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Karrion Kross Vignette On RAW for Match with Austin Theory

Alex Laybourne
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It was a big night on RAW for Karrion Kross. The NXT champion and his valet Scarlett appeared on the main roster show in a promo vignette for their upcoming NXT match with Austin Theory.

Karrion Kross is a formidable figure in the ring. He will no doubt be wrestling on the main roster in the future. However, his appearance in a vignette for an NXT show is indicative of how NXT has grown as a brand.

Raw has been the flagship WWE show for decades and NXT was the development territory. Yet the growth of the NXT brand has seen it become a highly watched brand each week. The position of WWE shows each week means that RAW could now be used more frequently as a platform to advertise upcoming NXT matches.

There is no doubt that Karrion Kross vs Austin Theory will be a good fight. However, it is really the statement that the vignette makes on a larger branding scale that makes it interesting.

WWE has been investing solidly in NXT. Under the careful guidance of HHH NXT has moved from strength to strength. This newest step forward shows what a good thing WWE have in their Florida-based brand. NXT figures dropped during the Wednesday Night Wars. Using Raw to promote NXT is a great way to pull viewers back to the new Tuesday night show.

Whatever the reasoning, it was great to see Karrion Kross on the main brand. Whether to moves up, or stays on NXT, he is bound to become a name the entire WWE universe is familiar with.

Humberto Carillo Suffers Injury at the Hands of Sheamus

Alex Laybourne
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Humberto Carillo took a spill during his match with Sheamus on Raw which saw the ref call an end to the fight. The injury was a legitimate one and not part of the ongoing story between the pair.

The end came after Sheamus hit a sunset flip powerbomb on Carillo outside of the ring. It was not the move that caused the injury but rather the fact that Sheamus landed on Carillo’s knee.

The match ended swiftly thereafter, with the ref stopping his count to attend to the injured superstar. It was an unlucky accident, with the feud between Carillo and Sheamus gaining traction in recent weeks. A series of squashes set the scene for the classic David vs Goliath style feud. Things were set for the pair to build an interesting storyline.

There has been no official word as of yet on the extent of the injury, or if Carillo will need to take any time off to recover. It is unlucky timing for the Mexican star who after quickly impressing at WWE had been relegated to Main Event in recent months. The Sheamus feud looked set to put him back into the main event picture, if only for a short time.

The 25-year old is an exciting talent. When he does return, hopefully, he will get the air time he deserves. There are places on all WWE brands where Humberto Carillo could shine.

Damian Priest Sets Stipulation for His Match With The Miz at Backlash

Alex Laybourne
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Damian Priest is set to battle The Miz one-on-one at Wrestlemania Backlash, and after his victory over John Morrison this week on Raw, Priest had the honor of naming the stipulation.

Damian Priest has been feuding with the A-Lister since before Wrestlemania. Good friends with Bad Bunny, who had quite the impressive showing on the first night of Wrestlemania, Priest will be looking to end the feud on Sunday.

After picking up the win, Damian Priest decided that their fight at Backlash would be a lumberjack match. Priest wants to end their feud once and for all and choosing a match with no escape surely means he will get the resolution he seeks.

Their feud has been interesting but has arguably run its course. This match at Backlash will end the feud one way or another. If anything, the build-up could be dropping hints at future storylines. Having cost his partner a match two weeks in a row now, could WWE be teasing a feud between the tag team pair?

Not only did the Miz cost Morrison two matches, but his attempted assault on Priest after the bell resulted in Morrison getting hit by a second Hit the Lights.

Bad blood may be brewing. Could we see Morrison turn on his friend at Backlash, costing him the match? It would not only be fitting after recent weeks but would be a transition from one feud into another.

Whatever the outcome from Backlash, Damian Priest will surely be looking to insert himself into a title hunt somewhere. Impressive since his debut on the main roster, the future is looking bright for the Archer of Infamy.

WWE RAW Results (5/10): Lashley vs. McIntyre, Jinder Mahal Returns

Robert Lentini
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WWE RAW aired live from the ThunderDome. It was the final episode of RAW before WWE WrestleMania Backlash this Sunday night. WWE Champion Bobby Lashley faced Drew McIntyre in the main event.

RAW Results (5/10)

  1. Asuka, Mandy Rose, Dana Brooke def. Shayna Baszler, Nia Jax, Charlotte Flair
  2. Jinder Mahal def. Jeff Hardy
  3. RKBro & New Day def. AJ Styles, Omos, Jaxson Ryker, Elias
  4. Sheamus def. Humberto Carrillo
  5. Shelton Benjamin def. Cedric Alexander
  6. Rhea Ripley def. Asuka
  7. Damian Priest def. John Morrison & will pick the stipulation for his match against The Miz at WrestleMania Backlash
  8. Drew McIntyre def. Bobby Lashley via DQ

Here are the takeaways from this week’s show:

Alexa Bliss Interfered In The 6-Woman Tag Team Match

Charlotte Flair and Women’s Tag Team Champions Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler faced Asuka, Mandy Rose, and Dana Brooke in the first match of the night. Baszler stomped on Mandy Rose in the corner of the ring and applied an Armbar to begin the action. Rose tried to escape but Shayna wrestled her to the canvas.

Mandy battled back and drove Shayna to the corner. Asuka tagged in and unloaded some kicks to Shayna’s ribs. Baszler escaped from the corner and went for a Headlock but Asuka countered with a Dropkick. Mandy hit Charlotte with a Dropkick that sent her off the apron and then Dana Brooke knocked Reginald to the floor.

Everyone started arguing but Alexa Bliss interrupted with Lily. Bliss swung on the swing and laughed into the microphone. Bliss apologized for interrupting but then added that Lily wasn’t sorry. Bliss said she was out here with Lily to keep an eye on “someone” as RAW went to a commercial break.

When RAW returned, Charlotte was in control and tagged in Baszler. Shayna went back to work on Mandy’s arm and then went for a cover but Rose was able to kick out at two. Nia tagged in and connected with a Body Slam for a two count. Nia went for a Samoan Drop but Rose escaped and tagged in Dana Brooke.

