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AEW Rampage Results (8/13): Three Title Matches, New Champion Crowned

Robert Lentini
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The debut episode of AEW Rampage aired live from the Petersen Events Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Kenny Omega defended the Impact World Championship against Christian Cage in the fist match of the night. Miro put the TNT Championship on the line against Fuego Del Sol and Britt Baker defended the AEW Women’s Championship against Red Velvet in the main event.

AEW Rampage Results

  1. Christian Cage def. Kenny Omega to become the Impact World Champion
  2. Miro def. Fuego Del Sol via submission to retain the TNT Championship
  3. Britt Baker def. Red Velvet via submission to retain the AEW Women’s Championship

Here are the takeaways from the debut edition of AEW Rampage:

Christian Cage Captured The Impact World Championship

Kenny Omega put the Impact Championship on the line against Christian Cage in the first match of the night. Don Callis accompanied Omega to the ring. Omega and Christian circled each other and had a stare down as the crowd cheered. Kenny and Christian locked up and the AEW Champion drove Cage to the corner.

Christian broke free and the two circled each other again. Cage got Omega in a Headlock and brought him down to the mat. Omega escaped but Cage decked the champion with a shoulder tackle. Kenny hit a few chops to the chest and went for the One Winged Angel but Cage broke free. Christian booted Kenny Omega out of the ring and the champion had a brief conversation with Don Callis.

Cage chased Omega back to the ring and the champion caught Christian with a stomp to the midsection as he slid into the ring. Omega and Cage then traded chops in the corner of the ring. Cage knocked Omega to the outside and hit a Dropkick through the ropes. Christian climbed to the top rope but Omega shoved him to the floor outside the ring as Rampage went to a commercial break.

When Rampage returned, Omega was in control and set up Christian for a Suplex. Cage countered with a Suplex of his own but Kenny responded by raking Christian’s eyes in the corner. Kenny perched Cage up on the top turnbuckle and tried for a Superplex but Cage blocked it. Cage countered into a Sunset Flip Powerbomb off the top and some then some punches in the corner.

Cage connected with a right hand and an uppercut off the middle rope for a two count. Omega went for a Fisherman’s Buster but Christian countered into a slam for a two count. Christian charged but Omega was ready and hit a knee to the face. Omega followed it up with a big Powerbomb and then a V-Trigger for a two count.

Omega lifted Cage up for the One Winged Angel but Cage escaped with some punches. Omega went for the Snap Dragon but Christian blocked it. Omega went for a V-Trigger but Cage dodged it and the champ crashed into the turnbuckle. Cage rolled him up for a near fall.

Christian set up for the Killswitch but Omega countered with a Snap Dragon Suplex. Kenny hit another one and went for a V-Trigger but Cage rolled to the apron. Christian tripped up Omega and hit a Frog Splash for a two count. Don Callis distracted the referee and the Young Bucks slid a chair into the ring.

Omega set it up and went for One Winged Angel on the chair but Christian escaped. Cage then planted Omega with the Killswitch on top of the steel chair for the pinfall victory. Christian Cage is the new Impact Champion.

Mark Henry interviewed Christian Cage after the match. Christian told Mark he loved him and he is so glad he is here. Cage stated that Omega is as advertised and it is going to nearly impossible to beat Kenny for the AEW title at All Out. Cage claimed that he was living in Omega’s head now and he knows he can beat him.

Miro Tapped Out Fuego Del Sol But He Got A Contract Anyway

Miro put the TNT Championship on the line against Fuego Del Sol tonight on AEW Rampage. Fuego Del Sol has to win the match to earn a contract with All Elite Wrestling. Fuego hit a Tornado DDT before the match started and the referee checked if Miro could continue. Fuego hit another Tornado DDT after the bell rang but Miro was able to escape out of the ring before he could go for a cover.

Fuego hit a third Tornado DDT when Miro got into the ring but the TNT Champion was able to kick out at two. Fuego went for another one but Miro caught him. Miro hit a Samoan Drop and followed it up with the Machka Kick. Miro locked in the Game Over for the submission victory. Miro ripped up the contract and posed with the TNT Championship as Dynamite went to a commercial.

Fuego Del Sol was in the ring when Sammy Guevara and Tony Khan came to the entrance ramp. Sammy brought an AEW contract to the ring and said that sometimes there is victory in defeat. Guevara added that is only right as Fuego’s best friend to come out and give him a contract. The two shared a hug and celebrated in a cool moment.

Britt Baker Retained The AEW Women’s Title

Britt Baker defended the AEW Women’s Championship against Red Velvet in the main event. Before the match, Sting & Darby Allin were shown in the crowd and AEW hyped The First Dance next week as the biggest crowd in AEW history. Baker and Red Velvet were interviewed by Mark Henry before the match. Red Velvet vowed to win the title and Baker said that isn’t happening in her hometown and that tonight is her night. Rebel accompanied the AEW Women’s Champion to the ring as the crowd waved the towels.

Britt and Red Velvet locked up int he middle of the ring to begin the action. The two circled each other and locked up again. Baker brought Red Velvet to the mat and went for a Headlock but Britt countered. Britt and Red Velvet got in a shoving match before Red Velvet rolled the champ up for a two count.

Baker connected with an Arm Drag and sent Red Velvet into the turnbuckle. Red Velvet battled back and shoved her boot into Baker’s face in the corner. Red Velvet went after Baker’s injured wrist but the referee broke it up. Baker booted Red Velvet but the challenger responded with a Dropkick to the face. Red Velvet followed it up with a Standing Moonsault and went for the cover but Baker was able to power out at two as Rampage went to a commercial break.

When Rampage returned, Red Velvet connected with a Slingblade and sent Baker to the corner. Red Velvet unloaded some punches and booted Baker to the canvas. Britt battled back with a Swinging Neckbreaker and went for the cover but Red Velvet kicked out at two. Britt hen went for the Lockjaw submission but Red Velvet countered into a cover for a two count.

Rebel hopped on the apron for a distraction but Red Velvet shoved her off. Baker capitalized with a roll-up for a near fall. Rebel hopped don’t he apron again and the referee kicked her out. Red Velvet hit Baker with a Superkick and climbed to the top rope. Red Velvet connected with a Moonsault and went for the cover but Britt kicked out at two.

Baker hit a Clothesline and went for the cover for a two count. Britt booted Red Velvet in the face for another near fall. Britt and Red Velvet traded punches and then Red Velvet got Britt in the Lockjaw but couldn’t get the hold fully locked in. Britt escaped and went for the Lockjaw but Red Velvet slammed away on her injured wrist. Baker then used her leg instead of her injured wrist and got the Lockjaw applied for the submission victory. Britt Baker is still the AEW Women’s Champion.

