WWE has a few sure-fire angles going, one that are guaranteed to be money-makers. R-Truth’s story with the Judgment Day shocked everyone to see how rapidly the WWE Universe responded.
R-Truth In Judgment Day
Judgement Day is comprised of Damian Priest, Rhea Ripley, Finn Balor, Dominik Mysterio, and JD McDonagh. It is hard to get into their family, but R-Truth apparently found a way through their bank accounts.
WWE ran an angle on RAW this week where R-Truth made direct reference to how well his new Judgment Day t-shirt is selling. He gave Priest his cut of the profits, and that calmed him down a bit.
While speaking to Busted Open Radio, R-Truth revealed that it was Damian Priest who pushed for him to remain in the Judgment Day stable. Señor Money in the Bank saw that the angle was working, and he was very correct in his observation.
“I was happy. I was ready to get out of the house and go back to the sport that I love. When they said I was working with Judgment Day, I was like, ‘Let’s do it. What are we doing?’ They could have said I was working with anybody and I was ready. I will say this, Judgment Day, they all want me.”
“I will say Damian Priest, he was like, ‘Bro, we should keep you around. This thing is working.’ He actually went to, I think it was Hunter [Triple H] and the writers. Damian Priest fought for it.”
R-Truth Is Raking In Cash For Judgment Day
R-Truth became the top merchandise seller in WWE after his Judgment Day angle took off. He dethroned CM Punk from his #1 position, a place the Second City Savior has been since his November 25th WWE Survivor Series return.
Judgment Day has not officially accepted R-Truth into the stable yet. If he can keep bringing in this kind of revenue, then that may grease the wheels.
AEW superstar Hook recently took a shot back at WWE star Jinder Mahal ahead of the biggest match of his career.
Recently, AEW President Tony Khan attacked WWE for booking Jinder Mahal in a World Heavyweight Championship match on Raw. Khan argued that Mahal’s dismal win/loss record means he shouldn’t be competing for the title. Fans reacted negatively to this, citing Abadon’s abrupt push in the TBS title picture and Hook’s push in the AEW World Championship picture.
Tony Khan was enraged after seeing a tweet from the USA Network that made no mention of either Khan or AEW. The aforementioned post was a reaction to Raj Giri’s Tweet about the NXT Championship bout between Mahal and Rollins in 2012. The USA Network questioned about the Cagematch rating for the match which Khan took as a dig at him.
Tony Khan made an argument in that post that Hook, who has a 28-1 record, is also deserving of a World Title shot.
A double standard:@730hook 28-1 career record, on winning streak calls out the Champ, a logical challenge sparks online outrage
Jinder has literally lost every single match he's in for the past year, immediately gets title shot, where is the rage#AEWDynamite TOMORROW on TBS
FTW Champion Hook, who is inactive on social media, has responded to Jinder Mahal in a new promo hyping his AEW World Championship match against Samoa Joe on Dynamite this week.
In the video clip, the 24-year-old addressed the pressure that comes with the title match against Joe. He also questioned his own identity which is apparently a dig at Jinder Mahal.
“So who’s the pressure on tomorrow? I mean, is there really anything that I have to lose?
And also (bites into a slice of pizza), I’m not big enough to compete with Samoa Joe. Eh, but I am getting some calories right now (holds up pizza), so who knows.
Then again, who the f**k am I anyway?
24 hours Joe, I’m coming for that world title.”Sa
HOOK, 24-Hours before challenging for the #AEW World Championship
This will mark Samoa Joe’s first AEW World title defense after winning the title at AEW Worlds End pay-per-view and we will have to see how this match pans out.
NXT star Cora Jade is keeping a positive attitude despite encountering a significant setback in her wrestling career.
Jade, 23, is one of the top rising stars in WWE’s developmental brand. Already a former NXT Women’s tag team champion (with Roxanne Perez, 22), her hopes for a bright 2024 came crashing down when she sustained a knee injury this past weekend at a non-televised NXT event from Dade City, FL.
Later in the evening, Jade posted a meme stating, “I laugh to keep from crying,” which many fans perceived as cause for concern regarding her medical outlook.
During Tuesday’s NXT broadcast on the USA Network, WWE provided an update on her condition. Upon a medical evaluation, it was determined that Cora Jade had sustained an ACL tear that will keep her out of action for up to one year.
Cora Jade reacts
Cora Jade is learning that major injuries can be an unfortunate part of a successful career in WWE.
The determination and work ethic that brought her to the ‘big time’ will serve her well in the months ahead. She faces a long road to recovery and sounds like she’s keeping a level-headed outlook about things.
Following the announcement that she’ll be lucky to step foot in the ring before the end of 2024, she posted an inspirational quote on social media, along with a photo of her left knee in a brace.
WWE Superstars get asked a lot of questions, and some of them repeat themselves. Most pro wrestlers are tired of getting asked, “is it fake?” That question is actually probably less insulting than the one Grayson Waller and LA Knight had to deal with recently.
The Grayson Waller Incident
On the Sunrise talk show in Australia, Grayson Waller and LA Knight faced an unusual request from the host. The host asked Knight if he could perform one of his signature moves on someone in the studio. Knight said no and passed the task of handling the question to Grayson Waller.
The hosts then proposed doing a WWE move on their floor manager, because he is leaving them soon. That is when the floor manager walked onto the set and prepared to face off with Waller.
The floor manager acted like he was preparing for a fight, and not taking it seriously. Waller, however, became quite annoyed at this suggestion and chose to uphold the integrity of the wrestling business.
“I don’t think you understand, because if I go over there we’re gonna have the police here, because I’m not gonna give you some fake punch. I’m gonna punch you straight in the jaw. The disrespect that you give me when you act like this isn’t real. Don’t act tough. You guys disrespect us, are you kidding me?”
They were able to remove the floor manager from the set, and Waller composed himself. LA Knight remained seated for the entire thing, as you can see in the footage from the incident.
This is not the first time that a pro wrestler needed to protect kayfabe. John Stossel learned that the hard way nearly 40 years ago.
The Stossel controversy occurred in December 1984, during an interview with David Schultz, who was also known as “Dr. D.” Stossel questioned the legitimacy of professional wrestling, asking if it was fake.
In response, Schultz slapped Stossel across the ear, causing pain and hearing loss. Then he slapped him again for good measure when the journalist got to his feet.
