Another New Japan Pro Wrestling talent could be leaving the company soon.
NJPW is dealing with an interesting situation due to several of their talents’ contracts possibly expiring soon. On Jan. 8, reports circulated that one of their current champions could leave in the next few weeks. However, one of NJPW’s top stars could soon leave the company.
Spoiler Warning Ahead on NJPW Free Agent
Fightful Select has reported that the “Switchblade” Jay White contract will end soon, and he’s also not expected to re-sign with NJPW. While it’s unclear where he could end up, WWE is interested in signing White. The company is rumored to be interested in signing other NJPW talent in Tama Tonga and Hikuleo.
“…Switchblade Jay White’s contract is up relatively soon and is expected to leave New Japan Pro Wrestling, per those in the company. Those that we’ve spoken to believe both WWE and All Elite Wrestling are interested in getting the former IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, however, WWE sources seemed confident they would land him,” said the report.
While they report that White is expected to leave, it adds that it’s not official and that no wrestling company could approach White until his contract is finished. The length of his contract has always remained a mystery, as he’s debunked rumors about his contract status.
(WWE)
What’s Next For Jay White?
White will face Hikuleo in a loser leaves Japan match in Osaka, Japan, on Feb. 11. He’s also on the poster for NJPW Battle in the Valley at the San Jose Civic in San Jose, California, on Feb. 18. It doesn’t seem like White could be done in the next month, but his situation could change. It’s unclear exactly when his contract with NJPW could end.
For now, wrestling fans are left to wait to see if one of NJPW’s top stars becomes a free agent.
Vince McMahon’s dramatic return to WWE’s Board of Directors could result in a lawsuit by shareholders.
The recent turmoil atop pro wrestling’s largest promotion has caused a lot of unease and uncertainty for WWE fans. McMahon ended his retirement and re-joined the company on Jan. 6 after stepping away following allegations of misconduct with female employees. His reasoning for his comeback was to help WWE in its effort to negotiate a TV rights deal or to sell the company.
However, McMahon’s return could lead to a lawsuit against himself and others in the company. PWInsider’s Dave Scherer reports that his friend, who is part of the group in the WWE shareholder lawsuit that was filed last year after the NDA allegations against Vince McMahon surfaced, claimed in an email his return could be a “…breach of a fiduciary lawsuit.”
“…You also may have seen the news this past week about Vince McMahon forcing his way back onto the board, along with a major board shakeup. As a result, we believe there is enough of a basis to bring a breach of a fiduciary lawsuit. We hope to file a complaint against McMahon and possibly other directors/officers for breaching their duties to WWE and its shareholders. We should have a draft for you to review in the next couple of days,” said the email.
What Happens Next with Vince McMahon In A Potential Lawsuit?
While PWInsider’s Scherer reports that McMahon could be in breach of a fiduciary lawsuit, it’s worth pointing out that the email states that a complaint hasn’t been filed yet.
Based on the email, McMahon’s return goes against shareholders’ interest, which helps the case for a lawsuit. Despite the WWE Chairman’s belief that his return aids the company with a potential sale, the shareholder may disagree. An official complaint against the WWE Chairman could be filed if the email is valid.
If McMahon is found to have breached his commitment to his shareholders, he would have to pay for the damages he caused.
SEScoops will provide an update on a potential lawsuit against McMahon occurs.
Andrade El Idolohasn’t used the way he and fans thought he would be in AEW when he signed with the promotion. He was believed to be on his way out of the company at one point. He has further ignited the fuel by posting a cryptic message.
El Idolo made a name for himself in Mexico before signing with WWE, where he was a top NXT star. However, expectations weren’t met on the main roster due to his booking, so he left the company in March 2021.
El Idolo made his debut in AEW in June 2021. When he first debuted, some fans thought he would have a better run in All Elite than he had in WWE. However, that clearly has not happened.
Andrade is sidelined with an injury, and it’s been heavily reported that he was unhappy in AEW and wants to leave the company despite having years left on his deal.
The Post
On social media, he shared a photo that showed his mask packed in a bag with a goodbye message in the caption.“Bye!!!”
A fan asked Conrad Thompson why Andrade is not following him on Twitter. Andrade saw the post and responded, “someday I will be with you in the podcasts and I will talk about everything….Sueña Interesante!”
If Andrade does leave AEW, it will be interesting to see if he returns to WWE under the new management led by WWE Chief Content Officer Triple H.
As Moné navigates the waters of free agency, Paquette expresses admiration for her bold career choice. Having left WWE herself, Paquette understands what it’s like to work outside the company. On the latest edition of her The Sessions podcast, Paquette and co-host Emilio Sparks recapped Moné’s WWE departure and NJPW debut.
