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WWE RAW Results (8/23): Riddle vs. AJ Styles, Logan Paul Appears, Karrion Kross

Robert Lentini
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WWE RAW aired live from the Pechanga Arena in San Diego, CA. It was the first episode of RAW following WWE SummerSlam. Riddle faced AJ Styles in this week’s main event. Rhea Ripley teamed up with Nikki A.S.H. to face former Women’s Tag Team Champions Shayna Baszler & Nia Jax. Karrion Kross debuted a new look and battled Ricochet on tonight’s episode of RAW as well.

RAW Results

  1. Damian Priest def. Bobby Lashley via DQ
  2. Drew McIntyre & Damian Priest def. Sheamus & Bobby Lashley
  3. Karrion Kross def. Ricochet via submission
  4. Xavier Woods def. The Miz
  5. Mansoor def. Jinder Mahal via DQ
  6. Rhea Ripley & Nikki A.S.H. def. Shayna Baszler & Nia Jax
  7. Riddle def. AJ Styles

Here are the takeaways from this week’s show:

McIntyre & Priest Picked Up A Win

WWE Champion Bobby Lashley came down to the ring with MVP to begin the show. Lashley retained after capitalizing on a knee injury to Goldberg at SummerSlam. After the match, Gage hopped into the ring and Bobby got him in the Hurt Lock. MVP claimed that they were shocked that Goldberg would even challenge Bobby for the title.

MVP noted that Goldberg has an extraordinary history in this industry, but his recent history is not so extraordinary. MVP said that Goldberg looked amazing and even got a couple two counts last night but only succeeded in making the All Mighty WWE Champion angry.

MVP boasted about Lashley beating the hell out of Goldberg and claimed that he was the only man to ever stop Goldberg. He joked that Goldberg didn’t have a leg to stand on and he is a coward because he quit at SummerSlam. MVP added that Gage jumped in the ring and attacked him from behind. MVP said that Bobby Lashley would do that to anybody in this building including a “fat boy” in the crowd. Lashley said that the people expecting an apology to Goldberg or his son can go to hell.

New United States Champion Damian Priest interrupted and made his way to the ring. Priest wasn’t a fan of Lashley attacking Goldberg from behind or calling the people here cowards. Damian said he wasn’t here to attack Bobby from behind, he was here to challenge him to a match. Damian added that if Lashley doesn’t accept the challenge, he’s the coward. Bobby attacked Priest but Damian battled back and knocked the WWE Champion out of the ring. MVP announced that Lashley was going to get in his ring attire and the match will happen next.

When RAW returned from a break, Priest and Lashley locked up in the middle of the ring. Bobby slammed Damian to the canvas and then beat him down in the corner of the ring. Lashley connected with a forearm to the face and then slammed him to the canvas.

Damian battled back but Sheamus rushed the ring. Sheamus attacked Priest to end the match in a DQ. McIntyre joined the party and beat Sheamus and Lashley down. Drew hit a Suplex that sent the WWE Champion through the announce table as RAW went to a break.

When RAW returned, Sheamus and Lashley battled McIntyre and Priest in a tag match. McIntyre hit Sheamus with a shoulder tackle and followed it up with a Suplex for a one count. Priest tagged in and caught Sheamus with an elbow to the face. The Celtic Warrior battled back and knocked Priest out of the ring.

Lashley tagged in and bashed Damian’s face into the ring post and MVP taunted Priest as RAW went to another commercial break. When RAW returned, Sheamus had Priest in a Headlock in the middle of the ring. Lashley tagged in and got Priest in another submission hold.

Sheamus tagged in again and once again got Priest in submission. Damian escaped and McIntyre tagged in. Lashley tagged in as well and the WWE Champion charged at Drew in the corner. McIntyre got out of the way and Lashley crashed into the ring post. Sheamus tagged in and battled with Drew on the top rope. Sheamus connected with a White Noise off the top rope for a near fall.

Damian tagged in and booted Sheamus in the face. Priest followed it up with a leg lariat and knocked Lashley off the ring. Damian got distracted with Lashley and Sheamus caught him with a knee to the face. WWE Champion Lashley and MVP left Sheamus behind and made their way up the entrance ramp. McIntyre tagged in and leveled Sheamus with the Claymore for the pinfall victory.

Eva Marie Attacked Doudrop

Doudrop was interviewed backstage and explained why she turned her back on Eva Marie at SummerSlam. Doudrop said she was tired of getting talked down to but liked the name Doudrop. She said she was going to doudrop Eva Marie next time she sees her. Eva Marie then attacked Doudrop from behind and beat her down.

Karrion Kross Tapped Out Ricochet

Karrion Kross made his way to the ring in a ridiculous mask and suspenders to wrestle Ricochet. Kross took the mask off and got in some offense before Ricochet hit a Crossbody. Karrion shrugged it off and leveled Ricochet with a Clothesline. Kross followed it up with a Powerbomb and then the Kross Jacket for the submission victory.

The Miz Attacked John Morrison

John Morrison welcomed Logan Paul for an episode of Moist TV. The crowd booed the hell out of Logan Paul for essentially this entire segment. Logan told the fans the loves them, and he loves WWE, but he knows the fans do not love him yet. Morrison noted how the Paul Brothers have been doing well int he boxing business and wondered what was next. Logan began to speak and the boos reigned down so loud that he hesitated. The Miz interrupted and said that John forgot to introduce him.

Miz claimed that he was Logan’s favorite superstar but Logan said he was more of a New Day fan. The Miz tried to save the segment and asked Logan which round his brother will be getting knocked out in and the fans popped. Logan got mad and got in Miz’s face as Morrison suggested that everyone would like to see Logan knock The Miz out.

The Miz claimed that Moist TV was given to Morrison out of the kindness of his heart and he is just trying to help him get views. Logan exited the ring after saying he was going to let Miz and Morrison do their own thing. Morrison told Miz that he made this entire interview about himself and Miz bitched about some of the water things Morrison has been doing lately. The continue to argue until Xavier Woods made his way to the ring.

The Miz then battled Xavier Woods in a singles match. Even though they were arguing, John Morrison was still in The Miz’s corner for the match. Miz got Woods in a Headlock in the middle of the ring. Woods escaped and delivered some chops to Miz’s chest in the corner of the ring.

Miz faked a knee injury and then capitalized with a Clothesline. Woods battled back and hit a Senton for a two count. Xavier went Miz out of the ring and went for a Dropkick. Miz got out of the way and launched Woods into the barricade. Morrison started pouring water on the floor outside the ring but it backfired. Woods sent Miz to the floor and he slid into the steel steps as RAW went to a break.

