is the case, we could see Lio Rush vs Ricochet sooner rather than later.
While the NWO had become a crowded faction already, the WCW Officials decided to announce Vincent, popularly known as Ted DiBiase’s bodyguard Virgil from WWE, as the head of security for the faction during an episode of Nitro in 1996.
However, during a recent episode of Photo Shoot on WWE Network, Hall Of Famer The Godfather revealed the original plans for the head of security/bodyguard position.
According to the Godfather, the original plans were for him to fulfill this position but then the company officials stopped returning his call and one day he saw Vincent playing the role originally intended for him:
“My [WWE] contract was coming up, and I was in negotiations with WCW coming into the nWo as their bodyguard. And we had arranged a verbal contract, and then, I didn’t hear from them, they weren’t returning my calls. And then I’m watching the show one day, and I see Virgil come out as the bodyguard of the nWo.
Continuing on the topic, the former WCW Star explained that the company probably tried to save money by putting Virgil on the position as he was already a known bodyguard.
The Godfather then added that he is not mad at Virgil for taking the role because ‘Virgil is Virgil’. You can check out a promo of the Photo Shoot episode featuring the Hall Of Famer below:
Chris Jericho recently reiterated that he will never work for another wrestling company in the United States other than WWE. It’s a statement Jericho has been making ever since taking a sabbatical from wrestling in 2006.
The new IWGP Intercontinental Champion was a guest on a recent episode of “Inside the Ropes.” He went into further detail regarding his current situation with both NJPW and WWE.
“I got asked to do Long Beach, I said no, I got asked to do Cow Palace, I said no, I got asked to do All In, I said no,” Jericho explained. “I don’t want to do that.”
Chris Jericho Comments on Working Outside WWE
“(This) is the most I’ve made for the least amount of matches I’ve had in my career,” Jericho said regarding his current situation with New Japan Pro Wrestling. He then stressed he would not be entertaining offers from promotions other than WWE to wrestle in the United States unless they were willing to offer a significant payday.
“I’m not going to work anywhere else unless you wanna pay six f***ing figures,” he said. “This is Mayweather-McGregor type s**t for me.”
During the interview, Jericho talked about the commitment he made to Vince McMahon and WWE.
“The unwritten rule is I don’t want to go into the States,” Jericho said. “I feel like that would be a real slap in the face to Vince.”
While Jericho seems committed to living up to his promise, one has to wonder how long he can avoid being booked on NJPW’s United States shows. As the company looks to expand internationally, Jericho is a star the company likely wants to promote outside of Japan.
As for Jericho’s relationship with WWE, the last time he appeared on WWE programming was at the Greatest Royal Rumble from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
United States Champion Jeff Hardy pleaded guilty on Monday for driving while impaired.
Hardy was involved in a traffic crash back in March where the former World Champion ran off the road and struck about 105 feet of guardrail, causing his car to spin out into the opposite lane.
Jeff was then arrested in Cabarrus County, North Carolina after he blew a BAC (blood alcohol level) of .25 on his Breathalyzer test. The mentioned number is three times above the legal limit.
Now WBTV reveals that the SmackDown Star has been fined $300 for court costs and he has been given 120 days suspended sentence. In addition to this, he will have to complete an assessment and treatment class.
Not only that but Hardy will also have to turn over his driving license and he will need to complete 48 hours of community service within 120 days of the judgment.
Jeff Hardy returned to WWE back in April last year, though he spent a good amount of time between then and now in rehab after suffering a shoulder injury in September 2017.
Hardy returned to action in April earlier this year and he went on to win the United States Championship. Jeff was moved to SmackDown Live during the Superstar Shakeup.
While the company usually holds a dark match after Raw has gone off air, this week’s episode of the Red Branded Show featured a small segment involving Kevin Owens and Roman Reigns instead.
As seen last night, the main event of the show saw Braun Strowman scoring a pinfall victory in a fatal four-way match which also consisted Kevin Owens, Finn Balor, and Bobby Roode. Strowman pinned Owens for the win, however, Kevin’s night didn’t end just there.
After the cameras stopped rolling, Roman Reigns came out and attacked the former Universal Champion. Reigns went on to spear the former SmackDown Live Star and the Big Dog then celebrated in the ring to end the segment as well as the show.
Braun Strowman On His Victory
After his victory in the Fatal Four-way match during raw, the Monster Among Men Braun Strowman was featured in a fallout video where he talked about the upcoming Money In The Bank match.
Strowman, who is one of the 8 participants of the Money In The Bank Ladder match taking place this Sunday, said that his bout earlier in the night was just a warm-up.
The former Wyatt Family Member went on to claim that he will climb the ladder and take the briefcase on Sunday and said that the other 7 participants will ‘get these hands’:
A fan recently posted an On This Day GIF of Raw General Manager Kurt Angle’s steel cage match against Chris Benoit during the 11th June 2001 episode of Raw.
Angle took notice of the tweet and replying to it, the former World Champion and current Hall Of Famer claimed that it was the scariest match he has ever had:
Kurt was involved in a rivalry with Benoit in early 2001 and the two had numerous matches over the course of this feud. Their rivalry ended after the Olympic Gold Medalist won a two out of three falls match against Chris at Judgment Day 2001.
Stephanie McMahon Congratulates Ronda Rousey
As we noted before, after the broadcast of UFC 225, it was revealed that Ronda Rousey is going to be inducted into the Morden Wing of the UFC Hall Of Fame.
After the news broke out, Raw Commissioner Stephanie McMahon took her twitter account and congratulated the former UFC Star for continuing to blaze a trail for girls & women everywhere:
Ronda Rousey will be inducted into the UFC Hall Of Fame on July 5th next month. Prior to the induction, Ronda is set to challenge Nia Jax for the Raw Women’s Championship at the Money In The Bank PPV this Sunday.
The June 11th episode of WWE RAW aired live from the Verizon Arena in North Little Rock, AR. It was the final episode of RAW before WWE Money in the Bank 2018 this Sunday. Here are 10 takeaways from the show:
Corbin Got A Haircut & A Conversation Took Place On Ladders
Photo Credit: WWE.com
WWE RAW started off with the RAW Superstars competing in the men’s and women’s MITB Ladder matches standing on ladders in the ring.
RAW GM Kurt Angle came down to the entrance ramp and promoted WWE Money in the Bank this Sunday. Constable of RAW Baron Corbin interrupted with a shaved head (finally!) and stated that he is here to ensure that RAW runs smoothly. Baron said that Stephanie McMahon will be disappointed if both MITB contracts don’t come back to RAW.