“…For me, having worked with her at such an early time, met her in NXT, watched her rise through WWE, watched those ups and those downs, those times of kind of stepping out, after Wrestlemania, after losing the tag titles, having that moment, kind of leaving for a little while, spending some time in Japan,” said Paquette. “I believe she spent some time in Mexico. To seeing what she has done now from whatever exactly happened on her and Trinity(also known as Naomi in WWE) walking out from WWE, I really applaud the balls of this women.
Why Moné Deserves Praise for Becoming A Free Agent
Paquette added that she believes Moné is a free agent because of her passion for women’s wrestling. She explained, “…It’s not easy. I know a lot of people if you want to watch from the outside and be like, ‘yeah, you know what, it’s good. Leave that company. Go do whatever.’ It’s not fu*cking easy to walk away from making a good amount of money.” Paquette did acknowledge that she doesn’t know what Moné WWE contract was, but believes she made a good salary based on her position with the company.
Paquette praised Moné for believing in herself and choosing her passion for wrestling over the comfort of staying with WWE. She also added that she has requested an interview with her and hopes to speak with her about leaving her former employer.
Thank you!
Over one month away, all tickets are SOLD OUT for Battle in the Valley February 18!
Moné choice to leave WWE seems to be a success as fans look forward to what she does next. After the announcement of her match at NJPW Battle in the Valley, tickets for the event have sold out. It’s unclear what Moné has planned for the future of her wrestling career. However, it is possible that Moné could become a giant star outside of WWE as a free agent.
Wrestling legend Tully Blanchard recently confirmed his departure from AEW and ROH last year will be permanent.
The Four Horseman original managed Shawn Spears and FTR for much of his time with the promotion. Later on, he moved into AEW’s ROH angles, where he managed Brian Cage and The Gates of Agony. Together, the group were known as Tully Blanchard Enterprises.
Ultimately, the faction didn’t last long in this format as Blanchard was quickly replaced by longtime ROH personality Prince Nana.
On a recent edition of The Two Man Power Trip podcast, Blanchard reunited with old tag partner Arn Anderson. The Brainbusters discussed a variety of topics before focusing on Blanchard’s surprise AEW departure.
Tully Blanchard Suggests Departure Was “Complex”
Blanchard explained that there was more to the closure of his time in AEW and ROH than a simple contract expiry.
“No, it [Blanchard leaving] was a little more complex than that, but my contract is up and I’m gone.”
Blanchard ultimately opted out of shedding any further light on the situation. His comments do raise some questions as to what might have prompted his sudden departure from the company. Renowned for his intensity and technical skill in his wrestling heyday, Blanchard was also notorious for often being difficult to work with.
The man himself went on to opine that his time in the wrestling business is likely up. His daughter, Tessa Blanchard, was widely regarded as one of the best women’s wrestlers in the world late into last decade. A variety of personal and professional issues have led to her essentially being blacklisted in multiple promotions.
(via WOW)
When asked for his thoughts on her daughter’s future, Blanchard was encouraging of her recent decision to return to college and finish getting a degree. The podcast was record prior to Monday’s announcement that Tessa Blanchard and former Impact Wrestling act DAGA are getting divorced.
WWE has added to its growing talent roster with the signing of New Japan Pro Wrestling alum Karl Fredericks.
Last summer, Fredricks informed fans on social media that he had opted not to re-sign with New Japan, ending his four years with the promotion.
PW Insider reports that Fredericks has signed with WWE, and is set to be a part of the NXT brand in Florida.
Fredericks was first spotted at the WWE Performance Center in September 2022, a month after his deal with New Japan expired.
Interestingly, Fredricks said that he did not see himself going to any other company than New Japan prior to his contract expiring.
Fredericks’ arrival marks the second notable signing in as many months after Dragon Lee confirmed in December that he is also joining WWE.
Karl Fredericks
Three years after making his debut in 2015, Fredericks entered the New Japan LA Dojo alongside current NJPW stars Clark Connors and Alex Coughlin, and Gabriel Kidd.
Visiting Japan the following year, Fredericks represented the LA Dojo in the Young Lion Cup and won the tournament with 12 points.
Fredericks’ later teamed with Hirooki Goto for the 2019 World Tag League, finishing with three wins and 12 losses.
Fredericks last wrestled for New Japan Pro Wrestling at a May 2022 taping of STRONG, where he defeated QT Marshall.
Since then, he has wrestled twice for separate indie promotions, with his most recent match seeing him defeat Kevin Blackwood for Prestige/West Coast Pro Savage Mode last September.
