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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.

Stephen Amell On Potential Wrestling Return

Anutosh Bajpai
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Having competed in multiple different promotions, Stephen Amell is no stranger to wrestling. With his wrestling drama Heels premiering this week, many wonder if we will see him having a live match again anytime soon.

The acting star recently had an interview with WrestlingInc. He talked about things like watching tapes of legends such as Dusty Rhodes, Ric Flair, and Harley Race for the preparation of his new TV series and more.

When asked about a potential return to the ring for either WWE or AEW, Amell claimed that he has a man-crush on Kevin Owens, before mentioning how he has been discussing ideas for a singles match against Cody Rhodes as well:

“My man-crush on Kevin Owens is alive and well. I love the way that guy works and the way he works a crowd. Cody and I have been circling a singles match for the longest time. I know that he’d take care of me and that we can tell a story in there. You’re going to have to convince my wife first ultimately.”

Stephen Amell went on to talk about his upcoming TV show. He claimed that it would be worth it if he can convert one person into a wrestling fan who didn’t like it before.

Wrestling drama series Heels featuring Stephen Amell and Alexander Ludwig among others is set to premiere on Starz at 9 PM ET on August 15.

Zelina Vega On Why She Returned To WWE

Anutosh Bajpai
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Zelina Vega was released amidst some controversy over WWE’s new third-party edicts in November 2020. It’s believed that her firing was the result of opposing the company’s new policies. So many were surprised when she returned.

The former NXT star recently had an interview with Digital Spy. She talked about a number of things and also explained why she decided to return to the promotion.

Vega explained that she felt like she had unfinished business in WWE and becoming a champion was the reason for her return more than anything else:

“I think, more than anything, WWE has always been a place that I felt like I had some kind of unfinished business with, and, for me as a kid, you look and you’re like, ‘I want to be a champion,’

There’s so many things that you want to accomplish and coming back. I set my eyes on the SmackDown Women’s Championship,” said Zelina Vega, “And that’s what I’m focused on the most and seeing where that takes me.”

The SmackDown star also revealed that she considered returning as a babyface when she came back last month but ultimately decided against it because it made more sense storyline-wise to be a heel.

Bianca Belair is currently scheduled to defend the SmackDown women’s championship against Sasha Banks at SummerSlam. We will have to see if Zelina Vega gets a shot at the title afterward.

Christian Cage Set To Return To Impact Wrestling

Fernando Quiles Jr.
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Christian Cage is set to return to the Impact Zone for the first time since 2008.

Cage will be challenging Impact World Champion Kenny Omega for the gold on the debut episode of AEW Rampage on Aug. 13. Cage threw the curveball at Omega during a recent episode of Dynamite. Cage will also be getting an AEW World Title shot at All Out on Sept. 5.

Alex Marvez recently interviewed Cage, who revealed he will be making his way back to the Impact Zone next week and he plans to do so as the company’s world champion.

“Listen, Kenny and I are gonna get to know each other really, really well over the next month or so. Kenny, he calls himself the belt collector, and for good reason. Obviously, he has a nice collection going. But I’ve made a decision that I’m gonna beat Kenny for all of those titles and it starts with the Impact World Championship tomorrow night on Rampage.

“But here’s the thing, next week I’ll be back in the Impact Zone for the first time in I don’t know how many years. And I feel like I owe it to Impact for all that it’s done for me in my career. You see Impact, my history there, it runs deep. It gave me the chance to main event. It gave me the chance to wrestle for world titles. I might not have gotten those opportunities anywhere else but Impact, they saw something in me and I stepped up and I became a better wrestler for it.”

During his time with Impact Wrestling, known as TNA Wrestling at the time, Christian Cage became a two-time NWA World Champion. Many credit Cage’s run in TNA as the reason for his ascent to the main event scene.

Do you think Christian Cage will take the Impact World Title from Kenny Omega?

Trademark For Becky Lynch Filed By WWE

Fernando Quiles Jr.
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WWE has gone through with a long-persued trademark for Becky Lynch.

The WWE Universe refers to Lynch as “The Man.” It’s a nickname the former women’s champion has gone by since late 2018. Lynch’s popularity eventually caught fire and she became one of the hottest stars in WWE.

