WWE has let go writer Kenice Mobley. This comes after comments the comedian made on the “Asian Not Asian” podcast where she said WWE did not require her to know anything about wrestling.
News of Mobley’s release was reported by Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful.
WWE writer Kenice Mobley has been let go. She was in the news this week after a podcast appearance where she said she wasn't familiar with the product.
— Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful.com (@SeanRossSapp) June 25, 2021
For what it's worth, I'm told fan reaction to Kenice Mobley's podcast appearance had little to nothing to do with the decision for WWE to let her go. I was told it was more of an internal concern. What she was told, I'm not sure.
— Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful.com (@SeanRossSapp) June 25, 2021
I mean, it absolutely had to do with the podcast, but not the fan backlash.
— Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful.com (@SeanRossSapp) June 25, 2021
What Did Kenice Mobley Say?
Earlier this month, Mobley appeared on the Asian Not Asian podcast and spoke about her new job on the WWE creative team.
“Yes, I have just been hired by WWE. Given the things that you know about me and my entire life and what I’m into, yes [that’s surprising]. Yes, also a surprise for me. They did not require me to know anything about wrestling but I do have a background in film production and comedy writing and they’re like, ‘Perfect. Come on in,” she said (Transcriptions via Post Wrestling).
She continued to talk about being assigned to the WWE RAW team. Mobley then commented on WWE Champion Bobby Lashley and the Hurt Business.
“So I am on the Monday Night Raw team. So there’s Monday Night Raw and Friday Night SmackDown and the people I know that are on it are Bobby — his name is either Bobby Ashley or Bobby Lashley and I really should know that. He’s like this giant Black guy and he and the people who are part of his crew, I know that they call — or at least as of last year, they called themselves The Hurt Business. The Hurt Business. They wear suits and they’re like, ‘We’re cool.’”
Mobley doing standup on the Tonight Show can be viewed below:
Leading up to WrestleMania, it was reported that plans were in place for Becky Lynch to return during the event. That never happened, however. According to a report from the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Lynch’s return at Mania didn’t happen because she was in the process of negotiating a new deal with WWE.
“Lynch wasn’t used at WrestleMania as first talked about and teased by her because they were waiting for her to sign a new deal, which is now in effect and because they felt it was too early to debut her before she would be back wrestling,” wrote Dave Meltzer.
The report would also say that Lynch’s return to WWE is expected to happen soon. She has been training at the Performance Center and was backstage at Hell in a Cell.
Previously, it was mentioned in the Observer that Lynch would return at Mania in a segment that had something to do with a big vehicle akin to Austin’s beer truck or Kurt Angle’s milk truck. A talking segment with Bayley would have been where she made her return.
Lynch herself sent out several teasers on Twitter in the build to WrestleMania that she would be there. She sent out the below Tweet teasing she’d appear on Night 1 of Mania this year:
WWE is heading back to the UK in September. The company has just announced a 4-show tour from September 19 to the 22nd.
Newcastle – Utilita Arena (Sunday, September 19, 2021)
London – The O2 (Monday, September 20, 2021),
Cardiff – Motorpoint Arena (Tuesday, September 21, 2021)
Glasgow – The SSE Hydro (Wednesday, September 22, 2021)
WWE made a point to note that this will be a “Smackdown tour.” Promotional materials for the tour include only Smackdown roster members. It is rumored that WWE could have a draft that takes place at the end of August or beginning of September, however.
WWE has not been in the United Kingdom since November of 2019. A tour had been scheduled for May of 2020 but was postponed due to the global pandemic.
The tour will conclude with a return to Scotland for former WWE Champion, Drew McIntyre in Glasgow. McIntyre spoke with Talk Sport last year about his goal of bringing a WWE PPV back to the UK.
“This situation has affected a lot of plans, let’s just say things were looking positive and when things are looking a little bit more normal, I’ll be pushing once again because, we’re on the right path and it’s not a case of if it will happen, it’s when it will happen. We’ve just got to roll with the punches right now and eventually we will get that UK PPV we deserve,” McIntyre said in the interview.
WWE Live is coming home to the UK!
This September don’t miss your favourite @WWE Superstars in NEWCASTLE, LONDON, CARDIFF and GLASGOW including Roman Reigns, Bianca Belair, Big E, Sasha Banks, Bayley, The Usos and more!
NJPW has announced that for the first time ever, episodes of New Japan Strong will be filmed in front of live fans on August 16th. The show will take place from Thunder Studio in Long Beach.
NJPW has revealed that “extremely limited tickets” will start on June 30th. They are also advertising that 9 matches will take place on the show. General admission seats are $60 with ringside seats going for as much as $120.
NJPW listed the following names as being on the show:
NEVER Openweight Champion: ‘Switchblade’ Jay White
STRONG Openweight Champion ‘Filthy’ Tom Lawlor
‘Flamboyant’ Juice Robinson
‘The Man of the Hour’ Lio Rush
Shota Umino
Ren Narita
‘Mr. No Days Off’ Fred Rosser
‘The Alpha Wolf’ Karl Fredericks
‘Wild Rhino’ Clark Connors
‘Young Gun’ Hikuleo
It doesn't end with a Resurgence.
We're going to continue STRONG!
