Home Blog Page 732

Kofi Kingston Shares He was Unsure He’d Win WWE Championship

Tyriece Simon
-
0

WWE Superstar Kofi Kingston shared that he doubted that KofiMania would happen until his Wrestlemania 35 entrance.

CBS’s Shakiel Mahjouri interviewed Kingston ahead of the Royal Rumble on January 29. Kingston will compete in the Men’s Royal Rumble match to earn a title opportunity at Wrestlemania. During the interview, Mahjouri asked Kingston to reflect on his WWE Championship at Wrestlemania 35 on April 7, 2019. Kingston admitted that he was unsure until that day.

“…It really wasn’t until like I heard my music or rather like when the promotional package right before the match came on I was like oh my god,” said Kingston. He continued, “…I’m looking around making sure no one’s going to come up to me like ‘Oh well, we just changed the plans. Sorry, We are not going to go with you right now, and you know we’re going to do this. Brock Lesnar is going to come in the middle of the match, and you know what I mean, you just have no idea.” Kingston added that Mustafa Ali had a similar situation with Lesnar winning the Money in the Bank match on May 19, 2019.

Kingston also shared that he didn’t want to get his hopes up to be let down by WWE. Luckily for him, the company decided to have Kingston defeat Daniel Bryan to win the WWE Championship.

What’s Next for the New Day

The New Day faction of Kingston, Xavier Woods, and Big E is having a difficult time in the WWE. Woods suffered an injury, and the WWE hasn’t added him to the Men’s Royal Rumble. However, both Kingston and Big E will compete in the match, but it’s unclear if either will win. The former WWE Champion Big E hasn’t won a match since Monday Night Raw on December 6, 2021. Kingston has worked as a singles competitor against Madcap Moss for several weeks. It’s unclear what WWE has planned for The New Day heading into Wrestlemania this year.

First Look: Sasha Banks’ Koska Reeves Mandalorian Action Figure

Michael Reichlin
-
0

A new action figure portraying Sasha Banks’ Mandalorian character is now available for pre-sale. WWE’s Legit Boss played Koska Reeves in the popular Star Wars series The Mandalorian on Disney Plus.

The “sixth scale” figure from Hot Toys will not come cheap. The figure is currently on sale for $270 and will not ship for over a year.

Sasha Banks reacted to the news of this pre-sale, writing, “My heart is on fire holy holy”

The description of the Koska Reeves Sixth Scale figure reads,

In continuation of expanding the widely popular The Mandalorian collectible series, Sideshow and Hot Toys are excited to officially introduce the new Koska Reeves Sixth Scale Collectible Figure!

“The Koska Reeves collectible figure features newly developed head sculpt with great likeness and detailed hair sculpture, Mandalorian helmet and armor with weathering effects, skillfully tailored under-suit, a jetpack with booster fire effects, a blaster rifle, a blaster pistol, a wired grappling hook, a flamethrower effect, a themed display stand, and backdrop!”

Visit Sideshow.com to pre-order and for additional information

koska reeves sixth scale figure star wars gallery 61f0543ebc692
koska reeves sixth scale figure star wars gallery 61f0542d49abd

The Miz Says MJF is No Copycat: “He’s Doing a Great Job”

Tyriece Simon
-
0

The Miz has some flattering things to say about AEW star Maxwell Jacob Friedman.

Cheap Heat’s Peter Rosenberg and Stat Guy Grey interviewed The Miz to promote this weekend’s Royal Rumble premium live event.

Rosenberg asked the Awesome One what he thinks about MJF. Miz praised the Island loudmouth and believes that he’s not an imitation of anybody.

“I don’t think he wants to be The Miz, to be honest,” said The Miz. “I don’t think any superstar, no matter what company you’re in, wants to be the next this person. You want to be an original,”

He also believes there are comparisons, but every wrestler strives to be an original.

“I don’t think he wants to be the next Miz, I think he wants to be the first him, and honestly, I say he’s doing a great job at it.”

The Miz also praised MJF for what he’s accomplished at just 25 years old.

Listen to The Miz on the latest episode of Cheap Heat:

What’s Next for MJF

MJF is currently in a feud with CM Punk. The rivalry started two months ago, but AEW hasn’t put them in a singles match against each other. However, last night on AEW Dynamite, the company finally booked them in a match for next week.

AEW’s next pay-per-view, Revolution, takes place on March 6th at the Additional Financial Arena in Orlando, Florida. This match seemed destined to be a PPV attraction, but Punk vs. MJF will go down on TBS in just a matter of days.

Spoiler: Celebrity Entrant Planned for the Royal Rumble

Anutosh Bajpai
-
0

Bad Bunny earned the respect of his peers and the fans with his WWE run last year and latest reports suggest that he is set to make his return as soon as this Saturday at the Royal Rumble PPV.

According to RingSideNews, a tenured member of the creative team has confirmed that the Puerto Rican singer and songwriter is “in the Rumble.”

The Grammy-winning artist has said only positive things about his previous stint with WWE. The site notes that ‘Bad Bunny is always looking to do more with WWE.”

The music star who has been a lifelong wrestling fan took the opportunity to participate in the industry last year. He made his debut at the Royal Rumble PPV itself.

He initially performed his single ‘Booker T’ during the show. Bad Bunny later got involved in a segment with The Miz and he ended up delivering a top rope dive to Miz and John Morrison during the PPV.

This interaction quickly turned into a storyline that led to the rap star teaming with fellow Puerto Rican talent Damian Priest to defeat The Miz and Morrison at WrestleMania 37.

Bunny received praise for his work ethic from a number of wrestlers. The news of his return is an exciting development. It will be interesting to see if he sticks around for another program after the show as well.

WWE Royal Rumble Betting Odds

WWE Creative Is Hiring: See What They’re Looking For

Michael Reichlin
-
0

WWE is looking to bring someone new on to the creative team.

A job listing posted by WWE Careers seeks a “copyrighter” to join the company’s creative media division.

The job description reads:

Who’s ready to get in the ring?! Not literally of course, the metaphorical copywriting ring at WWE! We are looking for a smart & savvy wordsmith to join WWE Media as a copywriter supporting the Creative Media Division.

As part of CMD you’ll be directly involved with creating promos, cold opens, episodics, commercials, and much more. Here’s your chance to work with WWE Superstars and A-List talent across the entertainment industry. Make sure to come ready with your personal WWE Superstar moniker because you know we’re gonna ask!

The job function includes:

  • Lead, formulate, and develop ideas that ladder up to the Creative Director – Copy
  • Write for a host of media including digital, broadcast, manifestos, & scripts
  • Work closely with internal teams in all stages of the creative process — from brainstorming to project delivery.
  • Understand strategy to ensure all ideas align with the WWE brand.
  • Thrive under tight deadlines and can juggle multiple projects at once.
  • Ability to think strategically and conceptualize big picture creative.
  • Expert storytelling skills with the ability to self-edit.

WWE asks that prospective applicants have at least 2 years experience as a copyrighter and an understanding of WWE’s “brand voice.”

Click here to see more active job listings from WWE.

Seth Rollins On Mentioning Jon Moxley In Recent Promo: ‘I Couldn’t Ignore The History’

Anutosh Bajpai
-
0

The war of words between WWE and AEW has heated up in recent times. Both the companies have acknowledged each other on air multiple times. The most recent example of it was when Seth Rollins remembered the third member of the Shield in Jon Moxley during one of his recent promo battles with Roman Reigns.

The Architect opened up about his promo during his most recent interview with TalkSport. He claimed that it was an easter egg for the fans:

“It’s an just an easter egg, I think, for some of the fans that have enjoyed [The Shield] and stuck around, followed us for years and stuff like that.”

Seth Rollins then explained that it would be very easy to tell the story of The Tribal Chief versus The Visionary for those who watch their programming on a weekly basis. However, he couldn’t ignore the history they have with the third member of the Shield:

“If you follow the industry and you pay attention and you know where we came from, you know there was a third guy in the mix. I’m not going to sit here and ignore that history, I’m going to bring that up because I think that’s important. And I think people who care about that appreciate it.”

Seth Rollins is set to challenge Roman Reigns for the Universal championship at The Royal Rumble PPV on January 29. You can check out the betting odds for the PPV here.

Seth Rollins Wants To See A Surprise Winner For Men’s Royal Rumble

Hacksaw Jim Duggan’s Advice on How to Win the Royal Rumble

Michael Reichlin
-
0

WWE Hall of Famer “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan knows a thing or two about how to win the Royal Rumble. Duggan won the inaugural Rumble match back in 1988 and helped set the blueprint for how to emerge victorious from one of WWE’s toughest gauntlets.

Duggan recently spoke with Betway and shared some Royal Rumble strategy for the 30 men and 30 women who will be “rumbling” this weekend.

“The whole thing is about longevity,” he said. “That’s why when you watch the Royal Rumble, everyone goes straight to the corners. That’s a safe place.”

A battle royal is very different to a standard singles match. Duggan liked wrestling people one-on-one, because he could control the pace of the fight. The Royal Rumble is an entirely different beast.

“Nobody’s controlling nothing, it’s like the Wild West out there.”

– Hacksaw Jim Duggan
Jim Duggan Royal Rumble
Hacksaw Jim Duggan navigating the chaos of the Royal Rumble

More ‘Tough Guy’ than Wrestler

A lot has changed since Duggan won the Royal Rumble 34 years ago. He admits wrestlers today are more athletic, but his generation was more creative.

“I think overall the talent nowadays is much better in terms of athletic ability, but my generation of guys were much more creative,” he said. “We didn’t have a board of guys coming up with our character – I own Hacksaw Jim Duggan and trademarked it long before I went to WWE – so we were much more willing to try something new.”

Duggan wasn’t the most technically savvy wrestler. He was more of a brawler. In fact, he doesn’t even consider himself a former wrestler.

“I wasn’t a wrestler. People ask, ‘Hacksaw, what was your favorite move?’ I kick and punch, I’m a brawler. I would work with Flair sometimes, get beat 1-2-3 in the middle, grab a 2×4, hit Flair, hit the referee, hit the timekeeper. HOOOO! I didn’t win the match, but I’d win the fight. I was a tough guy.”

Whatever he was doing back then, it worked!

Watch Hacksaw Jim Duggan’s historic win in the first-ever WWE Royal Rumble:

Hacksaw Jim Duggan wins the first Royal Rumble (1988)

Chris Jericho Reveals His Dream Matches That Never Happened

Anutosh Bajpai
-
0

Chris Jericho is a modern-day wrestling legend. He is now in a position to demand and get a feud if he wants to but it wasn’t always the case.

The former AEW champion recently made an appearance on Wrestling with Freddie podcast. He first discussed his excitement for a match with Eddie Kingston.

Jericho then revealed the two names he wanted a match against. The 51-year-old claimed that he wanted to face the pair of Owen Hart and Bret Hart but the circumstances were never right for it:

“The two that I have that never did happen, and they’re brothers and they’re from the same part of the country, as I am, was Bret Hart and Owen Hart, I never had a chance to work with either one of them.

When I made up my mind to leave WCW in 99, and come to WWE, if you gave me a list of 10 reasons, Owen Hart would be one of the probably 10 reasons.” explained Chris Jericho, “Owen passed away before that could happen.”

Y2J continued his explanation mentioning how Bret Hart was in WCW at the same time as him but he was never allowed to get to that level in the promotion.

He claimed that he would have had great chemistry with both the stars because of the way he was trained and because they came from a certain area of the country.

Chris Jericho Comments On When He Plans To Retire

What Bobby Lashley Would Like To Do After Retirement

Anutosh Bajpai
-
0

Bobby Lashley doesn’t want to be a rickety old guy in wrestling but he doesn’t seem to have any plans of hanging up his boots anytime soon either. The All-Mighty recently had an interview with Ringer Wrestling. He mentioned how many fighters get in the ring past their prime wanting one more match while they can’t even move properly.

Lashley explained that he doesn’t want to be that guy. He has told his coaches not to let him be the old guy out there. According to Bobby, he will take a step back when he can’t give his 100% anymore:

“Once I can’t give you 100% of everything I have, I’m gonna take a back step and I’m going to do something else. I’m going to do some coaching or help some of the younger guys. I’m not going to be one of those guys who are rickety trying to hang on to my youth. I’m going to be sitting on the beach, doing yoga, just enjoying life and spending time with my kids,”

Bobby Lashley On When He Will Retire

Though as far as when that time may actually come, Bobby Lashley doesn’t have an idea right now.  The 45-year-old mentioned how 50 seems to be the natural cut off point for him. At the same time, he doesn’t see a reason to hang up his boots as long as he can keep up his appearance:

“I’m like, ‘I don’t believe I should be wrestling when I’m 50 years old,’ but I feel so good now that I don’t know. If I’m feeling as good as I feel now, two years from now, there is no reason why I can’t. If my appearance fades or I can’t keep on the weight or run with these kids the way they are coming up, I’ll take note of that.”

The former WWE champion again mentioned how he is feeling 100% right now and he believes he can run through anybody in the roster. Bobby Lashley is currently scheduled to challenge Brock Lesnar for his WWE championship at the upcoming Royal Rumble PPV this Saturday on January 29.

https://www.sescoops.com/news/bobby-lashley-explains-ufc/

Thanks to Fightful for the transcribed quotes

Seth Rollins Wants To See A Surprise Winner For Men’s Royal Rumble

Anutosh Bajpai
-
0

The Royal Rumble this year is one of the most wide-open rumbles in the history of the event and Seth Rollins wants an underrated star to win the battle royal this year. The former Universal champion recently had an interview with Alex McCarthy of TalkSport. Among other things, he discussed the upcoming PPV event.

Rollins first mentioned how winning the women’s Royal Rumble last year catapulted Bianca Belair into superstardom. He said that he would love to see that on the men’s side this time around:

“You look at Bianca Belair on the female side, winning the Rumble catapulted her into superstardom. I’d love to see that on the men’s side. I think there’s a lot of guys bubbling and we always need new top faces. I’d love to see someone come out of nowhere and win.”

Seth Rollins then explained that he would love to see a surprise winner at the men’s Royal Rumble this year, someone who the fans can get behind:

“I’d love a real surprise Rumble winner for people to get behind. Tons of guys on the RAW roster could; Finn Balor is someone who is right there. Chad Gable. Matt Riddle. Montez Ford.”

The 35th annual Royal Rumble will take place at The Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis, Missouri on January 29, 2022.

Who is your pick to win the battle royal this year? Let us know your choice for the winner in the comment section below.

Seth Rollins Reflects On Creative Differences With WWE

Cody Rhodes Confirms AEW Contract Status

Anutosh Bajpai
-
0

Cody Rhodes has been the center of many news stories recently after it was reported that the AEW star was working with the company without a contract. The American Nightmare defended his TNT championship against Sammy Guevara on the Beach Break special of Dynamite this week. He, unfortunately, lost the bout.

An emotional Rhodes was interviewed backstage after his loss and he told a story about his father Dusty Rhodes. He claimed that he has never felt more at home than in AEW, before addressing the elephant in the room:

“There are so many elephants in the room. This is an insane week in wrestling. People think that the Sean Ross story is BS, it’s not. I’m working here without a contract. I’m not even on payroll anymore. I’m working here on a handshake deal. That is 100% legitimate, I swear on Pharaoh’s life,”

Cody Rhodes noted how he is usually slow in getting his rematches but teased that he ‘won’t be so slow’ on getting a rematch for the title this time around. The now former TNT champion also mentioned how he helped bring Sammy Guevara to AEW and said that he is proud of the young star.

You can check out Rhodes’ comments in the video below:

Malakai Black On His Relationship With Tony Khan

Anutosh Bajpai
-
0

There are wrestlers who like to feel the atmosphere of an arena and build a match or a promo based on how the crowd is reacting. Then there are talents who meticulously plan out every little detail for anything they do well ahead of time. Malakai Black is a star that belongs to the latter category.

The AEW star had an interview with Barstool Rassling. He discussed how every aspect of his character has a deeper meaning and claimed what we saw during his NXT days was a collaboration between him and Triple H. When asked how things have changed since joining AEW, Black detailed how Tony Khan provides freedom to his stars:

“Tony is a ‘do whatever, you want, but run it by me and maybe I’ve got some ideas [guy]’, and he does have good ideas.” said Malakai Black, “Tony and me have sat down on numerous occasions and kind of like, you know, thought about some ideas or like, I’ll tell him something and then he’s like, ‘hey, maybe we should do this.’

Because it’s always good to get perspective on the outside from someone else. Because sometimes you have an idea that in your head is very streamlined and then someone else kind of brings an element [hearing which] you go ‘Oh, that works way better.’ That’s the kind of relationship that I have with Tony.”

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

Malakai Black Explains Name Change and His Black Eye

Chris Jericho Says AEW Treats Stars ‘A Million Times’ Better Than WWE

Anutosh Bajpai
-
0

One of the biggest differences between WWE and AEW is how they treat their stars behind the scenes. Chris Jericho believes AEW’s treatment is ‘a million times better’ than his former employers.

Y2J recently appeared on Wrestling with Freddie podcast. He discussed things such as the younger AEW talents, staying relevant after 30 years in the business and more.

Talking about the difference in how AEW and WWE treat their employees, Chris Jericho explained that the Khan family know how to take care of their talent because of their sports background:

“AEW’s treatment is a million times better than WWE’s ever was because the Khan family are owners of sports teams, so, they come at it from a sports standpoint.

I never had hotels and cars provided ever. Never ever in the thirty years of working in the States.” said Chris Jericho, “If I did a one-off or something, they’d never take care of that. AEW does.”

The former AEW world champion also provided some insight on their TV deal discussing how their initial deal with TNT was on ad-revenue share basis.

Though the broadcast network have since upgraded their contracts and Jericho revealed that their current deal is worth $160 million for four years.

Chris Jericho Believes Bout With Nick Gage Derserved Five Star Rating

Thanks to WrestlingInc for the transcribed quotes

Roman Reigns on Jon Moxley: ‘I Don’t Think He Owes Anyone An Apology’

Ryan Droste
-
0

Former WWE Tag Team Champion Bully Ray made headlines last week when he commented on Jon Moxley’s return to AEW Dynamite. Bully Ray said that he wished that Moxley had apologized to the fans for the time that he missed from the ring while attending rehab for his struggles with alcohol.

Bully Ray was largely panned for these comments by wrestlers, fans, and pundits alike. During an interview with SI Media Podcast, WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns commented on the situation.

“I didn’t actually see the take from Bubba, but I’ve seen some of the responses to it,” Reigns said (h/t Wrestling Inc). “And I look at it kind of in both perspectives. I understand what Bubba is saying only because I’ve been in these systems and worked for, you know, a billion-dollar promotion and entertainment company, being WWE. And Bubba has too and these are some of the mindsets of kind of the direction that you can handle some of these situations because, at the end of the day, we are performers. We’re entertainers and we want to be there for our fanbase.

“I mean, we continued through a pandemic, you know what I mean? Obviously, it’s a business and you know, we’re all trying to make a living. But that’s what makes our product special. For pretty much any promotion, there’s no season it, you know? So we try to give our fanbase as much as we can.”

Roman Reigns; The Shield
Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns, and Dean Ambrose – The Shield

However, Reigns went on to defend his former Shield partner.

“So I can see where he’s [Bully] coming from, but I think in this day and age, there’s not like too much kayfabe,” Reigns said. “I might be one of the most kayfabe performers out there. There’s so many cracks to see through, the blinds to see into backstage now and there’s so many people getting rumors and info and breaking this news and stuff like that. But I think in this day and age, especially with, you know, how much awareness there is for mental health and taking care of yourself and prioritizing you.”

He continued, “I don’t think he owes anyone an apology. I think the fact that he was responsible enough to do what needed to be done and also not shy away from it to help other people. You rarely talk about those people that are just, 100% inspired and motivated by what Mox did and having that brutal honesty with themselves and everyone else for the matter.

“I don’t think he owes anyone an apology, I see where Bubba could be coming from, in a very corporate mindset of, you know prioritizing our fans. But at the end of the day, we do so much for these fans. We don’t deliver the mail, it don’t feel good to do what we do. And obviously, it’s a choice, but it’s not like they’re just giving their money to us and we’re not doing anything. It’s a service and we’re performing that service.”

Check out the Top Rope Nation wrestling podcast for your weekly dose of pro wrestling talk featuring interviews, analysis and exclusive news: Apple – Spotify – YouTube.

Danhausen Signs With All Elite Wrestling

Anutosh Bajpai
-
0

Danhausen is All Elite.

After months of teasing, the former ROH star finally made his debut during this week’s Beach Break special of AEW Dynamite from Wolstein Center in Cleveland, Ohio.

The main event of the show saw Adam Cole facing Orange Cassidy in a Lights Out match which was contested all over the arena.

Cassidy got the first offense in the match but Cole quickly took the control of the bout. He dropped OC spine first onto the steel barricade.

The former Undisputed Era leader then tried to pull a chair from the ring apron but it appeared to be stuck. As Cole finally got the chair out, Danhausen came out of the apron with it.

https://twitter.com/AEWonTV/status/1486530789462454274

The very nice, very evil star got a huge pop from the crowd and he shocked Cole. Though the debuting talent didn’t interfere in the bout and he simply walked away.

The match continued and after interference from a number of stars, Orange Cassidy managed to pin the former NXT champion for the win.

After the show went off the air, Tony Khan took on his Twitter. With the usual graphic, he confirmed that Danhausen has signed with All Elite Wrestling.

Before coming to AEW, the high-flying star has wrestled for promotions such as ROH and Full Impact Pro. He has been trained by Jimmy Jacobs and Truth Martini.

AEW Dynamite Beach Break Results: Ladder Match, CM Punk & MJF, Danhausen Debuts

Johnny Gargano and AEW Update

Ryan Droste
-
0

Despite fan expectations and rumors that swirled on Wednesday, former WWE NXT star Johnny Gargano did not appear this week on AEW Dynamite in Cleveland, Ohio.

There was an expectation among some that Johnny Wrestling might appear due to the show emanating from his hometown. The latest from Fightful Select is that Gargano has had talks with AEW, but no agreement in place with at this time.

However, whether or not a formal contract proposal or timetable for a debut has been presented could not be confirmed.

Gargano and his wife, fellow wrestling star Candice LeRae, are expecting their first child very soon. The word is that Gargano has made it clear that at this point, he is concentrating all of his efforts on helping his wife in any way that he can as they prepare for the child’s birth. His pending father life is currently outranking wrestler life when it comes to his thought process as of now.

For the time being, Gargano will remain outside of wrestling until he experiences the birth of his child. At that point, he will decide on a timetable for his return to the ring. When that will happen and where it will happen is not certain as of now.

Gargano Heard The Rumors (and Chants)

Johnny Gargano
Johnny Gargano

Gargano noted on Twitter at the conclusion of AEW Dynamite that he heard the chants during the show and rumors that were present throughout the day and night on Wednesday.

“I heard you and you have no idea how much it means to me that you’re excited to see me back at it. It’s scary to step away because your insecurities say ‘they’ll forget about you’.. but you haven’t forgotten and I promise that I will make it up to you asap,” Gargano wrote.

Check out the Top Rope Nation wrestling podcast for your weekly dose of pro wrestling talk featuring interviews, analysis and exclusive news: Apple – Spotify – YouTube.

AEW Dynamite Beach Break Results: Ladder Match, CM Punk & MJF, Danhausen Debuts

Robert Lentini
-
0

AEW Dynamite Beach Break aired live tonight from the Wolstein Center in Cleveland, Ohio. Cody and Sammy Guevara battled in a Ladder match for the TNT Championship. Adam Cole faced Orange Cassidy in a Lights Out match.

Dynamite Results

  1. Sammy Guevara def. Cody Rhodes in a Ladder match to become the undisputed TNT Champion
  2. Wardlow def. Elijah Dean & James Alexander
  3. Jericho, Santana, Ortiz def. 2point0, Daniel Garica
  4. Leyla Hirsch def. Red Velvet
  5. Orange Cassidy def. Adam Cole in a Lights Out match

Here are the takeaways from this week’s show:

Sammy Guevara Won The TNT Title

TNT Champion Cody Rhodes faced Interim TNT Champion Sammy Guevara in a Ladder match to begin the show. The winner of the match will be the official TNT Champion. Cody and Sammy had already made their entrances when the show went on the air.

Cody got some scattered cheers but the majority of the crowd were not behind him. Cody hit a shoulder tackle but Sammy popped up and responded with a Dropkick. Rhodes took control and was very proud of himself for doing so. Sammy got annoyed and the two started shoving each other. The action spilled to the outside and Guevara grabbed a ladder. Cody caught Sammy with a jab to the face and launched him into the steel steps.

Rhodes grabbed a giant ladder and set it up in the corner. Sammy recovered and the two brawled into the crowd. Rhodes got the better of the exchange and Clotheslined Sammy over the barricade.

Back in the ring, Sammy bashed Cody off the apron with a ladder and set it up. Guevara started climbing but Cody broke it up. Cody and Sammy hit a headbutt at the same time and both fell off the ladder to the canvas. Cody then hit Sammy with a big Suplex off the ladder set up in the corner in the ring as Dynamite went to a commercial break.

When Beach Break returned, the action was back in the ring. Cody climbed the ladder but Sammy hopped on another ladder, only to leap off the top of it and hit Rhodes with an insane Cutter. Cody battled back and put Sammy’s leg in a ladder outside the ring. Fuego Del Sol ran to the ringside area and told Cody to stop. Cody hit Fuego with a Piledriver as Sammy climbed to the top rope. Guevara went for a Splash but Cody avoided it. Guevara sent Cody to the outside and hit him with a dive. Sammy followed it up with the GTH.

Guevara put Cody on a ladder from the apron to the barricade and set up a big ladder next to it. Sammy hit a Swanton Bomb off the top of the ladder onto Cody. Sammy rolled into the ring and set up a ladder under the belts. Cody got back into the ring and met Sammy on the top of the ladder. Sammy knocked Cody off the ladder and grabbed the titles to win the match. Sammy Guevara is TNT Champion.

Wardlow Dominated

Elijah Dean and James Alexander had the unfortunate task of facing Wardlow tonight at Beach Break. Wardlow delivered a bunch of Powerbombs as the crowd kept chanting for more. Wardlow then Powerbombed them on top of each other for the pinfall victory. Shawn Spears was about to come to the ring with a chair but Wardlow stopped him and the two headed backstage.

Inner Circle Picked Up A Win

Chris Jericho, Santana, Ortiz faced 2point0 (Matt Lee & Jeff Parker) and Daniel Garcia in a Trios match. Jericho and Matt Lee started off the action but Santana quickly tagged himself in. 2point0 isolated Santana in the corner but he battled back. Santana connected with some Suplexes before tagging in Ortiz.

Garcia tagged in and beat Ortiz down as Dynamite went to a break. When Dynamite returned, the match broke down into a brawl. Jericho wanted a tag but Ortiz ignored him and tagged in Santana. 2point0 had Santana isolated but Jericho caught Matt Lee with a Judas Effect. Santana followed it up with a Piledriver for the pinfall victory. Jericho left on his own after the match.

CM Punk Will Face MJF Next Week

CM Punk made his way to the ring and thanked the crowd. Punk noted that he owes Cleveland and said he is here for a fight. Punk took off his sweatshirt and revealed that he was wearing MJF’s scarf. He joked that you can get these cheap on amazon and that he’d fight MJF tonight but he’s probably got a bunch of excuses. MJF interrupted and asked the crowd if they wanted to see them have a match tonight. Maxwell then declined but challenged Punk to a match next week in Chicago.

MJF claimed that people will be disappointed in the match because they will see the real CM Punk once he loses. He added that the real CM Punk is the one that lost his fake smile, will sue, and will quit wrestling again. MJF said that the chants of CM Punk won’t stop him from turning his back on the fans again and crying about on a podcast.

CM Punk told MJF that if he didn’t come back MJF wouldn’t be having this brush with greatness. Punk joked that MJF should go in the back and put on his boots with the 3 inch lifts and try to handle business, even though everyone knows that he can’t. Punk claimed that he never lies to the people and would rather try & fail than be like MJF. Punk said that the fans love him because he always gets back up and fights, win or lose.

MJF told Punk that he wanted to test that theory of always getting back up and FTR & Wardlow made their way to the entrance ramp. Shawn Spears attacked Punk from behind and then everyone joined in on the beatdown. MJF set up a chair and demanded that Wardlow Powerbomb Punk onto it. Wardlow obliged and then MJF sat over Punk. Maxwell claimed that Punk’s journey will end where it began next week in Chicago.

Leyla Hirsh def. Red Velvet

Leyla Hirsch battled Red Velvet tonight on Dynamite. Leyla connected with a Dropkick and rolled out of the ring. Red Velvet followed her and Leyla sent her into the barricade. Back in the ring, Red Velvet took control and connected with a Stunner. Leyla hit a Powerbomb and went for the cover but Velvet kicked out at the last moment. Red Velvet went for a Sunset Flip but Hirsch countered into a cradle for a two count. Leyla then rolled up Red Velvet again while grabbing the tights for the pinfall victory.

Nyla Rose Interrupted Britt Baker

Tony Schiavone was in the ring with several awards from Pro Wrestling Illustrated. AEW Women’s Champion Britt Baker came to the ring and boasted about winning multiple awards. Britt joked about Cleveland finally having a “Baker” they can count on in reference to Browns QB Baker Mayfield. Baker claimed that the women’s division was a wasteland before she came along and created the top spot. Britt added that she has surpassed the entire roster and is the face of All Elite Wrestling. Vickie Guerrero & Nyla Rose interrupted and Nyla claimed that losing to Ruby Soho was a fluke during the TBS Tournament. Rose vowed to prove it next week.

https://twitter.com/AEW/status/1486528047624953860?s=20

Orange Cassidy def. Adam Cole, Danhausen Debuts

Adam Cole faced Orange Cassidy in a Lights Out match (unsanctioned) in the main event of Beach Break. The action quickly spilled out of the ring and Cassidy sent Cole into the barricade. Orange followed it up with a Dropkick but Cole shrugged it off. Cole threw Cassidy into the barricade and grabbed a chair from under the ring. Danhausen was holding the chair and got a great reaction from the crowd. Cole was surprised and backed away from Danhausen.

https://twitter.com/AEW/status/1486530869368086529?s=20

Cassidy capitalized on the distraction and planted Cole with a DDT on the outside. Cole set up for a Panama Sunrise but Orange countered and sent Cole through a table. Cassidy went for the Orange Punch but Cole held up the ring bell. Cassidy punched the bell and then got hurled into the steel steps. Cole stomped on Orange’s hand and brought some chairs & trash cans into the ring. Cassidy set up the chairs and hit a Michinoku Driver. Cole battled back with a Superkick and motioned to the entrance ramp.

Brandon Cutler made his way down the entrance ramp but Wheeler Yuta brawled with him. Bobby Fish and Chuck Taylor then traded punches. Young Bucks hit Chuck Taylor with a Superkick. Young Bucks got in the ring but Trent & Rocky Romero made the save. Cassidy hit the Orange Punch but Cole responded with a low blow.

Cassidy revealed he was wearing a steel cup with tacks on it and Cole was in agony. Cassidy hit Panama Sunrise but Cole kicked out at two. They battled to the back and Cole hid behind Jerry Lynn. Adam hit an Ushigoroshi through a table but Cassidy somehow kicked out. Adam Cole climbed to the top of the entranceway but Cassidy was gone. Orange hit Cole with a low blow from behind and then a Uranage through the stage. Cassidy got his arm on Cole for the pinfall victory in a match that will not count in the record books.

Sammy Guevara Becomes Undisputed AEW TNT Champion

Fernando Quiles Jr.
-
0

Sammy Guevara has been upgraded from interim to undisputed status.

Going into the Jan. 26 Beach Break episode of Dynamite, Guevara was the interim AEW TNT Champion. Cody Rhodes was the main titleholder but something had to give on this night.

Sammy and Cody went one-on-one in a ladder match to determine who is the undisputed TNT Champion.

Sammy Guevara Is Undisputed

In the end, it was Sammy who walked out with all the hardware. He retrieved both championships and can now call himself the undisputed TNT Champion.

Take a look at the highlights:

https://twitter.com/AEW/status/1486507208582045703

Roman Reigns On COVID-19 Diagnosis: ‘I Still Feel That Actually’

Fernando Quiles Jr.
-
0

Roman Reigns continues to feel the effects of COVID-19.

When COVID-19 first made its impact around the world, there was a lot of concern over the health of Reigns. The WWE Universal Champion beat leukemia twice and the worry was that he’d be more susceptible to the dangers of COVID-19.

In late 2021, Reigns was diagnosed with COVID-19. He was able to return to television relatively quickly but he is still feeling the effects.

Roman Reigns’ Recovery

Roman Reigns was interviewed by Jimmy Traina of Sports Illustrated and he admitted that while he’s glad to avoid anything dangerous, he’s still not 100 percent.

“For me, obviously in comparison to some of the worst scenarios that are out there and that we’ve seen through the pandemic, it wasn’t bad. For me, it was mainly a pretty good sinus infection, a bronchitis cough, a lot of chest tightness.

“I still feel that actually. When I’m doing my conditioning because we don’t wrestle quite as much and we’re doing a lot of six-man [tag team matches], I don’t have singles matches as much as I used to, so I have to continue to really push the conditioning on my own and I’ve noticed in the past couple of weeks that when I really blow myself up on the bike or running, or whatever I’m doing, I can feel that tightness and a little bit of wheezing.

“So it’s definitely something serious. As someone who is vaccinated and boosted, it still got to me and I still felt the effects. While they weren’t as severe as they can be for some, it did hang around and linger for a while.”

Reigns ended up missing out on the Day 1 PPV where he was supposed to face Brock Lesnar. With Reigns’ absence, Lesnar ended up challenging for the WWE Championship and he won the gold.

At the WWE Royal Rumble event on Jan. 29, Reigns will put the WWE Universal Championship on the line. His opponent will be fellow ex-Shield member Seth Rollins.

Tiffany Stratton Reacts To Fans Booing Her on NXT 2.0

Michael Reichlin
-
0

WWE newcomer Tiffany Stratton was in action once again on Tuesday’s episode of NXT 2.0. “The Buff Barbie Doll” battled former NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai in a hard-hitting match. Shirai picked up the win.

You can watch highlights from the match here:

Stratton is a bit green, but she showed promise despite this being only her second match in NXT.

WWE spent several weeks building her ‘Daddy’s Girl’ character with a series of throwback vignettes, so you can be sure the company will be patient as she develops her act.

Ryan Pappolla, host of WWE’s The Bump digital certain, sees her potential:

Tiffany Stratton is a heel character and she wrestled a fan favorite in Io Shirai this week, so she should expect to be booed. However, that doesn’t mean she takes the negative feedback lightly.

In response to fans who booed her on this week’s NXT, Stratton has a message:

Jimmy Smith Reveals Advice Vince McMahon Gave Him

Fernando Quiles Jr.
-
0

Raw play-by-play commentator Jimmy Smith was given some advice by WWE Chairman Vince McMahon that he hasn’t forgotten.

Back in May 2021, WWE announced Smith as Raw’s PBP ace. He replaced Adnan Virk and has already lasted longer than the former ESPN anchor. Many believe that Smith has outperformed Virk in a short period of time, although that bar was low.

Advice From The Boss

Jimmy Smith appeared on an episode of The MMA Hour. During the interview, he revealed the advice he was given by Vince McMahon.

“It was crazy because he’s still so much — and you hear all these rumors when you’re going into the WWE about how much Vince is in it and all this stuff and who these people [are]. Vince is still very, very much — at least with Raw because obviously, I don’t do SmackDown, with Raw he’s very much [involved in] every single match.

“He has an opinion, he has his philosophy and the way he wants to go. He’s very much a pillar of Monday Night Raw, which I really wasn’t sure if that was the case anymore. I had no idea and yeah, he is.

“One of the things he told me that honestly really helped, and it’s not a crazy story or anything, he goes, ‘Don’t worry, you’re the audience. If you don’t know it, they don’t know it. If you’re confused, they’re confused. So, use that.’

“I was a little worried cause I hadn’t watched wrestling since I was a kid and he said, ‘No, if you don’t know what something is or why something is happening or why this person is taking on this person or why this angle’s happening, say that and Corey and Byron get to educate people. So, you not knowing is awesome because not all of our fans are what they call marks. They’re not all like huge wrestling fanatics. They might not know, so use that.'”

Smith is joined on the Raw commentary team by Corey Graves and Byron Saxton. Smith has admitted that he had to adjust to Graves roasting him on TV since he’s the heel color commentator.

Once he understood that aspect of the job, Smith said he began to have fun with the banter.

Please H/T SEScoops with a link if you use any quotes from this article

Watch: OllieJayy Performs “Make Em Fall” on NXT 2.0

Michael Reichlin
-
0

Recording superstar OllieJayy appeared on this week’s NXT 2.0 to perform the show’s official new theme song, Make Em Fall.

OllieJayy (real name: Olivia Johnson) is a popular singer and fashion blogger.

Some of her best known songs include Spooky SZN, Posin, Just a Perk and Slow Ride. Her music can be heard on Spotify, Apple Music and other major streaming platforms.

You can also watch her latest music videos on YouTube.

Watch OllieJayy perform “Make Em Fall” on NXT 2.0:

Reactions to OllieJayy’s NXT Performance

OllieJay’s first appearance on WWE television generated a lot of buzz. She was the top-trending topic coming out of the show.

Fans on social media also seemed to love the performance.

The official WWE Music YouTube channel has also uploaded the full studio version of “As Close As It Gets – Make Em Fall” –

OllieJayy Photos

OllieJay has a very popular Instagram account with nearly a quarter million followers.

Follow her on Instagram to keep up with her fashion blogging

https://www.instagram.com/p/CY-Dr2-sCNN/
https://www.instagram.com/p/CYP5JFIM6IO/
https://www.instagram.com/p/CXPcJxLMRsa/

AJ Styles Says ‘We Are Getting Close’ To Edge Match

Anutosh Bajpai
-
0

Ever since Edge made his return to WWE, people have been wanting to see him getting in the ring with AJ Styles for a one-on-one match. Now the phenomenal one is saying that we are getting close to this encounter.

The former world champion was a guest on the most recent episode of WWE’s The Bump. He discussed things related to the Royal Rumble PPV including his own debut for the company during the 2016 Rumble and more.

When asked if he has interest in going against the Rated R Superstar, Styles replied positively. He then recalled the last time they faced off in a ring:

“Absolutely, I think the last time Edge and I were in the ring together he separated my shoulder with a spear. Which was, you know, the way it should have been.

But we need to get back in the ring with a one-on-one match and get this thing over with.” said AJ Styles, “I want this match. He wants this match. When is it gonna happen? We’re getting close.”

The last time these two stars competed against each other was during the 2020 Royal Rumble event where Edge made his in-ring return after almost 9 years.

Unfortunately for AJ Styles, he suffered a separated shoulder during the bout after taking a spear from the Attitude Era star. Though Styles at the time had claimed that Edge was not the one responsible for his injury.

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

Trish Stratus Comments on Her Status for the Royal Rumble

Michael Reichlin
-
0

Trish Stratus is warning fans they shouldn’t expect to see her as a surprise entrant in the Women’s Royal Rumble.

Stratus was a guest on the latest Bellas Podcast and spoke to Nikki and Brie Bella about Saturday’s premium live event.

WWE is loading up this year’s Women’s Royal Rumble with a slew of returning legends, including:

  • The Bella Twins
  • Mickie James
  • Lita
  • Michele McCool
  • Kelly Kelly
  • Summer Rae

Aside from these names, WWE also reportedly has some major surprise entrants in store for the event. Consider these links potential spoilers:

Trish Stratus in the Royal Rumble?

The Bella Twins interviewed Trish Stratus days before the Royal Rumble, so of course they asked if fans could be in for some Stratusfaction this weekend.

Unfortunately, Trish told the Bellas that she is currently busy filming the semifinals for Canada’s Got Talent, where she serves as a judge.

FCowDpXUYAgCuMW?format=jpg&name=small
Trish Stratus (Photo: Canada’s Got Talent)

“They do wrap up at a certain time,” she said. “I’ll be in that headspace, so that’s sort of my focus at the moment. That’s what I have to do. You know how intense it is, I have to be in it.”

Of course, this is exactly what someone would say if they were hoping to keep their Royal Rumble plans under wraps…

Elsewhere in the interview, Trish gave the Bellas advice about parenthood, recalled some amazing adventures from her WWE career and shared some of the wisdom that guided her to seven WWE Women’s Championships.

Listen to Trish Stratus on The Bellas Podcast:

H/T to Fightful for the transcribed quote

Paige & Britt Baker Continue to Fuel Hopes for Potential Dream Match

Michael Reichlin
-
0

WWE Superstar Paige and AEW Women’s World Champion Britt Baker continue to express mutual admiration for one another.

Paige vs. Britt Baker is not happening any time soon, but it’s not out of the realm of possibility.

Their latest Twitter interaction saw Paige professing her love for Baker. Pro wrestling’s most dangerous dentist replied that she loves Paige too and is a huge fan of hers.

Some fans told Paige that she should be careful tweeting about an AEW-contracted wrestler. She jokingly replied, “Oh no. Not me commenting on another wrestlers talent. Someone alert the church elders! Don’t tell Vince McMahon!”

Paige and Britt Baker

Britt Baker has expressed interest in working with Paige if she ever leaves WWE and gets medically cleared to wrestle again.

Going back to October 2020, Baker floated the idea of working with the former Divas Champion.

When Does Paige’s WWE Contract Expire?

Paige last competed in December 2017, when she was forced into retirement due to neck injuries. She has expressed interest in wrestling again, whether it be for WWE or elsewhere.

During a Twitch stream last summer, Paige clarified that her WWE contract expires in June 2022.

“Who knows if they would want to give me a new contract? Who’s to say they would want to? If they did, I’d love to have Twitch as a part of the contract.”

As seen in the tweet embedded above, she wrote:

“My neck feels wonderful. Can you let me in yet coach?”

– Paige
1...731732733...3,372Page 732 of 3,372