Home Blog Page 635

Former WWE Star Recalls Vince McMahon Nearly Making Out With John Laurinaitis

Thomas Lowson
-
0

When Rusev lost the WWE United States Championship (and his undefeated streak) to John Cena at WrestleMania 31 in 2015, the Bulgarian didn’t take it well.

After failing to regain the title, Rusev would blame his manager Lana, played by his then-girlfriend and future-wife CJ Perry.

What followed was a love triangle over the Summer, in which Rusev aligned with Summer Rae, while Lana had an on-screen romantic relationship with Dolph Ziggler.

The Kiss

On the May 18, 2015 Monday Night Raw, Lana confirmed her relationship with Ziggler, kissing the two-time former World Heavyweight Champion.

Speaking to Renee Paquette on ‘The Sessions,’ Perry recalled rehearsal for the angle, and having to practice kissing in front of the then-WWE CEO (via Wrestling News.)

“It’s Ace [John Laurinaitis] Vince [McMahon, Dolph, and Miro. We had to practice the kiss and Miro is turning red in the corner. Vince is like, ‘What? We’re all adults. What’s the problem? We’re all adults. It’s professionalism. Don’t be weird.’ So we do it, and Vince goes, ‘No, no, no, no, way slower.’ He doesn’t fully kiss Johnny Ace, but he gets like this close. I mean, it was hilarious. Dolph is dying.”

“He doesn’t fully kiss Johnny Ace, but he gets like this close.”

CJ Perry on Vince McMahon’s attempts to teach her how to kiss Dolph Ziggler

Perry added that when she recently rewatched the kiss with a friend, it was noticed how slow she and Ziggler kiss.

She adds that McMahon “wanted it to be innocent,” as if she had never kissed a man before.

Lana Says She Was “Brainwashed” By Toxic WWE

Logan Paul Won’t Be Wrestling Again Anytime Soon

Andrew Ravens
-
0

Logan Paul picked up a win over The Miz in his singles debut at last Saturday’s WWE SummerSlam event. This was just one match as part of his multi-year contract with WWE. 

Unfortunately, Logan Paul won’t be wrestling for WWE anytime soon, as he’s focusing on a proposed boxing match in December. Paul confirmed this during the latest episode of the Pat McAfee Show as he revealed he hopes to get the fight booked.

Logan Paul’s Next Boxing Fight

image 14

Although he teased having a few people in mind for the fight, Logan Paul didn’t reveal who he would be fighting next. 

In the past, Paul has been linked to several different fighters, including a boxing match against former UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva, but the fight has yet to be made. He has also expressed interest in fighting former two-division UFC Champion Conor McGregor. 

Paul’s last fight came against fellow YouTuber KSI back in 2019, losing via a split decision. It’s possible a third fight with KSI could be an option for his return to the ring.

Paul’s first wrestling match was when he teamed with The Miz against The Mysterios at WrestleMania 38 in April.

Visit MMANews.com for more on Logan (and Jake) Paul’s fighting careers, as well as general news about UFC and the world of Mixed Martial Arts.

Potential Reason Why Vince McMahon Changed His Mind About Retirement

Anutosh Bajpai
-
0

Vince McMahon’s abrupt WWE departure is still a puzzling development. Famous for his work ethic, people thought that McMahon will work till his wheels fell off. Even when the allegations against him first came to light, the boss had been promising talent that he was going to stick around. Many still wonder what made him change his mind.

Dave Meltzer believes the prospect of hurting the legacy of the company could have been the reason behind this change. The wrestling journalist opened up about McMahon’s departure on Talk Is Jericho. He explained what could have forced the former WWE chairman to change his mind:

“Obviously there was something huge. I’m sure it was not a voluntary decision, but it was one of those things where you are now in a position where you’re going to hurt the company. I do believe that if Vince McMahon thought that he was going to hurt the company by staying that he would leave.

I think that’s the one thing he would do. He’s not gonna take his legacy down. The WWE is his life legacy. He’s gonna be there long after he’s gone. I don’t think he wants to be the one to take it down, I think he wants it to live forever.”

Meltzer also talked about the allegations against Mr. McMahon. He explained how the the board of directors first became aware of the accusations despite an NDA being signed. You can check out his comments here.

More Originals From SEScoops:

If you use any quotes from the article, please credit SEScoops with an H/t for transcription

Backstage News On How Vince McMahon Allegations Came To Light

Anutosh Bajpai
-
0

The wrestling world has been shaken with the retirement of Vince McMahon. The majority of the wresting fans didn’t expect to see this day anytime soon. However, in only a few short weeks, the boss has not only been forced to relinquish all his positions in the company but his name has essentially been erased from the promotion.