Amid huge popular demand, Fighting Spirit Unleashed 2021 will see fans at #njpwSTRONG matches in Long Beach's Thunder Studios August 16!
“Premiering in August 2020 on NJPW World and FITE, NJPW STRONG began without a live crowd, but has quickly become critically acclaimed and a favorite of fans around the world,” an NJPW press release reads.
The show will be part of NJPW’s “Fighting Spirit Unleashed 2021” series of episodes of Strong. The New Japan Strong tapings will take place 2 days after the Resurgence event from The Torch at the LA Coliseum.
Impact Wrestling on 6/24 featured a tag-team title match and Tommy Dreamer receiving a new role in the company. The promotion is continuing to build to Slammiversary on July 17th.
Impact 6/24 Quick Results:
Rosemary defeated Tasha Steelz
Deonna Purrazzo defeated Susan
Rohit Raju & Shera defeated Petey Williams & Trey Miguel
Jake Something defeated Sam Beale
Impact Tag Team Championships Violent By Design (Deaner & Joe Doering) defeated Satoshi Kojima & Eddie Edwards
Rosemary and Havok Move Closer To Tag Title Shot
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nSdGwJt_Zw
After Rosemary and Havok dumped Fire N Flava in the trash last week (where they discovered a bag labelled “Mickie James”) Rosemary took on Tasha Steelz in singles action to kick off this week’s show. After Kiera Hogan attempted to get involved from the outside, Havok came to ringside in support of Rosemary. Rosemary then picked up a victory with her double-underhook slam finish she’s titled “As Above So Below.”
Josh Matthews noted on commentary that this result moves Havok and Rosemary closer to a title shot.
Tommy Dreamer To Serve As An Impact Consultant For Anthem
Last week on Impact, Anthem sent a representative to deal with the Don Callis situation. That representative turned out to be Tommy Dreamer. This week, it was revealed by Dreamer himself that Anthem has asked him to stay on as a consultant and he will oversee operations in the wrestling promotion. How this will impact Scott D’Amore’s role is not immediately clear.
Deonna Purrazzo is Done With Susan & Kimber Lee
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NL2_6VvCOCI
The Knockouts Champion said she was done with Kimber Lee and Susan last week and this week she faced Susan in singles competition. Purrazzo picked up the win with the Fujiwara armbar and then continued the assault after the match. She left the ring area shouting at both Kimber Lee and Susan that she was done with them.
Don Callis and Tommy Dreamer Agree To Huge Main Event Next Week
Don Callis visited with Tommy Dreamer in a backstage segment and said there were no hard feelings over his firing last week. Callis then issued a challenge for next week with Tommy Dreamer fielding a team of guys to go up against Kenny Omega and the Good Brothers. As the show would go on, Moose, Sami Callihan, and Chris Sabin would be revealed as the members of Team Dreamer.
Sides Being Taken In The X-Division
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPItR3OSurE
The return of Ultimate-X at Slammiversary has the X-Division all at odds with each other. Chris Bey said in a backstage segment this week that he’s not going to choose sides and that’s what’s going to help him become a 2x X-Division Champion. Petey Williams and Trey Miguel told him he better pick a side before a side picks him.
Later in the show, Rohit Raju and Shera would defeat Williams and Miguel following a distraction form the outside by Ace Austin and Madman Fulton. The heels continued the assault after the match but this brought out X-Division Champion Josh Alexander for the save. He succumbed to the numbers disadvantage as well, however. Meanwhile, Chris Bey watched from the ramp but chose not to get involved.
Rachael Ellering and Jordynne Grace Hash Things Out
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rpf-IuagLY
After winning but then losing the Knockouts Tag Team titles in quick succession, Rachael Ellering and Jordynne Grace have had their problems in recent weeks. This week, Ellering opened up to Grace about their string of losses and problems with Tenille Dashwood. Jazz came out to help settle things between the two. Grace eventually said she needed time to think and headed to the back. Then Dashwood and Kaleb came out but Ellering was not in the mood this week. She challenged Dashwood to a singles match and then her and Jazz cleared the heels out of the ring.
Jake Something Defeats Sam Beale Despite Brian Myers’ Coaching
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3z9my6qVdY
Brian Myers is serving as something of a mentor for Sam Beale at the moment. It didn’t help Beale much this week, however, as he was defeated by Jake Something. After the match, Myers’ lesson to Beale was that in order for him to be a success, he must do the opposite of what Something does.
Violent By Design Retain Tag Titles Over Satoshi Kojima & Eddie Edwards
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sjth2H5fia8
Eddie Edwards teamed with NJPW’s Satoshi Kojima this week and challenged the tag champions from Violent By Design. Eric Young’s stable uses the Freebird rule to defend the titles and this week it was Deaner and Joe Doering who did so.
After a back and forth title clash, it seemed as though Edwards and Kojima had VBD right where they wanted them. Edwards charged out of the corner to hit Doering with the Boston Knee Party but the big man countered it into a sit down power-bomb for the 3-count. It was a convincing win for Violent By Design. They closed the show by celebrating on the stage with the belts.
Former WWE developmental talent Ezra Judge has landed himself a spot on the MLW roster following his release in May. The announcement was made on Twitter by MLW founder Court Bauer. Ezra Judge will be going by his real name in MLW, having adopted the Judge surname in WWE.
