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“I Do It With A Smile”: Goldberg Responds To Fans Complaining About His Victories Over Young Stars

Anutosh Bajpai
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Goldberg is one of the prime examples of WWE management’s favoritism of part time talents. The former WCW champion has scored dominating victories over many young talents since his return to the company in 2016. These booking decisions have led to a lot of people being critical of the former universal champion but he does not care about the opinion of the others.

The heavyweight star was recently interviewed by Ryan Satin of Fox Sports where he was asked about people’s complain of him being featured over younger stars. Replying to the question, Goldberg said that the fans can complain all they want. He claimed that he is a relief pitcher who is just doing his job:

“They can complain all they want. I was brought in for a reason. I’m a relief pitcher. I’d like to think that I’m the top-echelon relief pitcher, and if they didn’t think there was value in bringing in that relief pitcher to close out the game, then they wouldn’t call me. I don’t make the decisions. I just follow orders, and I go out and do my job.”

The former world champion continued by saying that he tries to do his job on to the best of his ability and while he may be far removed from his prime, he can still kick 98.9% of their asses.

Goldberg On Ending The Unstoppable Run Of The Fiend

Goldberg was then asked about his specific victory over The Fiend during the Super Showdown event in February 2020. Up until that point, the Fiend had been protected by the company. When asked how he feels about being the one to end his unstoppable run, the wrestling veteran said that he is just a service provider who does his job with a smile on his face:

“You know, again, at the end of the day, Ryan, I do a job, right? I’m asked to go out and perform, and I don’t pass judgment on it. I don’t worry about a finish. I don’t worry about who’s winning. I don’t worry about who’s losing.

At the end of the day, I’m there to provide a service, and I do it with a smile on my face either way. And I’m not a booker. I don’t make the decisions. I really don’t. I just come in and provide “that guy,” and the only thing I can do in a situation like that is be the best package that they remember.”

Apart from this, Goldberg was also asked about his upcoming match for the WWE Championship against Drew McIntyre. He said that McIntyre has paid his dues in the business but the question he is asking is whether he has paid enough. You can check out his full interview here.

Jim Ross On The Undertaker Calling Today’s Generation Soft

Anutosh Bajpai
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The Undertaker’s recent comments about the new generation of wrestling stars being soft have quickly turned into a debacle. Top stars like Roman Reigns and Drew McIntyre have come into the defense of the current generation and dismissed the comments made by the Dead Man. Though there have also been people who have agreed with the Dead Man and Jim Ross has joined this list.

The veteran wrestling broadcaster shared his thoughts on the comments made by the former world champion during the latest episode of his Grilling JR podcast. Ross explained that Taker has a point when he says that wrestlers nowadays are soft, because they are brought into the business differently:

“Because they’re trained differently, they’re brought into the business differently, they’re not sitting in a car, they’re not making 25-40 bucks a night. It’s just a different ball game and Takers got a good point there.” said Jim Ross,

“Today’s wrestling getting chopped unmercifully to where your blood is rushing to the surface and bruising is already in affect, probably wouldn’t happen in today’s world because the offending person wouldn’t stand for it.”

Though Ross did mention how not all the changes are negative. He said that the COVID era of wrestling has been a ‘career extender’ for a lot of talent because they are not on road as much and are traveling less. He explained that in many aspects, the business is much better than it was just a few years ago.

Jim Ross is not the only person to address The Undertaker’s controversial remarks. You can see what Roman Reigns had to say about the issue at this link:

Bill Goldberg also took a stance on today’s generation being “soft” compared to his era:

Goldberg Agrees With The Undertaker: WWE Is Soft Compared To His Era

Discussion: What is your take on the debate that has stemmed from the remarks of the Phenom?

Backstage Update On Lana’s Health

Anutosh Bajpai
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Some photos posted by Lana earlier this year had made fans worried about her health. The pics in which the female star was seen wearing a sling and brace had made people wonder if she was dealing with a legitimate injury.

However, the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter provided some update on her status. It confirms that the former NXT star is not legitimately injured and this is all part of her ongoing storyline.

Lana has been off WWE TV since the December 14 episode of Monday night Raw. She defeated Nia Jax in a bout during the show but was attacked by the former women’s champion afterwards.

Jax alongside her partner Shaynza Baszler had focused on the female star’s arm and leg during the attack until the Raw women’s champion Asuka made the save.

It was later reported that the whole angle was a set up for the return of Charlotte Flair who made her comeback during the TLC PPV. Flair took Lana’s place at the show. She teamed up with Asuka and defeated Jax and Baszler for the women’s tag team titles.

At the time it was said that the company was expected to keep Lana off TV for about 6 weeks to sell the injuries. So it’s very likely that we will see her making a comeback during Sunday’s Royal Rumble PPV.

Updated Royal Rumble Match Card: Sasha Banks’ Opponent Confirmed

Anutosh Bajpai
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0

WWE has announced that Sasha Banks will be defending her SmackDown Women’s Championship against Carmella at the upcoming Royal Rumble PPV.

These two stars have been feuding for a while and they have faced off in a number of matches over the last several months including a title match at last month’s TLC PPV.

Last week’s episode of SmackDown saw Banks defeat Carmella’s sommelier, Reginald in a match. After that the company confirmed a bout between the two female stars for Royal Rumble during this week’s episode of the show.

This is the sixth match which has been announced for the upcoming PPV alongside the two battle royals and three other championship bouts.