It all started with the first allegation that was made against the boss back in March. It was revealed that McMahon had signed an NDA worth $3 million with a released WWE employee. Dave Meltzer discussed it during his appearance on Talk Is Jericho. He explained how the allegations became public despite an NDA:

“She had an NDA, somehow one of her friends found out. Her friend sent a message to every member of the board [of directors]. So this would have been in late March saying, ‘This is what happened.’ [She was] very negative about [WWE attorny] Jerry McDevitt , like pressuring her and things like that.

She [the ex-employee] couldn’t come out but somebody did, and they investigated and found out that it was real. In the investigation they found out it was not the first NDA. That there had been several others over the years.”

The discovery of the first NDA led to further investigation. It unearthed more nondisclosure agreements related to misconduct claims against Vince McMahon totalling $12 Million. These NDAs had not been disclosed in WWE’s SEC filing which is believed to be a big reason why the WWE owner had to leave the promotion.

More Originals From SEScoops:

If you use any quotes from the article, please credit SEScoops with an H/t for transcription

Update on Riddle’s WWE Return After Storyline Injury

Thomas Lowson
-
0

At Summerslam 2022, Riddle was scheduled to face Seth Rollins, the culmination of a lengthy feud between the two.

Before the show began, it was announced that Riddle had been pulled from the show, as he had been “medically disqualified.”

On The Bump, it was said that Riddle had suffered a brachial plexus injury, better known to fans as a ‘stinger’ while being attacked by Rollins.

Riddle’s Return

Riddle hasn’t wrestled since the July 25, 2022 episode of Raw, where he and the Street Profits lost to The Bloodline.

According to Dave Meltzer in the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Riddle will wrestle Seth Rollins at the “Saturday Night’s Main Event” show in North Charleston, South Carolina.

The two will also face off at the “Sunday Stunner” event in Fayetteville, North Carolina the next night.

While these matches had been advertised in the local area, there was uncertainty over Riddle’s availability due to his injury from Rollins.

Rollins Vs. Riddle

When WWE announced that the Riddle Vs. Seth Rollins Summerslam match was off, they confirmed that the bout had been ‘postponed.’

WWE has not given an update as to when the match will happen though many believe it will happen next month.

The belief is that WWE delayed the Summerslam match so that they have a big match to promote for WWE Clash at the Castle.

Clash at the Castle will take place at the Principality Stadium, in Cardiff, Wales, and will mark WWE’s biggest event in the UK since Summerslam 1992.

Riddle Offers Injury Update On Randy Orton

Ric Flair’s Last Match Attendance, Live Gate & PPV Buys

Thomas Lowson
-
0

Last week, Ric Flair competed in his final ever match, teaming with his son-in-law Andrade El Idolo to defeat Jay Lethal and Jeff Jarrett.

While the show was named after “The Nature Boy” Flair’s final ever wrestling match wasn’t the only bout on the card.

The total 13-match card also saw the Impact World and Knockouts World Championships be defended, as well as Jonathan Gresham be crowned the number-one contender for the PROGRESS World Championship.

The Event

The Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports that the show was a big success as an attraction, with over 6,800 fans in attendance.

The show drew a live gate revenue of $448,502, the second largest for any indie event of this generation. PPV buys are still being tabulated, but early estimates have them at around 20-25,000.

The show is certainly the second-most successful gate in North America, only being beaten by 2018’s ALL IN event.

That show, run by Cody Rhodes and the Young Bucks, saw 10,541 in attendance and a live gate revenue of $458,525.

Reviews

The Ric Flair’s Last Match event has received mixed reviews, with the production quality and overall presentation of the show being praised.

Many have called the match of the night the fatal four-way between Bandido, Laredo Kid, Black Taurus and Rey Fenix, which Fenix won.

As for Flair’s match, which was also the main event, the match drew criticism for how poor Ric looked in the match.

The Sportster said how the match showed that “Ric Flair should not have been in the ring whatsoever,” while Bleacher Report called the main event “one of the most unusual, at times uncomfortable, watches in recent memory.”

Backstage Update On Ric Flair’s Health After Bloody Last Match

MJF Has ‘Vanished’ From The Wrestling World (Report)

Anutosh Bajpai
-
0

Both AEW and Tony Khan have kept quiet about MJF since his Dynamite promo, and the wrestling star himself also seems to be maintaining his silence very well.