When RAW returned, Woods knocked Miz back out of the ring and connected with the Dropkick this time. Woods followed it up by flipping onto Miz and rolled him back into the ring. Xavier made his way to the top rope and hit a Crossbody for a near fall. Morrison hopped on the apron and tried to spray Woods with the drip stick but he ducked. Miz rolled up Woods but the referee was distracted with Morrison. Xavier then rolled up Miz for the pinfall victory.

After the match, Morrison apologized and wanted to spray the crowd with the drip sticks. The Miz made it seem like he wanted to as well but wound up attacking Morrison. The Miz beat him down and left him laying after hitting the Skull Crushing Finale.

Mansoor def. Jinder Mahal via DQ

Mansoor faced Jinder Mahal tonight. Shanky, Veery, and Mustafa Ali were ringside. Mahal connected with a big Powerslam to start off the action. Mahal gloated and Mansoor capitalized with a Crossbody for a near fall. Mansoor hit a Dropkick but Mahal shrugged it off and leveled him with a big boot. Jinder stomped on Mansoor in the corner of the ring and the referee stopped the match because he wouldn’t stop after a five count. Mustafa Ali was disappointed in Mansoor after the match.

Alexa Bliss Interrupted Charlotte

Charlotte Flair came to the ring and vowed to hold on to the RAW Women’s Championship as long as she can. Charlotte claimed that she does not need fans, family, or the WWE Universe. Flair added that she has all that she needs right here in the RAW Women’s Championship. Charlotte bragged about her cheek bones and chiseled body before claiming she is starting a new women’s revolution. Flair ended the promo by saying “long live The Queen”. Alexa Bliss interrupted holding Lilly and said hello and stared at Charlotte to end the segment.

Rhea Ripley & Nikki A.S.H. Picked Up A Win

Nikki A.S.H. & Rhea Ripley faced Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler tonight on RAW. Shayna and Rhea started off the action and Baszler took control. Shayna tried to stomp on Rhea’s elbow but she blocked it and slammed her to the canvas. Nikki A.S.H. tagged in and rolled Baszler up for a near fall. Nikki ducked under a Clothesline and shoved Shayna to the corner. Jax tagged in and the former Women’s Tag Team Champions cleared the ring as RAW went to a break.

When RAW returned, Shayna unloaded some punches to Nikki in the middle of the ring. Baszler bounced Nikki’s face off the middle turnbuckle and tagged Nia in. Jax gave Nikki a stink face as Rhea complained to the referee. Jax climbed to the middle turnbuckle but Nikki tripped her up.

Ripley and Shayna tagged in and Rhea connected with a Clothesline. Rhea booted Nia to the outside and hit Baszler with a Dropkick. Ripley fired up the dormant crowd and planted Shayna with a Northern Lights Suplex for a two count. Rhea booted Baszler to the mat and climbed to the top rope. Ripley hit a Dropkick and went for the cover. Nia tried to break it up but she accidentally hit Shayna with a Splash. Rhea booted Jax out of the ring and Nikki took her out with a big Crossbody. Ripley headbutted Shayna and hit the Riptide for the pinfall victory.

Riddle def. AJ Styles

Riddle came to the ring to celebrate winning the RAW Tag Team Championships with Randy Orton at SummerSlam. Riddle asked the crowd to get on their feet and welcome his best bro, Randy Orton. Orton took a look at the balloons by the turnbuckles before slowly entering the ring. A massive pyro went off and Orton wasn’t impressed.

Riddle said he got Orton something special and presented him with a scooter. Riddle claimed that he made it himself and there were tassels on the handles. He showed Orton how simple it was to open and close the scooter before AJ Styles interrupted. Styles pointed at Orton as Omos came to the entrance ramp with a microphone.

Styles said that Omos should break that stupid scooter across his knee and noticed that Orton didn’t give Riddle anything. Riddle stated that all he needs is his friendship and Styles told him that he is going to give him a Phenomenal Forearm to wipe that smile off his face. Styles vowed to keep kicking Riddle’s ass until they get a rematch for the RAW Tag Team Championships. Riddle and Styles then battled in the main event with Omos & Orton ringside.

Riddle went for roll-up right away but Styles kicked out at two. Riddle booted AJ out of the ring and then hit a kick to the face off the apron. Styles rolled back into the ring and caught Riddle with a kick to the midsection. Riddle showed off his power with three Gutwrench Suplexes in a row but couldn’t keep AJ down.

Styles battled back and sent Riddle to the corner. AJ followed it up with a Clothesline and went for the Styles Clash but Riddle countered into an Armbar. AJ tried to break free and both superstars wound up tumbling over the top rope and to the floor outside the ring as RAW went to a commercial break.

When RAW returned, Riddle hit a Broton and a running kick to the face for a near fall. Riddle hit a German Suplex and went for the cover but Styles kicked out at two. AJ flipped off the middle turnbuckle into the beautiful reverse DDT for a near fall. Styles set up for the Phenomenal Forearm but Riddle blocked it. AJ locked in the Calf Crusher in the middle of the ring as Orton pounded on the mat to motivate Riddle. Riddle escaped and locked in the Bromission but AJ countered into cover for a two count.

Riddle hit AJ with a knee to the face and both superstars fell to the canvas. Orton fired up the crowd as Riddle made his way to the top rope. Omos approached Riddle and distracted him. AJ caught Riddle with a cheap shot and Orton charged at Omos. The big man launched Orton to to the floor with ease as Styles hit a Burning Hammer for a two count. Orton attacked Omos with the scooter that Riddle gifted him and beat the hell out of him. Styles was distracted and Riddle capitalized with a knee to the face. Riddle planted AJ Styles with the Bro Derek for the pinfall victory.

After the match, AJ tried to attack but Orton hit him with an RKO out of nowhere. Orton and Riddle then posed in the ring to a great reaction from the crowd to close the show.

Karrion Kross Debuts New Look On WWE Raw, Mockery Ensues

Andrew Ravens
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Karrion Kross showed off his new look for a match on Monday’s episode of Raw when he took on Ricochet. 

He was wearing a mask for his entrance and also had an outfit. He beat Ricochet in a singles match from San Diego, CA at the Pechanga Arena on the USA Network. 

After 50-50 booking with the likes of Jeff Hardy and Keith Lee, perhaps Kross is getting a push once again with Vince McMahon behind him. There was no sign of Scarlett as she has not been seen on WWE TV in several weeks.

Kross finished up with WWE NXT on Sunday night when he lost the NXT Championship to Samoa Joe at TakeOver 36 Orlando, Florida at the Capitol Wrestling Center.  Kross won the title back from Finn Balor at TakeOver: Stand & Deliver – Night 2 this past April.

