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Ezra Judge On If AEW Was A Topic Of Discussion At NXT Backstage

Anutosh Bajpai
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The competition between NXT and AEW Dynamite was a buzzing topic every week among fans during the Wednesday night wars but it wasn’t even mentioned backstage at the black and yellow brand, according to Ezra Judge.

The former WWE star recently had an interview with WrestlingInc where he talked about a number of things including the locker room environment at NXT.

When asked if AEW was ever a topic of discussion backstage at the Performance Center, Judge claimed that they never really talked about that stuff:

“No, nobody really talked about that stuff, one of the things that I know for myself is you can’t stay in your lane when you’re looking at somebody else’s lane. You start to veer into their lane. I know as a group, we were just focused on putting on the best product possible,

And everybody just showed up every day and gave it their best.” said Ezra Judge, “I honestly never heard of any comparisons or anything. I’ve always watched AEW. I like AEW. I like all wrestling.”

The former football star also discussed how people at both companies were aware of each other’s product but at the end of the day they were focused on delivering the best product they can.

Apart from this, Ezra Judge talked about things such as how close he was to making his in-ring debut, who were the locker room leaders at NXT, and more.

Buddy Murphy is the Hottest Free Agent on the Market

Alex Laybourne
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Since the latest round of WWE releases, there is one name that everybody has been talking about. However, it is actually Buddy Murphy who seems to have the world at his feet right now.

According to sources at PW Insider Indie promotions are chomping at the bit to get their hands on Buddy Murphy. The 32-year-old Australian will not be short of offers once his 90-day break is seen out.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CPLy2zKrvYm/

He is a special kind of wrestler who has power beyond his size and athletic ability that lets him keep up with the lighter guys on a roster. The former best-kept secret would be an incredible asset to any promotion. If he was to return to the indies, rather than sign for one single promotion then there is no end to the potential matches he could have.

An athlete of Buddy Murphy’s calibre could walk into any promotion and instant be a star draw.

Murphy has already set up a new email account for anybody looking to get in touch about future bookings. The name used is [email protected] a clear homage to his old nickname as the Best Kept Secret.

Buddy Murphy is a former singles and tag team champion in WWE. His most memorable moment would surely be winning the cruiserweight title in front of his home fans during a WWE show in Australia.

While Buddy Murphy has not yet signed on for any events just yet, the wrestling world has its eyes peeled for where he will appear. Expect it to be a very busy second half of 2021 for this talented wrestler.

Jeff Jarrett Recalls Trying to Sign Ultimate Warrior to TNA

Alex Laybourne
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Talking on his My World with Jeff Jarrett podcast, the founder of TNA spoke about the birth of the company.

Jarrett talked at length about starting the company and how the idea occurred while he was under contract with WWE, but at home injured. Talking candidly about the early days of TNA Jeff Jarrett spoke about trying to capitalize on the aftermath of WWE’s purchase of WCW.

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Early names they wanted to sing included Sid Vicious and Chyna. One other superstar that Jeff Jarrett (and his father) tried to sign was Ultimate Warrior.

Jarrett was brief on the details surrounding these attempts. “I had a couple of conversations with [Ultimate Warrior], but very top-level … o put it back in context, I had never done business with him, our paths really never crossed in WWF. Me and [Warrior’s] paths never really crossed other than I met him on Thanksgiving day in 1985 and I met him with Sting. Our paths had never crossed, he was more a business colleague, he was a friend of my dad’s. I reached out, had some conversations but my dad was doing all the business negotiations.”

Jeff Jarrett blames the hot and cold nature of the talent, looking at a new promotion in the wake of such a huge deal between WWE and WCW. Ultimate Warrior never signed for Jeff Jarrett’s fledgling promotion, but it is fun to think about what could have been.

Darby Allin Talks His ‘All or Nothing’ Approach To Pro Wrestling

Jake Skudder
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All Elite Wrestling star Darby Allin recently appeared on the Wrestling Perspective podcast. The former TNT Champion talked a number of topics during the interview, including his high risk and daredevil style of pro wrestling.

“I’m all in or nothing, for the most part” Darby Allin would note on the podcast. “And I always made a commitment to myself that I’d rather have a real short career and then just push it hard every day.”