The incident was recorded and later aired on the “20/20” program, leading to legal action. Stossel filed a lawsuit against Schultz and WWF, resulting in a settlement of $425,000.
There was also a legendary 1997 appearance of Vader and The Undertaker in Kuwait. That interview took quite a turn, and the Deadman stayed in character as the host of that program realized it was Vader Time.
Thankfully, Grayson Waller was able to escape this situation without a lawsuit, but he seemed ready to take things to a Schultz level if they needed to escalate that far.
While Waller did not drop any clever words, or pontificate about respect for pro wrestling, he did let fans know he is aware that he is now the new David Schultz. He did so by simply tweeting out a photo of the former WWE Superstar who once busted John Stossel’s ear drum.
The rising NXT superstar Roxanne Perez has yet again secured a shot at the NXT Women’s Championship and has explained what it means to her.
‘The Prodigy’ is aiming to become a two-time NXT Women’s Champion when she takes on Lyra Valkyria at Vengeance Day next month. Though she had odds stacked against her, Perez outlasted 19 other women to earn a title.
Last night on NXT, Roxanne Perez competed in the 20-woman battle royal to determine the number one contender for the NXT Women’s Championship. She made it to the final four which turned into a four-way match as previously announced. The bout also consisted Kelani Jordan, Fallon Henley and Kiana James. and Perez eventually won the match.
Perez is quite confident on her quest to dethrone the NXT Women’s champion and reclaim the title.
Roxanne Perez: I’m The Prodigy, and you can’t break me
In a WWE NXT Exclusive, Roxanne Perez shared her thoughts on her triumph last night and reiterated that she’s the best woman in the locker room.
“What does it mean to me? I just stood in the ring with 19 other women and prevailed. It was me against the world tonight. But did I doubt myself? No. But I’m pretty sure every single person out there did, just like they have been for the past year. When I said that I’m the best damn woman in this locker room, I wasn’t lying. I’ll say it once, I’ll say it twice. I’ll say it a third time. I’m The Prodigy, and you can’t break me,” Perez said.
Roxanne’s last reign as champion lasted for 109 days. At last year’s NXT Stand & Deliver Perez dropped the title to Indi Hartwell in a ladder match which also involved Gigi Dolin, Zoey Stark, Tiffany Stratton, and Lyra Valkyria.
On next week’s edition of NXT, Perez and Valkyria are set to have a contract-signing segment for the title match.
We will have to wait and see if Roxanne Perez manages to dethrone Lyra Valkyria at Vengeance Day which takes place on February 4 at the F&M Bank Arena in Clarksville, Tennessee.
WWE wants to make sure that their talent is safe at all times, and they have a system in place to make sure that they aren’t taking anything that could be dangerous to them. Steroids were a way of life in WWE for years, but the company doesn’t want them around anymore.
How Often WWE Tests Talent For Drugs
Grayson Waller and LA Knight visited Australia to hype the upcoming Elimination Chamber that is coming to Perth on February 24th. They went on The Kyle & Jackie O Show during that media tour, where Knight discussed how wrestlers keep healthy and deal with injuries.
Knight was asked about ways that Superstars heal from injuries. He was quick to shut down any ideas of steroid use, as he stated that WWE runs monthly tests to make sure talent is clean.
“You can’t (use steroids). Yeah, because that would actually make recovery easy but, no, every month we get tested. Every single month.”
History of WWE’s Wellness Policy
WWE’s Wellness Program started in 2006 to make sure wrestlers are healthy. This testing program was implemented following Eddie Guerrero’s passing, but the company has not 100% confirmed that Latino Heat was the reason for this testing.
They test for drugs randomly, and if someone fails the test, they get suspended. The first time is 30 days without pay, the second time is 60 days, and the third time means the wrestler loses their job if they refuse rehab. WWE tells the public when someone fails a test, but failures are few and far between at this point.
WWE no longer tests for marijuana. There used to be a $2,500 fine associated with popping dirty for THC on your drug test, but that is no longer their policy. We haven’t heard about any marijuana fines being given out for years.’
Fans who tuned into this week’s WWE NXT caught their first glimpse of Madi Wrenkowski in a WWE ring, and she now has a new name.
The January 16, 2024, edition of WWE NXT saw the gold brand start the journey toward NXT Vengeance Day. That event will take place on February 4, from the F&M Bank Arena in Clarksville, Tennessee. During this week’s show, it was confirmed that NXT Champion Ilja Dragunov will defend at Vengeance Day against Trick Williams. The pair were set to face off at New Year’s Evil but the match was postponed.
WWE NXT In-Ring Debut
This week’s NXT was headlined by a women’s battle royal with a unique stipulation. The final four in the match would advance to a four-way, with the winner earning a shot at the NXT Women’s Championship. For the match, Madi Wrenkowski, a former NWA star, made her in-ring debut for WWE NXT under her new name Wren Sinclair. While she appeared on last week’s NXT, this match marked her in-ring debut for the promotion.
Unfortunately for Sinclair, she would not make it to the final four. Instead, the four-way was comprised of Roxanne Perez, Fallon Henley, Kiana James, and Kelani Jordan. Perez got the win and will challenge NXT Women’s Champion Lyra Valkyria at NXT Vengeance Day.
Wrenkowski was also NWA Women’s Tag Team Champion from February to August of this year and held the titles with Missa Kate. The pair lost the titles at the NWA 75th Anniversary show on August 27, 2023, in St. Louis, MO. She has also appeared on episodes of AEW Dark.
Brooke spent close to a decade competing in a WWE ring but rarely received any pushes from the company. On a recent edition of Busted Open Radio, Elegance spoke about feeling overlooked by most people in WWE.
“I honestly think they didn’t believe in me. You know, producers, T.J. [Wilson] was a very big advocate for me and he would always be like, ‘Dana can do it, Dana can do it, Dana can do it’ and it just — it wasn’t happening and I wasn’t that girl. I wasn’t the girl that they were trying to push to that next level. [I] was the one that I was always given to take the pin fall and I was okay with it, thinking in my mind, there’s gonna be a shot. There’s gonna be that next time and there just never was that next time.”
Elegance also recalled a spot she pitched that WWE turned down, deeming the move simply too unsafe despite her credentials.