Kross made his pro wrestling debut in 2010 and later made a name for himself while working for Global Force Wrestling, Lucha Underground and Impact Wrestling. He departed from Impact in late 2019. He ended up in WWE in early 2020.

Reactions to Karrion Kross’ New Look

Karrion Kross’ new look was met with a “mixed reaction” on social media.

https://twitter.com/LuvZora/status/1429970075856031751
https://twitter.com/KingZairois/status/1429970263685443586
https://twitter.com/R8edR_/status/1430004122309234695

Becky Lynch Reportedly Requested To Turn Heel At WWE SummerSlam

Andrew Ravens
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There has been a lot of criticism among fans regarding Becky Lynch turning heel. WWE tried to turn her heel in 2018 at SummerSlam following a match with Charlotte Flair, but that was rejected by the fans and she was turned into a mega babyface. 

Lynch returned at SummerSlam to beat Bianca Belair in less than 30 seconds to win the SmackDown Women’s Championship. Dave Meltzer reported today that the heel turn was something Lynch requested and WWE officials signed off on the decision. 

The booking decision was odd for fans to understand as Belair had been built up for months as a top star. Even Nikki Bella expressed unhappiness over the way Belair was booked.

Original plans called for Lynch to return to WWE TV in a few weeks as she hadn’t been seen on television in over a year due to her pregnancy.  However, WWE had to change course once Sasha Banks was not cleared for in-ring action to challenge Belair for the strap at SummerSlam. 

This was after Banks not only missed live events the weekend before, but she wasn’t backstage at SmackDown or SummerSlam. The fallout from Lynch’s return and title change at SummerSlam will take place on this Friday’s SmackDown. 

Pat McAfee Addresses Adam Cole Possibly Leaving WWE

Fernando Quiles Jr.
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WWE SmackDown color commentator Pat McAfee responded to Adam Cole’s potential exit from the company.

The in-ring future of Cole has been a hot topic as of late. Word broke that Cole’s contract had expired and that WWE officials were able to get him to sign a brief extension through SummerSlam weekend. Cole lost a two-out-of-three falls match to Kyle O’Reilly at TakeOver 36 and reportedly hasn’t signed a new contract.

Pat McAfee, who feuded with Cole during their time on NXT, addressed the report during his show.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Rx_2PfElys

“Adam Cole, if you’re gonna run to another place I’m gonna find you and beat your f*cking ass over there.”

Cole suddenly finds himself to be a top free agent unless something has changed in the past 24 hours. AEW World Tag Team Champions, The Young Bucks, have already teased pursuing Cole. On top of that, Cole’s girlfriend, AEW Women’s World Champion Britt Baker, has also dropped a hint of her own.

It was reported that top WWE executives were said to be frustrated and embarrassed over the situation with Cole. It is strongly believed that Canyon Ceman, who was WWE’s Vice President of Talent Development, was released over the contract debacle.

Paul Heyman Says No One Could Fill His Shoes As Special Counsel For Roman Reigns

Fernando Quiles Jr.
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Paul Heyman believes no one else could fill his shoes as the special counsel to Roman Reigns.

Reigns has seen a bit of a resurgence in his career. While he wasn’t likely to lose his top spot within WWE, many agreed he needed a fresh coat of paint. That’s exactly what Reigns has been able to receive thanks to the “Tribal Chief” character. Heyman has served as his manager, or “special counsel” as WWE calls him.

During a chat with Ryan Satin on Out of Character, Heyman said he thinks he’s the perfect person for Reigns to be alongside with.

Paul Heyman: A Lot Of People Want This Gig

Paul Heyman has been at the top of his game for many, many years. He knows better than anybody that people who fly at his altitude need to constantly push themselves and stay two steps ahead of his competition.

“This, I can do, and I dare say I do it better than anybody else,” said Heyman. “I have redefined the medium from manager to advocate to special counsel. That may be me drinking my own kool-aid, but it tastes good at the moment. I’m challenged every day to be even better.”

Heyman is an all-time great television personality. However, he knows he can’t rest on his laurels. To remain the best, he keeps a hungry mindset.

“If my promo tomorrow is not better than my promo today and my promo two days from now isn’t better than my promo tomorrow, I’m not progressing, I’m not getting better, throw me out the door and get rid of me. It’s time for me to go. The whole point is to be better tomorrow. Someone else wants this gig. A lot of people want this gig. If you don’t want this gig, you are out of your mind because this is the gig to have. I have to defend it.”

WWE has an interesting angle on its hands involving Reigns and Heyman. Brock Lesnar made his surprise return at SummerSlam after Reigns defeated John Cena. Heyman had a nervous breakdown as he had served as Lesnar’s advocate before aligning himself with Reigns.

Paul Heyman Says If The Rock Steps Into The Ring With Roman Reigns It Will Be His Farewell

Bobby Lashley Says He Stayed In His Lane After Hurt Business Split

Fernando Quiles Jr.
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Bobby Lashley has spoken out on whether or not he was vocal about WWE’s decision to split The Hurt Business.

Lashley aligned himself with MVP and soon, the two linked with Shelton Benjamin and Cedric Alexander to form The Hurt Business. While the team had success, capturing gold and gaining some steam, the group abruptly broke up when Lashley attacked Benjamin and Alexander. Lashley remains with MVP on television, while Benjamin and Alexander have mainly been reduced to WWE Main Event.

During an interview with Metro, Lashley said he chose to stay in his lane once the decision was made.

“I’m comfortable with staying in my lane. In the wrestling business, I think too many people start worrying about so many other things and then they don’t focus on their career. Ultimately, we have to make sure our career is great before trying to do anybody else’s stuff.

“There’s lots of guys on the roster that I look and I’m like, man, he looks good – he’s tough, he’s that and he’s that. Once we have that opportunity, we might open up the Hurt Business and bring some people in and help fuel their career. But it’s one of those things where I have to focus on me for a little while, and I gotta make sure I’m defending the world title.”

Bobby Lashley went on to praise Shelton Benjamin and Cedric Alexander for their in-ring talent. He said he felt The Hurt Business gave fans an opportunity to see just how good Cedric is and gave others a refresher on the ability that Benjamin possesses.

Do you think The Hurt Business broke up too soon?

Hiroshi Tanahashi Wants To Compete In U.S. At Least Once A Month

Fernando Quiles Jr.
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Newly-minted IWGP United States Heavyweight Champion Hiroshi Tanahashi is already eyeing a return to the U.S.