Nia greeted Dana with a shoulder tackle and tagged in Baszler. Dana knocked Flair off the apron and hit Shayna with an elbow to the face for a near fall. Shayna connected with a Backbreaker and then stumbled to the corner. Baszler’s knee kept buckling and Asuka tagged in. Asuka hit a Shining Wizard for the pinfall victory. After the match, Charlotte laid out Asuka with a boot to the face as Asuka and Lily laughed on the entrance ramp.

MVP Suggested That Strowman Should Injure Drew McIntyre

MVP approached Braun Strowman’s locker room backstage. MVP knocked but he did not answer. MVP entered the room and Strowman told him to leave. MVP said he wanted to discuss business and pointed out that McIntyre beat Braun last week and not Lashley.

Strowman said enough of this BS and MVP finally got to his point. MVP said that Lashley would rather lose the title to Strowman than Drew and noted that Braun hasn’t gotten his 1 on 1 match for the WWE Title. MVP suggested that if McIntyre were to get injured tonight, he wouldn’t be able to make it to the WWE Championship Triple Threat match this Sunday at WrestleMania Backlash.

Jinder Mahal Returned

Jinder Mahal faced Jeff Hardy tonight. Shanky & Veer accompanied Jinder to the ring.

Mahal dominated early and hit a couple Clotheslines for a near fall. Jeff stumbled around until Jinder knocked him to the canvas and stomped on him. Mahal planted Jeff with a Suplex and delivered a knee to his lower back. Jinder applied a Headlock in the middle of the ring. Jeff battled back with a Clothesline of his own and went for an Atomic Drop but Mahal blocked it. Jinder then hit the Khallas for the pinfall victory.

RKBro & New Day Picked Up A Win

RKBro (Randy Orton & Riddle) teamed up with New Day to face Elias, Jaxson Ryker and RAW Tag Team Champions AJ Styles & Omos. RKBro and New Day controlled the match early but that all changed once Omos tagged in. Omos dominated and then had a stare down with Randy Orton as RAW went to a commercial break.

When RAW returned, Elias leveled Riddle with an elbow to the face and tagged in Ryker. Jaxson hit a Suplex and tagged in AJ Styles. AJ went for the cover but Riddle kicked out at two. Kingston tagged in and unloaded some kicks on Styles. Woods tagged in and hit a Dropkick for a near fall.

Kofi tagged back in and connected with a Crossbody for a two count. Xavier tagged in as Kofi hit a Backbreaker. Woods hit Elias with a Dropkick off the top rope but turned around into a Spinebuster for AJ Styles in the middle of the ring. Jaxson tagged in and bounced Woods’ face off the top turnbuckle.

Ryker kept Woods grounded for the next few minutes and prevented him from making a tag. Jaxson planted Woods with a Spinebuster for another two count. Riddle tagged in and Omos hit him with a punch. New Day dragged AJ Styles around and distracted Omos. Randy Orton hit Elias with an RKO for the pinfall victory. After the match, Randy Orton hit Woods and Kingston with an RKO. Orton stared at Riddle before leaving the ring.

Sheamus def. Humberto Carrillo

United States Champion Sheamus faced Humberto Carrillo in a non-title match tonight. Before the match, Sheamus boasted about beating Mansoor and Humberto last week. Sheamus said that Adam Pearce suggested that he walk in the footsteps of those before him and have an Open Challenge for the US Title. He thought that was stupid because people should have to earn a shot at his title. Sheamus added that Carrillo is going to try and earn a title shot tonight but all he is going to get is a Brogue Kick to the side of the head.

Sheamus and Humberto locked up in the middle of the ring to start the match. Sheamus connected with a shoulder tackle and several strikes to Carrillo’s midsection. Humberto caught Sheamus with a boot to the face and followed it up with an Arm Drag. Humberto Dropkicked Sheamus out of the ring and went after him. Sheamus tripped him up and launched Carrillo into the timekeeper’s area as RAW went to a commercial break.

When RAW returned, Sheamus had Humberto in a Headlock in the middle of the ring. Carrillo broke free with a Jawbreaker but the Celtic Warrior responded with an Alabama Slam for a two count. Sheamus brought Humberto up to the middle turnbuckle and went for White Noise but Carrillo escaped.

Humberto connected with a Hurricanrana off of the middle turnbuckle and both superstars crashed to the canvas. Carrillo went for a Sunset Flip Powerbomb off the apron but it was botched and both superstars fell to the floor. The referee called for the bell because Carrillo could not continue due to an injury.

Shelton Benjamin Taught Cedric Alexander A Lesson

Cedric Alexander faced Shelton Benjamin tonight on RAW. Benjamin and Alexander battled to the ring apron. Cedric tied up Benjamin’s knee on the ropes and then delivered a Dragon Screw. Alexander locked in a Heel Hook in the middle of the ring but Shelton was able to each the ropes to break the hold. Cedric once again got Shelton in a submission hold but Benjamin countered into a Sharpshooter. Alexander quickly reached the bottom rope to break the hold.

Alexander dropped Benjamin with a kick to the knee and followed it up with a Dropkick that knocked Shelton out of the ring. Alexander hit a Suicide Dive that sent Shelton into the barricade. Cedric went for another one but Shelton was ready this time and caught him with a knee to the face. Cedric connected with a Dropkick and then started taunting Shelton and it cost him. Benjamin then hopped up and connected with a slam for the pinfall victory.

Rhea Ripley def. Asuka

Rhea Ripley faced Asuka tonight on RAW. Ripley will defend her RAW Women’s Championship against Asuka and Charlotte Flair in a Triple Threat match this Sunday at WrestleMania Backlash.

Ripley controlled the action early and started taunting her. Asuka battled back but Ripley sent her flying across the ring. Rhea stomped on Asuka several times in the corner of the ring. Asuka escaped and went for an Armbar but Ripley was able to reach the ropes.