Updated Royal Rumble Match Card

Royal Rumble this year will be taking place from the Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, FL on Sunday, January 31. You can check out the updated match card for the show below:

  • WWE Championship Match: Bill Goldberg vs. Drew McIntyre
  • Last Man Standing Match for the WWE Universal Championship: Kevin Owens vs. Roman Reigns
  • SmackDown Women’s Championship Match: Carmella vs. Sasha Banks (c)
  • WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship Match: Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler vs. Charlotte Flair and RAW Women’s Champion Asuka (c)
  • Men’s Royal Rumble Match: Daniel Bryan, WWE United States Champion Bobby Lashley, AJ Styles, Randy Orton, Otis, The Miz, Jey Uso, Cesaro, Jeff Hardy, Shinsuke Nakamura, Sami Zayn, SmackDown Tag Team Champion Dolph Ziggler, WWE Intercontinental Champion Big E, Sheamus, John Morrison, Edge, Elias, Mustafa Ali, 12 spots open.
  • Women’s Royal Rumble Match: Nia Jax, WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion Charlotte Flair, Bayley, Bianca Belair, Mandy Rose, Dana Brooke, Peyton Royce, Alexa Bliss, Shayna Baszler, Liv Morgan, Ruby Riott, Tamina Snuka, 18 spots open.

Match Announced For WWE Backstage Royal Rumble Edition

Anutosh Bajpai
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0

WWE recently announced the return of WWE Backstage for a special Royal Rumble edition and now the company has announced a match for the show.

The company had previously teased some Royal Rumble announcements for the special edition of the show which will see the return of Renee Young.

The promotion then announced that the Royal Rumble edition of WWE Backstage will feature a match for the first time ever and the episode will see Natalya taking on Tamina Snuka in a one on one bout.

The winner of this fight will earn a big advantage for themself for the upcoming battle royal and whoever wins this fight will go on to be the #30 entrant in the women’s Royal Rumble match.

It has previously been announced that the company will confirm the #1 and #2 entrant for the women’s Royal Rumble as well as the #30 entrant for the men’s version of the bout during the upcoming show.

WWE Backstage was on air from November 2019 to mid-March last year before its production was halted due to COVID-19. Renee Young has previously stated that the cancellation of the show is one of the reasons why she left WWE.

The show will be returning for a special episode on Saturday, January 30. Alongside Young, it will feature stars such as Paige and WWE Hall Of Famer Booker T and will air on FS1 at 8pm ET.

WWE SmackDown Results (1/29): Royal Rumble Go-Home Show, Braun Strowman Returns

Robert Lentini
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WWE SmackDown aired live from the ThunderDome inside Tropicana Field. It was the final episode of SmackDown before Royal Rumble this Sunday night. Universal Champion Roman Reigns and Kevin Owens had one more discussion before their title match at Royal Rumble.

SmackDown Results (1/29)

  1. Bianca Belair def. Bayley
  2. King Corbin def. Dominik
  3. Daniel Bryan def. AJ Styles via DQ
  4. Daniel Bryan, Big E, Shinsuke Nakamura def. Cesaro, Sami Zayn, AJ Styles via DQ
  5. Sheamus, Daniel Bryan, Big E, Shinsuke Nakamura, Otis def. The Miz, John Morrison, Shinsuke Nakamura, Cesaro, AJ Styles

Here are the takeaways from this week’s show:

Daniel Bryan Will Face AJ Styles Tonight

Daniel Bryan kicked off SmackDown and said he had his sights set on the main event of WrestleMania. AJ Styles interrupted and commented on Bryan wearing a suit. Styles joked that Bryan looks like he is still GM and has one foot on the door. Bryan stated that he doesn’t have one foot out the door and challenged AJ to a match tonight. Styles said he’d love one more warm up match before Royal Rumble and shoved Daniel to the canvas. Bryan got up and Omos got in his way. Daniel told AJ that if he was a real man he would come to the ring later tonight without Omos. Bryan vowed to kick AJ’s ass either way to end the segment.

Bianca Belair def. Bayley

Bianca Belair faced Bayley in the first match of the night. Bayley kicked Belair in the midsection and went to work on her arm. Bianca connected with a massive Body Slam and followed it up with a Suplex for a two count. Bayley leveled Belair with a Clothesline and went for the cover but Bianca powered out at two. Bianca connected with a Dropkick and followed it up with a Moonsault. Belair went for the pin but Bayley was able to get her foot on the bottom rope. Bayley rolled out of the ring to regroup as SmackDown went to a commercial break.

When SmackDown returned, Bayley connected with a DDT for another near fall. Bayley went for the Rose Plant but Belair was able to escape. Bayley quickly hit a knee to the face for a two count and went back to work on Bianca’s arm. Bayley climbed to the top rope and hit Belair with an Elbow Drop to the back for a two count. Belair bounced Bayley’s face off the turnbuckle and hit Bayley with the KOD for the pinfall victory. After the match, Bianca Belair vowed to win the women’s Royal Rumble match this Sunday.

King Corbin def. Dominik

Dominik faced King Corbin tonight on SmackDown. Dominik attacked King Corbin during his entrance as SmackDown went to a break. Rey Mysterio joined commentary for the match when SmackDown returned. Dominik sent Corbin out of the ring and hit him with a Crossbody. Corbin got back into the ring and planted Dominik with a Belly to Back Suplex. Corbin hit Dominik with another one and then stared at Rey Mysterio. Dominik sent Corbin into the ring post and hit him with a Dropkick off the middle turnbuckle.

