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Hell In A Cell Match Announced For Crown Jewel, Updated Card

Anutosh Bajpai
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0

WWE has announced that Seth Rollins will be facing Edge in a Hell In A Cell match at the upcoming Crown Jewel PPV from Saudi Arabia.

These two have been feuding since the Money In The Bank PPV. The Rated R Superstar challenged the Universal champion Roman Reigns for his title at the show.

However, Edge couldn’t win the title due to interference from Rollins. This led to a few weeks of confrontations between the two before WWE announced that they will be meeting in a match at SummerSlam.

The Attitude Era star managed to win this match against the Architect via submission. Though their rivalry continued and last week’s episode of SmackDown saw Rollins invading the home of Edge.

Edge then proposed a Hell In A Cell stipulation for their rematch during the final segment of this week’s episode of the blue brand. The match was made official after Seth accepted the challenge.

WWE Crown Jewel Updated Match Card

This is the sixth match which has been confirmed for the show from the Middle Eastern country. After the announcement, here is the updated card for the event:

  • Universal Championship Match: Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns
  • WWE Championship Match: Drew McIntyre vs. Big E
  • Triple Threat SmackDown Women’s Championship Match: Sasha Banks vs. Bianca Belair vs. Becky Lynch
  • Raw Tag Team Championship Match: AJ Styles and Omos vs. Randy Orton and Riddle
  • No Holds Barred Match: Bobby Lashley vs. WWE Hall of Famer Bill Goldberg
  • Hell In A Cell Match: Edge vs. Seth Rollins

WWE Crown Jewel will take place on October 21 from the Mohammed Abdu Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

WWE SmackDown Results (10/8): KOTR & Queen’s Crown, Reigns & Heyman

Xavier Woods Reacts To King Of The Ring Bracket Reveal

Anutosh Bajpai
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Xavier Woods is super excited that he will finally be getting the chance to realize his dream after being named one of the participants in the King Of The Ring tournament during the bracket reveal on SmackDown.

The New Day member took on his Twitter. He posted a video and revealed that he didn’t know he was gonna be in the tournament. He then commented on his first-round match against Ricochet:

“I was watching SmackDown and that’s how I found out that I was in the tournament.” said Woods, “Me and Ricochet, that’s my friend. We are cool. You know. He is a good dude. This is different. This is tournament play. These are tournament rules.

This is a tournament match. Fantastic guy, one of the most entertaining and fantastic entertainers that I have ever seen in my life, [but] I gotta run through you dude. I got to run through you. I am sorry, actually I am not sorry, I need this crown. You get it; because you are gonna come at me with the same energy.”

Xavier Woods has been talking about his desire to win the King Of The Ring for a while now. Many fans are behind him for winning the tournament this time.

Big E also recently discussed how the high-flying star is very underrated. He explained that winning the King Of The Ring tournament can help him change the perspective of people and convince everyone that he is a main event worthy talent.

Do you think Xavier Woods should win the King Of The Ring tournament this year? Let us know your thoughts on the matter in the comment section below.

Watch Shinsuke Nakamura Abdicate His Crown Ahead Of King Of The Ring

Watch Shinsuke Nakamura Abdicate His Crown Ahead Of King Of The Ring

Anutosh Bajpai
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0

Shinsuke Nakamura has abdicated his crown and dropped ‘King’ from his name ahead of the crowing of a new King Of The Ring later this month.

WWE posted a backstage video on their YouTube before this week’s episode of SmackDown. In the post as seen below, the Intercontinental champion claimed that he respects the tournament. So he is giving up his crown:

“A new King of the Ring being crowned in a few weeks. I respect the King of the Ring Tournament and I’ve proven myself as The King. Because of that, I am giving up my crown. So you will not call me ‘King’ Nakamura, but you can call me the Intercontinental Champion Shinsuke Nakamura!”

The last King of The Ring tournament took place in 2019. Baron Corbin won this competition and became the king after defeating Chad Gable in the finals.

Shinsuke Nakamura started a feud with the then King Corbin in May this year. This led to Nakamura beating Corbin to earn the title in a “Battle For The Crown” match during the June 18 episode of SmackDown.

WWE announced the return of the tournament, along with the creation of a similar tournament for women named Queen’s Crown earlier this month.

The tournaments began this Friday on SmackDown and the finals are set to take place at the upcoming Crown Jewel event on October 21. You can check out the brackets for the competition here.

WWE SmackDown Results (10/8): KOTR & Queen’s Crown, Reigns & Heyman

WWE Announces Return To Canada For The First Time Since Coronavirus Pandemic

Anutosh Bajpai
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0

WWE confirmed that they will be returning to Canada later this year. The company announced the news during the SmackDown broadcast, confirming that they will be holding a couple of live events there later this year.

The first event will be on Wednesday, December, 29 from the Coca-Cola Coliseum in Toronto. The second will be on Thursday, December 30 at Place Bell in Laval, Quebec.

These will be the first WWE shows in Canada since the coronavirus pandemic forced them to halt touring last year. The last WWE event in the country was a Raw episode on February 24, 2020.

The event from Winnipeg was the final WWE show before their last Saudi Arabia event in Super Showdown that took place on February 27.

The show saw an appearance from the Beast Incarnate himself, Brock Lesnar. It also featured a number of WWE stars which have since been released.

The list of stars that were on the show but are no longer with the promotion includes names such as Aleister Black, Buddy Murphy, Erick Rowan, and more.

It’s unknown whether these events will be under the Raw or SmackDown brand so it’s hard to say which stars may make an appearance. We will keep you posted on the lineup for the show.

AEW Rampage Results (10/8): Street Fight, Tag Title Match, CM Punk vs. Daniel Garcia

Robert Lentini
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AEW Rampage aired tonight on TNT and featured two title matches. CM Punk faced Daniel Garcia tonight on the show. Lucha Bros defended the tag titles against The Acclaimed and Ricky Starks put the FTW Championship on the line against Brian Cage in a Street Fight. It was announced that the AEW World Title Eliminator Tournament is returning with the finals taking place at Full Gear.