Asuka went for a Hip Attack but Ripley avoided it and hit a Dropkick through the ropes. Ripley bounced Asuka’s face off the ring apron and then Charlotte Flair’s theme hit. Charlotte made her way to the entrance ramp and Ripley got distracted. Asuka connected with a forearm to the face and then stared at Flair as RAW went to a commercial break.

When RAW returned, Rhea was in control as Charlotte Flair was on commentary. Asuka hit a knee to the face but Rhea threw her out of the ring. Charlotte distracted Asuka and Ripley attacked her from behind. Ripley brought Asuka back into the ring and hit her with an elbow to the face. Rhea connected with a Northern Lights Suplex for a two count.

Rhea went for Riptide but Asuka countered with a Codebreaker for a near fall. Ripley started arguing with Charlotte outside the ring and Asuka capitalized with a Dropkick. Asuka followed it up with another Dropkick off the top rope and went for the cover but Rhea was able to kick out at the last moment. Asuka went for a Hip Attack but Ripley caught her. Rhea then connected with the Riptide for the pinfall victory.

Damian Priest Will Face The Miz In A Lumberjack Match At WrestleMania Backlash

Damian Priest faced John Morrison tonight on RAW. The Miz was ringside for the match. The winner of the match will choose the stipulation for the match between Damian Priest and The Miz at WrestleMania Backlash.

Priest beat Morrison down in the corner of the ring and then hit a Sidewalk Slam for a two count. Morrison took down Damian in an awkward sequence and followed it up with a knee to the face for a two count. John got Damian in a Headlock as The Miz cheered him on.

Damian battled back and slammed Morrison into the turnbuckle. Morrison dodged a kick but Priest caught him with a punch to the face. Damian went for the cover but Morrison grabbed the bottom rope. Morrison rolled out of the ring but Damian went after him. Priest rolled Morrison back into the ring and started trash talking with The Miz as RAW went to a commercial break.

When RAW returned, Morrison Clotheslined Priest out of the ring and then Miz hit him with a cheap shot. Back in the ring, Morrison applied Headlock but Damian broke free with a series of kicks. Priest hit a Splash in the corner and followed it up with a Falcon Arrow for a near fall.

Both superstars battled on the turnbuckle as Miz clapped while sitting on the barricade. Priest threw Morrison to the canvas and Miz covered his face in horror. Priest then hit a spin kick off the top rope for a near fall. Priest went for a Chokeslam but Morrison countered into a roll-up for a two count. The Miz then distracted the referee as Priest was setting up for his finisher.

Morrison countered into a roll-up but the referee was late due to the distraction. Priest then connected with Hit the Lights for the victory. After the match, The Miz attacked Priest but Damian battled back. The Miz cowardly scampered out of the ring and Priest planted Morrison with another Hit the Lights.

Damian then approached Adam Pearce backstage and said he wanted to face The Miz in a Lumberjack match this Sunday at WrestleMania Backlash.

Braun Strowman Sent A Message Heading Into WrestleMania Backlash

WWE Champion Bobby Lashley faced Drew McIntyre in tonight’s main event. MVP accompanied Lashley to the ring for the match. Lashley will defend his WWE Championship against Drew McIntyre and Braun Strowman in a Triple Threat match this Sunday at WrestleMania Backlash.

Lashley controlled the action early and applied a Headlock. McIntyre lifted Lashley all the way to the ring apron but Lashley didn’t break the hold. Lashley got back in the ring and planted McIntyre with a Neckbreaker as Strowman was shown watching the match backstage.

McIntyre battled back and unloaded some punches in the corner of the ring. Lashley shrugged them off and hit some punches of his own. McIntyre leveled Lashley with a boot to the face that knocked the WWE Champion out of the ring. McIntyre followed him out there and hit a massive Suplex on the floor as RAW went to a commercial break.

Back from the break, Lashley sent McIntyre to the turnbuckle and then slammed him to the canvas. Lashley applied a Headlock again but Drew quickly battled to his feet. Lashley ducked under a Clothesline and went for a Suplex but McIntyre countered into a Suplex of his own.

Lashley leveled McIntyre with a shoulder tackle as MVP shouted “that is why you are the champ!” from outside the ring. Bobby shoved his boot in McIntyre’s face until the referee broke it up. Lashley knocked McIntyre out of the ring and to the floor. Lashley bounced McIntyre’s face off the apron and rolled back into the ring.

Lashley got back out of the ring and slammed McIntyre’s face into the ring post. The action returned to the ring with Lashley in control. Lashley charged at Drew but he was ready and launched the WWE Champion into the turnbuckle. McIntyre and Lashley then traded punches in the middle of the ring.

McIntyre hit an overhead throw that sent Lashley across the ring. McIntyre followed it up with a Neckbreaker and went for the Future Shock DDT but Lashley blocked it. Drew connected with a Spinebuster and went for the cover but Lashley powered out at two.

Drew went for the Claymore but Lashley countered with a Crossbody. Lashley applied the Hurt Lock but Drew escaped. McIntyre then connected with the Claymore but didn’t go for the cover because Strowman’s theme hit. Braun attacked McIntyre from behind to end the match in a DQ. Strowman planted McIntyre with a Running Powerslam and then walked over to Lashley.

Braun helped the WWE Champion up and shook his hand. Lashley gave Braun a hug and then Strowman planted him with the Running Powerslam as well. Strowman then delivered another Running Powerslam to McIntyre as Lashley rolled out of the ring. Strowman went after him and MVP tried to hit Braun with his cane. Strowman blocked it and hit Lashley with a Running Powerslam through the barricade. Braun got back into the ring and delivered a third Powerslam to McIntyre to close the show.

New Match Set For WWE WrestleMania Backlash, Updated Card

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

WWE confirmed Damian Priest vs. The Miz. On Monday’s Raw, it was revealed that a singles match between Priest and John Morrison would see them battle it out to determine a stipulation for this match. 

Thus, when Priest won the contest, it was confirmed what the upcoming match will be a lumberjack match. He has been feuding with Miz and Morrison since January. Priest teamed up with Bad Bunny for a special tag team match at WrestleMania 37 where they went over the heels. It appears this will be the blowoff match in this feud. 