Tanahashi competed in the main event of NJPW Strong Resurgence. He challenged Lance Archer for the U.S. gold. It was “The Ace” who scored the three-count thanks to High Fly Flow. Tanahashi made history as he has now held every singles championship in NJPW.

Sports Illustrated caught up with Tanahashi, who said that he is looking to compete in the U.S. at least once a month.

“I think the IWGP U.S. heavyweight championship is truly meaningful when it is defended in the U.S. I have a desire to go to the U.S. once a month. Sometimes, I’d even like it to be once a week.”

While fans have been in attendance for NJPW shows in Japan, they are asked not to chant out loud due to COVID-19. Tanahashi discussed what it was like to wrestle in front of a vocal crowd for the first time in over a year.

“This was the first time in a year and a half that I was able to wrestle in front of a vocal crowd. It was a really exhilarating feeling, and it gave me a ton of extra strength. I was incredibly fired up. It was a fantastic environment to wrestle in.”

Hiroshi Tanahashi will be making his first IWGP United States Heavyweight Title defense at Wrestle Grand Slam on Sept. 4. He’ll be putting his gold on the line against Kota Ibushi. It was Tanahashi who first threw down the challenge to Ibushi, who gladly accepted.

AEW Rampage Did 1.1 Million Viewers, 0.52 Rating For CM Punk Debut

Michael Reichlin
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CM Punk’s highly anticipated return to pro wrestling helped AEW draw massive viewership for Friday’s AEW Rampage: The First Dance special.

AEW Rampage: The First Dance averaged 1,129,000 viewers and drew a 0.52 rating in the A18-49 demographic. The data comes courtesy of Brandon Thurston Wrestlenomics.

Some additional key metrics:

  • Viewership for The First Dance was up 53% from the previous week’s premiere. The demo rating was up a staggering 75%.
  • The 0.52 demo rating is the most-watched AEW broadcast in history aside from the AEW Dynamite premiere in October 2019.
  • The opening quarter hour of Rampage featuring CM Punk’s debut was watched by 1,341,000 viewers and did a 0.65 rating (A18-49).

CM Punk makes his first AEW Dynamite appearance this Wednesday night on TNT.

Dr Britt Baker Reveals which AEW star she nudged Tony Khan to sign

Jake Skudder
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AEW Women’s Champion Dr Britt Baker recently spoke to Vince Morales of Milwaukee Record. Baker discussed several topics during the interview, including one of the recently re-signed AEW talents, Jamie Hayter.

“Yeah, so when I wrestled her in England, right away we just clicked and I thought she was a fantastic wrestler” Dr Britt Baker began, discussing the former Rev Pro Women’s Champion Hayter. “She has a really cool, edgy personality. We’re kind of similar too in our dry, sarcastic humor and we just really clicked.”

Dr Britt Baker on Jamie Hayter

“We really got along” Baker continued. “They were using her pretty frequently for a while for AEW, but then with the pandemic, the travel ban, of course, everything kind of was at a standstill. But then when stuff is opening up again, you know, I was kinda nudging Kenny and Tony like ‘Hey, remember Jamie Hayter? Remember Jamie Hayter?’”

“Because she’s such a fantastic talent and everybody here—literally every single person in AEW—agrees that she’s fantastic and we need her here,” the AEW Women’s Champion concluded.

Jamie Hayter is scheduled to face Red Velvet on this week’s episode of AEW Dynamite, with Dr Britt Baker D.M.D and Rebel not Reba in her corner.

Baker has not yet been confirmed for a match at the AEW All Out PPV event on September 5th, although there is a very good chance she will be defending her title at the show.

The Casino Battle Royale has been confirmed, with the #1 contendership to Baker’s title on the line. Ruby Soho is being rumored for an appearance during the match, likely in the wildcard slot.

PROGRESS Announce Thunderb*stard match for Chapter 119

Jake Skudder
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PROGRESS Wrestling has announced that there will be a 2nd Chance Scramble/Thunderb*stard match at the upcoming Chapter event this weekend.

Eight men who have all previously lost against PROGRESS World Champion Cara Noir will be competing to determine the next #1 contender to the World Championship.

Danny Black, Jiody Fleisch, Dan Moloney, ELIJAH, Chris Ridgeway, Charlie Sterling, Luke Jacobs and Kid Lykos have all been confirmed for the contest.

It has not been confirmed if Cara Noir will be wrestling on the show, although he was called out by UK wrestling veteran Dean Allmark during Chapter 118 in a backstage segment.

PROGRESS Announce 2nd Chance Scramble

The company has also released a hype video for the contest, with this being the first Thunderb*stard match since Chapter 105: Bring The Thunder, which was the second Chapter show back after the restart:

No other matches have been confirmed for the event thus far that airs on Saturday 28th August on Peacock, WWE Network and demandPROGRESS.

Billy Corgan Comments On Ric Flair Appearing At NWA 73

Chris Stephens
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The National Wrestling Alliance announced last week that Ric Flair was “coming home” and would be at the upcoming 73rd Anniversary show. The NWA has two big shows upcoming from St. Louis. NWA Empowerrr takes place August 28th from the Chase Ballroom and the promotion’s anniversary show takes place from the same venue the night after.

Corgan was recently on the Battleground podcast and spoke about how the deal to have Flair appear on the show came together. According to Corgan, Conrad Thompson played a role in brokering the deal.

“NWA World’s Heavyweight Champion, Nick Aldis had had lunch not too long ago with Conrad Thompson,” Corgan said on the show (transcriptions via Fightful). “Everybody knows Conrad from his success in podcasting but Conrad’s also a member of the Flair family via marriage.”

Corgan continued to say that there was likely some poking around that took place during that lunch meeting to see if Flair was interested.

“I believe it was right around the time that Mr. Flair had left his relationship with the WWE, so I think maybe there was some poking around during that lunch about, ‘Do you think this is something Ric might be interested in?’ So, I think that opened up the channel to talking behind the scenes about whether or not we could put it together, and obviously, it did happen, and I’m very excited.”

NWA Empowerrr and NWA 73 Lineups

The lineups for both NWA shows from St. Louis this week have been revealed.