According to Fightful Select, the Salt of the Earth has effectively ‘vanished’ from the wrestling world. They have not heard from a single AEW talent who has admitted to hearing from the young star since his explosive promo.

Plenty of people who have worked with him or are close to the wrestling star have also denied having any communication with him. Tony Khan has not talked about him to anyone since his Dynamite appearance either.

The report noted that MJF remained in Los Angeles for a few days after his last AEW appearance. Although he was there conducting non-wrestling meetings.

His latest sighting was in New Jersey last week, where he was filming with crew members of Impractical Jokers. Though it’s not confirmed whether he was shooting something for the show.

There are people within the company that still believe MJF is on his way out. The belief is he wants to join WWE instead.

On the contrary, a lot of fans think that this is all a work and Tony Khan is holding off MJF’s return for a CM Punk confrontation. Whether or not that actually happens will be revealed when Punk comes back.

Bayley Explains Idea Behind Her New Faction

Anutosh Bajpai
-
0

Bayley made her triumphant return at SummerSlam but she wasn’t alone. She shared her moment with Dakota Kai and Io Sky and formed a new faction with both the stars.

The former women’s champion talked about her new group on After The Bell. She explained that it’s something that she had wanted for a while and they had considered different versions of the group. The idea was that it would help evolve her character:

“This is something that I’ve wanted for a while, I would say a couple of years. [It’s] actually something that I’ve talked to Hunter about before. Just wanting something different for the division and using girls that I think were either underutilized or that didn’t get that opportunity or didn’t get that spotlight. Just a way to evolve myself as in like many different variations of this faction or group that I wanted.”

‘Ultimate Goal Of Everybody’: Bayley

Bayley made her return at SummerSlam

Though as she got the time to think more about it during her rehab, Bayley realized that she wanted to help underutilized talents. She wanted to take names that hadn’t been on Raw or SmackDown and get them to WrestleMania level:

“But as I got injured and got to spend more time really thinking about it, I knew that I wanted literally girls who haven’t had the opportunity [to be on] Raw or Smackdown or that haven’t been given an opportunity to feel what WrestleMania is like. Because that’s the ultimate goal of everybody.

I just felt like if I look for girls that haven’t had that yet, just the hunger is gonna be that much stronger. It’s just gonna be fresher for the fans and fresher for the locker room where they’ll get excited to work with different people.” said Bayley, “So once I thought of it like that. [I] thought let me look at NXT. It was so easy. I knew who I wanted and I knew who could benefit from it. I knew who I can benefit from.”

More Originals From SEScoops:

If you use any quotes from the article, please credit SEScoops with an H/t for transcription

Lex Luger: I’d Walk Again for WWE Hall of Fame Induction

Thomas Lowson
-
0

For years, Lex Luger was a wrestler who’s character was based on his incredible physique.

Famously boasting a 4% body fat, Luger was referred to in WWE as ‘The Narcissist’ but a series of medical issues, including a spinal stroke have taken their toll.

In 2014, Luger said he was using a wheelchair on a regular basis, though he was still able to walk short distances, but became completely reliant on a wheelchair for mobility last year.

The Hall of Fame

Luger has said he would work hard to walk again if he could walk onto the stage at the WWE Hall of Fame. 

In an interview with Sports Illustrated released on Thursday, Luger spoke about his health and possible induction into the WWE Hall of Fame.

“I might pop out of the chair for that [a WWE Hall of Fame induction.] I would take that chance if that moment comes. That honor would be the cherry on top of my career.”

“I might pop out of the chair for that.”

Lex Luger on a possible WWE Hall of Fame induction.

The 64-year-old will be the focus of Sunday’s episode of Biography: WWE Legends on A&E. 

Is an induction coming?

A former WCW World Heavyweight Champion, Luger had a rich career in wrestling that certainly warrants a Hall of Fame induction.

Last year, Jim Ross said that Luger should be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, saying that it would be a “popular decision.”

Mick Foley has also expressed support for a Luger induction.

Latest On Lex Lugar’s Health

Watch: ‘Hacksaw’ Jim Duggan Provides Emotional Update On Cancer Treatment

Anutosh Bajpai
-
0

WWE Legend ‘Hacksaw’ Jim Duggan has provided a great news about his health to his fans and confirmed that he is officially cancer free.

The WWE Hall of Famer shared a video on Instagram. It showed him ringing the cancer bell that hospitals have to celebrate the end of treatment for cancer patients.