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 days. 

Updated WWE WrestleMania Backlash Card

  • WWE Champion Bobby Lashley vs. Drew McIntyre vs. Braun Strowman
  • WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns vs. Cesaro
  • WWE SmackDown Women’s Champion Bianca Belair vs. Bayley
  • WWE Raw Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley vs. Asuka vs. Charlotte Flair
  • WWE SmackDown Tag Team Champions Dolph Ziggler & Robert Roode vs. Rey & Dominik Mysterio
  • Damian Priest vs. The Miz – Lumberjack Match

Jinder Mahal Makes His WWE Raw Return

Andrew Ravens
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Jinder Mahal is back on WWE Monday Night Raw as he made his return on the May 10 edition of the program. 

He did so when he beat Jeff Hardy in a quick match. He was joined by former NXT tag team Indus Sher (Rinku Singh and Dilser Shanky). They are now going by the names Veer and Shanky.

He appeared on the May 3rd Main Event TV tapings where he beat Hardy in a singles match. Mahal did work the Superstar Spectacle special back in January that aired on the WWE Network as he teamed up with The Bollywood Boyz to face Drew McIntyre and Indus Sher. 

In June 2019, Mahal went to Birmingham, Alabama to undergo knee surgery at Andrews Sports Medicine & Orthopaedic Center.

While wrestling Ali, who won the match, at the WWE live event in Denver, Colorado in June he ruptured his patella tendon. Mahal had signed a new deal that was said to be for 5 years while on the shelf. 

He returned to action in April 2020 before suffering another injury. WWE was forced to scrap a planned feud between Mahal and McIntyre. 

Original Plans For Mia Yim’s WWE SmackDown Debut

Andrew Ravens
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Mia Yim, also known as Reckoning, was set to make her SmackDown debut last week, which was the throwback edition. 

There were rumors that Yim had been pulled from the show due to unknown reasons. Fightful Select reported today she was slated to start a feud with Carmella but it was cut for time as WWE had to add in throwback content to fit the theme of the show.

The throwback idea came from FOX and WWE quickly accommodated their request. It was said that time was added to WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns’ segment, but it’s unknown if this added to the time cut directly affecting Yim’s delay.

Dave Meltzer reported in the daily update on F4Wonline.com that Yim is slated to make her debut on the blue brand this coming Friday night. 

She was moved from Raw to smackdown after WWE broke up the Retribution group. Yim hasn’t worked a match since dropping a loss to Nikki Cross last December during a Main Event TV taping. 

A new Aleister Black vignette was also scheduled to air this past Friday, but that was nixed due to time as well.

Dark Side Of The Ring Air Dates For Upcoming Episodes

Andrew Ravens
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The third season of Vice TV’s Dark Side of the Ring started last Thursday. The first episode was about the life and career of Brian Pillman. 

The topics for the third season were previously announced as there will be two parts of the season. The exact air dates weren’t known for the first part until now. 

The Nick Gage episode will air on May 13th followed by Collision in Korea, Becoming Warrior on May 27th, Grizzly Smith episode airing on June 3rd, and the first part of the season finale on June 10th with Dynamite Kid.

Here is the synopsis for each episode: 

The Ultra-Violence of Nick Gage – “Nick Gage is the self-proclaimed king of deathmatch wrestling, but his road to the top has been marked with a six-year prison sentence for armed robbery and personal tragedies.”

Collision in Korea – “In one of the most bizarre acts of political theatre ever conceived, professional wrestlers who were deployed to North Korea faced a terrifying ordeal that had them fighting for their lives.”

Becoming Warrior – “The Ultimate Warrior was a divisive force in and outside of the ring; his first wife reveals how an aspiring chiropractor morphed himself into wrestling’s most polarizing figure.”

In The Shadow of Grizzly Smith – “Having survived familial abuse at the hands of their father and the mysterious abduction of their sister, Jake The Snake and his siblings struggle to reconcile with their past.”

Dynamite Kid – “The Dynamite Kid earned worldwide fame with a riveting, self-sacrificing style, but violent confrontations outside the ring would destroy his family, his body, and his legacy.”

The following topics will be covered in the second part of the season: 

  • Johnny K9 aka Bruiser Bedlam
  • The Steroid Trials (Vince McMahon’s 1994 trial)
  • FMW
  • The Plane Ride From Hell (Infamous WWE flight back from European tour in 2002)
  • Luna Vachon
  • XPW
  • Chris Kanyon

Dave Bautista Has Joined “Knives Out 2” Cast

Andrew Ravens
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Dave Bautista has landed another movie role as his successful career in Hollywood continues. Deadline.com is reporting that he has joined the cast of the “Knives Out 2” film. 

The film is directed by Rian Johnson and is the Netflix sequel to the 2019 murder mystery film. As it stands right now, there is no word yet what characters Bautista will be playing.

Daniel Craig will be returning for the second film as Benoit Blanc, who is the lead star. It will start filming this summer in Greece.

The plot of the first film reads like this, “The circumstances surrounding the death of crime novelist Harlan Thrombey are mysterious, but there’s one thing that renowned Detective Benoit Blanc knows for sure — everyone in the wildly dysfunctional Thrombey family is a suspect. Now, Blanc must sift through a web of lies and red herrings to uncover the truth.”

Bautista’s latest film, “Army of the Dead,” is directed by Zack Snyder. The plot reads, “ARMY OF THE DEAD takes place following a zombie outbreak that has left Las Vegas in ruins and walled off from the rest of the world.”

It will be released in select theaters on May 14, 2021. One week later, it will be made available on Netflix.

WWE SummerSlam Set For August 22nd, Location TBD

Andrew Ravens
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WWE SummerSlam expected to be held on Sunday, August 22nd. The date has not yet been confirmed by WWE and the location is still ‘to be determined’ as of this writing.