NWA Empowerrr – August 28th

  • NWA Women’s World Championship
    Kamille (c) vs Leyla Hirsch
  • NWA Women’s Invitational Gauntlet Cup
    Bianca Carelli vs. Chelsea Green vs. Debbie Malenko vs. Lady Frost vs. Jamie Senegal (with Pollo Del Mar) vs. Jennacide (with Taryn Terrell) vs. Kiera Hogan vs. Masha Slamovich vs. Tootie Lynn vs. Thunder Kitty
  • Knockouts Championship
    Deonna Purrazzo (c) vs Melina
  • Chik Tormenta vs. Diamante vs. Kylie Rae
  • NWA Women’s Tag Team Championship Tournament Finals
  • NWA Women’s Tag Team Championship Tournament Semi-Finals
    The Hex (Allysin Kay and Marti Belle) vs. Hell on Heels (Renee Michelle and Sahara 7)
  • NWA Women’s Tag Team Championship Tournament Semi-Finals
    Red Velvet and KiLynn King vs. The Freebabes (Jazzy Yang, Hollyhood Haley J and Miranda Gordy)

NWA 73 Lineup – August 29th

  • NWA World Heavyweight Championship
    Nick Aldis (c) vs Trevor Murdoch
  • NWA Women’s World Championship
    Kamille/Leyla Hirsch (c) vs Winner of Invitational Gauntlet
  • NWA World Tag Team Championships
    Aron Stevens and JR Kratos (c) vs. La Rebelión (Bestia 666 and Mecha Wolf 450)
  • Thom Latimer vs. Crimson vs. Tim Storm
  • Mickie James vs. Kylie Rae
  • Tyrus, The Masked Man, and Jordan Clearwater (with Austin Idol) vs. Da Pope and The End (Odinson and Parrow)
  • 12-Man Battle royal to determine the #1 contender to the NWA National Championship

CM Punk Had Initials Printed On His Shoes & Fan Theories Are Running Wild

Chris Stephens
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CM Punk’s appearance on AEW The First Dance on Friday night was quite possibly the biggest moment in the young promotion’s history. According to comments Punk made to ESPN today, it was the greatest moment of his career. Emily Pratt of FanByte recently noted that Punk had two sets of initials printed on his shoes during the show. Fan theories as to what the initials could stand for are running wild.

One set of initials Punk had printed on his shoes are “A.C.” With rumors of Adam Cole signing with AEW rampant after his loss to Kyle O’Reilly at Takeover 36, some believe he is the “A.C” referenced on Punk’s shoes.

ac
“AC” written on CM Punk’s sneaker for his AEW debut (Photo: All Elite Wrestling)

The other set of initials Punk had printed on his shoes was “C.F”. Some have suggested the initials could stand for Charlotte Flair, but other suggestions have been presented as well:


Of course, the initials could have nothing at all to do with wrestling as well.

CM Punk’s long-awaited return to pro-wrestling continues this Wednesday night. On Rampage, it was confirmed that Punk will be on this week’s AEW Dynamite. The show will emanate from UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Punk did his MMA training in the city with Duke Roufus. Milwaukee is about a 90-minute drive from Chicago.

CM Punk Ice Cream Bars In The Works For 2 Years

CM Punk Talks AEW’s Young Roster, Preparing For Darby Allin

Michael Reichlin
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It has been an eventful week. SummerSlam saw the surprise returns of Becky Lynch and Brock Lesnar. NXT delivered another stellar Takeover event ahead of the brand’s upcoming major overhaul. However, the debut of CM Punk at Friday’s AEW Rampage remains the most buzz-worthy topic by a long shot.

Punk appeared on Chicago’s ESPN 1000 radio on Monday morning to discuss his arrival in All Elite Wrestling.

After a few days to process what transpired, CM Punk says The First Dance may have been the greatest night of his career. He took a gamble by coming out of retirement and signing up with AEW. After that memorable night, he feels great about his decision.

“That might have been the greatest moment, the greatest night of my career… The way we set it up as the worst kept secret, selling out the United Center on a rumor that I was going to be there, never announced, never advertised, shows the connection to the fanbase that AEW has.”

– CM Punk

Punk says AEW fans “get it” and are looking for the brand of professional wrestling he loves. Punk and AEW dropped hints that he was coming without explicitly advertising his name. That approach came with some risk, but he thinks it paid off.

AEW has a young roster that includes talent such as MJF, Sammy Guevara, Jungle Boy, Powerhouse Hobbs, Ricky Starks, Dante Martin and many more. CM Punk has been vocal about wanting to work with some of these performers.

During the ESPN 1000 call, Punk said AEW’s youthful roster has a “punk rock” vibe to it. He said it’s a young and hungry roster. Whatever they lack in experience, they make up for with effort.

CM Punk returns to action against Darby Allin at AEW All Out. The upcoming pay-per-view event takes place Sunday, September 5th from Chicago’s NOW Arena. When asked about how he’s preparing for his first match in 7 years, CM Punk said he’s watching a lot of Darby Allin footage. His goal is to tell a story and remind fans one more time why he is still the Best in the World.

CM Punk Ice Cream Bars In The Works For 2 Years

John Cena Says He’s Leaving WWE “For Now” But Vows To Return

Chris Stephens
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Roman Reigns defeated John Cena in the main event of SummerSlam 2021. Cena was looking to win his 17th World Championship on the show. Early this morning, Cena confirmed on Twitter that he will be taking time away from WWE after the loss but vows to return.

“Words cannot describe how appreciative I am that the WWE Universe allowed me the opportunity to return and perform,” Cena wrote. “Thank you staff, superstars, and most of all FANS for giving me an unforgettable summer at “home” with my “family”. The journey takes me away now but I’ll C U soon.”

The Summer of Cena Concludes, Still Advertised For Madison Square Garden Show

SummerSlam completed the “Summer of Cena” WWE advertised following his return to the company. Beginning on July 23rd, Cena appeared on 15 different WWE live events.

He wrestled 14x during the tour. Many of his matches were untelevised dark matches or took place on house shows. He went 13-0 (all tag matches) leading up to his SummerSlam loss to Roman Reigns.

WWE also has Cena advertised for an upcoming house show in New York’s Madison Square Garden next month. Cena will be on a Smackdown-brand house show in the historic venue on September 10th.

“You can see 16-time World Champion John Cena when the blue brand returns to The World’s Most Famous Arena on Friday, Sept. 10!” a WWE press release reads.

Cena also signed on with an all-star cast for a new spy thriller franchise named “Argyle.” The franchise began filming in Europe this month. It’s not clear what dates Cena will be needed on the shoot.

John Cena Signs Onto “Argylle” Film Franchise With All-Star Cast

Sasha Banks Still Not Medically Cleared to Wrestle (Report)

Alex Laybourne
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Much has been said about the assumed end to the Bianca Belair Sasha Banks storyline. What had been one of the most highly anticipated matches on the card turned into a non-affair that has drawn the ire of people far and wide across the wrestling universe.

