Samoa Joe doesn’t tend to walk away from a fight, but from a high-flyer? Sign him up. During a recent interview with veteran journalist Justin Barrasso for Sports Illustrated, Joe was asked about a notorious spot he’s done in matches since his early days in the ring.
Whenever an opponent climbs the top rope and goes for an aerial assault, he casually walks out of the vicinity of the attack and leaves his foe looking foolish. Joe gave some common sense reasoning as to why he’s implemented such a magical moment in the ring.
“As a small youth in my younger days, if I saw something large or very destructive coming toward me, it was only natural to step aside,” said Joe. “It’s not rocket science.”
Joe says the inspiration behind the fan favorite spot draws from the early days of mankind.
“The cavemen understood this, too,” said Joe. “If you see a rock coming toward you from the top of the hill, move a little to the left.”
While he’s done the “nope” countless times in matches, a recent moment in AEW went viral during a squash match where Joe walked away and the talent was caught mid-air with a “WTF” expression on his face.
It’s not just enhancement talent who falls prey to Joe’s “walk away.” CM Punk became just another victim of Joe’s casual decision-making during his AEW matches with his long-time rival.
Adam Copeland may be at odds with Christian Cage on AEW television, but the former Edge appreciates what his best buddy is doing.
Speaking with Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated, Copeland commented on Cage’s run as an ultimate heel and noted why the current TNT Champion is so good at what he does.
“He does this so well because he wants to be one,” said Copeland. “Somewhere along the way, that’s got lost. Heels became cooler than the babyface. That’s not how it should be. That’s not how he sees it, either. I mean, the man wears a cut-off turtleneck. There’s nothing cool about what he’s doing.
“He’s fully committed to it. He’s a Bond villain and loving it. It’s fun to be involved with.”
Copeland finally crossed pathes with Cage not just on AEW Dynamite but World’s End where the WWE Hall Of Famer actually defeated Cage for the TNT Championship, but quickly lost it back to Killswitch, who won a battle royal earlier in the evening. The belt went back to Cage who continues his heelish run.
Adam Copeland On AEW Being Different: “I Want More Choices”
When it comes to AEW being an alternative than WWE, Copeland pulled from his own fandom as a kid and getting access to different territories in wrestling.
“I remember growing up and dying to be able to get my hands on NWA tapes. It didn’t air where I lived, where there was WWF. I found International Wrestling from Montreal. I found All Star Wrestling from Vancouver. I found all these other shows, and I loved that. I’d get little snippets of guys I’d only seen in magazines. Then the show Pro Wrestling Plus with Ed Whalen, who was the announcer for Stampede, started, and I finally got to see wrestlers from the NWA and Continental. I just thought, give it all to me.”
Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania will host WrestleMania 40 on April 6 and 7, 2024. The show of shows promises to be an amazing experience for WWE fans, with The Weeknd pulling a 5-pete, but the card needed to change.
WWE’s WrestleMania Booking Issues
WWE saw a few issues that they needed to address when it came to their WrestleMania lineup. Two big matches needed to change due to completely different reasons. Now we are in a waiting game before we know what is really planned for the showcase of the immortals this year.
Brock Lesnar was taken out of the WrestleMania equation after his name was associated with the damning lawsuit that Janel Grant filed against Vince McMahon. Those heinous allegations involving Lesnar claimed that a sexual play date with the victim was a part of his contract renewal. It was also alleged that the Beast Incarnate wanted a video of her urinating, so his dream match against GUNTHER at Mania isn’t taking place.
CM Punk, on the other hand, is injured. His planned match against Seth Rollins isn’t going down at WrestleMania now. So, WWE needs to figure out a new direction for the top of the Mania card this year, with Cody Rhodes vs Roman Reigns remaining unaffected.
WWE’s Current WrestleMania Lineup Plans (Exclusive)
A tenured member of the WWE team told me that Triple H and a number of people, including Bruce Prichard, lead writers, and some high level associates, met at the Royal Rumble to discuss WrestleMania. They also spoke about this on a conference call Sunday, and the lineup has been determined.
I was told, as of last night, that the updated WrestleMania lineup has not distributed to talent or the rest of the creative team yet. Any report saying that there are “card variations” of the lineup is incorrect.
It was reiterated with me that the WWE creative team has not been informed of the re-shuffled Mania lineup yet. They will be informed of that later this week.
Triple H, Bruce Prichard, lead writers, and some high level #WWE associates met at the #RoyalRumble and also on a conference call Sunday to discuss #WrestleMania.
I've been told that the lineup has been determined.
The final word has "Just not distributed to talent or the…
As I previously reported, Bron Breakker did get a main roster call-up with his Royal Rumble appearance. He filled in for Brock Lesnar in the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble match, but he isn’t getting the matches that WWE had planned for Lesnar at this time.
The only people who really know what is happening with Rock are the people at the very top of the company, and they are all playing it very close to the vest.
I was told that any plan for The Rock is being kept “very close to the vest,” so, the only people who really know what is going on are kept to a very close circle.
Pat McAfee admits that he didn’t know every name involved with the 2024 Royal Rumble, but the NFL-punter-turned-WWE-commentator was impressed.
Speaking on the Pat McAfee Show, the new WWE Raw color commentator noted that he was unaware of some stars in the respective Rumble matches, one was current TNA Knockouts Champion Jordynne Grace, who shocked everybody with her appearance.
“Jordynne Grace. I had no clue who that was. As I was going through Gorilla to get up and out … I see her, and I’m like, because she had a title around her and she was facing away, I’m like, ‘Holy f***. Who is jocked, absolutely jocked?’ Then I come out there, and they’re like, ‘TNA Knockouts Champion.’ It’s like, ‘Holy s***.’”
Pat McAfee Admits to Not Recognizing Jordynne Grace at WWE Royal Rumble:
“There were some people that came out; I had no idea who they were. I had no clue. I was looking over at the trons, and I’m like, ‘What’s the name here? What’s the name here?’ And [Michael] Cole and Corey… pic.twitter.com/MMheEwDx0b
Grace didn’t eliminate anyone in the Women’s Royal Rumble match, but she did last over 20 minutes before being taken out by Bianca Belair. She also had a memorable run-in with Naomi, who just this past month dropped the Knockouts Championship to Grace at TNA Hard To Kill.