Dominik hit a Senton and went for the cover but Corbin kicked out at two. Corbin went for a Powerbomb but Dominik escaped. Corbin then planted Dominik with End of Days for the pinfall victory. After the match, Corbin tried to attack Rey but he was ready for it. Mysterio launched Corbin into the ring post and hit him with a Senton to end the segment.

Owens & Reigns Traded Words

Universal Champion Roman Reigns and Kevin Owens were interviewed in different locations tonight on SmackDown. Reigns will defend the Universal Championship against Kevin Owens this Sunday night in a Last Man Standing match.

Kevin Owens claimed that as far as he is concerned, he has already beaten Roman twice but Reigns always has his family help him out. Paul Heyman said that after Reigns beats Owens on Sunday, he should show him some respect. Roman Reigns asked Owens about his father and if he was a smart man.

Roman wondered if Owens cannot see his own limitations because his father didn’t teach him that. Reigns called Owens “simple” and a pawn. Roman told Owens that he doesn’t belong here and will not be Universal Champion because he is inferior. Roman told Owens that he is a fool for thinking that he has a chance and that means that his father and his grandfather are fools.

Owens noted that he has his father and grandfather’s initials tattooed on his hand and warned Roman to stop. Roman told Kevin Owens that when he meets his grandparents once again they will tell him what a disgrace to the family he was because he didn’t acknowledge Reigns as the Tribal Chief. Owens mocked Reigns and called him a “community theater version of a mafia boss” before saying that his family would only want him to acknowledge Reigns as the jackass that he is. Roman shut off the screen as Owens was vowing to win the title at Royal Rumble.

Braun Strowman Returned

AJ Styles faced Daniel Bryan tonight and Omos was not ringside. Cesaro joined commentary for the match. Bryan controlled the action early and applied an Armbar. Styles reached the bottom rope to break the hold and Daniel connected with a kick to the arm. Sami Zayn’s music hit and the former Intercontinental Champion made his way down the entrance ramp with his documentary crew. Styles sent Bryan into the steel steps as SmackDown went to a commercial break.

When SmackDown returned, Bryan hit Styles with a chop to the chest and followed it up with a Clothesline that sent AJ to the corner of the ring. Daniel hit Styles with a few kicks before perching him up on the top turnbuckle. Bryan sent AJ to the mat as Sami Zayn argued with Cesaro and Michael Cole. AJ Styles connected with a Dragon Screw and then a boot to the back of Bryan’s knee.

Styles applied the Calf Crusher but Bryan battled through the pain and reached the bottom rope to break the hold. Sami held up a sign that read “Big E is not my champion” as Bryan applied the Yes Lock in the center of the ring. AJ Styles was able to get his foot on the bottom rope to break the hold and then Intercontinental Champion Big E joined the party.

Big E leveled Sami with a Clothesline and then thew him over the announce table. Cesaro got pissed off and booted Big E in the face. Daniel Bryan then hit Cesaro and Sami with a Suicide Dive. Styles brought Bryan back into the ring but Sami attacked Daniel from behind to end the match in a DQ. A brawl then broke out and Shinsuke Nakamura made his way to the ring. Nakamura hit Sami and Styles with a kick to the face as SmackDown went to a break.

Shinsuke Nakamura, Daniel Bryan, and Big E battled Cesaro, Sami Zayn, and AJ Styles in a 6-man tag match. Cesaro beat Big E down and tagged in Sami Zayn. Sami unloaded some punches to the face and but the Intercontinental Champion shrugged them off. Big E brought Sami to the corner and tagged in Daniel Bryan.

Sami then took control and brought Daniel Bryan to the corner. Styles tagged in and slammed Bryan’s knee on the ring post as SmackDown went to a break. When SmackDown returned, Cesaro had Bryan in a Half Crab in the middle of the ring. Bryan escaped but Cesaro beat him down and tagged in Sami Zayn.

Daniel caught Sami with a Dropkick and both superstars fell to the mat. Big E and Cesaro then tagged in and the IC Champion hit a few Belly to Belly Suplexes. Cesaro connected with a ridiculous springboard uppercut for a near fall. Cesaro went for the Neutralizer but Big E countered into a Back Body Drop. Cesaro landed on his feet but turned around into a Uranage for a two count.

The Miz and Morrison rushed the ring to end this match in a DQ as well. Otis joined the party and took Miz and Morrison out as SmackDown went to a break. When SmackDown returned, it was now Otis, Bryan, Nakamura, and Big E vs. The Miz, Morrison, Sami Zayn, Cesaro, and AJ Styles. The Miz got Bryan in the Figure Four in the middle of the ring.

Cesaro connected with a Suplex and tagged in Morrison. John booted Bryan in the face and then tagged in AJ Styles. Bryan and AJ hit Crossbodies at the same time and both superstars fell to the canvas. The heels dragged the babyfaces off the apron and beat them down before Daniel Bryan could tag out. Sami tagged in and then Sheamus’ music hit. Sheamus hopped on the ring apron and Daniel tagged him in. Sheamus knocked Miz off the apron and delivered a knee to the Zayn’s face.