The real issue with the way things went at Summerslam is not with Becky Lynch returning. It is not even really related to the manner in which she won the title. It goes further back than that to the way WWE hyped the match despite knowing it was a lie. Sasha Banks was never going to appear at Summerslam. Yet, they pushed her match up to the moment it should have begun.

This obvious deception is what has left the truly sour taste in the mouths of WWE fans who feel they, well as the wrestlers, deserved better.

The rumours around Sasha Banks and Bianca Belair were rife after both were pulled from live shows in the build-up to Summerslam. WWE allayed these concerns confirming both women had been cleared to wrestle and all would be fine.

Sasha Banks Misses SummerSlam

The news surrounding Banks was originally broken by PWInsider. They claimed while both women were cleared to wrestle there was still something off about the status of Sasha Banks. They even went so far as to muse the return of Becky Lynch.

As of the time of writing, there is no official word on the status of Sasha Banks. Nor why she got pulled from the match at Summerslam. However, with the bad taste that has been left in people’s mouths, an explanation will surely come.

Fans were clamoring to see a second match between Sasha Banks and Bianca Belair, and feel they were robbed of it. Despite Becky Lynch’s popularity, there was something to this feud that just needed to be added to.

Right now, a match between them is still advertised for the upcoming episode of Smackdown. However, it is widely expected that this booking will be updated closer to the time.

Hopefully whatever is keeping Sasha Banks out of action is nothing serious and she will be back in the ring soon.  

Adam Cole Done With NXT, Young Bucks Tease He’s AEW Bound

Alex Laybourne
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0

Adam Cole is moving on to the next chapter of his career. The longest-reigning NXT Champion in history came up short against Kyle O’Reilly at Sunday’s NXT Takeover 36 event. According to PWInsider, that was Cole’s final match for WWE’s black and gold brand.

News broke earlier this month that Cole’s contract had actually already expired, to the surprise of top WWE officials. Cole reportedly agreed to work through SummerSlam weekend, which has now come and gone.

Following his loss at NXT Takeover, his longtime friends The Young Bucks immediately reacted to Cole effectively becoming a free agent. As they’re known for doing, the Bucks got their message out via their Twitter bio.

The ‘new bio’ linked to a YouTube video titled ‘The Most Infamous Seances in History,’ a compilation of moments from Being The Elite. Many of those moments feature Cole.

Along with this, they updated their Twitter image to a picture from 2016 when together with Kenny Omega they dressed as the Ghostbusters for an NJPW show.

What does this have to do with Adam Cole?

Well, the Young Bucks are masters of the social media art that is cryptic sh*t stirring. The link and image combined to create a tenuous link to Cole in so far as his character on Being the Elite is dead.

Adam Cole: Main Roster or AEW?

Everybody knew he was fighting his last match for NXT. Could their attempts to communicate with the dead be about bringing Adam Cole back to life in AEW?

Nobody knows what is going on with the Adam Cole negotiations behind the scenes at WWE. They reportedly dropped the ball on his original expiry, thinking it ran for longer. However, was the one-month extension just to have him finish his feud or was it to work in a non-NXT no-compete clause?

Time will tell where Adam Cole is going to go with his career. However, it looks as if the Young Bucks are more than happy for him to come over to AEW. As too is Cole’s girlfriend current AEW Women’s Champion Dr Britt Baker D.M.D.

It will not be long before we know more about Adam Cole’s future. With his departure from NXT confirmed, should he not make an appearance on either Raw or Smackdown this week, then the writing could well be on the wall.

Becky Lynch Turning Heel for Bianca Belair Feud

Alex Laybourne
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The return of Becky Lynch at Summerslam was a moment that caught everybody by surprise. Not only was there zero rumours or spoilers about her in-ring return, but she pinned Bianca Belair in 27 seconds to win the Smackdown Women’s Championship.

This booking has already caused a lot of commotion in wrestling communities. Many are saying that it does a huge disservice to Belair. A woman who went from ESPY award winner to a jobber in less than six months. However, it looks as if this could be part of a larger construct.

Becky Lynch Heel Turn

Becky Lynch is one of WWE’s most beloved Superstars, but don’t get too comfortable cheering for her. According to PW Insider, who cited multiple WWE sources in their report, the plans are in place for Becky Lynch to play the heel role in her upcoming feud with Bianca Belair.

Becky Lynch has previously had a few heel runs with the company, but this decision would seem a little strange given the anti-hero role she was playing and held on to during her hiatus from the ring. You can’t help but wonder if this really is the best way to book the feud.

Becky Lynch vs. Bianca Belair

Currently, Bianca Belair is a face who has done so much for her character despite very limited storytelling in WWE. However, the decision to turn Becky Lynch heel still doesn’t necessarily feel as if it is the right one.

The character of The Man dominated WWE headlines. The Stone Cold Steve Austin style rebel who didn’t care what people thought or felt. The Man, in many ways, transcended the heel/face stereotypes.

Either way, it would appear that creative minds have been set. The returning Becky Lynch is going to be the villain for the foreseeable future. Whether she will continue with her current moniker or change to something else also remains to be seen.

CM Punk Ice Cream Bars In The Works For 2 Years

Alex Laybourne
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0

Back in 2011 and the Summer of Punk was in full swing. All that was missing were some good, old-fashioned ice cream. Fast forward a decade and CM Punk is back in a wrestling ring and finally got his hands on an ice cream bar.

When CM Punk’s music hit and he walked out into an AEW ring fans around the world felt as if things were finally getting back to where they should always have been. It didn’t take Punk long to broach the subject of ice creams.

“One more thing. Seven years is an awful long time to wait for somebody. I appreciate everybody here who has waited. So on your way out of the United Center tonight, grab yourself a free ice cream bar on me.”

The crowd went wild. However, there was one thing nobody really understood at the time. The entire affair was not just some publicity stunt thought up by AEW executives. It was not just some extra way to get a little barb shot out at WWE.

He Came To Us 2 Years Ago

The entire idea was CM Punk’s brainchild. Furthermore, it was not something he thought up on the spot. It was an act of generosity two years in the making. This was confirmed in a statement released by Pretty Cool Ice Cream, the company that produced the frozen treats.

“He came to us on his own and asked us to help him do this 2 years ago, and finally the moment was right. Our small team worked tirelessly to hand-make every bar.”

“CM Punk wrote the check for the entire bill himself”

Pretty Cool Ice Cream

That’s a pretty awesome thing to do, and one heck of a way to fulfil a promise made a decade earlier.

CM Punk Ice Cream Bar

The return of CM Punk to professional wrestling has further heightened the electricity that is buzzing around the industry right now. Grabbing the attention of old-school wrestling fans, and potentially bringing fresh, experienced eyes to AEW.