WWE Hall Of Famer Kurt Angle still has a price tag to return to the ring for one of WWE’s Saudi Arabia shows.
His final match came back in 2018 when Angle was defeated by Baron Corbin at WrestleMania 35 in 2019. Angle has received offers from promotions such as AEW to return to the ring, but the Hall Of Famer has turned them down, instead making sporadic appearances on WWE TV since.
He first touched on the rumor that Shawn Michaels received an astounding $3 million to return for his tag team match, in which he teamed up with Triple H against The Undertaker and Kane.
“I’m not a WWE lifer,” Angle said. “Shawn is, so his loyalty is still with the WWE, and they paid him very well for it.
(WWE)
Angle has since had double knee replacement surgery, and is in no condition to wrestle at this point in his career. However, when asked if he’d step back into the ring for $3 million for a Saudi Arabia show, Angle didn’t hesitate to say yes, whether he has good knees or bad ones.
“What are you talking about? I’d do it in a second,” Angle said. “Good knees or bad knees, I’d do it in a second.”
Former WWE Superstar Mandy Rose (Amanda Saccomanno) is speaking out following her surprise departure from the company last month.
On Tuesday, Rose appeared on the Tamron Hall daytime talk show and spoke about why she was so hurt by the way things transpired. Among the newsworthy items covered, she says WWE never told her that her FanTime account was the reason she was being let go.
Lost and Confused
“Because of everything that’s happened since then, everything happens for a reason,” said Rose. “I can’t even say I was wronged, because I am so forever grateful for everything the WWE has presented me with. So, I can’t sit here and say I was wronged or not..
I am very hurt, nobody wants to get that call that they’re being fired from any job, so I was very hurt, I was very disappointed. I was disappointed so much more because of everything that I put into the business, but just the last year and a half, I was champion for 414 days, I unified those two titles that we just saw, I was the third longest-reigning NXT Women’s Champion.”
Mandy Rose backstage at the Tamron Hall Show
Rose accomplished a lot in the ring, but is also devastated because she truly enjoyed working with younger talent and helping them progress in their own careers. “I also created this must-see faction with two other women that are going to be brought up, and I got to see so many women develop their characters, younger than me, and in the beginning of their careers. To me, that was so important, because it was so rewarding to me.”
“Losing the title was honestly a gut punch. I was so disappointed, but at the end of the day, my purpose was gone, and that’s where I felt kind of lost and I felt confused, because of all the hard work I put in.”
– Mandy Rose
Driving home from that, a lot of things were going through my mind. You always think, there were a lot of answered questions and all that, at the end of the day, like I said, I love what I’ve done in the WWE and I love what the platform presented me with, so i am forever grateful.”
Mandy Rose lost out on a lucrative WWE contract, but the FanTime account that led to her departure has already made her a fortune. According to her manager, the account generated over a million dollars in December 2022.
Two-time WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair is desperate to have his ‘final’ match again, believing it would go better the second time.
Flair teamed with his son-in-law Andrade El Idolo last July to defeat Jeff Jarrett and Jay Lethal in what was billed as Ric’s final match.
Prior to that match, Flair had competed on the September 12, 2011, edition of TNA Impact!, where he lost to Sting.
Begging
After over ten years away from the ring (and decades after his heyday) Flair’s final match was far from a five-star technical classic.
Aged 73, Flair had to be carried throughout much of the match, and at one point, faked a heart attack, a spot Flair has since said was in poor taste.
Speaking on his To Be the Man podcast, Ric expressed his desire to have one more shot at his final farewell.
“I’m begging to do it again. I’m begging because I’ve told 100 people, ‘How do I forget to drink water all day long?’ That’s all that happened to me. You saw me. I drank five beers right after.”
Ric Flair.
Flair added that he can’t understand how he forgot to stay hydrated given all the training he did with Jay Lethal.
“I can think of a lot of things I’ve screwed up and matches and, you know, things you would change. I just know that could’ve been golden. You know, I just happened to be dehydrated.
“I just know that could’ve been golden.”
Ric Flair on his final match.
I don’t know how I could’ve made that mistake because you know how much work I put in with Lethal. We had everything figured out, I mean, and we had so much more to do. God, it would have been great.”
There is currently no talk from any promotion that another final match for the Nature Boy is in the works.
One More Match
This isn’t the first time Flair has spoken about wrestling after the show billed as ‘Ric Flair’s Last Match.
After the announcement that Ricky Steamboat would be wrestling again, Flair said he felt inspired to have another final match.
Flair later stated he would never truly retire, while Steamboat would go on team with FTR and win a six-man tag for Big Time Wrestling last November.