WWE has talked about holding this year’s SummerSlam in various locations such as Phoenix, Arizona, or somewhere in Texas. There has also been some speculation about the event being held at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

The company wants to have fans in attendance at SummerSlam and that is still the goal. While it’s expected to be held outdoors, the exact capacity will remain a big question as WrestleMania 37 had over 20,000 fans in attendance. 

The belief is after SummerSlam will mark the beginning of WWE touring on a weekly basis with fans in attendance for TV. 

WWE presents the WrestleMania Backlash pay-per-view event on May 16th with WWE Champion Bobby Lashley vs. Drew McIntyre vs. Braun Strowman being billed as the top match. 

After that, the Money in the Bank event takes place on June 20th and this year’s WWE Extreme Rules pay-per-view show goes down on Sunday, July 18th. These three shows will be broadcasted from Tampa, Florida at Yuengling Center.

3 Matches Announced For Monday’s WWE Raw (5/10)

Michael Reichlin
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WWE returns to the ThunderDome in Tampa, FL for an all-new edition of Raw.

Just six days away from WrestleMania Backlash on May 15th, WWE is hyping a strong line-up for this “go home” episode.

Raw Preview (5/10/21)

  • WWE Champion Bobby Lashley vs. Drew McIntyre in a WrestleMania rematch.
  • The New Day and R-K-Bro vs. Raw Tag Team Champions AJ Styles & Omos, Jaxson Ryker & Elias
  • Charlotte Flair teams up with Women’s Tag Team Champions Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler vs. Asuka, Mandy Rose and Dana Brooke.

We’ll update this article if additional matches are announced.

Check back Monday night for our weekly WWE Raw & Takeaways feature.

Catch up on the Top 10 Moments from last week’s WWE Raw:

PROGRESS Release Recap Video Ahead of Best of 3 Series Finale

Jake Skudder
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PROGRESS Wrestling has confirmed that the final match in their Best of 3 Series for the PROGRESS Women’s Championship will take place in just under two weeks.

Kanji and Gisele Shaw will do battle for the third time in as many chapters to determine who will be the next Women’s Champion on Saturday May 22.

Former Champions Jordynne Grace and Jinny commented on the importance of the title ahead of the final match between the two stars.

“The PROGRESS Women’s Championship is tied as one of the most prestigious belts I’ve ever held, on par with the IMPACT Knockout’s Championship” Jordynne Grace said recently. “Only the best women’s wrestlers in the world have held that belt, and it’s an honor to be among them.”

PROGRESS Chapter 111

“PROGRESS gave me my start in wrestling” NXT UK Superstar Jinny recently noted. “It allowed me to make my dream a reality. There wasn’t a Women’s Championship when I started.”

“From having the first women’s match on a Chapter show and proving we need a Championship for the women of PROGRESS, to becoming a two-time PROGRESS Wrestling Women’s Champion, makes the title that much more special to me,” Jinny concluded.

The company has also released a video ahead of the final match between Kanji and Gisele Shaw hyping the trilogy match:

WWE 2K22 Developers Provide Behind-The-Scenes Update (Video)

Michael Reichlin
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WWE 2K22 is the next WWE video game currently in development by Visual Concepts, a 2K Studio. We got a first look at the title during WrestleMania 37 weekend. You can see that 30-second teaser video here:

2K sent in word that the developers of WWE 2K22 will be providing an “unprecedented behind-the-scenes look” at the game’s production.

WWE 2K20 was plagued by technical issues and universally panned by critics and gamers.WWE 2K21 was scrapped entirely so the franchise could be reimagined from the ground up.

2K and Visual Concepts will chronicle the development of WWE 2K22 with a “social media content series providing ongoing access to work-in-progress production and development.”

https://twitter.com/WWE2Kdev/status/1391785420673802240

Visual Concepts is promising “frequent and in-depth communication” with the press, content creators and the WWE 2K community.

Check out SEScoops’ official WWE 2K22 Review

AEW Announces Return To Live Touring: Miami, Austin & Dallas

Michael Reichlin
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AEW sent in the following press release:

“AEW DYNAMITE” IS BACK ON THE ROAD WITH LIVE, TICKETED EVENTS IN MIAMI, AUSTIN, DALLAS

— Rescheduled Dates Announced for St. Louis and New Orleans Shows —

May 10, 2021 – After safely hosting 27 live, ticketed events throughout the past nine months at Daily’s Place in Jacksonville, Fla., AEW is bringing the excitement of its flagship show AEW DYNAMITE to Miami, Austin and Dallas this summer. AEW will become the first major wrestling promotion to safely return to a traveling schedule since March 2020.

The dates for the live shows in Miami, Austin and Dallas are:

  • Wednesday, July 7: James L. Knight Center in Miami.
  • Wednesday, July 14: H-E-B Center in Cedar Park, Texas (greater Austin area)
  • Wednesday, July 21: Curtis Culwell Center in Garland, Texas (greater Dallas area)

General tickets for the three shows will go on sale this Friday, May 14, at 11 a.m. ET / 10 a.m. CT via AEWTIX.com. At the same time, tickets for the Miami and Austin shows will be available via Ticketmaster.com, while tickets for the Dallas show can be purchased at CurtisCulwellCenter.com. Tickets start at $30 (not including service charges or fees).

Each event will be held in compliance with state COVID safety guidelines, and seating capacities will adhere to state and local mandates.

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“We’re so appreciative of our fans in Jacksonville who have been with us these past nine months, ” said Tony Khan, CEO, GM and Head of Creative of AEW. “Their support and incredible energy have lifted us week after week, and viewers have fed off their enthusiasm and support. Daily’s Place will always be our home.

“Looking ahead, we’re thrilled to welcome our fans back to become part of the action in Miami, Austin and Dallas. We’ve missed touring cities, meeting the fans and hearing their roar during our live shows. Please be assured, we are working closely with the venues to comply with state and local regulations in each city. Miami, Austin and Dallas are the first of many as we gear up the trucks to travel around the country again! ”

In the near future, AEW will be announcing additional live events for the late summer.

The company also announced two rescheduled dates for St. Louis and New Orleans:

• The show at Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis on June 23 has been rescheduled for Friday, November 5, 2021. The live event will be an AEW TNT television taping.