The 6’8 former NFL player signed for WWE in 2019. He never made it to the main roster and was released during the cuts in May 2021.
Ezra Judge came into wrestling fairly late in life. Having started out playing college football and was eventually drafted into the IFL. Following a short stint in football, Judge turned to bodybuilding. Picking up a few wins on the NPC circuit before turning to the IFBB Pro Tour in 2016. He placed 3rd in the Lou Ferrigno Classic that year, his highest placing in a bodybuilding competition.
Sports have been in Ezra Judge’s life since childhood, excelling in most disciplines through school, earning double letters in both track and baseball before his football days.
Signing for WWE was his first experience in wrestling. MLW will certainly offer him a very different working environment, but one a man of his size and build could thrive within.
The Judge will be a surprise package for many, as his wrestling career is still in its infancy, and at 32 years old, he still has the time needed to craft a character and skillset. Ezra Judge was held in high regard within WWE, and his NXT release was a surprise. He was picked up in the 6th round of the recent MLW draft, and will no doubt be eager to get in the ring and show exactly what he can do.
WWE will be headed back to Madison Square Garden on Friday, September 10th, 2021. According to a report from PW Insider, their sources from MSG have confirmed WWE will run Smackdown from the world’s most famous arena on that date.
It will be the first time WWE has run the venue since December of 2019. WWE typically runs a show at MSG every December 26th but it was cancelled last year due to the pandemic.
WWE presented both a RAW and a Smackdown from Madison Square Garden in 2019. They had previously just been running house shows in the venue dating back to Survivor Series 2011.
AEW’s NYC Debut Just Days Later
WWE’s show in New York will come just weeks before AEW presents a show from Arthur Ashe Stadium on Wednesday, September 22nd.
AEW President Tony Khan commented on AEW’s NYC debut in a press release sent in to SEScoops earlier this month.
“We wanted our first show in New York City to be extraordinary and epic in scale, and there’s no better venue to bring out the best in our talent and creativity than the iconic USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.”
Khan continued, “We love the concept of wrestling in a non-traditional venue and placing our AEW ring on center court in the awe-inspiring Arthur Ashe Stadium. I can’t wait for fans to experience our live AEW DYNAMITE: GRAND SLAM show in one of the coolest venues on the planet.”
Kenny Omega and Andrade will face off for the AAA Mega Championship at TripleMania in August. Omega doesn’t feel Andrade has done enough to challenge for his AEW World Championship, however. Omega responded to a Tweet from AEW and noted that Andrade hasn’t done enough to earn a shot.
“I checked the win/loss record. He ain’t even close. Wins and losses count here, brah,” Omega Tweeted.
“I got tired of being in a company that only talks like you, I decided to resign to demonstrate my success in the ring, mr win….” Andrade responded.
#Tranquilo amigo. I got tired of being in a company that only talks like you, I decided to resign to demonstrate my success in the ring, mr win…. ??????? enjoy your time. https://t.co/H6ffI8OFDy
— “EL IDOLO” ANDRADE (@AndradeElIdolo) June 24, 2021
I checked the win/loss record. He ain’t even close. Wins and losses count here, brah. https://t.co/KpNUL67AIJ
Andrade made his first post-WWE appearances on June 12th and 13th for RGR Lucha Libre. On night 1, he teamed with El Idolo and Piloto Suicida to defeat the team of El Hijo del Santo, Misterioso & Rey Leon. On night 2, he teamed with Misterioso in a loss to El Hijo del Santo & Piloto Suicida.
As for Omega, he’s been said to be dealing with multiple nagging injuries at the moment. His last match was for Impact at Against All Odds when he defeated Moose. His last match in AEW was the world title match at Double or Nothing on May 30th.
Shayna Baszler has 26 professional MMA fights on her record. She also went through a very old-school training to prepare her for professional wrestling. Now, however, Baszler is on RAW where she has been involved in an angle with supernatural aspects to it. Baszler lost to Alexa Bliss at Hell in a Cell and has also had run-ins with Bliss’ doll Lilly.
Baszler recently spoke to Sports Illustrated. She talked about coming from an old-school background and juggling the storylines she’s been working on RAW.
“It’s always been a constant juggling act, and that’s not just on Raw,” Baszler said. “That’s also [been the case in] my time in NXT and the indies. I come from a very old-school professional wrestling tradition. Josh Barnett and Billy Robinson were my main coaches, and they’re really, really old-school.”
“It’s been a juggling act to stay true to my martial lineage in professional wrestling, that style I bring where people believe what I do.”
“It’s special. There are wrestlers that work for 20 years to build that legitimacy in the eyes of the fans, and I have it when I come through the curtain.”
Shayna Baszler On Staying True To Her Martial Lineage
Baszler continued to talk about if she feels that Billy Robinson would support what she is doing in WWE.
“I always think about Billy when I get in the ring,” Baszler said. “After he passed away [in 2014], I remember Josh saying, ‘At the end of the day, if Billy would look at it and nod his head, then you’re doing fine.’ I hope Billy would be understanding that I’m trying to do this balancing act between my old-school, pure wrestling style and the way it’s presented on TV today.”