Former WCW president Eric Bischoff has offered his thoughts on how a potential sale of WWE could change the professional wrestling landscape.
Bischoff took to his podcast, “83 Weeks,” to discuss the possibility amidst Vince McMahon’s sudden return to WWE. The ex-WCW boss explained that, he believes, any potential buyer of WWE wouldn’t make any significant changes for the first year or two.
“Everybody has their opinion and you (Conrad) and I talked about this a little bit last night. I can see why a lot of people inside of WWE, particularly those that have stock options in their portfolio, WWE stock options, but I can see a lot of people being very nervous because it’s the unknown and you know, nobody likes the unknown.
“Nobody knows how this is going to play itself out. So, everybody’s kind of hanging on by a thread waiting to see which direction it’s going to go and I get that. That’s an uncomfortable feeling.
“My impression is that whoever buys it is probably not going to come in and start making any kind of wholesale changes when it comes to the management of the company for the first year and a half or two years. I lived through that, by the way.”
As noted, Vince McMahon recently nudged his way back into the WWE’s board of directors with rumors swirling that the move was done in order to help facilitate a sale of the company.
For the time being, it appears that his return to WWE does not include resuming creative control of the TV product, which seemingly remains in Triple H’s hands.
McMahon previously left WWE last year after an investigation launched into his sexual misconduct with female employees. He stepped down as WWE CEO, prompting Stephanie McMahon and Nick Khan to step up as co-CEOs. Soon after, McMahon retired from WWE as head of creative, passing the torch to Triple H.
Wrestling veteran Konnan doesn’t fancy Mercedes Moné’s chances in AEW if she decides to become ‘All-Elite.’
The former Sasha Banks made her debut last month for New Japan Pro Wrestling, attacking IWGP Women’s Champion KAIRI after a successful title defense.
KAIRI will put her title on the line against Moné at NJPW Battle in the Valley in San Jose, California on February 18.
A Couple of Weeks
Despite Moné being contracted to New Japan, there is plenty of speculation that she will soon compete for AEW.
On his Keepin’ it 100 podcast, Konnan shared his doubts about how Moné would fair in AEW.
“I’m just afraid, and all you’ve got to do is look at their past history, that [Moné is] going to be there, be a big deal for a few couple weeks and then they won’t know what to do with her.”
Konnan.
It had been speculated that Moné would be Saraya’s mystery partner for this week’s tag-team match against Dr. Britt Baker and AEW Women’s World Champion Jamie Hayter.
Though AEW has announced that Saraya will team with Toni Storm, many believe that Storm will be taken out of the match, giving Moné the spot.
One Woman Roster
Konnan is hardly the only person to have an issue with AEW’s women’s division, as this has been one of Tony Khan’s biggest pitfalls.
After Thunder Rosa had a minute-long backstage segment to explain her injury last August, Khan said he opted not to give her a long in-ring spot (akin to CM Punk’s injury) as he believed it wouldn’t be a ratings draw.
On his podcast, Konnan said that the whole women’s division is Britt, Britt, and Britt,” referring to Baker’s frequent appearances, and called on AEW to “give other girls a chance.”
Legendary wrestling broadcaster Jim Ross has no plans to retire, despite fans who complain online about his work.
JR spoke about this topic and more on the latest episode of his Grilling JR podcast focusing on the 1998 WWE Royal Rumble pay-per-view.The Oklahoma native is a polarizing figure these days. He’s one of the most iconic voices in wrestling history, but some believe his best days are behind him. If ever he makes a mistake while calling a match, it quickly becomes a topic of conversation on social media.
Ross says he sees negative feedback about his work every day, including calls for him to retire. With nearly five decades in the business, he’d developed a thick skin.
Retiring on His Terms
Jim Ross was a legend before many of these ‘critics’ were born. He still enjoys what he does and is savoring this chapter of his illustrious career.
“I read about it every day. ‘When is JR Going to quit? When is JR going to get off Wednesday, I gotta get off the air.’ Well, you know, I got no timeline on this thing. I know when my agreement with Tony Khan is up. But does that mean I’m not going to continue? No.”
– Jim Ross
Ross is in charge of his destiny and gets to decide the amount of work and travel he takes on. The older he gets, the more he feels that he does not want to pass up on these valuable opportunities to continue contributing.
In addition to his role as an on-air commentator, Ross also serves as a ‘senior advisor’ for AEW. At some point, the day will come when he hangs up the headset. Even then, he can still contribute in a managerial role.
Daniel Garcia’s departure from this year’s Battle of Los Angeles came about thanks to a request by All Elite Wrestling.
In the first round of the tournament hosted by Pro Wrestling Guerrilla, Garcia lost to Titus Alexander, who would lose to Konsuke Takeshita in the second round.