Rampage Results

  1. CM Punk def. Daniel Garcia via submission
  2. Lucha Bros def. The Acclaimed to retain the AEW Tag Team Championships
  3. Jade Cargill def. Skye Blue
  4. Ricky Starks def. Brian Cage in a Street Fight to retain the FTW Title

Here are the takeaways from this week’s show:

CM Punk Tapped Out Daniel Garcia, Will Face Matt Sydal Next Week

CM Punk squared off against Daniel Garcia in the first match of the night. Punk and Garcia locked up in the middle of the ring to begin the action. Punk applied a Heel Hook but Garcia worked his way to the bottom rope to break the hold. Garcia and Punk traded chops before Punk connected with a Body Slam. Punk hit another one and went for a third but Garcia was able to escape. Punk set up for the GTS but 2point0 dragged Garcial out of the ring. They then slammed Punk’s leg into the ring post as the referee was distracted.

When Rampage returned, Garcia focused his attack on Punk’s knee. Punk battled back and went for the GTS again but Garcia countered into a Sharpshooter. Punk escaped and sent Garcia to the outside. CM Punk made his way to the top rope and hit 2point0 with a Crossbody. Back in the ring, Punk connected with a Piledriver and applied the Anaconda Vice for the submission victory. After the match, Lio Rush was backstage with Dante Marin and Matt Sydal. Lio claimed that he was going to get Sydal a match against CM Punk next week and it was then made official.

https://twitter.com/AEW/status/1446661559221112840?s=20

Lucha Bros Retained The AEW Tag Titles

Lucha Bros (Pentagon Jr. & Rey Fenix) defended the AEW Tag Team Championships against The Acclaimed (Max Caster & Anthony Bowens). The Acclaimed controlled the match early and went after the Lucha Bros. Fenix connected with a Jawbreaker on Bowens and Lucha Bros followed it up with a couple Dropkicks.

Pentagon connected with a DDT on Caster and tagged in Fenix. Rey hit The Acclaimed with a double Cutter and Penta hit Bowens with a double stomp. Lucha Bros then hit a Piledriver for the pinfall victory. Lucha Bros are still the AEW Tag Team Champions.

Jade Cargill Remains Undefeated

Jade Cargill squared off against Skye Blue tonight on Rampage. Mark Sterling accompanied Jade Cargill to the ring. This was another squash match for Cargill as she picked up the quick pinfall victory after hitting Jaded. After the match, Jade continued to beat Skye down until Thunder Rosa made the save. Thunder Rosa rushed the ring with a steel chair and Cargill retreated. It was announced that Ruby Soho will face The Bunny on next week’s episode of Rampage.

Ricky Starks Retained The FTW Title

Ricky Starks put the FTW Championship on the line against Brian Cage in a Street Fight in this week’s main event. Cage dominated early and bashed Starks over the back with a steel chair. Ricky rolled out of the ring and Cage followed him.

Brian launched Cage over the barricade and into the first row of the crowd. Cage brought Starks back to the apron and hit him with a chop to the chest. Brian launched Starks into the barricade and posed for the crowd. Cage slammed Starks onto the ring apron with a Back Drop. Cage threw a trash can and some pipes into the ring. Ricky escaped a Suplex and hit Cage in the ribs with a pool cue. Starks hit a Tornado DDT as Rampage went to a commercial break.

When Rampage returned, Starks was beating down Brian Cage in the corner of the ring. Starks grabbed a pipe and choked Cage against the ropes. Ricky played the pipe like an air guitar and delivered a running kick to Cage’s face. Cage planted Starks with a big Fallaway Slam and followed it up with a punch to the face.

Cage hit Starks with a knee to the face and went for a Powerbomb. Starks escaped and connected with a forearm to the face. Starks grabbed a trash can lid and used it with a Leg Drop for a two count. Starks paced around the ring and grabbed the trash can as Cage pulled himself up in the corner.

Ricky set up the trash can in front of Cage and charged but wound up running into a Superkick. Cage bashed Starks over the head with the trash can and followed it up with a slam for a two count. Hook rushed the ring with the FTW Championship but Cage leveled him with a Clothesline. Powerhouse Hobbs interfered but Cage knocked him to the floor as well. Ricky hit Cage in the face with the FTW title and followed it up with a Spear. Starks went for the cover but Cage was able to kick out at the last moment.

Starks went for another Spear but Cage got out of the way. Cage launched Starks into the steel cage in the corner and followed it up with a Clothesline. Brian went for the cover but Powerhouse Hobbs broke it up. Hook hit Cage with a low blow and Starks capitalized with a Roshambo for the pinfall victory. Ricky Starks celebrated with Team Taz after the match

https://twitter.com/AEW/status/1446669263813627911?s=20

WWE King Of The Ring & Queen’s Crown Brackets Revealed

Andrew Ravens
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WWE has released the brackets for King of the Ring and the inaugural Queen’s Crown tournament. 

The finals of both royal competitions will take place at WWE Crown Jewel on Thursday, October 21st from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia at the King Fahd International Stadium.

King of the Ring Brackets

King of the Ring 2021 kicked off on Friday WWE SmackDown. Sami Zayn defeated Rey Mysterio in a first-round match. Zayn has advanced to face the winner of Cesaro vs. Finn Balor.

The remaining first-round matches include Kofi Kingston vs. Jinder Mahal, Xavier Woods vs.Ricochet and Cesaro vs. Finn Balor.

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Queen’s Crown Brackets

Queen’s Crown also kicked off on SmackDown. Zelina Vega defeated Toni Storm and Carmella defeated Liv Morgan in first-round matches.

The other first-round matches will take place on Raw with Doudrop vs. Natalya and Dana Brooke vs. Shayna Baszler. 

For SmackDown, Vega and Carmella will wrestle each other next while the winners of the Raw matches will square off. 

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WWE SmackDown Results (10/8): KOTR & Queen’s Crown, Reigns & Heyman

Robert Lentini
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0

WWE SmackDown aired live from the SAP Center in San Jose, California. The first rounds of the King of the Ring and Queen’s Crown tournaments began tonight. Becky Lynch, Bianca Belair, and Sasha Banks signed the contract for their SmackDown Women’s Triple Threat match at Crown Jewel. In addition to the takeaways below, Sonya Deville told Naomi that she finally has a match but it is against her next week.