Alexa Bliss, Ember Moon, and Sasha Banks started arguing on the ladders. Angle interrupted and asked Natalya if she was ready to compete on Sunday. Natalya said that she was ready to grab the contract for a future match against Ronda Rousey for the RAW Women’s Championship.
Kevin Owens asked Angle if the briefcase will be raised when Strowman climbs the ladder because he is taller than everyone else. Angle stated that the briefcase will remain at the same height the entire time and Owens got pissed off. Roode, Balor, Strowman, and Owens started arguing with each other.
Alexa Bliss shrieked to get everyone to shut up and said that her Mixed Match Challenge partner, Braun Strowman, will win the men’s MITB Ladder Match. Sasha Banks said that Finn Balor will win and everyone started arguing again. The segment ended with Braun Strowman telling everyone to shut up and announcing that someone is going to get these hands on Sunday.
The male and female #MITB#LadderMatch competitors have some predictions of who they think is going to win this Sunday…
Later on RAW, Kevin Owens presented Balor with some olives as a way of offering Finn an olive branch. Owens suggested that everyone team up against Braun Strowman in the Fatal 4-Way match so that they could take him out before Money in the Bank. Owens approached Roode backstage later in the night and suggested the same plan.
Opinion: This promo probably sounded great when it was pitched, but I couldn’t get over how silly it was that everyone was just conversing on for symbolism. The main thing I took from this was that Corbin shaved his head.
Sasha Banks, Ember Moon, Natalya and Alexa Bliss competed in a Fatal 4-Way match tonight on RAW. Bliss pretended to be injured at the beginning of the match and Natalya threw her into the barricade outside the ring.
Back in the ring, Natalya knocked Moon out of the ring and took Banks down to the canvas. Sasha battled back and booted Natalya out of the ring. Moon got back into the ring and sent Banks to the apron. Sasha connected with a punch and then flipped onto Natalya outside the ring. Moon connected with a ridiculous Suicide Dive that sent Banks flying into the barricade. Alexa Bliss then connected with a punch to Moon’s face as RAW went to a commercial break.
When RAW returned, Bliss and Natalya were battling in the ring. Moon joined them but was immediately knocked back to the outside by a forearm from Alexa Bliss. Alexa targetted Natalya’s taped up knee and stomped on it a couple of times.
Natalya tried to battle back but her leg gave out and she was knocked to the outside. Sasha got back into the ring and attacked Bliss. Banks hit a knee to the face and then Double Knees in the corner for a two count.
Ember got back into the action with a Crossbody onto Bliss and Banks. Moon hit Banks with an Enziguri and followed it up with a Suplex for two. Ember and Sasha teamed up on Bliss and perched her on the top turnbuckle. Natalya snuck up behind them and Powerbombed Banks and Moon off the second rope. Alexa went for Twisted Bliss on Sasha but she got her knees up as RAW went to another commercial break.
When RAW returned, Sasha quickly got Alexa Bliss in the Bank Statement in the middle of the ring. Natalya broke it up and delivered a Dropkick to Banks and Bliss. Natalya threw Alexa out fo the ring and locked in the Sharpshooter on Sasha. Ember broke it up with a boot to the back of Natalya’s head.
Moon elbowed Natalya in the face and made her way to the top turnbuckle. Ember hit an awesome Eclipse and went for the cover but Bliss broke it up. Moon and Bliss battled to the outside of the ring. Alexa threw Ember into the steel steps and tried to cover Natalya in the ring.
Banks broke up the cover as the crowd chanted “this is awesome!”. Bliss launched Banks into the ring post and then Natalya once again applied the Sharpshooter in the center of the ring. Bliss quickly tapped out and Natalya won the Fatal 4-Way match.
Breezango faced Dolph Ziggler & Drew McIntyre tonight on RAW. Ziggler and Breeze started off the match. Dolph slammed Tyler into the turnbuckle and followed it up by raking his face across the top rope. Dolph taunted Fandango and then dropped an elbow on Breeze for a two count.
McIntyre tagged in and continued the beatdown of Breeze. Drew connected with a chop to the chest and tagged Ziggler back in. Dolph taunted Fandango once again and this time it cost him. Breeze hit an Enziguri and then tagged in Fandango.
Drew tagged in at the same and Fandango sent him to the corner. Fandango climbed up to the top rope but got distracted with Ziggler on the apron. McIntyre crotched Fandango on the top rope and then knocked him to the canvas. Drew slammed Breeze onto Breeze and then tagged Dolph back in. McIntyre and Ziggler followed it up with the Zig Zag/ Claymore on Fandango for the pinfall victory.
After the match, Ziggler and McIntyre said that their elimination last week in the Tag Team Battle Royal was a fluke and tonight was proof of that. They then put every team on notice and said that they were here to save the RAW tag division by taking every team out.
Roman Reigns was interviewed backstage and called Jinder Mahal an idiot for asking for a match tonight. Reigns blamed Mahal for not being in the MITB Ladder Match and added that Jinder has earned this ass whooping tonight.
Mahal cut a promo before the match and said that he challenged Roman to a match to prove a point. Jinder stated that Reigns isn’t as unstoppable as he thinks he is and claimed that Roman will suffer at Money in the Bank. Jinder vowed to deliver multiple Khallases and that his arm will be raised this Sunday night. Reigns interrupted and made his way down to the ring for the match.
Jinder grabbed the microphone once again and Sunil Singh joined him in the ring. Mahal said that Reigns’ failures were clouding his judgment and announced that Roman will be facing Sunil Singh tonight.
Reigns punched Jinder off the ring apron and stared down Sunil. Roman hit him with a Superman Punch and then geared up in the corner. Reigns hit the Spear for the pinfall victory. Mahal then attacked Reigns from behind and planted him with the Khallas. Jinder celebrated for a moment and then dragged Sunil backstage.
The B-Team defeated Slater & Rhyno tonight to remain undefeated. Matt Hardy & Bray Wyatt interrupted their post-match celebration by giving them a standing ovation on the jumbotron. Bray then said “we’re here” and the lights went off in the arena.
When the light came back on, Hardy and Wyatt were standing on the entrance ramp. Matt called them obsolete mules and Wyatt told them that they were surrounded by the woken and fireflies.
Hardy called Bo and Curtis “obnoxious ants” and vowed to eat them and then delete them. Bray posed in front of Hardy as he chanted “delete!” several times.