Baszler would say that she’s just trying to show that she can be counted on to work with what she is given.
“I need to show that I can be counted on to nail whatever it is I’m being asked to do,” Baszler says. “It’s easy to be a badass tyrant like I was in NXT. I can totally fit that role. After establishing myself as that, it’s important to show I can cover a wide range of what professional wrestling is today.”
Baszler and her partner Nia Jax were defeated by Nikki Cross and Alexa Bliss on RAW. The result of the match means Bliss and Cross have both qualified for the MOney in the Bank ladder match.
No more games. Let’s see how all your dolls & hocus pocus work when you’re face to face with #reality I. AM. REALITY.
All I need is my fists. You will need every trick you have…I hope you’re ready #HIAC
It is not uncommon for older generations to sit back and reflect on how times have changed. On how the old ways were the best. This is especially prevalent in the field of professional wrestling. An industry where times have very much changed. Talking in a recent interview with Wrestling Inc former NWA and WCW star Nikita Koloff spoke about how he feels the art of professional wrestling has died.
“[There is a reason] why the product looks like it does today versus what many, many, many of the fans of the ‘80s and early ‘90s have told me is the golden age of wrestling,” noted Koloff. “And what they’ve done, because of writers, who write matches and write interviews, they set [up]… what wasn’t so much a decline as it was a transition in the business, from taking creative control from the wrestler. Where I had the ability to go in the ring and tell a story spontaneously in the ring. If the fan wasn’t buying into it, I could change it up in a second in the ring and do something different. So, I learned that pretty quick.”
His comments are certainly understandable, when looking at WWE and the tight control they insist upon. However, there could be a counter argument made that times are changing, and the ‘old ways’ or wrestling are coming back.
AEW have already proven that you can be successful by giving the wrestlers creative freedom. Now, with the ‘forbidden door’ now open – or re-opened – the territorial days of yesteryear might just be upon us again.
Nikita Koloff Believes The Clarity Around Wrestlers Ruins the Storytelling
Nikita Koloff continued to talk about how fan reaction and involvement was also not what it used to be. Citing the decline of the mystique of wrestling, and the death of kayfabe as a reason for the way modern professional wrestling is falling flat.
“Even when you watch fan reaction back then, that’s the difference of why the fans even reacted differently back then versus now. Because now [wrestling] is so exposed, right? Everybody knows the match is written out and they go in and perform it. And again, taking nothing away from their athletic ability, but if the fan is not buying into the match, you’re still gong through all the spots and the whole deal. Whether they’re buying into it or not.
“And that’s the main difference why the product looks like it does today versus the product back then. I think, personally, it mainly has to do with no more ring psychology. That art has died.”
There is undoubtedly some validity to Nikita Koloff’s claims. However, there are still enough moments of genuine shock in the world of wrestling to remove the certainty of his comments. There is still an emotional investment in matches. This proves that in certain circles at least, the art of professional wrestling is alive and well.
GCW Champion and Deathmatch King Nick Gage recently appeared on the NotSam Wrestling podcast. The Game Changer Wrestling Champ discussed a number of topics on the show, including his upcoming opponent for GCW Homecoming, Matt Cardona.
Cardona recently appeared at GCW’s Zombie Walk event, hiding under a ‘druid’ costume and pulling off Jon Moxley mannerisms before hitting a Paradigm Shift DDT on Gage. Matt Cardona then revealed who he really was to a massive reaction of boos from the GCW crowd.
Speaking on the NotSam podcast, Nick Gage would say how much respect he has for Cardona as a pro wrestler, grinding in WWE even when the company would not give him the push that he necessarily deserved.
Nick Gage on Matt Cardona
“Before he did all that clown sh*t and I was messing with him on Twitter, I had mad respect for that guy” Nick Gage began. “We’re talking about a guy who had been in WWE for over a decade. Him and Brian Myers, I just respect them.”
“I’m a wrestler at heart and I respect them grinding all those years at that place and they would never give him a shot” Gage continued. “He climbed the ladder and won the Intercontinental Title in front of 100,000 people. How awesome was that?”
Nick Gage finished by promoting the match between the two at GCW Homecoming, saying that it is going to be far more violent than Cardona is used to.
“Now, he’s going to get in the ring with me, there will be glass surrounding him, and we’re gonna go” Gage stated. “He steps into my world and he knows what it is. It’s violence, blood, gory, and I’m going to cut him and he’ll feel that burn. All the stuff we use in GCW is real. We don’t use fake glass or snip the barbed wire.”
AEW Women’s Champion Dr Britt Baker D.M.D recently appeared at Steel City Comic Con. The pro wrestler and dentist discussed a number of topics during her time on panel, including a question regarding her own personal ‘role models’ in wrestling.
Interestingly, Dr Baker chose two performers from WWE rather than some of the talent performers in All Elite Wrestling.
“Probably Bayley or Sasha [Banks], it’d have to be one of them,” began during the panel. “Those are two of my role models that I watched when I was first training to be a wrestler.”
Dr Britt Baker D.M.D on Sasha and Bayley
“That was five years ago. When I was training, they were main eventing NXT TakeOver” Dr Britt Baker continued. “That was when the tides were turning and they kind of paved the way for my generation of wrestling. Even though they are still in my generation, they came before me.”