SmackDown Results

  1. Sami Zayn def. Rey Mysterio to advance in the KOTR Tournament
  2. Zelina Vega def. Toni Storm to advance in the Queen’s Crown Tournament
  3. Carmella def. Liv Morgan to advance in the Queen’s Crown Tournament
  4. Finn Balor def. Cesaro to advance in the KOTR Tournament

Here are the takeaways from this week’s show:

Bianca Belair Sent A Message To Becky Lynch & Sasha Banks

Adam Pearce and Sonya Deville were already in the ring when the season premiere of SmackDown began. Bianca Belair made her entrance as highlights of her feud with Banks and Lynch were shown. Sasha Banks was on the announce table and posed as more highlights were shown. Becky Lynch was seated at her own table set up on the entrance ramp. Banks boasted about her spotlight being bigger and Belair claimed that Becky Lynch was lucky at SummerSlam. Bianca added that she has her name on every big moment in 2021 and challenged Becky to get into the ring.

Lynch joked that Bianca was acting pretty tough for someone she beat in 26 seconds. Becky flipped the table and walked towards the ring. Banks capitalized and attacked Belair from behind. Becky then tried to attack Sasha from behind but Banks battled back. Bianca sent them both to the corner and lifted them up for a KOD. Banks escaped but Bianca booted her onto the table. Belair then hit the KOD on Becky Lynch on top of Banks through the table.

Sami Zayn Advanced In The KOTR Tournament

Rey Mysterio faced Sami Zayn in the 1st round of the King of the Ring Tournament. Rey controlled the action early and set up Sami for the 619 but he rolled away as the crowd booed. Mysterio hit a Splash off the top rope and went for the cover but Sami kicked out at two. Sami slid Rey across the mat and Mysterio crashed into the ring post. Dominik made his way down the entrance ramp as SmackDown went to a commercial break.

When SmackDown returned, Sami went for the Helluva Kick but Rey countered into a Frankensteiner for a two count. Rey connected with another Frankensteiner off the middle turnbuckle but couldn’t put Sami away. Sami hit the Blue Thunder Bomb for a two count. Sami untied the turnbuckle pad but Dominik saw it. Dominik started to put it back on and Rey got distracted. Sami rolled Rey up for the pinfall victory and advanced in the KOTR tournament.

Zelina Vega Advanced In The Queen’s Crown Tournament

Zelina Vega faced Toni Storm in the 1st round of the Queen’s Crown tournament. Storm sent Vega to the corner and hit a Hip Attack. Storm lifted Zelina up but she countered into a Code Red for the pinfall victory. Zelina Vega advanced in the Queen’s Crown tournament.

Paul Heyman Pledged His Allegiance To The Tribal Chief

Universal Champion Roman Reigns, SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Usos, and Paul Heyman made their way to the ring to begin the 2nd hour of this week’s SmackDown. Heyman held the Universal Championship as Reigns took a look into the crowd. Roman asked the crowd to acknowledge him before turning his attention to Heyman.

Reigns told the crowd to acknowledge Heyman too because he got The Usos drafted to SmackDown. Roman put his arm around Heyman’s shoulder and told him he loved him. Heyman said “I love you, my Tribal Chief”. Reigns added that The Usos love Heyman too because he is the Wise Man to The Bloodline.

Roman told Heyman that he wanted him to be wise and come clean. The crowd chanted “Suplex City” and Reigns joked that this is the Island of Relevancy. Reigns told Paul to admit that he is responsible for Brock Lesnar’s free agency. Heyman stuttered and rambled before Reigns pulled his head up.

Paul stated that he has been accused of many things, and is guilty of even more, but has never been accused of being stupid. Heyman said that it would be stupid to pull the trigger before Crown Jewel if he were to do anything. Paul added that he thinks highly of the Tribal Chief and knows he wouldn’t hire someone stupid as his special council.

Heyman hyped up Reigns and claimed he was going to conquer The Beast at Crown Jewel. Reigns told Heyman to look into the camera and say it to Brock. Roman vowed to protect Heyman as well. Heyman hyped up the fact that Lesnar defeated The Undertaker but claimed Brock has met his match and his name is Roman Reigns.

Paul said that Reigns will walk out of Crown Jewel still the Universal Champion and added “that is not just a prediction, it is a spoiler Brock Lesnar, and you can believe that”. Heyman got on his knees and handed the Universal Championship to Roman Reigns. Roman raised the title before handing it back to Heyman to end the segment.

Carmella Advanced In The Queen’s Crown Tournament

Carmella faced Liv Morgan in the first round of the Queen’s Crown Tournament. Carmella locked in the Code of Silence but Liv ripped away at Carmella’s protective mask to break it up. Liv connected with a Codebreaker and went for the cover but Carmella got her foot on the bottom rope to break it up. Carmella then hit a Superkick for the pinfall victory.

Happy Corbin & Madcap Moss Beat Up Kevin Owens Again

Happy Corbin came to the ring with Madcap Moss. Corbin said Moss makes him happy and Moss told a dumb joke. “What instrument do you find in the bathroom? A tuba toothpaste”. Kevin Owens mercifully interrupted and rushed the ring. Owens attacked Corbin but Moss hit him with a Neckbreaker.

Finn Balor def. Cesaro To Advance In The KOTR Tournament

Finn Balor faced Cesaro in the 1st round of the KOTR tournament. Cesaro connected with a Backbreaker and went for the cover but Balor kicked out at two. Balor sent Cesaro out of the ring with a Back Body Drop as SmackDown went to a break.

When SmackDown returned, Balor connected with a Slingblade and both superstars crashed to the canvas. Cesaro battled back and hit a Superplex but somehow Balor kicked out at two. Cesaro hit a few uppercuts but Balor ducked and rolled him up for a two count. Balor dodged a running uppercut and hit a Dropkick into the corner. Finn climbed to the top rope and connected with the Coup de Grace for the pinfall victory. Balor has advanced in the KOTR tournament.

