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Braun Strowman Out With Knee Injury

Chris Stephens
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According to recent reports, Braun Strowman was planned to be Drew McIntyre’s opponent at TLC. On RAW last week, however, Strowman’s character attacked Adam Pearce and was subsequently suspended indefinitely.

According to a report from the Wrestling Observer, Strowman is dealing with a knee injury and that is why he was removed from the WWE title picture at TLC.

Following Survivor Series, it had been reported Strowman would face McIntyre on the PPV. After Monday’s RAW, however, the Observer reported that Strowman was likely dealing with a knee injury.

“The story is that he got a knee injury at the elimination match [at Survivor Series] but I don’t know that the story is accurate. I’ve heard it, I heard that what was the tournament was for but it still could just be a storyline and Braun is getting the title shot anyway,” said Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio.

Strowman’s last match was at Survivor Series 2020. He was one of the 5 survivors from Team RAW’s traditional 5-on-5 match on the show. Strowman eliminated Otis from that match as well. Riddle, AJ Styles, and Keith Lee will face each other tonight on RAW to determine McIntyre’s next challenger.

Darby Allin On Signing With AEW, Jeff Hardy Comparisons, Future Goals

Steve Russell
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AEW TNT Champion Darby Allin has opened up about signing with All Elite Wrestling and how he feels about being compared to Jeff Hardy.

Speaking with Inside the Ropes, Allin shared how the moment he discovered Cody Rhodes was interested in signing him, he immediately took the initiative and reached out.

“I heard that he was interested in hiring me, and the moment I heard that I just blew his phone up, and I was like, ‘Dude, I need this, I need this. Like, there’s nowhere else I want to go. I want to have my creative freedom there. This is it, get me involved.’ So I just called him off the hook.”

He explained how the key phrase that enticed him to AEW was the promise “creative freedom.” Allin stated how “[…] if I’m going to make it in this world, I’m going to do it as Darby Allin. No one else. I’m not going to have anybody change who I am. Period. So, AEW is my calling card.”

Darby Allin On Jeff Hardy Comparisons

When asked about comparisons between himself and WWE Superstar Jeff Hardy, Allin shared how he’s “fine” with being compared.

He confessed he “never searched” to be compared to anybody but acknowledged how “if it’s there, it’s there.”

Ultimately, he believes there will only ever be one Darby Allin, just like there will only be one Jeff Hardy.

Allin also shared his interest in a potential matchup against Jeff Hardy. He admitted he would “[…] love to step in the ring with someone who is as creative and driven as artistically as he is, I feel like he would always be able to go. Even with Matt, I want to step in the ring with him and just create some art.”

Having won singles gold in AEW, Allin has already set himself another goal for the future: main event an AEW pay-per-view.

“I want to make the TNT Championship one of the most important things in professional wrestling, period. I want to main event a pay-per-view. That’s a big one. So right now the TNT Championship is my biggest concern and then main-eventing a pay-per view.”

Darby Allin teams with Cody Rhodes this Wednesday on AEW Dynamite. The pair face off against Team Taz, represented by Ricky Starks and Powerhouse Hobbs.

Sasha Banks Now Going By Mercedes Varnado On Social Media

Michael Reichlin
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Sasha Banks is using her real name social media. She is now listed as Mercedes Varnado on Twitter and Instagram, while her handles remain @SashaBanksWWE.

The WWE SmackDown women’s champion has been getting mainstream attention for her role in Star Wars: The Mandalorian. She is credited as Mercedes Vernado on that project, not Sasha Banks. During an interview with USA Today, she said ‘Mercedes’ is the reason she’s getting so much success, not her alter ego, Sasha.

“I’m so thankful for the role of playing Sasha Banks for so long, but it took Mercedes Varnado to put in that work, and it took Mercedes to get through those doors of the WWE and to be able to do ‘Star Wars,’ I’m just so excited to show the world exactly who I am.”

She urged her legion of fans to keep on watching her next year, because she plans to keep ‘killing it’ and crushing her dreams.

“Main Eventing WrestleMania With Bayley Would Be A Dream Come True”

Mercedes Vernado recently showed off the power of her audience once again. In collaboration with Foot Locker and Puma, she and husband Mikaze designed a limited-edition sneaker with proceeds going to charity. They sold out instantly.

There is no question that WWE helped build Sasha Banks into a household name. However, Mercedes Vernado is poised to make big moves in 2021 and beyond.