It was reported by PWInsider that Grace’s appearance in the match was actually an overture made by WWE to TNA with one source even believing that Triple H was the catalyst behind it all happening.
Grace also recounted the phone call she received from Scott D’Amore asking if she’d be interested in working the match to which Grace was shocked about it all occurring,
McAfee also happened to be an entrant in the men’s Royal Rumble match, but when he realized he was going to have to go up against Omos and Bron Breakker, he swiftly eliminated himself.
All Elite Wrestling superstar Ricky Starks thinks fondly of his highly praised No Disqualification Strap Match with Bryan Danielson at AEW All Out on September 3, 2022. Fans loved the match, and Wrestling Observer’s Dave Meltzer awarded him five stars.
In an interview with Forbes, Starks gives his perspective on his brutal contest against ‘The American Dragon.’ Admittedly, the AEW Tag Team Champion didn’t expect the overwhelmingly positive reaction he received for his match.
Forbes’ Blake Oestriecher transcribed the following quotes.
“It was cool that people reacted the way they did. I was blown away by it because I didn’t expect that type of reaction,” said Starks. He continued, “It was nice that someone thought highly enough to give it that rating. I thought that was pretty cool.”
Starks shared in the interview that he felt unsure of himself ahead of the Danielson match and why his match at AEW All Out was important to him.
“It was really a very therapeutic type of match for me,” said Starks. He explained, “My confidence had wavered up until that point just a little bit, and that really made me think, alright, this is where things start to pick up. Talk about putting the company on my shoulders and wanting to be the man, and I think I proved it.”
Ricky Starks On Being Praised By Bryan Danielson After Their Match
Although fans praised the match, the biggest compliment came from Danielson. After their match at AEW All Out, ‘The American Dragon’ credited Starks for his efforts and called him a star. The comments meant a lot to the AEW Tag Team Champion, and he was honored that Danielson thought highly of his performance.
“…The best part about that was the high compliment that Bryan gave me in that press conference afterward,” said Starks. He added, “Him saying that I’m one of his favorite opponents, that really means a lot. The fact that he said that was a badge of honor. Like, I know I belong.”
Although Starks lost the No Disqualification Strap Match, he earned many fans and Danielson’s respect that night. The stars may currently be involved in different storylines, but it’s possible they will face off in the ring again in the future.
MJF no longer possesses his prized ‘Triple B’ AEW World Championship, but he’s wasting no time building up his resume in Hollywood. Following his work on screen and Executive Producing The Iron Claw, Maxwell Jacob Friedman will be returning to the big screen soon,
Deadline reports the 27-year-old wrestling prodigy will appear in the upcoming comedy film Floaters. The film also stars Jackie Tohn of GLOW, Sarah Podemski of Reservoir Dogs, Steve Guttenberg of Police Academy and former WWE Raw guest host Seth Green.
According to Deadline, the movie “follows struggling musician Nomi (Tohn) who accepts a last-resort job from her overachiever best friend Mara (Podemski): mentoring misfit campers, the “Floaters,” at their childhood Jewish summer camp. As the camp struggles to survive amidst competition with a longtime rival, Nomi, the Floaters, and Mara must overcome their differences to bring the community together and save the camp.”
The film recently finished filming in MJF’s backyard of New York City.
More about Floaters
Director Rachel Israel spoke about how The Floaters made certain to cast people of the Jewish faith.
“We are very proud to say that The Floaters boasts Jewish actors cast in virtually every role – allowing for an authentic portrayal and celebration of the diversity within modern Jewish communities. The Floaters resists tired cliches often attributed in the media to embrace a rich culture and explore multidimensional Jewish characters.”
There is no word as to a release date of the film or the specific role MJF will be playing, but the former champ is fresh off a very brief cameo in “The Iron Claw” as notorious faux Von Erich relative, Lance Von Erich.
MJF last appeared on television at December’s World’s End pay-per-view, where he lost the World Championship to Samoa Joe.
Kazuchika Okada is going to be a free agent on Groundhog’s Day, and if one were to go by the 1993 movie with Bill Murray by that very name, one major wrestling company wants to tell “The Rainmaker” “I got you, babe.”
It was revealed on January 30 that Okada’s merchandise on Pro Wrestling Tees had been removed from the website and it led many to wonder what that could mean for the NJPW legend. Considering that PWTees has a strong relationship with AEW, the initial thought may be this is a sign that Okada is WWE bound, however, a new report from PWInsider thinks otherwise.
According to Mike Johnson, Okada evidently has a strong relationship with Matt and Nick Jackson of The Young Bucks and due to that, his sources lead him to believe that The Rainmaker will eventually become All Elite.
Okada’s agent happens to be pro wrestling super agent Barry Bloom. Bloom also represents The Young Bucks, Kenny Omega, Hangman Page and recent AEW signee Will Ospreay. Ospreay didn’t spend long at all on the free agent market and AEW was quick to ink him to a deal.
While Okada will be a free agent on Tuesday, he still has a major obligation to finish up with NJPW. On February 11, he’ll be facing off against long-time rivl and current NJPW President Hiroshi Tanahashi. Tanahashi has recently stated he wants to become the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion once again and additionally, has big plans for NJPW moving forward.
Seth Rollins further makes his case for Cody Rhodes to challenge him instead of Roman Reigns at WrestleMania and Ric Flair has taken note.
Rollins continued his campaign for Cody on social media as a compelling video package was put together by WWE with Rollins doing the narratiion and asking Rhodes what road he wants to take in finishing his story.
“Cody Rhodes – look in your heart and ask yourself what kind of champion do you want to be? Do you want to be like the Ultimate Warrior or do you want to be like The Nature Boy Ric Flair? Tell me, Cody, what kind of champion do you want to be?”