Edge Challenged Rollins To A Hell In A Cell Match

Seth Rollins made his way to the ring at the end of the show to challenge Edge again. Rollins suggested that they have another match in Edge’s living room so his family could cheer him on. Seth demanded that Edge come to the ring and started wondering what happened to the Ultimate Opportunist. Rollins cackled and claimed that he ended that guy with one Stomp in Madison Square Garden.

Rollins said that Edge not being here is admission from Edge that he is better than him in every possible way. Seth claimed that Edge is disappointing his friends and family. He brought up Edge’s little girls and said it must be tough to know their daddy is a coward. Edge pulled up and marched to the entrance ramp. Rollins grabbed a steel chair but Edge caught him with the Spear. Edge sent Seth into the steel steps and choked him with a headset. Edge broke off a piece of the chair and went for a Crossface but Seth escaped. Edge shouted that he wants a Hell in a Cell match against Rollins and Seth looked shocked.

WWE Caused MLW Streaming Deal To Get Nixed (Report)

Andrew Ravens
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WWE had a negative reaction to a streaming deal that MLW was trying to secure and reportedly had a part in getting the deal nixed. 

Fightful Select reported today that Major League Wrestling was working on a deal with the Tubi streaming service, which is owned by FOX. The plan was to announce the deal publicly in August, but WWE learned about it before the contract was signed and a source close to FOX stated WWE did not respond favorably to the deal. 

Because of WWE’s response to the deal, it was put into question and WWE, as well as FOX, nixed the streaming deal. A comment from WWE, MLW, and FOX was not made. While MLW had archived content on Tubi at one time, it appears they are no longer on the service.

Speaking of streaming services, it has been previously reported FOX wasn’t happy with NBCUniversal’s Peacock streaming service being promoted on their network. One source stated that FOX wanted to pay for the rights to WWE pay-per-views to turn the tables with the idea of putting WWE programming on Tubi. 

It was reiterated by FOX sources that while there were some in the company who likely shared that same frustration, they were happy to help promote major events on FOX platforms. The reason for that is due to them thinking that what is “good for the goose is good for the gander.”

A source at Peacock stated WWE’s performance on the streaming service appears to be exceptional and more eyes on WWE pay-per-view events than ever before.

Karrion Kross Speaks On Not Being With Scarlett Bordeaux On WWE TV

Andrew Ravens
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0

Many fans are waiting to see Scarlett Bordeaux back on television after she disappeared from being with Karrion Kross when he lost the NXT Title to Samoa Joe shortly after being moved to the WWE main roster. 

It was previously reported that WWE was planning to have Kross go on a losing streak in order for them to bring her back to television as a way to help him turn things around. 

Kross was asked about this when he was on a recent edition of D-Von Dudley’s “Table Talk” podcast. 

“This is what I can say. I mean without being deliberately cryptic, we’re waiting for something to finish taking its course. So, she is very good and she has been training like a maniac. Just like she always does. You can expect to see her any time or any place.”

It should be noted that in recent weeks, WWE has been airing vignettes for Kross. So perhaps she could return with Kross when he works his next match. Scarlett and Kross announced their engagement last month.

Before Kross was called up to the main roster, WWE did have Scarlett work dark matches without Kross as she previously wrestled in Impact Wrestling, AAA in Mexico, Ring Of Honor, and Ohio Valley Wrestling before signing with WWE.

The Undertaker Tells Tyson Fury To Smash Deontay Wilder (Video)

Fernando Quiles Jr.
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0

WWE legend The Undertaker has a message for Tyson Fury ahead of fight night.

This Saturday night (Oct. 9), Fury will be defending his WBC and The Ring Heavyweight Titles. He’ll be going one-on-one with Deontay Wilder in a trilogy fight. The action will be held inside T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Fury received the following video from The Undertaker.

“You smash this guy and when you’re looking over him, just for me, look down at him and say, “‘Rest In Peace!'”

Fury was quick to respond and he honored “The Phenom” by wearing his hat.

“This one’s for The Undertaker. I’m here today in your hat, sir. I’m gonna smash him and I’m gonna say, ‘Rest In Peace.'”

This isn’t the first time Tyson Fury and The Undertaker have had kind words for one another. Back when “The Deadman” was celebrating 30 years in WWE, Fury had the following video sent to The Undertaker.

“Hi, this is Tyson Fury and this is a special message to The Undertaker celebrating 30 years in the WWE. Fantastic, thank you very much for all the great nights you’ve given us over the years. God bless ya, see ya around.”

Fury got the meme treatment following his first fight with Deontay Wilder back in Dec. 2018. After being knocked down in the 12th round, “The Gypsy King” looked all but done. Somehow, he got back to his feet and survived until the final bell. The way Fury sat up reminded people of The Undertaker.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OH8Z9BYusDc

ROH Commentator Calls For AAA & CMLL To Make Amends

Fernando Quiles Jr.
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0

ROH play-by-play commentator, Ian Riccaboni, hopes that there will be a truce between top Mexican promotions AAA and CMLL.

The landscape of pro wrestling outside of WWE has drastically changed over the years. As of late, we’ve been seeing the “Forbidden Door” become busted open. There is a slew of cross-promotion going on. ROH is no stranger to inter-promotional dealings and has been doing it for years.

It’s gotten to the point where Ian Riccaboni just wants to see two promotions get along. Those companies are AAA and CMLL. Here’s what the ROH play-by-play ace told Sportskeeda.

“I’m gonna go with an off-the-beaten-path one. I think Ring of Honor has a good relationship with everybody. Those doors are open and I think there might be some light in some doors that were closed before, cracks of light. But I’d like to see AAA, CMLL finally just have some sort of truce.

“The scene in Mexico right now is so exciting. Bandido just did an event with his gym, Bandido’s Gym, for Big Lucha. There were so many talented luchadors that I never seen before including his brother, whose name is Gravity. Gravity did this crazy move off the balcony and he was really awesome in the battle royale. Just talent after talent. If you look at the lineup of Crash or if you look at the lineup of Big Lucha at Bandido’s Gym or anything like that, you’ll see these inter-promotional dream matches. You’ll see guys from AAA, you’ll see guys from CMLL, you’ll see guys from Ring of Honor, from AEW.”