On Monday morning, Sasha Banks posted a photo of herself with natural hair using the caption, “My Mom named me Mercedes”

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Kenny Omega Discusses Which WWE Stars He’d Like To Face, Comparisons To Seth Rollins

Steve Russell
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All Elite Wrestling’s Kenny Omega has reflected on his year in AEW during an interview with Forbes. During the interview, Omega also shared which WWE Superstars he would be interested in competing against and acknowledged being compared to Seth Rollins.

Reflecting on his first year in AEW, Omega revealed how he would grade it “very, very favorably.” He explained how AEW boasts the best tag team wrestling experience. Omega added how he considered it an honor to have competed in AEW’s tag division and praised the caliber of talent amongst the teams.

He then noted how he feels “sorry” for people who can’t understand that “[…] it is every bit as important to be competing in [AEW’s] tag team division as it is to be wrestling as a singles performer for a world championship.”

Kenny Omega On WWE Stars He’d Like To Face

Turning his attention to WWE’s roster, Omega highlighted how he has previously worked with AJ Styles in New Japan Pro-Wrestling.

According to him, Styles “saved” him as he was thinking about leaving wrestling at the time they were feuding. “He was there for me to help point me in the right direction and I think he would be a great opponent.”

Styles isn’t the only WWE Superstar Omega has an interest in wrestling, however. He also pointed to the New Day, believing they would be a lot of fun to work with.

Kenny Omega acknowledged how he is often compared to Seth Rollins. He noted how Rollins a “great wrestler.” He believes that they could have “really great matches together.”

Ultimately, Omega stressed he just wants to “work with good people.” He explained that this isn’t limited to being good in the ring. Omega wants to work with “[…] people who are genuinely good dudes who the fans would want to see me wrestle. At the end of the day, I’d just want to wrestle the opponents who would make fans the most excited because that’s really what it’s all about.”

Kenny Omega is set to face off against AEW World Champion Jon Moxley in a championship bout. The two clash on the December 2 episode of AEW Dynamite, Winter is Coming.

Konnan On Inner Circle’s Las Vegas Segment, Nixed Marijuana Reference

Steve Russell
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Last week’s episode of AEW Dynamite saw Chris Jericho’s Inner Circle descend upon Las Vegas. Making a surprise cameo appearance during the segment was none other than Konnan, who recently shared some behind-the-scenes details on shooting the segment.

Konnan divulged the information during a recent episode of his podcast Keepin’ It 100 with Konnan. He revealed how they had attempted to get in a marijuana reference into the video. The idea, however, was ultimately nixed.

“If we are opening up a limo and smoke is coming out, what do you think we are doing in there, roasting marshmallows? … I will give Chris credit. He tried. We tried to do the roll up sign. We tried to have a blunt.”

Konnan explained that the reason the idea got shut down was due to a Jacksonville Jaguars “legal girl.” This led him to come up with the line “I always have the best stuff.”

“We couldn’t do none of that but Chris did try. He did try to push the envelope because he even goes, ‘what is that you do, Iranian tobacco? Say that, your fans will know.'”

Konnan’s AEW Experience

He shared how he was “very impressed” by AEW’s production quality. Konnan noted how he didn’t know what to expect. However, he found his experience to be “first class.”

Unsurprisingly, Konnan revealed how he had to sign a lot of documents and get a COVID test done. According to him, “They do everything by the book.”

He then praised Jericho, comparing him to a “force of nature.” Konnan pointed out how Jericho was there producing, thinking of lines, and doing all he could to make sure the segment was as good as possible. This level of dedication wasn’t only noticed by Konnan, however.

“You can tell that MJF is gonna be just like Jericho because he is the young guy who is watching Jericho does and learning so he’s gonna be like him, a guy that does everything,” Konnan said. “Their level of professionalism is very high. I was treated very well. They had me at a nice hotel, everything was very cool. Kudos to them on that.”

You can watch the Inner Circle’s trip to Las Vegas below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1NSCpH5rL0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCxgbiqJwJw

The Undertaker On The Original Purpose Of The Hell In A Cell Match

Anutosh Bajpai
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The name of Undertaker has become synonym with the Hell In A Cell match as he has wrestled in more than a dozen such bouts and the Dead Man was also one of the two competitors of the first-ever Hell In A Cell match.

During his recent appearance on Steve Austin’s Broken Skull Sessions, the former world champion talked about this match against Shawn Michaels and revealed the reason why they had created the bout. According to Taker, the main reason for Hell In A Cell was Kane. He explained that the whole thing was designed for keeping the interference out so then Kane can come out and do what nobody else could.