The landscape of Women’s wrestling is constantly changing, with many of the best wrestlers in the world performing across different promotions.
Triple H recently caused some stir when he said in a press conference that WWE had the “best Women’s talent in the world” and that all of the best wrestlers “want to work for WWE.” These comments drew the ire of the likes of Thunder Rosa, who is also a major player in the AEW Women’s division alongside Britt Baker.
New WWE writer Kenice Mobley appeared on the Asian Not Asian podcast recently and stated that she was not required to know anything about wrestling before being hired as a writer for WWE. Mobley is a standup comedian and film producer from Brooklyn and appeared on the podcast earlier this month.
“Yes, I have just been hired by WWE. Given the things that you know about me and my entire life and what I’m into, yes [that’s surprising]. Yes, also a surprise for me. They did not require me to know anything about wrestling but I do have a background in film production and comedy writing and they’re like, ‘Perfect. Come on in,” she said (Transcriptions via Post Wrestling).
Mobley continued to say that she has been assigned to the writing team for RAW. At the time of the podcast, she had yet to start on the team. She spoke about Bobby Lashley and the Hurt Business while on the podcast.
“So I am on the Monday Night Raw team. So there’s Monday Night Raw and Friday Night SmackDown and the people I know that are on it are Bobby — his name is either Bobby Ashley or Bobby Lashley and I really should know that. He’s like this giant Black guy and he and the people who are part of his crew, I know that they call — or at least as of last year, they called themselves The Hurt Business. The Hurt Business. They wear suits and they’re like, ‘We’re cool.’”
John Cena addressed his pending return to in-ring action on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon last night.
“Those rumors are true. I’ll definitely be back in WWE, I just don’t know when,” Cena said when asked about a possible return to WWE.
“I haven’t had my last much and I can’t wait to have my next one,” he continued.
Cena also addressed how his film career will impact his WWE return as well. Issues with insurance have to be worked out for him to return.
“Once you do one of these things (a big film), the insurance doesn’t let you go wrestle on the weekends, so we’ll see what happens,” Cena also said.
Cena’s appearance on the show can be viewed below:
John Cena vs Roman Reigns At SummerSlam?
Cena’s rumoured match for SummerSlam in August is against Roman Reigns. During an interview with the ACC network, Reigns addressed possibly facing Cena on the show.
“If John wants to get smashed, then he knows where I’m at, when it comes to whooping people’s ass, I do not discriminate. Luchadores, mat wrestlers, legends, Hollywood superstars, anybody. Anybody can get it.”
Cena also addressed how his role in F9 could possibly lay the foundation for a heel turn in WWE during a recent interview with Chris Van Vliet.
“I think this is a beginning to showcase the fact that it’s possible,” Cena responded when asked if F9 was the heel turn fans never saw in WWE. “Now as WWE invests and builds its roster and has a wealth of talent, it truly has many different anchors to the ship.”
Ruby Riott was released from WWE earlier this month. She later revealed on the Wrestling Perspective podcast that she does not plan on going back to her previous name, Heidi Lovelace.
During this discussion, she noted that she wants to keep the name “Ruby” as it is an homage to the Rancid song, Ruby Soho. Rancid’s Lars Frederiksen is also a co-host of the Wrestling Perspectives podcast.
“I am shopping for a new name I would like to keep [the name Ruby] if it’s possible. I feel like it fits me. Ruby came from Ruby Soho and that’s dear to my heart,” she said on the show. This led some fans to say she could just use the name “Ruby Soho.”
Ruby Riott recently changed her name on Instagram to “Ruby Soho,” another indication that this is the name she’ll be using moving forward. Her location is as “Destination Unknown” – another reference to the Rancid song.
Following her WWE release earlier this month, she wrote on Instagram, “Well… here it goes. I’ve never been good at this sort of stuff. Yesterday in a matter of minutes, my life changed very drastically. But after some tears, some panic and a full box of Oreos, I was able look back at how lucky I’ve been to accomplish what have. I never thought I’d make it to WWE. I’ve been honored to be apart of a Squad of the most incredible women I’ve ever met.”
Melissa Coates, aka Super Genie, has passed away. The 50-year-old had been Sabu’s valet in recent years. Prior to that she’d had stints with WSU, NWA Anarchy, and had worked as an extra for WWE on multiple occasions.
Last year, Coates had a leg amputated below the knee due to issues with blood clots. Her cause of death is not immediately clear, however.
News of her passing was first passed on by the Cauliflower Alley Club.
“Everyone here at the CAC is deeply saddened to hear the news that Super Genie Melissa Coates has passed away. We send out our sincerest condolences to her family, friends and fans. May they find comfort in the memories left behind during this most difficult time. R.I.P. Melissa,” the organization wrote on Twitter.
Everyone here at the CAC is deeply saddened to hear the news that Super Genie Melissa Coates has passed away. We send out our sincerest condolences to her family, friends and fans. May they find comfort in the memories left behind during this most difficult time. R.I.P. Melissa. pic.twitter.com/mD77rvsFyO
— Cauliflower Alley Club (@CACReunion) June 24, 2021
The NWA’s Velvet Sky posted that Melissa had been helpful and supportive to her during health issues she went through.