• The show at the UNO Lakefront Arena in New Orleans has been rescheduled for Wednesday, January, 12, 2022, as an AEW DYNAMITE event.

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Fans who have already purchased tickets to either show will have their original tickets valid for admission to the respective rescheduled show, or they can receive a refund via the point of purchase.

As AEW continues to deliver the best matches and most entertaining moments in professional wrestling today, be sure to tune into AEW DYNAMITE every Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT on TNT.

Dark Side of the Ring Creators Talk Potential Crossover With MLW

Chris Stephens
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Dark Side of the Ring Season 3 premiered last week with an episode on Brian Pillman. The show airs on VICE TV which recently signed a deal with Major League Wrestling. MLW shows now air on VICE Saturdays at noon est.

Co-creators of Dark Side of the Ring, Evan Husney and Jason Eisener, recently appeared on the WINCLY podcast and spoke about a potential crossover between MLW and Dark Side of the Ring.

“Court Bauer, he’s awesome. I’ve talked to him many times about this,” Husney said. “He had reached out to me, I think, when season two was airing. He reached out to me and and sort of had the idea of ‘wrestling is getting big on this network. What do you think?’ And obviously, because we did the Von Erich story, I knew Ross and Marshall Von Erich from the episode, and them being such a huge part of MLW, I thought it was a cool idea because Vice, the way the network launched originally to where what it’s kind of evolved into, it seems like now Vice TV, as a network, is open to a lot more different types of storytelling.”

In MLW, the Von Erichs are currently feuding with Tom Lawlor and Team Filthy. They lost the tag-team titles earlier this year to Los Parks from Azteca Underground.

Dark Side of the Ring Creators on How To Produce A Wrestling Show

The Dark Side of the Ring creators continued to talk about wanting to change the way wrestling is shot.

“If there is a way to innovate with MLW and to do something different, hey, if they want us to maybe look at some different lighting tweaks or camera tweaks, we can kind of bring a more cinematic lens to wrestling because that for me, as a whole, is the thing that makes wrestling really hard for me to watch today because I think the in-ring talent is great. I think there’s a lot of awesome talent across the board,” Husney continued.

He then continued to say he’s had discussions with MLW about possibly doing a cinematic style FMW show. It’s not clear if Bauer is into this idea, however.

“We’ve talked about it,” Husney stated. “It’s funny because I’ve talked to him about FMW, and I’ve been like, ‘Yeah man, we got the smoke, and the fog and the da da da.’ I have mentioned it a few times to him. I don’t know if he thinks I’m totally out of my mind or if he thinks that it would be cool. But hey, I think obviously being on the same network, there’s got to be some possibility of collaboration. If my schedule frees up, we can do a Halloween themed PPV.”

Dark Side of the Ring returns to VICE TV on May 13th. The episode will focus on Nick Gage.

https://audioboom.com/posts/7858584-eva-marie-returns-to-wwe-tv-feat-dark-side-s-jason-eisner-and-evan-husney

Darby Allin & Miro Exchange Trash Talk Ahead of TNT Title Match

Michael Reichlin
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Darby Allin is in for the fight of his life this Wednesday on AEW Dynamite. The reigning TNT Champion will face his toughest challenge to date when he defends against Miro.

Last week on Dynamite, Miro declared his intention to take Darby Allin’s title. He delivered a sobering warning by billing the match as, “The man who doesn’t mind dying meets the man who doesn’t mind killing him.”

Later in the show Darby Allin was thrown down a flight of steps by Ethan Page. Allin said his shoulder is in bad shape, but he is not going to let that phase him.

Miro replied by warning Allin that denial will get him hurt. He took another dig at Sting, calling him Darby Allin’s emo face-paint Daddy.

Darby Allin vs. Miro

Darby Allin replied to Miro’s comments with some trash talk of his own. He knows exactly who he is, but is Miro in touch with his own self? The Bulgarian brute came into AEW with great fanfare, but was soon relegated to playing video games and serving as Kip Sabian’s sidekick.

“Do you know who you are Miro?” he questioned. “You show up the hottest free agent just to talk about video games and be some best man. You’ve gotta be the most underwhelming Thing I’ve seen.”

He finished by warning Miro, “You ain’t taking shit away from me.”

(Update) On Tuesday, Miro posted this menacing video message:

https://twitter.com/ToBeMiro/status/1392195596312788993

WWE Management’s Reaction To AEW Blood & Guts Match

Chris Stephens
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Last week, AEW presented a War Games style match titled Blood & Guts from Daily’s Place in Jacksonville. According to PW Insider, WWE management hated the match with at least one person believing it will have serious negative implications for the industry.

“That just set the business back 30 years,” one person from WWE management reportedly said anonymously to PW Insider.

The match featured several wrestlers bleeding and Chris Jericho being pushed off the cage at the end.

The term “Blood & Guts” was actually a reference to similar criticism lobbied against AEW by Vince McMahon. At WWE’s 2nd quarter earnings call in 2019, McMahon stated he didn’t feel TNT would put up with AEW’s “blood and guts” approach for too long.

“As far as competition is concerned, the old adage is ‘competition is good for everyone,’ I think that’s generally the case,” McMahon said on the call about AEW. “We’re hoping that, to the extent that they are competition, they don’t continue with blood and guts and gory things that they have been doing, which would be bad. I can’t imagine, I can’t speak for TNT, but I can’t imagine they would put up with that.”

WWE has had similarly violent matches and segments recently, however. At Extreme Rules in 2020, Rey Mysterio’s eyeball was completely removed from his head in storyline. Bray Wyatt was also set on fire recently on WWE RAW.

MSK Reveal Meaning Behind Team Name (But Not What It Stands For)

Chris Stephens
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Wes Lee and Nash Carter, formerly known as Zachary Wentz and Dezmond Xavier, are the current NXT tag-team champions. They spoke to Metro UK recently about their time in NXT and the meaning behind their new team name “MSK.”