“The main reason for Hell in a Cell was Kane,” he revealed. “It was all about Kane, the whole thing was designed for Kane’s debut. You’re gonna keep all outside interference out, and boom, here comes Kane. For Kane to come in and do what no one else could do, which is rip the door off and come face-to-face with his brother. I still think it’s one of the most iconic stare downs ever. It’s a story that lasted 23 years, and one of the greatest stories ever told.”

Hell in a Cell
Hell in a Cell

Undertaker had been feuding with Shawn Michaels in 1997 after Michaels caused the Last Outlaw to lose his WWF world title match against Bret Hart at SummerSlam that year. The first ever Hell In A Cell match was announced between the two stars for Badd Blood: In Your House PPV with the intention of saving the bout from outside interference.

However, Paul Bearer had been teasing the arrival of Kane in the weeks prior to the event and the monster finally made his debut during the show. Kane ripped the door of the Cell structure and he then confronted The Dead Man. The event ended with Kane executing a Tombstone Piledriver on Undertaker, allowing Michaels to pick up the victory.

Bayley Reveals WWE Hall Of Famer As Her Dream Opponent

Anutosh Bajpai
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Former SmackDown women’s champion Bayley recently appeared on the Table Talk podcast where she discussed a number of things like potential future feuds for her and more.

During the interview, she again discussed how she wanted Hayley Williams from Paramore to perform her entrance at this year’s edition of WrestleMania.

When asked about her dream opponent, the former champion took the name of the WWE Hall Of Famer Lita, mentioning how they have competed in a team before but never had a singles match:

“Lita has always been a dream opponent just because she’s somebody I never been in the ring with. Which is crazy to say now, but we’ve been in a 10-woman tag match before, and this was the night after Evolution. That was so insane,”

Bayley continued by recalling a spot from the 10 women tag team match from 2018 where both her and Lita performed the Twist of Fate simultaneously. The SmackDown star then explained why it’s a dream match for her:

“I want a match against her because she’s the one who helped me realize my dreams. She made me really see women who look different and dress differently can make it in this business and be successful. So, I would love to just pay that back to her, pay that to my 12-year-old self and have that dream match.”

Apart from this, Bayley also talked about things like the accomplishments of her friend Xavier Woods, helping Billie Kay and Peyton Royce when they first moved to USA and more.

D-Von Dudley Dealing With Health Issues

Anutosh Bajpai
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One half of the celebrated tag team The Dudley Boyz and current WWE producer D-Von Dudley is dealing with some health issues, the retired star has revealed.

The former wrestler talked about his health on the latest episode of his Table Talk podcast. He confirmed that he has had some issues but the former champion claimed that he is ‘hanging in there’:

“Hanging in there, I’ve had some health issues but I’m hanging in there. I miss you guys. Hopefully, I’ll be back soon.” said Dudley, “I gotta see what the doctors say but, it’s been a little rough, but I’ve been hanging in there, doing what I can.”

In an update, Pwinsider revealed that the WWE producer has been absent from the TV tapings in the last several weeks as well.

The 48 year old star is a wrestling veteran who has competed for many promotions and has had long stints with both WWE and TNA.

D-Von Dudley is one half of the iconic Attitude Era tag team The Dudley Boyz which is considered to be one of the most successful and recognizable teams in the history of professional wrestling.

There aren’t many details available regarding the issues he is dealing with. So it’s hard to say how long it will take the former champion to recover but we’ll keep you posted on his status.

Update On Planned Feud Between Roman Reigns And Daniel Bryan

Anutosh Bajpai
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The much-anticipated match between Universal Champion Roman Reigns and Daniel Bryan will be taking place at the upcoming Royal Rumble PPV according to reports from Wrestling Observer Radio.

At one point it appeared that the bout was being projected for the TLC event but then reports suggested that the company could hold it off for a later date. Officials seem to have backed out of idea in recent weeks as well.

Coming out of this Friday’s episode of SmackDown, it appears that Roman Reigns will be defending his title against Kevin Owens at the upcoming PPV.

Owens took on Jey Uso on the latest episode of the show as a way to get Roman’s attention. He then had an intense verbal exchange with Reigns’ associate Paul Heyman on Talking Smack.

On the other hand, Daniel Bryan went up against the Intercontinental Champion Sami Zayn on the show. He lost the bout via a count-out and Bryan will likely need to be built up for a match against the Big Dog after the TLC PPV.