Sheamus planted Sami with a Backbreaker and then locked in the Cloverleaf submission in the middle of the ring. Morrison broke it up with a kick to the face and then turned around into a slam from Otis. Cesaro booted Otis in the face but turned around into a Big Ending from Big E. The Miz hit Big E with the Skull Crushing Finale but turned around into a Kinshasa from Shinsuke. Sami hit the Blue Thunder Bomb on Nakamura but then Sheamus hit him with the Brogue Kick for the victory.

After the match, Miz and Morrison hit Sheamus with a couple cheap shots before Braun Strowman’s music hit. Braun hit Zayn with a Running Powerslam and delivered another one to Cesaro. Strowman hit Cesaro with another Running Powerslam to end the show.

Opinion: I would have rather just seen Strowman return as a surprise at the Royal Rumble. I don’t think too many people are going to sign up the network to watch the Royal Rumble because Braun Strowman is back, so I’m not sure what the point of the final 45 minutes of the show was. I thought the promo between Roman Reigns and Kevin Owens was phenomenal tonight and I thought Owens calling Reigns a “community theater version of a mafia boss” was hilarious. Bianca Belair and Bayley had a solid match as well tonight but unfortunately the show went off the rails a bit in the 2nd hour. Overall, SmackDown wasn’t the best show this week but it is impossible not to be excited for the Royal Rumble anyways.

Braun Strowman Returns On WWE Friday Night SmackDown

Andrew Ravens
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Braun Strowman has made his return to WWE television after being on the sidelines due to a storyline suspension while also recovering from a real-life injury. 

Friday’s episode of SmackDown featured an unexpected match between Daniel Bryan and AJ Styles. WWE set it up in the opening segment. During the match, Sami Zayn walked out to ringside during the match because he wanted to protest, which led to Big E walking out and a brawl broke out with Shinsuke Nakamura and Cesaro also involved. Once Zayn attacked Bryan, it caused a DQ. 

A six-man tag team match featuring Big E, Bryan, and Nakamura against Cesaro, Zayn, and Styles was booked, but that contest also ended in a DQ because of an attack on Big E by The Miz and John Morrison.

Thus, it turned into a 5 on 4 handicap match with Otis, The Miz, and Morrison added to the match. However, it turned into a 10-man tag once Sheamus was added a few minutes later to score the win by pinning Zayn. Post-match, a brawl broke out with Strowman making his return. 

WWE wrote him off television in November after he lost his cool and head-butted Adam Pearce during an angle on Monday Night Raw. Strowman had been dealing with a leg injury. 

WWE Royal Rumble Betting Odds For Sunday’s PPV

Andrew Ravens
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The final betting odds for most of the matches that will take place at the WWE Royal Rumble pay-per-view event have been released.

The card for the show that takes place this Sunday (January 31, 2021) from St. Petersburg, Florida at the Tropicana Field has likely been finalized as only five matches have been announced with WWE expected to announce a pre-show contest. 

The favorites to win are listed as – while the underdogs are listed with +. Odds call for all three titles to change. Here are the final betting odds courtesy of BetOnline:

  • WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns (-800) vs. Kevin Owens (+425) – Last Man Standing Match
  • WWE Champion Drew McIntyre (-400)  vs. Goldberg (+125) 
  • WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Asuka & Charlotte Flair (+150) vs. Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler ( -200) 

Royal Rumble Betting Odds (Men’s)

  • Daniel Bryan +125
  • Keith Lee +400
  • Big E +750
  • Brock Lesnar +650
  • Edge +850
  • Goldberg +1400
  • Bray Wyatt +1500
  • Seth Rollins +1600
  • Kevin Owens +2500
  • Drew McIntyre +1400
  • Roman Reigns +2500
  • AJ Styles +2000
  • The Rock +3300
  • CM Punk +5000
  • Braun Strowman +2500
  • Sheamus +2500
  • John Cena +3300
  • Randy Orton +3500
  • Adam Cole +3300
  • Aleister Black +5000
  • Karrion Kross +5000
  • Matt Riddle +5000
  • Andrade +5000
  • Finn Balor +6600
  • Samoa Joe +6600
  • King Corbin +6600
  • Lars Sullivan +6600
  • Johnny Gargano +8000
  • Bobby Lashley +5000
  • Tommasso Ciampa +6600
  • Kofi Kingston +8000
  • Ricochet +10000
  • Walter +8000
  • Buddy Murphy +8000
  • Rey Mysterio +8000
  • Mustafa Ali +8000
  • Velveteen Dream +10000
  • Tyson Fury +10000
  • Pete Dunne +10000
  • Angel Garza +10000
  • Xavier Woods +15000
  • John Morrison +50000
  • Shinsuke Nakamura +1200
  • Erick Rowan +15000
  • The Miz +10000
  • Conor McGregor +20000
  • Dean Ambrose +15000
  • Rusev +15000
  • Elias +25000
  • Robert Roode +50000
  • Dolph Ziggler +50000
  • Humberto Carrillo +50000
  • Shane McMahon +250000
  • Vince McMahon +250000

Royal Rumble Betting Odds (Women’s)

  • Bianca Belair +180
  • Alexa Bliss +265
  • Rhea Ripley +350
  • Ronda Rousey +1600
  • Bayley +1000
  • Charlotte Flair +1400
  • Shayna Baszler +1600
  • Sasha Banks +2000
  • Nia Jax +2000
  • Sonya Deville +1400
  • Io Shirai +2500
  • Asuka +3300
  • Paige +5000
  • Lana +2500
  • Carmella +2500
  • Liv Morgan +3300
  • Ruby Riot +6600
  • Kairi Sane +5000
  • Nikki Cross +5000
  • Mandy Rose +4000
  • Naomi +4000
  • Ember Moon +6600
  • Natalya +5000
  • Dana Brooke +4000
  • Lacey Evans +4000
  • Toni Storm +6600
  • Peyton Royce +5000
  • Tegan Nox +6600
  • Candice LeRae +6600
  • Dakota Kai +6600
  • Kay Lee Ray +8000
  • Mercedes Martinez +8000

Make sure to join us this weekend for match recaps and our takeaways from this latest pay-per-view event held by WWE. 