In an emotional speech, Duggan mentioned how he had been listening to other people ringing the bell for weeks. He had been looking forward to getting the chance himself:

“For 8 weeks I’ve been coming by, looking at this bell, listening to the other folks coming by and ringing the bell,” said Jim Duggan, “I’ve been looking forward to it.”

The wrestling veteran went on to thank his doctors, nurses and technicians as well as his family, friends and all the fans for their support.

Jim Duggan underwent a procedure to remove his prostate in October 2021. He had announced later that year that he was cancer free.

Unfortunately for the former WWE star, the cancer returned in March earlier this year. He described it as a ‘terrifying time’ for his family and confirmed that he would have to undergo treatment.

Why is Batgirl Cancellation Bad News for AEW?

Thomas Lowson
-
0

If you’ve been following entertainment news this week, you’ll know that the DC Comics film ‘Batgirl’ has been canceled.

The film was supposed to see Leslie Grace play the iconic character in the first stand-alone live-action film for Batgirl.

WarnedMedia had reportedly invested over $90 million into the project before canning it, in one of the biggest net losses for any movie project ever.

Bad News

Batgirl isn’t the only big cut from WarnerMedia, as the company has been making sweeping cuts across the board.

In April, it was announced that WarnerMedia was shutting down its CNN-Plus service, one month after its launch.

During the latest Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer said that AEW may not be immune from these budget cuts.

“Your parent company [Warner Bros. Discovery] is slicing budgets everywhere, they are stopping movies and TV shows in production, it’s been a bloodletting there and there’s probably more to come. The timing for AEW, with their deal coming up at the end of next year, last few days haven’t been looking good.”

The Future of AEW

AEW’s current deal with WarnerMedia will reportedly last until the end of 2023 and a lot is riding on a new deal.

Tony Khan has been telling wrestlers who have shown interest in leaving to stay, promising that a new, better deal will be reached, resulting in higher pay for the roster.

Earlier this year, Dave Meltzer was confident in AEW’s chances, saying “it would take someone who just hates wrestling” for AEW to be canceled.

Top WarnerMedia Exec Largely Responsible for AEW Programming Exits

Has The Backstage Environment Changed After Vince McMahon’s Retirement

Anutosh Bajpai
-
0

Fans were expecting major changes in WWE after Vince McMahon’s retirement. However, we have only seen small adjustments both on screen and behind the scenes as well.

WWE star Butch, previously known as Pete Dunne had an interview with Digital Spy. When asked about the backstage environment, he reiterated the remarks of Ciampa.

Butch revealed just like fans, people backstage were also shocked upon hearing the news of McMahon’s retirement last month. Though according to him, things have been ‘strangely normal’ since then:

“To be honest, up till now, it all feels strangely normal. Even the day when we were at SmackDown and we got notified that Vince had retired, obviously there’s that second of people looking around like, ‘Did you see that? Can you believe this has happened?’

But then after that,” recalled Butch, “Everyone’s so focused on the job that’s at hand it kind of feels strangely normal but exciting at the same time.”

The former NXT UK champion also discussed Triple H taking over the WWE creative. He claimed that the former world champion is extremely approachable.

He explained that Triple H is someone who is excited to put out the best content he can, and it’s what the Black and Gold NXT was all about.

Update On Length Of Booker T’s WWE Contract

Anutosh Bajpai
-
0

Despite not having wrestled a televised match in over a decade, Booker T knows how to remain in news. He continues making headlines one way or the other.

With AEW successfully using legends like Sting and Tully Blanchard to help promote younger talents, many wonder if we can see the former WCW champion joining Tony Khan’s promotion anytime in the near future.

T was asked about this on the latest episode of his Hall of Fame podcast. Replying to it, Booker revealed that he actually has a lot of time left on his contract with WWE:

“I got about six years left on my contract, seven maybe, I ain’t going nowhere, man. I’m never going to say never, or anything like that, but I actually love where I’m at with the WWE.”

– Booker T

Booker T does make indie appearances every now and then while also running his Reality of Wrestling promotion from the Houston area.

The former world champion just recently created some buzz by returning to in-ring action for a 10 men tag team match at an ROW event.

Though despite his recent outing, Booker T has claimed that he has no intention of holding a ‘Ric Flair’s Last Match’ type event of his own.

Quotes via WrestlingInc

Glenn Jacobs Re-elected As Mayor Of Knox County

Anutosh Bajpai
-
0

Glenn Jacobs, better known to WWE fans as The Big Red Monster Kane has been re-elected as the mayor of Knox County, Tennessee.

The wrestling veteran defeated Democratic nominee Debbie Helsley in the election. Speaking about his victory at a watch party at the Crowne Plaza in downtown Knoxville, he said that he is grateful for people’s trust:

“It has been the honor of my lifetime to serve as mayor for the past four years,” said Glenn Jacobs, “and I am just so grateful that you have trusted me to work hard to keep our economy strong and to protect our freedoms and our way of life,”

The former world champion also thanked his political opponents who ran for the office in his address. He said that we should respect anyone who is willing to put their name on the ballot in the current contentious political environment.

As of this writing, a total of 63% of precincts had been counted. Jacobs had been leading the tally by more than 4,400, in a total of 43,000 votes that had been cast

Glenn Jacobs first announced his political intentions back in March 2017. He had defeated Linda Haney to become the Mayor of Knox County back then.

Kane has been criticized for some of his recent remarks on issues such as abortion rights, but it doesn’t appear to have affected his political career.

Latest On Lex Lugar’s Health

Anutosh Bajpai
-
0

Lex Lugar had a wrestling career spanning two decades across multiple well-known promotions. At 64 years old, the former WWE star says that it’s mind-boggling how good of a shape he is in.

The latest episode of Biography: WWE Legends on A&E will focus on the former world champion. He spoke to Sports Illustrated to promote the upcoming documentary.

During the interview, Lugar provided some updates on his health. He claimed that it’s a miracle of God how good of a shape he is in:

“It’s mind-boggling. I’m in phenomenal health, other than my mobility issues from my spinal cord issue, I’m very healthy, and that’s a miracle of God after what I put my body through. I usually use a wheelchair or a walker, but I can walk some.”

The former WCW star then mentioned that he has great mobility and he can drive. Though he also revealed some concerning issues:

“I have great mobility; I drive. But you know how your power will go out for a moment during a storm? That can happen to me, and I’m on the floor before I know it.

So I take a lot of precautions. I live totally independently, which wasn’t supposed to happen. I don’t look the same because I don’t hit the weights like I used to, but I’m healthy.”

The retired wrestling star commented on the potential of a Hall of Fame induction as well. Lex Lugar said that the honor would be a cherry on the top of his career and he might ‘pop out of the chair’ for it.

Jade Cargill Reacts To Goldberg & Chyna Comparisons

Jon Fuentes
-
0

Jade Cargill has reacted to comparisons she’s received to Goldberg and Chyna.

Cargill was recently interviewed on The Game 92.9, where she was asked about the comparisons she’s received to the likes of Chyna and WWE Hall Of Famer Goldberg. While Cargill is honored by the comparisons, she maintains she’s her own person.

“I love what these two phenomenal, phenomenal people represent: beauty, posture, dominance, just running through people,” Cargill said.

“I’m my own person, however. I can take these attributes from these amazing wrestlers, but I’m myself. I’m Jade Cargill. I have a different path than both of these phenomenal people.”

Cargill has been extremely impressive throughout her run with All Elite Wrestling (AEW). One of the biggest reasons she finds herself compared to Goldberg is because she’s currently undefeated. Her record sits at 35-0 and she reigns as the inaugural TBS Champion for 211 days-straight.

Goldberg racked up an amazing 173-0 undefeated record before ultimately being defeated by Kevin Nash. As for her comparisons to Chyna, both she and Cargill are physically imposing women whose physicality dominates inside the ring.

Chyna helped break down barriers, winning the Intercontinental Championship as well as the WWE Women’s Title. Cargill hopes to make a similar impact throughout her run with AEW.

Quotes via Wrestling Inc.

Becky Lynch Calls Triple H Heading WWE Creative ‘Phenomenal’

Jon Fuentes
-
0

Becky Lynch thinks that Triple H heading WWE creative now is “phenomenal.”

There have been a ton of changes within WWE as of late. Following sexual misconduct allegations, Vince McMahon stepped down as WWE CEO, leaving Stephanie McMahon and Nick Khan as co-CEOs.

Soon after, McMahon retired as head of WWE creative after several investigations into those allegations began. In his place, his son-in-law, Triple H, has stepped in to fill the void.

Speaking to ESPN recently, Becky Lynch has offered her take on the regime change. Although she’s saddened by McMahon retiring, Lynch admits that Triple H stepping in is “phenomenal.”

“It is the dawning of a new era. For me, it’s crazy and sad because everything I’ve ever known about WWE has always had Vince in charge, and we wouldn’t have WWE the way it is if it wasn’t for Vince.

“He’s somebody who believed in me and allowed me to do everything that I’ve done. We have the opportunity to change some things that maybe weren’t so great that we didn’t love.

“I think everybody’s very excited and optimistic because we know that the people in charge [are] some of the greatest minds in the business, you know. Having Triple H at the helm of the ship is phenomenal.

“There has been a tendency in the past for creative to change last minute, or we don’t know where we’re going. It’s hard to bring everybody along on this journey if we’re rambling.”

Lynch is currently sidelined with an injured shoulder. She suffered that injury in her matchup with Bianca Belair at SummerSlam. Lynch failed to capture the RAW Women’s Title from Belair at the event.

On this week’s episode of RAW, Lynch confirmed that she suffered the injury, and was subsequently written off TV after an attack by Bayley and her new stable backstage.

Another Former WWE NXT Wrestler Under Contract With AEW

Andrew Ravens
-
0

AEW President Tony Khan has signed another talent, and that’s Blake Christian. 

Fightful Select reported today that sources told them this past weekend that Christian “Christian is under an agreement with All Elite Wrestling, tied to the Ring of Honor promotion.” It’s still unclear whether the deal is full-time or tiered. 

Christian broke into the business in 2017 when he worked for several independent wrestling promotions, including Game Changer Wrestling, where he spent a three-year stint from 2019 to 2021.

He made appearances in Impact Wrestling in 2019 and 2021, including his pay-per-view debut at Genesis, where he competed in the 2021 Super X Cup Tournament and lost the tournament final to Ace Austin. He finished his Impact run at No Surrender, where he lost an X Division Championship Number One Contender gauntlet match won by Josh Alexander.

He first appeared for WWE in a tryout alongside wrestlers Colby Corino and Anthony Henry in October 2020. He later signed a developmental contract and would report to the NXT brand. Christian made his NXT debut in June 2020 in an open challenge title match against KUSHIDA for the NXT Cruiserweight Championship but came up short. He also worked the NXT Breakout Tournament, eliminating Joe Gacy. He was used on several episodes of 205 Live and NXT before being released by WWE last November. 

Since his WWE departure, Christian has been working for various promotions, including AEW, ROH, NJPW, GCW, and Jim Crockett Promotions.

Undertaker Believes The WWE Product Will Get More Aggressive With Triple H In Charge

Joey Galizia
-
0

The wrestling world is still reeling from the shocking retirement of Vince McMahon, who decided to call it quits at 76 while he deals with the fallout from multiple allegations that surfaced in the mainstream media. In his absence WWE is now being run by Nick Khan and Stephanie McMahon as co-CEOs, and Triple H taking charge as head of the company’s creative.

ESPN conducted an interview with several top superstars giving their thoughts on McMahon’s retirement, which included some input from one of the most respected WWE legends of all time, The Undertaker. The Deadman began by discussing what he foresees for the WWE now that there’s some new blood in charge.

“They’re loosening the reins a little bit as far as what guys can say and do. I think the product will probably be a little more aggressive. I think that’s going to come through in the creative.”

Taker already sees WWE attempting to make improvements, citing some recent action where commentators took notice of Montez Ford getting busted open and how little things like that help tell a bigger story.

“Those things are going to help because WWE is going to do it better than anybody else, and they don’t throw things away. Hopefully, a lot of people there know how to rein things in and make things like that mean something instead of just doing it to do it.”

The Hall of Famer would then discuss his longtime friend/rival Triple H running the creative side of WWE. Taker calls The Game brilliant, someone who he believes doesn’t get enough credit for his “wrestling acument.”

“I mean, he’s brilliant, he really is. I don’t think he gets enough credit for his wrestling acumen. I think he’ll be a huge asset to the development of a lot of guys. And he’s a no bulls— kind of guy too. He’s going to let you know what you’re doing that’s right and what you’re doing that’s wrong.”

When asked about his faith in Triple H’s leadership, Taker was quick to respond.

“I think it’s going to be a step in the right direction with Hunter.”

WWE is coming off a well-received SummerSlam, and a strong showing on Monday Night Raw. Can the momentum continue on this Friday’s SmackDown?

Pat McAfee Reveals How Often WWE Is Drug Testing Him

Jon Fuentes
-
0

Pat McAfee has revealed how often WWE is drug testing him as a competitor and SmackDown Live commentator.

McAfee was recently a guest on The Dan Patrick Show, where he talked about his time with the company. McAfee noted that, since joining WWE, he has been tested “numerous” times.

“They drug test rather often at the WWE,” McAfee said. “Yes, they actually do now. There are always going to be people that talk about some people maybe aren’t getting tested.

“There’s always conspiracy theories about everything, but I’ve been tested and given my blood to the WWE numerous times.… There was a lot of things that happen whenever you start injecting your body with stuff.

“And people who were already maybe high energy or very emotional, and then there was some stuff that has happened through the evolution of human and the evolution of WWE where they have had to put in different rules.”

Pat McAfee
(via WWE)

WWE has really ramped up their wellness policy over the years. No matter how big the star, seemingly nobody is given any leeway when it comes to the wellness policy. Names such as Roman Reigns, Rey Mysterio, Randy Orton, and more have faced suspensions over the years for failing drug tests.

As for Pat McAfee, he’s likely tested more due to WWE also utilizing him as an in-ring competitor as well. Back at WrestleMania 38, McAfee went one-on-one with Theory in a bout that the ex-NFL punter won.

However, he subsequently lost an impromptu match to Vince McMahon moments later. At SummerSlam last weekend, McAfee returned to the ring, defeating Happy Corbin in a singles contest as well.

McAfee will remain a regular at the SmackDown Live commentary desk, while likely continuing to return to the ring on occasion.

Quotes via Wrestling Inc.

Dwight Howard Details WWE Tryout Experience

Jon Fuentes
-
0

Dwight Howard has opened up on his experience trying out for WWE.

Last week, NBA star Dwight Howard took part in WWE tryouts during SummerSlam week. He was arguably the biggest surprise entrant in the entire crop of candidates who got into the ring.

The Los Angeles Lakers center took part in a variety of drills, including cutting a promo. Speaking on WWE’s The Bump recently, Howard opened up about his tryout experience.

Howard explained that he’s always had an interest in professional wrestling, and when Titus O’Neil presented him the opportunity to try out, he jumped on it.

“Well, Titus O’Neil and myself are close friends, and we’ve talked about me being a wrestler one day. I told him that I was very, very interested in becoming a wrestler one day. It’s been a dream of mine.

“I’ve always wanted to be on the big stage of wrestling, and I have all the WWE games and WCWs on N64 I play. So I just wanted to have an opportunity, and he said if you’re serious about wanting to be a wrestler, make your way to Tennessee, Nashville for SummerSlam and we’ll see how serious you are.

“So I drove down to Nashville from Atlanta, me and my son and my cousin. We got this show on the road. I showed everybody how serious I was about the WWE and how honored I was about being in the presence of so many great people and just all the people at WWE. It was an amazing experience.”

WWE is no stranger to signing professional athletes. They’ve inked the likes of various ex-NFL players, mixed martial artists, and various other sporting stars. Names such as Ronda Rousey, Pat McAfee, and Brock Lesnar top that list.

Should Howard end up signing with WWE, he’ll certainly be one of the biggest names in sports to have made the transition over to professional wrestling.

Quotes via WrestleZone

WWE Prospect Charged with Felony Sexual Battery

Thomas Lowson
-
0

Last December, WWE announced the Next in Line Program, after an NCAA policy change allowed college athletes to monetize their name, image, and likeness.

Rather than focus on established wrestlers with years of experience outside WWE, the promotion’s strategy is to sign young athletes who they can train in WWE’s style of professional wrestling.

Being a part of the NIL program gives the athletes access to WWE’s Performance Center in Orlando, but one of the company’s young prospects is in serious trouble.

The Warrant

Yesterday, a court issued an arrest warrant for AJ Ferrari, who faces a felony charge of sexual battery.

According to documents obtained by The Oklahoman newspaper, the warrant was issued after an affidavit was filed by a detective in the Stillwater Police Department’s criminal investigations division.

Bond has reportedly been set by Payne County District Court at $25,000, according to the Stillwater News Press.

The Charge

Ferrari is alleged to have performed unwanted sexual acts on a woman while holding her down on her bed on July 2.

Three days after the alleged incident, the woman filed for an emergency protective order, and a hearing is scheduled for September 15.

On July 13, Oklahoma State University announced that Ferrari is no longer on their wrestling team.

Under Oklahoma law, sexual battery faces a penalty if convicted of between one to 15 years in prison.