As Riccaboni mentioned, there are plenty of other shows that have featured talent from various promotions including AAA and CMLL. While many wouldn’t hold their breath in terms of a partnership between the two companies, never say never in this industry.

If you use the quotes in this article for your website, please drop a h/t to SEScoops with a link back to this article.

Update On Gable Steveson’s WWE Debut

Fernando Quiles Jr.
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0

The WWE debut of Gable Steveson may not be a long wait.

The Wrestling Observer Newsletter is reporting that the plan is for Steveson to become a regular on WWE TV once his collegiate sports career wraps up at the end of March. The company reportedly wants the Olympic gold medalist to be featured prominently at WrestleMania 38 in April 2022.

Gable Stevenson was drafted to WWE’s Raw brand earlier this month. Over the next few months, WWE will be looking to keep Gable Steveson fresh in the minds of WWE fans.

Naturally, there’s been a top of hype surrounding the blue chip prospect. Following Gable Stveson’s Olympic gold medal victory over Geno Petriashvili in freestyle wrestling, speculation began about his future. He helped stir the pot, speaking openly about his options. In addition to professional wrestling, Stevenson also considered going pro with the NFL and also the UFC.

Steveson hasn’t wrestled a match or even cut a promo for WWE, but people are already comparing him to fellow Olympic gold medalist Kurt Angle.

Steveson is expected to graduate from college in May 2022. He will defend his NCAA Division I national championship at the University of Minnesota in his final year with the college.

Drew McIntyre Shares Who Has His Attention On NXT 2.0

Fernando Quiles Jr.
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0

Drew McIntyre has his eyes on a potential main eventer and a tag team on NXT 2.0.

McIntyre knows what it’s like to compete on the NXT brand. In fact, he’s a former NXT Champion. The brand has recently undergone a change and is being treated more as a developmental brand than a major third show.

During a media scrum, Drew McIntyre revealed who has his attention on NXT 2.0.

“Yeah, I was watching the first show and live tweeting along as I was paying close attention. I was curious how the new format would look. There are some talents that really caught my eye. Steiner’s kid, Bron Breakker caught my attention right away. He is clearly an athlete of a high level. He looks great, talks like his uncle, which is awesome. I see a big future for him. If he stays on the right path [and] keeps working hard like he’s clearly doing.”

The former two-time WWE Champion also said that he’s been impressed by the Creed Brothers. For some of the new talent surfacing on NXT 2.0, it hasn’t taken long for them to be thrust into the spotlight. Bron Breakker will be getting an NXT Championship opportunity against Tommaso Ciampa at Halloween Havoc on Oct. 26.

When the decision was made to change the direction of NXT, the reception was a mixed bag. Many criticized the promotion for it as NXT felt like an alternative brand for those who wanted something different from Raw and SmackDown. Those in favor of the change say it’s best to ensure talent is following the Vince McMahon and Bruce Prichard playbook in order to be ready for the main roster.

Bianca Belair Reveals Who She’d Start A Faction With

Fernando Quiles Jr.
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0

In the perfect world, Bianca Belair would put her differences aside to create a faction.

Belair is the former SmackDown Women’s Champion. She defeated Sasha Banks for the gold at WrestleMania 37. Belair ended up losing the championship to Becky Lynch at the SummerSlam PPV back in August. During an interview with the Hindustan Times, Belair revealed who she’d start a faction with.

“I think, if we can all get along – me, Sasha and Naomi will be a great faction,” said Belair. “We would mesh really well. We could work really work together. I just can’t trust Sasha right now. So, we cannot create this faction right now.”

She continued, “But I have seen on social media as well, that they want this faction. I think it would be cool. But I don’t know if it would ever be possible, because we just cannot seem to get on the same page.”

Belair, Sasha & Naomi

Bianca Belair and Sasha Banks haven’t exactly been chummy over the past few months. Banks took a break from in-ring action following WrestleMania but returned and unleashed a series of cheat shots on Bianca. The two will meet again in a triple threat match along with Becky Lynch at WWE Crown Jewel on Oct. 21.

As for Naomi, right now she finds herself at odds with Sonya Deville. Deville serves as an authority figure on Monday Night Raw and Friday Night SmackDown. Naomi believes Deville has been disrespecting and ignoring her for weeks. Many believe this is building towards a match between the two.

AJ Mendez On Wrestling For WOW: “Never Say Never”

Fernando Quiles Jr.
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0

AJ Mendez has responded to the question of whether or not she will wrestle for Women of Wrestling.

Mendez stunned the wrestling industry when she announced her return to the business. She will be an Executive Producer for WOW. Not only that, but she’ll also be in the booth as a color commentator.

Of course, this has led many to wonder if AJ Mendez will lace up her boots once again to mix it up with the current generation of female talent. Speaking to Izzy on the official YouTube channel of WOW, Mendez answered that question.

“So I will say, I say the same thing in every interview. It’s always, ‘never say never,’ but don’t hold your breath. And what I mean by that is that I never say never to anything. Physically, mentally, emotionally I’m healed from everything I’ve gone through in wrestling. I could technically do it, but I am so enjoying letting the next generation have their spotlight. I got to do everything I wanted to do so it really would have to be is that challenge there? I don’t think the girls need me there. I think that they are going to take over the world all by themselves.”

Regardless of whether or not she returns to the ring, the good news here is that there is no injury preventing Mendez from wrestling again. When she left WWE back in 2015, she cited damage to her cervical spine as one of the reasons for her decision.

Mendez will be playing a crucial role in the relaunch of WOW. The promotion had gone dark during the COVID-19 pandemic. Along the way, the promotion lost its TV deal with AXS after AXS purchased Impact Wrestling.

WOW is expected to make its return in the Fall of 2022.

If you use the quotes in this article for your website, please drop a h/t to SEScoops with a link back to this article.

Davey Boy Smith Jr. Contracted COVID-19 After His SmackDown Dark Match (Report)

Anutosh Bajpai
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Fans have been puzzled by WWE’s treatment of Davey Boy Smith Jr. He wrestled a dark match for WWE in July, but has disappeared from competition since then.