Takeshita would make it to the tournament finals, where he would lose a 27-minute war to ‘Speedball’ Mike Bailey.
Request
Given that he is the reigning PWG World Champion, Garcia’s early elimination came as a shock to the fans in attendance.
On Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer stated that AEW did not want Garcia to lose clean, and requested the DQ finish.
While Garcia came up short this year, he won last year’s Battle of Los Angeles, ironically defeating this year’s winner Mike Bailey in the finals.
Night Two
Garcia’s elimination from the tournament allowed him to exit the running without dropping a fall, but also freed him up for night two of the event.
On the second night, Garcia, would make a surprise appearance among the rest of the Jericho Appreciation Society.
That show saw Chris Jericho make his PWG debut, teaming with Garcia, Matt Menard, Angelo Parker and Sammy Guevara to defeat Jonathan Gresham, Evil Uno, SB Kento, Michael Oku, and Kevin Blackwood.
Jericho got the pinfall on Blackwood, and after the match, said he and the JAS had a “f***ing blast.”
The former AEW World Champion added that PWG is the modern-day ECW in that the show has passion and allows indie wrestlers to hone their skills in front of a rabid crowd.
Ric Flair is a living legend and there is a lot young prospects can learn from him. The wrestling veteran himself, however, has stopped giving advice to talent because they listen to marks more than him.
The 16-time world champion was a recent guest on Booker T’s Hall of Fame podcast. Among other things, he also explained why he has stopped giving advice to up-and-coming wrestlers.
Flair mentioned how people think that he doesn’t want to help anyone. The two time Hall of Famer explained that it wasn’t always the case but he has had bitter experiences with people he has given advice to:
“They take my opinion, which I f**king pretty much know what I’m talking about,” said Ric Flair, “and then they get in the car or walk up the ramp
And they either look and see what the mark said about it or they talk to another guy who has got as much experience as him or less, and that’s who they go with. God forbid I know anything.”
Flair said that he can critique the matches for people but it’s not worth the aggravation for him. He also mentioned that he wouldn’t say negative things to anyone because his daughter works there.
Apart from this, Ric Flair also talked about his time in WWE, why he never had a WrestleMania match with Hulk Hogan and more.
It may be some time before fans see the New Day defend their WWE NXT Tag Team Championships as Xavier Woods is reportedly injured.
Woods, alongside Kofi Kingston, won the titles at WWE NXT Deadline, dethroning Pretty Deadly and ending their reign at 97 days.
With their victory, the New Day becomes the third team to capture the WWE Tag Team triple-crown, after The Revival in 2019 and the Street Profits in 2020.
Injured
Since winning the titles, the New Day has had just two matches: a title defense on the December 14, 2022 episode of NXT, and a six-person tag-team match at the December 27, WWE live event.
PW Insider reports that Woods is “banged up” and “not yet 100% cleared,” which is why New Day hasn’t been seen more inside the ring.
Details of his injury remain unclear, but he is not expected to miss much more time in the ring.
The expectation within WWE is that the UpUpDownDown host should be good to go by this month’s Royal Rumble, if not sooner.
While he has not been wrestling, Woods has continued to appear at WWE events, and was in Kofi’s corner for a house show in Huntsville, Alabama.
The Rumble
If the backstage talk is right, Woods will be healed in time for the Rumble, and would likely be a member of the Men’s Royal Rumble match.
The Men’s match is coming together, with Kingston, Ricochet, and Santos Escobar coming from SmackDown.
On last night’s Raw, it was confirmed that Seth Rollins, Bobby Lashley, and WWE United States Champion Austin Theory will also be in the Men’s Rumble match.
WWE Superstars are concerned that the era of mass releases will resume now that Vince McMahon is back with the company.
McMahon retired from WWE in July of last year due to allegations of misconduct which resulted in millions of dollars being paid out in NDAs.
Last week, McMahon was reappointed to WWE’s Board of Directors alongside former WWE co-Presidents Michelle Wilson and George Barrios.
Concerns
Vince McMahon and WWE have insisted that his return is to oversee a potential sale of the promotion and nothing more.
Many are skeptical of this claim, believing that McMahon would not return to WWE if he did not have plans to be at the very top of the promotion again.
On Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer said that there are worried Superstars fearing the return of mass releases.
“Everyone’s worried again because it’s like ‘if Vince is in charge and they’re trying to sell, does that mean they’re going to start doing cuts again?’”
Meltzer reiterated previous reports that WWE morale was significantly higher after McMahon’s retirement last year.
Morale in the locker room was said to have been at an all-time low following last year’s Royal Rumble Premium Live Event.