“[I’d rather that] then just try to focus on outside projects when the time’s up,” Allin added, making it quite clear that he doesn’t intend on having a very long pro wrestling career. “As of right now, I feel like I’m just gonna keep going and going and going until my wheels fall off, but I feel wonderful right now.”

Darby Allin Talks Risk Taking Style

“I’ve been doing DDP Yoga with Dallas over in his house” Allin revealed, at least giving somewhat of an indication that he’s looking after his body. “And I’m insane about physical therapy and you know, I don’t take any drugs.”

“I don’t take aspirin or anything like that” Allin noted, as he is a staunch straight edge believer. “I just take a bunch of ice baths and you know, yoga and just… yeah, man.”

Sammy Guevara Discusses Why Chris Jericho Is a ‘Genius’

Jake Skudder
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AEW star Sammy Guevara recently appeared on SiriusXM’s Busted Open Radio. The member of the Inner Circle stable discussed a number of topics during the interview, including the leader of the group, Chris Jericho.

“Man there’s so many” Guevara began, discussing the reasons why Chris Jericho is a ‘genius’ in wrestling terms. “Just taking your time in between the moments, structuring certain things. He’s such a mastermind at this.”

“There’s a reason he’s been doing this longer than I’ve been alive” Sammy Guevara continued. “And so anytime he says something I always try to just take it.”

Sammy Guevara on Chris Jericho

“And even if I don’t see what he’s seeing, I try to understand it from where he’s coming from” Guevara revealed. “Then by the end of it I’m like, ‘Okay, now this makes sense.’”

“He kind of has a different way of thinking” the Inner Circle member concluded. “I don’t even know. He’s a genius. There’s so many lessons this dude has taught me and too many to really say, to be honest.”

With The Inner Circle set to continue their feud with The Pinnacle, Sammy Guevara will be able to continue to ascend the ranks. Guevara winning the Stadium Stampede II match was a huge moment for the young star, and he’s just one of the many performers who AEW have built in their first years of existence.

Authors of Pain Deny They Are Retired: “Ain’t Done Yet Bitches”

Alex Laybourne
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Former WWE tag team Authors of Pain (AOP) have set the record straight about their future in the wrestling business.

The duo was the most dominant tag team in WWE at one time. They ran over NXT and the RAW roster, claiming both the NXT and RAW tag team gold. Their final storyline saw them working as Seth Rollins’ enforcers. AOP was released in September 2020 run of cuts, which surprised virtually everybody.

AOP never resurfaced. Earlier this week, Fightful reported that a wrestling promoter reached out to the tag team hoping to bring them in. They were told AOP are retired. Journalist Sean Ross Sapp reached out to Rezar for an interview. He replied, “I’m not a wrestler,” which seemed to corroborate the news that they are effectively retired.

AOP “Ain’t Done Yet”

Akam has since replied to the buzz about their status. According to the big man, we have not seen the last of the team (or their former manager, Paul Ellering).

These are strong words that imply retirement is not currently in their vocabulary.

While the Authors of Pain have not been seen for a while, it is not necessarily their own fault. AEW went on record as saying they didn’t feel the duo were a good fit for the promotion – at the time. While NJPW lacked the budget to make a deal happen for the pair. Both big men make a formidable team but would surely come as a package.

Hopefully, the Authors of Pain will be back between the ropes soon, as the post-pandemic wrestling landscape starts to take shape. Who wouldn’t like to see these two behemoths run over the Good Brothers, or flatten the Young Bucks at some point?

Keanu Reeves Joining The Rock For DC League of Super-Pets Animation

Anutosh Bajpai
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Hollywood icon Keanu Reeves will be joining Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson and some other big names for the upcoming DC League of Super-Pets movie.

The former WWE star shared the news of Reeves and his good friend Kevin Hart joining the cast for the upcoming animation film on Instagram alongside a teaser:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CP3W_BDlW61/

The Rock will be voicing superman’s dog Krypto in the animation while his friend Kevin Hart will be playing the role of Batman’s dog Ace the Bat-Hound.

There is no word yet on which character Keanu Reeves will be voicing but the John Wick star will be joining a number of big names in the movie.

Apart from the Rock, other names announced for the movie include A Quiet Place: Part 2 director John Krasinski, Russian Doll’s Natasha Lyonne, Rogue One’s Diego Luna, and Saturday Night Live’s Kate McKinnon and Vanessa Bayer.

League of Super-Pets will see the beloved pets of some of DC’s top superheroes joining forces and forming a crime-fighting team of their own.