“It was 2018 or ‘19 in the Money in the Bank match where I wanted to hang from the briefcase and swing from it and fall and a pile of girls catch me and they’re like, ‘No, no, no. That’s a little too dangerous.’ I’m like, ‘Do you not know I was in gymnastics for 18 years?… Just let me do it’ and it would be a wow factor and I just don’t think that they had the confidence in me.”
There is credence to the notion that WWE had no intentions to elevate Dana Brooke. In April 2023, it was reported that WWE confiscated a fan’s sign reading ‘Give Dana Brooke A Chance.’
NBA players may get paid to play a game for a living, but it’s serious business to the powers that be. Joel Embiid has already been slapped with a fine for celebrating like DX, and he’s not stopping.
Joel Embiid’s Crotch Chopping History
WWE Chief Content Officer Triple H previously extended an invitation to Joel Embiid for WrestleMania 40 following the NBA star’s fine for performing D-Generation X’s signature taunt. He laid down a crotch chop, just like a DX member; and while it captured headlines, the NBA didn’t dig it.
The Philadelphia 76ers player laid down D-Generation X’s signature crotch chop during a game against the Portland Trail Blazers on October 29th. Subsequently, it was revealed that the Cameroonian player received a $35,000 fine for this action. This is what caused Triple H to extend his invitation.
Embiid, who is well-known for his expressive on-court celebrations, once again made headlines as he led the Philadelphia 76ers to victory against the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday. In a standout performance, Embiid contributed significantly to the win, scoring an impressive 41 points.
As the game reached its decisive moments in the fourth quarter, Embiid added to the excitement by making a midrange jumper and drawing a foul in the process.
That is when Embiid directed a playful taunt towards the opposing team, signaling them to “suck it.” The DX crotch chop came back, and we can only imagine that the NBA will take action with another fine. We have to assume that Triple H will hear about that if it happens.
DX owned up to putting countless kids in detention during their run as a stable in WWE’s Attitude Era. Emulating the “suck it’ taunt may appear fun on television, but it doesn’t fly with teachers. It’s also a good idea to keep the gesture off the NBA court, but Joel Embiid didn’t get that memo.
WWE NXT Superstar Cora Jade will be out of action for close to a year after suffering a torn ACL during a recent live event.
During the January 16, 2024, edition of WWE NXT, the gold brand confirmed reports that Jade had been injured at an untelevised show. It was confirmed that Jade suffered a torn ACL. She is slated to miss up to a year of in-ring action. The injury occurred during a match between Jade and NXT Women’s Champion Lyra Valkyria. During this week’s show, however, it was stated that Jade wrestled and lost to someone else.
Jade’s injury will once again raise questions regarding the safety of the training WWE provides at its Performance Center. Jade is the latest woman to be taken out with a torn ACL. Amari Miller, Arianna Grace, Nikkita Lyons, and Yulisa Leon have all suffered ACL tears as part of WWE NXT. It’ll be important for WWE to find the balance between conditioning talent for the future while also not pushing them beyond their current limits.
Cora Jade recently reunited with an old hero of hers…
Impact Wrestling’s rebranding to TNA Wrestling brought a new spotlight for the company. Now, they are embarking on a new deal as part of those re-branding efforts.
TNA Wrestling’s Big New Partnership
TNA Wrestling has announced a partnership with the global entertainment platform StarTimes. In a press release the company sent out about this collaboration, it is stated that they will bring exclusive TNA content to over 30 countries across Africa in January 2024.
The agreement expands TNA’s outreach, making its flagship weekly series, TNA IMPACT!, widely accessible to over 45 million users in countries like Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania, South Africa, and the Ivory Coast, among others. As part of this deal, StarTimes viewers will have the opportunity to enjoy exclusive TNA+ specials and hard-hitting Pay-Per-View events, including significant spectacles such as Bound For Glory.
TNA Wrestling President Scott D’Amore made a statement about this new partnership. They are proud of this new agreement, as TNA Wrestling will be offered to even more fans.
“Africa has long-boasted a passionate wrestling audience, who have warmly embraced our programming and our athletes. We are proud to partner with StarTimes to bring exclusive TNA content to subscribers throughout the continent, and we hope they will enjoy the exciting plans we have in store for what promises to be one of our biggest years yet!”
TNA Wrestling’s Re-Branding
Impact Wrestling just re-branded themselves back to TNA Wrestling this month. Hard to Kill 2024 marked their official restart.
Pro wrestling has many stories throughout history that are begging to be told. Now, the world of pro wrestling is seemingly turned around in this new horror film.
Who’s Producing “Here For Blood”
SCREAMBOX is a platform dedicated exclusively to the horror genre. Slashers, jump scares, gore, psychological thrillers, and more are included in the library of this service, and there is also a pro wrestling connection as well.
Beyond streaming existing horror content, the platform has ventured into creating its original films. The latest announcement reveals that a SCREAMBOX Original film titled “Here for Blood” is scheduled to hit theaters next month, marking a wrestling-based horror film.
What is “Here For Blood” all about?
The storyline follows a struggling pro wrestler who reluctantly agrees to babysit a precocious 10-year-old girl. What starts as a laid-back night of junk food and video games quickly descends into bloody chaos when the secluded home is invaded by a cult of mask-wearing maniacs.
The film, described as a gory throwback to video store staples of the ’80s and ’90s, will be available in select theaters, digitally, and on SCREAMBOX starting February 9th.
The cast includes Shawn Roberts from the Resident Evil franchise, with Dee Snider contributing his legendary voice to a decapitated skull. Other co-stars include Maya Misaljevic, Joelle Farrow, Tara Spencer-Nairn, and Michael Therriault.
“Here for Blood” also includes professional wrestlers “Hardcore” Channing Decker and Marc Andre Boulanger to give the film a bit of an authentic feel. Shawn Roberts, who stars in the lead role, trained with wrestling veteran Tyson Dux to prepare for the film.
Directed by Daniel Turres and written by James Roberts, “Here for Blood” gained attention on the festival circuit, winning six awards at its Toronto After Dark premiere and screening at events like FrightFest, IFI Horrorthon, and Ramaskrik.
WWE has a few second and third generation Superstar on their roster. They even have a fourth generation in Ava, but there is only one Lexis King. He came to WWE NXT by way of AEW, but there are no hard feelings about anything that he experienced along the way to get him here.