Sale
It was in April 2020 that WWE began a new strategy, releasing talent in large waves that drew significant backlash from fans.
At the time, some suggested that WWE was cutting costs to widen its profit margins and make the company look more attractive to potential buyers.
A list of buyers rumored to be interested in WWE includes Comcast, FOX, Disney, and Netflix, among others.
The Usos have dominated the WWE tag team division as the Undisputed Tag Team Champions but it appears that their reign as dual champs may be coming to an end.
This week’s episode of Raw featured many great moments and matches. The show was headlined by a #1 contender tag team turmoil match featuring 5 teams.
What’s interesting to note here is that the announced match was only for a shot at the Raw Tag Team Championships instead of the undisputed titles.
The main event saw The Judgment Day taking on The OC to kick things off. The team of Damian Priest and Finn Balor went on to eliminate not only the Good Brothers but the team of Shelton Benjamin & Cedric Alexander as well.
The duo of Priest and Balor then eliminated The Alpha Academy but Finn Balor suffered a kayfabe injury right before the pin.
This forced Dominik Mysterio to take the place of the Judgement Day leader. Though they still managed to win the match by last eliminating The Street Profits, earning the title shot for Royal Rumble on January 28.
The Undisputed Tag Team Championship region has helped further solidify the legacy of The Usos as one of the greatest tag teams in the history of the business.
At the same time, it has also crippled the company’s booking ability, leaving many teams in limbo. With this announcement, WWE officials may finally be looking to get things back to normal in the tag division and split the titles at the upcoming PPV.
Wrestling veteran ‘Superstar’ Billy Graham is dealing with multiple health issues and he has been diagnosed with an infection in his ear and skull.
The former WWE star’s official Facebook page recently provided a health update on behalf of Valerie Coleman, the wife of the wrestling legend.
The statement asked people to keep Billy Graham in their prayers. The Facebook post revealed that an infection in his ear has now spread to the bones as well as area of skull:
“Lots of issues… MRI showed he has a very bad infection in his ears that has spread to the bones in his ears as well as an area of his skull…infectious disease doctor was just in trying to decide what antibiotics they’re going to start him on.”
Apart from the issues caused by the infection, Graham is dealing with low sodium. Per the update, it’s proving very difficult to treat.
Billy Graham is a former WWE and NWA star. He made his debut in the 1970 and the 79-year-old wrestled for various promotions till 1987.
During his long career, Graham won multiple titles including the WWWF Heavyweight Championship. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2004 but he later had a falling out with the McMahon family.
SEScoops wishes a speedy recovery to Billy Graham.
On tonight’s episode of RAW, Johnny Gargano was supposed to compete in a tag team turmoil match. During the show, it was announced that Gargano is suffering from a grade two AC sprain.
Backstage, Candice LeRae said that Gargano was “really bummed that he couldn’t participate in tag team turmoil, but he’s taking doctor’s advice to get back to 100 percent. So, that’s our goal right now to get him back to 100 percent.”
Johnny Gargano hopes to be back by the Royal Rumble
“Johnny Wrestling” took to Twitter to talk about his injury. He says it happened at a house show in Toronto. That’s the city where Gargano made his WWE return last August. He said that the “medical team is going to protect me from myself for a bit.”
There is no timetable for his return, but Gargano hopes to be back in time to compete in the Royal Rumble.
I injured my shoulder at a live event in Toronto (ironic?), and the medical team is going to protect me from myself for a bit.. but you better believe I'm going to do EVERYTHING I can to get back in that ring so I can be that guy you all know I can be. Just let me in that Rumble!
Last Wednesday, Mercedes Monè made her much anticipated debut in NJPW at Wrestle Kingdom 17. She’s been the talk of the wrestling world and the conversation has turned to AEW.
Last month, AEW began hyping up a mystery opponent for Saraya for the January 11 episode of Dynamite. Social media began buzzing that none other than Monè would be her partner. The two have a history and it would make sense for “The Blueprint” to be her partner. Last week, Saraya told Toni Storm that she was her partner.
Matt Hardy on what Mercedes Monè would bring to AEW
On the latest episode of The Extreme Life of Matt Hardy, Hardy said that Monè “really bet on herself. It’s hard for me not to appreciate that because I’m one of those guys too where I feel like — Vince knew that too — I don’t have to be in WWE. I’m not afraid to step out of Alexandria, a safe zone. I kind of compare Alexandria from the Walking Dead to WWE. If you stay inside and you have these walls, you’re going to have like, a nice life and it’s safe and it’s easy. You can make decent money and it’s good. But, you can go outside those walls and you can survive on your own, but you have to hustle. So, I have huge respect for anyone who is willing to leave WWE and go out and hustle on their own.”