Recently, Lynch took time off to become a mother. Since that time, images have surfaced of Lynch and it’s safe to say she looks to be in tremendous ring shape. Could we be one step closer to seeing her back in the ring?

WWE has finally struck on filing a trademark for “The Man.” Here is a description of the filing.

“THE MAN™ trademark registration is intended to cover the categories of toys, namely, action figures, accessories therefor; dolls; cases for action figures; toy wrestling rings; playsets for use with action figures; toy vehicles; board games; hand-held units for playing electronic game other than those adopted for use with an electronic display screen or monitor; tabletop action skill games; construction toys; playing cards; puzzles; stuffed toys; plush toys; toy belts; knee and elbow pads for athletic use; toy foam hands; costume masks; novelty face masks; Christmas tree decorations; toy spinning tops; arcade games; kites; bobble-head dolls; puppets; card games; toy guitars; toy water guns; vinyl products for playing in a pool; doll furniture; party favors in the nature of crackers and noisemakers; skateboards; toy scooters; paper party favors; collectible championship belts.”

WWE and Ric Flair were once in a battle over the trademark. For decades, Flair coined himself as “The Man.” The two sides eventually reached a deal that saw the WWE gain rights to the trademark. They have now filed.

It’s been reported by PW Insider that Becky Lynch is expected to make the travel to SummerSlam this year. With that said, it’s possible that she won’t show up on camera.

CM Punk Reveals Whether Or Not He Follows Current WWE Product

Fernando Quiles Jr.
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CM Punk isn’t interested in dropping another pipebomb on how WWE does business.

The story of Punk’s exit from the WWE is well-documented. After lasting over 49 minutes, Punk was eliminated from the 2014 Royal Rumble match. It would end up being his last WWE appearance, not counting his role as an analyst on the FOX-produced WWE Backstage years later.

Punk grew frustrated with how the WWE medical team handled a staph infection. He was also upset over not getting time off as well as the company’s booking decisions.

Is CM Punk Hip To Current WWE Product?

During an appearance on Sunday Night’s Main Event Podcast, Punk answered the question of whether or not he’s aware of what’s going on when it comes to WWE programming nowadays.

“No, I had to watch it a little bit when I was an analyst for FOX. But I mean… hmm, how do I say this diplomatically? Um, no, I think they’ve got some people who are super awesome and great in the ring, but you know, nothing grabs me to get me to want to watch.”

Jason Agnew, host of the podcast, admitted he was a bit surprised that Punk was rather reserved when discussing his current view of the WWE product. Punk responded with the following.

“I’m getting ‘a little long in the tooth’ now. And I would much rather uplift and show love to things I like than to tear anything down. You know, you can’t say that what they’re doing is wrong. They are the most profitable they’ve ever been since their inception, so who am I to say… you know what I mean? Like… it’s ice cream, there’s 31,000 flavors, everybody gets their favorite, I just don’t like vanilla.”

It has been heavily implied through rumors, reports, and even AEW that Punk will be making his debut on the second edition of AEW Rampage on Aug. 20. Nothing has been made official, however.

Did Roman Reigns Get Backstage Heat For ‘Missionary Position’ Line?

Fernando Quiles Jr.
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Roman Reigns has made it clear he’s no fan of the missionary position but did he get some heat for it?

On the July 23 edition of WWE SmackDown, Reigns cut a promo denying Cena an opportunity at a Universal Title match at SummerSlam. Ultimately, Cena ended up signing a contract on another episode of SmackDown, so the two will end up meeting on Aug. 21 inside Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Reigns had what many considered to be the line of the night on that July 23 episode of SmackDown, however. He compared John Cena’s act to doing the missionary position with a significant other every night.

Roman Reigns: “I’m Not Scripted”

During an edition of the Sports Illustrated Media Podcast, Reigns set the record straight on whether or not he had backstage heat.

“There was a portion of my career where I’d either read a script or I would try to adjust a script as much as possible. For a while now, especially since I’ve come back from my little leave during the beginning of the pandemic since SummerSlam, I’m not scripted. I say what I want to. I say what I feel, and if it comes out of my mouth, it’s my verbiage. I come up with it. I deliver it, and that’s why it’s been the way it’s been because it’s mine.

“I don’t know why they edited that out, and I think it did raise some eyebrows, but I don’t get in trouble. The gimmick is as close to being real as possible. Even if, even if they try to say something to me, I wouldn’t have cared anyways. What are you gonna do, not have me on SmackDown next week. Like I did before SummerSlam during last summer, I’ll go home. It doesn’t matter to me. Let’s see how it goes without me.”

Many have praised the Roman Reigns character since being aligned with Paul Heyman and turning heel. Reigns has held the WWE Universal Championship since Aug. 30, 2020. He’s on his way to going a full year with the gold.

Keith Lee Shares Details on Why He was Absent from WWE

Tyriece Simon
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WWE superstar Keith Lee reveals what sidelined him earlier this year.

For a couple of months, Lee has posted on Twitter that he’d explain why he was off of TV. Today, He released a Youtube video explaining that he had covid in January, which resulted in him being inactive. In February, he would return, but Lee received news that something was off in his blood.

“…some people may have experienced this thing where there is an inflammation in the heart or lungs. For me, it was the heart. That led to very scary times. I was basically forbidden from trying, or any activity outside of a light walk,” said Lee.

He also shared that there was a possibility that if he did more than advised, he could’ve died. The health scare lasted for 3 or 4 months until the heart inflammation went away.

Timeline of Lee’s Absense

Lee’s last match in January was a win against Sheamus on January 11th at Monday Night Raw. However, after January 11th, he tested positive for Covid. Lee missed the Royal Rumble on January 31st.

He returned at a Raw event on February 8th to defeat Matt Riddle when he received the news from doctors about the heart inflammation. The original plan was for Lee to be in a triple threat match for the United States championship at Elimination Chamber on February 21st. However, WWE pulled him from the card, and he would be inactive till he got cleared.

After Lee recovered from the heart inflammation, he returned to Raw on July 19th in a loss against WWE champion Bobby Lashley. Except for this week, he has been active on Raw.

Although the experience was daunting, Lee feels appreciation for being healthy today. “… I don’t really know what’s next, right? The idea for me is I fought the battle that matters the most, and I’m healthy. At the end of the day, that’s all I can really ask for. That’s all my family can ask for,” said Lee.

Bianca Belair Wants First Crack At Becky Lynch Upon Her Return

Fernando Quiles Jr.
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The “EST of WWE,” Bianca Belair, wants a piece of “The Man,” Becky Lynch.

Belair is the reigning SmackDown Women’s Champion. She’s held that title since WrestleMania 37. Belair is due for a highly-anticipated rematch with Sasha Banks at SummerSlam on Aug. 21.

While Belair is preparing for another high-profile title match, she’s got someone else in the back of her mind as well. During an interview with Planeta Wrestling’s Miguel Perez, Belair said she is hoping to welcome Lynch back inside the ring.

“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.”

Reports have indicated that Lynch will likely make the trip to SummerSlam. With that said, it’s possible that she won’t be on camera. Lynch has been out of action since April 2020 after announcing her pregnancy. Since then, Lynch has been enjoying motherhood and has quickly gotten back to ring shape. Time will tell when she makes her way back to the squared circle.

Update On Becky Lynch’s Status For WWE SummerSlam

Bronson Reed Calls Out AEW TNT Champion Miro

Fernando Quiles Jr.
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Former NXT star Bronson Reed (Jonah Rock) has called out AEW TNT Champion Miro.

Reed was a part of a slew of NXT roster cuts. The list included Reed, Bobby Fish, Mercedes Martinez, Leon Ruff, Tyler Rust, Jake Atlas, and others. For many, Reed was the most shocking name on that list. After all, he was called upon to work some dark matches before an episode of SmackDown and the belief was that he’d make his main roster debut soon.

Now that he is no longer a part of the WWE, Reed is turning his attention to other promotions. It’s quite clear that he has at least one man in mind to pick a fight with. Here’s the message Reed sent out on Twitter.

https://twitter.com/bronsonreedwwe/status/1425638618350108672

Fans on social

Miro has held the TNT Championship since May 12. He ended the 186-day reign of Darby Allin. On the debut episode of AEW Rampage, Miro will put the gold on the line against Fuego Del Sol.

Recently-released NXT stars have 30-day non-compete clauses, so Bronson Reed could show up in AEW within a matter of weeks.

Time will tell when Reed will be able to showcase his talents in another promotion.

Candice LeRae & Johnny Gargano Are Expecting A Baby

Chris Stephens
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Candice LeRae and Johnny Gargano have announced that their family is about to get a little bigger. The couple revealed today that Candice is pregnant and the baby is due in February. It will be the couple’s first biological child, with all due respect to Austin Theory and Indi Hartwell.

Johnny Gargano and Candice LeRae were married in 2016.

Candice hasn’t wrestled since the Green American Bash on July 6th, 2021. Along with Indi Hartwell she dropped the NXT tag team championships on that show to Io Shirai and Zoey Stark. Hartwell and LeRae held the titles for 2 months after defeating Ember Moon and Shotzi Blackheart for them in May.

Last fall, LeRae was interviewed by Daily DDT and spoke about what she loves about being in NXT.

“I’m very biased, but I love NXT. I really love the environment, and for me, so much of it is feeling a certain way when you’re wrestling as a fan and there’s something about NXT for me that feels like home and I feel like I belong in NXT. It makes me so happy and I always feel like the talent there push me to be my best because no matter how long I’ve been doing this, I’m always trying to get better.”

Gable Steveson Says He Will Be at WWE SummerSlam 2021

Jake Skudder
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Tokyo 2020 Olympic gold medallist Gable Steveson has been on the radar of WWE and UFC for quite some time.

The amateur great reportedly wants a move to pro wrestling, and he has confirmed that he will be in attendance at SummerSlam 2021, although as a fan.

Speaking to Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated, Gable Steveson said that he is going to the show mainly to see The Head of The Table, Roman Reigns.

Gable Steveson on Roman Reigns

“I’m heading over to Vegas to watch the champ Roman Reigns do his thing. John Cena is great, but he’s still going to have to acknowledge Roman Reigns” Steveson stated.

The Olympian also revealed who he would want to manage him should he ever make his way to the squared circle and WWE.

“If I ever go to WWE, I’d be a ‘Paul Heyman Guy'” Steveson revealed. “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” Gable Steveson added. “He’s been there for me for a long time, making sure I do things the right way and put my best foot forward.”

Here is the currently confirmed card for the upcoming PPV event:

  • WWE Universal Championship Match – Roman Reigns (c) vs John Cena
  • Raw Women’s Championship Match – Nikki A.S.H. (c) vs Rhea Ripley vs Charlotte Flair (Triple Threat Match)
  • WWE Championship Match – Bobby Lashley (c) vs Goldberg
  • Edge vs Seth Rollins
  • SmackDown Women’s Championship – Bianca Belair (c) vs Sasha Banks
  • SmackDown Tag Team Championships – The Usos (c) vs Dominik & Rey Mysterio
  • United States Championship – Sheamus (c) vs Damian Priest

Update On Molly Holly, Shawn Daivari & Pat Buck’s Roles Backstage In WWE

Chris Stephens
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2021 has seen plenty of shake-ups to several backstage roles in WWE. Molly Holly received a tryout as a producer backstage this spring, and evidently, it went well. According to a report from PW Insider, Holly had been on the road with Smackdown but is now working as a producer backstage at RAW tapings.

“Molly Holly, who had mostly been on the road for Smackdown tapings since returning to the company for her tryout as a producer, has been at several Raw tapings of late working as a Producer,” wrote Mike Johnson.

Additionally, Pat Buck has been taking on several duties backstage that had previously been performed by Drake Wuertz. Buck is now in charge of booking extras and indy talent for WWE events as part of WWE’s Talent Relations department. Wuertz was released from WWE this spring.

Shawn Daivari is also reportedly being praised for his work as a producer in WWE since returning. Daivari was one of several names released in April 2020 but was brought back this June. While away from WWE, Daivari wrestled for MLW, Impact, and NWA. He made his NWA debut on this week’s episode of Powerrr. His matches for these promotions were taped before he returned to WWE, however.

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