Brian Pillman Harbors No Ill-Will Toward AEW
Lexis King mentioned experiencing self-doubt during his time in AEW, clarifying that he harbors no negative sentiments towards the company. King, formerly known as Brian Pillman Jr., operated under his real name while in AEW and has since transitioned to WWE, joining the NXT roster. During an interview on Insight with Chris Van Vliet, King discussed a significant turnaround in his career while in NXT. He emphasized that any uncertainty about his work stemmed from his own concerns rather than any shortcomings on AEW’s part.
26 years ago my father was buried, and tonight I buried his last name. I will no longer be known as the lost son living in his father’s shadow. I will forge my own path and stop at nothing until I am the King of #WWENXT ? https://t.co/AVcTMvutO5
When it comes to AEW, Lexis King is not holding onto any sour grapes, because he had a lot of experiences while being paid very well by AEW.
“There’s no ill will. But it’s sort of just that mindset. You know, I’ve put myself in that mindset. Nobody else put me in that; I put myself in that mindset of, ‘What’s going on here?’ Sort of that self-doubt. And then I kept grinding … I moved back home. I kept grinding, going to the local school, trying to find out what makes me tick as a performer. And just the experience [of] living there. The experience traveling with AEW made me the performer I am today.”
Brian Pillman Jr Opens Up About Becoming Lexis King
Some might have assumed that Lexis King may not be 100% thrilled about giving up the Brian Pillman Jr name. After all, that is his actual name. On the contrary, King is happy to have a chance to live out one of his pro wrestling fantasies, as he has his own name now.
“I don’t wanna get into it, but it is my name, so when I go there, I was like, ‘hi, I’m Brian Pillman Jr,’ yada yada yada. Then they gave me the whole ‘you can’t keep your name’ kinda talk, and I was like, ‘well, I don’t wanna make it seem like that’s a bad thing,’ which it’s not. “
“You know, coming into it, I always fantasized about having my own wrestler name. Because my whole career I’ve had his name. My whole life I’ve had someone else’s name. I’ve been walking around with someone else’s name. Brian Pillman is a name that my father made, he made that name on his own. There’s not much I can add to it.”
The Lexis King Name Holds Personal Significance To Brian Pillman Jr
Brian Pillman Jr.’s WWE ring name, Lexis King, holds significant personal meaning for him. The name Lexis is derived from Alexis, his half-sister who tragically passed away in a car accident.
His last name King is connected to his mother, Melanie Pillman, who previously went by the last name King. Melanie Pillman faced challenges with drug addiction before her passing last year. Additionally, King is the last name of his sister, Skylar King.
Dakota Kai has been recovering from a torn ACL since last May, but some fans may not realize she is injured by the amount of screen time she gets in WWE. She recently shared an update on her recovery progress.
Dakota Kai Speaks on her Injury
Despite being part of the Damage CTRL stable and making appearances on television with her stablemates, Dakota Kai is only cleared to stand at ringside during matches. Some fans mistakenly believed she was already cleared for in-ring action.
During a recent Twitch stream, Kai clarified that although she can move normally, she hasn’t received the necessary medical clearance. Currently, she is still waiting on the green light for her return to the ring.
In the meantime, Dakota Kai is really enjoying all the time she’s having with Damage CTRL on WWE television.
“I’m so sick of seeing people saying, ‘She can run and jump, but she’s not cleared still? No, that’s not how this works. Obviously, I can run and jump because I’ve been doing it for the last few months, but they have a set date for when you actually get cleared because I have to still do matches, and they have to check all the boxes of when I’m actually cleared. I’m not going to be in a wheelchair for nine months and then suddenly stand up and go, ‘I’m cured.’ That’s not how it works.”
How Dakota Kai Was Injured
On the May 12th episode of SmackDown, Dakota Kai and Bayley faced defeat in their Women’s Tag Team Championship match against Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez. Both Kai and Morgan sustained injuries during the match, with Kai tearing her ACL and Morgan injuring her shoulder.
Kai reappeared physically for the first time at SummerSlam, celebrating Sky’s WWE Women’s Championship victory. Subsequently, Kai has consistently taken on a managerial role for Damage CTRL until she receives medical clearance for in-ring competition.
WWE Superstars must travel the world for their job, but that is very hard to pull off without proper documentation. Now, Chelsea Green can rest easy, because she has a very important piece of paperwork locked down.
Chelsea Green’s Green Card.
Chelsea Green returned to WWE since last year’s Royal Rumble after Triple H re-signed her. She has achieved notable milestones in the past year, as WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion with multiple partners in the same reign.
Green now has another reason to celebrate, because she has successfully obtained her green card. This was quite an adventure of patience, because she waited for 8 years.
The former WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion logged onto Twitter/X, where she revealed that her green card issues are now over.
”Only my fellow expats understand the stress of the immigration system… I am so relieved to say after 8 years, 5 pro wrestling companies & 4 visas, I finally have my green card!”
Only my fellow expats understand the stress of the immigration system… I am so relieved to say after 8 years, 5 pro wrestling companies & 4 visas, I finally have my green card! ???? pic.twitter.com/FUj5Eqtoqr
Chelsea Green has been vocal about her visa issues, with reports indicating her prolonged wait for the green card dating back to September 2022. Thankfully, travel restrictions and green card issues will no longer be an issue for the former Hot Mess. A green card is a vital piece of documentation for many.
A green card is a document that allows someone who’s not a U.S. citizen to live and work in the United States permanently. It’s like a proof or authorization, given by the government, that you have the right to reside and be employed in the country.
People usually apply for a green card for various reasons, like family reunification, employment opportunities, or seeking refuge. Once someone has a green card, they’re considered a permanent resident, which means you can stay in the U.S. indefinitely. That being said, Chelsea Green isn’t leaving the United States. Her husband, Matt Cardona, is probably very happy about that fact.
Gage Goldberg is looking to be “Da Man” for Deion Sanders. The son of Goldberg made the announcement on social media on Tuesday that he is committing to University of Colorado as he joins a collegiate football program that was white hot to start the 2023 season.
“After a great conversation, I am honored to announce that I am committing to the University of Colorado to continue my football and academic career!”
Bill Goldberg, a WWE Hall of Famer, happened to be NFL teammates with Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders as both played for the Atlanta Falcons over three decades ago.