“I think Mercedes is killing it and she’s doing a great job keeping herself relevant, keeping herself in conversations, being a huge talking point in wrestling business and showing up in New Japan and doing what she did. It was a big deal.”
When asked if he could see Monè in AEW, Hardy replied, “without a doubt.” “I could almost see her being a free agent for a while and just doing spots in AEW. I could definitely see that happening. And it wouldn’t surprise me if she ends up showing up this coming up Dynamite as the mystery partner. It wouldn’t surprise me at all. I don’t know, I don’t have that information. But, it wouldn’t surprise me.”
(Note: this episode was recorded prior to Saraya’s announcement of Toni Storm.)
On what Monè would bring to AEW, Hardy declares that “she is a big star. I mean, there’s no ifs, ands, or buts, about it. I mean, she really has put a ton of equity on her name and on her character and on her identity as a pro wrestler. And she’s been able to continue to hold that as she hasn’t been working with WWE. She’s kept herself in the headlines, which is great.”
“Her coming in to AEW would be a big deal. I feel in some ways, it would be very similar to almost like Cody situation in some ways. It’s like a huge jump; left WWE and came to AEW. It would have that feel.”
Edge hasn’t been seen on WWE programming since his latest absence, as he lost an I Quit Match to Finn Balor at the Extreme Rules show in October.
The company already had some plans for him months ago, according to Fightful Select. As of late November, WWE had Edge penciled in for the first couple of PLE events of 2023.
Working Plans
The working plan was for Edge to take on Finn Balor upon his return to pick up their long-running feud. WrestlingNews.co reported that they would be competing at Royal Rumble.
The reason for the rivalry being spread out comes down to Edge working limited dates. Fightful also confirmed WrestlingNews.co’s report that as of that point ahead of Survivor Series, it was slated to be a Hell in a Cell match.
Fightful reports that Edge wasn’t the only one to be planned for the Elimination Chamber PLE in February. In November, WWE’s tentative plan was for Edge’s wife, Beth Phoenix, to be involved in the Montreal event by teaming with Edge to take on Rhea Ripley and Finn Balor.
It should be noted that things can change and can’t be considered official until WWE officially announces it themselves.
Fans can expect to see Chelsea Green make her WWE return anytime now.
It has been reported that WWE has discussed bringing Green back to the company. She finished up with Impact Wrestling in late 2022. Other indications that she was going back to WWE were her shutting down her OnlyFans page and Major Pod having to limit new Green merchandise production due to her signing.
Other Stars
According to Fightful Select, Green has been under contract with WWE “for quite some time and is still awaiting creative.”
Once it was reported that WWE was interested in bringing back Green, there was speculation that her husband, Matt Cardona, could be on his way back to the company as well.
However, Fightful reports that WWE sources have indicated that “Cardona is not signed, but that we shouldn’t rule anything out for the future.”
There was speculation that Kylie Rae may be the next name to be signed with the company after she was brought in for a tryout and later used for a match on Main Event. Fightful notes that Rae is still a free agent.
Fans have wondered who is behind the mysterious Uncle Howdy since the character made his first appearance on WWE television.
Various names have been speculated, from Bo Dallas to Vincent to Cameron Grimes.
As previously reported, WWE has been playing its cards close to its chest with the character as the person behind the costume wears the mask backstage to hide their identity. It looks like fans are one step closer to finding out who is behind the Uncle Howdy mask.
Confirmation?
PWInsider and Fightful Select report that former WWE star Bo Dallas, the brother of Bray Wyatt, is backstage at tonight’s Raw show in Birmingham, Alabama.
On last week’s WWE Monday Night Raw, Alexa Bliss viciously attacked Bianca Belair during their Raw Women’s Championship match, which led to Belair needing stitches from the attack. WWE has confirmed that Bliss will explain her actions last week on tonight’s show.
With Dallas being present backstage, it would sure seem that Dallas is the man behind the Uncle Howdy mask.
Bray Wyatt is set for his first match since returning to WWE at the Royal Rumble by taking on LA Knight in a Pitch Black match.
It’s all settling in for Mickie James. The legendary women’s wrestler has battled top talent on Impact Wrestling in a series of matches dubbed the ‘“’Last Rodeo’”’ in recent months. Often these in-ring experiences have been trips down memory lane for “Hardcore Country.”
Among them was facing Mia Yim at this stage of her career. It got her thinking about working with a fellow veteran early on in Maryland Championship Wrestling and the opportunities given as a young talent.