When I was going thru my health issues last yr, Melissa Coates, @RealSuperGenie reached out to check on me & sent me this message of encouragement. Goes to show what a sweet, amazing person & friend she was.I’ll miss her so much. Rest in eternal peace, my beautiful friend. ???? pic.twitter.com/w44yMpRECY
I had my very first match against Melissa Coates. There’s always a forever connection when you share the ring with someone and I’m honored to have that with her. Thank you for being so sweet, helpful and busting my brace face open. I’ll truly never forget you. ???? pic.twitter.com/wi33PmoyaD
“Coates was always super nice and friendly and on the occasion when we’d see each other at a signing or convention we were always happy to see each other again. RIP Melissa Coates,” Lance Storm continued.
Just heard of the passing of my long time friend @RealMelisCoates (@RealSuperGenie) 1 of the kindest,most genuinely nice people I’ve ever met.She loved wrestling SO much & was trying to raise enough $ for a prosthetic to get back in the ring. My condolences to @TheRealSabuECW??? pic.twitter.com/2bCMvA9CW1
“We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Melissa Coates – better known to IMPACT fans as Super Genie, the manager of Sabu. We offer our heartfelt condolences to her friends and family,” wrote Impact Wrestling on Twitter.
PROGRESS Wrestling star Gisele Shaw has stated her intent for a match against former WWE Superstar Mickie James. The Canadian/Filipina ‘Quintessential Diva’ took to Twitter to post a throwback photo of her and ‘Hardcore Country’ Mickie James before saying that the match needs to happen.
“Throwback to the first time I met @MickieJames before I started training” Gisele Shaw tweeted. “We’d cross paths again a few years later, however it was in catering…”
Gisele Shaw on Mickie James
“I’d love to see her again but this time in the ring and make one of my dreams come true!” The PROGRESS Women’s Division star added, “Hardcore Country vs The Quintessential Diva.”
Gisele Shaw recently appeared on WWE’s The Bump, where she would make a challenge to WWE RAW Superstar Charlotte Flair. Shaw appeared on the show alongside Kanji ahead of their Best of 3 Series final for the PROGRESS Women’s final, which Kanji would eventually win and become the new Champion after NXT UK Superstar Jinny had to vacate the title.
Shaw is currently set for a match at PROGRESS Chapter 114 against Taonga. Chapter 114: Set Eyeballs To Stun will be available on Peacock in United States and WWE Network everywhere else as of 5pm BST on Saturday July 3.
Throwback to the first time I met @MickieJames before I started training. We’d cross paths again a few years later, however it was in catering… I’d love to see her again but this time in the ring and make one of my dreams come true!
It’s all about Steve Austin this week as the wrestling world celebrates the 25th anniversary of Austin 3:16.
Before his unexpected (and previously unplanned) victory over Jake ‘the Snake’ Roberts in the final of the 1996 tournament, Steve Austin was a new guy trying to find his place. Winning the King of the Ring tournament was always viewed as being the start of a push. Everybody knows that it should have been Triple H winning. However, the infamous curtain call moment happened, and history was set in motion.
“That incident had to happen at the Garden where the guys hugged, because Triple H was supposed to win that King of the Ring. Vince tells me I’m going to win.”
Following his win, Austin delivered the now famous, unscripted promo that created the brand that carried WWE through an entire era.
“Hell, I don’t care if its Davey Boy Smith or Shawn Michaels, but you’re looking at the next WWF Champion if I ever get the shot. And that’s the bottom line cause Stone Cold said so.”
Steve Austin Needed the Undertakers Permission to Get His Merch Approved
The rest is history. First came the signs, then came the chants, and on their heels, came merchandise. The Stone Cold brand was born. However, what many people never realized is that it could never have happened. There was one very important figure backstage in WWE, who could have brought it all crashing down.
Talking about his legacy on Busted Open Radio, Steve Austin recalled having to ask permission from the Undertaker before his 3:16 skull logo could be approved.
— SiriusXM Busted Open (@BustedOpenRadio) June 23, 2021
“Here’s something I’ve said before, maybe not everybody knows; Undertaker had to give me clearance to use that skull because Vince thought that might be gimmick infringement. I ran it by Mark, he was cool enough to give me the green light on the skull, thank you Mark. And that shirt was born.”
Who knows what would’ve happened if any one of the series of events leading to that speech had gone differently? Would Steve Austin have gone on to be the star he was? We will never know, and thankfully, never need to imagine a wrestling world where it went any other way.
Stone Cold Steve Austin is a wrestling legend. Arguably the most well known and popular wrestler, not only of his generation but ever. His portrayal of the anti-hero during WWE’s attitude era lives on long in the memory of all wrestling fans.
The story of the Austin 3:16 promo at the king of the ring tournament is one of those magical moments in history resulting from a series of events happening at just the right moment in time.
— SiriusXM Busted Open (@BustedOpenRadio) June 23, 2021
Talking during a recent appearance on Busted Open Radio, Steve Austin spoke at length about the night that 3:16 was born. Even now, the depth of his legacy as a result of that one promo astounds him.