Dave Meltzer provided some updates on the former MLW star on the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter. He revealed that the reason the heavyweight star was pulled from the ring is that he had contracted COVID-19:

“One of the reasons Harry Smith hasn’t been seen since he did the one dark match with Austin Theory is that he contracted COVID. He’s fine now and was backstage for the draft show in Baltimore.”

The former NJPW star first made his name with his WWE run from 2005 to 2011. He went on to wrestle for promotions such as NJPW, MLW, and AJPW after his release from the company.

Davey Boy Smith Jr. worked a dark match before a SmackDown episode in July this year. He teamed up with Austin Theory to defeat Odyssey Jones and Xyon Quinn.

It was reported afterward that the 36-year-old had actually been signed back in April. People aware of his signing were asked to keep it quiet until he returned.

Many expected him to make his TV return during the Drafts but it didn’t happen. There is no word yet on when or if he will make his return to WWE programming.

Update On Johnny Gargano Removing NXT Reference From His Twitter Profile

Anutosh Bajpai
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Johnny Gargano gave people something to talk about when he removed references about NXT from his Twitter profile. This created buzz as it was reported earlier that Gargano’s WWE contract expires later this year. Dave Meltzer recently provided some updates on him in the latest edition of Wrestling Observer Newsletter. He noted that the exact date for the expiry of his contract is December 3.

As for Gargano removing NXT references from his profile, Meltzer noted that the company has angles planned for the former NXT champion for future shows. Despite the outside speculations about his future with the company, nobody internally has been alerted of any status change regarding the former DIY member.

After wrestling for promotions such as Chikara, Dragon Gate, and PWG, Johnny Gargano signed with WWE back in 2015. He started his TV career for the company teaming with Tommaso Ciampa. Their team known as DIY competed in the inaugural Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic tournament.

The NXT star evolved into a main event talent through his feud with Ciampa following their split. He was one of the pillar stars of the black and yellow brand during the Wednesday night wars. Though fans have been concerned about the future of stars of his build after the recent revamp of NXT. It would be interesting to see what decision Johnny makes about his future once his contract expires.

How WWE Officials Feel About Poor Key Demo Performance Of NXT 2.0

Reason Why Drew McIntyre Was Moved To SmackDown

Anutosh Bajpai
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Drew McIntyre has been moved to SmackDown from Raw because of the lack of credible contenders for the Universal champion Roman Reigns, according to latest reports. Dave Meltzer noted on the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter that the Scottish psychopath is next in line for a shot at Reigns after his match with Brock Lesnar. This rivalry will likely begin around December:

”McIntyre was moved over since Roman Reigns desperately needs a new opponent, and on paper right now there is essentially nobody else for him. Plus, McIntyre goes over with multiple losses at the end of his Raw run and presumably another to Big E, and then will become Reigns’ big contender probably around December,”

The roster changes announced during Draft are expected to take effect after the Crown Jewel PPV. Drew McIntyre will be facing Big E for the WWE title at the show on October 21. Roman Reigns on the other hand will be defending his Universal title against The Beast Incarnate. A title change at the show seems improbable.

Survivor Series on November 22 will follow Crown Jewel. If WWE follows the tradition we will see a clash between the two world champions in Reigns and Big E at the PPV. This means Reigns will not be ready for his next challenger until after. It’s only logical that his feud with Drew McIntyre will commence in late November or early December.

The Rock’s rumored Survivor Series return is a factor that can affect these plans. Though the head of the table has shown that he can handle multiple feuds at the same time. With the Roman Reigns vs. The Rock match not expected until WrestleMania, it seems less likely that it will affect the plans for Drew in any way.

Drew McIntyre Discusses Future Feud With ‘Final Boss’ Roman Reigns

The Undertaker On How He Would React If His Daughter Decides To Pursue Wrestling Career

Anutosh Bajpai
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The Undertaker is not shying away from his 9-year-old daughter Kaia pursuing a wrestling career. He is promising to coach her the best he can if she does decide to follow in the footsteps of his parents. The Dead Man recently appeared on ET Online to promote his new Netflix interactive movie with The New Day.

During the talk, he was asked about his daughter possibly joining the pro wrestling world. Replying to it, the former world champion said that it’s up to his daughter what she wants to do. Though if she does decide to step inside the ring, Undertaker said that he would do his best to prepare her:

“I tell you what, I don’t know, I mean, if it’s in her heart and that’s what she really truly wants to do one day, I’ll do my best to coach her up and obviously her mom will too, but yeah, we’ll see what happens. We have a long way to go before actually worrying about that.”

The Undertaker On His In Ring Status

The Undertaker Final Farewell 1
The Undertaker had his final farewell last year at Survivor Series

Even though he has said numerous times over the last year and half that he is now retired from active competition, you can never count The Undertaker out for good. The last outlaw was once again asked about his in-ring status and he explained that his heart still wants to go out and wrestle. However, his body can’t deliver what his mind can envision. So he wants to stay retired to make sure he doesn’t cheapen the legacy of his character:

“As of this moment, yeah, my days in the ring are done, and it’s not because I don’t want to be in the ring, I mean, that is where I’ve spent most of my adult life — my whole life, really,” More than half of my life has been spent in the wrestling or sports entertainment ring. So, in my mind, I still can see everything and, in my heart, you know, I want to be out there, but it’s just at a point where my body can’t deliver what my mind and my heart see.

My body can’t deliver that and I just don’t want to cheapen the legacy of that character and I’d hate for people to pay money to see me work and be disappointed.”

The Undertaker competed in a cinematic boneyard match against AJ Styles at WrestleMania 36 last year. It was his last match as an active competitor. While Styles has expressed interest in having a live rematch with the wrestling veteran, Taker has maintained that he is done with wrestling.

AJ Styles On What The Undertaker Gave Him Following Boneyard Match

Impact Results 10/7: Christian Cage & Josh Alexander Team Up In The Main Event

Chris Stephens
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Impact Wrestling on 10/7 featured future opponents Christian Cage and Josh Alexander team up in the main event against Ace Austin and Madman Fulton. This was also the go-home show for this weekend’s Knockouts Knockdown event.

