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Jinder Mahal Reveals How He Found Out About Day 1 Segment With The Rock

Anutosh Bajpai
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Jinder Mahal has revealed the lengths WWE Creative went to keep his segment with The Rock a surprise and when he actually found out that he was working with The Great One.

Officials had announced the return of a ‘former WWE Champion’ for the Day 1 episode of Raw. The segment was planned for the Hollywood star, but the Maharaja came out first to swerve the audience. This created even more excitement for The Rock when he came out and delivered a people’s elbow to Mahal after a verbal exchange.

The 37-year-old spoke to Chris Van Vliet over the WrestleMania 40 weekend. In the interview that was released on April 23, Mahal was asked if he ever thought he was intended to be the announced former WWE champion for Day 1.

Jinder explained that he pieced together the fact that he was going to be involved in the segment somehow after the travel department messaged him personally instead of their group chat with Indus Sher:

“So I put it together, I kind of pieced it together. I got a text from creative ‘Hey, you guys have nothing this week.’ And then actually travel text says ‘Hey you guys are not flying out.’ I’m in a group chat with Indus Sher with our travel department.

Then 20 minutes later I get a separate text saying, ‘Actually, you are going’ I thought it was a little weird that it was just me and not Indus Sher but I didn’t think anything of it.

Then like a few hours later, I see the announcement on Twitter – Former WWE champion returns. I knew it wasn’t gonna be me but I figured like I’m going to be a part of it. So I texted Indus Sher ‘Hey, are you guys going to Raw?’ They said, ‘No.’ Alright, it’s just me going.”

The Segment With The Rock

Jinder Mahal revealed that the creative plans were not relayed to him even after this. He found out about the segment with The Rock only a couple of days before the show:

“So I’m like, ‘okay, good chance. I think it’s me.’ And actually it was Christmas week. I was with my family in Calgary. I flew back I think on the 30th. Yeah, I was flying back on the 30th. When I was in my flight, I got a text from one of the writers ‘Hey, can you talk on the phone?’

I said ‘I’m in the plane for a few more hours when it lands I’ll call you.’ When I landed just one of the writers he said ‘Yeah, so we got you in a segment….with the Rock.’ They’re like ‘Kayfabe.’ I said ‘Yes. Yes. 100%. Looking forward to it.’ So that’s how I found out. I found out two days before.”

The segment led to a prolonged buzz for Jinder Mahal. He was put in a world heavyweight championship match with Seth Rollins right after it. Many people came to his defense when Tony Khan decided to name-drop him on Twitter to defend his booking of AEW star Hook.

Mahal unfortunately has been released from his WWE contract since then and the former champion is currently waiting for his non-compete clause to expire.

WWE Had A Unique Evaluation When Deciding To Release Von Wagner & Xyon Quinn

Thomas Lowson
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Xyon Quinn & Von Wagner’s time with WWE ended after being evaluated for their work (or lack thereof) on the promotion’s main roster. 

The two wrestlers were among those cut by WWE as part of the first wave of talent releases since the launch of the new era. Quinn and Wagner were joined on the proverbial chopping block by Jinder Mahal, Veer Mahaan, Sanga, and Xia Li.

Reasons for Release

Quinn and Wagner had been making waves as part of WWE NXT, but that wasn’t taken into consideration when the promotion decided to release them. Dave Meltzer reports that the pair were considered to be main roster talent when WWE was reevaluating its rosters. Since these so-called main roster talents were not being used on the main roster, the decision was made the “dump” the pair of Superstars. 

Despite being best known for their runs in WWE NXT, both Wagner and Quinn had sporadic runs on the main roster. Wagner (under his real name Cal Bloom) would be used as enhancement talent on Raw and SmackDown in 2020 and, as Wagner,  appeared on WWE Main Event years later. 

Quinn similarly was used as an enhancement talent on the main roster before he was brought into WWE NXT. Like Wagner, he had been making appearances on WWE Main Event before being released. His final match outside NXT was on the March 1, 2024, SmackDown in a decisive loss to Bron Breakker. 

If Wagner and Quinn were indeed considered main roster talent, then they are likely subject to a main roster non-compete clause. While NXT talent only have to wait 30 days after being cut, those on the main roster have to wait 90 days. This means those released will be free agents in late July 2024. 

What’s Next for Those Released?

Here are some articles revealing what those cut from WWE can look forward to after being released by the promotion:

Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson Giving Away Ford F-150 Truck To Mark ZOA Mango Flavor Launch

Thomas Lowson
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One lucky WWE fan could soon be in possession of a new Ford F-150 truck, courtesy of none other than Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson. 

Taking to Twitter, the Final Boss shared the giveaway in association with his ZOA Energy line of beverages. Fans hoping to win the ‘People’s Truck’ need to scan the in-store QR code at a 7-11 store near them to be in for a chance at winning. Not only is The Rock giving away the car, but the Brahma Bull has a “cool idea” of how he plans to deliver the truck to the winner. 

This giveaway is hardly the first sign of generosity from the TKO board member/WrestleMania headliner. In June of last year, The Rock bought a home for WWE’s Tamina Snuka, and has previously bought a car and other massive purchases for his mom. Last September, he ensured that a fan who a U.S. serviceman who received a fake autograph received a genuine one, among other gifts. More recently, The Rock gave big to the foundation of a couple that lost their young daughter to cancer. 

The Rock may be focused on his ZOA beverage range right now, but the Final Boss still has an eye on the world of WWE. During the post-WrestleMania Raw, The Rock confronted Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes and made clear that he’ll be back and is coming for the American Nightmare. A match between the two is expected with some speculating it could be later this year. 