Roman Reigns On The Undertaker Calling Today’s Generation Of Wrestlers “Soft”

Andrew Ravens
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Roman Reigns is the latest WWE star to give his take about the recent controversial comments made by The Undertaker. 

The Undertaker said during an appearance on the Joe Rogan Experience that younger wrestlers “lack an edge to them” and that the current WWE product is “soft.” Goldberg agreed with this as well when he appeared on the latest episode of After The Bell with Corey Graves.

The Universal Champion spoke with Sports Illustrated about this topic. 

“It’s strange. I really feel like he misspoke. Because Mark is a really good guy. He’s very knowledgeable. Obviously, he has a ton of respect for the business. Goldberg is just Goldberg. Who cares? But he’s talking about guns and knives in the locker room. Come on.”

Reigns stated that the older generation traveled just like they do now and doesn’t think TSA would let wrestlers travel with weapons these days. He noted that he has chosen to play video games on his own time, but not at work.

He stated that he’s trying to network and politic while at work while other wrestlers stay in the locker room. He brought up how The New Day can get away with playing games at work. He hopes the younger guys don’t fall into that because they’re not all the same. 

Reigns stated that he puts his mind into work when he goes to events and sometimes he needs a reminder to shut his mind off when he comes home to stop thinking about it. 

The Big Dog stated that he doesn’t always think there should be video games in the locker room, but due to their hectic schedule, he would rather have “my guys be playing video games than breaking into a bag of some sort.”

Reigns continued, “It’s a different time and I think we’re smarter. I think you’re gonna see that from the financial side of it, from how we save our money, how we prepare for the future, having a life after the business when we can’t fall down anymore to our actual health. I think it was just like a retired guy trying to sound gangster.”

Reigns will defend the Universal Title against Kevin Owens in a Last Man Standing Match at the Royal Rumble. 

Triple Threat Title Match Announced For NXT Takeover: Valentine’s Day

Michael Reichlin
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Io Shirai will defend the NXT Women’s Championship in a triple threat match at the next NXT Takeover speical.

The Genius of the Sky will defend against Toni Storm and Mercedes Martinez. The match announcement was reported by ComicBook.com.

WWE has done a great job building up this match, with all three women butting heads in recent weeks. Shirai has had a strong title reign since capturing the gold from Charlotte Flair back in June 2020 at NXT Takeover: In Your House.

For more on the events that led to this match being signed, visit WWE.com.

https://twitter.com/WWENXT/status/1355281238169427971

The next NXT Takeover pay-per-view takes place Sunday, February 14th, 2021. The event will air live on the WWE Network.

William Regal’s Son Amongst 4 New WWE Signings

Chris Stephens
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WWE announced 4 new signings today for its NXT UK brand. Amongst the signings is Bailey Matthews, son of NXT General Manager, William Regal. Matthews formerly wrestled under the name Joe Bailey and had at one point been training at the NJPW dojo.

“Ready to roar onto the scene and represent his hometown of Blackpool, England, Bailey Matthews is set to bring a unique style to NXT UK inspired by the likes of Johnny Saint, Billy Robinson and NXT General Manager William Regal,” reads a WWE description of Matthews. The company’s official press release makes no mention of Matthews being Regal’s son, however.

The other announced signings include Meiko Satomura, although her debut for NXT UK had been announced earlier this week.

Also signed was Tony Gill, who used to wrestle under the name Gursinder Singh as part of the Desi Hit Squad for Impact Wrestling. He is a graduate of Lance Storm’s Storm Wrestling Academy.

Metehan Kocabasoglu is a German wrestler with Turkish heritage. He is better known under the name Lucky Kid. The 27-year-old has wrestled with the WXW promotion.

Rampage Brown, Aleah James, Sha Samuels and Ben Carter all recently debuted for the NXT UK brand as well.

Hurricane Helms On Getting Heat For Match Against AJ Styles

Chris Stephens
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Hurricane Helms (aka Shane or Gregory Helms) wrestled AJ Styles on a match taped for WWF Jacked in 2002. The bout took place at the BI-LO Center in Greenville, South Carolina, USA on January 21st, 2002.

A clip from the match was recently posted online and Hurricane commented on some backstage heat he got for it at the time.

“I did everything in my power to get AJ hired at a time when WWE didn’t know about him. Even got heat for letting an ‘unknown’ do too much. I knew he was good even back then. And now he’s one of the best in the world. Incredible journey,” Helms Tweeted.

AJ Styles replied to Hurricane’s comment. He noted that he heard Helms had gotten in trouble for using the vertebreaker during the match.

“Didn’t u get in trouble too for doing the vertebreaker? I’m pretty sure I was the last one to take it on TV,” Styles Tweeted in response.

“I got a ‘warning’ for that. I did it once or twice more before it got the official shutdown. Stevie Richards was the last one to take it on TV I believe. Justin Credible took a good one as well,” Helms replied.

There is no record of Styles and Helms having wrestled against each other before or after this match.

Goldberg Gives His Picks For The ‘Future Stars Of WWE’

Anutosh Bajpai
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Goldberg recently had an interview with Sound Sphere Magazine where the wrestling veteran talked about a number of different topics. The former WCW star was first asked about his movie future. Replying to it, he said that he is a competitor and not a performer and doing more acting roles is not in his plans.

Coming to WWE, the former Universal champion was asked which young stars he sees as the future of the company and Goldberg named four wrestlers he sees as the potential massive stars of the future:

“I mean the usual suspects… Drew McIntyre, Keith Lee and Ricochet. I’ve always been a HUGE fan of Finn Bálor. I’d have to say those four are the future. There’s no question about it. In my opinion. And what do I know?”

Goldberg vs. Steve Austin Dream Match

When asked about the dream match with Stone Cold Steve Austin and if he regrets that it never happened, Goldberg said that there was no other match that needed to happen more so than this one:

“Oh my god, I wouldn’t be living and breathing if I didn’t make that statement.” said the former WCW Champion, “There was no other match for my sake that needed to happen more so than that one.

It was a timing issue; it was just a timing issue, and an injury issue. I love him exponentially, man, he’s a great dude and to have graced the ring with him in a match would have been absolutely phenomenal.”

Apart from this, Goldberg also talked about things like his upcoming match with Drew McIntyre at Royal Rumble and more.

You can check out his full interview at this link.

WWE Files Lawsuit Against US Citizen & Immigration Services

Chris Stephens
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WWE filed a lawsuit in a Connecticut court against the US Citizen & Immigration Services on January 26th, 2021. Documents relating to the case are sealed to the public, however. While it is not known exactly what the lawsuit is in relation to, some speculation can be made.

Following President Joe Biden’s election and inauguration, he signed an executive order mandating that people traveling into the United States from other countries must self-quarantine upon arrival. This could potentially cause problems with WWE bringing in talent from other countries. It is not clear if this issue is what WWE’s lawsuit is pertaining to, however. The new rules for people traveling into the United States also include being able to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test.

As of this writing, documents relating to the lawsuit have not been served to the US Citizen & Immigration Services. The department will have 60 days to respond once they have been.

Some deadlines have been set for the lawsuit. Pretrial amended pleadings are due by March 27th, 2021. Discovery is due on July 28th, 2021.

Martine G. Cuomo is serving as WWE’s lawyer for the case. Cuomo has a background in corporate immigration law. She is a partner with the firm Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy.

Jungle Boy & Dax Harwood React To Their Match On AEW Dynamite

Chris Stephens
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Jungle Boy made Dax Harwood submit in a singles match on Dynamite this week. It was Jungle Boy’s first singles victory on AEW’s flagship show and Harwood’s first singles loss, as well.

According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, it was Harwood who pitched the match to Tony Khan with the idea being it would help turn Jungle Boy into a top babyface for the company.

“Harwood was the guy who put together the angle and presented it to Tony Khan with the goal of the angle to make Jungle Boy come out of it as a superstar babyface,” wrote Dave Meltzer.

Harwood is certainly on to something. Both men looked great in the match, but Jungle Boy is the young prospect with unlimited upside. He’s been looking better during each outing. Working with ring savvy veterans like Dax Harwood will only help his progress.

Jungle Boy, Dax Harwood & Jim Ross React

Jungle Boy took to Twitter following the match to talk about its importance to his career. He tweeted:

“That was the biggest win of my career, and a match I will never forget. Dax Harwood, you are a son of a bitch, but thank you for bringing that out of me.”

Dax Harwood of FTR also commented on the match on Twitter:

“I’m a tag team wrestler. I’m upset about losing my first singles match in years, but my ultimate goal is to be AEW World TAG TEAM Champions. Maybe, in time, I’ll take that TNT belt & be a double champ, just like a certain Enforcer. Oh yeah, I have the best kicks in the business.”

Finally AEW broadcaster Jim Ross went out of his way to call Jungle Boy vs. Dax Harwood a “Beautiful pro wrestling match.” That’s high praise from JR, who is known to be critical from time to time.

AEW posted this video from the bout and awarded it the #1 Moment of the Week:

Details On Recent Pentagon Jr Segment From AEW Dynamite

Anutosh Bajpai
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AEW did an injury angle with Pentagon Jr during last week’s episode of AEW Dynamite but latest report confirms that it wasn’t the original Pentagon behind the mask at the show.

Last week’s episode of Dynamite saw the AEW World Champion Kenny Omega and The Good Brothers beating up the former Lucha Underground star in a backstage angle.

Some fans later noted that the man behind the mask wasn’t the real Pentagon because he didn’t have the cero miedo hand tattoos which the real star has.

The latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter provides some update on the situation and it confirms that it wasn’t the real Penta El Zero M behind the mask featured during the segment at the show and someone else was wearing his outfit.

According to the Newsletter, the Mexican star is currently sorting out a visa issue and he is expected to be back on AEW TV when it’s taken care of.

There has also been some speculation about the former tag champion being injured but the report confirms that while the high flying star was injured for a while last year, he has recovered from the injury and is no longer hurt.

A return date for Pentagon Jr is not known at the moment but these recent reports suggest that the angle was done to explain his absence from TV during the visa issues and he will not stay away from action for very long.

Update On NJPW’s American Television Deal

Chris Stephens
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New Japan Pro Wrestling revealed at Wrestle Kingdom 15 that NJPW programming would soon be headed to the United States and United Kingdom. Details regarding what network they will be on was not revealed, however.

Unfortunately, it does not appear this deal is going to be a game-changer for NJPW. According to a report from the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, NJPW will not be on a major network.

“Obviously the TV deal still hasn’t been finalized although the announcement could come at any time when it is. I’ll just say that it’s not something people would consider major,” wrote Dave Meltzer.

NJPW commentators have made remarks on recent NJPW broadcasts about the color purple that many are taking as a hint regarding the new deal. The video announcing the pending deal was also tinted purple. A few networks feature purple: Pluto TV, Roku, Twitch, HBO Max.

Fans have been speculating about the purple tie-in on social media:

A new episode of NJPW Strong will air on New Japan World today. Lio Rush is scheduled to appear on the show for the first time. The lineup is below:

July 29th, 2021 New Japan Strong

  1. Clark Connors vs The DKC
  2. Rocky Romero vs Chris Dickinson
  3. Lio Rush, TJP, & Fred Rosser vs Hikuleo, KENTA, and El Phantasmo

Update Regarding WWE Network Moving To Peacock

Chris Stephens
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WWE announced a major deal this week. The WWE Network in the United States will be moving to NBC Universal’s Peacock streaming service in March. According to a report from the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the deal has been in the works for months.

WWE hired Nick Khan as President and Chief Revenue Officer in August. “The deal started in talks almost exactly after Khan took over as President of WWE,” wrote Dave Meltzer. “Nick Cordella, the Chief Revenue Officer at Peacock congratulated Khan on his new job the day it was announced, and in his next message, told him, ‘Let’s talk.'”

Khan replaced George Barrios and Michelle Wilson in his role as President and CRO. Barrios and Wilson had both played a major role in the development of the WWE Network. They were promoted to co-Presidents in 2018 and then let go in 2020.

Khan spoke with the Wall Street Journal about the deal. He noted that it will create new WWE fans by exposing the product to potential new consumers.

“As you said, if it is only on WWE Network and you are not a fan yet, why would you subscribe to that?” Khan said. “This gives a chance to win people over when it is right in front of them and the hope is there is a trickle down effect to Raw and SmackDown and ultimately to ticket sales, once that is happening again, merchandising, etc.”

WWE Network Employees Blind-Sided By Deal

A WWE employee who has worked on the WWE Network sent a statement to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. According to the comments by the [anonymous[ employee, WWE staff were blind-sided by the deal and fear for their jobs. A portion of the letter is below:

“Myself and my team were completely bulldozed by the press release about Peacock’s streaming rights to WWE Network in the U.S.,” noted a Wrestling Observer source within the WWE Network. “

“We just had an all employee meeting last week and there was zero indication that this would be happening. And while I’m here, I’ve also heard internally that they’re pointing the finger at social media for poor ratings.”

Backstage News On The Current State Of WrestleMania 37 Match Card

Anutosh Bajpai
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WWE typically plans out the WrestleMania card months in advance, but this is not the case for this year’s ‘Show of Shows.’ According to reports from the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter, most of the card is still uncertain. In fact, only one WrestleMania match involving Roman Reigns has been decided on.

The report did not divulge the planned opponent for the Universal Champion, but it did rule out Shinsuke Nakamura as Reigns’ opponent.

A John Cena appearance for the show which was reported recently has been confirmed but so far it’s not known what the Cenation leader will be doing at the event and if he will be getting involved in the action.

The company hasn’t been pushing a lot of long term angles that can lead to a WrestleMania match on TV with the exception of the one feud between Randy Orton and The Fiend.

A Firefly Fun House match between the two was planned for the upcoming Royal Rumble PPV at one point but WWE seems to have scrapped those plans so it’s possible that the company is holding off the bout for a future PPV.

Other angles such as Charlotte Flair vs. Lacey Evans and Roman Reigns vs. Kevin Owens could still lead to a match at the show but they are more likely to culminate before the PPV.

If Randy Orton does end up facing Bray Wyatt, that will leave Edge free for the event. So it’s possible that he wins Sunday’s Royal Rumble PPV and challenges either Reigns or Drew McIntyre at the show.

The Rated R Superstar’s promo on Raw was also heavily centered around a title shot. Though it’s something which the report could not confirm and we will have to tune in to Sunday’s Royal Rumble PPV to find out whether it’s the case.

Alex Shelly Opens Up About Decision To Pull From Hard To Kill

Anutosh Bajpai
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Alex Shelly was originally expected to be part of Impact Wrestling’s Hard To Kill main event but he was pulled from the show a day before the PPV without any explanation. This sudden change without a given reason had started many rumors about his status and now the high flying star has come forward to clear the air.

Shelly took on his Twitter recently to post a lengthy statement and one half of the Motor City Machine Guns explained that his day job as a physical therapy clinician prevented him from making an appearance at the PPV:

“I am a physical therapy clinician, physio is my livelihood and career. Wrestling is my livelihood and passion project. At my company, due to the volume of sick and injured patients we are in care of, we modify our COVID-19 mandates as needed.