Though Dave Meltzer discussed how the former world champion has been involved with SmackDown’s creative lately and according to the wrestling journalist a lot of what’s happened to Bryan ‘is his own doing.’

With that said, it’s possible that Daniel Bryan has some ideas on how he wants this feud to unfold and it’d be interesting to see how things pan out leading to the Royal Rumble PPV.

“I Promise You That’s Not The Last Time We’re Going To See The Undertaker” – Ryback

Jake Skudder
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Former WWE Superstar Ryback recently commented on the Final Farewell of The Undertaker. This past Sunday was the 30th anniversary of The Deadman, who of course made his WWE debut at Survivor Series 1990.

‘Taker took his final bow in the company in the ’empty’ ThunderDone arena. Whilst fans were visible on the screens around the ring they were of course not in Anway Center to celebrate the career of the iconic Deadman.

Although WWE and Undertaker himself have claimed that this was the final appearance? Ryback believes that we will see ‘Taker again, when fans are allowed back into arenas safely.

Ryback on The Undertaker Farewell

“Vince [McMahon] is a great businessman, regardless of my personal feelings on certain things” Ryback began on the Shooting Blanks podcast. “So what they’re doing? I promise you this…that’s not the last time we’re going to see the Undertaker.”

“That was a way to capitalise on the 30th anniversary” Ryback continued, discussing the Survivor Series 2020 ‘Final Farewell.’ “The moment there are people back [in arenas]? There will be another farewell. There’s no way you’re not going to get that, when an opportunity comes up. Even if they don’t market it as a farewell? It’s the Undertaker appearance, it will be another farewell.”

Ryback would finish by praising WWE for the ‘smart’ business decision of capitalizing on the 30th anniversary of Undertaker’s debut. “I think it was a smart business move capitalising on that, you’d be silly not to now. Did they have to say it’s the farewell? Was that necessarily? Maybe not. You could have just been celebrating 30 years, but I think it [the finality] gives it that that extra special feel. But it’s like…retiring and wrestling? It’s the least respected retirement in all of sports!”

Do you agree with Ryback? Do you think that we will see The Undertaker again when there are crowds in arenas? Let us know in the comments

Ryback
Ryback

NXT UK Star Says BT Sport Studios Will Have ‘Indie Hotbed’ Feel When Fans Return

Jake Skudder
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NXT UK and former PROGRESS, Fight Club:PRO Superstar Trent Seven recently appeared on the Gorilla Position podcast. The WWE Superstar discussed a number of topics during his time on the show; including his Moustache Mountain partner Tyler Bate, the BT Sport studio and possibly moving to RAW or SmackDown.

Trent Seven on BT Sport Studios and NXT UK

“It’s been a very, very bizarre last few months” Trent Seven would begin on the show. “But I just wanted to, on that note…the work that has been put in? Between the staff at NXT UK, WWE and BT Sport? It has been second to none.”

NXT UK moved to BT Sport Studios for the ‘relaunch’ of the weekly show. The COVID-19 pandemic initially meant that there were months without new content for NXT UK, however WWE’s ‘new’ UK television partner BT Sport would offer their in-house studio to host the weekly program.

The show now also has screens featuring WWE fans watching from home. This gives the effect of WWE’s ThunderDome, but at a much smaller scale.

“That studio is, oh it’s absolutely incredible” Trent Seven would continue. “And I for one just can’t wait to see the day when there’s fans in there. Because it’s going to be an absolute…it’s going to be a real kind of independent vibe, kind of a hotbed, but with the production value of WWE. [It’ll have] a world class studio level, so very exciting times on the horizon, I think.”

The UK wrestling scene hit a boom period during the last decade. The likes of Seven, Tyler Bate and Pete Dunne were a huge part of the scene, headlining events for the likes of the aforementioned PROGRESS, FCP and RIPTIDE Wrestling.

Have you been watching NXT UK on the WWE Network? Are you enjoying the show? Let us know in the comments

BT Sport WWE

Ricky Starks Talks Training and Being Friends with The Undertaker

Jake Skudder
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All Elite Wrestling star Ricky Starks recently appeared on Chris Van Vliet’s podcast. The current member of Taz’s on-screen stable discussed a number of topics during the show; these included including how signed with AEW and being friends with The Undertaker.