After the match, Britt hit a Neckbreaker and set up for a Stomp on the title but Kris Statlander broke it up. Statlander beat Baker down before Jamie Hayter rushed the ring. Jamie sent Red Velvet and Statlander out of the ring and posed with Britt Baker to close the show.

Christian Cage Wins Impact Wrestling World Title On AEW Rampage

Andrew Ravens
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AEW loaded up the first episode of Rampage on TNT with three title matches including Kenny Omega defending the Impact Wrestling World Heavyweight Title against Christian Cage. 

The title bout, which was booked after Cage challenged Omega to it on this past Wednesday’s Dynamite, kicked off the episode from Pittsburgh, PA at the Petersen Events Center. The match saw Cage the majority of the offense before going back and forth down the stretch.

At one point, Omega hit a powerbomb then the V-Trigger for a near fall. Cage hit the Kill Switch on a chair while the referee was distracted by Don Callis for the win. 

This comes before Cage challenges Omega for the AEW World Heavyweight Title at the All Out pay-per-view event on Sunday, September 5, 2021 from Chicago, Illinois at Now Arena.

Heading into this match, Omega’s reign surpassed 108 days after beating Rich Swann back in April at the Rebellion pay-per-view event. 

Omega was supposed to defend the Impact Wrestling World Title against Brian Myers at the Emergence special at Skyway Studios in Nashville, Tennessee next Friday on Impact Plus. 

This episode of Rampage also featured Miro vs. Fuego Del Sol for the TNT Championship and Dr. Britt Baker, DMD vs. Red Velvet for the AEW Women’s World Championship.

WWE SummerSlam Updated Card: New Match Confirmed

Andrew Ravens
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A new match has been announced for the upcoming WWE SummerSlam PPV.

During Friday’s episode of SmackDown, WWE confirmed that Drew McIntyre vs. Jinder Mahal in a singles match will take place at this show. 

The former 3MB partners have been feuding for several weeks now. McIntyre defeated Mahal in singles action on the July 5th edition of Monday Night Raw. Mahal cost McIntyre his chance to win the Men’s Money in the Bank Ladder match last month. 

Also, McIntyre has picked up a 2-on-1 Handicap Match win over Veer and Shanky.

WWE presents the SummerSlam pay-per-view event on Saturday, August 21 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada at Allegiant Stadium that will air on Peacock. WWE will be announcing more matches for this show in the coming week. Here is the updated card:

Updated WWE SummerSlam Card

  • WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns vs. John Cena
  • WWE Champion Bobby Lashley vs. Goldberg
  • WWE Raw Women’s Champion Nikki A.S.H vs. Charlotte Flair vs. Rhea Ripley
  • WWE SmackDown Women’s Champion Bianca Belair vs. Sasha Banks
  • WWE SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Usos vs. Rey and Dominik Mysterio
  • Seth Rollins vs. Edge
  • WWE United States Champion Sheamus vs. Damien Priest
  • Drew McIntyre vs. Jinder Mahal

WWE SmackDown Results (8/13): Cena & Reigns, New Champion, Contract Signing

Robert Lentini
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WWE SmackDown aired live from the BOK Center in Tulsa, OK. Apollo Crews defended the Intercontinental Championship against King Nakamura on tonight’s show. Sasha Banks & Bianca Belair signed their contract to make the match at SummerSlam official and Universal Champion Roman Reigns & John Cena met face-to-face.

SmackDown Results (8/13)

  1. King Nakamura def. Apollo Crews to become the new IC Champion
  2. Street Profits def. Alpha Academy
  3. The Mysterios def. Robert Roode & Dolph Ziggler
  4. Kevin Owens def. Baron Corbin

Here are the takeaways from this week’s show:

John Cena & Roman Reigns Met Face-To-Face

John Cena kicked off this week’s show to a great reaction from the crowd. Cena noted that school is back up and running and gave Roman Reigns a “D” on his report card. John added that Reigns is a d-bag and a huge disappointment.

Cena said that WWE has been trying to sell Reigns for ten years and the only one buying it is Roman. John vowed to give Roman an “F” at SummerSlam and proposed a pop quiz to the crowd. Cena asked if Reigns will beat the hell out of him at SummerSlam and there was a mix of chants & boos.

He said that Reigns will beat the hell out of him at SummerSlam but Roman will also lose and there is nothing he can do about it. Universal Champion Roman Reigns interrupted with Paul Heyman and came to the ring as SmackDown went to a commercial break.

When SmackDown returned, Reigns told Cena to not waste his time and “lets get to it”. John Cena said that he is going to wait until SummerSlam to embarrass Reigns on the biggest stage of them all. Cena told Reigns that the WWE doesn’t belong to him, it belongs to the fans.

Cena claimed that he was back because he is the only one that can shut Reigns up. John added that Reigns is still getting pushed after 10 years because WWE figures that Roman is the best chance they’ve got. Cena vowed to serve Reigns some humble pie at the PPV.

John told Reigns that he doesn’t need to prove himself to Roman, he just needs to pin him. Cena noted that if he won, that would make him a 17-time champ and the most decorated champion in history. Cena added that he was here to help Reigns.

Roman stated that we don’t have enough time on SmackDown to promote all of Cena’s movies. Reigns told Cena that he may be good enough to win the WWE Championship, but he is not good enough for the Universal Championship. Roman said “20+ years of missionary might have been good enough for Cena, but it wasn’t good enough for Nikki Bella”.

Reigns vowed to make this the last time we ever see John Cena at SummerSlam. Cena noted that Reigns is protected because of his pretty face and “the bars of soap he has for teeth. John added that Reigns almost ruined Seth Rollins, and ran Dean Ambrose out of WWE. He vowed to take the title, hop the barricade, and possibly blow Reigns a kiss before leaving (CM Punk reference). Cena ended the promo that Reigns will kick his ass at SummerSlam, but all he has to do is hang in there for a three count and Reigns will just be the answer to the trivia question “who did John Cena beat to become 17-time champion?”.

King Nakamura Captured The IC Title

Apollo Crews defended the Intercontinental Championship against King Nakamura. Rick Boogs and Commander Azeez were ringside for the match. Nakamura controlled the action early but Commander Azeez hopped on the apron. The referee kicked out Boogs & Azeez as SmackDown went to a break.

When SmackDown returned, Nakamura hit a slam and went for the cover but the Intercontinental Champion kicked out at two. Nakamura climbed to the top rope but Crews caught him with an Enziguri. Crews climbed up to the top and connected with a Superplex for a two count.

Crews followed it up with a Powerbomb for a two count. Apollo went for a Frog Splash but Nakamura got his knees up. Crews rolled up Nakamura and used the ropes for leverage but the referee caught it. Apollo hit a Suplex and went for the cover again but couldn’t keep Nakamura down.