Gage Goldberg certainly had some moments on the main stage of a WWE ring as he accompanied his father on several occassions as Goldberg continued his unstoppable reign in pro wrestling.
Speaking with TMZ, Gage revealed that his father actually got in contact with Sanders about his son joining his team for 2024. Gage, a star linebacker in high school, said that he originally wanted to commit to the University of Alabama, but he had a change of plans when legendary coach Nick Saban announced his retirement from the game.
“We already looking at property in Tuscaloosa,” Bill Goldberg laughed, who praised Saban for not just his coaching legacy in football, but the character and integrity he brought to the game. He also went on to praise his former teammate Deion.
“Let’s be perfectly honest, Deion and I are great friends. I love the man like he’s my brother. I’d do anything for him. I say that when I was his teammate, I say that now.”
Lexis King goes by a new name, but John Cena made it clear you make your own name in pro wrestling.
King, real name Brian Pillman Jr., made his WWE debut at NXT Halloween Havoc and revealed in a new interview with Chris Van Vliet that John Cena came down to visit the roster down in Orlando, FL.
“He actually came and did a seminar with us at the PC. I thought, ‘Okay, I’ll see what’s going on.’ I’m so glad I went. It was the most enlightening…it wasn’t just little questions that people would ask. We were getting into it. We were talking about contract negotiations and all this different stuff. It was amazing, the amount of questions we were able to ask and get answered.”
King, however, noted about the one very intriguing piece of advice Cena gave to the the hopeful future WWE Superstars sitting under his learning tree.
“One of the coolest things he said was, ‘You can’t control the booking and who is wearing what belt, but you can be the best version of said character.'”
Cena told the NXT roster that he believes it not to be beneficial to pitch ideas to WWE as they have a staff for doing that. Just focusing on the character you’re given to portray is key.
King noted that in AEW he made successful pitches to the company, but he won’t do it again while in WWE. He also opened up about how he really questioned his own value in wrestling while apart of the AEW roster.
Please credit Chris Van Vliet and h/t to Fightful for the transcription.
Samoa Joe is quite intrigued for his upcoming title fight against HOOK. The AEW World Champion will put his newly acquired hardware on the line against the FTW Champion in what will be Joe’s first defense of the belt.
“This typifies what I want to see during my reign–I want these first-time matchups with something at stake. Hook is quite the dynamic little athlete, and he’s been doing his best to make his case. His record speaks for itself, and we’re going to find out if he’s the truth or not.
“It takes about 29 other athletes to equal something approximating me, so this will be a good little test,” said Joe. “We’ll find out where we’re at.”
The fight got a good deal of stir on social media as AEW President was heavy in defending the match-up against his critics and notoriously factored Jinder Mahal into the equation.
This match-up isn’t just intriguing to Samoa Joe, however. Rob Van Dam recently mentioned on his “1 Of A Kind” podcast that he’s thinks it’s going to be beneficial for both Joe and HOOK. He also stated that he believe HOOK has what it takes to be a top star in pro wrestling. RVD mentioned that the bout could end in the two exchanging handshakes and that could be a possibility, as Joe envisions his father Taz in some well-regard.
“That no-nonsense attitude, destroy-at-all-costs, that’s who he was. That’s who I am. Now it’s exemplified in an athlete like Hook, so let’s get in the ring and go.”
WWE runs their live RAW all year, and this week’s episode in Little Rock, Arkansas was challenging, because the weather was not on their side. Now, Triple H has spoken out about how well his team was able to pivot due to the weather.
Triple H Thanks His Crew
Numerous challenges arose for WWE talent over the past 24 hours concerning flights and weather for talents. Some individuals were unable to fly and had to resort to driving to Little Rock, Arkansas, for the show, while others found themselves stranded at airports.
Triple H jumped on Twitter/X to send out a public thank you. He commended his staff for the amazing job that they do, as they made RAW happen in the middle of such terrible weather.
“I can’t say enough about the amazing job our talent, crew and staff did these last few days. Through winter storms, blizzards and incredibly tough travel, they did what needed to be done to put on a show for the @WWEUniverse… which included completely redesigning #WWERaw on less than 24 hours’ notice. They really are the best in the business. To put it simply, I couldn’t be more proud or grateful.”
I can’t say enough about the amazing job our talent, crew and staff did these last few days.
Through winter storms, blizzards and incredibly tough travel, they did what needed to be done to put on a show for the @WWEUniverse… which included completely redesigning #WWERaw on… pic.twitter.com/230BRGE6Md
Triple H highlighted their noteworthy efforts in dealing with winter storms, blizzards, and challenging travel conditions. Despite facing these obstacles, the team worked tirelessly to ensure the continuation of the show for the WWE Universe.
WWE Had To Re-Design RAW Set This Week
That quick-thinking required the rapid redesign of the WWE Raw setup with less than 24 hours’ notice. Triple H is obviously proud of his crew for pulling off such a feat. It’s also a good thing they had a backup stage available.
R-Truth is finding creative ways to prove to Damian Priest, Finn Balor, Rhea Ripley and Dominik Mysterio that he can be an indispensable member of the Judgement Day.
Truth has been on a mission to become a full-fledged member of the faction despite most of the group’s dismissals. However, that could change in storyline after the former two-time WWE United States Champion has shown that he is a money-maker.
On the January 15 episode of WWE Monday Night Raw, Priest had a backstage segment with Truth ahead of their tag team match. The man currently in possession of the Men’s Money In The Bank briefcase confronted Truth about selling one of his new collaborative t-shirts with Judgement Day. However, the former WWE United States Champion calmed his concerns when he gave Priest a stack of cash from the proceeds.
Truth also noted that everyone in the group would get a cut of the profits and that he made a new collaborative t-shirt for ‘Tom and Nick Mysterio.’
WWE has released new merchandise on the WWE Shop called “The Judgment Day & R-Truth Three Amigos T-Shirt,” featuring Truth and “Dirty Dom” for $32.99. This marks the third t-shirt since the storyline between Truth and Judgement Day began, which may show the success of their collaboration.
Finn Balor Very Happy With R-Truth Selling T-Shirts
Later in the show, Truth teamed with The Miz to take on Priest and Balor. Before it could start, Truth gave Balor and Mysterio a handful of $100 to share the success of their t-shirt sales. It’s worth noting that McDonagh, who was at ringside, didn’t get anything because, in the storyline, he lost his spot in the group to Truth.