What’s New with The Rock? 

Here are some recent articles about Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson and what the Final Boss has been up to as of late: 

NJPW Star Questions Decision To Put IWGP Heavyweight Title On Jon Moxley

Anutosh Bajpai
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Jon Moxley made history when he won the IWGP Heavyweight Championship from Tetsuya Naito at NJPW Windy City Riot, but it appears that at least one star is not happy with this call.

NJPW star Yota Tsuji had an interview with Tokyo Sports where he shared some interesting thoughts on the booking of the company’s top title.

The 30-year-old first questioned the decision to put the title on Moxley even if he agreed to hold the belt. He said that the problem lies with officials of New Japan:

Where did the value of IWGP go? If Moxley agreed to be the champion, he certainly has the right to have a championship match. The problem is New Japan Pro Wrestling, which doesn’t say anything about it.

Moxley already has title defenses set against Ren Narita and Shota Umino. Before these matches that will be taking place on NJPW shows, however, he will be defending the title against Powerhouse Hobbs on this Wednesday, May 24 episode of Dynamite.

‘We Have To Find A Way Out of This Situation’: Yota Tsuji 

The 2024 New Japan Cup winner asked why Hobbs who has never been to NJPW himself is suddenly eligible to challenge for the top prize of the company:

Then what are the NJC and G1 for? He may be a great player, but even if he doesn’t win the NJC, a player who has no connection to New Japan or has never been to New Japan will suddenly reach the top. It would be strange for him to challenge for the belt of Hobbs.

In the first place, I wonder if that player has a visa. Even if he wins the belt, will he be able to come to Fukuoka? How long will he be under the influence of AEW, who have no respect for IWGP? I think we have to find a way out of this situation.

Jon Moxley became the first person to hold the heavyweight gold in WWE, AEW, and NJPW when he picked up the IWGP title at the April 12 event.

Yota Tsuji defeated Hirooki Goto to win the 2024 New Japan Cup in March. It was his first big accolade in the company that earned him the right to challenge for the IWGP Heavyweight Title. Tsuji, however, was defeated by Naito when he challenged for the title at Sakura Genesis on April 6.

The quotes in the article have been translated through Google translate

Goldberg Calls WWE’s Regime Without Vince McMahon ‘Favorable’ To The Masses

Thomas Lowson
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It isn’t Bill Goldberg’s place to comment on the scandal surrounding Vince McMahon but he believes that the new leadership in WWE is for the better. 

McMahon stepped down from WWE & TKO in January 2024 over the shocking allegations in Janel Grant’s lawsuit. McMahon has denied the allegations against him and has vowed to clear his name in court. 

Speaking to 93.7 The Ticket, Goldberg was asked for his thoughts on the allegations against McMahon. The WWE Hall of Famer was quick to make clear that it wasn’t his place to weigh in on the claims Grant has made. 

“The allegations and the things that have come to the forefront over the past six months or a year, I have no comment on it. It’s not my place.”

McMahon’s exit has seen a new ‘era’ in WWE launch, one that has been well-received by fans and those in the industry. In the interview, Goldberg agreed that audiences are doing well with McMahon out of the picture. 

“I think that the current owners of the WWE are going to make decisions based upon what they believe, and I think the decisions they have made have been favorable to the masses.”

McMahon is no longer with WWE and appears ready to break from TKO Group Holdings completely. The ex-CEO recently listed his remaining stock in TKO for sale after months of selling huge chunks of his portfolio in the company.

As for Goldberg, WWE’s new era will seemingly not involve the two-time former Universal Champion. Goldberg recently gave up his pursuit of a final match. The WCW alum had been seeking one last match after his WWE contract ended in late 2022. 

Wrestlers on Vince McMahon’s Resignation

Here are some  articles about wrestlers and what they have had to say in response to the lawsuit against Vince McMahon: 

H/T – Fightful

Rhea Ripley Relishing In “Forever Runner Up” Liv Morgan’s Setback On 4/22 WWE Raw

Thomas Lowson
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Rhea Ripley may no longer be the WWE Women’s World Champion, but ‘Mami’ is relishing in the fact that Liv Morgan doesn’t hold the gold either. 

The Australian Superstar vacated the gold last week after being injured during a backstage assault by Morgan. On this week’s Raw, Becky Lynch won the vacated gold, marking The Man’s ninth championship win in WWE. 

Lynch’s victory on Raw saw her last eliminate Morgan, who alongside The Man was considered a favorite ahead of the battle royal. Taking to Twitter, Ripley was delighted to see her former friend-turned-rival once again come up short. Ripley added that Lynch was an “interim champ,” suggesting that she plans to swiftly regain the gold once she is healed up. 

Ripley may have had plenty to say after this week’s Raw but the same can’t be said when it comes to Morgan herself. When a WWE camera operator attempted to catch Morgan after the match, Liv was livid as seen in the clip below. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C6FsfaYs4E-

Did WWE Make the Wrong Call? 

While Lynch was a favorite going into the battle royal, many feel that Liv Morgan should have left Raw as the new Women’s World Champion. Morgan has been embroiled in a feud with Ripley for some time, and it was an attack by ‘Mami’ that forced Liv to miss months of action. On Twitter, WWE/TNA Hall of Famer Bully Ray shared his belief that WWE made the wrong call. 

Whether it should have been Liv Morgan or not, Becky Lynch is now once again on top of WWE Raw’s women’s division. With this being her first singles title reign of a main roster title in two years, Lynch is hoping for a nice, long run, though is quickly finding herself a long list of challengers. 