“So back in Austin? There’s a gym called Onnit” Ricky Starks began, as he told the story of his meeting Mark Calloway. “I only started going to Onnit because I thought I would have a [WWE] tryout back in 2016. So I was training way before I fully had my tryout.”

Ricky Starks on The Undertaker

“And so I was there, barely making it by because the fee is $194 a month, and I was making minimum wage” Ricky Starks continued. “So I would go at the same time that ‘Taker was there. Undertaker was preparing for his match against Shane [McMahon] in Dallas for WrestleMania 32. He was there constantly.”

Ricky Starks would then confirm that Undertaker was filming what would become The Last Ride documentary for WWE Network. “He was filming a documentary, but he was filming a documentary just for his family, because he figured that would be the last one. I’d befriended the the guy who was doing the documentary, his name is Brandon. He’s a really nice dude, I told him like ‘Taker one of my favourites, and I would talk to ‘Taker. I went up to him say thank you for everything, and so since I was there all the time? Undertaker would come and make small talk with me.”

The AEW star would finish by saying how he actually trained with Undertaker before his match against John Cena at WrestleMania 34. This was especially surreal for Starks, as he has mentioned how he is a ‘mega fan’ of the Deadman.

“‘Taker was getting ready for his match against Cena at ‘Mania 34 in New Orleans. He had us up and wanted to train, so WWE sent this ring to this location, it was a sick setup. I’ll never forget, we were in there, I want to say for two days or three days? I was in the ring sparring with Undertaker and I, I cannot fathom it. I cannot understand it!?”

Do you think that we’ll ever see Ricky Starks in WWE? Let us know in the comments

Bayley Reveals Nixed Plans For Her WrestleMania Entrance

Anutosh Bajpai
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Many wrestlers were working on plans for their grand WrestleMania entrance at the Raymond James Stadium before coronavirus forced WWE to move the show to the performance center and it appears that Bayley was one such star.

The former SmackDown women’s champion recently appeared on D-Von Dudley’s podcast where she talked about a number of things and also revealed the nixed plans for her WrestleMania entrance.

Bayley revealed that she wanted Hayley Williams from Paramore to perform her entrance at WrestleMania and they were trying to make it happen before the pandemic halted those plans:

“So before the pandemic, before we knew that WrestleMania was gonna be in front of nobody and we were actually trying to figure out how to get that going and how to make it work.

Like we were having phone calls about it, and then all this happened and we couldn’t do it.” said Bayley, “So, we’ll see. I’m never gonna stop trying because that’s a dream moment for me and a dream WrestleMania moment for me so Hayley Williams, let’s do it, come on.”

The former NXT star isn’t the only one who had to give up on her WrestleMania plans and previous reports have revealed the cancelled plans for Becky Lynch’s entrance at the Show Of Shows as well.

Bayley has been feuding with Sasha Banks for the past few months over the SmackDown women’s title and after the Survivor Series PPV; it would be interesting to see what the company has planned for her.

Indie Wrestler Jimmy Rave Announces Retirement From Wrestling Due To Arm Amputation

Anutosh Bajpai
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Indie wrestling star Jimmy Rave has announced his retirement from in ring competition after having his arm amputated due to an infection.

The former ROH wrestler took on his Twitter to make the announcement and he posted a lengthy statement, saying that he has been very blessed for getting to live his dream in professional wrestling for the last 21 years.

However, he revealed that doctors found an infection in his left arm this past Tuesday. According to the wrestling star, by the time he went to see the doctor it was already too late and they had to amputate his arm, effectively ending his in ring career:

“This past Tuesday my world came crashing down when Doctors found an infection in my left arm. I tried toughing it out but by the time I saw a doctor it was too late and they had to amputate my left arm above the elbow. Thus effectively ending my in-ring career.”

Jimmy Rave made his pro wrestling debut in 1999 and he made his name wrestling for companies such as ROH and Total Nonstop Action or TNA which is now known as Impact Wrestling.

He is best known for his heel run as part of The Embassy group in ROH. He was nicknamed “The Crown Jewel of the Embassy” and received significant heat from the fans for his heel work.

Friday’s SmackDown A ‘Mess’ Due To Vince McMahon’s Late Arrival (Report)

Anutosh Bajpai
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WWE did not announce any matches for this week’s SmackDown until the last minute. According to the Wrestling Observer, this resulted in a chaotic environment backstage. Vince McMahon’s late arrival to the Amway Center was the reason.

Nobody knew what the plan was for the show until McMahon showed. One source described the situation as a “mess.” According to Dave Meltzer, “We got one report that SmackDown was a mess as the show was still being worked on a few hours ago.”

Though this isn’t the first time such situation has occurred and the update suggests that a situation where nobody knows what’s going to happen until Mr McMahon arrived is considered ‘nothing new’.

We have also heard stories of the Boss tearing down written scripts for a show hours before it aired and more than once reports of officials still working on the ending of an episode when the show was already on air have come out.

For those who don’t know, WWE had not announced any matches for SmackDown in advance this week. The company only confirmed the lineup for the episode 10 minutes before it went on air, making it a topic of discussion among the fans.

The Undertaker On The Best Technical Wrestler He’s Ever Seen, Favorite Matches

Anutosh Bajpai
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The Undertaker has been on the top of the wrestling world for over three decades and he has had great matches with wrestlers from several different generations.

During his recent appearance on Hot Ones, the Phenom talked about a number of things such as what it’s like competing with Brock Lesnar and more.

When asked which matches he would put in his Mount Rushmore of best matches to hook in a fan new to wrestling, Taker named several bouts, including his own match against Shawn Michaels from WrestleMania 25:

“I would go with Randy Savage and Ricky Steamboat, any match between Ric Flair and Harley Race. Little bit of an ego-maniac here but I would put Undertaker / Shawn Michaels, WrestleMania 25.

Modern day, the recent match between Edge and Randy Orton. Those are four that kind of encapsulates what we do, at its highest level.”

The Dead Man claimed that Anderson was solid in every facet. He cut unbelievable promos and had the technical ability.

When asked who is the best technical wrestler he has ever seen, the Undertaker took the name of former WCW and current AEW star Arn Anderson.

Watch The Undertaker on Hot Ones below:

Liv Morgan Opens Up About Bizarre Wedding Segment With Lana

Anutosh Bajpai
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0

The storyline among Rusev, Lana and Bobby Lashley had many bizarre twists and turns and one of it was a returning Liv Morgan interrupting the storyline wedding between Lana and Lashley.

The Riott Squad member was recently interviewed by Fox Sports ahead of the premiere of her Liv Forever documentary on WWE Network this Sunday.

During the interview, Morgan talked about a number of things and opening up about the Lana wedding segment; she explained why she didn’t say no to it:

“It was crazy enough that I couldn’t say no, you know, looking back, I’ve had mixed feelings on it, too. But, looking back on it, I just think everything happens for a reason, you know?

And what we wanted to accomplish was to re-debut Liv in the biggest way possible. I definitely think that was accomplished. No one saw it coming. So, at the end of the day, I loved it and I’m grateful for it.”

Liv Morgan was drafted to Raw during the 2019 draft in October and WWE subsequently started airing vignettes promoting her return which continued throughout the month of December.

She finally made her return during the December 30 episode where she interrupted the wedding of Lana and Bobby Lashley, to profess her love for Lana. However, Morgan aligned herself with Rusev after being rejected and attacked by the Ravishing Russian.

Chris Hero Provides Update On His Wrestling Future

Anutosh Bajpai
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0

Chris Hero had been silent since his release from WWE in April earlier this year which made a lot of people wonder if we have seen the last of the former NXT star in the ring and if he is planning to hang his boots after the abrupt ending to his NXT tenure.

However, the veteran recently provided an update on his status and the former ROH star confirmed that he is far from being done with wrestling.

Hero made a post on the WrestlingGenius subreddit where he confirmed that he is far from done wrestling and he claimed that he will come back when “the circumstances and situations are right”:

“Before anyone asks or infers, I am far from done wrestling. If I wanted to hang it up and coach/produce I could have a job tomorrow. I’ve turned down a number of companies in the last 6 months- not because they’ve been terrible offers or anything but because I’m just not ready.

I will come back when the circumstances and situations are right. Trust me, it *kills* me to not be out there doing what I love. The time will come and when it does it will be spectacular. In the meantime, I appreciate all of your patience. Take care & stay safe!”

Chris Hero who made his wrestling debut back in 1998 has wrestled for many promotions such as ROH, Impact Wrestling, PWG and more.

He started his second run with WWE in 2016. He returned as Kassius Ohno and was positioned as the gatekeeper of NXT, helping establish younger stars in the roster. He was released from his contract in April as part of the coronavirus budget cuts.

Paul Heyman & Kevin Owens Have Intense Segment On Talking Smack (Video)

Andrew Ravens
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There was an entertaining segment during Saturday’s episode of WWE Talking Smack between Paul Heyman and Kevin Owens.

It all started when Heyman shared the respect that he has for Owens and he understands how dangerous Owens is. He brought up being a fan of Owens’ before he got to WWE and even after he joined the company. 

Heyman stated that while Owens is the #1 contender to the Universal Title, he sees that Owens is at a crossroads in his career. However, Heyman thinks that if Owens wants to get to the main event level then he would need to go through Roman Reigns.

Owens responded by talking about how Heyman only works for himself and declared himself as being the person to take the Universal Title from Reigns. 

Heyman ended the segment before Owens walked off by stating that he has to shake his hand so he doesn’t get smacked as he’s carrying a message. He made Owens know that this wasn’t just business, but he also has to do it on a personal level as well. 

With WWE delaying a match between Reigns and Daniel Bryan for the Universal Title, there’s speculation that WWE could book Owens vs. Reigns in a top match at the TLC pay-per-view event next month. That is not confirmed just yet. 

Below, you can watch Paul Heyman and Kevin Owens’ discussion from Talking Smack:

Paul Heyman Names WWE Star Who He Thinks Is Future Of Women’s Division

Andrew Ravens
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Paul Heyman is a big fan of Bianca Belair and during a recent episode of WWE Talking Smack, he shared his take about “the EST of WWE.” 

Heyman co-hosted the show alongside Kayla Braxton and Belair was a guest on the show that aired Saturday morning on the WWE Network. This is where Heyman let her know how much he respects what she can bring to the future of WWE.

“I would be remiss if I don’t also let Bianca know, and I think she knows this quite well, You’re the future of the women’s division and [future is] a word that is thrown around here a lot, but you are. You are an athlete with amazing credentials. 

You bring those credentials and that credibility to WWE. What you do is truly worthy of the tagline ‘the EST of WWE.’ I am in awe of the magnitude of your talent. You know, my feelings about The Street Profits. Those same feelings of admiration are bestowed upon you as well and I think that you know that.”

WWE called up Belair from NXT to Monday Night RAW after WrestleMania 36. This was during Heyman’s tenure as executive director of RAW. Since that time, Heyman is no longer in this role as he was replaced by Bruce Prichard. 

During this year’s Draft, Belair was moved over to Friday Night SmackDown from Monday Night RAW in the 2020 WWE Draft. She has picked up victories.

Bianca Belair On When She Found Out About Her WrestleMania Debut

The Godfather Talks BSK Reunion At Survivor Series

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Survivor Series 2020 was billed as the Undertaker’s “Final Farewell” and many legends from the past were there to help celebrate. One of The Undertaker’s longtime friends in the business, “The Godfather” Charles Wright, was amongst them. Godfather spoke to SI.com recently about the reunion Taker’s “Bone Street Krew” had at the show.

“When WWE invited me to the Survivor Series tribute for Mark, I texted him right away and said, ‘Let’s do a BSK reunion,’” said Wright. “We paid homage to Mark Calaway and the phenom that he created with The Undertaker.”

The reunion took place Saturday night before the Survivor Series. No food was served, only whiskey and beer. Other attendees included Savio Vega, Rikishi, Phineas Godwinn, and Mark Henry.

“For that one night, the past came back to life,” Wright continued. “If you didn’t know any better, it felt like it was 20 years ago. We told stories, we hugged, we cried—and we put Timmy White to bed, just like we used to back in the day.”

Godfather continued to talk about what Taker did for others during his career.

“Mark is honest, he respects the business and he never forgets about his friends,” said Wright. “He changed the business, especially for big men. He’s one of a kind.”

The full interview with Charles Wright can be read here.

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Liv Morgan Says First Riott Squad Incarnation Was Disbanded Too Quickly

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On Sunday, the documentary “Liv Forever” will air on the WWE Network. 26-year-old Liv Morgan first signed with WWE in 2014. As of late, she is back together with her old Riott Squad partner, Ruby Riott. Morgan spoke to the Asbury Park Press about feeling as though the first incarnation of the Riott Squad was broken up too early.

“The first time The Riott Squad was around I feel like we disbanded before we were ready. We were just hitting our stride and then it was taken away,” Morgan said. “And so to have the opportunity again, Ruby and I kind of feel like we have a chance to re-write history and to create whatever we want.”

The Riott Squad debuted on the main roster in November of 2017. In the spring of 2019, Morgan moved from RAW to Smackdown, breaking up the team for a period. This spring, Sarah Logan was released from the company. Liv and Ruby began teaming with each other again this summer.

“And so we can go at it this time around doing everything that we wished we could have the first time. And so we’re not taking it lightly at all. We know this might be the last time, and so we are completely focused and have our sights set on becoming the next WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions and we just know we have to make the most of it.”

The full interview with Morgan can be read here.

Impact Wrestling Filming Multiple Endings At Recent Tapings

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Impact Wrestling has reportedly been trying to keep their options as open as possible lately concerning its storylines. According to a report from Fightful Select, the promotion has been filming multiple endings to matches recently. This gives the promotion some options if a wrestler leaves the promotion after the tapings but before their match airs. Impact can then decide which wrestler will be shown winning the match closer to when the show airs.

In addition to different endings to matches being taped, segments were also reportedly filmed multiple times using different wrestlers. This was done in case one or more of the wrestlers used in the scenes depart the company.

Impact has run into problems in this area over the last year. At Bound For Glory, the promotion was left with few options as to how they could handle Kylie Rae not facing Deonna Purrazzo on the show. They also were left scrambling earlier this year when Michael Elgin, Dave Crist, and Joey Ryan were all alleged to have committed acts as part of the #SpeakingOut movement.

Impact may have multiple wrestlers leaving the company soon too as well. All 3 members of the Rascalz recently departed. Both Ethan Page and Taya Valkyrie reportedly have contracts that expire soon as well.

Kevin Nash Starring In Pandemic-Themed Movie “COVID-19 Invasion”

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Kevin Nash has performed in many films and TV shows throughout his acting career. He has a starring role in the film “COVID-19 Invasion” which is currently in post-production. No release date has been confirmed as of yet for the film.

A description of the film reads “Chinese bats invade America. It’s up to Navy Seal Team Six to stop them.” Few details other than that are available.

Micah Lyons wrote and directed the film. The film had an estimated budget of $3 million and was filmed in Longview, Texas. IMDB’s page for the film is here.

Nash is also featured in the recently released “Chick Fight” film. Malin Akerman, Alec Baldwin, and Kevin Connolly all appear in the movie as well. His other IMDB credits include Magic Mike XXL, John Wick, Magic Mike, Rock of Ages, Monster Brawl, The Longest Yard, The Punisher, and of course, 1992’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze when he played the role of Super Shredder.

Nash recently took part in an interview with the Miami Herald and spoke about how wrestling and Hollywood have overlapped through the years.

“(Sylvester Stallone) was really the first one to open the door. Wrestling was still the red-headed stepchild. I don’t think it was until (the Rock), everything he did with opening number one at the box office, Dwayne is the one that really has made it sheik to be a pro wrestler or ex-pro wrestler and be in this field. A guy like Dave Bautista, he’s a lead but he also does smart things. He did the role in Blade Runner. He reads the script and realizes that the character is intricate to the story.”

Rick Steiner’s Son Receives WWE Tryout

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Bronson Rechsteiner, the son of Rick Steiner and nephew of Scott Steiner, received a WWE tryout recently. Rechsteiner was signed to the Baltimore Ravens earlier this year but was cut from the team during training camp. His WWE tryout was addressed recently in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

“Bronson Rechsteiner, the son of Rick Steiner, who was a college football star running back at Kennesaw State University, but didn’t make the NFL, had a recent tryout,” wrote Dave Meltzer.

Rechsteiner spoke with SI.com shortly after signing with the Ravens. He was asked about potentially following in his father’s footsteps by taking up a career in wrestling.

“I’m open to it,” said Rechsteiner about a career in pro-wrestling. “But I know wrestling will always be there for me. It’s always been my dream to carry the family’s legacy in professional sports, and I’m staying focused on taking football as far as I can.”

Scott Steiner had a run with Impact Wrestling recently. He collapsed backstage at a set of tapings earlier this year and had to be taken to hospital. Steiner would later cut a promo about the experience and added some “Steiner Math” to it.

“As I was sitting in the hospital bed, the doctor came up to me and said ‘the procedure that happened to you, normally you only have 80 percent chance of winning…of getting out of the bed…of living’ I said doc, every time I step in the ring I have a 140 and two-thirds chance of winning. What do you think my chances are of jumping out of this bed? So this goes to all my freaks in Jasper, Alabama. Big Poppa Pump is your hookup! Holla if you hear me!”

More of Steiner’s comments can be read in the link below:

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