After putting all the blood, sweat, and tears into her body of work it comes down to the aptly titled Impact Wrestling pay-per-view Hard to Kill on January 13. There the future Hall of Famer challenges Knockouts champ Jordynne Grace in a title versus career battle.
James tells us it was around the NWA EmPowerrr show that the wheels were put in motion for this current run. One that sees the 43-year-old come full circle returning to Impact Wrestling. A home for her at different points dates back to Alexis Laree in Raven’s The Gathering during those early TNA days.
“I didn’t anticipate I was going to come back and be a full-time part of the roster in the first place,” James tells us in an interview. “I think after I lost the championship and the conversation with Tommy Dreamer too. I was like, ‘Tommy I don’t know what I can do. I’ve done so much and been really fortunate to do so much. If I go out, I want to go out on top of my game and not overstay my welcome and not stay too long or when I’m on the downward spiral on my career…’”
She wants to put a bow on things by riding out the old-school way. Working her way up on the grind against a mix of talent including Hyan, Gisele Shaw, Taylor Wilde, and Deonna Purrazzo.
“I wanted to prove that not only I’m the best in the locker room but the best ever. And if I can’t do that I don’t belong here anymore. And then I’m okay with that.”
– Mickie James
The challenger is excited to test her mettle against the imposing Grace. James has upped training ahead of the marquee main event and studied tape. Not only of Grace but a fellow powerhouse in Beth Phoenix.
“I’ve never faced Jordynne before,” James said. “She is probably one of the hardest-hitting women in wrestling. I can probably just say hardest say in wrestling, and it would be accurate.”
Thoughts on Retirement
If James walks out the gold, her mindset is it would be the start of one last reign at the top. Although the word “retire” in wrestling is admittedly a difficult pill to swallow.
“Wrestling is s drug for us,” James said. “Once it’s in our blood, it it’s hard to escape it. There is no better feeling you get than when you’re out there performing in front of people. I never wanted to outstay my welcome. I always want to go out on top and to a place in my career where I was still putting on great matches…I didn’t want to just fade off into the sunset but go out in a blaze of glory.”
With her in-ring career one way or another coming to an end, she is weighing options. The former multi-time champ would enjoy working behind the scenes and as a coach to help performers with their character development.
Along with other projects, James would also like to focus on keeping the memory of her grandma’s horse farm alive by finding generational horses. Her son Donovan would certainly enjoy seeing mom at home more. For James, Impact is a special place because it gave her the family she has today. It was the place she got together for her now husband Nick Aldis.
“I’m excited for Nick because he is a free agent,” she said. “He has a lot of options…Maybe it’s time for me to step back so he can have those opportunities because I’ve had a pretty incredible career.”
James is proud of the evolution of Impact’s Knockouts. She just wishes the company had more visibility as it continues to grow back its fanbase.
“We have some of the best wrestlers in the world. We have definitely the strongest female roster that one can ever imagine,” James said. “They are getting opportunities like the first-ever Ultimate X match or the Last Knockout Standing and all the things…I don’t know if it’s about that as much as I would love for more people to be able to see it and watch it. I think if more people saw it, they will see how great it is.”
When comes to summing up her career and Impact Wrestling story, it comes down to one hope. For the small-town girl who lived her dream, it comes down to being remembered.
“I just want the women to keep thriving and to have made a difference. Hopefully, I’ve done that. And to be honored on the way out on a positive note.”
Catch Impact Wrestling’s Hard to Kill on Pay-Per-View and FITE TV at 8 p.m. ET on January 13
Mandy Rose is set to address her WWE release for the first time.
Rose, real name Amanda Saccomanno, will appear as a guest on this Tuesday’s edition of “Tamron Hall.” This is a syndicated talk show that airs on ABC stations.
According to the promotional material, the episode description notes that the former NXT Women’s Champion will address her “controversial firing” from WWE in an exclusive interview with Hall.
Breaking Silence
“Tamron has an exclusive interview with former WWE’s MANDY SACCOMANNO addressing her controversial firing from the WWE. Five-time Grammy and Emmy nominee, actress and comedian MARGARET CHO stops by to chat about her new comedy tour ‘Live and LIVID.’ Plus, an All-New Shop Tam Fam!!”
Last month, Rose was released from WWE after learning of adult-themed photos and videos Rose posted on her FanTime subscription service.
Her release came less than 24 hours after dropping the NXT Women’s Championship to Roxanne Perez on NXT TV, which was pushed up from when it was originally supposed to happen in January. This was done because Rose was being released.
Rose’s reign as NXT Women’s Champion lasted 413 days before losing the title to Perez. Since her departure, Rose has made big money by earning $1 million on FanTime.