Elias performed a song in the ring and insulted the Arkansas crowd while doing so. Elias vowed to take the Intercontinental Championship from Seth Rollins at WWE Money in the Bank. He then poked fun at Rollins’ nicknames and called him a tool for doing Crossfit.
Elias claimed his guitar was given to him by John Mayer and showed off the design, which had the IC Title on it. He claimed that will play his greatest song yet next week when he is Intercontinental Champion.
Seth Rollins interrupted and rushed the ring. Elias stomped on Seth as he got into the ring. Seth battled back and delivered a Back Body Drop that sent Elias out of the ring. Rollins grabbed the microphone and told Elias to stop being a coward.
Rollins told Elias that all he had to do was ask for a fight instead of attacking him from behind a couple of weeks ago. Seth said that Elias had a cool thing going and he really wanted to like him. Seth then noticed that Elias’ new guitar was still propped up in the corner of the ring.
Elias pleaded with Rollins to save it for Sunday as Seth grabbed the guitar. Seth asked the crowd if they got a look at the new guitar and complimented its craftsmanship. Rollins suggested a charity auction tonight and asked the crowd if they had any bidders.
Elias shouted that he will bid on it and Seth brought up the guitar being a gift from John Mayer. Seth put the guitar down and stated that it must be very special to Elias. Rollins put his foot on the guitar and Elias started to freak out. The crowd chanted “yes!”. Rollins added that he only knows one song and it usually happens when he taps his foot on the mat.
The crowd chanted “burn it down” as Rollins stood by the guitar. Seth bounced off of the ropes and stomped on the guitar. Rollins then pretended to play the broken guitar with a smile on his face as his theme hit.
Bayley faced Ruby Riott tonight on RAW. Before the match, Ruby Riott, Sarah Logan, and Liv Morgan were shown backstage. They knocked a bunch of stuff over and Ruby snipped a man’s tie.
Logan and Morgan accompanied to Riott to the ring for the match. Ruby started off the match in control and knocked Bayley to the mat. Riott then beatdown Bayley in the corner. Bayley battled back and connected with a flurry of punches.
Riott dropped Bayley with an elbow to the face and followed it up with a knee. Bayley pounced on Riott and hit her in the face with another series of punches for a two count. Bayley bounced Ruby’s face into the top rope and shared some words with Logan and Morgan.
Bayley hit Ruby with a Bulldog and then made her way to the second rope. Bayley hit an elbow to the face off the second turnbuckle and Riott retreated out of the ring. RAW went to a break after Bayley slammed Ruby to the floor on the outside.
Ruby Riott was back in control when RAW returned. Bayley quickly battled back with a Dropkick but was then slammed face-first into the second rope by Riott. Bayley slammed Ruby into the turnbuckle and hit an elbow to the face. Bayley followed it up with a knee to the face and then made her way up to the top rope.
Bayley went for the Elbow Drop but Ruby rolled out of the way and Bayley crashed to the canvas. Riott went for the cover but Bayley was able to kick out at two. Bayley hit another knee to the face and Morgan hopped up on the ring apron. While the referee was distracted, Logan hopped up on the apron on the other side of the ring. Riott then threw Bayley into the ring post and followed it up with the Riott Kick for the pinfall victory. After the match, Morgan, and Logan held Bayley up as Ruby drew an “R” on her stomach.
Jonathan Coachman moderated a face-to-face meeting between Nia Jax and Ronda Rousey. Nia will be defending her RAW Women’s Championship against Rousey this Sunday at WWE Money in the Bank.
Coachman asked Nia if her rivalry with Rousey is now filled with anger. Jax admitted to pushing Ronda’s buttons the past few weeks to see how she would react. Nia noted that Rousey is still very new in WWE and that there are things in WWE that you can’t do in UFC. Jax said she will show Ronda what she is talking about on Sunday.
Rousey said that she doesn’t gameplan, she improvises and on Sunday she is going to “improvise Nia’s arm off”. Ronda said that she has earned the right to be confident. Jax brought up Rousey’s one match in WWE and how it was a tag match against a businesswoman. Nia stated that she is not Stephanie McMahon, she is the RAW Women’s Champion.
Jax vowed to take Rousey’s reputation on Sunday and that when she is done with her, people will be calling Nia the “baddest woman on the planet”. Nia added that at the end of the day, Ronda is just not ready and that is why she challenged her.
Rousey chuckled and got up. Ronda ran down her past accomplishments and how people claimed she wasn’t ready for any of those either. Rousey boasted about going into the UFC Hall of Fame and shouted that she was born ready. Nia got up with the title and raised it Rousey’s face. Nia went for a punch but Ronda caught her. Jax delivered a headbutt to Ronda and Rousey crashed to the canvas.
Rousey tried to lock in the Arm Bar on Nia but Jax was able to block it. Jax showed off her power and lifted Ronda in the air. Rousey quickly locked in the Arm Bar once again and Nia Jax tapped out before rolling out of the ring. Ronda high-fived some fans in the front row as Nia shook her head at ringside as the segment concluded.
Opinion: This was the first good segment of this entire feud. It was pretty simple but it worked. Jax pointed out Rousey’s inexperience in a WWE ring and said that she was going to take advantage of that. Ronda proved that she can get Nia in the Arm Bar and will be a threat to her on Sunday night. There wasn’t some goofy angle with Natalya, it was just an effective promo to hype a title match. Having said that, I am not expecting anything great from this match on Sunday. I’m expecting outside interference that will cost Rousey the match.
Sami Zayn Attacked Bobby Lashley On An Obstacle Course
An obstacle was set up for Bobby Lashley and Sami Zayn. Renee Young interviewed Zayn before the race and Sami stated that all he did was ask a simple question last week. Zayn insisted that the obstacle course was the only way to prove Lashley was actually in the army.
Sami went over everything that was in the obstacle course and how Lashley was going to fail at each one of them. Zayn said that he was going to dedicate his victory tonight in the obstacle course to Canada. Lashley came down to the entrance ramp and vowed to beat Sami in the obstacle course and at Money in the Bank.
Lashley went first and completed the obstacle course in 45 seconds. Sami then attacked Lashley from behind and hit him with the Helluva Kick. The crowd chanted “USA!” as Sami laughed and posed on the entrance ramp.
Opinion: I hope that this feud ends Sunday at Money in the Bank. I don’t care about the outcome of the match at all, I just want it to be over. It hasn’t helped Lashley or Zayn in any way. It has been terrible television and a complete waste of everyone’s time.
Kevin Owens, Finn Balor, Bobby Roode and Braun Strowman competed in a Fatal 4-Way tonight on RAW. Owens tried to get everyone to team up against Braun Strowman throughout the night. Right before the match, Strowman approached Balor, Roode, and Owens and suggested that they all team up on him tonight. Braun then raised his fists and shouted.
Braun dominated the match for the first few minutes. Owens, Balor, and Roode then teamed up and beatdown Strowman in the corner. Braun fought back and planted Balor with a Side Slam. Strowman decked Roode with a forearm to the back and went after Owens.
Owens rolled out of the ring and Braun followed him. Roode and Balor attacked Strowman from behind and Owens joined in. Strowman sent them all flying once again and started chasing Owens again. Owens ran backstage with Strowman for a moment but Braun caught up with him and threw him back to the entrance ramp.
Strowman threw Owens into the screen on the ramp and then shoved a ladder out of the way. Braun cleared off the announce table and lifted Owens onto his shoulders. Roode blasted Strowman with the ladder a few times. Finn and Bobby continued to beatdown Strowman and placed him on the announce table.
Owens set up the ladder next to the table as Balor and Roode held the ladder in place. Owens reached the top of the ladder and hit a ridiculous Frog Splash on Strowman through the table as RAW went to a commercial break.
When RAW returned, Owens and Strowman were still down by the announce table. Balor and Roode were back in the ring and Finn connected with a forearm to the face. Finn followed it up with a Double Stomp and then a chop in the corner. Balor connected with a kick to the side of the head that sent Roode to the floor outside the ring.
Roode quickly got back into the ring and hit a Blockbuster off the second rope for a two count. Balor connected with a Slingblade and made his way to the top rope. Owens got up on the ring apron but Finn sent him to the floor. Roode then tripped up Finn and perched him on the top turnbuckle.
Roode then Superplexed Balor as Owens hit a Powerbomb on Roode at the same time. Strowman then made his way back to his feet and marched down the ramp. Braun punched Balor in the face and Clotheslined Roode. Strowman got up on the ring apron as Owens was in the middle of the ring. Owens tried to escape through the crowd but Braun was able to catch up to him.
Braun brought Owens back to the ringside area and decked him with a shoulder tackle. Back in the ring, Strowman hit a Splash onto Roode and Owens in the corner. Finn hit Strowman with a kick to the face and then a Double Stomp to Braun’s back. Strowman shrugged it off and leveled him with a shoulder tackle.
Owens hit Strowman with a Superkick and then instructed Roode to DDT Strowman. Owens tried to roll-up Roode from behind but Balor broke it up. Balor hit Strowman with a Slingblade and then a Dropkick in the corner. Finn then hit the Coup de Grace on Strowman and went for the cover but Roode broke it up.
Roode threw Balor into the ring post and then hit the Glorious DDT on Strowman. Owens broke up the cover and threw Roode out of the ring. Owens climbed to the top rope and hit another Frog Splash for a two count. Owens couldn’t believe that Braun kicked out and rolled out of the ring.
Owens grabbed a ladder from under the ring and bashed Strowman in the ribs with it. Braun grabbed the ladder and stared at Owens for a moment. Strowman grabbed Owens by the throat and Owens shouted “I’m sorry!” as he was Chokeslammed to the canvas. Braun connected with a Running Powerslam to Owens on the ladder for the pinfall victory.
Opinion: Tonight’s episode of RAW was certainly much better than last week’s show. There are several matches on Sunday’s card that have the potential to be great. However, like most WWE PPVs, the storylines and feuds have been poor leading up to Money in the Bank. The main event tonight was very entertaining and I’m definitely looking forward to the Ladder Matches on Sunday.
What did you think of this week’s episode of RAW? Let us know in the comments below.
Today (Monday, June 11, 2018) marked the milestone of WWE Universal Champion Brock Lesnar holding onto the title for 435 days, which means that he has broken a WWE record.
That record was Lesnar passing CM Punk to become the longest reigning world champion of the modern era as Punk held onto the WWE Championship for 434 days.
Paul Heyman took to his official Twitter account to comment on the achievement by writing the following:
“Congratulations to @BrockLesnar for day #435 as the reigning defending undisuputed @WWE #UniversalHeavyweightChampion. This is yet another historic accomplishment for my client, the longest consecutive-day tenure as a globally-recognized champion in the modern era!”
Congratulations to @BrockLesnar for day #435 as the reigning defending undisuputed @WWE#UniversalHeavyweightChampion. This is yet another historic accomplishment for my client, the longest consecutive-day tenure as a globally-recognized champion in the modern era! pic.twitter.com/bVAhhBtdKT
As seen on this week’s episode of Monday Night Raw in Little Rock, AR at the Verizon Arena on the USA Network, Baron Corbin showed off a new look in the opening segment of the show. He decided to shave his head and is now bald.
The former WWE Champion recently appeared on Bust Open Radio on Sirius XM to speak with Dave LaGreca and WWE Hall of Famer Mark Henry about various topics.
During the interview, he was asked if he is a locker room leader. Here is what he had to say (transcript courtesy of Wrestling Inc).
“No. I don’t think I will ever be a locker room leader like The Undertaker or John Cena. That is just not my role. I am not someone that sits in the back watching the monitor and observing everyone. I have to get in the ring to feel exactly how you are. That is how I teach. I teach by example, instead of saying to them what they did wrong. I need to get in the ring with them and be able to feel what the are doing, so that is how I am able to teach.
I am not one of those people that people go to and people ask for my advice. I don’t know, it’s tough for me to give a person advice when I wasn’t in the ring with them. I don’t know what their mindset is. I don’t know why they did what they did and when they did it. I have to hear an audience, and feel an audience to know exactly why I am doing something.” The Miz then shifted into how his confidence has grown over the years.
“It feels like now that I have been in WWE for over 12 years, I have developed this confidence where whatever situation I am in I know what to do. I don’t think I have had that type of confidence.
I think that it takes a lot of time; a lot of matches and a lot of years to develop that type of confidence where no matter what situation you are in, you know exactly what to do, get the crowd to wherever you want them and be so confident that even if you fail it is still a success.”
What are your thoughts on The Miz’s comments? Sound off in the comment section below.
The Background
The Miz was drafted to the ECW brand in 2007 where he formed a partnership with John Morrison. Together, they won the WWE Tag Team Championship and World Tag Team Championship. After being drafted to Raw in 2009, he won the United States Championship twice, tag team titles with John Cena, Damien Mizdow, and twice with Big Show, as well as the 2010 Raw Money in the Bank ladder match. He cashed in his briefcase to win the WWE Championship in November 2010 and went on to hold for six months. He is also the third longest-reigning Intercontinental Champion in WWE history by combined days, behind only Don Muraco and Pedro Morales. If you recall, the biggest match of The Miz’s career was when he defeated John Cena for the WWE Championship back at WrestleMania 27 in 2011 in the main event.
The June 11th, 2018 edition of WWE RAW aired live from the Verizon Arena in North Little Rock, AR.
– RAW opens up with all of RAW’s participants in the upcoming Money In The Bank ladder matches in the ring. They’re all standing on ladders set up in the ring, and then RAW GM Kurt Angle comes out to give them a pep talk. Baron Corbin quickly comes out to interrupt, and Corbin is sporting a new shaved-head look. Corbin takes issue with Angle, and Alexa quickly interrupts and starts talking trash. This leads to all the wrestlers on the ladders in the ring bickering back and forth, until Strowman starts threatening Kevin Owens. Owens complains that he can’t perform when Strowman is constantly threatening him, but Strowman doesn’t care. Strowman says he plans to climb the ladder, grab the contract, and take the WWE Universal Title from Brock Lesnar. Everyone starts arguing until Alexa screams and they get quiet. Alexa says they need to stop acting like the Real Housewives of WWE. Alexa says she picks Strowman to win the men’s match, and Banks picks her mixed-match challenge partner Finn Balor. They all start arguing again until Strowman screams “enough,” and says this Sunday somebody is gonna get these hands. Strowman’s music hits and everyone eyes each other down from their respective ladder set up in the ring.
– Up next: Sasha Banks vs. Ember Moon vs. Alexa Bliss vs. Natalya in a Fatal 4 Way
– Sasha Banks vs. Ember Moon vs. Alexa Bliss vs. Natalya: Alexa starts off strong in this one, but Sasha and Ember briefly team up to take control of the match. Sasha and Ember go at it now until Natalya gets involved and drops Ember to the outside. Natalya goes after Sasha next and works on keeping Banks grounded. Sasha fights back in the corner, but Natalya overpowers her and looks for the Sharpshooter. Sasha fights her off and kicks Natalya out down to ringside. Ember gets back in the ring and starts brawling with Sasha. Ember dumps Sasha outside and follows up with a suicide dive. Alexa gets back in the fight and drops Ember, then works over Sasha in the ring. Sasha gets dumped outside again as Alexa and Natalya go back and forth in the ring now. Alexa starts working over Natalya’s bad knee and takes control of the match. Sasha gets back in the ring now and drops Alexa then hits the running double knees in the corner. Ember runs in now and goes after Sasha, hitting a big suplex for a two count. Alexa comes in and fights with Ember in the corner until Alexa hits a sunset flip, but Ember breaks it up with a knee to the face. Alexa, Sasha and Ember fight in the corner until Alexa knocks Sasha and Ember down. Alexa goes for the Twisted Bliss on Sasha, but Sasha blocks with her knees. Sasha locks Alexa in the Banks Statement, but Natalya cracks her in the head to break it up. Natalya knees her in the face again, and then she dumps Alexa outside. Natalya drops Sasha, but then Ember comes in and goes after Natalya. Ember Moon hits the Eclipse on Natalya, but Alexa breaks it up and then drops Ember at ringside. Natalya drops Sasha next, and then she locks Alexa in the Sharpshooter for the win via submission.
Winner: Natalya
– Kevin Owens approaches Finn Balor bacckstage and offers him some olives. Owens says he is symbolically offering him the olive branch. Owens says that Women’s Fatal 4 Way was chaotic, and Owens tries to make a partnership with Balor. Owens says he’s concerned about Braun Strowman, and he wants to work together with Balor and Roode to take out Strowman. Owens says instead of every man for himself, tonight should be every man against monster.
– Still to come: Roman Reigns vs. Jinder Mahal; and Ronda Rousey & Nia Jax will come face to face.
– The Fashion Police vs. Dolph Ziggler & Drew McIntyre: Ziggler and Breeze start this one off and Ziggler drops him. Ziggler hits an elbow drop for a two count early on. Drew tags in and works over Breeze in the corner, then Ziggler tags back in and continues the offense. Fandango tags in and all four men start brawling. Drew powerbombs Breeze onto Fandango, and then they hit the Zig Zag/Claymore combination on Breeze for the three count.
Winners: Dolph Ziggler & Drew McIntyre
– After the match, Dolph and Drew cut a promo saying this beat-down tonight is proof of their in-ring ability.
– Roman Reigns is backstage for an interview about Jinder Mahal. He complains about not getting another chance to take his Universal Title back from Brock Lesnar. As far as tonight goes, he’s going to deliver a receipt to Jinder Mahal, paid in full. He faces Jinder Mahal up next.
– Jinder Mahal comes out to the ring with Sunil Singh and he cuts a promo about Roman Reigns. Jinder talks about his plans to defeat Reigns, and envisioning his hand raised in the air. Reigns comes out to interrupt and The Big Dog hits the ring. Jinder stays on the mic and trashes Reigns, and then he reveals that tonight “the great” Sunil Singh will be facing Reigns in Jinder’s place.
– Roman Reigns vs. Sunil Singh: Sunil is hesitant, but Jinder gives him a pep talk and tells him he’s got this. Roman punches Jinder off the apron, then he decks Sunil. Reigns spears Sunil down and pins for the three count.
Winner: Roman Reigns
– Immediately after the three count, Jinder hits the ring and drops Reigns. Jinder hits the Khallas and yells at Reigns. Jinder hauls Sunil out of the ring and up the ramp with him.
– The B Team vs. Heath Slater & Rhyno: Slater and Axel start this one off. Slater is fired up and drops Axel with a series of strikes. Axel comes back with some knee strikes, then Dallas tags in and works over Slater in the corner. Slater fights back with a jawbreaker, then Axel tags in. Axel and Dallas double team Slater with a suplex/neckbreaker for the three count after a short match.
Winners: The B Team
– Slater and Axel have a big celebration after the match, until Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt appear on the big screen to interrupt. They applaud The B Team, but then get serious and tell them “we’re here.” The lights go out, and Matt and Bray appear on the stage. Matt tells The B Team they have done a good job for obsolete mules. They indicate that The B Tema are in line for Tag Team Title shots.
– We see a video package looking back at the history between Seth Rollins and Elias.
– Elias is backstage warming up his guitar, and he says he’s not used to performing in front of a bunch of Arkansas hillbillies.
– Elias comes out to the ring for a song. He talks about his plans to take the Intercontinental Title from Seth Rollins at Money In The Bank, and then he sings a song trashing Rollins and Arkansas. Elias brings out a guitar with the IC Title airbushed on it, and then Rollins comes out to interrupt. Rollins hits the ring and Elias puts the boots to him. Rollins fights up and dumps Elias outside. Elias retreats up the ramp and Rollins gets on the mic. He tells Elias he’s a coward, because Rollins isn’t hard to find, and he can come fight him any time. Rollins picks up Elias’ airbrushed guitar, and says he might auction it off right now to a fan. Rollins threatens to stomp on the guitar, and Elias freaks out. Rollins ends up bouncing off the ropes and stomping through the guitar. Elias is not happy, and he backs up the ramp as Rollins taunts him from the ring.
– Bobby Roode is backstage getting dressed for his match when Kevin Owens interrupts. Owens tries to recruit Roode to help him take out Strowman. Owens tells Roode it’s up to him, and he walks off.
– The Riott Squad is backstage throwing papers and bags of chips around a hallway. They cut some random person’s tie and keep walking.
– Bayley vs. Ruby Riott: Liv Morgan and Sarah Logan are at ringside in Ruby’s corner. The opening bell sounds and Ruby starts off strong with strikes. Ruby drops Bayley with an elbow to the head and pummels on her. Bayley comes back out of the corner with a cross body and she pounds on Ruby. Ruby boots Bayley in the face, but Bayley takes her back down with a Thesz Press and pummels on Ruby. Bayley goes to the middle rope and hits a spinning elbow to the face. Ruby rolls outside for a breather, and Bayley looks for a baseball slide kick but misses. Bayley grabs Ruby and hits a back suplex on the ringside floor, then she rolls back in. Back in the ring, they fight back and forth with strikes until Ruby slams Bayley face-first into the middle rope. They go back and forth until Bayley hits a big shot in the corner and then a running knee to the face. Bayley goes up top for a flying elbow drop, but she misses. Ruby goes for a couple pin attempts, but Bayley fights back with another knee to the face. Liv distracts Bayley on the apron, and Ruby whips Bayley into the ring post and then hits the Riott Kick for the three count.
Winner: Ruby Riott
– After the match, The Riott Squad beats down Bayley and they write on her with black lipstick.
– Natalya and Ronda Rousey hug backstage, and Natalya warns Ronda to be ready for anything with Nia out in the ring tonight.
– We see a promo video for Jeff Hardy vs. Shinsuke Nakamura on SmackDown this week.
– Jonathan Coachman is in the ring to moderate a discussion between Ronda Rousey and Nia Jax. The Coach asks Nia about her feud with Ronda getting personal, and Nia says things have gotten tense and she’s purposely pushed Ronda’s buttons the last few weeks. Nia says Ronda is beautiful, talented, has a big following, and a stellar reputation — she’s still very new in the WWE. She says there are things you can do in WWE that you can’t do in UFC, like headbutts, slaps, strikes to the spine, hair pulling, and head and knee strikes, and “12 and 6” elbows. Ronda says she doesn’t have a game plan, she’s going to improvise, and she’s going to improvise Nia’s arm off. Ronda says she’s confident because she’s earned the right to be. Nia says Ronda’s one match in WWE was very impressive, but it was against Stephanie, who only wrestles part-time. Nia says when she’s done with Ronda, they will be calling Nia the baddest woman on the planet, because Ronda isn’t ready. Ronda gets up and says she has been ready ever since she made the Olympic team at 17, and she talks about some of her MMA accomplishments. She yells that she’s Ronda Rousey and she was born ready. Nia gets up and gets in Ronda’s face as Coach backs off. Nia goes to throw a punch, but Ronda catches it, so Nia headbutts her down. Nia picks her up, but Ronda catches her and goes for an arm bar on Nia. Nia resists but Ronda finally executes the arm bar and Nia immediately taps out. Ronda lets go and Nia rolls outside to recover. The bell rings for some reason, and Ronda puts on her jacket and leaves as Nia recovers on the floor.
– Kurt Hawkins is backstage looking like he’s in deep thought. No Way Jose dances by with his conga line, and Corey Graves announces that Hawkins and Jose are in action next.
– No Way Jose vs. Kurt Hawkins: Hawkins doesn’t come out for his entrance, but then he hits the ring from behind disguised as a conga dancer. He attacks Jose from behind, but Jose drops him and hits his finished for the quick three count.
Winner: No Way Jose
– Jose dances out with his conga line after a short squash match.
– Bobby Roode approaches Finn Balor and asks what he thinks about Kevin Owens’ proposal. They both indicate they don’t trust Owens, and Balor adds that he’s keeping an eye on Roode too.
– Staffers are setting up an “obstacle course” at ringside for Bobby Lashley and Sami Zayn, and then the broadcast team throws us to a Special Olympics video package. We go to commercial.
– Renee Young is on the stage to introduce Sami Zayn, as there appears to be a military boot camp style obstacle course set up from the stage all around the ring. Sami comes out to the ring with a mic, and reiterates that he wonders if Bobby Lashley really was in the military. Sami says the only way Bobby can prove he is a real military man, is if he completes this obstacle course as fast as Sami can. Sami walks through parts of the course and says he is confident Lashley can’t beat him on this course. Lashley comes out to the stage and talks to Renee, and says he’s going to beat Sami’s butt in the course and on Sunday. They flip a coin to see who goes first, and it’s determined Lashley will go through the course first. The timer starts and Lashley starts running through the course. Lashley completes the course in impressive fashion, and then Sami attacks him from behind. Sami beats Lashley down at ringside and boots him in the face. Referees separate them as Sami heads back up the ramp.
– Kevin Owens is backstage with Roode and Balor, trying to convince them to gang up on Strowman. Strowman walks in as they’re talking, and says he has a great idea: Why don’t the three of them team up against him. Strowman laughs and walks off. Their Fatal 4 Way is up next.
– Finn Balor vs. Bobby Roode vs. Kevin Owens vs. Braun Strowman: The opening bell sounds and Strowman starts dropping anyone who comes near him. Strowman tosses all three men across the ring. Owens rolls outside for a breather, and Balor follows, as Strowman stands tall in the ring. Roode, Balor and Owens surround Strowman now and they gang up on him. They all beat on Strowman until Strowman fires up and shoves Owens down, then drops Roode and Balor. Owens retreats from Strowman and rolls outside. Strowman follows him outside, but Roode attacks him from behind, and the 3-on-1 attack on Strowman continues. Strowman shoves them all off and chases Owens up the ramp. Strowman headbutts Owens, then drops Balor and Roode. Strowman throws a ladder down on the stage, and then he chases the announcers away from the broadcast table. Roode and Balor attack Strowman, and they lay him on the table. Owens brings a ladder over and goes up top, and Owens hits a frog splash off the top of the ladder on Strowman through the table. Roode and Balor brawl down to the ring and fight back and forth on the mat. Balor hits an overhead kick on Roode, but Roode fires up and hits a blockbuster off the turnbuckle for a two count. Owens tries to get in the ring but Balor kicks him down, then Roode crotches Balor on the top rope. Roode looks for a superplex, but Owens comes up behind which leads to a powerbomb/superplex combo. Strowman is shown slowly getting to his feet back on the stage. Strowman fights his way to the ring and drops everyone in his sight. Owens runs away and hops the fan barricade, and Strowman chases him into the crowd. Strowman drags Owens back to ringside and drops him on the floor. Strowman runs around ringside and shoulder blocks all three of his opponents down. Strowman takes Owens back in the ring and looks for a running powerslam, but Owens escapes. Strowman hits a shot on Roode in the corner, then he drops Balor. They gang up on Strowman, which leads to Balor hitting the running dropkick on Strowman in the corner. Balor hits the Coup De Grace off the top and pins, but Roode breaks it up. Roode dumps Balor outside, and Roode hits the Glorious DDT on Strowman. Owens runs in and breaks up the pin and throws Roode outside. Owens goes up top and hits the frogsplash off the top for a two count on Strowman. Owens grabs a ladder and goes to attack Strowman, but Strowman stops him and ends up hitting the running powerslam on Owens ontop of the ladder on the mat. Strowman pins and scores the three count.
Winner: Braun Strowman
– Strowman stands tall in the ring after the match. Strowman sells sore ribs as he gets out of the ring and heads to the back as everyone else recovers around ringside and RAW goes off the air.
WWE has announced two new matches for this week’s episode of SmackDown Live on the USA Network. The sports entertainment company has officially announced that WWE United States Champion Jeff Hardy would take on Shinsuke Nakamura in a singles match on the show. SmackDown General Manager Paige also announced that Daniel Bryan would take on Shelton Benjamin. WWE holds this week’s show in Memphis, TN at the FedEx Forum. The company has already announced that Sin Cara vs. Andrade Almas in a singles match as well as a Women’s Money In The Bank Summit is set for the show.
This segment will feature Money In The Bank participants Charlotte Flair, Becky Lynch, Lana, and Naomi. SmackDown General Manager Paige will host the segment.
What are your thoughts on WWE announcing this match? Sound off in the comment section below.
As we’ve previously reported, WSVN-TV Entertainment Reporter Chris Van Vliet interviewed WWE Hall Of Famers Ric Flair and Hulk Hogan at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida. During the interview Flair discussed the possibility of his daughter, Charlotte Flair, wrestling Ronda Rousey at WrestleMania 35.
During his answer he let it slip that Rousey may have signed a one-year deal with WWE, as she wants to start a family soon:
“In my humble opinion, if Rousey wants to elevate her status in the company she needs to go through The Queen and The Queen ain’t afraid of her, I got news for ya. I just saw her deadlift 315 lbs and she can bench 205 lbs for 6 reps. She is gifted beyond belief.
“I’m not involved obviously in any of the thinking but if they’re ever going to put the women where they belong, this is the year because I think Ronda has only signed a one-year deal and then she wants to get out of there. She wants to have kids and all that. She just needs to be be prepared to lose. Not if sure if Ronda likes that.”
He also was asked why he never faced Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania during their heydays:
“I had no idea I was going to win the Rumble, I just came in and I was 40 years old and this was 1991. People had waited for it so long that I think they said we’re not waiting until WrestleMania. Let’s put these guys together because nothing else was working at the time.
“We actually started on the West Coast and sold out everything and in all honesty Turner did not have the audience or the viewership in the West Coast that they had in the Midwest. So they knew me but not that well. So we went to Oakland, LA, Phoenix, San Diego and back on the road I landed in New York, Bobby Hennan quit then we did the Garden and we didn’t see each other.”
We previously noted that PWInsider reported that James Ellsworth is pencilled in to return to the company at this weekend’s Money In The Bank (MITB) pay-per-view (PPV). Ellsworth was released from the company back in November.
It was speculated he could return during the SmackDown Live Women’s Championship match between Carmella, who he as affiliated with on-screen before making his WWE exit, and Asuka. The report did note that Ellsworth was “definitely” planned for MITB.
Ellsworth recently took to Twitter and seemingly killed that rumor. He revealed he’ll be in China over the weekend on Sunday for the Middle Kingdom Wrestling promotion. Ellsworth is scheduled to defend his Intergender Championship against Ferguson, Tyra Russamee and a mystery opponent in a Fatal Four-Way match.
He’s also scheduled for an MLW meet and greet on Saturday. If all this proves to be true, it looks like Ellsworth won’t be in Chicago for MITB:
Next weekend is going to be action packed in #Harbin China. Everything from Coszone Convention, to an #MKW Meet & Greet on Saturday June 16th, followed by the must see event "Eyes On The Prize" Sunday June 17th!! These events you don't want to miss!! pic.twitter.com/oVCeZ8rqbV
Former WWE Hardcore Champion Raven recently appeared on Prime Time with Sean Mooney to talk about several professional wrestling topics. Raven first discussed his struggles with mental health, and seeking the help of a Psychologist to help him get through it:
“Wrestling is full of tough guys, but we’re creative, because we’re creative people or you wouldn’t be in this particular sport. But tough guys don’t go to Psychologists. So many people could benefit from that, it saved me. I’m content now as a human being. I never could have dreamed of being content until I went to a Psychologist’s couch.”
Raven then talked about how he used to think that his professional wrestling career was a failure:
“I always held myself to a higher standard. I thought my career was a failure because I never was the World Champion of WWE. Of course, the odds against that were astronomical.
“The fact that I burned my bridge up there numerous times was making sure it’s not going to happen and I may not have been qualified to be the World Champion – I mean, I think I was – but let’s say some people didn’t think I was.”
He then realized that he actually had quite a successful career in the business:
“[My Psychologist] pointed out, ‘The only one holding you to a higher standard is you. You don’t have to hold yourself to that standard. You’re career was incredible successful’ and I go, ‘Yeah, but…’ and she goes, ‘Let me ask you this.
“If somebody else had your career, what would you tell them?’ Oh, they had an incredibly successful career! ‘Then why can’t you let yourself have that?’ That’s what I dealt with and that’s what we went through over and over until I accepted the fact that I had a hell of a goddamn career.”
According to a report from 411Mania, WWE Champion AJ Styles missed WWE Live events over the weekend. Styles hasn’t wrestled in almost three weeks. His last match was a dark match against Shinsuke Nakamura after the May 22nd SmackDown Live tapings.
The Phenomenal One’s last match on WWE TV occurred on a May 15th episode of SmackDown Live. He lost a non-title bout to Shinsuke Nakamura for the right to select the stipulation for their match at Money In The Bank (MITB). Styles is scheduled to return to the ring this Sunday against Nakamura at MITB for the WWE Title in a Last Mat Standing match.
Lana & Rusev Burglarized In Hotel Room
Rusev took to Twitter to Tweet at the Sheraton Hotels, claiming that the people who “cleaned” he and Lana’s hotel room stole his wife’s camera and money out of his wallet:
Thank you @sheratonhotels Memphis for “cleaning” the room and stealing my wife camera and my money from my wallet
Kimberley Benson/Viper/Piper Niven took part in the inaugural Mae Young Classic tournament and became a firm favourite before being eliminated by Australian Superstar Toni Storm.
As we reported recently Viper filmed a documentary with the BBC entitled ‘Fight Like a Girl’ which is now available to view for UK fans on the iPlayer service. Before the documentary aired Viper sat down with the BBC and discussed a variety of topics from her time as a professional wrestler on the UK scene and beyond, here are some of the highlights:
When discussing getting started in wrestling: “It never occurred to me that it was something you could do. I got totally beat up but I loved it. I went every week for about seven years.”
When discussing the Women’s scene when she first started: “Certainly in my training school there wasn’t many other girls doing it, and all the women wrestlers on television were like supermodels. Women’s wrestling was not respected. It was difficult for me because I’m a girl and because I’m a big girl.
When discussing her peer’s view of her: “I think a lot of people took a look at me and thought ‘she’s not going to last five minutes’. I can’t express some of the things I have gone through in my wrestling career. People wrote me off because of my size and what I look like and thought I was some stupid, blonde girl who was never going to amount to anything.“
You can read the full interview via the tweet below:
PROGRESS Wrestling announced last week that NXT Superstar Nixon (Steffanie) Newell would be returning home to the United Kingdom as part of their Chapter 71 show ‘F.E.E.L.I.N.G.C.A.L.L.E.D.P.R.O.G.R.E.S.S’
‘The Girl with the Shiniest Wizard’ was expected to be challenging PROGRESS Women’s Champion Jinny in a bout for the prestigious title. It was scheduled to be Jinny’s first defence of the belt since defeating the inaugural Champion Toni Storm and ending her nearly year long title reign by exactly a day.
Unfortunately Newell was injured the day before the bout at NXT’s Download Festival event. Nixon did however appear at PROGRESS Chapter 71 and confirmed that she had arranged for a replacement to take on Jinny for her Women’s title…Dakota Kai.
Kai and Newell have been appearing on the road for NXT as a tag team after Nixon made her debut in April at the Venice house show. Newell had been sidelined with an injury practically weeks after signing her NXT contract so this latest setback will hopefully not see her on the bench for a lengthy period of time but the extent of the injury has not yet been revealed publicly.
Will Ospreay’s new promotion Frontline Wrestling has announced the final match for their upcoming debut show ‘Build Me An Empire.’
WWE United Kingdom Championship Tournament competitor Travis Banks will be teaming with his CCK stablemates Kid Lykos and Chris Brookes to take on Aussie Open (Fletcher & Davis) and Adam Brooks.
As we already announced on the site last month: Pro Wrestling NOAH and Japanese legend Kenoh will be facing one of the UK’s standout talents; Chris Ridgeway in the main event of the show. Ridgeway is one of the most hard hitting and impactful performers on the scene today and his style meshes perfectly with the ‘British Puro’ aesthetic that Frontine are looking to bring on their cards. Company owner Will Ospreay mentioned in an exclusive interview with SEScoops that he wanted to bring Strong Style to Great Britain in a way that was authentic to the Japanese wrestling culture but still highlighted some of the stellar talent that is being produced on UK shores.
Here is the full card for the event:
Chris Ridgeway vs KENOH
Rampage Brown vs Rob Lynch
Naoki Tanizaki vs Mark Haskins
Toni Storm vs Bea Priestley
M&M vs The 198 (‘Flash’ Morgan Webster and Wild Boar)
Damian Dunne & Kip Sabian vs El Phantasmo & Kelly Sixx
CCK vs Aussie Open & Adam Brooks
Final Match Announcement – Build Me An Empire – Thursday 28th June.
UK based promotion Fight Club: Pro has announced the first few matches for their ‘International Tekkers’ event taking place on Friday June 29th from the Starworks Warehouse in Wolverhampton, England.
In a FIRST TIME EVER match inaugural WWE United Kingdom Champion Tyler Bate will be facing former IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Will Ospreay. It is incredible to think that these two standouts have never faced one on one in the squared circle but Fight Club: Pro is making it happen.
FCP has also announced that WWE UK roster member Jordan Devlin will be taking on Dragon Gate’s Naoki Tanizaki. The Dragon Gate veteran will be taking part in a run across the UK shore sagainst the likes of Mark Haskins (Frontline Puro) and Chris Brookes (RIPTIDE) and this bout against Devlin should be dynamite.
WWE linked Superstar WALTER has also been announced for the June 29th event, the former PROGRESS ATLAS and wXw Unified World Champion does not yet have an opponent named but with the wealth of stars available Internationally right now he should be matched with someone stellar.
?MATCH ANNOUNCEMENT?
It’s amazing how many matches have never taken place between the top fighters in professional wrestling.