Dominik Mysterio Pulled From Announced Match On 4/22 Raw Due To Legitimate Injury

Anutosh Bajpai
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Things do not seem to be going Judgement Day’s way and it appears that after Rhea Ripley, Dominik Mysterio has also suffered an injury.

The former NXT North American Champion was expected to work the European Tour last week. Ricochet replaced him on the shows. The unannounced change concerned people. 

The latest episode of Monday Night Raw from Schottenstein Center in Columbus, Ohio further confirmed that Dirty Dom is not 100%. The Judgement Day star was announced to team with JD McDonagh on tonight’s episode of the Red Branded Show. 

He appeared on the screen, however, wearing a sling on his left hand. Santos Escobar then replaced Dominik in the match against Ricochet and Andrade. The faces won the match when Andrade delivered The Message to McDonagh for the pin.

What’s next for Judgement Day

The last couple of weeks have not been good for Judgement Day. It all started when Rhea Ripley had to relinquish her Women’s World Title due to a shoulder injury.

The opening segment of this week’s Raw then saw Damian Priest confronting his Backlash opponent Jey Uso. After a heated exchange between the two, JD McDonagh emerged out of nowhere and tried to blindside the former Bloodline member.

Priest appeared to have no knowledge of the attack. He ended up on the business end of a superkick when he was trying to stop McDonagh from going after Uso.

The World Heavyweight Champion made another appearance on the show after McDonagh’s tag team match. He told both JD and Dominik that he didn’t need either of them.

Elsewhere in the show, a backstage segment also teased a potential collaboration between Dominik Mysterio and Liv Morgan in the absence of the Mami.

With all the teases of tensions within the Judgement and the new alliance between Morgan and Dom, it won’t be a surprise if we see the group imploding sooner rather than later.

It will also depend on the health of Mysterio. Though considering that the company is keeping him on screen and teasing plans for him it doesn’t seem likely that he will miss a lot of ring time.

We wish a speedy recovery to Dominik Mysterio

Giovanni Vinci Kicked Out of Imperium Upon Gunther’s Return To Raw

Anutosh Bajpai
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Giovanni Vinci has seemingly been kicked out of the Imperium after tonight’s episode of Monday Night Raw from Schottenstein Center in Columbus, Ohio.

This week’s episode of the red-branded show saw the first appearance of Gunther after he lost his Intercontinental Championship to Sami Zayn at WrestleMania 40.

The Ring General said that people expected him to talk about his loss but he had something else in mind. The former champion then officially declared himself as the first entrance for the upcoming King of The Ring tournament.

The New Day then made their way to the ring and Xavier Woods talked about being the last King of The Ring winner. The back and forth between the two groups lead to a tag team match featuring Ludwig Kaiser and Vinci taking on Woods and Kofi Kingston.

By The Orders of The Ring General?

The ending of this bout saw Wood delivering a double stomp on Vinci and pinning the Raw star for the victory. Gunther who was at the ringside was seemingly disappointed with this result and he stormed to the back after throwing his chair.

Kaiser helped Vinci get back up at the ringside and hugged him. He followed this up, however, by attacking his tag team partner. Kaiser continued the assault for a while and sent his partner crashing through the ring post and the announce desk before the officials sent him back.

Until this point, it appeared that Kaiser had snapped but as the German star returned to the Gorilla position, he ran into Gunther once again. Both the men smiled upon seeing each other suggesting that it was a pre-planned attack.

Elsewhere in the show, we saw the crowning of the new women’s world champion after Rhea Ripley relinquished her title due to an injury last week. You can click here to know who became the new champion.

QR Code Mystery Continues On 4/22 WWE Monday Night RAW, References Bray Wyatt

Thomas Lowson
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WWE’s ongoing mystery continued on the April 22, episode of Raw but this QR code gave the most concrete tease to date that plans will reference Bray Wyatt. 

Since the post-WrestleMania Raw, glitches and QR codes have been appearing on WWE’s main roster programming, giving clues as to something big that’s in the works. These QR codes have led to videos with fans deciphering hidden messages and clues to figure out what’s really going on. 

This mystery continued on Raw as a QR code appeared ahead of an in-ring segment with Chad Gable and the Alpha Academy. Scanning the code brings you to a binary text prompt that features some hidden easter eggs. Typing ‘BRAY’ into the binary script will give you the response ‘Remembered’ while typing ‘WYATT’ will give you the response ‘Forever.’ 

The QR Code’s Binary Script with Bray Wyatt prompts. 

Inputting the number of sensory organs will bring you to a video that starts with a cheesy ‘Coming Soon’ message. Things take a dark turn as a POV shot shows somebody approaching a house with a message reading ‘REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE.’ The video ends with the imagery of a cave, a raven, and the symbol for the dwarf planet Pluto which have been prevalent in previous videos. 

Many believe this is leading to the return of Uncle Howdy, the character previously portrayed by Bo Dallas who was introduced following Wyatt’s return in 2022. It’s been rumored that a faction could be in the works, especially with Erick Rowan, a Wyatt Family alum, recently re-signing with WWE. 

WWE’s QR Code Mystery

Here are some recent articles about WWE’s previous QR codes and the symbolism behind the eerie videos behind them: 

Promotions Are ‘Foaming At The Mouth’ to Work with Jinder Mahal After WWE Exit

Thomas Lowson
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Jinder Mahal’s release from WWE could prove to be a blessing in disguise for the former World Champion as he’s already garnered significant interest. 

Mahal was part of the first wave of releases in WWE’s new era. Other names cut include Xia Li, Veer Mahaan, Sanga, Xyon Quinn, and Von Wagner. This exit marks Mahal’s second release from WWE as he was previously cut from the promotion in 2014. 