Ferrari’s attorney, Derek Chance, has claimed that his client is innocent and that he is confident that AJ Ferrari will be exonerated in due time.

WWE NIL Signee Dismissed From College Wrestling Team

Paul Heyman Reveals Interesting Advice from Vince McMahon

Thomas Lowson
-
0

In the Attitude Era, Paul Heyman and Vince McMahon led different promotions, but the two weren’t entirely at odds.

Heyman, aware that his ECW could never compete for dominance over the much bigger WWF, struck a deal with McMahon.

This deal saw McMahon pay ECW $1,000 a week, as well as a $500,000 payment in mid-2000, while the WWF received the first chance on signing ECW talent, and had a much easier time purchasing ECW when the company eventually collapsed.

The Advice

Before ECW folded, Heyman jumped to the WWF and returned to the WWE in 2012.

This return saw Heyman work closely with McMahon now in the same company, and the two workaholics worked well together until the latter’s retirement last month.

In June 2019, Heyman was appointed an Executive Director of Raw, and during an appearance on The Mackmania podcast on The Ringer Wrestling Show, shared some advice he got by McMahon when receiving the role.

“Make sure you pick your successor, in case you drop dead.”

Paul Heyman reveals the advice given to him by Vince McMahon.

According to Heyman, McMahon made it clear that even in the times of Vince’s passing, the show must go on without him.

McMahon was under the impression that he would remain as WWE CEO and Chairman until his death.

Heyman’s Future

While many are optimistic for WWE’s future with McMahon now retired, Heyman isn’t celebrating.

On the show, Heyman made it clear that he’s fully on board with the new vision for WWE, but it’s foolish to celebrate McMahon’s departure, as his work ethic made a lot of people a lot of money.

Many believe that Heyman could be in line for a backstage role with creative, as he has good relationships with WWE Co-CEO Stephanie McMahon and Head of Creative/Talent Relations Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque.

Triple H Explains Paul Heyman’s Role At WWE Tryouts

Dakota Kai Says her WWE Return Was a Last-Minute Call

Thomas Lowson
-
0

At Summerslam 2022, Dakota Kai returned to WWE, receiving her main-roster call-up in the process.

Kai, alongside the returning Bayley and IYO SKY, appeared early in the show, after the Raw Women’s Championship match between Bianca Belair and Becky Lynch.

Last-Minute

Fans were shocked to see Kai appear at Summerslam, as she had been released by WWE in April this year.

Speaking on the latest episode of WWE The Bump, the New Zealand-born Superstar revealed that there was never a long-term plan to bring her back.

“You thought you’d seen the last of me, huh? It still feels like a whirlwind to me with everything that happened. It all happened so last minute too. To be talking with you guys right now is exciting. Everything that has happened since Saturday has been insane, it’s been crazy.”

“It all happened so last minute.”

Dakota Kai on her abrupt return to WWE.

Kai added that she has been wanting to work with Bayley and IYO SKY for a very long time.

Kai’s Release

Kai was one of ten NXT Superstars released earlier this year, but her situation differed from others.

While Superstars such as Harland were cut for not showing improvement, Kai had reportedly received several main-roster dark matches, but WWE had no plans to push her to Raw or SmackDown.

Seeing herself in a rut, Kai reportedly told WWE that she did not plan on re-signing her contract when it expired in April 2023.

Has Bayley Revealed The Name Of Her New Stable?

Taz Gives an Update on the Future of Team Taz

Thomas Lowson
-
0

All Elite Wrestling is home to several factions, and one of the longest-running groups is Team Taz.

The group has had ups and downs over their years in AEW, but now things have come to an abrupt end.

The End of Team Taz

Last week on AEW Dynamite, Ricky Starks defended the FTW Championship against Danhausen, but would later lose the title to Hook.

After the match, Powerhouse Will Hobbs turned on Starks, blindsiding him with an attack and ending their tag-team.

During this week’s episode of AEW Dynamite, Taz was on commentary to give an update on the group.

The Human Suplex Machine explained that the group is officially finished and that he has nothing more to do with any member of the faction past or present.

Team Taz: A Retrospective

Team Taz began in AEW in 2020 when Brian Cage signed a contract with the company.

The group would later recruit Powerhouse Will Hobbs, Ricky Starks, and Taz’s son, Hook, before kicking out Cage in mid-2021, after losing the FTW World Championship to Starks.

Brian Cage Discusses Issues with Team Taz and Being FTW Champion
1...634635636...3,409Page 635 of 3,409