Judgment Day would defeat the “babyfaces” after Priest landed South Of Heaven on Truth. Despite giving them issues, both Balor and Mysterio were elated after the match and thankful for Truth.
In a Twitter post, Balor shared a backstage video of himself and Mysterio looking at the money that Truth gave them. While expressing their happiness, Mysterio mentioned that McDonagh didn’t get his money cut.
Balor responded, “He don’t deserve a cut. His name is not on the shirt.” While that comment could be in jest, this could lead to more implications for the group.
Will Judgement Day accept R-Truth?
In the tag team match, WWE fans noticed Priest was unhappy after landing the South Of Heaven on Truth. In the backstage segment between them, he noted that the rest of the group was not thrilled with Truth’s antics. As the former WWE United States Champion becomes more involved with the faction, this could lead to internal issues between Judgement Day.
McDonagh is already having issues with Truth, but Mysterio and Balor may also get fed up with the ongoing antics. This could lead to Priest being put on the spot to handle Truth, and he may be conflicted. The group has had issues, but this longtime WWE veteran could be the catalyst for Judgement Day finally butting heads.
Currently, it seems the group will continue trying to get along with Truth as he shows his worth. However, it seems only a matter of time before something will push them too far.
WWE’s 24/7 Championship may not have been to everyone’s taste, but R-Truth had a blast defending the unique piece of gold.
The 24/7 Championship was introduced in 2019 and was immediately met with negative responses from fans who took issue with the design. Shortly after however, the title would become a highlight of WWE programming with various comedy segments leading to title changes. After a while though, the momentum would die down and the title would become less relevant on programming.
R-Truth on the 24/7 Championship
R-Truth would become synonymous with the 24/7 Championship, as he’d have more reigns and hold the title for longer than anyone else on the roster. Speaking on the Busted Open Radio podcast, Truth recalled being approached about the title and the initial response from fans.
“They gave me a call. They called me and said ‘Hey, they want you to go to SmackDown.’ No, I was on SmackDown as a matter of fact, they want you to go to Raw and do a backstage promo. Didn’t tell me what it was. When I got to Raw. I saw Mick [Foley] pull that thing out of the bag like that right. And everybody said that thing was ugly. Everybody thought it was ugly. Nobody even liked it. It had a different look, we’re gonna say that. It just looked different.”
Despite the backlash, Truth had no issue with the title as he’s always relished in flexing his comedic chops.
“I like laughing I like being funny. And y’all give me an opportunity to make things funny. That was just my playground right that moment. All the things myself, the writers was coming up with was just like, we [were] just hitting home runs. There was no rules when it came to 24/7 title man. If it was rules, we broke them all and I think people were just loving that.”
The January 15 episode of WWE Monday Night Raw gave fans an update on Kofi Kingston’s status. On the January 8 episode of the show, Kingston was attacked by Ludwig Kaiser, resulting in him being injured. WWE Commentator Michael Cole revealed on this past WWE Monday Night Raw that the former WWE Champion is expected to be out for a few weeks.
Cole shared that Kingston’s injury was a “Cervical neck sprain and an AC sprain.” It’s unclear if these injuries are legitimate or a part of a storyline. Both injuries would seemingly rule out Kingston’s involvement in the WWE Royal Rumble on January 27.
That said, his partner Xavier Woods made his return and wants to get revenge for Kingston. Woods faced Kaiser on the January 15 episode and lost by disqualification after The New Day member hit him with a chair. They continued to brawl after the match, with Woods getting the better of the exchange.
In a backstage interview with Byron Sexton, the former King Of The Ring Winner tried to explain his actions but was attacked from behind by Kaiser. Before the Imperium member could continue, Jey Uso appeared to stop the assault.
For two weeks, Uso helped Kingston in his feud against the Imperium (Kaiser & Giovanni Vinci). Since Vinci and Kingston are out with an injury, this could lead to Uso and WWE Intercontinental Champion Gunther being more involved in the storyline.
What Could Be Next In The Storyline?
Although Woods is looking to get revenge on Kaiser for Kingston, Uso could soon set his sights on Gunther’s championship. “The Ring General” has looked unbeatable since winning the title on the June 10, 2022, episode of WWE Friday Night Smackdown. He has successfully defended the title 19 times and would be looking for new challengers.
Uso’s involvement in the storyline with Kingston and Woods may provide WWE a way to transition to him challenging the WWE Intercontinental Champion. Since moving to WWE Monday Night Raw, Uso has been showing that he can stand on his own without his family, and it would solidify his decision by potentially winning the title.
For Woods, his ongoing feud with Kaiser may lead to the return of both Kingston and Vinci in a few weeks. The company could decide to have a featured tag team match between The New Day(Kingston & Woods) and Imperium (Kaiser & Vinci) within the next few months.
While the storyline seems to point in this direction, WWE has plenty of options. Regardless, it doesn’t seem the company has a plan for everyone involved, which may lead to big matches heading into the “Road To WrestleMania.”
Austrian-born Thekla is one of the most interesting women in professional wrestling. She is a former ballerina, a fluent speaker of multiple languages, has performed in a punk rock band, designs her own gear, in addition to a million other impressive accomplishments.
Wrestling fans will recognize her as the Toxic Spider from the Stardom promotion in Japan. She’s known for her unique style, flexibility, and being a free spirit.
Merely one day after the dissolution of her former faction, Donna Del Mondo, and her announcement of a brief hiatus from wrestling, Thekla sat down with SEScoops contributor Lyric Swinton in location in Tokyo, Japan to discuss all things Donna Del Mondo, upcoming time off, her goals as a singles wrestler in 2024, and so much more.
Thekla Interview
Here are some highlights from the conversation:
How she came to the decision to take some time off:
“Well, there’s a few things. Definitely. You’ve seen the Stardom schedule, right? It’s really extreme. I think Stardom did like 140 shows last year or something. I had more than a hundred matches, and I’ve been here for four years and I barely ever take time off. The Japanese girls are a little bit more used to it because they’ve got this crazy work ethic. I do too naturally but sometimes I get tired too. I haven’t been home in one and a half years, so maybe I hope to make it back during that time. But doing a hundred or 110 matches a year kind of takes its toll, especially with the Stardom style. This is not WWE. You know how everybody’s working and the way we’re traveling too. And yeah, it’s just your body starts to kind of….every match, you can feel it afterwards.