Apart from Krypto and Ace, the other names expected to be featured in the film include Wonder Woman’s kangaroo, Jumpa; and Supergirl’s cat, Streaky the Supercat.

DC League of Super-Pets is currently set to release on May 20, 2022.

Pat McAfee Challenges Adam Cole: “Come Over To Friday, Pal”

Anutosh Bajpai
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Pat McAfee and Adam Cole delivered some impressive matches during their rivalry in NXT and now the two stars are teasing an extension to their feud at a much bigger stage.

The latest episode of The Bump saw the former NXT champion taking another shot at his arch-rival. During a conversation about the former football star, the former Undisputed Era leader discussed his hatred for him:

“Pat McAfee, again, the fact that he has tricked so many people into working alongside him kind of blows my mind that was a really, really big issue for me, but again, my hatred for Pat was so strong that again, it could have been anybody and I was laser-focused on Pat the whole time.”

Cole then talked about Pete Dunne’s alliance with Pat McAfee for their WarGames match. When the NXT UK star didn’t respond to a question about him, Adam Cole turned it into another brilliant opportunity to comment on his rival:

“I wouldn’t want to talk about that embarrassment Pat McAfee either, I don’t blame him.”

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McAfee Fires Back at Cole

The football star didn’t keep quiet on these jabs. During the latest episode of his podcast, the SmackDown commentator was asked if he has come up with a name for the finisher he is going to use on Cole.

Replying to the question, McAfee discussed the recent shots from his opponent. He then interestingly invited Cole to come over to Friday nights:

“This morning he called me an embarrassment or something like that and went on this entire run. Hey Adam Cole, pal, listen. You are talking to mister Friday night now. Run your mouth on my internet? Come over Friday pal, say what you gotta say, and eat another boot to the f**king mouth.”

The big question stemming from this exchange now is if this is a sign of things to come. It would be interesting to see if Adam Cole does show up on SmackDown to reply to McAfee.

WWE Changes COVID-19 Policy for NXT Televised Shows

Jake Skudder
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WWE has changed their policy regarding fans in attendance at NXT shows going forward. Previously, fans at the Capitol Wrestling Center (CWC) were expected to have a negative COVID-19 test result before entering the building. It appears as though this will no longer be the case as of this Sunday and the In Your House event.

WWE NXT has been the only show with fans live in attendance since the move to the Thunderdome last August. Previously, fans had to fill in a questionnaire and take a free rapid COVID-19 Antigen test on the night of the event. Fans were also expected to complete a COVID-19 health questionnaire and sign a waiver; as well as have a thermal temperature check before entering the venue.

COVID-19 Policy

WWE is still asking fans not to attend if they have been in contact with someone showing COVID symptoms in the last 14 days. Of course fans who have themselves shown signs of the virus over the past 2 weeks will need to remain isolated also.

NXT In Your House takes place this Sunday and will be available on Peacock in the United States and WWE Network everywhere else.

Here’s the card for the event:

  • Fatal 5 Way for the NXT Championship – Adam Cole vs. Kyle O’Reilly vs. Pete Dunne vs. Johnny Gargano vs. Karrion Kross (c)
  • NXT Women’s Title Match – Ember Moon vs. Raquel Gonzalez (c)
  • Winners Take All for the NXT North American Title and NXT Tag Team Titles – Legado del Fantasma (Santos Escobar, Joaquin Wilde and Raul Mendoza) vs. Bronson Reed (c) and MSK (Wes Lee, Nash Carter) (c)
  • Ladder Match for the Million Dollar Title – LA Knight vs. Cameron Grimes (WWE Hall of Famer Ted DiBiase Sr. will be present at ringside)
  • Xia Li vs. Mercedes Martinez

Update On WWE’s Plans To Make SummerSlam The Biggest Event Of 2021

Staff
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WWE SummerSlam is going to be a remarkable show, without even considering the potential matches on the card. “The biggest party of the summer” will mark WWE’s second pay-per-view with live fans since its return to a touring schedule. It’s fair to expect the company to pull out all stops for the show, and a new report indicates that WWE intends to do so.

According to a new tweet from WrestleVotes, WWE hopes to make SummerSlam as big as WrestleMania this year. The report notes that the company is intends to tap into any and all “resources” for the show.

WrestleVotes’ tweet also notes that WWE wants the marquee match to be a clash between Roman Reigns and John Cena, but it clarifies that this bout isn’t set in stone. Presumably, Cena, seeking his record-breaking 17th world title win, would challenge Reigns for his WWE Universal Championship in this match.

Jon Alba of Spectrum Sports 360 offered additional information. He confirmed that Reigns vs. Cena is the planned main event for the show. Alba stated that Cena’s filming schedule “opens up” in July, so he could be available for at least a few appearances on WWE SmackDown.

Otherwise, many fans continue to predict that the company will try to bring Brock Lesnar back for this buzzworthy show. “The Beast Incarnate” hasn’t been seen on WWE programming since WrestleMania 36, but the former champion could add a lot of star power to SummerSlam.

At this point, the possibilities are endless because WWE will likely do everything it can to make the show as special as possible.

Jim Ross Says WWE Cut Adnan Virk Too Soon, But He Was In Over His Head

Michael Reichlin
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Legendary wrestling broadcaster Jim Ross knows what it’s like to be in the ‘hot seat’ as the lead play-by-play announcer of WWE Raw. JR held that post during the Attitude Era, the popularity pinnacle of WWE’s storied history.

Jim Ross appeared on the Dan Le Batard Show this week and discussed Adnan Virk’s brief stint with WWE. Virk took over JR’s old job as Raw lead announcer right after WrestleMania 37 and lasted just six weeks before getting cut.

Ross feels that Adnan Virk is a talented broadcaster who probably should have gotten more time to prove himself. However, pro wrestling is a unique animal. It is unlike other professional sports. In hindsight, Adnan Virk may not have had enough product knowledge to make the most of the opportunity he was given.

“Adnan got put on TV in a very unique product before he was ready, from a product knowledge standpoint,” said Ross. “Wrestling fans today, with social media and all the information flow, they have a great sense of what they like and what might be wrong. He’s a solid broadcaster and they rushed to judgment too quick.”

JR also commented on what it’s like for broadcasters to work for Vince McMahon. He says Vince likes to “impose his will” and has a very distinct vision for what he’s looking for

“The simple fact is, they mis-assigned Adnan. He should’ve had more work in other areas and other TV shows, lord knows they have plenty of them, to get his chops under him. Vince is a strange cat and he’s the boss. If he doesn’t hear something he likes, he makes a quick decision.”

You can listen to Jim Ross on the Dan Lebatard Show on Apple Podcasts.

Tammy Sytch Released From Prison

Chris Stephens
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WWE Hall of Famer Tammy Lynn Sytch (aka Sunny) has been released from prison. According to New Jersey’s Monmouth County Correctional Institution, original WWE ‘diva’ is no longer housed at the facility. She had been there since July 2020.

sunny out

Sytch was paroled last February after serving 1-year in jail due to a string of DUI convictions. Her parole was then revoked after she was arrested again in July last year. Those charges included 2 counts of violating a domestic restraining order, driving with a suspended license, and evading a police officer. The state of New Jersey then filed to have Sytch’s parole revoked and she was sent back to Monmouth County Correctional Institution. After serving almost another full year in prison, Sytch was released this morning.

In the 5 months of 2020 that Sytch was not in jail, she promoted an OnlyFans account.

https://twitter.com/WWEHOFerSunny/status/1282135232284590084

Sytch was also promoting a Cameo account before her arrest last summer:

In 2016, Sytch released a book on her life and career.

https://twitter.com/WWEHOFerSunny/status/699815522989432832

The 48-year-old was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2011. She has also often been referred to as the first “WWE Diva.” Sunny played an important role for WWE in the 90s and was a prominent part of WWE Monday Night Raw. Additionally, Sunny is a 2x Slammy Award winner in WWE. She won the award for “Best Buns” and “Minds Behind the Mayhem” in 1996.

WWE Stock Surges Amid Budget Cuts & WallStreetBets Spotlight

Chris Stephens
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WWE stock is up 17% this morning following a trending post on Reddit’s WallStreetBets subreddit. A thread on the platform has identified WWE as having potential due to the return of live events, video game sales, recent talent cuts, and rumors of a potential sale.

Brandon Thurston of Wrestlenomics has been following the developing situation.

Shortly after the market opened this morning, WWE stock rose 17%.

The stock got up as high as 20% but then fell back.

Thurston believes Vince McMahon has made $300 million today:

Why Is WallStreetBets Interested In WWE Stock?

3 key reasons have been listed as to why WallStreetBets is taking an interest in WWE. The first is the company’s pending return to live touring.

“WWE will resume touring. Despite this revenue being missing in 2020, they managed to haul in nearly a billion dollars. So the second half this year, and all of next year, is going to be pretty good. Not only will revenues be driven up, but fan engagement and brand appeal will go up as well,” the author wrote.

Also a factor in WallStreetBets’ interest, is WWE video game sales.

“WWE Supercard is Take Two Interactive’s (a $52b company) highest grossing mobile game, and it’s growing at around 23% YOY. A lot of that money will flow into WWE. WWE also sells rights to other titles. As video games continue to grow, so to does WWEs revenue,” the author continued.

Finally, rumors of possible sale are also driving interest in WWE stock on WallStreetBets.

“About a week ago, WWE cut some talent assets. Some apparently important guy tweeted that it’s likely due to them cutting costs and preparing for an acquisition,” the author wrote.

Cameron Grimes has yet to release an official statement on the matter.

Jim Ross Believes Mark Henry Signing Shows AEW Rampage Intent

Alex Laybourne
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If there is one man who could be called the voice of wrestling, then it is Jim Ross. Good Ol’ JR has been the voice of several generations, as well as being an influential figure behind the scenes. Talking on his Grilling JR Podcast, he took time out to talk about AEW’s recent Hall of Fame signing, and what is really means for the company.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CP0e8Pnh8fl/

Jim Ross of full of praise for Mark Henry, and while he was surprised AEW were able to coax the world’s strongest man away from WWE, he believes it shows the true intentions of AEW Rampage.

 “You know he’s got a good eye for talent, he’s coachable, he likes to mentor so that was pretty cool. It gives me credence that the Friday night show Rampage is not going to be a throw away, it’s not a space filler. I was kind of surprised that Mark got out from under the WWE banner and is coming to work with our team.”

Jim Ross Feels Mark Henry Has a Big Role to Play at AEW

Jim Ross is not believed to be part of the Rampage team. However, he believes Mark Henry has what it takes to make the show something special. He also feels as though we will be seeing Mark Henry competing in an AEW ring also. Jim Ross also spoke about how AEW kept Mark Henry’s signing a true surprise for everybody.

“It’s a win-win for everybody I believe, and it also opens the door potentially down the road for Mark to have another match or two. He’s still got the itch; it seems to me like. I didn’t see him all day, so they kept him sequestered all day. It didn’t leak, it never got out.”

AEW need the show to hit the ground running. Especially after a run of disappointing figures for Dynamite during its recent stint on the Friday night slot. The same slot Rampage will fill.

Erick Rowan Offers Advice to Braun Strowman Following His Release

Alex Laybourne
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The wrestling world is still coming to terms with the news of Braun Strowman’s WWE release. Going from competing in the main event and challenging for the world title, to being released in just a few months.

However, Strowman is not the first superstar to sign a big-money deal only to find the rug pulled out from under them.

Talking in a recent interview with SK Wrestling, Erick Redbeard (formerly known as Erick Rowan) had some words of encouragement for his former Wyatt Family brother.

“You know, a year ago, I was in the same position,” Rowan said. “That’s what you get when you sign that big-money contract. It’s not guaranteed money, man! [laughs]. Nothing in this world is guaranteed. Just get back on, just get back on the horse and keep moving on, man.”

The World is Braun Strowman’s Oyster Right Now

There has been no word yet as to where Braun Strowman is going to head, but he would be an asset to any promotion. The monster among men brings a draw that not many can match these days. Having grown exponentially in recent years. This is in terms of physique, in-ring and mic skills, as well as general character development.

There are many interesting potential feuds for the big man, depending on where Braun Strowman decides to go next. It’s not inconceivable that he and Erick Redbeard could end up on the same card someday in the future.

Since leaving WWE, Erick has refrained from signing with anybody. He did make a single once-off appearance for AEW at the Brodie Lee tribute show. Recently, Redbeard has confirmed he has reached an agreement with a company, but the details have yet to be confirmed. One thing is for sure, any match involving him, and Braun Strowman would have a huge draw, especially with the history the pair share. The Brodie Lee connection would also make it an emotional moment for sure.

Johnny Gargano Talks Adopting the Sitcom Dad Persona

Alex Laybourne
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Since debuting on NXT, Johnny Gargano has seen his character change a few times. From his heel role in DIY to the ultimate babyface with the Undisputed Era. Now, as leader of The Way, he is seeing his character develop in a way nobody would have predicted.

Playing the role of your stereotypical sitcom dad, alongside (real-life) wife Candice LeRae and their ‘children’ Austin Theory and Indi Hartwell. The heel stable has really taken on a life of its own since forming, changing drastically from the original concept.

Talking to Ryan Satin’s on his Out of Character podcast, Gargano discussed the group’s evolution.

“When I pitched this whole faction idea, trust me, the whole sitcom family thing was not something I pitched,” Johnny explained. “It came when we filmed the Christmas special. Everyone was just kinda interacting with one another. We would joke around a lot and call Austin and Indi our kids because they kinda looked like big versions of ourselves that we made in a lab. So we would call them our kids, and it just kinda became something that kinda took off on-screen, and that just became our dynamic.”

According to Johnny Gargano, the group have really embraced the sitcom theme now, and are really pushing it to see how far they can go. Ever the professional, Gargano was eager to talk about the way the faction has allowed his ‘children’  Austin Theory and Indi Hartwell to grow and develop their skills.

For Johnny Gargano, the future is looking bright indeed, as he prepares for a chance to win his second NXT championship. Taking on Karrion Kross, Kyle O’Reilly, Pete Dunne and Adam Cole in a Fatal-5-Way at the upcoming In Your House PPV.

Tyson Kidd Talks Transitioning from Wrestler to Mentor and Producer

Alex Laybourne
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Wrestling is a dangerous business. Tyson Kidd is a wrestler who knows this better than many others. After suffering a serious, career-ending injury back in 2015, he was forced to accept his in-ring career was over. However, Kidd was not done with wrestling.

A product of the legendary Hart Dungeon, Tyson Kidd got back on his feet and is helping keep the Hart training legacy alive.

Talking in a recent interview alongside the legend, Bret ‘the Hitman’ Hart, Kidd talked about his transition from in-ring talent to coach. Recently, Kidd had the pleasure of watching one of his trainees claim their first title in WWE.

Not only that, but they did is alongside his wife, Natalya. A natural teacher, Tyson Kidd has always been one to share knowledge, and help others improve.

“I was kind of training Tamina on the road since 2010. She’s been this very long-term project of mine. She’s such a great person, and it’s so easy to open up and want to help her. It’s so easy to do.” Kidd said when talking on a recent episode of WWE’s The Bump.

Alongside his role as a coach and mentor, Tyson Kidd has also excelled in the role of producer. He is working exclusively as a producer for women’s matches in WWE, and it is a role he loves.

“I fell into and started producing more and more women’s matches until it became exclusive now. But I love it. It’s so much more than my own career. It’s more sentimental. Not to take away from my own career, but what I’m doing now is not even close. The comparison is not even close.”

Tyson Kidd’s wrestling career may be over, but his career in wrestling is just getting started.

News On Backstage Talks About Brock Lesnar’s Return

Anutosh Bajpai
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There have been signs pointing towards an imminent return for Brock Lesnar but the company hasn’t planned his return to WWE TV as of now.

Dave Meltzer talked about the former universal champion on the latest episode of Sunday Night’s Main Event podcast and discussed the chatter about the Beast Incarnate’s return to WWE programming.

There have been a lot of rumors about Lesnar potentially returning for a SummerSlam match against Bobby Lashley. However, Meltzer revealed that as of now, there are no plans for this match to take place at the show.

WWE chairman Vince McMahon will be the one making the decision about his return. A match with Lashley could take place at any time but the company has not made the call for the former world champion’s return as of last week.

Meltzer also interestingly noted that there are people within the company who do not want Brock Lesnar to return until Roman Reigns is ready to feud with him.

There is no word yet on when this fight could take place but a match between the two clients of Paul Heyman would be an encounter worthy of a SummerSlam or WrestleMania level event.

Brock Lesnar was recently moved back to the list of active WWE superstars but it seems we will have to wait some more for his actual return to WWE TV. Stay tuned for more updates on the situation.

Johnny Gargano Says He Was A ‘Made Man’ After NXT Feud With FTR

Alex Laybourne
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Johnny Gargano is one of the biggest names on the NXT roster. The leader of The Way, he was also part of the biggest faction in NXT history with Undisputed Era. He is a three-time North American Champion, a former NXT Champion and a tag-team champion. He is the first-ever NXT triple crown champion.

His NXT legacy is cemented. Yet, there is one feud in particular that Gargano credits for building his NXT career. During an appearance on the Out of Character podcast, Johnny Gargano credited DIY versus The Revival (FTR) for starting his NXT career.

“And then obviously, our work with Revival [Cash Wheeler & Dax Harwood]. I cannot say enough good things about that. That really cemented us and really kind of — that was obviously our first TakeOver. TakeOver: Brooklyn at the Barclays Center was our first one and to go in there with those guys and to have that match, I don’t think I’d be sitting here today if that match didn’t go the way it did.”

Gargano continued, “I think that match went so well, it made them realize like, ‘Oh, wait a minute, we might have something special here with these guys and obviously the rest is history. But to be able to do that in Brooklyn then have the 2-out-of-3 Falls in Toronto, we were made men from those matches.”

The two matches between DIY and The Revival introduced the NXT universe to Johnny Gargano. Since debuting, his character has evolved, his style has evolved. The sky is the limit for Gargano, and exciting times are surely ahead.

Backstage News On Plans For Elias And Jaxson Ryker

Anutosh Bajpai
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0

There has been some speculation about Jaxson Ryker turning heel in the near future after his split with Elias but latest reports suggest that this is not the case.

According to reports from PWinsider, the plan moving forward is for the former forgotten sons member to continue working as a babyface, while his former partner plays the heel role.

After being taken off TV for several months due to a controversial tweet, Jaxson Ryker made his return to WWE programming in December last year. He aligned himself with Elias upon his return.

He continued teaming with the drifter until last month. Elias walked out on his partner during a tag team match against AJ Styles and Omos on the May 31 episode of Raw, effectively ending their tag team.

This week’s episode of the show then saw Ryker debuting a new look matching the Raw star’s new gimmick as an Iraq war veteran with PTSD.

The former NXT star had a match with his former partner on the show. The bout saw him picking up a count-out victory after Elias walked out of the match.

It’s interesting that WWE intends to present Jaxson Ryker as a babyface despite his past issues. We would have to wait and see what the company has planned for his future.

Paul Heyman Believes The Street Profits Are Magic

Alex Laybourne
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Like him or loathe him, Paul Heyman is a man who knows wrestling. He has been involved in the wrestling business since he was 21 years old. Now, 35 years later he is still a major name. His allegiance to first Brock Lesnar and now Roman Reigns has shaped a character in both himself and the wrestlers he manages that will live on long in the memories of wrestling fans.

Talking in a recent High Spots Virtual Q&A session, Paul Heyman was asked which superstars he felt were most undervalued for their mic skills.

Heyman wasted no time in giving his answer. Naming a tag team as one of the most underrated talents in WWE right now. Talking about The Street Profits, Paul Heyman was quick to claim that the duo was great but also had so much more still to offer.

“The Street Profits. They get a lot of credit for being great promos, I don’t think they’ve even scratched the surface of how great they are yet. Both of them. The rhythm between the two of them is just magic,” Heyman said.

The Street Profits have become firm fan favourites during their time with WWE. Their chemistry on the mic extending deep into their in-ring skills also. The Street Profits are only the second tag team to have held all three WWE tag-team belts.

Paul Heyman also reserved praise for two NXT superstars. Citing both Austin Idol and Armando Estrada as being exciting prospects on the mic.

This is high praise, coming from Paul Heyman, who cuts some of the best promos in the business.

Former Indie Star Makes NXT Debut With New Name

Anutosh Bajpai
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Indie star Camron Clay made her debut on NXT TV during this week’s episode of the show. The newcomer was dubbed as Amari Miller upon her arrival.

Amari Miller took on her Twitter after the show to react to her debut for the black and yellow brand. She thanked NXT and fellow development star Zayda Ramier in a tweet:

https://twitter.com/Amari_MillerWWE/status/1402459234286059524?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

This week’s Takeover go-home episode of the show saw Mercedes Martinez coming out to the ring. She had a scheduled match against the newest NXT star but she was attacked by Xia Li before the bout.

Li tried to soften her future opponent before their upcoming match at Takeover but Martinez managed to fight her off. She then asked the referee to start the match against Miller.

Unfortunately for the new NXT star, Mercedes Martinez was able to pick up the victory in the bout. She was able to squash her opponent and Martinez pinned her rival after a few moves.

The star who has gone by the names such as Camron Clay, Camron Connors, and Camron Bra’Nae in the past was signed by WWE earlier this year. She joined the Performance Center in February.

Miller had been wrestling for almost 5 years before her signing with the promotion. She has previously worked for companies such as EVOLVE and WWN Live. She also made a SmackDown appearance as an enhancement talent in October 2019 where she lost a match to Lacey Evans.

Tony Khan Releases Statement On Lio Rush’s Retirement

Anutosh Bajpai
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Lio Rush made the announcement of his retirement from professional wrestling earlier today and now Tony Khan has commented on his decision. All Elite Wrestling reacted to the surprising announcement by releasing a statement on social sites, which featured the comments from their owner and president.

In the statement as seen below, Khan revealed that Rush had shared his plans with him before going public with it. Tony Khan also claimed that while the news was unexpected, he is glad that Lio has made a choice that will make him happy:

“Lio Rush reached out to me today, and he shared that he’d planned to announce his retirement from pro wrestling tonight. While this news was unexpected, I’m glad that he’s made a choice that he’s confident will make him and his family happy. Lio is a great talent, and I enjoyed briefly working with him, and I absolutely wish him the best.”

Lio Rush had made his debut for All Elite Wrestling just last month. He was revealed as a surprise entrant in the casino battle royal during the Double Or Nothing PPV on May 30. Tony Khan had even expressed interest in bringing the former WWE star back to his promotion for future appearances.

However, Rush made a surprising announcement earlier today. He made a lengthy post on Instagram and explained that a recent injury has forced him to reflect on his career and think about his future. The NJPW star then revealed that he has made the decision to retire from active competition.

Billy Corgan On WWE Declining The Offer To Buy NWA

Anutosh Bajpai
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NWA President Billy Corgan recently appeared on Talk Is Jericho podcast where he discussed the various aspects of running a wrestling promotion in detail.

The Smashing Pumpkins star first opened up about when he bought the company in May 2017 and discussed how he was coming from the whole debacle with TNA at the time.

Billy Corgan then interestingly revealed that WWE was offered to buy the promotion at a time but the company declined the offer:

“And then I purchased NWA. Crazily enough, it was owned by one person. It was so devalued. He tried to sell it to everybody. Nobody wanted it, as far as I know. He certainly offered it to WWE. They thought it was so worthless that they didn’t even just buy it just to take it off the market.”

Corgan also discussed the initial negative reactions when he first acquired the promotion. He admitted that at one point he even thought about starting a new company instead but he ultimately decided against it.

Apart from this, Billy Corgan commented on topics such as navigating things through the pandemic, how he was paying the wrestlers even when the company was not producing content and more.

Kyle O’Reilly Reveals His Pick For Best In The World

Anutosh Bajpai
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The best in the world debate has heated up in recent weeks. NXT star Kyle O’Reilly has his own pick for the mantle which is different than the other names. The former undisputed era member recently had an interview with DAZN where he talked about a number of things including his run in NXT and more.

When asked who he thinks is the best in the world right now, O’Reilly took the name of the former universal and NXT champion Finn Balor, saying that he is the guy who has done everything:

“I think Finn Balor is, He’s a guy who’s done everything. (He’s) a former Universal champion. For whatever reason, he came back to NXT and has just helped elevate every single guy that he’s wrestled in NXT. He’s helped elevate the brand of NXT just by him being here,

And by him putting everything into his work, delivering, and busting his ass when he certainly didn’t have to. I think his work definitely speaks for itself because everything he’s done has just been top-notch. I know myself, I’ve learned a lot getting to wrestle Finn.”

“For my money, I’d say Finn Balor is at the top of that list right now.”
– Kyle O’Reilly

Apart from this, the former tag team champion discussed things such as his upcoming NXT Takeover match, the influence of Shawn Michaels and more.

Kyle O’Reilly is currently scheduled to compete in a fatal five-way match for the NXT championship at the TakeOver: In Your House event this Sunday. He will be competing alongside names such as Pete Dunne, Johnny Gargano, Adam Cole, and the current champion Karrion Kross.

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