Impact 10/7 Quick Results:

  1. Bullet Club (Chris Bey, HIKULEO, & El Phantasmo) defeated Chris Sabin and FinJuice (David Finlay & Juice Robinson)
  2. Tasha Steelz, Savannah Evans & Mercedes Martinez defeated Lady Frost, Kimber Lee & Brandi Lauren
  3. X-Division Title Match Qualifier
    Steve Maclin defeated Petey Williams and Black Taurus
  4. Rich Swann & Willie Mack defeated The Learning Tree (Zicky Dice & Manny Lemons)
  5. Christian Cage & Josh Alexander defeated Ace Austin & Madman Fulton

Bullet Club Picks Up Win In Trios Action

Impact’s Bullet Club faction of Chris Bey, HIKULEO, and El Phantasmo picked up a win in the opening contest against Chris Sabin and FinJuice. The finish of the match came when Sabin had Bey set for the Cradle Shock but HIKULEO attempted to enter the ring with a chair and distracted the ref. This allowed ELP to hit what appeared to be a low blow on Sabin, and Bey then hit the Art of Finesse for the win.

Meanwhile, Doc Gallows and Karl Anderson were shown in the back watching the match. They’ll face one of FinJuice or Bullet Club with their titles on the line at Bound For Glory.

Heath Addresses The Impact Zone

Heath came out and talked about his long recovery from injury. He noted that during that time he lost his best friend Rhino. Heath said Rhino never called him, never returned his messages, all the time he was with Violent By Design. Eric Young and VBD then came out, but Rhino was not with them. Young said Rhino belongs to him and then VBD attacked Heath. The fans chanted for Rhino but he never came out. VBD draped their flag over top of Heath to end the segment.

Knockouts Knockdown Preview In Trios Action

In a preview of this weekend’s Knockouts Knockdown tournament, Tasha Steelz, Savannah Evans and Mercedes Martinez and took on Lady Frost and Su Yung’s minions of Kimber Lee and Brandi Lauren. The finish fo the match came when Mercedes entered the match illegally and took out Kimber Lee with a big knee but the ref wouldn’t allow her to make the pin because she wasn’t the legal competitor. This allowed Tasha Steelz to cradle Kimber Lee for the win. Steelz refused to tag in Martinez throughout the match and the two ended up jawing at each other after.

Alisha Edwards then hit the ring with a kendo stick (Kendra) and took out Su Yung’s minions. She was doing this out of revenge for Lauren and Kimber attacking one of the Swingerellas in the back recently. Later on, Alisha challenged Kimber Lee. Gail Kim entered the picture and told Alisha she’ll be in the Monster’s Ball match at Knockouts Knockdown and she can get her revenge there.

Steve Maclin Qualifies For X-Division Title Match At Bound For Glory

In the second triple threat qualifying match for the triple threat X-division title match at Bound For Glory, Steve Maclin defeated Petey Williams and Black Taurus. He now joins Trey Miguel as the second person to qualify for the match. The finish of the match saw Williams deliver a Canadian Destroyer to Taurus but then get caught in Maclin’s Mayhem for All finisher.

Christopher Daniels Challenges Christian Cage

Christian Cage was being interviewed backstage when he was confronted by Christopher Daniels. The Fallen Angel told Cage that he wants a shot at his title and it doesn’t matter to him if it is in an Impact or AEW ring. Daniels then told Christian he’d give him some time to consider his challenge.

The Learning Tree Use Numbers Advantage To Beat Down Willie Mack and Rich Swann

Rich Swann and Willie Mack teamed up to defeat the Learning Tree team of Zicky Dice & Manny Lemons this week. After the match, however, Brian Myers and the rest of his faction attacked and beat down both Swann and Mack.

Mickie James To Pick Deonna Purrazzo’s Opponent At Knockouts Knockdown

Mickie James and Deonna Purrazzo got in a backstage altercation this week. Scott D’Amore then announced there is a no-contact clause in their Bound For Glory contract. Gail Kim then announced that they will each have the opportunity to pick the others’ upcoming opponents beginning at Knockouts Knockdown this weekend when James will choose who Purrazzo faces.

Christian Cage & Josh Alexander Defeat Ace Austin & Madman Fulton

Christian Cage and Josh Alexander teamed up this week ahead of their title match at Bound For Glory. The finish of the match came when Alexander seemed to have everything in control against Austin, he landed Chaos Theory suplex but Christian tagged himself in and gave Austin the Killswitch while looking at Alexander for the win. The two future opponents jawed at each other a little at the end of the show as Alexander was frustrated, saying he had Austin where he wanted him.

Coming Up In Impact Wrestling

Knockouts Knockdown airs on 10/9. The lineup for the show is below. Veda Scott and Mickie James will be on commentary.

Knockouts Knockdown 10/9:

  • Knockouts Knockdown Tournament (1st Round)
    Tasha Steelz vs. Jamie Senegal
  • Knockouts Knockdown Tournament (1st Round)
    Chelsea Green vs. Renee Michelle
  • Knockouts Knockdown Tournament (1st Round)
    Lady Frost vs. Rachael Ellering
  • Knockouts Knockdown Tournament (1st Round)
    Brandi Lauren vs. Mercedes Martinez.
  • Daffney Memorial Monster’s Ball Match
    Alisha Edwards vs Kimber Lee vs Jordynne Grace vs Savannah Evans
  • Knockouts Tag Team Championships
    Decay (Rosemary & Havok) vs The Influence (Madison Rayne & Tenille Dashwood)
  • Knockouts Championship
    Deonna Purrazzo vs TBD (Mickie James’ choice)

Bound For Glory (October 23rd)

  • Impact World Championship
    Christian Cage (c) vs Josh Alexander
  • Knockouts Championship
    Deonna Purrazzo (c) vs Mickie James
  • X-Division Championship (Vacant)
    Trey Miguel vs Steve Maclin vs TBD

PAC Recently Suffered A Concussion

Chris Stephens
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AEW star PAC recently suffered a concussion, according to AEW broadcaster Mark Henry on Thursday’s edition of Busted Open Radio.