So I was like, okay, I could feel Donna Del Mondo they might be coming to an end. And I quickly thought maybe that’s a perfect time to just go away for a little while and also refill my creative tanks. Because what I’m going to start doing today is I’m going to start drawing my next gear set….I already have some stuff ready and my mom just sent me a box of new fabrics and some white fur, so I might be doing something in that direction. And I’m going to be painting a lot. So I’ve got an exhibition coming up in April. That’s going to be in Tokyo. But I hope I can do it in Austria too. Also talking to some people in New York so I want to travel around. Depending on how much time I’m taking off, it’s going to be me being in the studio, drawing, drawing, drawing.”
What she’s looking forward to upon her return to the ring:
“First of all, having that freedom of not having to react to my teammates is going to be very nice for me. I’m originally a lone wolf kind of character. I’m a singles wrestler. I love being in Donna Del Mondo because I got to learn a lot from the people around me. But just naturally, I like to do things my way. So that’s going to be very freeing. And I’ve always had a creative vision of how things are supposed to be done and how to excite people, and I have to be by myself to do that. Similar to a Doja Cat or a Lady Gaga. Just a little off. Just a little bit. I want to play around with things, and I’ve always dreamed of coming up with something that nobody’s ever seen. You can see my mood set. I think it’s one of the most original creative move sets.
I know how to use my body in a way, and I’ve got freakishly hyper flexibility and stuff, and that’s just how I was born. But I know how to use that. And I want to go back a little bit more to that, to creating new things that people haven’t seen before. Like the spider plex from the rope where I come up, that sort of stuff where people go, hey, only she can actually really do that. You know what I mean? And create a style of storytelling [with] the way I have a little weird way of moving in the ring too. I want to bite more into that and do things my way.
When it comes to bookings, I love Stardom. I love being in Japan. And Japan is my base, but I’ve really been dreaming also to get out of Japan and to take it to other countries. I went to Singapore last year, that was brilliant. Just feeling the love from international fans is so cool. And getting to showcase what we do here in Japan is really nice. So definitely I want to go to the States this year and experience a lot of stuff outside of the Japanese bubble and also change up my style a little bit because I think American style is very, very different. Very different and it’s not everybody’s cup of tea, but I always feel like I love learning and I love studying new things. And then I love to pick from different things and then mix it up. That’s really important for me, and that’s what I need to stay inspired. And I’ve been in Japan a little bit too long. I know how it works here. I know how it’s done. I know what strong style is like, and I need to get inspired by something new again.
And the other thing is I want to wrestle in a lot of weird places….I would love to wrestle in Cambodia or Nepal, take it to places where people have never seen wrestling before, and have that interesting cultural exchange. I like to see that expression on people’s face when they see something for the first time, for the first ‘what is this?’…just create experiences for people that they’re never going to forget. And I feel I love Japan, but I feel that people are very oversaturated here. Because there’s so much wrestling, there’s so much great wrestling. So I think it’s a little unfair to the rest of the world.”
How Donna Del Mondo helped shape her presentation:
“I think it has changed me a lot actually, because when I first came to Stardom, I had a whole different vibe to me which was more like, yeah, let’s f–king go b-tches, which I do like and which is what comes out naturally. But being in Donna Del Mondo calmed me down a lot more. People who know me very well, they say the Thekla you see in the ring is like the toned down version of her basically because outside of the ring, she’s fu–ing crazy freak. But what I learned with being around Giulia and Maika, it’s looking like a star and acting a little reserved to looking cool, being beautiful too, and those are important things if you want to appeal to a huge crowd. And just being big, all the costumes, the gowns…
So at first, I came in with slick stuff, leather coats and stuff, which I really like. But next to them I’d be [looking] tiny, where’s my stuff? So with that last one [gear], I finally went, well, the one before too, the white. [The recent black gear] gave me a little bit of volume. So being big, being larger than life… I was like, all right, I got to add some stuff here and there, claim some space for myself. And that’s really important. I think. Other than that, in the future, I would like to do a mix, have that weird edginess that I originally had as a Toxic Spider, but combine it with that larger-than-life way of carrying yourself, which is from Donna Del Mondo. So that’s what I’m going to aim for in the future.”
On constructing her look as the Toxic Spider:
“Of course I always start with what I like. That’s the most important thing. So there are certain colors that I’m really into, but then there’s something that catches my attention, I see something on the internet or I go on, what is it, Pinterest. So it’s like a mix of, oh sh-t, I really want it. I want to do something in that direction that looks really cool, that could be
perfect for a Toxic Spider look. So I collect images basically, and then I start forming something that could go in this direction, that could be the base color or whatever. At the same time, I start going to a fabric store and I go look at all the fabrics, and then I feel everything, and I take pictures of the stuff that I like, and then I’ll choose stuff and I’ll put it together and see if that’s going to work. And then I start to design, and then I just go on my iPad and start drawing. And it’s like, okay, could I use this? Could I use that basically?
And then the end result, I try to think, okay, does this look like a star? Does it fit the Toxic Spider? Those are the two things that recently I’m trying to look for. It needs to be…I always try to include stuff that is repeating stuff. Usually you will find studs or four big studs here, snakeskin has been something I’ve been using, or the big spider in the back. You always find lot of leather and furs…So that, and the other thing is, do I look like a star? Would a star wear this? Know what I mean? So is this a fit for, I don’t know, even a Doja Cat? You know what I mean…Is this silly or is this hot sh-t?
On her current Stardom contract status:
“My contract is up soon, so that too, I haven’t decided yet what I’m going to do after that so we’ll see. I’m definitely very interested in traveling a lot.”
On working in the United States and potential dream opponents:
“They [Stardom management] know that I’m really interested in going abroad and going to the States. I’ve made that very clear. So I don’t know yet what’s planned for that [upcoming Stardom American Dream show in Philadelphia], but I would love, love to go for sure….
About dream opponents…One in the mix is obviously Mercedes [Moné]. Absolutely. She looks like a star. And I loved her style, and that’s just somebody I would love to be in the ring with, especially after meeting her briefly at Stardom. She’s just such a nice person. She’s got the look. It’s the look! And that’s what I’m kind of really targeting right now. People who have that similar mindset when it comes to that sort of stuff. And who else? Athena we were talking about. She’s cool. Maybe we’re even too similar, you know what I mean? But that’s somebody I would love to hang out with. Who else do we have?