During the clip, it was highlighted how “The Nature Boy” was a staunch defending champion of the “Big Gold” during his Jim Crockett Promotions prime and although unprompted, Ric Flair looks to be in support of Cody choosing Rollins over Roman.
“The answer to that question is obvious! Just look at how Cody Rhodes styles & profiles! WOOOOO!”
During WWE Raw this past Monday, Rollins interrupted the 2024 Royal Rumble winner right before he was going to stake his claim for the WWE Undisputed Universal Title and pitched himself to The American Nightmare as the appropriate opponent for him at WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia.
While The WWE World Heavyweight Championship doesn’t have direct lineage to the original World Heavyweight Title in WCW, it sure bears a resemblence. Rollins may have invoked Ric Flair’s name during the video package, but he also spoke of Dusty Rhodes as someone whom held the “working man’s” title.
The ending of WrestleMania 39 marked one of the biggest storyline disappointments in recent WWE memory. Cody Rhodes won the Royal Rumble and had a groundswell of fan support behind him as the incumbent top babyface and world champion. However, his main event match with Roman Reigns ended in all too familiar fashion, with The Bloodline offering outside interference and snatching The American Nightmare’s big win from him at the last moment.
One year later, Rhodes has accomplished the unlikely in maintaining his momentum as the top babyface in the company, only to win another Royal Rumble and presumably set up a WrestleMania main event rematch. The history of how back-to-back Rumble winners have fared at ‘Mania suggests Rhodes has a major victory on the way.
Every Man To Win The Royal Rumble In Back-To-Back Years Lost At WrestleMania After The First Win And Won At WrestleMania After The Second
In the years 1990 and 1991, Hulk Hogan became the first person to ever win back-to-back Royal Rumbles. This was before WWE instated any formal WrestleMania or title ramifications for winning the Rumble. Nonetheless, Hogan went on to main event ‘Mania both of those years.
In 1990, Hogan went into both the Rumble and ‘Mania as the reigning WWE Champion, but wound up losing his title to The Ultimate Warrior in the Toronto SkyDome. In 1991, Hogan won the Rumble and went on to successfully challenge WWE Champion Sgt. Slaughter at WrestleMania.
In 1995 and 1996, Shawn Michaels won back-to-back Rumbles. By that point winning the Rumble did, most years, mean challenging for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania. HBK came up short in challenging Diesel at WrestleMania 11, but the next year beat Bret Hart in an Iron Man Match to win his first world title.
1997 and 1998 saw Steve Austin win back-to-back Royal Rumbles. 1997’s Rumble had a chaotic finish to kick off a chaotic Road to WrestleMania.
First, Austin was eliminated from the Rumble, but while referees were distracted, allowing him to sneak back into the match and oust Bret Hart for the win. Austin not only didn’t end up getting a title shot at WrestleMania, but lost to The Hitman at that event. One year later, things were more straightforward as Stone Cold won the Rumble then took the title off Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania 14.
Cody Rhodes has now joined elite class of two-time Rumble winners. Like his predecessors, he lost in his first world title match at WrestleMania. History suggests that the second time will play out differently.
Similarities Between The Stories Of Cody Rhodes, Shawn Michaels, And Steve Austin
Like Shawn Michaels and Steve Austin after they won their second Royal Rumbles, Cody Rhodes embarks on this Road to WrestleMania as arguably the top babyface in the company and a man who has never won a world title before.
Also, similar to HBK and Stone Cold, The American Nightmare enters WrestleMania 40 as the presumptive champion-in-waiting. Michaels had, by 1996, solidified his place as one of the greatest workers in the world, not to mention a strong talker.
On a similar note, while Austin had a lot of momentum in early 1997, by 1998 there was little question he was the most over wrestler in WWE. Rhodes occupies a similar space a popular star with both the in-ring and promo skills to make him a viable choice to end Roman Reigns’s historic title run.
Rhodes also enjoys some overlap with Austin as a talent who was arguably underappreciated in another national promotion before proving himself in WWE. Austin had been a tag team and mid-card act in WCW for years whom the promotion never really gave a shot on top, only to reinvent himself in WWE and arrive as “the guy.”
Similarly, there’s a sense that AEW took Rhodes for granted, excluding him from the main event picture, only to prove himself as a legit top-level star after he returned to WWE.
Differences Between Cody Rhodes And Other Back-To-Back Royal Rumble Winners
2-time Royal Rumble winner “Stone Cold” Steve Austin
For all the similarities between Cody Rhodes and previous back-to-back Royal Rumble winners, and the suggestion of a pattern that favors him winning at WrestleMania, there are some differences worth paying attention to as well.
Hulk Hogan had the most differences from Rhodes. It wasn’t so much the case that the Royal Rumble legitimized The Hulkster, but rather that Hogan legitimized the Rumble. After Jim Duggan and Big John Studd won the first two iterations of the match, Hogan solidified as an event with main event implications.
By 2023, the Royal Rumble was solidified for decades as one of the most important matches in wrestling, and as such winning the 2023 edition shored up Rhodes as a top guy in a way he arguably wasn’t previously. Moreover, Hogan’s win at WrestleMania 7 marked his third time as WWE Champion, while Rhodes is chasing his first reign.
Both Shawn Michaels and Steve Austin won their first Royal Rumbles as heels and walked into the WrestleMania to follow as underdogs—WWE not ready to supplant Diesel as the new face of the company, while Austin was going up against an ultra-credible Bret Hart. Most fans actually did favor The American Nightmare to “pull the sword from the stone” at WrestleMania 39 and end Roman Reigns’s already-long title run. It was a major disappointment when that didn’t come together, but that only fuels the idea that Rhodes will “finish the story” this year.
If recent years have taught wrestling fans anything, it’s not to take any outcome for granted, as anything may well happen. Nonetheless, Cody Rhodes—the son of the great Dusty Rhodes, whose persona is steeped in wrestling history—has WWE history on his side this year as he broaches his second WrestleMania main event.