“It’s us. MSK is Wes Lee and Nash Carter. It’s what we stand for, it’s who we are,” said Wes Lee. He wouldn’t give away what the letters actually stand for, however.

“It’s what we do. It’s a lifestyle. It’s a mentality,” he continued.

What does MSK stand for?

The duo continued to say they like to “keep people guessing” about what MSK actually stands for.

 “It’s like our matches,” Lee continued. “You never know what to expect from us. People identify us as highflyers, but that’s not all we do. We learned highflying because that’s what was exciting to us, but we know how to punch somebody in the mouth, we know how to snap an arm. We know how to get gritty and nasty as well – so you never know what you’re gonna get with us.”

Nash Carter continued to talk about how quickly everything has come since signing with WWE.

“The story of MSK has just been ready, set, go. Not even set! It’s just been ready, go. Everything just happened so fast, where it’s kinda hard to process. ‘Once we got the call, at least for me, I knew this is the place I wanted to be. I’ve always wanted to be a WWE superstar, I always loved WWE and this place, what we have access to, is second to none. It’s the greatest thing in the world.”

Visit Metro.co.uk to read the full interview with MSK.

Mickie James Talks Cancelled WWE Angle With Chelsea Green

Jake Skudder
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Former WWE Superstar Mickie James appeared on this week’s episode of Renee Paquette’s Oral Sessions. The former Women’s Champion and trailblazer discussed a number of subjects during her time on the podcast, including of course the ‘trashbag’ incident that saw her calling out WWE for their treatment of released talent.

When Mickie James was released just a few weeks ago, her belongings were sent back to her in a ‘trash bag,’ prompting James to write a message to WWE on social media. The anger from James meant that Triple H and Stephanie McMahon would apologize publicly, and Vince McMahon called her directly.

Chelsea Green was also given the ‘trashbag’ treatment upon her release, although she was accidently sent Natalya’s gear, something Green addressed on her new podcast ’50 Shades of Green.’

Mickie James Talks Chelsea Green Feud

Mickie James revealed on Oral Sessions that her and Chelsea Green were actually set to have a feud on WWE programming, before WWE nixed this and the two were forced to try and make something work on social media.

“That would’ve been fun,” James said on the podcast. “We started actually doing that on Twitter after the fact. I really didn’t think it was going to happen at that point because they had already pulled it. Because we shot the stuff and everything for it and for whatever reason it just never got approved prior to us even going out there and having the match.”

“That was supposed to be my comeback or whatever” James recalled. “That was part of my comeback from my injury and stuff. I was like ‘oh this will actually be really cool. And it’s a cool way to flip the script, do it differently but then hopefully build Chelsea up and do something. And maybe she even retires me or whatever.’”

Would you like to see Chelsea Green and Mickie James appear for another promotion? Let us know in the comments

MJF Says He’d Jump To WWE For The Right Price: “I’m A Businessman”

Jake Skudder
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AEW star and leader of The Pinnacle MJF recently spoke to Steel Chair Magazine. One of the questions posed to the outspoken and controversial character involved WWE and his Four Horseman-esque group potentially being lured over to the company.

“Me and my boys, we’re willing to go wherever the money’s at, it’s that simple” MJF began, speaking to Steel Chair. “Don’t get me wrong, AEW runs deep in me. I don’t want to leave, but I am a businessman at the end of the day. I can’t help myself if somebody’s got an offer for me, I’m going to listen to it.”

“I’m a prodigy” MJF claimed. “But people have been saying that about me since birth and the reason why it doesn’t shock me, but it shocks everybody else, is because, let’s face it, there’s ageism in this world.”

MJF on Being a ‘Prodigy’

“When people hear the number 25? They think, ‘Oh, that person probably doesn’t have their ducks in a row, he’s probably immature; he’s probably not ready for a big opportunity’” The Pinnacle leader concluded.

It’s highly unlikely that Maxwell Jacob Friedman or The Pinnacle would be heading over to WWE anytime soon. FTR themselves left the company to join AEW; citing a want to have more creative freedom and to be in an environment where they felt tag team wrestling was more ‘respected.’

WALTER Names His ‘Dream’ Opponents from NXT and SmackDown

Jake Skudder
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WWE Superstar and the United Kingdom Champion WALTER recently appeared on Corey Graves’ After The Bell podcast. The Austrian performer discussed a number of topics during the interview, including the three names in WWE that would be ‘dream’ matches for him.

“When I first got into watching other wrestling, I was watching Ring of Honor” WALTER began, somewhat giving a clue as to the performers he wants to go up against. “A lot of those guys are the top guys in WWE right now.” 

WALTER Talks Dream Matches

“Daniel Bryan is a match I would want to do” WALTER noted. “Obviously, Cesaro. I’ve never worked with (Cesaro). He’s a great role model for all of us German-speaking talent. He’s always been super supportive.”

“As soon as we stepped foot in WWE, he reached his hand out to all of us” WALTER revealed of the Swiss Superstar. “He’s a fantastic wrestler. Regarding NXT, the one match I wanted before COVID was Finn Balor. Those are the three.”

The biggest reason that we have not seen WALTER appear more on the main roster is his want to stay in Europe. Reports have indicated that WALTER is settled and happy to perform in the UK/Europe; so he isn’t looking to relocate to the United States anytime soon.

Backstage Update On NXT Referee Drake Wuertz

Chris Stephens
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Controversial NXT referee Drake Wuertz was reportedly suspended by WWE earlier this year and has had his responsibilities reduced backstage. This comes on the heels of journalist David Bixenspan’s reporting on Wuertz’s extreme political views.

In November, Bixenspan published an article titled “WWE appears to have a Drake Wuertz problem.” The article details Wuertz’s relationship with a a QAnon-adjacent “anti-child trafficking” charity, and his activity on Parler including his following the official “Proud Boys” account. According to the report from Fightful, WWE officials were “horrified” by what they read in the article.

Then more recently, Bixenspan posted Wuertz’s appearance at a Seminole County Board of County Commissioners meeting.

https://twitter.com/davidbix/status/1387259525040943104

According to a report from Fightful, Wuertz is no longer the head referee in NXT. That job has now gone to Darryl Sharma. Wuertz was also not given the role of timing matches in NXT in favor of giving that role to the returning Scott Armstrong. Wuertz is said to have been banned from the Capitol Wrestling Center for a period, either formerly or informally as well. He has since returned, however.

Drake Wuertz Response On Facebook

Wuertz published the following response to the reports about him on Facebook:

“My wife said some folks are apparently writing about our “Radical Views “. *Human Trafficking is modern-day slavery and we seek to eradicate it *Abortion is Murder and needs to be Abolished *Children in my community that are being forced by local government to wear masks for 8 hours a day against their parents wishes is abuse. We have a God-ordained duty to speak up for the ‘least of these’ and petition our magistrates to prevent harm upon children. If this is “Radical” then label me an extremist for Christ. Were not called to fit in with the world. Were called to serve God!…”We ought to obey God rather than men.” Acts 5:29”

What Is Qanon?

In April, a report was published by the global security-focussed non-profit group the Soufan Center, and stated that Qanon messaging and conspiracy theories were being amplified by foreign countries with the goal of sowing civil discontent within the United States.

“Our data collection and analysis has demonstrated that QAnon has been weaponized by America’s adversaries,” cautioned Zach Schwitzky, Founder of Limbik. “Actors from Russia, China, Iran, and Saudi Arabia have all entered the fray amplifying QAnon messaging, most likely as a means to sow further discord and division among the American population.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/CN2LybiJu8r/

Jon Moxley & Yuji Nagata Comment On Their Title Match On Dynamite

Chris Stephens
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Jon Moxley will defend his IWGP United States championship against Yuji Nagata on Dynamite this Wednesday. Moxley teamed with Chris Dickinson on NJPW Strong this week and they defeated the team of Yuji Nagata and Ren Narita. Following the match, Nagata locked Moxley in an arm-bar. Both teams were interviewed after the match and Nagata and Moxley both spoke on their upcoming title match.

“Mr. Jon Moxley. Under this COVID-19 situation, I, Yuji Nagata, came for you here in America,” Nagata said. “And I had a match with you. I still want more. I got some good attacks from you. Your move was not bad. However, that was not enough. I am not satisfied with today’s tag match. When is the next match with you? The next one is the US Heavyweight Championship match. I am going to give it all I got. Do same thing to me. And then, I will win. Zea!”

Following Nagata’s comments, champion Jon Moxley and his partner Chris Dickinson were also interviewed backstage.

“Let me tell you about Nagata-san,” Moxley began. “Let me tell you about this guy who got on a plane and came all the way across the Pacific Ocean to do me a favor, to come here and glad handle the American citizens and all the fans. The great respected Yuji Nagata making a tour of the United States, problem is he’s going back to Japan in a body bag.”

“Tonight, what I saw after this match, that’s the Nagata I want! I want an angry Nagata, I want a mean Nagata, I want a pissed off Nagata,” Moxley continued.

7 More NJPW Wrestlers Test Positive For COVID-19

Chris Stephens
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NJPW is experiencing a COVID-19 outbreak. 7 additional wrestlers have now tested positive for the virus. This brings the total number of 9 infected people on the NJPW roster. 2 wrestlers also tested positive for the virus following Wrestling Dontaku Night 2.

While NJPW has not announced which wrestlers have tested positive, Kazuchika Okada, Minoru Suzuki, El Desperado, Yoshinobu Kanemaru, SHO, and YOH were the wrestlers removed from Wrestling Dontaku Night 2. According to updates from NJPW1972.com, 2 of those wrestlers presented to the May 3rd show with a fever. Those wrestlers would later test positive for the virus, while 4 additional wrestlers were kept off the show as well.

Following these positive tests, NJPW tested its entire roster and 7 more additional positive tests were confirmed.

“In light of this news, all those who had close contact with the infected parties, in addition to every wrestler on the roster, received PCR tests, with a further seven wrestlers testing positive,” an NJPW update reads.

All 9 wrestlers who tested positive are said to be experiencing mild or no symptoms.

“All those who tested positive are experiencing mild symptoms or are asymptomatic. According to protocols and under medical advice, all are isolating and receiving appropriate treatment,” NJPW’s statement continues.

NJPW recently cancelled planned shows in Yokohama on the 15th and inside the Tokyo Dome on May 29th.

EC3 Shares Update After Hospitalization

Andrew Ravens
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EC3 announced on social media last month that he had been hospitalized and now he has written a long blog to detail the situation. 

He had been dealing with an infection that has caused him to miss out on work for the past month. The severe infection happened months after he had COVID-19 last year. He cited a torn toe tendon procedure and a cut suffered during a match. 

“A couple of weeks ago, I noticed a swelling developing in my arm, and in other areas of my body,” he wrote. Paying it very little attention while using bro-science and internet diagnosis, I continued my daily missions and the overwhelming burdens I place upon myself in training, performing, business, and creative endeavors. When I thought about getting it looked at professionally, another thing would come up that I’d give priority.

This repeated and I lived life normally, consistently going, no rest,” he continued. “Finally, after an attempt at some athletic based therapy, my arm became a gigantic, swollen, horrifying, ungodly, painful atrocity and I went to the ER. Next thing I knew, words like cellulitis, staph, and stenosis were thrown around, I was being pumped full of fluids, antibiotics, and morphine, and was in an ambulance to my STAYCATION DESTINATION, Advent Health Downtown Orlando.”

He continued by noting that for 10 days, he shut down both physically and mentally.

“It was a reminder of both a childhood spent very ill, and a career spent where when things were very promising, began to reach an apex, and accomplishments being achieved I would drasticly be shattered with catastrophic injuries (torn ligaments, tendons, concussions etc.) Completely unforeseen. Completely unnecessary.”

EC3 added that he is at home now where he can continue to heal and rest. He also circled three dates on his calendar with the first date being May 27th. 

EC3 has not wrestled since April 9 where he lost to Moose by DQ at a Game Changer Wrestling event.

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