“Who would’ve figured it would’ve lasted that long? I watched that promo about ten times last night, just so I could kind of take myself back to where I was. But so many things had to happen for that promo to even happen. That incident had to happen at the Garden where the guys hugged because Triple H was supposed to win that King of the Ring. Vince tells me I’m going to win.”
“I go in and wrestle Marc Mero, who’s a wonderful human being, get along really good with him. I was fortunate enough that he kicked me in the mouth. If he’d never kicked me in the mouth, this never would’ve happened. They haul me to the hospital, I get fourteen stitches, come back. Michael P.S. Hayes is right there at the ambulance, telling me ‘hey, Jake just cut a religious promo on you.’ So thank you Jake for cutting a religious promo, thank you Michael P.S. Hayes for telling me that.”
Steve Austin Knows the Impact THAT Promo Had on His Career
A career is not defined by a single moment. However, a legend is often born as a result of one. For Stone Cold Steve Austin, that moment came at King of the Ring in 1996.
A series of events led to an off the cuff, unscripted promo. Something that would never happen in modern-day WWE. Creating a groundswell that still surges today.
“It was almost like it was predestined for that promo to happen. And if none of those events had happened or happened out of order, that promo would’ve never happened. Maybe I’d have still been a big star, but that promo gave me two tag lines, 3:16 and ‘because Stone Cold said so’, at one night at an event I was never supposed to win. So I’m entirely grateful for all the pieces and people that fell in place for this to happen.”
Stone Cold Steve Austin grew into his legend. Sadly, we may never see another character quite like him in WWE. Not because what he did was so special it could never be repeated, but because the creative control is too tight to give wrestlers room to grow their character naturally.
Tony Khan can stand back and be proud of everything AEW has achieved so far. Not only have they flourished in the early years of their formation, but they did so in the face of a global pandemic. An event that challenged the world and changed the face of sport for over a year.
AEW made the choice to resist the call for virtual fans. Choosing instead for an open-air stadium as part of Tony Khan’s Jacksonville Jaguars complex.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CQeGXNytvUz/
During a recent discussion on Barstool’s Pardon My Take podcast, Tony Khan spoke about AEW, and especially their core PPV Double or Nothing.
Khan was proud of the way both editions of the annual show have turned out, making a bold claim against WWE’s own premier PPV, Wrestlemania.
“I’ll tell you something; Double or Nothing last year and this year, in my opinion, was a better show (than WrestleMania). I liked this year’s WrestleMania a lot better than last years. They had some fans this year and everyone there worked their ass off both years. This year I thought, both (were) good shows. They did a two-night show, and it was a good show. But I thought Double or Nothing this year was outstanding, and it was the best wrestling show of the year so far. And last year Double or Nothing, during the pandemic, it kicked the s**t out of WrestleMania last year. The pandemic version last year? Not even close. Double or Nothing was a much better show.”
Every Right to be Confident
Tony Khan is a businessman at heart, and it is natural that he will think his product superior. However, it is interesting to see the pressure that AEW has already placed on WWE. A bigger name, a bigger brand, with unquestionably more history. To be confident enough to make such claims already speaks for both Tony Khan and the way he runs his business.
Looking at the strides AEW has made in their first year. The addition of a second weekly television show, as well as the formation of two dark shows. The names they have signed both in the ring and out. It all speaks of the clarity of vision Khan has for the product, and the passion he brings to his job.
Sonya Deville has taken a break from her in-ring career during the pandemic era. She has instead assumed the role of an on-screen authority figure on WWE TV.
With the company finally returning to the road next month with a big 25 city tour, a lot of people have been wondering if we will see the former Absolution member making an in-ring return as well.
Deville was asked about the possibility during her recent appearance on WWE’s The Bump and she claimed that she is content with her current role:
“You know, I love what I’m doing right now. I think it’s a natural fit. I’m a leader in life, and I think it transitions well into a suit and tie. I love being in charge, so I’m content with where I am right now,”
Sonya Deville confirmed that her in-ring career is not over yet. She indicated that she will return to the ring eventually but it won’t be happening anytime soon:
“At the end of the day, of course, I’m a fighter, but I’m really enjoying growing and learning in this role. I don’t see an end to it anytime soon.”
Sonya Deville had been off WWE TV since August 2020. She made her return to the company in a non wrestling role in January earlier this year.
She originally acted as an assistant to Adam Pearce but has started making executive decisions of her own since then.
Big E has been one of the top SmackDown babyfaces for a long time but his current run on the show might be coming to an end soon.
According to WrestleVotes on Twitter, WWE officials are considering moving the former Intercontinental champion to Raw from the blue brand during the upcoming drafts in August.
The idea is for E to reunite with his New Day partners on Mondays but not join them as a team again. The former NXT champion is expected to continue to focus on his singles career instead:
I’ve heard from a few sources an idea making the rounds – Big E moving from SD to RAW in the post SummerSlam draft while still be pushed as a singles. In essence, New Day back together without necessary being a team. If so, E would become a fresh face for the RAW main event scene
Drew McIntyre finished up his feud with the WWE champion Bobby Lashley at Hell In A Cell. With McIntyre out of the title picture, the red brand has an opening for underutilized babyfaces to step up to the All Mighty.
Fans have been demanding a world title push for Big E from a while now. Changing brands may help him get a fresh opportunity to gain momentum.