Pro wrestling fans are used to outsiders dismissing their fandom by talking down to pre-determined sports entertainment events. When the subject came up for Larry David, he admitted that the moment he figured out the results are prearranged, he became a big detractor.
Larry David Gives His 2 Cents On Pro Wrestling
During a recent interview on the Bill Simmons Podcast, Larry David touched on pro wrestling, but he didn’t have very nice things to say about it, or the fans who show up to watch events in person.
When asked why he still watches pro wrestling, Simmons, who is directing the upcoming Netflix Vince McMahon docuseries, replied that he’s been watching since he was a kid.
“Yeah, I watched when I was a kid too, and then I realized it was fixed, and I stopped watching,” the Curb Your Enthusiasm creator said. “They’re all the same, aren’t they? Every match looks the same.”
Bill Simmons tried to defend the storylines in pro wrestling, and the two-month character arcs that culminate into a big pay-per-view match, but Larry David didn’t seem interested. Instead, he focused on those fans who are under the mindset that it’s still real to them.
You’re watching at home, but the people there … [laughs] they think it’s real! The people there, are you kidding? They go crazy! They wouldn’t go crazy if they didn’t think it was real!
They continued a short debate on pro wrestling, but things didn’t get too heated. “I’m trying to,” Larry David responded when Simmons asked him if he was staging an intervention. This is a subject that David has tackled on his long-running HBO series, that is due to make its return for a 12th season on February 4th.
Simmons then said that he would make David watch the first episode of his six-part upcoming Netflix documentary on Vince McMahon, and he guaranteed that he would want to watch the rest of them. “Is it scripted?” Larry David asked, to which Bill Simmons said, “no.”
Dave Meltzer noted on Wrestling Observer Radio that the interview with Vince McMahon stood out as the most captivating aspect of the documentary. The project will also dive into Vince’s return and the subsequent merger of WWE and UFC into TKO Group Holdings. It appears that Netflix is fully committed to thoroughly narrating the intricate McMahon tale.
When this documentary started, ordered by Netflix years and years ago, obviously, this was not the end result that anyone imagined. It was going to be something that they did. And Vince told them that he does not want a fake documentary. And Vince was probably the most interesting interview on the documentary. I don’t know all the different people they talk to. I only know what I talked about. And they were told this was anything but meant to be a puff piece if it ends up being, perhaps, much of the documentary.
Simmons’ Vince McMahon docuseries on Netflix may be a massive deal, especially since the streaming service just secured the rights to WWE RAW and every premium live event for non-US subscribers in a massive deal that Larry David called “ridiculous.”
WWE fans saw a few surprises during the 2024 Women’s Royal Rumble match. Tiffany Stratton’s appearance in the match may not have been a main roster call-up, but that time NXT may not last long for the former Women’s Champion.
WWE’s NXT brand may see the departure of one of its key stars, as Tiffany Stratton could be on her way to RAW.
PW Insider reports that there was backstage chatter at Monday’s Raw, specifically regarding Tiffany Stratton’s standout performance in the Royal Rumble match. The buzz has led to discussions about her potential transition to the Raw brand.
While not officially confirmed, there is speculation within the company that she might make her main roster debut as early as next month. If these discussions materialize, it could mark a significant shift in Stratton’s career and bring a fresh face to the Raw roster with a ton of potential.
It makes sense that WWE would put Stratton on the RAW brand, because she is in a real-life relationship with Ludwig Kaiser, and the company historically doesn’t like splitting up couples with brand lines.
Tiffany Stratton In NXT
Stratton joined WWE in 2021 after getting her initial training with of Greg Gagne. She held the title for 107 days, with her reign coming to an end after a loss to Becky Lynch last September at NXT Battleground 2023.
Although Tiffany Stratton is a former NXT Women’s Champion, they have kept her out of the title picture to a large extent since that Battleground loss. She has still remained a regular on the weekly television show.
In early January, Stratton concluded a feud with Fallon Henley in a unique “ranch hand or servant for a day” match at New Year’s Evil. That resulted in some notable vignettes of Stratton failing several ways while assisting on the ranch.
She is an incredibly talented wrestler and continues to make waves. After making her way into the Royal Rumble in the #29 spot, she certainly gained a lot of attention.
Turnbuckle Championship Wrestling, founded by the late great Dusty Rhodes, is set to hold its first event in over two decades and will feature the ‘The Indy God’ Matt Cardona.
Previously, TCW had announced that they would host an event on February 8 in Atlanta, Georgia from the Nightmare Factory school in McDonagh. Now, the massive announcement comes that Matt Cardona will be gracing the ring at the event.
Cardona has embarked on an impressive independent wrestling run following his tenure with WWE. His journey in the independent circuit has been nothing short of a resurgence to his career and has gained quite the success, boasting himself as ‘The Indy God.’
Moreover, his in-ring skills have shone brightly in the independent scene and helped him prove that he is a top-tier talent capable of delivering memorable matches. TCW dropped a graphic hyping Matt Cardona’s upcoming appearance on the show.
“We are happy to announce that the “Indy God” @TheMattCardona is coming back to McDonough for TCW!”
We are happy to announce that the “Indy God” @TheMattCardona is coming back to McDonough for TCW!
In 1999, Dusty Rhodes began planning for TCW and would open offices in Georgia’s East Cobb County. When he first proposed the new promotion, Rhodes called it “old school but with modern ideas.” In July 2000, TCW held its inaugural event, where Glacier emerged victorious in a competition to hold the title of TCW Heavyweight Champion.
TCW would hold its inaugural pay-per-view and start airing on television the following year. The first TCW Tag Team Champions were Scott “The Clap” Anton and Erik Watts (“The Extreme Dream”), who defeated Glacier and Jorge Estrada in March 2001.T
The original TCW saw several notable names compete, including Scott Hall, ‘Hacksaw’ Jim Duggan, New Jack, Leilani Kai, Daffney, and Steve Corino. Before making it big in TNA Wrestling, James Storm would compete during the latter stages of the company.
NJPW legend Kazuchika Okada will be a free agent in just a matter of days. As the wrestling world braces for news about his next career move, an announcement regarding his current line of merchandise being pulled has fans jumping to conclusions about what what this really means.
‘The Rainmaker’ will soon be able to see what his services are worth on the open market. In the increasingly competitive wrestling war between WWE and AEW, Okada is one of the most valuable pieces on the chess board.
Okada’s merch removed
Pro Wrestling Tees owner Ryan Barkan posted a message on social media on Tuesday evening announcing that all of Okada’s merchandise is being removed within 12 hours.
What does this mean?
Pro Wrestling Tees sells very limited merchandise for a few WWE Superstars, but they’re primarily a store selling merch for everyone else – All Elite Wrestling, New Japan Pro Wrestling, GCW, and countless other independent wrestlers and promotions.
Okada’s merchandise being pulled from PWT is not a confirmation that he’s headed to WWE. Whichever company signs Okada will immediately get to work slapping his likeness on everything from t-shirts to keychains.
Thankfully, Okada will be a free agent very soon. He’s working NJPW New Beginning on February 24, but could sign with another company as early as next week.
There are many pro wrestling shows on television today. Fans have quite a variety nowadays, and one alternative show focused on the squared circle is gaining popularity on Discovery, with a steady weekly viewership, Big Little Brawlers is proving that the formula of little people in pro wrestling is still a valuable combination.
What is Big Little Brawlers
Big Little Brawlers was announced to some fanfare, and fans have tuned in on Tuesdays to see the Discovery series. The show airs Tuesdays at 10:00 PM on Discovery, so fans may tune in right after NXT goes off the air every week.
The official synopsis for the Big Little Brawlers show details how the series portrays the lives of these mini Superstars in and out of the ring. In the end, their dreams and struggles highlight the drama of the series.
“A group of extraordinary athletes in one of the world’s most successful wrestling leagues strive, against all odds, to achieve their dreams in the ring and struggle to be the best they can be for their family out of it.”
Big Little Brawlers showcases an eclectic cast featuring Jack Darrell, Pinky Shortcake, Syko, Ivar the Micro, Lil’ Show, Hot Rod, Micro Jackson, and Jamaican Jo. Their lives in and out of the ring are showcased on the weekly reality television show.
Big Little Brawlers’ Ratings
The ratings for Big Little Brawlers have had consistent viewership over the past few weeks. As of this writing, we do not have the viewership for their January 30th episode, but we will update this article when those numbers are available.
According to TV Ratings Guide, their series debut episode on January 9 saw a P2+ audience of 356,000 and a 0.11 rating, with 92,300 viewers and a 0.07 rating in the P18-49 demographic. The show’s consistent ratings reflect its appeal to a broad audience.
The previous week, on January 16, the program had a slightly lower P2+ audience of 323,000 and a rating of 0.10, while in the P18-49 demographic, it secured 105,500 viewers and a rating of 0.08.
On January 23rd, the show garnered an audience of 359,000 in the P2+ demographic, earning a rating of 0.11. In the coveted P18-49 demographic, it attracted 118,700 viewers with a rating of 0.09.
History of Mini Wrestling
Mini wrestling holds a rich history within pro wrestling, dating back many years, even to the carnival days. In 1997, WWE introduced its ‘mini’ division, enlisting wrestlers from AAA, including Max Mini, El Torito, Mascarita Sagrada, Mini Vader, and La Parkita. Eight years later, WWE SmackDown briefly hosted the ‘juniors’ division, where competitors were often portrayed as childlike due to their size.
Despite the release of the majority of the division in 2006, WWE retained Dylan Postl, later known to fans as Hornswoggle. Postl carried on for just under a decade with the company, and although he was released, the former Little Bastard is still taking indie bookings and loving every moment of it. Postl is not featured in Big Little Brawlers.
WWE has several soon-to-be big deals in NXT, and a few of them are ready for their spotlight right now. Although it may not be Trick Williams’ time yet, they are preparing him for big things internally.
Trick Williams Has Eyes On Him
Haus of Wrestling reports that the WWE SmackDown creative team was highly impressed with the crowd’s reaction to Trick Williams. Some influential figures within the company now believe that Williams possesses “future WrestleMania main eventer potential.”
One top WWE talent reportedly said that Trick has a “great attitude and skill set that he’s cultivating.” They are seeing a future with some positive outcomes for him.
Williams is set for significant momentum this week with two crucial matches. He teamed up with Carmelo Hayes in a Dusty Rhodes Classic semi-final match against the LWO this week on NXT. After winning, it was determined that the two will advance to the finals this Sunday at Vengeance Day, where they will face Baron Corbin and Bron Breakker.
Trick Williams’ Big SmackDown Reaction
This past Friday on WWE SmackDown, WWE NXT star Carmelo Hayes faced off against Austin Theory. The two men had a previous encounter a few weeks ago, but it was cut short due to a botched Avalanche Spanish Fly that worried a lot of people.
In their rematch, Austin Theory secured the win with the help of distractions from Grayson Waller and a roll-up involving a handful of tights. Following the victory, Waller and Theory initiated a beatdown on Hayes, prompting WWE NXT Star Trick Williams to make a save amid the crowd’s enthusiastic chants of “Whoop That Trick!” WWE higher-ups certainly noticed that reaction for Trick.
Damage CTRL leader Bayley recently gave a cheeky response as she was not included in WWE’s promotional banner.
‘The Role Model’ is heading to WrestleMania 40 after a historic win in Saturday’s 30-Woman Royal Rumble match.
Bayley, a multi-time Women’s Champion in WWE, has an opportunity to showcase that she’s still a champion material. She is eyeing to cement her legacy in WWE after winning the Royal Rumble, an achievement that has eluded her for a long time.
Bayley’s performance this past Saturday set a new record for the longest time spent a Women’s Royal Rumble at one hour and three minutes.
She entered at #3 following Natalya and the returning Naomi. After receiving some help from Damage CTRL teammates, Asuka and Kairi Sane, she eliminated Candice LaRae, Indi Hartwell, Maxxine Dupri and finally Liv Morgan to win the 7th Women’s Royal Rumble.
On January 30, WWE dropped the posters for their upcoming Road To WrestleMania tour with 2023 and 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble winner Cody Rhodes and 2021 Women’s Royal Rumble winner Bianca Belair gracing them. It seems that didn’t set well with Bayley.
Bayley’s response
She quote-tweeted and gave a hilarious reply as she asked why the female superstar didn’t look like her. She wrote:
Bayley has secured a championship match at WrestleMania 40 with her victory. Bayley, the self-proclaimed ‘Mami-Slayer’ is eyeing to go up against Rhea Ripley for the Women’s World Championship at WrestleMania.
Having said that, a lot of people doubt that a Bayley-Rhea bout is in the works. Some have conjectured that the ‘Role Model’ might battle WWE Women’s Champion IYO SKY at the two-night mega event in April, given the tensions within Damage CTRL.
Who will Bayley face at WrestleMania 40?
By winning the 2024 Women’s Royal Rumble, Bayley earns the right to challenge for any championship at WrestleMania 40.
The two top women’s champions in WWE are Rhea Ripley (Women’s World Champion) and her Damage CTRL partner, Iyo Sky (WWE Women’s Champion).
Bayley announced that she will make her decision on who she will challenge at WrestleMania 40 on this Friday’s February 2 episode of SmackDown.
It has been a family affair on WWE NXT lately for Mr. Robert Stone. The veteran wrestler and manager saw his twin sons Carter and Cash on the show. They’ve had a hand helping Stone’s client Von Wagner prepare for his big match this week for the Heritage Cup against Noam Dar. I recently spoke with the proud dad, who says it’s gratifying to see his boys go on this ride.
“They are like the coolest kids in their school,” Stone said. “I try to think back. When I was seven years old, my older brother loved wrestling, so I was obsessed with professional wrestling if I could have been on TV and shown up at school and showed all my friends myself on TV.
How cool would that have been? They are going through that now.They’ve been on twice in the past two months or so, and it is the coolest thing. The parents watch. The teachers know. It’s a lot of fun for them. I’m happy for them.”
Stone isn’t sure who initially had the idea to get the kids a role on the show. At the same time, he isn’t surprised about it either as he describes them as naturals in front of the camera.
“When you meet them, you just say these kids should probably be on TV,” he said. “They are pretty wild. I think everyone was on board when they heard it b because why not? You never don’t like something when children are involved. This is such a big match for them. They’ve been rooting for Von so much. They helped him train. They called themselves his coaches. They’ll be watching, at least from the audience. As long as the matches aren’t too late and it’s not past their bedtime I think my wife will let it happen.”
Robert Stone On His Time With WWE
It’s been quite the journey for Stone, who spent almost 20 years putting in the work before getting a WWE contract in 2019. The former TNA Impact Wrestling star has managed to find his footing in a very competitive atmosphere and stay in the mix. He takes pride in being a personality on the show, even described by Shawn Michaels as this new age Bobby Heenan or Jimmy Hart.
“It’s crazy when you say 2019. There have been so many changes in NXT since that time,” Stone said. “I’m actually one of the longest people within the locker room since that time that is still in NXT, which is crazy when you think about it. I went from Black and Gold to 2.0 to kind of Black and Gold again. It is a family. You train together. You do the weekend shows together. We do the PLEs on the road together. It’s a very tight locker room.
“Everyone is rooting for one another. Everyone works together at TV to make the best possible product, which I think is coming out now. NXT is hotter than ever. It’s a cool thing to be a part of. I have been in the industry for so long and locker rooms are not always like that. They are very cutthroat and everyone is out for themselves. It’s not like that here. It shouldn’t be any other way. It’s great to be a part of.”
Transitioning to a Personality
The 40-year-old credits his longevity to his ability to evolve and adapt. He is always looking at taking on another skill set or challenge to be a valuable asset to WWE. And that often means not lacing up the boots but being the guy ringside and still being an important part of the presentation.
“I wrestled in 2000, so when 2019 came around my body has been beat up. I’ve been doing this for a long time. So when it got offered to me this role where I’m not wrestling so much and was a manager, I was the right guy to come to. I feel like to be an on-air character and not have to do all the physical stuff as often, I’m the perfect guy for that. As I get older, with my body it’s harder to handle wrestling. As they say, this isn’t ballet. I was pretty beat up, so it was nice to do something different.
I like learning different things. I commentated on Level Up a few times, so I’m learning commentary. Now I’m doing a little producing and coaching matches. I’m always down to learn something different, so I wanted to take this head-on…”
Working With Chelsea Green and Von Wagner
Before being linked to Wagner, Stone worked with a number of talents. Among them was Chelsea Green, who is currently been making the most of her second chance with WWE. Stone couldn’t be happier to see her success. And if she really needs a manager, he is still one call away.
“When I first debuted on TV, me and Chelsea were together. It was short-lived. We were actually in the 2020 Royal Rumble. It was three or four months we worked together. We really bonded. We still have a connection. We’re still pretty close. I’m obviously excited for her and how great she is shining right now.”
Stone’s focus remains on building up Wagner. Someone who had all the physical tools and potential to be a major WWE superstar. What the standout athlete has missed is a connection to the audience. However, through vignettes and Stone as his mouthpiece, he has been able to come out of his shell a little more.
“I think it has been the best thing for him. When they see him. A big guy. A monster who screams. He is like everyone else. Why should we like this guy or be interested in him or why deserve to be here? Fans thought this without knowing him. He had that story about his head. When he was born and had multiple surgeries on his head and battled through that. It shows you what he has been through a lot. A reason to like him.”
Like a great manager/agent, Stone sells his client’s credentials and upside.
They also don’t know he is a second-generation wrestler. He was an amazing athlete in college. He was a Division 1 football player at UCF, a three-sport athlete in high school They don’t know he genuinely cares about this industry. He grew up in it. His dad wrestled. He absorbs and wants to learn and regularly trains and is not just the guy who is going through the motions. He wants to keep getting better. He is continuously getting better with every match. He has a bright future, and now people are starting to get that.”
New Japan Pro Wrestling is in a unique era under the leadership of President and active wrestler Hiroshi Tanahashi. After getting the position on December 23, 2023, fans have wondered when the NJPW veteran would take a step back from wrestling. However, Tanahashi has confirmed he will continue wrestling and wants the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship.
In an interview with Yahoo Japan, Tanahashi shared that he aspires to become the world champion and aims to be the best.
Tanahashi Still Aims For The Throne
Yahoo Japan also transcribed the following quotes.
“The fighting spirit disappears when I no longer aim to be the best. If I feel like I can’t reach it or can’t do it anymore, I’ll retire immediately,” said Tanahashi.
He continued, “I want to aim for the throne no matter what so that people won’t think, ‘No, I don’t get tired (lol). I’ll bring my body to its peak once again.”
While Tanahashi hopes to lead NJPW into a new era, some fans are worried about if he can separate his two jobs. He is in a unique position, being the boss of his peers and looking to win titles.
What’s Next For Hiroshi Tanahashi?
Tanahashi’s year is off to a great start as he begins his first year as the NJPW President and active wrestler. He defeated Zack Sabre Jr. at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 18 on January 4 to become the NJPW World Television Champion. Since then, he has successfully defended the title once against Ryusuke Taguchi at NJPW New Year’s Dash on January 5.
His next big match will be against longtime rival and former IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada.
If the momentum continues for Tanahashi, he could potentially enter the 2024 NJPW New Japan Cup and earn a chance to challenge for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship.
This year is looking great for Tanahashi. Hopefully, he can find balance as the NJPW President and wrestler.
WWE fans have seen Sonya Deville on the screen as herself on Total Divas, but they are about to get another chance to see her flex that acting muscle.
Sonya Deville’s New Project
Deville is working on a movie in Florida. She’s taking on the role of a police officer in the film “DNA Secrets,” currently being shot in Clearwater. The movie, described as a murder mystery, revolves around the owner of an antique store, as shared by producer TJ Yates in a discussion with the Tampa Bay Times.
While speaking with 10 Tampa Bay, Deville commented on acting and highlighted how it’s different from performing in WWE.
“Obviously, the hustle and bustle, the hurry up and wait, the cameras, the memorization of lines, the having to constantly be ready and on, is very similar. I do have to say, I do like that in filmmaking you get more than one take. When you’re on Monday Night Raw or Friday Night SmackDown, it is live, live, and that is it.”
Deville experienced a torn ACL during the July 28th, 2023, episode of WWE SmackDown while being one-half of the WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions with Chelsea Green. Piper Niven stepped in to replace Deville due to her need for surgery. Deville has been on the path to recovery ever since.
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson will serve as the grand marshal for the 2024 Daytona 500. He will give the command for drivers in the NASCAR race to fire their engines on Sunday, February 18.
The announcement was made during the NFL’s NFC Championship game on FOX. The Daytona 500 race will also be broadcast on the same network. The race is set to take place on February 18, 2024 at the Daytona International Speedway in in Daytona Beach, Florida.
This is the 66th edition of the Daytona 500, and Johnson’s opening command will be for 40 race car drivers participating in the race.
This isn’t the first time a WWE star has been involved as a grand marshal for NASCAR. Johnson himself served in the role for a Cup Series race at the Texas Motor Speedway in 2004. Last October, Liv Morgan was the grand marshal for the fall race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, and in 2021, Sasha Banks was the honorary starter for the Daytona 500. John Cena has also been involved several times with NASCAR races.
Some other celebrities who have appeared as grand marshal include Pitbull and Pro Football Hall of Famer Charles Woodson over the years. Last year, NASCAR legends had taken on the role of grand marshal. This was done in commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the sport.
As for the WWE ring, it appears that the anticipated showdown between The Rock and Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40 is still expected to happen, but there is no precise confirmation regarding the same, according to Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio.
The Rock is reportedly interested in a match for this year, but more details are expected to be revealed after the Royal Rumble.
After 2K revealed the character design of Bayley for WWE 2K24, the image quickly went viral, but not for positive reasons. The model bore little resemblance to the female wrestler and was generally poorly executed.
The official WWEGames Twitter account, responsible for revealing in-game character models, shared Bayley’s image from WWE 2K24. However, fans observed significant discrepancies in the character’s appearance, including hair that didn’t match Bayley’s and a face that aged her considerably.
It appears that the official account removed the post after facing backlash, but the damage was already done as the image had circulated widely within the community. Bayley herself took notice and responded with “HELP ME,” an understandable reaction. Below is a glimpse of the character model:
WWE 2K24 will be playable on two different dates, depending on the version you purchase:
Tuesday, March 5, 2024: Deluxe and Forty Years of WrestleMania editions
Friday, March 8, 2024: Standard and Standard Cross-Gen Digital editions
WWE 2K24 Covers: 3 Editions
The Standard Edition features “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes on the cover, while the Deluxe Edition showcases Rhea Ripley and Bianca Belair. The game boasts updated gameplay, new match types, and more. Notably, it includes the 2K Showcase of the Immortals, celebrating 40 years of WrestleMania, along with four new match types like Ambulance and Special Guest Referee, and two new MyRISE experiences, among other additions.
WWE 2K24 boasts a massive roster of wrestlers, comprising current-day Superstars and Legends. The roster includes icons like The Rock, The Undertaker, Hulk Hogan, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, Roman Reigns, Andre the Giant, Becky Lynch, Batista, Kurt Angle, Asuka, Bret Hart, Brock Lesnar, “Macho Man” Randy Savage, and Chyna, among others.
WWE made a big change to the SmackDown announce team when they took Kevin Patrick off of his duties. It was confirmed a short time later that Patrick has been released from the company, but they still needed to figure out a replacement.
According to PW Insider, Wade Barrett has been moved over to SmackDown to replace Kevin Patrick. The new SmackDown announce team will be Corey Graves and Barrett.
The future broadcast team for WWE SmackDown involves Wade Barrett and Corey Graves. Graves is set to take on the lead announce position, while Barrett will continue in his role as a color commentator.
The reason given to me for Kevin Patrick’s removal was that it just wasn’t working out. Now, Barrett is taking that role for him.
WWE RAW’s New Announce Team
Pat McAfee was revealed as the new full-time announcer on RAW. He will sit alongside Michael Cole every Monday night to call the action in the ring. That helped facilitate this change for Barrett’s blue brand move.
Wade Barrett’s Career In WWE
Wade Barrett’s real name is Stu Bennett, which he has used for several projects outside WWE. He had a notable career in WWE as a Superstar as well.
He joined the company in 2007 as part of the developmental system, Florida Championship Wrestling, and he rose to prominence in the first season of NXT, as he won the competition.
Barrett later led the group known as The Nexus, making a significant impact in storylines. Throughout his WWE tenure, he engaged in various feuds and alliances, including commentator and an authority figure role.
After leaving WWE in 2016, Barrett pursued other ventures, contributing to his diverse career in the wrestling industry. He eventually returned to WWE in 2022, where he was placed on the NXT announce team. He was later placed on main roster commentary, and that is where we find ourselves today.
This week on Raw, Punk addressed the fans and said he will miss this year’s WrestleMania. Eventually, Drew McIntyre interrupted him and said that “I’m not a spiritual person, but I prayed for this to happen.” Then Punk said that he would be coming back for McIntyre when he returns.
It’s worth noting that McIntyre’s future in WWE is uncertain. His contract is not confirmed beyond April. Meanwhile, Punk’s return from injury is likely to be around in September. Now, the question stands what will be the future of the feud.
Uncertainty looms over CM Punk-Drew McIntyre feud
Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio reported that a reasonable timeline for CM to return is in September. Given Drew McIntyre’s contract status, doubt remains what the future holds for the storyline.
I’d say September is a reasonable return (for CM Punk). Which is interesting, really interesting, because they set up the big angle with Drew McIntyre tonight to be his opponent when he returns, and Drew McIntyre’s not under contract past April. And that has not changed. Which really surprised me when I watched it.”
This is not the first time Punk has suffered this injury. He has sustained a triceps tear at All Out in Chicago in 2022 during the main event against Jon Moxley. After immediate surgery, he remained inactive for over nine months and made his return for the debut of AEW Collision show. We will have to wait and see when he is able to return this time around.
Brock Lesnar was set for the 2024 Royal Rumble event, where he would have been a part of the big over the top rope match. He was replaced by Bron Breakker in that match, and now there is a lot of doubt that Lesnar will be back any time soon.
Brock Lesnar May Not Be Back In WWE
Lesnar’s name was not explicitly mentioned in the earth-shattering lawsuit that Janel Grant filed against Vince McMahon, WWE and John Laurinaitis. A former UFC Heavyweight Champion who was a WWE Superstar talking about a new contract at the time was mentioned. This didn’t paint Lesnar in the best light at all.
During Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer mentioned that he has heard from some people who believe that Brock Lesnar may not ever be back in WWE. Then again, with a name that draws the kind of money that Lesnar does, you can never say never.
“As far as what happens next, I don’t know. It appears that Brock Lesnar is not going to be around for a while, some people think ever, you know, when it comes to talent I hate to say ‘forever,’ because it is almost never the case, because if someone can draw they almost always find their way back. As far as Vince, I cannot imagine Vince coming back this time.”
Brock Lesnar’s Link to Vince McMahon Lawsuit
The Janel Grant lawsuit did not specify a wrestler but described one as both a former UFC Heavyweight Champion fighter and WWE talent. Given the timeline of 2021, it’s relatively easy to narrow down those choices, although it’s important to note that Brock Lesnar was not explicitly named.
The lawsuit mentioned that McMahon shared explicit photos with the WWE Superstar, who stated, “he likes what he sees.” Four WWE Producers and television production techs were also alleged to have received this explicit content.
In March 2020, McMahon began sharing sexually explicit photographs and videos of Ms. Grant (including pornographic content he recorded) with other men both inside and outside the company, including with members of the television production “tech” team, executive(s), 4 producer(s), and a world-famous athlete and former UFC Heavyweight Champion with whom WWE was actively trying to sign to a new contract (and ultimately did sign that contract).
In December of the same year, McMahon allegedly provided Grant’s personal cellphone number to the unnamed WWE Superstar. The lawsuit claims that the wrestler requested a video of her urinating, and after she complied, he used derogatory language, calling her ‘b*tch.” She was also later informed that sleeping with this talent was part of his contract renewal, although a “play date” could not be arranged.
‘The Great One’ is certainly one of the biggest superstars of WWE and has tasted success outside the company as well. Whether as an actor in Hollywood or in his business ventures, The Rock has excelled in every aspect.
The former WWE Champion has a diverse business background that includes Seven Bucks Productions, Teremana Tequila, ZOA Energy, Project Rock, and the United Football League (UFL), a recently merged spring football league. He has also involved himself in revenue-generating opportunities in live events, media rights, sponsorship, licensing, and social media. In addition, he is among the most popular men on the planet with massive social media followers.
The Rock: I have the privilege now to sit at the table
Taking to Twitter/ X, The Rock once again cherished the huge opportunity that has come in his path. He posted a video capturing the moments from his TKO Board of Directors appointment and in the caption, he said that it was his “honor to join” TKO Board of Directors.
He believes that it was “an historic day of big business.” The Rock noted that the achievement holds “life comes full circle” significance for him. He added:
“I have the privilege now to sit at the table, that my grandfather and my dad helped to build. Now the fun part – we go to work. We build. Thanks to all you guys out there for your support and hype.”
He finally thanked TKO/WWE partners- Ari Emmanuel, Mark Shapiro, Nick Khan and Paul “Triple H” Levesque.
My honor to join @TKOGrp Board of Directors (parent co who owns @WWE@UFC)
An historic day of big business with deep and personal “life comes full circle” significance for me.
I have the privilege now to sit at the table, that my grandfather and my dad helped to build.