Shinsuke battled back with a Falcon Arrow for a near fall and then followed it up with an Exploder Suplex that sent Crews flying across the ring. Nakamura geared up in the corner and then hit the Kinshasa for the pinfall victory. Shinsuke Nakamura is the new Intercontinental Champion.

Street Profits def. Alpha Academy

Street Profits faced Alpha Academy tonight on SmackDown. Street Profits controlled the action early and isolated Gable in the corner. Otis tagged in and sent Dawkins to the corner. Otis hit a Splash and tagged in Gable. Chad and Otis took turns beating Angelo Dawkins down in the corner of the ring. Montez broke it up and sent Otis to the outside. Montez flipped onto Otis but almost overshot him and thankfully there wasn’t an injury. Back in the ring, Dawkins hit the Anointment on Gable for the pinfall victory.

Seth Rollins Warned Edge

Seth Rollins came to the ring and claimed that Edge was not here tonight. Rollins suggested that his career was a little bit better than Edge’s and claimed to have proof of that. Seth rolled a career retrospective of both of their careers. The narrator of the video package hyped the hell out of Rollins’ moments and made Edge’s career seem forgettable.

Rollins bitched about not finishing the job in 2014 and that Edge wouldn’t be pushing his little girls in a swing-set, his little girls would be pushing him in a wheelchair. Seth claimed that he will not hold back at SummerSlam, and so be it if he puts Edge out for good.

https://twitter.com/WWEonFOX/status/1426349651930894336?s=20

The Mysterios def. Roode & Ziggler

Dominik & Rey Mysterio faced Robert Roode & Dolph Ziggler tonight on SmackDown. Rey and Robert Roode started off the action. Roode connected with a Backbreaker and followed it up with a Clothesline. Ziggler tagged in and hit Rey with a running knee to the face for a near fall.

Dominik tagged in and connected with a Neckbreaker. Dominik knocked Roode off the apron but turned around into a Fameasser from Dolph for a two count. The Usos appeared on the Jumbotron for a distraction but Rey saw it coming. Rey told Dominik to focus and Dominik rolled up Roode for the pinfall victory. After the match, The Usos told The Mysterios that they will see them at SummerSlam.

Kevin Owens def. Baron Corbin

Baron Corbin lumbered to the ring as SmackDown went to a commercial break.

When SmackDown returned, Baron Corbin said he is going to have to file bankruptcy and the crowd cheered. Corbin claimed that is what is wrong with society, when somebody falls everyone just wants to watch them fail. Corbin stated that he is used to a standard of life and asked everyone in the crowd for $1,000. Baron pulled out a credit card scanner but was interrupted by Kevin Owens.

Corbin said he isn’t sure that if his scanner works with Canadian credit cards. Owens told Corbin to stop embarrassing himself. Baron demanded a thousand dollars from Owens or he wouldn’t leave the ring. Owens told Corbin that he will give him a grand if he can beat him in a match tonight. Corbin agreed and called Owens a cheap piece of crap. Owens hit Corbin with a Stunner to end the segment.

Owens then battled Corbin when SmackDown returned. Corbin was holding his throat and complained that the match shouldn’t start. Corbin went for a roll-up but Owens kicked out at two. Owens bounced Corbin’s face off the top turnbuckle and booted him down in the corner of the ring.

Corbin sent Owens to the corner and went for a Clothesline but got a Superkick to the face instead. Owens followed it up with a Cannonball for a two count. Owens made his way to the top rope but Corbin hopped up. Corbin grabbed Owens by the throat and dragged him to the apron. Corbin unloaded a big right hand that knocked Owens out of the ring and to the floor outside the ring.

Owens got back into the ring and Corbin greeted him with some punches to the face. Corbin went for a Suplex on the ring apron but Owens blocked it. Owens then went for a Powerbomb but Corbin countered into a Back Body Drop on the ring apron as SmackDown went to a commercial break.

When SmackDown returned, Corbin and Owens were battling in the corner. Owens hit a headbutt and Corbin fell to the canvas. Owens hit a Swanton Bomb and went for the cover but Corbin kicked out at two. Corbin sent Owens into the ring post and rolled him up but Owens kicked out at two. Owens went for the Stunner but then rolled up Corbin for the pinfall victory. Corbin threw a tantrum after the match as Owens celebrated. Owens hit Corbin with another Stunner and posed for the crowd to end the segment. Corbin was interviewed backstage and stole the MITB contract from Big E.

Sasha Banks Sent A Message To Bianca Belair

Sasha Banks and Bianca Belair had a contract signing for their SmackDown Women’s Championship match at SummerSlam. Sonya Deville moderated the singing. Sasha Banks came to the ring first and then Sonya introduced the SmackDown Women’s Champion Bianca Belair.

Belair and Banks started arguing right away and Sasha called Bianca a bitch. Sonya shouted that they are not doing this again and demanded that they sign the contract. Banks went to sign the contract but claimed that she is going to need some witnesses. Carmella, Zelina Vega, made their way to the ring and stood behind Banks as she signed the contract. Bianca quickly signed and then threw the contract in Sasha’s face. Bianca cleared the ring of Vega and Carmella and beat Banks down. Vega tried to break it up but Bianca slammed her into the turnbuckle.

Belair launched Carmella out of the ring but Sasha caught her with a Backstabber. Sasha unloaded some punches and then watched on as Vega & Carmella did the same. Banks bounced Bianca’s face off the table a couple times and then raised the SmackDown Women’s Championship before applying the Bank Statement to close the show.

John Cena References CM Punk & Jon Moxley On SmackDown

Fernando Quiles Jr.
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John Cena dropped quite a reference involving CM Punk and Jon Moxley.

The Aug. 13 edition of SmackDown opened up with Cena addressing the WWE Universe. He made it clear that while he believes he’s in for a beating against Roman Reigns at WWE SummerSlam, he’ll still pull off the victory to become a 17-time world champion in WWE.

Reigns later came out with Paul Heyman to respond to Cena. It was during this exchange that Cena referenced CM Punk with the following.

“You’re gonna show up all full of yourself like you normally do and put on a hell of a show. I’m just gonna hang in there for 1,2,3. And then I’m gonna take your title, I’m gonna jump the barricade, and I’m gonna run out of Allegiant Stadium as fast as I can. I may even blow you a kiss goodbye.”

Cena is referring to his July 2011 showdown with Punk at the Money in the Bank PPV. The storyline going into that match was that CM Punk’s contract was expiring and he wanted to leave the company as WWE Champion. Punk ended up pinning Cena with the GTS and blowing a kiss at Vince McMahon before exiting through the crowd.

Cena then referenced another former WWE star in Jon Moxley, who used to be known as Dean Ambrose with the company.

“You haven’t been embarrassed, you’ve been protected. Pretty face with giant bars of soap you got for teeth. You’ve been protected, Roman. You’ve been protected by The Shield. Hell, you almost ruined Seth Rollins. You ran Dean Ambrose out of WWE.”

Is CM Punk Headed To AEW?

Punk has been heavily teased for a return to wrestling under the AEW banner. Many speculate that he will make his promotional debut on the Aug. 20 edition of Rampage. That episode will be taking place inside the United Center in Chicago, Illinois.

Punk, himself, dropped what many believe to be a major hint. On his Instagram Stories, Punk posted a quote that is tattooed on AEW star Darby Allin’s chest.

Shinsuke Nakamura Wins WWE Intercontinental Title

Andrew Ravens
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WWE decided to do a title change on Friday’s episode of SmackDown as Shinsuke Nakamura became the new Intercontinental Champion. 

He did so when he beat Apollo Crews in the opening match on the show that was broadcasted live on FOX from Tulsa, OK at the BOK Center. Both Rick Boogs and General Azzez were thrown out from ringside due to outside inference in the match that was back and forth. 

Nakamura was able to score the win and become WWE Intercontinental Champion for the second time in his career when he hit Crews with an Exploder Suplex and then followed up with the Kinshasa. 

Crews beat Big E in a Nigerian Drum Match at the WWE WrestleMania 37 pay-per-view event on April 11, 2021. Nakamura won the title for the first time during the Summer of 2019 when he won it at the Extreme Rules pay-per-view by beating Finn Balor. 

It’s possible that WWE books a rematch between these two stars at the SummerSlam pay-per-view event on Saturday, August 21 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada at Allegiant Stadium.

CM Punk Offers Words Of Encouragement For Released WWE Talent

Fernando Quiles Jr.
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CM Punk has given some advice for the slew of talent released by WWE.

This year hasn’t been kind to many who once called WWE home. While there were also cuts in 2020, there have been some big surprises as of late such as the releases of Bray Wyatt and Braun Strowman. Recently, 12 wrestlers who competed on the NXT brand saw their WWE runs come to a close.

Punk appeared on Sunday Night’s Main Event podcast and offered words of encouragement for those who have been cut.

“Um, hmm… I mean, I don’t know, I’ve been out of the loop. I don’t know a lot of the people who got fired but I know that it’s probably more of a blessing than anything. You know, if you want to be a pro wrestler, you can be, but you don’t have to work for WWE. I think it sucks, I think anybody getting fired sucks, but I do think, for a lot of people it could be the best thing that ever happened to them.

“You know, if that’s where you want to be and you got fired, well then your job is to work hard and prove them wrong, and try to get your job back. But if your job is just to be the best pro wrestler you can be, put food on your table, have money in your pocket, I think there’s a world now in 2021 where, more so than in recent times, you can be a pro wrestler.”

CM Punk is heavily rumored to be making his debut on AEW television on the Aug. 20 edition of Rampage. The show will emanate from the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. Of course, this is Punk’s hometown.

Punk hasn’t been seen in action since 2014. He made his exit from WWE following the Royal Rumble PPV. Punk cited frustrations with how WWE’s medical team handled a staph infection, lack of time off, and booking decisions.

Samoa Joe Says His WWE NXT Return Was Initially Discussed Years Ago

Andrew Ravens
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Just months after being released by WWE due to budget cuts, Samoa Joe didn’t just get signed back, but also to put him back in the ring at a time where some fans questioned whether he would ever be cleared to wrestle again inside of a WWE ring. 

Joe spoke with Alex McCarthy of talkSPORT to talk about his return and during it, he noted that WWE did have talks about moving him back from the main roster to NXT a few years ago, but it was nixed. 

“I just think a decision was made on one-end, but this tenure and position in NXT I currently have now was kind of talked about two or three years ago. It was a matter of when we were going to get the opportunity to make the transition and there really wasn’t an opportunity because I was so busy with Raw and SmackDown. So it’s not like they were going to pull me from there and move me to NXT at the time.”

Joe was moved from an active in-ring performer to being an announcer after he suffered a concussion in early 2020 during a Raw commercial shoot for the USA Network.

He’ll challenge Karrion Kross for the NXT Title at TakeOver 36 next Sunday.

Riho’s Absence From AEW TV Explained

Fernando Quiles Jr.
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0

Former AEW Women’s Champion Riho is expected to return to AEW television soon.

Many have wondered why Riho hasn’t been seen in action for over a month. Her last appearance took place on the July 7 edition of AEW Dark: Elevation. Riho picked up a victory over Amber Nova.

Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports that Riho has a bad reaction to the COVID-19 vaccine. The good news is that she has been feeling better and is looking to return to the ring soon. An exact timeframe wasn’t revealed.

Riho decided to make the full-time jump from Stardom to AEW. Stardom reportedly wanted to sign her full-time but AEW got the jump on it first. She was reportedly in the process of moving from Japan to the United States.

Back in Oct. 2019, Riho became the inaugural AEW Women’s World Champion. She held on to that title for 133 days before losing it to Nyla Rose. Her last high-profile match took place back in May at Double or Nothing. She challenged Serena Debb for the NWA Women’s Title. Riho was submitted in the title match.

Who would you like to see Riho feud with upon her return to AEW TV?

Real Reason Why WWE Released Bronson Reed Revealed (Report)

Fernando Quiles Jr.
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It appears we now know the true reason why WWE cut ties with Bronson Reed.

Reed was among the dozen names released from NXT earlier this month. The cut came as a surprise to many as Reed appeared primed for a main roster call-up. After all, he had been chosen to compete in a dark match before an episode of SmackDown.

As it turns out, that dark match ended up leading to his release. Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Radio reports that WWE Chairman Vince McMahon passed on bringing Reed up to the main roster.

McMahon felt it was pointless to keep the former NXT North American Champion on the payroll if he was never going to make it to the big show (Raw and SmackDown). This same attitude was the primary justification for the other releases, as well.

Bronson Reed Reacts

Reed took to social media to give his reaction to being let go from WWE.

“I was very shocked, very upset. As you know this doesn’t just affect me but affects my wife as well as we are here in a foreign country. But my wife is a super positive person and she’s kept me positive as well.

“The love and support that I’ve received online is just incredible. I was trending on Twitter. That means a lot to me, it means a lot to me that a lot of you feel for me and will still continue to follow me no matter what.”

“I did want to thank NXT, I want to thank Hunter and Shawn for believing in me. I want to thank all the coaches; Terry Taylor, Scotty 2 Hotty, Normal Smiley, Steve Corino, those guys that I learned a lot from. And I want to thank all the boys backstage as well. It was a great locker room to be a part of.”

Reed has promised to bounce back. He’s already called for a match with AEW TNT Champion, Miro.

Bronson Reed Calls Out AEW TNT Champion Miro

NWA 73 Full Card Announced

Andrew Ravens
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The NWA revealed the full card for its 73 event. NWA President Billy Corgan took to YouTube on Friday to share the lineup. 

NWA World’s Heavyweight champion Nick Aldis vs. Trevor Murdoch will main event the show. Murdoch cashed in his Champion Series Title Shot to get the bout. 

Also on the card is NWA National Champion Chris Adonis facing a returning National Champion in James Storm, NWA Tag Champions Aron Stevens and Kratos vs. AAA’s Mecha World and Bestia 666: La Rebelion, and Mickie James taking on  Kylie Rae. 

This will mark the in-ring debut of James, who was released this year by WWE due to budget cuts and will produce NWA EMPOWERRR.

NWA 73 is scheduled for August 29 at The Chase Park Plaza in St. Louis, MO and will air on FITE TV.

NWA 73 Card

  • NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion Nick Aldis vs. Trevor Murdoch
  • NWA National Champion Chris Adonis vs. James Storm
  • NWA Tag Team Champions Aron Stevens & Kratos vs. La Rebelion (Mecha Wolf & Bestia 666)
  • Mickie James vs. Kylie Rae
  • NWA Women’s Champion Kamille or Leyla Hirsch vs. NWA Invitational Winner at Empowerrr
  • Thom Latimer vs. Crimson vs. Tim Storm
  • Tyrus, Masked Man, & Jordan Clearwater vs. Da Pope, Odinson, & Parrow
  • Competitors to be announced for a 12-Man Battle Royal to determine NWA National Title number one contender

Update On Becky Lynch’s Training For In-Ring Return

Fernando Quiles Jr.
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Becky Lynch has been training for her eventual in-ring return and her progress has been noted.

Lynch has not been seen on WWE television since April 2020. She announced her pregnancy and vacated the Raw Women’s Championship. After giving birth and entering motherhood, it appears Lynch is preparing for a return to action.

Fightful Select reports that Lynch has been training at the Black and Brave Academy since May. Oftentimes, she trains with her husband Seth Rollins.

According to the report, Lynch has already gotten herself to in-ring shape. It’s been said in other reports that Lynch could be making her return to TV this fall. PWInsider has also reported that Lynch will make the trip to SummerSlam but it’s possible she may not be on camera.

No Shortage Of Opponents

When Lynch does return to the WWE, she’ll have no trouble finding a fight. SmackDown Women’s Champion Bianca Belair told Planeta Wrestling that she’d like to welcome “The Man” back.

“I would love to defend my title against Becky Lynch. You know, I think it speaks volumes of how big Becky is that she hasn’t been here in over a year but she is still one of the most talked-about names. That shows just how big and how amazing a superstar she is. And, of course, when she comes back, I would love to be the first feud with Becky Lynch when she comes back and I’m the type of person, I’m an athlete, right! So I know that in order to be the best you have to get in the ring with the best.”

Raw Women’s Champion Nikki A.S.H. is also willing to share the ring with Lynch.

“I’m ready for the challenge from Becky and I truly hope it does happen, Becky and Drew [McIntyre] have been amazing role models, inspiring me and creating that blueprint.”

CM Punk Thinks Pro Wrestling “Really Needs A Kick In The D***”

Chris Stephens
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CM Punk is busy doing media rounds to promote the debut of Heels on Starz. He was recently interviewed by TV Insider and was asked his thoughts on the current state of pro-wrestling. According to Punk, the industry could use a shakeup, of sorts.

When asked about the current state of wrestling, Punk said he much prefers content from past genreations.

“I think it’s partly unfortunate that WWE owns the super good libraries in pro wrestling,” said Punk. “I think that stuff is classic and they don’t even put it on their network. They are sitting on it. I want to watch Austin Idol versus Jerry Lawler in Memphis.”

There’s Nothing Better

Punk would continue to talk about what wrestling needs right now. He would say that he believes there are people out there stirring the pot.

“I do think the landscape of pro wrestling in general really needs a kick in the d***. I think we are about there. I think there are people out there stirring the pot and causing trouble in a good way. It’s a fun world. There is nothing like it. Pro wrestling gets crapped on by a number of people. But when it’s done on a high level and it’s really good, there is nothing better.”

CM Punk’s return to pro-wrestling could only be a week away. He is speculated to return next Friday night when AEW presents The First Dance live from Chicago’s United Center.

CM Punk Reveals Whether Or Not He Follows Current WWE Product

WWE Holding King & Queen Of The Ring Tournaments This Fall

Michael Reichlin
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WWE will hold King of the Ring and Queen of the Ring tournaments later this year.

Andrew Zarian of the Mat Men podcast has been all over this story the past few weeks. On Friday, Zarian provided more details on when the tournaments will take place.

According to AZ, the King of the Ring tournament is returning in October. WWE’s first Queen of the Ring tournament will also take place around that time.

The finals of both the King and Queen tournaments are scheduled to take place at WWE’s next live event from Saudi Arabia. Multiple sources have confirmed that WWE is currently eyeing October 21st for the next PPV from Saudi Arabia.

King of the Ring

WWE has held many King of the Ring tournaments throughout the years. The event started out in 1985 as a special attraction at live events. The first King of the Ring pay-per-view was held in June 1993, with Bret Hart winning the crown.

In total, WWE has held 21 King of the Ring tournaments. Aside from Bret Hart, winners have included Randy Savage, Ted Dibiase, Owen Hart, Steve Austin, Triple H, Kurt Angle, Brock Lesnar and most recently, Baron Corbin (2019).

Queen of the Ring

Queen of the Ring

History will be made this October when WWE crowns the first Queen of the Ring. Some of WWE’s top female competitors have expressed an interest in a QOTR tournament, including Sasha Banks and Bayley.

WWE has considered hosting a Queen of the Ring tournament dating back to 2018. Three years later, it’s finally coming to fruition.

Stay tuned for more details on the upcoming King of the Ring and Queen of the Ring tournaments.

Hangman Page Taking Time Off For Birth Of Child

Chris Stephens
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Adam “Hangman” Page is due to become a father and will be taking some time away from AEW as a result. According to a report from PW Insider, this is the reason why Page is not facing Kenny Omega for the World Championship at All Out and why he was recently taken out by the Elite on AEW Dynamite.

“PWInsider.com is told that the plan was always for (Page) to take time off for family time in advance of his first child being born,” wrote Mike Johnson.

Page had a chance to earn an AEW World Championship match at Fight for the Fallen recently. Page teamed with the Dark Order and faced the Elite in a 10-man elimination tag-team match. If Page and the Dark Order won, Page would receive a world title shot and the Dark Order would get a shot at the tag belts. The Elite won the match, however, knocking Page out of title contention.

It was announced this week on Dynamite that Omega will defend his title against Christian Cage at All Out. Additionally, Omega will defend the Impact World Championship against Cage tonight on Rampage.

“Hey, we got a baby on the way! we’re excited, terrified, but mostly overjoyed. thank you,” Page posted to Instagram in early June to announce the news.

Page has wrestled 12 singles matches in AEW so far in 2021. He holds an 11-1 record. His only loss was to Brian Cage, who he then defeated at Double or Nothing.

Preview For Tonight’s AEW Rampage Series Premiere

Fernando Quiles Jr.
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AEW Rampage premieres tonight on TNT at 10pm (Eastern). It’s the second weekly cable TV show from All Elite Wrestling.

The debut episode of AEW Rampage will take place from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania at the Petersen Events Center.

In an effort to establish Rampage as a must-watch show right out the gate, we have three championship matches signed for the broadcast.

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The first match on the first episode of AEW Rampage will see Kenny Omega defending the Impact World Championship against Christian Cage. This will be the first time in history that the Impact World title is defending on AEW programming.

Christian is also scheduled to battle Kenny Omega for the AEW World Championship at the upcoming AEW All Out pay-per-view.

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TNT Champion Miro will put his title on the line against Fuego Del Sol. In addition to his title shot against Miro, FDS will be awarded an AEW contract if he’s victorious over The Redeemer.

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Finally, Dr. Britt Baker will battle Red Velvet in the main event of the first AEW Rampage. Britt Baker typically portrays a villain in AEW. However, she received a hero’s welcome at Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite from Pittsburgh.

It’s sure to be an eventful show for AEW fans. A new chapter begins tonight, just one week away from AEW Rampage: The First Dance from Chicago, IL.

AEW “First Dance” In Chicago Sells Out

Impact Results (8/12): Bullet Club vs FinJuice, Brian Myers & More

Chris Stephens
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Impact Wrestling on 8/12 featured a battle royal to determine a new #1 contender for the Impact World Championship. It also saw the return of Madison Rayne and FinJuice taking on Bullet Club in tag action.

Impact 8/12 Quick Results:

  1. Tenille Dashwood defeated Taylor Wilde
  2. Josh Alexander defeated Shawn Daivari
  3. FinJuice defeated Jay White & Chris Bey via DQ
  4. John Skyler defeated Matt Cardona
  5. #1 Contender Battle Royal
    Winner: Brian Myers

Madison Rayne Returns, Helps Tenille Dashwood Beat Taylor Wilde

This week’s Impact kicked off with Tenille Dashwood taking on Taylor Wilde. Their rivalry stems from Dashwood allegedly calling border patrol agents to prevent Wilde from entering the United States to attend Impact’s shows for a couple of months. After Kaleb sprayed the referee in the eyes with hair spray, Madison Rayne ran in and threw Wilde into the ring post. Dashwood then finished her opponent off with the spotlight kick for the win. Rayne and Dashwood then celebrated together to end the segment.

Josh Alexander defeated Shawn Daivari Ahead Of Title Defence Against Jake Something

At Emergence on August 20th, Josh Alexander will defend his X-Division Championship against Jake Something. This week, however, Alexander agreed to a non-title match against Shawn Daivari and if Daivari can beat the champ, he’d earn a future title shot. Midway through the match, Jake Something appeared on the entrance ramp to get a better look. Alexander finished off Daivari with a double underhook piledriver and then the champ and Something had a bit of stare down.

Su Yung & Kimber Lee Abduct Kiera Hogan

Kiera Hogan came out this week to cut a promo on Tasha Steelz, who turned on her last week and ended their Fire N Flava team. While Hogan may have been cutting a promo on Steelz, it was Su Yung that came out to confront her. It was then Su Yung’s minion, the former Kimber Lee, who attacked Hogan and gave her the mandible claw. The two ghoulish wrestlers then dragged Hogan away.

Jay White & David Finlay Get Ready For NJPW Resurgence

At NJPW Resurgence this weekend, Jay White will defend the NEVER Openweight Championship against David Finlay. This week, Finlay’s FinJuice team took on White and the newest member of Bullet Club, Chris Bey. It looked as though FinJuice had the match won until White brought a chair into the ring and clocked Juice with it, leading to the DQ.

White and Finlay brawled after the match, with White throwing the chair right in Finlay’s face. White then delivered a Bladerunner to Finlay on the chair.

Christian Cage Is Coming Back To Impact Wrestling

AEW’s Christian Cage was interviewed by Alex Marvez this week. Cage talked about his history in Impact and how they gave him the opportunity to fight for world titles and improve as a wrestler. He promised to be in the Impact zone next week as the new Impact World Champion.

Rohit Raju Distraction Costs Matt Cardona Match Against John Skyler

A big upset took place this week on Impact when John Skyler pinned Matt Cardona. The finish of the mach was not without controversy, however, as Rohit Raju caused the distraction at ringside, allowing Skyler to hit a high-knee followed by a roll-up for the win. Cardona will no doubt blame Raju’s actions for the loss.

Brian Myers Wins Battle Royal To Earn Impact World Title Shot

Brian Myers will face whoever is the Impact World Champion at Impact Emergence on August 20th. That will either be Kenny Omega or Christian Cage depending on who comes away from the match on tonight’s Rampage with the belt.

This battle royal saw several rivalries continue or evolve, including Steve Maclin and Petey Williams, VOD & Willie Mack & Rich Swann, and Moose & Chris Sabin. The final 4 in the battle royal were Myers, Moose, Sabin and Sami Callihan. Moose eliminated Callihan and then locked up with his rival Chris Sabin. This allowed Myers to eliminate them both and win the match.

Coming Up In Impact Wrestling

Next week 8/19:

  • Christian Cage to appear
  • Melina vs. TBD
  • Doc Gallows vs Joe Doering

Emergence 8/20

  • Impact World Championship
    Kenny Omega (c) or Christian Cage vs Brian Myers
  • Impact Tag Team Championships
    The Good Brothers (Doc Gallows and Karl Anderson) (c) vs. Rich Swann and Willie Mack vs. Violent By Design (Eric Young, Deaner, Joe Doering, or Rhino)
  • X-Division Championship
    Josh Alexander (c) vs Jake Something
  • Petey Williams vs Steve Maclin

Gable Steveson Responds To Challenge From Jake Hager

Chris Stephens
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Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson recently responded to some comments from AEW’s Jake Hager on Twitter. Hager put out a Tweet saying he’d bet $20K that Steveson couldn’t take him down. Steveson eventually responded that he has never heard of Hager.

https://twitter.com/GableSteveson/status/1425952917761269763
https://twitter.com/GableSteveson/status/1425962793212207108

Jake Hager was recently angling for a fight with Fedor Emelianenko. Former UFC Heavyweight Champion Josh Barnett spoke out about this, saying Hager was not good enough to be lobbying for such a fight.

Gable Steveson On WWE Ambitions

In a recent interview with Sports Illustrated, Steveson spoke about his WWE ambitions.

“If I ever go to WWE, I’d be a ‘Paul Heyman Guy,’ ” said Steveson. “Heyman is a legend. We’d be two people doing great things, and that would be a tough team to beat.”

“And I’ve known Brock since I was in high school. He’s been there for me for a long time, making sure I do things the right way and put my best foot forward.”

“So many great organizations and teams have reached out. A scout from the Bills, there is a connection with the Ravens. The Olympic gold medal is helping me see the world, so my next step is going to be a big decision. I’m going to decompress now and think about it.”

Ric Flair Expected To Sign With AEW

Chris Stephens
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Wrestling legend Ric Flair is considered to be “a lock” to be joining AEW, according to Dave Meltzer in the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

“While nothing has been announced, the word going around is that it seems to be a lock Ric Flair will be headed here when he is legally able,” wrote Meltzer.

On a recent episode of Wrestling Observer Radio, it was also mentioned that Flair and Tony Khan are long-time friends.

“Ric had a great contract with WWE, it was exceptional. Ric Flair is also friends with Tony Khan, I mean they’ve been friends for years.”

– Dave Meltzer

Khan was a guest when Ric Flair married Wendy Barlow in 2018 and the two have been photographed socializing several times over the past few years.

ric flair tony khan

Ric Flair: I Will Never Retire!

Ric Flair was recently granted his release by WWE. He had previously expressed frustration with his creative direction (the Lacey Evans romance storyline) and also how his daughter Charlotte has been used in recent months.

The Nature Boy spoke with People earlier this month about the departure.

“We just didn’t see eye to eye on some business opportunities that I wanted to pursue, so I asked for my release,” Flair said. “There has been no animosity and everything has been on friendly terms.”

“It was a mutually agreed-upon decision and I will be moving forward to pursue other exciting endeavors such as my own line of wine, my own network, as well as comic books,” he continued. “I had to make this decision personally for my business and my brand.”

Visit f4wonline.com to subscribe to the Wrestling Observer.

Max Caster Sent To Sensitivity Training (Report)

Chris Stephens
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After an episode of AEW Dark had to be pulled and re-edited due to controversial lyrics of a rap by Max Caster, the member of the Acclaimed has reportedly been sent to sensitivity training. The Acclaimed were also removed from the AEW top-5 tag-team rankings this week after having sat in the #2 position the week prior.

“After what happened last week and the fallout, Max Caster has been sent to sensitivity training,” wrote Dave Meltzer in the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

Offensive Max Caster Rap Edited Out of AEW Dark

The Acclaimed had a match taped on August 4th that was supposed to air on the August 10th Dark but didn’t.

Anthony Bowens worked a singles match at Wednesday’s AEW TV tapings from Pittsburgh, PA. It will likely air on Dark next week. It’s worth noting that Bowens did not use the Acclaimed’s entrance music for the match.

Tony Khan Addresses Max Caster’s Rap

On Busted Open Radio recently, Tony Khan addressed what happened.

“Last night on Dark, Max Caster’s rap was terrible. I was not out there in the moment when he did it, it was not during Dynamite,” Khan said. “I had not heard it until last night, truthfully. In the editing process, it should have been caught. We deleted the episode and re-posted it with that edited out but it shouldn’t have aired.” 

“This would never have happened (on Dynamite) because Max’s raps, I have always gone over them with him,” he continued. “I don’t script or write wrestler’s promos, but the bullet points I give. In this case, it shouldn’t have happened and what will happen going forward is I will take over the editing of Dark and Elevation myself.”

A transcript of Caster’s rap is below:

“The Acclaimed kicking ass for miles, make you claim mental health like Simone Biles. The Sydals gonna pay the cost, I’m gonna treat those bitches like Duke lacrosse. The Blondes say they the best but those dudes are faker than a PCR test. And what’s that smell here in North Carolina, oh wait that’s Julia’s …”

Triple H Being Blamed For “Failing To Stop AEW’s Rise”(Report)

Chris Stephens
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NXT losing the Wednesday night war to AEW is reportedly being blamed on Triple H. According to a report from the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the loss to AEW has given Triple H’s detractors backstage ammunition.

“Levesque had been thought to be untouchable, but in failing to stop AEW’s rise, and eventually losing the war, it gave both his detractors and those who felt he would replace them the obvious ammunition,” wrote Dave Meltzer.

“The idea is he was in control and in a fight, and his vision for the product failed to attract younger viewers.”

It is also being reported that Triple H and Shawn Michaels were not given advanced notice about the roster cuts. This has reportedly led to morale issues in NXT.

“The idea is that Levesque had stocked NXT with too many wrestlers who had no main roster potential, in his being quick to sign independent talent as fast as possible if they showed potential, to stockpile and keep from AEW.”

In recent weeks, top NXT stars have been beaten on the main roster. NXT Champion Karrion Kross has lost to Jeff Hardy and Keith Lee. Also, Dakota Kai was beaten by Aliayah recently on Main Event.

DDP On His Love For Darby Allin: “He’s a Bigger Risk-Taker Than Jeff Hardy”

Alex Laybourne
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There are not many wrestlers like Darby Allin. He has it all, from his persona, his in-ring skills, his ability to sell moves and build an underdog connection with the fans. This is a viewpoint shared by wrestling legend Diamond Dallas Page, who has developed a friendship with Allin.

Talking on a recent episode of the It’s My House podcast, Diamond Dallas Page had plenty of say about Darby and his future in wrestling.

DDP holds a very special place in the wrestling community. He has worked with many different promotions and has literally saved the lives of fellow wrestlers with his DDP Yoga lifestyle. He leads a very strict and healthy lifestyle, and that is something he and Darby Allin share. Albeit if via different methodologies.

“I love Darby. He’s a great kid, he’ll call me up if he’s coming into town.”

Page wasted no words in showing his appreciation for Darby as a technician and a hard-working athlete. “Darby is someone who puts the work in and does everything he can to reverse the risk-taking that he does,” said DDP. “But, he doesn’t even need to do that s*it anymore. He could do a coffin drop here and there, he could do like one or two high spots a match. Because Darby really knows how to wrestle, Darby knows how to sell. And the people love him!”

DDP Understands the Jeff Hardy Comparisons

Any fan of professional wrestling will always make comparisons between wrestlers. Especially wrestlers that have that special something about their character. There has been no shortage of comparisons between Darby Allin and the charismatic enigma Jeff Hardy. Comparisons that DDP understands. However, he also spots one core difference between them.

“He’s a bigger risk taker than Jeff Hardy, and that says something. The difference between [the] two is one is straight edge and one’s not.”

DDP went on to discuss the career of Jeff Hardy and how remarkable it had been. “I think Jeff Hardy is just an unbelievable athlete. I don’t know how he’s still being able to do the s*it he’s able to do. But, he’s still in his 40s. And you really don’t feel this s*it until you start getting in your 50s, and when you get in your 60s. That’s when you feel your shoulders, your knees, your back, your neck.”

Darby Allin is an exciting prospect and has the entire wrestling world ahead of him. With the likes of Diamond Dallas Page and Sting in his corner, there is no end to what he can achieve in this business.

Samoa Joe Talks the Importance of William Regal and Triple H to NXT

Alex Laybourne
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The entire wrestling world was shocked when news broke about Samoa Joe being released from his WWE contract. They were equally shocked when he re-appeared on NXT. Since then, Joe has gone from being the non-active right-hand man to William Regal to the number one contender for the NXT championship. With current champion Karrion Kross pulling double duty on NXT and the main roster, it is looking likely that Joe will secure his third NXT championship.

The NXT brand is currently in a very precarious position. There are lots of unknowns, heavy releases and big talk about structural changes to the entire company. Talking during a recent interview on the WrestleSlam podcast, Samoa Joe talked about the two men who have been leading NXT from the front lines. Heaping praise on both William Regal and Triple H citing their importance to the product.

During the interview, Samoa Joe talked about both men, who are incredibly active in NXT.

“You know, when you’re around Regal he has so much information packed in that brain. It’s almost as if he doesn’t have the processor just to get it all out at once. But, you hang around him long enough and then, these kinda spouts of wisdom will kind of flow out of him. And then, you’re kinda like ‘oh that a good one, oh I’ll take that too’. Anytime you’re around them, you’re always gonna learn something.” Samoa Joe said about William Regal.

Samoa Joe Gives Respect When Respect is Due

Samoa Joe, the wrestler, is a badass who has a problem with authority. However, he is also a man who recognizes and gives respect when it is due.

When talking about Triple H and his impact on the NXT brand he was very clear with his praise.

“I think the biggest thing is, the biggest influence he has, is he has an ability to kind of look at a superstar and figure out, what that extra little need is.”

– Samoa Joe on Triple H

A lot of those entrances, a lot of the spectacle that you see produced on NXT, a lot of that comes out of his head and you know it just works so many times. It’s amazing to see him kind of sit down with the character, and kind of figure out this is how we need to put it together. This is how we need to make it look, and it’s going to be awesome. Then, lo and behold, we’ll come to TakeOver and it’s this amazing entrance. It’s just this great introduction to the world. So, I tip my hat to him for that.”

The future of NXT remains unclear. However, one thing that is for sure, Samoa Joe will be there, leading from the front line.

Drew McIntyre Reflects on Jinder Mahal’s Failed Run as WWE Champion

Alex Laybourne
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The pandemic era of professional wrestling will long be remembered. Not only for how the world came to a stop, or how the Phenom himself didn’t get to bow out in front of a packed house. Admittedly, there is something poetic about his end coming by riding away from a beatdown on his bike. It will also be remembered for making the careers of certain wrestlers. In WWE, both Drew McIntyre and Roman Reigns saw their careers skyrocket during the empty arena shows.

Drew McIntyre was the face of the company during the lockdown period, holding the WWE Championship, defending it in war after war. He was over and the universe loved him for it. Even Roman Reigns, who turned heel during the pandemic, finally building a character that the fans could get behind. Embracing the heel everybody always knew was inside.

However, not every championship run is greeted with the same levels of appreciation or enthusiasm as Drew McIntyre or the deep-seated loathing for Reigns’ heel persona. Back in May 2017, Jinder Mahal claimed the WWE championship from Randy Orton. Yet fans never got behind Mahal’s title run, and it was, for the most part, not very memorably.

Drew McIntyre Knows You Can’t Force Feed the Fans Champions

Talking during a recent interview with Give Me Sport, Drew McIntyre gave his thoughts on why Mahal’s title run was so resoundingly rejected and criticized.

“I think a lot of it came because it just came out of nowhere. It wasn’t like myself.”

– Drew McIntyre

“There was no build to that big moment and telling the story and history. He has a similar story, the exact same story actually when it comes to getting fired, but the position he was in at the time, it was just kind of hotshotted and I think that’s why people were kind of negative. I think he did a great job with the opportunity that was presented. Perhaps low on experience at the time, but still, in my opinion, whatever he was asked, he did to the best of his abilities.” Drew McIntyre explained.

McIntyre has been locked in a feud with his former 3MB partner for several months now. Both men have come a long way since their early days with the company. Both saw their contracts ended and spent time away from WWE rebuilding. They came back stronger, and are now, arguably in their prime. Drew McIntyre understands and appreciates where Jinder Mahal is and what he has done to get there. While the pair are not yet part of the SummerSlam card, there is every chance we will see them settle their rivalry once and for all on August 21st.

Wrestling Veteran Dominic DeNucci Passes Away At 89

Anutosh Bajpai
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Wrestling legend and trainer of veterans such as Mick Foley and Shane Douglas, Dominic DeNucci has passed away at the age of 89. The news was confirmed by Cauliflower Alley Club.

The wrestling veteran stayed active in the business for over 5 decades. He wrestled for many well-known promotions across the globe after making his debut in 1958.

Starting his career as The Masked Marvel in Montreal, DeNucci later formed a tag team with the original Dino Bravo. He was built as Dino’s brother Dominic Bravo.

The Italian-American professional wrestler achieved success in Australia while competing for the Australian wrestling promotion World Championship Wrestling.

Dominic DeNucci made his debut for the World Wide Wrestling Federation now known as WWE in 1967. He went on to win multiple titles in the company.

He won the WWWF International Tag Team Championship and WWWF World Tag Team Championship. DeNucci teamed with names such as Bruno Sammartino, Pat Barrett and Victor Riviera during his time with the promotion.

Dominic DeNucci became a professional wrestling trainer after his retirement from active competition. He is known for training people such as Moondog Spot, Mick Foley, Shane Douglas, and Preston Steele.

SEScoops extends our condolences to the family and friends of Dominic DeNucci.

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