With people’s support behind him, it would not be a surprise if the New Day member ends up being the one to defeat Bobby Lashley for the WWE title somewhere down the line.
What do you think about Big E potentially changing brands during the upcoming WWE drafts? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section.
Last night on NXT, Kyle O’Reilly and KUSHIDA faced off in the main event. It was the 6th singles match they have had dating back to 2015. O’Reilly holds a 4-2 lead in the head-to-head series.
Kushida recently took to Twitter to note that 4 years ago he was considering retirement. He was dealing with severe abdominal pain at the time.
“In 2017, around this time, I was considering retirement after every match. I was concerned about my mental and physical health after every match,” his statement reads. “I wrestled back and forth between Japan and the United States twice a month.”
Kushida was in NJPW at the time. He’d win the Best of the Super Juniors tournament for a second time that year.
“During that time, I sometimes suffered from severe abdominal pain after matches. I crouched on the floor with a cold sweat and had no choice but to wait for the pain to pass. I had to insert a gastro camera down my throat at the hospital to examine my stomach. But the doctors couldn’t find anything wrong. The doctor’s diagnosis was that my autonomic nerves must have been disturbed. My level of this abdominal pain wasn’t normal. And, if it continued, I couldn’t wrestle anymore. I knew it wasn’t an exaggeration. And I knew that my wrestling career could be over at any time.”
O’Reilly and Kushida have met twice in singles competition for NJPW, twice for RevPro, and once each for ROH and NXT. Their last match before yesterday’s show was in the 1st round of the RevPro British J-Cup tournament. Kushida came out the victor that night.
“I had a mach with Kyle O’Reilly at that time. It was four years ago in London. At that point, it was rumoured that Kyle O’Reilly would soon sign a contract with WWE. After our match, I talked to him directly. He told me his honest intentions. At that time, I thought it would be great to have a match against him in the WWE some day. I knew my professional wrestling life wouldn’t last forever.”
Kushida’s signing with WWE was announced in April of 2019.
“So Yesterday was special. WWE/NXT universe! Thank you for watching.”
Keith Lee’s real name is Keith Lee and it’s been his wrestling name as well since 2008. WWE filed to trademark the name “Keith Lee” for wrestling purposes in the summer of 2019. Lee had signed with WWE the previous year.
Back in December, Lee put in his own trademark application for the name as well. According to documents obtained by HeelByNature, however, Lee’s attorney was sent a response from the USPTO recently stating there are two issues with his application and one of them is that WWE had previously filed to trademark the name.
“a mark in a prior-filed pending application may present a bar to registration of applicant’s mark.”
“The filing date of pending U.S. Application Serial No. 88594009 precedes applicant’s filing date.”
Today is a day that can and will define the future. The wheels can have motion and move forward….or…. they can stop completely.
The application is also being rejected on the grounds that “Keith Lee” refers to a person and not a service.
“The personal name of an individual or group is registrable as a service mark only where the record shows that it is used in a manner that would be perceived by consumers as identifying the services in addition to identifying the person or group. In this case, the specimen shows the applied-for mark used only to identify the name of an individual/group and not as a service mark for applicant’s services because, as used in the specimen of record, the wording KEITH LEE appears only to refer to the name of an individual, not the identified services.”
To the people offering uplifting words…. know that I appreciate you greatly. And worry not, when I say #iAmLimitless, I MEAN IT.
I will try to find a way to explain everything in the most efficient way possible. Give me just a little more time.
That Keith Lee and WWE are both attempting to trademark his name will likely lead to speculation regarding Lee’s recent absence from WWE programming. Lee has not wrestled on WWE programming since February. He defeated Riddle in a match on the February 8th, 2021 episode.
Lee has also been sharing numerous ominous messages regarding his whereabouts in recent months.
I wanted to do something educational, but also inspiring to tell you guys about everything since late January. Seems that is off the table for now.
So….with that, I will find another way to tell guys about everything. It might simply a video of me chatting with you. We'll see.
John Cena’s next big project is DC’s Suicide Squad sequel directed by James Gunn. The cenation leader will be playing the role of Peacemaker in the movie.
During a recent interview with Collider, the 16 time world champion offered some high praise to Gunn and compared him to the WWE chairman, Vince McMahon.
Cena first discussed James Gunn’s approach to his projects, explaining that he is very hands on with all the different aspects of the production of a movie:
“James is everything, and the reason he is such a great director is because he assumes all roles. He creates the story from the ground up, he supervises the story as a producer, he manages all personalities.”
John Cena went on to compare the Guardians Of The Galaxy director to the WWE chairman Vince McMahon. He mentioned how the boss likes to be involved in everything, just like Gunn:
“I think his ability to have his hands in everything—he’s almost like the Vince McMahon of a movie. Vince is involved in everything and wants to be.
And I mean everything from—and this is James as well—marketing, certainly putting himself out there. ‘Suicide Squad: A James Gunn Film’, he’s putting his stamp on that which means he believes in the product.”
The former world champion said that Gunn is able to do all this very fluently because he is invested in every piece and has confidence in what he does.
The Suicide Squad sequel featuring John Cena and others is expected to hit theaters on August 6. You can check out the latest trailer of the movie below:
