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2 NJPW Wrestlers Test Positive For COVID-19

Chris Stephens
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After NJPW pulled several wrestlers from yesterday’s Wrestling Dontaku Night 2 event, the promotion has revealed that 2 wrestlers have tested positive for COVID-19. NJPW has not revealed who the two wrestlers that have tested positive are, however.

Kazuchika Okada, Minoru Suzuki, El Desperado, Yoshinobu Kanemaru, SHO, and YOH were all removed from yesterday’s event. A scheduled IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship match between El Desperado and YOH was scrapped from the show.

The two wrestlers who recently tested positive were both discovered to have a fever the morning of the show.

“According to protocol, they were taken for immediate testing, while those that had close contact with the individuals in the last two events were removed from proceedings. NJPW has learned that the individuals’ tests were positive for COVID-19,” reads an NJPW update on NJPW1972.com. 

Both wrestlers are said to be experiencing mild symptoms and are under medical care.

NJPW has two significant events upcoming this month. On May 15th, the promotion presents Wrestle Grand Slam in Yokohama Stadium. No matches have been announced thus far fro that show. Then on May 29th, NJPW will present Wrestle Grand Slam from the Tokyo Dome. Kazuchika Okada is currently scheduled to challenge IWGP World Champion Will Ospreay on the show.

MJF: Britt Baker In The Pinnacle “Makes Complete Sense”

Alex Laybourne
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Factions are a big part of AEW. MJF and The Pinnacle are one of the most talked-about factions on the roster. Tonight, they go head-to-head with The Inner Circle in a Blood and Guts match.

Yet, in speaking during an interview with Steel Chair, MJF admitted that he was looking beyond dismantling The Inner Circle and would be open to further expanding The Pinnacle.

MJF admitted that the Pinnacle have a goal in AEW, and that is to hold every title belt. That would naturally include the women’s belt. When pressed on this, MJF said that his group would consider opening their doors to a female star joining their ranks.

Rumours abound that Britt Baker is set to join the Pinnacle at some point in the future. Putting both her and MJF together has the potential for magic. They are both the ultimate heel at the top of their game. Ironically both call themselves the face of their respective divisions. As long as a power struggle could be avoided, Britt joining The Pinnacle could be a fantastic move.

MJF on Britt Baker Rumors

However, MJF was coy when discussing the matter. Remaining in steadfast character as he does so well.

“I will say this about Brittany, she is clearly not just the face of the women’s division in AEW, but at this point, I think it’s fair to say she’s the face of women’s wrestling as a whole, just like I feel it’s fair to say that I’m the face of men’s professional wrestling as a whole. I get why people keep bringing this up, it makes complete sense.”

This is a clear non-rejection of the notion, which could very easily be read as a cryptic admission that MJF has an appointment with the doctor.

Chris Jericho Wants AEW to Sign Samoa Joe

Alex Laybourne
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Chris Jericho is a man who loves to talk. In a recent NY Post interview, he raised a number of newsworthy points. Including declaring which former WWE superstar he wants in AEW.

Jericho was open and honest when he pointed specifically to the recently released Samoa Joe as being a talent he wants to see in AEW sooner rather than later.

Since Joe’s release from WWE there have been lots of rumours about his future destination, and several wrestlers have laid down a challenge to the man. However, given Jericho’s executive position within AEW, you must feel that there is a little more weight behind his words.

Chris Jericho on WWE Releases

“Obviously, the one name that stands out as an established main-event heavyweight champion guy is Samoa Joe.” Chris Jericho said.

There is no denying that Joe is a main event calibre wrestler. He would add a very interesting dynamic to the current AEW roster. There is a chance Jericho knows a little more than he was willing to let on. If you are willing to examine his choice of words, perhaps there is a hint of a deal already being struck.

“Those guys have three months before they can go anywhere. But I’d love to see Joe in an AEW ring at some point.”

Jericho went on to say that he has his eyes on another recently released talent. Although he added that man would need to prove himself a little bit more first.

“You look at a guy like Tucker for example, I don’t know if we would take him tomorrow, we might, but it seems to me if he goes and proves what he can do and what he’s capable of, well then absolutely.”

One thing is for sure, all eyes will be on the news for the next few months. Waiting for all of these guys to make an announcement about where they will be heading next.

Jim Ross: Darby Allin Is An ‘Extraordinary’ Ratings Success

Jake Skudder
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AEW commentator and WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross recently spoke about AEW’s ratings success. Discussing how well the company has done on Wednesday nights since NXT moved, JR specifically brought up how Darby Allin has been bringing in ‘extraordinary’ numbers.

“I was surprised that we did as well as we did,” Jim Ross began on Grilling JR, talking about the first AEW Dynamite event with NXT having moved a few weeks ago. “I thought we might do [900,000], I thought that was being generous. But to do 1.2 million, that was pretty phenomenal.”

Jim Ross on Darby Allin

As AEW Dynamite looks to establish momentum with viewers, Jim Ross knows the best way to do that is by putting on a great product consistently.

“Hopefully we will earn the trust and the dedication from the audience and the only way we’re going to do that is to have a hell of a show every week,” said JR. “Is that possible? I don’t know, but I know the effort will be there.”

He then turned his attention to the TNT Champion specifically. “A lot of our young talents are getting better, they’re getting over,” Ross said. “I think they’re getting better and assuming their roles better. Look at the ratings, quarter hour ratings for Darby Allin were extraordinary and he’s a home grown talent.”

Are you enjoying seeing Darby Allin in the main event of Dynamite recently? Let us know in the comments

MJF Talks How AEW Is ‘Creeping Up’ on RAW Ratings

Jake Skudder
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AEW star MJF recently discussed All Elite Wrestling and how their ongoing ratings successes appear to mean they are ‘creeping up’ on WWE RAW on Monday nights.

Although last week’s rating fell below the 1 million mark, AEW has been doing extremely well ever since NXT were forced to move nights and broadcast on Tuesdays.

This week’s episode marks the 4th episode of Dynamite unopposed and looks set to break the 1 million rating mark again. This week is of course Blood & Guts between The Pinnacle and The Inner Circle.

MJF: Dynamite Hunting Raw

“There has not been a wrestling show that has been able to even sniff ‘Monday Night Raw’ in decades” MJF began in a recent interview with Yahoo! Sports. “We’re creeping up every single week in that key demo.”

“If I’m not mistaken, I believe we beat them a few weeks at points on their show in the key demo,” MJF said, discussing the key 18-49 demo. “Which is absolutely insane, because we have only been a professional wrestling company on television for a year and a half, two years. It’s unheard of and I’m proud to be a part of it.”

Although AEW will have to be extremely consistent to challenge WWE going forward; it is interesting that such a young show has grown in today’s television landscape to be even this close to the market leader in WWE.

Do you think that AEW could match RAW at some point? Let us know in the comments

Raquel Gonzalez to Defend NXT Women’s Championship against Mercedes Martinez

Alex Laybourne
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NXT has a reputation for laying on big matches for its weekly show. Next week will be no different, as current NXT women’s champion Raquel Gonzalez defends her crown against Mercedes Martinez.

The rivalry between Raquel Gonzalez and Mercedes Martinez has been building for months. It actually dates back to before Gonzalez won the belt back at NXT: Stand and Deliver.

This bout will mark the first title defence for Raquel Gonzalez, and despite the tenacity of her opponent you have to say she is the clear favourite to pick up the win. However, it cannot be forgotten that the previous time Gonzalez held gold, she lost it in the first defence. Granted, that was for the NXT women’s tag team titles, but a defeat like that surely lingers in the mind.

Raquel Gonzales has risen through the NXT ranks, building quite the name for herself in recent months. She will be eager to cement her legacy with a solid performance next Tuesday and a long run as NXT champion. Moreover, she has an ace up her sleeve in the form of Dakota Kai. In a recent reversal of roles, Kai now has the chance to repay her former muscle for all the times she came to her aid.

One thing that is for certain, the match between the pair will be a banger of a fight, between two of the toughest, baddest women on the NXT roster right now. This match should also end the feud and leave Raquel Gonzalez open to a new rival. Then eyes must turn to the woman she has in her corner. How long will Gonzalez be able to trust her friend Dakota Kai?

Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell Are the New NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions

Alex Laybourne
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Congratulations to Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell. The female duo from NXT faction The Way are your new NXT women’s tag team champions. The Way is making their mark in NXT, and look set to be a faction to be reckoned with.

Tuesday night, four women went to war in the NXT ring. With all competitors laying it on the line in a street fight that will be long remembered. With tables, chairs, and weapons aplenty, this was a match that lacked nothing in terms of intensity.

The win adds more gold to The Way’s waists, with Johnny Gargano already holding the North American Championship. How long he will be champion remains to be seen, with his upcoming fight with Bronson Reed.

The tag title victory is the first time that either Candice LeRae or Indi Hartwell have held gold in WWE. Moreover, it will be interesting to see how long their run lasts. The first two sets of champions, however, were unable to hold onto the belts for that long.

NXT will be eager to build prestige around their newest title. Historically, that works best when champs have a solid run. Logically speaking, Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell should be set for a solid reign as champs.

With Gargano and Austin Theory in their corner, you have to say that the future is looking golden for the new NXT women’s tag team champions.

Daniel Bryan’s WWE Contract Has Expired

Alex Laybourne
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Daniel Bryan’s WWE contract legitimately expired last week after his title-versus-career match against Roman Reigns on Friday’s Smackdown. The news was first reported by Fightful and has been independently confirmed.

The nature of Bryan’s sendoff, without any fanfare, indicates that WWE is still optimistic they can keep him in the fold. It would be a lackluster way for Daniel Bryan to leave WWE, despite strong booking in his final matches.

The Return of Bryan Danielson?

Daniel Bryan has been talking about his contract expiring in recent interviews. The former WWE Champion told TV Line last week,

“It’s funny that people gravitate towards the date ‘September,’ and I think it’s because that’s when my last contract ended, but it doesn’t end in September,”

Bryan also made some very interesting comments later in the interview about what his wrestling plans could entail. Making a big point about being an independent contractor.

“One of the coolest things about wrestling, and just be being an independent contractor in general, is that you can say, ‘Well, I really only want to do this amount of work.’”

Either way, it looks as if Daniel Bryan is planning on taking a break to spend time with family and give his neck a rest. However, his words definitely speak of a man who is not yet completely done with in-ring competition.

WWE NXT Results (5/4): Finn Balor Returns, Street Fight, Falls Count Anywhere Match

Andrew Ravens
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The May 4, 2021 episode of WWE NXT aired live on the USA Network from Orlando, Florida at the Capitol Wrestling Center. 

WWE NXT Results 

  • Isaiah ‘Swerve’ Scott def. Leon Ruff.
  • Cameron Grimes def. Asher Hale (fka Anthony Henry).
  • Timothy Thatcher & Tommaso Ciampa def. Grizzled Young Veterans (James Drake & Zack Gibson).
  • Sarray def. Zayda Ramier.
  • LA Knight def. Jake Atlas.
  • Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell def. Ember Moon and Shotzi Blackheart to win NXT Women’s Tag Team title

Here are the takeaways from this week’s show:

Legado del Fantasma Segment

Legado del Fantasma

Legado del Fantasma came out for an in-ring promo. Santos Escobar cut a promo about history and lineage. He said that he is the undisputed empire of lucha libre. He said that the fans witnessed an iconic moment. He said that he will get back the NXT Cruiserweight Title. 

Raul Mendoza and Joaquin Wilde pointed out how they didn’t get pinned at TakeOver last month in the triple threat match and they embarrassed MSK last week. They want the NXT Tag Team Titles. 

Escobar said that a true master is best when he doesn’t do everything for himself, but what he can do for his brothers. 

Kushida appeared on the big screen and challenged Escobar to a match for his title on next week’s show. Escobar accepted. 

Falls Count Anywhere Match

pjimage 2021 05 04T163452.162

A Falls Count Anywhere Match between Leon Ruff and Isaiah “Swerve” Scott was booked. 

This was a great way to kick off the show and they got plenty of time to do their story. At one point, Ruff hit a springboard reverse hurricanrana off the apron to the floor. Scott hit an AA to Ruff onto the apron. 

The finish saw Ruff clothesline him over the barricade then was about to climb onto a platform, but AJ Francis caught him then hit a neck breaker onto the barricade. Scott hit his finisher for the win. 

Francis, who is currently hosting WWE Hidden Treasures, has been training at the Performance Center. 

https://twitter.com/JJWilliamsWON/status/1389737522561945605

Finn Balor Returns, Everyone Brawls

pjimage 2021 05 04T163511.557

Karrion Kross and Scarlett walked out to the ring for a promo. He said that he made things clear three weeks ago about challengers stepping up. However, no one has stepped up yet and people keep saying that they’re not afraid of him. He wonders what they’re waiting for. 

Kross said that he doesn’t have to prove himself, but he’s not waiting. He told Austin Theory, who is facing Kross next week, that he will drop him on his head and leave him laying. 

Kyle O’Reilly came out and told Kross that he’s not afraid of him and this is the match he wants. He said that he thinks this is the match Kross wants. Pete Dunne walked out and said he doesn’t care that Kross is champion because he’s the baddest man in NXT. He dared to prove them wrong. 

Finn Balor came out and said that he’s wrestled all of them except for Kross. He punched Kross, but Kross knocked him down. A brawl broke out with them all going after Kross. Security eventually broke them up. 

When Kross was left standing, Theory and Johnny Gargano attacked him. They hit a double superkick. Kross was left on his back. 

This marked the first time that Balor spoke or even appeared on NXT TV since Kross defeated him to win the NXT Championship at TakeOver: Stand & Deliver night two last month.

Tag Team Match

pjimage 2021 05 04T163456.350

Timothy Thatcher and Tommaso Ciampa vs. Zack Gibson and James Drake in a tag team match took place. 

Thatcher hit Gibson in the face with Wade Barrett’s shoe then locked in an arm submission for the win. 

Both teams have stated that they want to challenge MSK for the NXT Tag Team titles. Just last week, The Grizzled Young Veterans cut a promo calling themselves the leaders that the NXT tag team division needs. 

This led to Ciampa and Thatcher coming out to confront them and let them know they want the next title shot. The segment ended with Ciampa and Thatcher attacking Gibson and Drake.

These two teams did work with each other earlier this year as the Grizzled Young Veterans defeated Ciampa and Thatcher when they faced off in the men’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic semifinals. 

Street Fight

pjimage 2021 05 04T163445.165

NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions Ember Moon and Shotzi Blackheart defended against The Way’s Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell in a Street Fight. 

They used various weapons throughout the match whether that was chairs, kendo sticks or trash cans. 

They did a spot where they hit Heartwell with a double dropkick with a trash can on her head. Moon hit a face buster off the barricade onto a chair. They then placed Heartwell on a stack of chairs and Blackwell was going for an outside dive, but LeRae sprays a fire extinguisher in their faces. 

Shotzi hit a back splash off the top rope onto Heartwell who was on a ladder. Shotzi climbed a beam support and jumped off of it onto Heartwell on the announce table. Indie hit a spring board elbow drop to Moon through a table on the floor. LeRae hit a midfield curbstomp to Shotzi on a steel chair. The Way are the new Women’s Tag Team Champs

https://twitter.com/WWENXT/status/1389761211403735045

Nick Aldis Talks Mickie James’ Trash Bag Incident After WWE Release

Andrew Ravens
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Mickie James was released by WWE last month due to what the company blamed on budget cuts related to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Days later, she was part of the trash bag incident as her personal belongings were sent to her house by WWE in a trash bag that resulted in Mark Carrano being blamed for it and fired.

James’ husband and current NWA World Heavyweight Champion Nick Aldis gave his take on the situation while speaking with Spencer Love of Love Wrestling. 

“Well, I hope this doesn’t destroy anyone’s delusion of it. But, you know, the craziest thing about all that for us was that she really – it wasn’t like she was super offended. It wasn’t like she was really upset. She was kind of laughing at the symbolism.It wasn’t like this thing where she  went ‘ah, I’m devastated, I’m heartbroken, how would they do this to me,’ and I’ve seen some  people sort of refer to it like that as if that was the sort of tone.”

Aldis continued, If you go back and look at her post with the video and stuff, she was very tongue-in-cheek about it. She was very kind of, ‘well,  that’s about fucking right!’ In other words, they chew you up and spit you out, and that’s just the way the business is. 

And, look. She’s been through a hell of a lot worse. The reality is, is that symbolism and sort of tone-deaf gesture, I guess, is the best way to describe it, it’s not even in  the top-10 of the most cold, heartless things that have happened to her or me in this business. So,  it’s kind of like, hey, man, we’ve got thick skins. 

She just thought it was enlightening, I guess, to sort of share with the world like, ‘Hey, you think it’s all special and glamorous? It’s sometimes  not so much.’ I was very amazed at the level of traction it got. 

And, I was amazed at the level of response on the corporate level from those guys. From Triple H, and Stephanie [to] Vince, they all – and, hey, I will say that Vince McMahon went out of his way to express to Mickie his respect for her and her contributions. That’s at least some consolation to take from it. Although, I  would politely suggest that maybe a little more respect could have been shown to her while she  was there.”  

Aldis also talked about the return of the National Wrestling Alliance, why he didn’t headline the All In pay-per-view event with Cody Rhodes a few years ago and more. 

WWE Raw Ratings Increase For Loaded Show (5/3)

Andrew Ravens
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Monday’s edition of WWE Raw averaged 1.872 million viewers with a 0.53 rating in the Adults 18-49 demographic. This is up from last week’s 1.774 million viewers and the 0.49 rating.

Here’s the hourly viewership breakdown for Monday Night Raw:

  • The first hour did 1.891 million viewers and a 0.54 rating (A18-49).
  • The second hour did 1.979 million viewers and a 0.57 rating.
  • The final hour of the show had just 1.746 million viewers and a 0.47 rating.

This episode featured WWE Champion Bobby Lashley vs. Braun Strowman, Raw Tag Team Champions AJ Styles & Omos vs. The New Day, WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler vs. Lana & Naomi, and Randy Orton & Riddle vs. Elias & Jaxson Ryker.

SmackDown Viewership

Friday’s SmackDown averaged 2.018 million viewers. This is down from the 2.121 million viewers on FOX that the show did for the previous week.

SmackDown pulled in a 0.49 rating in the 18-49 demo, down from the 0.54 rating the previous week’s show. The episode drew an average of 1.923 million viewers in the overnight ratings, down from the previous week that did 2.042   million viewers. 

The first hour saw it pull in 1.875 million viewers while hour two did 1.971 million viewers. The show did 2.046 million viewers in hour one while hour two did 2.032 million viewers a week ago.

Rumor Killer on Tessa Blanchard & NXT’s Diamond Mine Vignette

Jake Skudder
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WWE recent aired a mysterious vignette on NXT programming touting the arrival of the Diamond Mine.

Amid speculation that the Diamond Mine has something to do with former IMPACT World Champion Tessa Blanchard, Fightful Select reports that the Diamond Mine is unrelated to the controversial performer.

Blanchard has used diamond imagery in the past, which is likely how people made this assumption. Per Fightful, “a WWE source, when asked, did not want fans expecting Blanchard to be the act or a part of it, but understood how the misconception could happen.”

WWE is looking to keep the identity of the person (or people) behind the Diamond Mine as close-to-the-vest as possible. If you haven’t already seen the vignette, check it out below:

Tessa Blanchard was at one point considered one of the top female wrestlers in the world. With rumors persisting that she is ‘difficult to work with’ and allegations of racism, her star power and marketability have greatly diminished over the past year.

As we reported exclusively last week, Tessa Blanchard and husband Daga have been negotiating AEW. The talks have been ongoing for over a month, despite other outlets refuting the story.

Alexa Bliss Hints at a Potential New Feud on RAW

Alex Laybourne
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Since her union with Bray Wyatt and subsequent solo antics, Alexa Bliss has built up a character that truly suits her. In a recent segment of Alexa’s Playground, Lily, Alexa’s best friend hinted that she had been playing all weekend.

A lot of creative effort goes into the Playground segments, as they were with the FireFly Fun House. There are a lot of cryptic messages behind these segments. Many fans believe they have deciphered Lily’s message. Believing it teases Alexa’s first feud since she broke away from The Fiend at Wrestlemania.

During the segment, Alexa Bliss tells the audience that Lily has been playing hide and seek all day long. This was followed by a secretive, behind the hand comment that “her favorite color is red.”

This could just be Alexa Bliss playing her character. Using red because it suits the twisted world in which Little Miss Bliss seems to live. However, many RAW viewers happened to notice that Lily was caught on camera during the show. Lurking in the background during a backstage segment with Sonya Deville, who just happened to be wearing a red suit.

Alexa Bliss has not done anything since Wrestlemania, while Sonya Deville has been out of action since losing to Mandy Rose back in August 2020.

A feud between the two would take some storytelling to get it aligned given the current character arcs. Yet, given the genuinely terrifying nature of Alexa Bliss’s character these days, you could see several ways for WWE creative to make Deville an object of her devilish affection.

Rhea Ripley Talks Her ‘Lack of Confidence’ on WWE Television

Jake Skudder
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WWE RAW Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley recently appeared on the Out of Character podcast with Ryan Satin. The Australian Superstar discussed a number of topics during the interview, including her struggle to ‘come out of her shell’ on WWE’s ‘main’ roster.

In NXT, Rhea Ripley had a character that was far more about doing the talking in-ring. As the RAW Women’s Champion, Ripley needs to address some of the shortcomings that she has on the microphone and as a ‘presence.’

“My confidence isn’t huge in my everyday life,” Ripley began. “I’m a really shy person and I’m not good at keeping a conversation and being a larger-than-life person.”

Rhea Ripley on Confidence

“When I’m in the ring, that’s where I get all my confidence and where I get to be Rhea Ripley,” she continued. “But still myself, which is weird to say out loud because it doesn’t make sense but then it does when you’re there doing it.”

“I want to be myself, as in Rhea Ripley” she concluded. “But I want to have that confidence that everyone else seems to have all the time. I’m working on it.”

Rhea Ripley seems to indicate here that she is taking classes to help her work on her promo ability. Working alongside the likes of Charlotte Flair, she’ll be ‘competing’ against one of WWE’s most seasoned performers.

On Monday’s Raw, Charlotte Flair was added to the RAW Women’s Championship match at WrestleMania Backlash. That contest will now be a Triple Threat with Rhea Ripley defending her title against Asuka and The ‘Queen.’

Renee Paquette Talks New Cookbook, Moxley Dinner Party Fail & More

Michael Reichlin
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SEScoops correspondent Ella Jay recently spoke with Renee Paquette about the upcoming release of her new cookbook, Messy In The Kitchen: My Guide to Eating Deliciously, Hosting Fabulously and Sipping Copiously.

Ella an Renee spoke about a wide variety of topics during the nearly half-hour discussion, including:

  • Her grandmother’s hand-written recipe’s making it into the book
  • Recipes that are easiest for novice chefs
  • The messiest meal in ‘Messy in the Kitchen’
  • Her favorite alcoholic beverages
  • The biggest mistake people make when trying to “Host Fabulously”
  • A dinner party she hosted for Jon Moxley’s parents that went off the rails
  • Celebrity chefs she’d like to collaborate with
  • If she’s ever been star-struck when interviewing somebody
  • Keeping up with WWE and AEW
  • Career goals looking ahead

Check out the video below, make sure to Subscribe to our YouTube Channel and pre-order Messy In The Kitchen now from Amazon.com, coming out May 18th!

Chelsea Green Says She Wants To Wrestle In ROH

Chris Stephens
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Ring of Honor is looking to re-build its women’s division. The company now airs Women of Honor Wednesdays on YouTube. One wrestler who is interested in performing for the company is Chelsea Green. The former WWE Superstar took to Twitter recently to state her interest in wrestling for ROH.

The above Tweet garnered the attention of several people from ROH including Ian Riccaboni.

https://twitter.com/IanRiccaboni/status/1389413642874073090

Green’s trainer Lance Storm noted that ROH is one of the only companies she hasn’t worked for.

https://twitter.com/LanceStorm/status/1389414462378024963

Maria Kanellis might be alluding to the fact that she holds “the pencil” in ROH’s women’s division at the moment with the below Tweet.

Green was also asked recently if she is interested in returning to Impact Wrestling. She spoke to Cultaholic and gave the below answer:

“Here’s what I’ll say, never say never because I had such a good relationship with them. Obviously, I was their women’s champion in 2018 – feels like it was yesterday – and I have a great relationship with everyone in that company,” Green stated. “So, I am excited to maybe pop in and out. Who knows?”

Green also spoke about ideas she pitched while in WWE during an interview with Chris Van Vliet.

“I can’t tell you how many ideas I came up with. If I think about it, they all led back to The Hot Mess. But with that being said, it wasn’t The Hot Mess like you saw at IMPACT. I tried to pitch a darker, creepier Hot Mess that you could relate to. Not just like the girl at the bar, more so any psychotic person you’ve had in your life.” 

Karrion Kross Says He Wants To Face Jon Moxley in WWE

Chris Stephens
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NXT Champion Karrion Kross recently stated that he hopes Jon Moxley returns to WWE so that they can face each other again. Kross was taking part in an interview with Barstool Sports when he made the comments.

“I have to say it, I hope (Jon Moxley) comes back one day,” Kross said during the interview. “I think he will, not that I would know or nothing has been said.”

“I hope he comes back one day. If he does, he’s going to have to go through me and I think he knows that. We have unfinished business.”

Moxley and Kross have faced each other once previously. Kross was defeated by Moxley at a show for Future Stars of Wrestling in Las Vegas on July 5th, 2019.

Kross also spoke about which wrestlers have influenced him throughout his career.

“Disco Inferno believe it or not has probably been the best mentor that I’ve had and the reason being is because he prepared me to understand what this business actually is before I was involved with it at the highest level. He prepared me to understand the business model of what this is at the highest level.”

Eric Bischoff On Which 5 Wrestlers He’d Like To Start A Promotion With

Chris Stephens
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Eric Bischoff recently spent some time on his 83 Weeks podcast discussing which 5 modern-day wrestlers he would choose to start a new promotion with. He ended up choosing 3 wrestlers currently with AEW and another 2 currently with WWE.

Bischoff noted that he’s a big MJF fan and has been impressed with Matt Riddle as of late as well.

“In AEW, I’m a huge fan of MJF. Anyone who follows me on social media probably knows that. He’s just an amazing young talent, and the fact that he’s as young as he is and as good as he is, I think we’ve only seen the tip of the iceberg. I dig him as a performer. This one will shock people maybe, but Matt Riddle. I’m kind of digging it. He’s different, and he’s good. He’s gonna get better and better and better.”

Bischoff continued to talk about the RK-Bro team of Riddle and Orton on RAW.

“I love the Randy Orton and Matt Riddle combination,” Bischoff continued. “I don’t know if it’s long-term, but there’s a buddy cop moving that takes place in the ring. You’re talking about two different types of personalities that could really play well off of each other. The potential and entertainment for that combination is off the charts good. I dig Matt Riddle and think he’ll be one of the people I’ll be watching. So, right now, I’d say him and MJF. Cody Rhodes is doing a great job and has a lot of things going on. If he doesn’t get himself spread too thin and stays focused, I think Cody could emerge as one of the biggest names in the business.”

In addition to MJF, Riddle, and Orton, Bischoff then mentioned Kenny Omega and Cody Rhodes as the other two in his top-5.

“[MJF], Matt Riddle. I’d snatch Randy Orton in a heartbeat. Kenny Omega, got enough momentum. If you’re starting fresh, there’s a lot of talent in WWE, but I only get five. You’re looking at anchors and people you’re gonna be depending on for the next five or 10 years. I’m going Cody,” Bischoff said during the interview (transcriptions via 411Mania).

6 Wrestlers Pulled From NJPW Show Due To COVID-19 Protocols

Chris Stephens
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Wrestling Dontaku night 2 this morning from Fukuoka has undergone several lineup changes due to COVID-19 protocols. 6 wrestlers have been removed from the event. The scheduled IWGP Junior Heavyweight title match between El Desperado and YOH has been scrapped entirely.

Kazuchika Okada, Minoru Suzuki, El Desperado, Yoshinobu Kanemaru, SHO, and YOH were all removed from the event. NJPW explained the changes in an update on its website.

“One wrestler who was scheduled to appear on today’s Wrestling Dontaku Day 2 card presented with a fever on the morning of the event,” NJPW’s update reads. “This individual is currently undergoing thorough examination and PCR and antibody testing. In addition, another wrestler who has been a part of events since May 1 in Beppu and has since also presented with a fever is also undergoing evaluation.”

The scheduled IWGP World Championship match on the show was not impacted by the changes. Will Ospreay will still face challenger Shingo Takagi on the card. The winner of that match will face Kazuchika Okada at Wrestle Grand Slam. That event will take place from the Tokyo Dome on May 29th.

Will Ospreay On Being IWGP World Champion

Ospreay was recently interviewed by NJPW1972.com about being the new champion.

“It sits with me. It sits well with me. It’s all about the journey. Years ago I saw what was then the IWGP Heavyweight Championship on a guy I admired in AJ Styles, and he said to me ‘if you want this, you’ve got to come to Japan’.”

“I feel like there’s two sides to me. Half of me is that 14 year old boy with stars in their eyes. The other half is the 27 year old man who’s all business. I don’t have friends or brothers except the United Empire. Everyone else is trying to take food off of my table and I’ll walk over anybody to stop that. It isn’t a dream, it’s reality, and I have to do all it takes to stay at the top of this mountain.”

Jinder Mahal Returns to Action on Main Event this Week

Alex Laybourne
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Main Event this week played host to the return of former WWE champion Jinder Mahal. Mahal stepped into the ring for the first time since January this year.

Jinder Mahal suffered a serious knee injury in May 202. Other than a taped match in January for the WWE Superstar Spectacle, he has been completely absent. Main Event is taped every week before the live RAW show begins. There were several good names on the card, but the return of Mahal was arguably a big affair for the lesser watched weekly show.

Nothing was mentioned by WWE on social media, but fans were quick to spread the word of the Maharaja’s return.

His return was a spirited affair against Jeff Hardy. Hardy himself was making a return to the ring after a short layoff. The match looked to have Mahal continue with the same character as prior to his injury. Only this time he has swapped his alliance with the Bollywood Boys for another Indian duo, the former NXT team Indus Sher.

Jinder Mahal Will Surely Be Seeking WWE Gold Once More

Not much is known right now about the angle of Jinder Mahal’s return or any feuds that he is likely to enter. With Raw already boasting a heel heavy roster, there is no natural place for the former champion to take.

The pairing would also indicate that Indus Sher will be making their Main Roster debut also. Whether they will get a push in the tag team division or merely serve as Jinder Mahal’s lackeys remains to be seen.

You have to imagine Mahal will want to get back into the title picture. However, easing him in after such a length layoff may make more sense. Expect to see him wrestling a little lower down the card than he was used to. Especially as all current champions are engaged in new feuds.

Mansoor Makes RAW Debut but Ends WWE’s Longest Active Streak

Alex Laybourne
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Mansoor made his WWE main roster debut on RAW last night. In doing so he ended the longest-running active streak in the company.

The Saudi Arabian wrestler has been used extensively on 205 Live. He also made regular appearances on Main Event. In doing so, he amassed a winning streak that stretched for 49 matches. This was officially recognized as the longest-running streak of all active wrestlers.

Sure, it might not have the glitz and the glamor of The Undertaker’s WrestleMania streak, but to string together so many consecutive wins is no small feat.

With that sort of record, it is not surprising Mansoor decided to answer Sheamus’s open call for the United States title having signed his contract just moments before.

https://www.instagram.com/p/COb7UZgJmzz/

The end result of which must surely leave a sour taste in his mouth. While he did lose the match, it was not because he was pinned or submitted, but rather because of outside interference.

It’s always sad when a streak ends. For Mansoor, he will justifiably feel aggrieved at the manner in which it all went down. From a storytelling perspective, it also feels a little strange. Humberto Carillo is building his feud with Sheamus, any angle between him and Mansoor would not make any sense.

Whatever the reason for ending Mansoor’s streak, the WWE universe will certainly be seeing more of this Saudi Arabian superstar.

It is also worth remembering that Mansoor holds a singles victory over Cesaro, after beating him during the last Super Showdown event. He was also the winner of the largest ever Battle Royal, also held during a Super Showdown event.

WWE RAW Results (5/3): Lashley vs. Strowman, Two Tag Team Title Matches

Robert Lentini
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WWE RAW aired live from the ThunderDome in the Yungling Center in Tampa Bay, Florida. WWE Champion Bobby Lashley faced Braun Strowman in this week’s main event. Both the RAW Tag Team Championships and Women’s Tag Team Championships were defended on tonight’s show as well. WWE aired a vignette for the returning Eva Marie and you can check that out below.

RAW Results (5/3)

  1. AJ Styles & Omos def. New Day to retain the RAW Tag Team Championships
  2. Charlotte Flair def. Dana Brooke
  3. Damian Priest def. John Morrison
  4. Lucha House Party def. Shelton Benjamin & Cedric Alexander
  5. Randy Orton & Riddle def. Elias & Jaxson Ryker
  6. Sheamus def. Mansoor via DQ
  7. Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler def. Lana & Naomi to retain the Women’s Tag Team Championships
  8. Bobby Lashley def. Braun Strowman

Here are the takeaways from this week’s show:

Strowman Will Face Lashley Tonight

MVP, Adam Pearce, and Sonya Deville were shown backstage to begin the show. They were about to flip a coin to see if McIntyre or Strowman will face Lashley tonight when Drew interrupted. Braun Strowman showed up as well and an argument broke out. Pearce calmed everyone down and flipped the coin. Braun called tails and was awarded a match against Lashley tonight. Strowman said tonight will be a WrestleMania Backlash and MVP claimed that Braun won’t make it to the PPV if Lashley gets him in the Hurt Lock.

Styles & Omos Retained

RAW Tag Team Champions AJ Styles & Omos returned tonight. Styles bragged about becoming tag champs at WrestleMania 37 with Omos and boasted about how they destroyed New Day. Styles claimed that they were out celebrating and that is why they haven’t been on the show lately. AJ joked that they had much better things to do than throw tomatoes at New Day.

New Day interrupted and said they didn’t know Styles & Omos still worked here and then congratulated them on their victory. Kofi and Woods stated that Styles & Omos do not have any respect for the tag team division and that is why they took time off after winning the titles.

Kofi added that they are 11-time Tag Team Champions for a reason, because they get right up every time they are knocked down. Omos interrupted and said New Day will not be able to walk or laugh after they are done with them tonight. Woods claimed New Day was about to become 12-time Tag Team Champions.

Styles and Omos then defended the RAW Tag Team Championships against New Day in a rematch from Night 1 of WrestleMania 37. Omos tagged in immediately as the announcers hyped his in-ring debut on RAW. Omos dominated Woods and beat him down in the corner of the ring. Styles tagged in and New Day took back control as RAW went to a commercial break.

When RAW returned, Woods had Styles in an Armbar in the middle of the ring. AJ escaped and Kofi tagged in. Kingston applied a Wristlock but Styles broke free with a Pele Kick. Woods and Omos then tagged in and Omos hit the Iron Claw. Omos hit Woods and Kingston with a Backbreaker before planting Kingston with a Spinebuster. AJ tagged in and hit a Phenomenal Forearm off of Omos’ shoulders and on Woods for the pinfall victory. Omos & Styles are still the RAW Tag Team Champions.

Charlotte Was Added To The RAW Women’s Championship Match

Charlotte Flair was shown having a conversation with Sonya Deville backstage. Charlotte walked away as Adam Pearce approached them. Pearce told Sonya that he appreciates her input but she has been overstepping her boundaries lately. Flair then faced Dana Brooke later on the show. Dana got in some offense early and connected with a Senton for a near fall. Charlotte battled back and quickly locked in the Figure Eight for the submission victory. After the match, Mandy Rose attacked Flair as she wouldn’t let go of the hold but Sonya Deville interrupted as RAW went to a commercial break.

When RAW returned, Charlotte Flair complained about being left out of the title match at WrestleMania Backlash between Asuka and Rhea Ripley. Sonya agreed and added her to the title match. Rhea Ripley interrupted and told Charlotte that nobody likes her before Asuka joined the party. Asuka said she is ready for a Triple Threat and wants to become RAW Women’s Champion again. A brawl broke out and Asuka stood tall to end the segment.

Damian Priest def. John Morrison

Damian Priest faced John Morrison tonight on RAW. The Miz was ringside for the match. Priest controlled the action early and Clotheslined Morrison out of the ring as RAW went to a break. Morrison tripped up Damian and stomped him down in the corner. Priest connected with another Clothesline for a near fall. Morrison hit a Spanish Fly off the middle turnbuckle and went for the cover but Damian was able to kick out at two. The Miz distracted the referee but accidentally cost Morrison as he had Priest rolled up. Damian then connected with Hit the Lights for the pinfall victory.

Humberto Carrillo Attacked Sheamus

Mansoor was shown backstage signing a RAW contract with Adam Pearce. Sheamus interrupted and thought Mansoor was an intern. Sheamus challenged Mansoor to accept the open challenge tonight and reminded him that it will not be a title match.

Sheamus and Mansoor battled in the final hour of RAW. Mansoor sent Sheamus to the corner and connected with a Dropkick. Sheamus hit a knee to the face and the action spilled out of the ring. Sheamus slammed Mansoor on top of the barricade and got back in the ring.

Mansoor made it back into the ring at the count of nine. Mansoor hit a Tornado DDT and went for the cover but Sheamus kicked out at two. Sheamus sent Mansoor to the corner when Humberto Carrillo rushed the ring. Carrillo attacked Sheamus to end the match in a disqualification. Sheamus fought off Carrillo and leveled him with a Brogue Kick. The Celtic Warrior then delivered another Brogue Kick to Angel Garza.

Cedric Alexander & Shelton Benjamin Are No Longer A Tag Team

Cedric Alexander & Shelton Benjamin faced Lucha House Party tonight on RAW. The match was already happening when RAW returned from a commercial break. Alexander connected with a Michinoku Driver on Metalik and isolated him in the corner. Benjamin tagged in and Lince Dorado planted him with a Tornado DDT. Gran Metalik followed it up with an Elbow Drop for the pinfall victory.

After the match, Cedric and Shelton Benjamin argued in the ring. Cedric wondered how many years Shelton Benjamin has left and shouted that he wasn’t going to waste another second of his prime keeping Shelton relevant. Cedric said that their tag team was finished nd left the ring. Shelton was later interviewed backstage and said that he was the only reason Cedric Alexander was ever in the Hurt Business to begin with. Shelton added that if Cedric continues down this road he is just going to be another star that fizzles out.

Angel Garza def. Drew Gulak

Angel Garza and Drew Gulak had an argument backstage. Gulak asked if the rose Garza was carrying was for him. Gulak joked that Garza isn’t a ladies man because he never gets a lady and this led to a match. Gulak hit a couple Dropkicks to begin the action. Garza quickly battled back and connected with a Backbreaker. Angel hit a Dropkick that sent Gulak to the corner of the ring. Garza beat Gulak down and then hit the Wing Clipper for the pinfall victory. After the match, Garza placed the rose in the back of Gulak’s trunks and kicked him.

RKBro Picked Up Another Win

Ryker and Elias tried to hit New Day with tomatoes but wound up accidentally hitting Orton and Riddle. The two teams then battled later on RAW. Orton and Elias started off the action. Elias took control and tagged in Jaxson Ryker. Jaxson got in some offense but Orton halted his momentum with a poke to the eye. Riddle tagged in and went for a Sleeper Hold. Elias tagged in and dominated for a few minutes. Orton tagged in and took back control of the match. Orton tagged Riddle and planted Ryker with an RKO. Riddle then hit Elias with a Corkscrew Senton for the pinfall victory.

Nia & Shayna Retained

Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler defended the Women’s Tag Team Championships against Naomi & Lana tonight on RAW. Reginald was ringside for the match. Jax and Baszler started off in control and isolated Naomi in the corner. Naomi connected with an Enziguri on Shayna Baszler. Lana tagged in and hit Shayna with a Crossbody for a near fall.

Lana followed it up with a Russian Leg Sweep for another two count. Naomi tagged back in and continued to beat Shayna down after knocking Nia Jax off the ring apron. Naomi and Lana hit a Facebuster but couldn’t go for the cover because Reginald was distracting the referee. Shayna then applied the Kirifuda Clutch and Lana passed out to end the match.

McIntyre Sent A Message To Lashley & Strowman

Braun Strowman faced WWE Champion Bobby Lashley in this week’s main event in a non-title match. Earlier on RAW, MVP suggested that Drew McIntyre might want to help Lashley get rid of Strowman tonight before WrestleMania Backlash.

Strowman sent Lashley out of the ring with a Clothesline and the WWE Champion regrouped with MVP outside the ring. Lashley hopped on the apron but Strowman greeted him with a punch.

Strowman hit Lashley with a Splash in the corner and went for another one but Bobby blocked it. Lashley connected with a massive Clothesline and went for the cover but Strowman powered out at two. Lashley went for a Headlock but Strowman quickly escaped. McIntyre’s music hit and he made his way down the entrance ramp. Lashley capitalized with a Splash on Strowman outside the ring. Lashley tried to shake hands with McIntyre but he ignored him as RAW went to a commercial break.

McIntyre was on commentary when RAW returned as Lashley beat Strowman down in the corner. Lashley slammed Braun’s shoulder into the ring post and applied a submission hold in the middle of the ring. Lashley hit Strowman with some punches to the face in the corner of the ring. Lashley posed on the turnbuckle and it cost him as Strowman slammed him to the mat for a two count.

Strowman went for the Running Powerslam but Lashley escaped. Braun blocked the Hurt Lock and hit a Side Slam. Lashley rolled out of the ring and Strowman chased after him. Lashley threw Strowman onto Drew McIntyre and rolled into the ring. Strowman argued with McIntyre and turned around into a Spear from Lashley for the pinfall victory.

After the match, McIntyre hit Lashley and then Strowman with a Claymore to end the show. McIntyre will face Lashley next week on the final RAW before WrestleMania Backlash.

WWE Confirms Eva Marie’s Return In Vignette On Raw

Andrew Ravens
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WWE has confirmed the rumors of the return of Eva Marie during Monday’s episode of Raw. 

The company aired a vignette on the show and used the tag line at the end of the teaser that was “Eva-Lution.” She also had a simple yet effective reaction to the video airing via Twitter: 

News of her return was reported several months ago as she had signed a deal with the promotion to return. She inked the deal in September and was backstage at shows in October. However, she hadn’t been used up to this point. She was listed on the company’s internal roster but had not been assigned to a brand.

She first signed with WWE back in 2013 where she was used on the E! Network’s Total Divas show and later got a big push in NXT then on the main roster. 

She left WWE years ago to pursue a career in Hollywood. She has stated in the past that she would like to come back to WWE to help others in the company. As it stands right now, there’s no word yet whether she will be wrestling or if she will be used in a managerial role.

Video: Fan Builds WWE SmackDown Fist Stage Set In His Basement

Andrew Ravens
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This Friday’s episode of WWE SmackDown will be special as WWE is touting it as a throwback edition of the show.

The original “SmackDown!” logo appeared at the end of the announcement. Since the announcement, fans have been wondering whether this means WWE will bring back a special stage set for the show.

The logo they used is from 1999, but fans would love to see WWE bring back the fist stage that was used in the 2000s. 

YouTuber TheKalClash uploaded the latest update video where he is building the stage set with the giant fist breaking through glass in his basement. It’s fully authentically scaled and stands over 4 ft tall. He used a 3D printer for the set. He provided other details in the video. 

WWE has announced that Cesaro vs. Seth Rollins for this show, which is a rematch from WrestleMania 37, which saw Cesaro defeated Rollins.

Typically, WWE will do these types of shows to help increase viewership. Last Friday’s episode did 2.018 million viewers and pulled in a 0.49 rating in the 18-49 demo.

WWE did have to go up against the first round of this year’s NFL Draft, but had a main event of Universal Champion Roman Reigns retain the title against Daniel Bryan in which had a stipulation of if Bryan lost then he would be banished from SmackDown. 

Rhea Ripley vs. Asuka vs. Charlotte Signed For WWE WrestleMania Backlash

Andrew Ravens
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WWE has confirmed the latest title match that will take place at the WrestleMania Backlash PPV event and that’s Rhea Ripley vs. Asuka vs. Charlotte Flair.

Ripley will put the Raw Women’s Title on the line against the former champion. Then on Raw, WWE confirmed that Flair had been added to the match and now it’s a triple threat.

Ripley beat Asuka for the strap at the WWE WrestleMania 37 pay-per-view event last month from Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. 

There had been speculation that WWE would have Charlotte Flair wrestle either Asuka or Ripley at this show since she had been cutting promos about the two stars since returning to television a few weeks ago. 

WWE presents the WrestleMania Backlash pay-per-view event on Sunday, May 16, 2021, from Tampa, Florida at Yuengling Center that will air on Peacock. WWE will be announcing more matches for this show in the coming weeks. 

WWE Champion Bobby Lashley vs. Drew McIntyre vs. Braun Strowman in a triple threat match and WWE SmackDown Women’s Champion Bianca Belair vs. Bayley have already been confirmed for this show. 

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