Henry was expressing concern over PAC taking a big bump off the ladder on this week’s Dynamite when he noted that the Death Triangle member had suffered a concussion a month and a half ago.

“I would not have had a guy that was injured recently take a big bump off the top of the ladder to the floor on his back,” Henry said about PAC’s big bump in the Casino Ladder match. “I watched PAC, I watched his head snap back and hit the mat and he just had a concussion like a month and a half ago.”

PAC went from August 20th to September 8th, 2021 without wrestling. It’s not clear if this is the time period that Henry is referring to, however. PAC and Andrade were supposed to wrestle on the All Out PPV on September 5th but it ended up being postponed to the following week’s Rampage.

“I mean I’m probably breaking HIPAA laws but everybody saw that,” Henry continued.

“Maybe he’s the one that called it, I don’t know, but it scared me because I’m concerned about the guys and girls.”

PAC’s rival Andrade also commented recently on the big spot from the ladder match.

Legendary Belt Maker Reggie Parks Passes Away After Battle With COVID

Anutosh Bajpai
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Canadian professional wrestler and legendary belt maker Reggie Parks has passed away after a battle with COVID-19. He was 87.

Parks began his wrestling career in 1958, competing for Stu Hart’s Stampede Wrestling promotion. He wrestled till 1986 before retiring from active competition.

He also worked as a referee for the then WWF for a brief period after the end of his career as a wrestler but his stint as an in-ring official did not last very long.

Winged Eagle WWF
Parks designed the legendary Winged Eagle belt

Known as the “King of Belts”, the wrestling veteran made his first belt in 1962 and never looked back. He kept making belts even when he was active in the ring and he devoted himself to the craft completely after hanging his boots.

During his career, Reggie Parks made a number of iconic belts including the winged eagle WWF title belt. The belt that was used between February 1988 and March 1998 is one of the most popular designs of the WWE championship.

SEScoops extends our condolences to the family and friends of Reggie Parks.

Here are some reactions to the passing of Reggie Parks:

https://twitter.com/FrankieKazarian/status/1446323061792260098

CM Punk Clarifies Comments About His AEW Debut Being Bigger Than nWo

Anutosh Bajpai
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CM Punk, Adam Cole, and Bryan Danielson made their AEW debuts in close succession. These major arrivals helped AEW create an incredible buzz, even leading to them beating Raw in the 18-49 demo for a couple of weeks.

The straight edge star had compared this momentum to the time the Outsiders and Hulk Hogan made the jump to WCW. He had gone even as far as to claim that their moment in AEW was bigger.

Though after the backlash from fans, Punk clarified his comments in a recent interview with Sport1. He explained that he never said that the trio of himself, Bryan and Cole were bigger than the founders of nWo:

“If you look at the long-term effects [of Hogan, Nash, and Hall joining WCW]: it burned out relatively quickly. Five years later, WCW came to an end.

So ask me in five years where will AEW be. As for the comparison, I never said Adam, Bryan and I were bigger than the nWo. I said: The change felt bigger for us than the changes back then.” said CM Punk, “This is my opinion. Others may disagree, cool too. In five years you will be able to judge it correctly.”

The effect of the buzz surrounding these big debuts seems to be wearing off already. AEW Dynamite has seen big declines in viewership ratings in the past couple of weeks and Raw has increased the lead in the 18-49 demo.

Apart from this, CM Punk also talked about things such as future opponents he wants to face in AEW, his role in wrestling-based TV series Heels, and more.

The quotes in the article have been translated via Google translate.

CM Punk Is Impressed But Not Surprised With John Cena’s Acting Skills

How WWE Officials Feel About Poor Key Demo Performance Of NXT 2.0

Anutosh Bajpai
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WWE’s plan to try and attract younger viewers with the recent NXT revamp is not working very well but the officials have not lost hope just yet.

According to Andrew Zarian of Mat Men podcast, a source within the company said that the revamp is aimed at bringing in a younger audience. The exes are hoping that the brand will bounce back from the recent decline:

“[This] is all to bring a new younger viewer who is connected with pop culture & trends. Needless to say, the demo numbers are disappointing but we are hopeful this is just a bump in the road”

This week’s episode of NXT, with the fatal four-way elimination match for the tag team titles in the main event, drew a total of 632,000 viewers per Showbuzz Daily. The show did a disappointing 0.13 rating in the 18-49 key demographic.

A 0.13 rating represents a total of 170,000 viewers of the age group, down from 183,000 viewers last week. This was the lowest key demo rating for the NXT 2.0 revamp.

It’s also the lowest rating for the key demo for a live episode on USA Network since the June 29 episode earlier this year.

The 0.13 rating is the fourth-lowest viewership for the key demo ratings the development brand has done on the USA Network.

Johnny Gargano Sparks Speculation After Removing NXT From Social Media Bio

Dynamite Viewership Drops Again, Raw Increases Lead In Key Demo

Anutosh Bajpai
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This Wednesday’s episode of AEW Dynamite suffered another big drop in overall viewership and the key demo numbers were down significantly as well.

The episode featuring Adam Page’s return and big win in the casino ladder match for the main event drew a total of 1.053 million viewers, according to Showbuzz Daily.

This is a big 8.59% decline from last week’s episode of the show. The September 29 Dynamite featuring the TNT championship main event between Miro and Sammy Guevara had drawn 1.152 million viewers.

As for the key demo ratings, the show drew a 0.37 rating in the 18-49 demo. A 0.37 rating represents a total of 480,000 viewers who were in the age group.

This is another big 18.36% decline from the 588,000 viewers of the 18-49 demographic the show had scored last week. Last week’s Dynamite drew a 0.45 rating in the demo.

In comparison, this past Monday’s episode of Raw which was the final night of the WWE Draft drew an average of 1.857 million viewers. The show increased its lead in the key demo with a 0.52 rating representing 680,000 viewers.

Dynamite ranked #4 on the Cable Top 150 with its 0.37 rating. This ends the shows’ six-week-long streak as the #1 program in the Cable Top 150 for Wednesday nights.

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