While Mahal’s days in WWE are over, it appears that he won’t struggle to find work elsewhere. Fightful Select reports that Mahal has already received “heavy interest” from promotions eager to work with him now that he is a free agent. Game Changer Wrestling is said to be “foaming at the mouth” to bring him in when his 90-day non-compete clause expires this July. The report adds that eagerness to work with Mahal could be partly down to Matt Cardona being out of action and GCW needing a new heel for its roster. 

It’s promising for Mahal that companies are already interested in working with him given how his second WWE run ultimately fizzled out. Upon announcing his exit from WWE, Mahal declared that he’d ‘quit’ the promotion, leaving fans to believe that there were some underlying issues between the two sides. Talent in WWE are said to have liked Mahal and believe that he wasn’t given a fair go at things considering he did everything the company asked of him. 

WWE Releases

Here are some more recent articles about wrestlers who were released from WWE and what they have had to say:

Becky Lynch Wins Vacant WWE Women’s World Title In Battle Royal During 4/22 RAW

Aaron Varble
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Rhea Ripley’s sudden injury created a need for a new Women’s World Champion. The April 22 episode of RAW ended with a battle royal to help the company decide a new top female on Monday nights.

After a chaotic battle royal match, Becky Lynch pulled down the win to become WWE Women’s World Champion. The Man now holds the title that she failed to snag at WrestleMania 40.

The 4/22 episode of WWE RAW marked the first occasion in WWE history where a vacant women’s championship was claimed in a battle royal. Previously, the only woman to win a title in a battle royal was Gail Kim, who beat then-champion Jazz and five other women during her WWE RAW debut in 2003.

The next WWE draft is from April 26, 2024 (SmackDown) to April 29, 2024 (RAW). It’s anyone’s guess how the upcoming roster shake-up will mold the women’s division for the red brand.

The Battle Royal Match Finish

The battle royal included several notable spots. Natalya eliminated Chelsea Green, but she got back in without the referee seeing her. Then Becky Lynch was put through the announce table by Nia Jax, leaving her out of commission, but still in the match.

The final five women in the match included Nia Jax, Shayna Baszler, Liv Morgan Zoey Stark and Becky Lynch, who was KOed thanks to that table spot. Then Jax took Stark and Baszler out of the match.

As Nia Jax and Liv Morgan set themselves up to be the last two in the match, Becky Lynch crawled back into the ring. The three of them continued as Liv and Becky tried to take out Nia. Then The Irresistible Force was finally sent to the floor after a collaborative effort.

Becky and Liv made eventually made their way to the apron, where Morgan nailed a Codebreaker, but Lynch reversed Morgan’s follow-up into a Manhandle Slam to win the match.

Why Rhea Ripley Vacated Title

Rhea Ripley looked to be a strong, and unbeatable, Women’s World Champion coming out of WrestleMania 40. Then Liv Morgan jumped her backstage during the RAW after the show of shows, and the Nightmare was injured.

Recent reports suggest that Ripley might need four to six weeks to regain shoulder mobility following a sprained AC joint injury. The incident is considered a “total fluke.” Typically, recovery from such an injury requires up to three months before she can resume ring activities.

Ripley had to make the sad announcement last week on RAW that she was vacating the Women’s World Championship. Before she left, Ripley also made it very clear that she will target whoever is champion when her return comes around.

Jacob Fatu’s WWE Debut Expected Very Soon

Dominic DeAngelo
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The Bloodline may be welcoming a new family member into the mix very soon. Over the past month, there’s been a lot of talk that Jacob Fatu is headed to WWE and may have even inked a deal already. The latest update comes from PWInsider, which states the former MLW World Heavyweight Champion is slated to debut within the week. Unless he turns up on Tuesday’s NXT, Friday’s 4/26 edition of WWE SmackDown would be the setting.

This potential debut would only be around two weeks removed from when Tama Tonga, a longtime keystone in New Japan Pro-Wrestling, made his WWE debut on SmackDown. He and Solo Sikoa viciously attacked Jimmy Uso,  eliminating him from the group. Last week, Sikoa and Tonga set their sights on Kevin Owens, and left the prizefighter a bloody mess.

It would make sense for Jacob Fatu to align himself alongside Sikoa and Tonga as Solo seems to be seeking control of the faction while Roman Reigns is away and that has started with the debut of Tonga.  However, with The Usos having their back against the wall, Fatu could be a family member that Jimmy or Jey align themselves with.

In addition to a lengthy run with MLW’s top title Fatu has been a force on the independent wrestling scene for years. Known as the Samoan Werewolf, Fatu is notorious for having amazing athleticism, a hard-hitting style and a visually impressive leaping top rope moonsault as his finisher. 

Jacob Fatu has spoken about wanting to wrestle for WWE. During an interview with SEScoops correspondent MuscleManMalcolm, he said, “All of my family has been there. If I ever had the chance to go there, absolutely. I would love to go there. My father, my uncle, my cousins, are there, so absolutely. If I had the chance, I would go.”

Finn Balor Signs New Multi-Year Contract With WWE: ‘I Ain’t Going Nowhere!’

Dominic DeAngelo
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Finn Balor is sticking around WWE for years to come. After a decade with the world’s top wrestling organization, the former Universal Champion announced some big news on social media. 

We knew Balor’s WWE contract was up soon and have been watching closely to see how this situation would unfold. He’s been wrestling since 2001 and is 42 years old, so it would make sense for him to at least consider working a lighter schedule with AEW or NJPW. Balor says he gave the decision a lot of thought and sounds confident he made the right choice.

I would like to take this moment to say thank you to WWE for 10 incredible years. And after much thought and consideration, I have decided that now is the right time to say ‘I ain’t going nowhere!’

https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C6FQnS4opMd

Sean Ross Sapp notes the multi-year contract is for ‘big money,’ which a star of his caliber can certainly command.

Balor has taken a similar path to his former tag team partner, Damian Priest. Fresh off of winning the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 40, the ‘Archer of Infamy’ revealed this past week that he’s also signed a new contract.

On this week’s WWE RAW the other two healthy members of The Judgment Day JD McDonagh and Dominik Mysterio are teaming up to face Andrade and Ricochet in tag action. Priest happened to kick off the show in a segment involving himself and his Backlash opponent, Jey Uso.

Mick Foley Says Rhea Ripley Has Developed Into An ‘Iconic Entity’

Tyriece Simon
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Wrestling fans are still stunned after Rhea Ripley announced that she has been forced to vacate the WWE Women’s World Championship. Ripley’s incredible title reign ended after she injured her AC joint in a backstage brawl with Liv Morgan on the April 8 episode of WWE Monday Night Raw.

It’s believed that the injury occurred when Morgan slammed Ripley’s arm against a wall. WWE fans have noticed that once the champion’s arm hit the wall, she immediately grabbed her arm. She revealed in the following episode that she was injured in the altercation and vowed to return stronger to reclaim the WWE Women’s World Championship. While it’s unclear what Ripley’s timetable is for a return, it could be a few months. 

As she hopes to recover fully, WWE Hall of Famer Mick Foley wishes her a swift return. 

Mick Foley Talks About Rhea Ripley’s Injury

Foley shared his thoughts on Ripley’s injury on his YouTube channel. He also spoke positively of WWE booking for Ripley and has been impressed with her since 2019. 

“…We’ve here at the Foley family really thought highly of her since the first time she premiered when we saw her, Royal Rumble 2019. I’d written stories about her saying WWE really had to treat her like the special entity that she is. I’m the first to say, look, I knew she needed special treatment. I didn’t know it would be this good,” said Foley.

‘The Hardcore Legend’ continued to praise Ripley’s growth in WWE and believes she’ll gain more popularity when she returns.  

“…We watched Mami just grow from a superstar into an iconic entity. I have to believe she’s going to come back better than ever and more popular than ever,” said Foley.

Although the injury is unfortunate, WWE is moving forward and ready to crown a new women’s champion. 

New Champion To be Decided On 4/22 Episode of WWE Monday Night Raw

WWE has announced that the vacant women’s world title will be on the line in the next episode of Raw. The championship will be decided in a Battle Royal Match, including Becky Lynch, Nia Jax, and Morgan.

It’s unclear how many participants will compete in the match, but it seems to be exclusively members of the Raw brand. The timing of the title opportunity is also interesting as WWE plans to shake up the rosters with the WWE Draft starting on April 26. 

After injuring Ripley, Morgan has set her sights on becoming the new WWE Women’s World Champion. Fans seem to have picked her as the favorite to win, and she could be in line for a big match with ‘Mami’ when she eventually returns. 

Goldberg No Longer Pursuing A Retirement Match

Ella Jay
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Bill Goldberg may have wrestled his final match. Last year, WWE Hall of Famer revealed that he agreed to wrestle Roman Reigns in February 2022 and put Reigns over  under the condition that he’d receive a proper retirement match afterwards with lots of celebration and fanfare. Unfortunately, that match never took place and Goldberg says Vince McMahon broke his promise.

Following Goldberg’s departure from WWE at the end of that’s year, many fans have wondered if the former WWE Champion would consider holding his final in-ring performance outside the realm of WWE. During a recent interview with 93.7 The Ticket, Goldberg provided an update on his retirement match plans, indicating that they have since been put on the backburner.

“I’ll be perfectly honest with you. I’ve kind of put that on the back burner,” Goldberg said. “Right now, I’ve segued into dad, first and foremost, and husband and car host. I’m just having fun at my garage. So I really don’t have a lot of time right now to dedicate to prepping for a retirement match.”

Fatherly Guidance

As Goldberg noted, much of his focus has been dedicated to helping his son, Gage, make the transition from high school to college football. Earlier this year, Gage announced that he had officially committed to the University of Colorado Boulder with the aim of continuing his football and academic career. 

Goldberg had a similar experience three decades ago when he signed as a defensive tackle for the University of Georgia Bulldogs. As such, Goldberg knows his son’s upcoming transition could be rather challenging. 

“I’m trying to do everything I can in my power 24/7 to get our boy [Gage] prepped for the next phase of his life,” Goldberg said. “And in all honesty, that’s the most important thing I could ever have going. “Whether I was ready to step in the ring right now or not, I’d put it all on the back burner for this boy. It’s going to be tough, man.”

Damian Priest Wants Legendary Metal Band To Play His Entrance At A Future WrestleMania

Ella Jay
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WrestleMania 40 featured appearances from several musical artists and bands, such as Lil Wayne, Coco Jones, The War and Treaty as well as metalcore band Motionless In White as they performed Rhea Ripley’s entrance theme, ‘Demon in Your Dreams'” ahead of her WWE Women’s World Championship match against Becky Lynch.

After seeing his Judgment Day stablemate played out to a live music performance on WWE’s grandest stage, Damian Priest is now envisioning one of his own.

Priest’s Dream WrestleMania Entrance

In a new interview with Metal Hammer, Priest was asked to identify the band he’d like to see introduce him at a future WrestleMania event. In response, Priest pointed toward another band in the metal music genre.

“The mighty Metallica! You know what I mean? Can you imagine Metallica playing me to the ring?” Priest said. “It’d be wild! Hey, maybe I’ve gotta talk to the boss man and be like, ‘Hey? What’s up with Metallica?’ That’d be a whole different dream scenario. I don’t even know if I’m ready for that.”

Growing up, Priest developed a strong affinity for the metal music genre, often listening to the likes of Anthrax, Slayer, In Flames, Soilwork, and the aforementioned Metallica.

Nowadays, Priest has expanded his playlist to include some bands recommended to him by Rhea Ripley, including Motionless In White and Ice Nine Kills.

James Hetfield, lead vocalist of Metallica, and Lars Ulrich, kickoff Metallica’s headline performance at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, AZ  (Sept. 1, 2023)

Priest’s Eventful WrestleMania 40

While he may not have received a special musical entrance this year, Priest’s WrestleMania 40 weekend still turned out to be quite eventful. 

24 hours after he and Finn Balor lost the Undisputed WWE Tag Team titles in a six-pack ladder match, Priest (with the help of CM Punk) successfully cashed in his Money in the Bank contract to claim the World Heavyweight title. This marked Priest’s first world championship in WWE and solidifies him as one the faces of WWE’s new era. 

Looking ahead, Priest will now be tasked with defending the World Heavyweight Championship against Jey Uso at WWE Backlash, which emanates from Lyons, France on May 4.

Cody Rhodes Joining Liam Neeson & Pamela Anderson In Upcoming Naked Gun Reboot

Thomas Lowson
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Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes is set to flex his acting muscles with a role in the reboot of the classic comedy film series ‘Naked Gun.’

Rhodes will make a cameo appearance in the film as himself, according to insiders who spoke to the Daily Mail. It’s noted that Rhodes may be hypnotized in a nod to the original 1988 comedy. Pamela Anderson of Baywatch fame is attached to the film. Liam Neeson will star as incompetent detective Frank Drebin, previously played by the late, great Leslie Nielsen. 

Cody’s Acting Chops

This won’t be Rhodes’ first foray into the world of acting. In 2010, Cody played ‘Kurt Smoller’ on an episode of Warehouse 13, and serves as the romantic interest for the show’s female lead Myka. The couple’s date goes awry when Myka switches bodies with the show’s male lead Pete due to a magic idol, resulting in Pete-in-Myka having to finish the date.

From 2016 to 2018, Rhodes played the near-invulnerable Derek Sampson on Arrow, the CW’s take on the DC Comics character Green Arrow. Rhodes portrayed the character for seven episodes and would appear alongside his Summerslam 2015 opponent and Arrow star Stephen Amell.

Though it’ll be a small role, Cody’s work in the Naked Gun reboot bodes well for the American Nightmare. Several WWE names have gone on to thrive in acting including John Cena, Batista, and Cody’s own nemesis Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson. The Final Boss has vowed to return to WWE and confront Cody and now their war will play out in the ring and the world of Hollywood. 

Wrestlers in Films

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Second Generation Wrestler Von Wagner Released From WWE

Aaron Varble
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WWE released several wrestlers this past week and we can add Von Wagner’s name to that list, as Fightful Select reports the 2nd generation star has also been let go. 

Wagner (Calvin Bloom) is the son of Wayne Bloom, who longtime fans may remember as Beau Beverly of the early 90’s Beverly Brothers tag team. Prior to wrestling in NXT, he played as a tight end for UCF from 2012 to 2016. He was long hailed as a top prospect and a favorite of key people in management, but he never seemed to catch on or get much momentum. 

In addition to the latest round of talent releases, including Von Wagner, Jinder Mahal, Xyon Quinn, Veer Mahaan, Sanga, and Xia Li, WWE recently parted ways with several other people, including Dan Ventrelle, Rob Schamberger, Trent Wilfinger, Sue Aitchison, and Sid Scala. Schamberger and AEW already have something in the works together. 

Stay tuned as we track the next moves of Von Wager, Jinder Mahal and the rest of these recently released (former) WWE Superstars.

WWE NXT Battleground Will Take Over UFC Apex For June Premium Live Event

Aaron Varble
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WWE’s NXT brand is always building toward their next big show. We already know that NXT Heatwave is scheduled for July 7, 2024, at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and now they have some big news for Battleground. 

NXT Battleground will take place at the UFC APEX in Las Vegas on Sunday, June 9. This event is notable as the first WWE event to be held at the 130,000-square-foot UFC APEX facility, which regularly hosts UFC Fight Night events.

“We are always exploring new frontiers to showcase NXT and we are excited to bring Battleground to this world-class event and production facility in partnership with UFC,” said WWE Senior Vice President of Talent Development Creative Shawn Michaels.

With this move, WWE changed up their previous Battleground plans from Savannah, Georgia hosting the event. It was previously reported in late March that the UFC Apex was being eyed for Battleground’s landing pad.

What is the UFC Apex

The UFC Apex is located in Enterprise, Nevada, and owned by the Ultimate Fighting Championship, which is part of TKO Group Holdings, an Endeavor subsidiary. This facility, a hub for UFC live events and productions, will now also host NXT Deadline.

After opening their doors on June 18, 2019, the Apex became a pivotal location during the COVID-19 pandemic. After hosting three events in Jacksonville, all subsequent U.S.-based UFC events were held at the Apex without spectators. 

The Apex continues to host select Fight Night events and has started allowing limited public attendance. The venue utilized a 25-foot wide Octagon for its events, smaller than the standard 30-foot version.

TKO Group Holdings merged WWE and UFC under the Endeavor umbrella, sparking speculation about hosting simultaneous events in the same city to create a major destination event. The UFC Apex serves as a great location to test out this merger. 

WWE Raw Preview (4/22): Women’s World Title Battle Royal, Gunther Returns, Awesome Truth Defend

Ella Jay
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WWE returns to Columbus, Ohio tonight for WWE RAW at the Schottenstein Center. Nearly 8,000 fans will be in attendance as WWE looks ahead to the 2024 Draft later this week, as well as WWE Backlash: France on Saturday, May 4. Here’s a quick preview, followed by our detailed breakdown of what to look forward to:

Matches:

  • Awesome Truth (c) vs. DIY for the World Tag Team Championships
  • Battle Royal to determine the new WWE Women’s World Champion 
  • Andrade & Ricochet vs. Dominik Mysterio & JD McDonagh

Segments:

  • Gunther returns

World Tag Team Championships: Awesome Truth (c) vs. DIY

One week after trading in their WWE Raw Tag Team Championships for the newly crafted World Tag Team Championships, The Miz and R-Truth, collectively known as Awesome Truth, are now tasked with defending the titles against Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa (DIY). Gargano and Ciampa earned this title shot after defeating The New Day and Creed Brothers in a triple threat number one contenders match on last week’s episode of WWE Raw.

For The Miz and R-Truth, tonight will mark their first title defense since claiming tag team gold at WrestleMania 40. For Ciampa and Gargano, tonight marks another chance to secure their first set of tag team gold on WWE’s main roster. The duo previously held the NXT Tag Team Championships from late 2016 until early 2017.

WWE Women’s World Championship Battle Royal 

Fueled by her desire for revenge, Liv Morgan brutally attacked Rhea Ripley at the Wells Fargo Center two weeks ago. Unfortunately for Ripley, that attack proved to not only be rather brutal, but ultimately detrimental to her WWE Women’s World Championship reign.

During the opening segment of last week’s Raw, Ripley revealed the unfortunate news that she had sustained an injury from Morgan’s attack, and as a result, she was forced to vacate her title. Reports later indicated that Ripley suffered an injury to her AC joint after crashing into a wall at the Wells Fargo Center. 

With Ripley expected to be out of action for several months, WWE will now crown a new WWE Women’s World Champion tonight via a battle royal. While WWE has yet to formally announce the complete field of competitors for the battle royal, a promotional video clip for the match included the following faces:

Becky Lynch, Liv Morgan, Nia Jax, Maxxine Dupri, Chelsea Green, Natalya, Katana Chance, Kayden Carter, Indi Hartwell, Zoey Stark, Shayna Baszler, Tegan Nox, Piper Niven, Ivy Nile, and Candice LeRae.

Gunther Returns

WWE fans last saw “The Ring General” Gunther on night one of WrestleMania 40, where his history-making Intercontinental Championship reign was dramatically ended by Sami Zayn. Following his loss to Zayn, Gunther will return to WWE television, likely looking for retribution.

Meanwhile, newly-crowned Intercontinental Champion Sami Zayn looks to bounce back from a stunning betrayal at the hands of Chad Gable last week.

Andrade & Ricochet vs. Dominik Mysterio & JD McDonagh

Last week, Andrade defeated Dominik Mysterio in singles action. Before Andrade could celebrate this victory, Mysterio and his Judgment Day stablemate JD McDonagh ambushed him. Luckily for Andrade, Ricochet rushed down to even the odds, forcing Mysterio and McDonagh to retreat. Now, the pairs will meet in tag team action on tonight’s episode of Raw.

Mark Henry Says Representation Matters, But Swerve Strickland Earned His AEW World Title Because Of His Talent

Michael Shalik
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Swerve Strickland became the eighth man and first African American man to hold the AEW World Championship at Sunday’s AEW Dynasty pay-per-view. Mark Henry discussed the significance of the win the following morning on Busted Open Radio. He says AEW believes in Swerve and even though ‘representation matters,’ his success was earned and he’s got the talent to be in this new position.

As a multi-time World Champion himself, Henry speaks from experience. He knows firsthand what the win says about the company’s faith in Strickland the responsibilities that come with being the new face of a major wrestling promotion. 

“To be a World Champion in pro wrestling and have a company backing you and believe you enough that you’re going to get the job done is big. I mean, you are the guy that’s carrying the torch, and just like the light was on Moxley and the light was on Danielson and the light was on Joe, now the light is going to be shined on Swerve.”

Earned on Merit

The ‘World’s Strongest Man’ said AEW is confident Strickland he can carry the company like Kenny Omega, Hangman Page and MJF did before him. While it’s important for young fans to see people who share their culture achieving success in the ring, Swerve’s success has been earned through his talents and hard work. 

“They didn’t pass up on an opportunity to do the right thing. It’s earned. It wasn’t because he was an African American. It was because he was talented and I feel like that’s a beautiful thing and representation matters and it means everything.”

Representation in Wrestling

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Losing Has Consequences? Solo Sikoa Racks Up Unfortunate Streak In WWE Matches

Thomas Lowson
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Solo Sikoa should take his own advice that losing has consequences as the new leader of the Bloodline has been racking up a significant losing streak as of late. 

Since Roman Reigns’ defeat at WrestleMania 40, Sikoa has taken control of the Bloodline on WWE TV. Sikoa’s regime has seen Tama Tonga brought in to replace Jimmy Uso as a member of the faction. Jimmy was kicked from the group after he lost at WrestleMania 40 and failed to help Roman Reigns retain the Undisputed WWE Championship at the event. Sikoa has made clear that losing has consequences in his Bloodline. 

While losing may have consequences, it seems Sikoa is exempt from the rule. The former NXT North American Champion lost at the April 20, WWE live event to LA Knight in what has become a regular occurrence for him. Sikoa is 0-40 in his last 40 matches with WWE. The bulk of these bouts have happened off of TV with Knight, Cody Rhodes, AJ Styles, and Seth Rollins being among those leaving Sikoa on his back. 

Sikoa’s most recent victory in WWE came back in November of 2023 when he beat John Cena at WWE Crown Jewel. While many at the time saw this as a career-defining victory for Sikoa and the start of bigger things to come, that hasn’t been the case, at least when it comes to his matches. 

What makes this streak even more unfortunate is that Sikoa’s name was once associated with winning streaks on WWE TV. After making his main-roster debut at Clash At The Castle in September 2022, Sikoa would enjoy an undefeated streak in TV matches that wouldn’t end until Cody Rhodes bested him on the March 27, episode of Raw. Now though, fans are left wondering when they’ll next see the man who’s declared that losing has consequences, pick up a victory of his own. 

Tony Khan Details Messaging With Lou Thesz Over AOL

Dominic DeAngelo
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Dial-up be damned, Tony Khan messaged with the legendary Lou Thesz back in the American Online days.

AEW Dynasty took place in the historic wrestling city of St. Louis, MO over the weekend and during the post-event media scrum, Khan was asked about the connections he’s made with St. Louis and the world of pro wrestling. Khan, who has been a rampant pro wrestling fan since he was a kid, recalled a time of yesteryear that consisted of him logging onto message board and amazingly sharing correspondence with some bonafide trailblazers in the one true sport.

“St. Louis is an amazing wrestling city with an amazing, amazing history. When I was 12 years old, I used to talk to Lou Thesz on AOL and I picked up stuff from Lou Thesz. Lou Thesz taught me how great Buddy Rodgers was and he was totally right. You go back and watch Buddy Rodgers, one of the best wrestlers of all time, one of the most influential of all time, both of them, two of the most influential of all time.”

Khan went on to say how St. Louis has become one of their great cities to hit and later didn’t rule out the possibility of the promotion coming back for another PPV in 2025.

Khan was all over the wrestling map as a kid even in the Extreme Championship Wrestling realm. He notoriously had his father, Shad Khan, take him to the ECW Arena in Philadelphia where he got to see first-hand the classic stretcher match between Rob Van Dam and Sabu.

Matt Hardy Reveals How TNA Return Deal Came Together

Anutosh Bajpai
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Matt Hardy says his TNA return is a way to showcase that genuine surprises can still be delivered in wrestling even in today’s age.

The Attitude Era star spoke to Busted Open Radio on Sunday where among other things, he also discussed his return to the Anthem owned promotion during the Rebellion PPV on Saturday night.

Hardy first reiterated that he loved working for Tony Khan during his time with All Elite Wrestling and that they are still negotiatiating a potential new deal:

“I will start by saying I love AEW, I loved working with Tony Khan. He’s a great guy. My contract ended up expiring and we hadn’t reached a deal yet. We’re still in the midst of talking. I have literally, in the last week, I have talked to every promoter from every promotion that there is.”

Pro Wrestling Is Best When It’s Unpredictable: Matt Hardy

Speaking about his surprise return at the TNA PPV, Matt Hardy claimed that they started talking about it on Wednesday and the deal only came together within a couple days:

“So last night was me showing that pro wrestling can still be unpredictable. I popped up. This was done in a couple days notice. we kind of started talking about this on Wednesday. Then this kind of materialised over a couple days doing some shots for TNA and a little story arc. Pro Wrestling is at its best when it’s unpredictable.”

The former WWE star also revealed that he hadn’t even told his brother Jeff Hardy about the appearance and Jeff only found out after the show was over.

Matt Hardy confronted TNA World Champion Moose during the PPV event and delivered a Twist of Fate to him. The altercation sets up a match between the two but an official announcement for the same has not been made yet.

Max Caster’s Rhyme Against Jay White Conjures Speculation Of Punishment

Dominic DeAngelo
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0

AEW Dynasty packed a punch for ardent wrestling fans on Sunday night and per usual Max Caster strived to do the same with his words. However, this one was a little more dicey than others.

Max Caster, Anthony Bowens and Billy Gunn were set to go up against Jay White and The Gunns on the Dynasty Zero Hour and naturally Caster would have his pre-macth rap ready to fire off. Caster thought he had his own verbal bullets for Bullet Club Gold, but his content this time around was a little more controversial than even his usual rhymes.

“Switchblade’s what I switch. I’ll fufill your fantasy and I’ll make you my b****. Yo this dude’s just making me sick. I’ll violate you so bad you’ll have to tell the legal team about the taste of my d***.”

The line sure got a shocked reaction from the live St. Louis crowd, but it also got it’s own share of opinions from fans and critics online. The Wrestling Observer‘s Dave Meltzer mentioned how Caster’s call has the potency to put him in hot water with AEW, simply saying, “I think Max Caster may get in trouble.”

That Time When Max Caster Called Out Dom Mysterio & Rhea Ripley

This is far from the first time Caster’s lyrics has raised eyebrows. Earlier this year, he cross-cut a line about Dom Mysterio and Rhea Ripley when he was about to have a match with Ripley’s real-life fiance, Buddy Matthews. Ripley ended up commenting on the matter, noting that she and Dom are over in two different promotions.

“But I mean, good for me. It’s good for Dom. At the end of the day, it got us trending on Twitter or X, whatever you want to call it these days. It got us trending. And if that’s what you want to do in your match, get two other people in the opposite promotion that you are battling with trending? Then I feel like you did the wrong job because you put us over instead of yourself, so that was a mistake on their part.”

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