Despite the rumours surrounding other more recently released WWE stars possibly signing with the company, the acquisition of CM Punk will be the story that dominates AEW headlines for some time to come.

Asuka Responds To Reports Of Her WWE Absence

Fernando Quiles Jr.
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0

Asuka is well aware of reports regarding her WWE absence and she has disputed them.

Asuka hasn’t been seen on WWE television since the July 18 Money In The Bank PPV. She competed in the women’s MITB match, which was won by Nikki A.S.H. Many were wondering where “The Empress of Tomorrow” had gone.

Dave Meltzer of The Wrestling Observer Newsletter reported that Asuka’s absence has nothing to do with health-related issues. Meltzer also claimed that Asuka was in attendance for a recent Monday Night Raw taping but left early since she wasn’t being used.

Asuka caught wind of the report and took to her Twitter account to deny it.

“Nothing has been revealed. That information is totally wrong. Really different. Completely different. Everything is different. I would like to ask the information provider. Don’t make a fake story.”

Asuka is one of the most decorated women’s wrestlers in the industry. She made a name for herself in Japan as Kana, which is short for her real name. Since transitioning to the world of WWE, Asuka became a two-time Raw Women’s Champion, a former SmackDown Women’s Champion, and a former NXT Women’s Champion.

Time will tell when “The Empress of Tomorrow” will return to the ring. One thing we know for sure is she’s none too pleased with reports on her absence.

Backstage SummerSlam Notes: John Cena’s Future, Original Brock Lesnar Plans, Sasha Banks

Anutosh Bajpai
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SummerSlam gave people a lot to talk about. From Brock Lesnar’s return to a returning Becky Lynch squashing Bianca Belair, the PPV created both positive and negative buzz for WWE.

Dave Meltzer talked about the PPV on the latest episode of Wrestling Observer Radio. He provided a lot of interesting backstage tidbits about the event.

According to Meltzer, WWE originally planned to hold off the Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns match till WrestleMania 39 in 2023 but they changed the plans. After the SummerSlam confrontation, it looks likely for the upcoming Saudi event.

As for John Cena, despite the beatdown angle after last night’s event, he seems to be done with the company. There are no immediate plans to bring him back anytime soon and he is not being discussed for any future storylines as of now.

The company apparently knew that Sasha Banks will not make it to SummerSlam 8 days prior to the event. So they brought Becky Lynch back earlier than planned.

Though it’s not known whether the short match was a result of Lynch not being ready for a longer bout or just a creative decision. There was no mention of the reason behind Sasha’s absence so it’s hard to say when she will be back.

Some fans were concerned about the new US Champion Damien Priest. He looked to have injured his hip during the show but he was said to be fine backstage.

Fianlly, WWE announced during the show that there were 51,326 fans attending the SummerSlam 2021 event. The actual number was close to 45,000.

Bray Wyatt ‘Fiend’ Sign Confiscated At WWE SummerSlam

WWE NXT TakeOver 36 Results (8/22): Kross vs. Joe, Cole vs. O’Reilly

Andrew Ravens
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WWE NXT TakeOver 36 aired live on Peacock from Orlando, Florida at the Capitol Wrestling Center. 

WWE NXT Results 

  • Ridge Holland def. Trey Baxter
  • WWE NXT Women’s Champion Raquel Gonzalez def. Dakota Kai
  • Ilja Dragunov def. WALTER to win NXT UK Title
  • Kyle O’Reilly def. Adam Cole 
  • Samoa Joe def. WALTER to win NXT Title

Here are the takeaways from the show:

Karrion Kross vs. Samoa Joe

4

WWE NXT Champion Karrion Kross vs. Samoa Joe headlined the show. 

The match saw Joe start off hot with then Kross dominating. Joe with a sleeper on Kross, but Kross got out of it and went for the Kross Jacket, but Joe got out of that. Joe with the muscle buster for the win and a new era has begun. 

Joe is now the first-ever three-time NXT Champion. 

Many expected for Joe to go over in his first match in NXT in several years and his first match since being put on the shelf due to a severe concussion. Joe was favored heading into the match to dethrone Kross, who had beaten all challengers up to this point only for him to do jobs to the likes of Jeff Hardy and Keith Lee on the main roster. It appears Kross will be moving on from NXT for good and making his tenure on Raw full-time. 

https://twitter.com/WWEonFOX/status/14296303674686
https://twitter.com/WWEonFOX/status/142962900310355558542309

WALTER vs. Ilja Dragunov

WWE NXT UK Champion WALTER vs. Ilja Dragunov was one of the top matches and highly anticipated encounters of the year. 

As expected, these guys started throwing chops right out of the gate. WALTER also hit a nasty powerbomb on the apron. IIja was bleeding from his eyebrow. Ilja made his comeback with a series of chops then a power suplex. WALTER went to the top rope and Ilja hit a superplex for good measure then a drop kick. WALTER with a series of powerbombs then a splash off the top rope for 2. 

Leading up to this bout, WALTER had beaten down Dragunov on several occasions. However, Dragunov was cutting pretty good promos to further build up the underdog story. 

In fact, Dragunov was the favorite to win the title here despite WALTER’s lengthy title reign. 

Raquel Gonzalez vs. Dakota Kai

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WWE NXT Women’s Champion Raquel Gonzalez vs. Dakota Kai took place after months of slowly building to it. 

After a strong start by the champion with a series of power moves, Kai fought out of the corner and caught her with a big boot. Kai caught her in an armbar, but Gonzalez tossed her into the corner a few times. Gonzalez launched her onto the top rope that sent Kai crashing to the ramp. Back in the ring, Kai hit a back stabber. Gonzalez hit her finisher off the middle rope for the win. 

Post-match, Kay Lee Ray came out to the stage and had a staredown with Raquel. 

Kai had been the manager of Raquel for several months and was portrayed as her best friend who would do jobs when WWE didn’t want to pin the champion. That all changed when Kai turned heel by attacking her former friend in a double character switch and turned Raquel into a babyface. 

Kyle O’Reilly vs. Adam Cole

3

Kyle O’Reilly vs. Adam Cole in a Best 2 Out Of 3 Falls Match took place. The 1st fall was a singles match, the 2nd fall was a Street Fight and the 3rd falls was a Steel Cage Match.

Cole went for a panama sunrise, but O’Reilly blocked it and covered him for the first fall. Onto the street fight. O’Reilly hit a drop kick off the apron to Cole, who had a trash can on his head. Cole won the second fall when he tossed Kyle off the top rope onto standing chairs then hit the last shot. Cole came off the top rope to hit the panama sunrise for a near fall.  Cole brought out handcuffs and locked Kyle to the cage. Kyle caught a kick and locked in a knee bar for the win. 

These two guys have been feuding for months and really, the booking of it had been in reverse by starting out with a gimmick match only to work a normal match. The fact that WWE booked them in various bouts in one night, but perhaps, they could’ve gone in a different direction considering Cole’s unknown status with the company. Whether he leaves WWE or re-signs and goes to the main roster, maybe a loser leaves NXT match would’ve been better despite it being predictable.

LA Knight vs. Cameron Grimes

0NXT 2

WWE Million Dollar Champion LA Knight vs. Cameron Grimes was booked with the stipulation that if Grimes loses, then Ted Dibiase becomes Knight’s new butler. 

The match saw Grimes start off strong. They brawled at ringside where the WWE Hall of Famer helped out Grimes a bit. The tide turned when Knight knocked him off the apron. Knight beat him down for a few minutes until he missed a spring board moonsault. This is when Grimes started to make a comeback. Knight hit a reversed suplex off the top rope for a near fall. Dibiase punched Knight then put him in the Million Dollar Dream at ringside when the referee wasn’t looking. The finish came when Grimes hit Knight with the double footstomp.

Hopefully, this will be the end of this feud as they’ve worked several times and it being one-sided in the favor of Knight. However, since Knight did lose the title, he does deserve a rematch. Time will tell. 

https://twitter.com/WWEonFOX/status/1429600495333625856

Samoa Joe Wins WWE NXT Title At TakeOver 36

Andrew Ravens
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The highly anticipated first-ever match between Samoa Joe and Karrion Kross for the NXT Title took place in the main event of the WWE NXT TakeOver 36 event.

The match was a strong showing for both men with them getting plenty of offense. Joe looked like he hadn’t missed a beat inside of the ring. Joe with the muscle buster for the win and to become the NXT Champion. 

Joe was favored to win the championship considering Kross made his main roster debut last despite some questionable booking after losing to Jeff Hardy. Kross is slated to be on the Raw roster going forward, but without Scarlett. 

Joe hadn’t wrestled since February 2020 due to concussion issues. He was working as a commentator for the Raw brand until he was released by WWE this past April. Fast forward to June, Joe returned as an on-screen authority figure for NXT and also worked in the talent scouting department in NXT.

Joe was supposed to keep order for NXT General Manager William Regal, but when Kross choked out Joe after retaining his title over Johnny Gargano then attacked Regal the following week, that was enough to make Joe snap and demand to be allowed to wrestle again. 

Joe wanted Regal to sign a contract to have him back as an active in-ring performer in NXT and sign a contract for the match at TakeOver. Regal agreed to what Joe was offering and made the match official.  

Kross won the title back from Finn Balor at TakeOver: Stand & Deliver – Night 2 this past April. 

https://twitter.com/WWEonFOX/status/14296303674686
https://twitter.com/WWEonFOX/status/142962900310355558542309

Ilja Dragunov Wins WWE NXT UK Title At TakeOver 36

Andrew Ravens
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A rematch of one of 2020’s best matches took place with WWE NXT UK Champion WALTER defending the strap against Ilja Dragunov at Saturday’s (August 22, 2021) WWE NXT TakeOver 36 event in Orlando, Florida at the Capitol Wrestling Center on the Peacock. 

The match was stiff and hard-hitting just as expected. The chops sounded like gunshots. WALTER dominated early until Ilja made his comeback. Not only did IIja win, but he did it with a sleeper. 

Their first match saw WALTER defeat Dragunov on NXT UK last October to retain the NXT United Kingdom Championship, which was highly praised. Since then, in storyline,  Dragunov has struggled with temper issues, but managed to get it under control. 

In June, Dragunov defeated Rampage Brown and Joe Coffey in a triple threat match on NXT UK to be set up as the next challenger for WALTER’s Title. Post-match, WALTER came to the ring and attacked Dragunov.

The match was supposed to take place on the Thursday, July 22 episode of NXT UK, but since WALTER suffered an injury, it got delayed to this show. 

WALTER had been the NXT United Kingdom Champion since winning the strap from Pete Dunne at NXT TakeOver: New York in 2019.

Raquel Gonzalez Retains Women’s Title At WWE NXT TakeOver 36

Andrew Ravens
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0

After weeks of building to it, WWE NXT Women’s Champion Raquel Gonzalez vs. Dakota Kai finally took place at Sunday’s (August 22, 2021) WWE NXT TakeOver 36 event in Orlando, Florida at the Capitol Wrestling Center on the Peacock. 

The match was second on the card with both girls shining. Kai took a nasty bump from the top rope to the rampway. Gonzalez hit her finisher off the middle rope for the win.  

It all started when Kai turned against Gonzalez by laying her out with a kick in late July. Kai later explained her actions when she called Gonzalez selfish for going after the NXT Women’s Championship when it should have been Kai’s opportunity. She also didn’t appreciate Gonzalez taking the spotlight from her. 

At TakeOver: Stand & Deliver this April, Gonzalez won the NXT Women’s Championship by defeating Io Shirai. Since that time, Gonzalez had successful title defenses against Mercedes Martinez, Ember Moon, and Xia Li.

WWE holds the fallout episode from this show of NXT on Tuesday. It will be interesting to see if WWE continues this feud or goes in a different direction. Either way, they put on one heck of a match that delivered. 

What are your thoughts on Raquel retaining the Women’s Title? Was this the right call by WWE officials? Sound off in the comment section.

Nick Khan: More Hours Of Programming Benefits WWE

Fernando Quiles Jr.
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0

Nick Khan says WWE would get even more TV time if it was up to him.

One of the criticisms WWE has received from fans has to do with the number of hours their content takes up per week. Some believe that the quality of Monday Night Raw has suffered ever since extending to three hours back in July 2012.

During an interview with Ariel Helwani of BT Sport, Khan, the President and CRO of WWE, said he’d add even more hours if he could due to the money it brings in.

“From my point of view, Raw would benefit from being four hours, so we would get paid more money and SmackDown would be eight hours,” said Khan.

“But I understand that our creative folks, as amazing as they are, there is only so much great content they can do on a weekly basis. So, I’m good with the three and two system.”

Khan dished out a ton of info over SummerSlam weekend. He detailed the reason behind the recent slew of WWE releases. Nick Khan also confirmed the report that NXT will be rebranded and is going to shift away from indie talent.

Watch Ariel Helwani’s full interview with WWE President Nick Khan:

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