WWE? Not so much right now. I don’t know. I mean obviously Charlotte Flair is a fantastic wrestler. They’ve got brilliant wrestlers like Becky Lynch and stuff, but I mean, they’re very full there too. WWE, I never saw myself there growing up as a wrestler because way too much I get really annoyed when somebody tells me what to do, but only recently I’ve thought that could be so interesting to be able to learn from the best because they have brilliant coaches and just performance centers there so that’s really interesting.
But again, AEW is really cool because they give people a lot of freedom, you know what I mean? I feel like the product is still developing and there’s space for everything and for a lot of creative people too. Yeah. So that’s it. That’s really something that I would like to look into.”
On the NJPW Strong Women’s Championship:
“Giulia’s Strong title, I’ve been eyeing that for a long time, yeah, I’m not going to lie. It is a beautiful belt and Giulia is a great champion and very strong. Obviously being her tag partner and being with her in the mix, it’s kind of, I mean, not hard. I could have still challenged for it, but you don’t want to, you know…So that’s why yesterday [Ittenyon Stardom Gate 1.4] I was also, I was patting the belt a little bit, said this might be something coming up. That’s a cool belt. Not only beautiful, but just the people who have challenged for it so far and the way the belt gets to travel, I would like to be part of that.”
On what she learned from her former Donna Del Mondo teammates:
“With Maika, I think Maika can only do Maika, and I really appreciate it. I think that’s really cool. She’s always natural, you know what I mean? She’s just being herself and she’s really good at that. She’s so likable and never fake and very consistent with what she does and just a damn powerhouse. It’s beautiful to watch her work and she never backs down either. So I like that about Maika. She’s natural, she’s powerful, and just out there.
And with Sakurai it’s kind of funny because she started out as the weakest, but she’s kind of found herself a little character which is really cool. And I really admire how she just takes the mic and just makes the people come up for her. So I don’t always understand it because it’s so based on little jokes. But she’s one of the most, how do you say…she’s really eager to learn and she’s very brave and she’s really tough, actually. Can’t really tell but she puts a lot of work into her stuff too… she always asks everybody for their opinion, takes notes. And so that’s very inspiring.
And then Giulia, of course is kind of the queen. She’s the all rounder. I think watching her, she’s one of the most self-confident people I’ve ever met in my whole life. And I’ve met a lot of confident people in my life, but there’s almost nothing that can stop her from knowing that she’s the best. And she always puts the work in, if it’s in the ring or if it’s her appearance, she’s got the look. We’ve got a similar taste also, always been like that. But her… she never complains. Even if she goes through the hardest matches, she’s always, she wipes off the blood and she’s like, I’m cool. I don’t care. She’s just a bad motherf–ker. So that’s definitely inspiring.
But for me I always think of myself as a pretty self-confident person. But sometimes there’s a challenge where it’s like, whew I don’t know about this one man, but with Giulia, it’s like I almost never see this flinch of her just being like, ugh. She just goes straight into things and she’s being herself and she doesn’t take sh-t from anybody. And she will fight anybody inside and outside of the ring, not physically outside of the ring, but when it’s about what she believes in, she’s got strong beliefs and I really respect that. It’s really cool. She just knows how to go her own way. And I’m similar with that, but she’s no bulls–t. And I really respect people like that.”
WWE RAW took place in Little Rock, Arkansas this week, but now Superstars need to get home. The weather is not helping them out one bit.
WWE Superstars Having Travel Nightmare
Johnny Gargano previously mentioned that he, along with Tommaso Ciampa, Candice LeRae, and Indi Hartwell, faced travel issues due to widespread weather problems across a significant part of the United States. Snow is accumulating all over, leaving many stranded. WWE Superstars have places to go, so they need to make arrangements.
According to PW Insider, numerous challenges arose in the past 24 hours concerning flights and weather for talents. Some individuals were unable to fly and had to resort to driving to Little Rock, Arkansas, for the show, while others found themselves stranded at airports.
WWE Made More Changes To RAW Set Due To Winter Weather
In addition, WWE implemented substantial changes to their Raw stage and lighting setup around the ring. It was a nice change, one that was welcomed by fans.
The report also highlighted that many wrestlers are currently grappling with flight-related problems as they attempt to return home. Some are opting to drive to alternative cities in the hopes of improving their chances of reaching their destinations.
WWE prioritizes the safety of its talent, particularly in the current scrutinized environment. In the episode of SmackDown on January 12th, a match had to be abruptly called off due to a botched spot.
WWE SmackDown last week witnessed Austin Theory facing off against Carmelo Hayes, but their match concluded prematurely, raising concerns among viewers about the unexpected turn of events. Currently, it seems that Carmelo may not have fully recovered from the incident.
Tonight’s episode of NXT on the USA Network features a packed card with various matchups, including a scheduled bout involving Carmelo Hayes. However, there is uncertainty regarding his participation alongside Trick Williams.
The apprehension stems from Carmelo Hayes’ recent SmackDown match against Austin Theory, where an unfortunate move led to Theory landing on his head, and Hayes also had an awkward landing.
Austin Theory is presently undergoing medical protocol, and according to Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio, Carmelo Hayes’ status for this week’s NXT is questionable. Meltzer stated, “So Hayes, as of today, was questionable for that match. Yeah, I mean, they weren’t sure one way or the other if he was going to be able to do it.”
Austin Theory’s Status
Austin Theory is also reportedly under medical protocol after that botched spot on SmackDown. As we exclusively noted, the referee in that match was worried about both competitors. He was also praised for ending the match early.
WWE NXT January 16th, 2024 Lineup:
NXT Women’s Championship #1 Contender Battle Royal (Final Four Becomes Fatal Four-Way Match)
Latino World Order (Joaquin Wilde & Cruz Del Toro) vs. Chase U (Duke Hudson & Riley Osborne) Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic First Round Match
Carmelo Hayes (Questionable) & Trick Williams vs. Edris Enofe & Malik Blade Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic First Round Match
Obe Femi will break his silence as NXT North American Champion
Update On Carmelo Hayes:
Hayes showed up to compete alongside against Edris Enofe and Malik Blade in the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. In the end, Williams and Hayes won their match to advance further in the 2024 tournament.