As numbers went up, so did restrictiveness. To circumvent the topic, I could not be at Hard To Kill due to my career. I respect the decisions made by our company surgeons and doctors: I look to them for advice and guidance. I am unable to travel and wrestle until I am vaccinated. “

Alex Shelly then discussed how he does not want to receive the coronavirus vaccine so soon but he wants to help the people in therapy and wrestle as well:

“But I want to wrestle very badly while I help people in therapy. So there’s no option. @IMPACTWRESTLING was supportive and understanding and as someone who doesn’t have nor want a contract at this point, my hands were tied. Thanks for your support everyone.”

There is no word yet on how long Alex Shelly will have to stay away from action. Impact Wrestling taped a few months of content coming out of the Hard To Kill PPV and the former tag champion did not work these tapings.

The next Impact PPV Rebellion is scheduled for April 24 and we will have to see if the former champion is able to return to the ring before that.

You can check out his full statement below:

Charlotte Flair On Ronda Rousey’s Impact On Women’s Roster, If WWE Needs Her

Anutosh Bajpai
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There have been some recent rumblings about Ronda Rousey returning to WWE to fill the gap left by Becky Lynch but Charlotte Flair believes that the company doesn’t need the former UFC star.

The Queen recently had an interview with Vicente Beltrán of ViBe & Wrestling where she talked about a number of things and also shared her thoughts on the former MMA star.

Flair was asked about Rousey’s impact on WWE’s women’s roster and whether the company needs her. Responding to it, Charlotte explained that need is a very strong word:

‘Need’ is a very strong word. Do I think Ronda would add to the division? 100% but ‘need’? No, we have an incredible roster of already established stars and some of them are on the rise so ‘need’ I think is a strong word, but do I think she brings a lot to the table? 100%.”

While there has been no official update on Ronda Rousey’s return, the former women’s champion was spotted training in the ring last year and despite not being announced for the bout, she is still one of the favorites to win this year’s women’s Royal Rumble.

Charlotte Flair has previously competed against the former UFC Champion on multiple occasions and if Rousey does return to the company at some point, it’s almost certain that we will see these two sharing a ring once again.

Mick Foley Responds To Undertaker’s Comments On Current WWE Product

Anutosh Bajpai
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The recent comments from The Undertaker about the current generation of wrestlers being soft have started a debate among the fans and now WWE Hall Of Famer Mick Foley has responded to these remarks from the Dead Man.

The Hardcore Legend, who is known for his extreme performances took on his social media and posted a photo of himself with the former world champion.

Foley also responded to Taker’s comments in the caption and wrote: “Today’s professional wrestlers are every bit as tough as the wrestlers of my era were. Just my opinion.”

https://twitter.com/RealMickFoley/status/1354880525866053633
https://www.facebook.com/RealMickFoley/posts/4343544865675618?cft[0]=AZVzjFXm53UuEtI00hdy-ZrSAEjH1uohYjLzuxymrWkWR7UM263xj1yaPXHVSe0tN4XA5fWkXC3fLs97olkzh_GyhU86sb8Qw5ysOQX0Mbxd7VuIlaYQD_7puAk9CDUqlsk&tn=%2CO%2CP-R

The Undertaker Believes The Current WWE Product Is Soft

The Undertaker had made some interesting comments on the current WWE product during his recent appearance on the Joe Rogan podcast. In the comments; Foley is responding to he had said that the current product is soft:

“I just think the product is a little soft. There is obviously guys here and there that have an edge to them but there’s too much pretty and not enough substance I think right now.”

Since the podcast came out, multiple WWE and AEW wrestlers have responded to Taker’s opinion on the current roster and people like Xavier Woods and Drew McIntyre have said that they don’t agree with the remarks.

Though there have been some who have spoken up in support of the Last Outlaw and most notably Goldberg recently agreed with his comments.

NXT Demo Rating Spikes 40% From Last Week, AEW Dynamite Down

Michael Reichlin
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TV ratings are in for this week’s Wednesday Night War and NXT gained a lot of ground on AEW Dynamite. Here’s the breakdown for this week, courtesy of ShowbuzzDaily:

  • AEW: 734,000 viewers, 0.29 rating (A18-49), 6th on cable
  • NXT: 720,000 viewers, 0.21 rating (A18-49), 24th on cable

Overall, this was is a very strong showing for NXT. Compared to last week, viewership jumped 9.3% and the rating spiked 40%. AEW’s viewership declined 14.1% and the rating dropped 19.4%.

NXT won the Adults 50+ demo, as it usually does. However, it also won the Women 18-49 and Women 12-34 demographics.

AEW Dynamite featured the Young Bucks and Good Brothers teaming against the Dark Order in the main event, Jungle Boy vs. Dax Harwood, Eddie Kingston vs. Lance Archer, Chris Jericho teaming with MJF and more.

NXT saw Finn Balor and Kyle O’Reilly team up against the NXT tag team champions and three Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic tournament matches.

You can see our results and takeaways features for both shows here:

AEW Beach Break Preview: Main Event, Tag Team Battle Royal, Wedding

Michael Reichlin
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AEW Beach Break takes place Wednesday, February 3rd from Daily’s Place in Jacksonville, FL. This will be a special edition of AEW Dynamite ahead of the upcoming Revolution pay-per-view on March 7th.

The following matches are confirmed for the event:

Kenny Omega & Good Brothers vs. Jon Moxley, PAC & Rey Fenix

The main event will feature the next chapter in Jon Moxley’s heated rivalry with Kenny Omega. The AEW World Champion will have the Good Brothers on his side, while Moxley has backup from PAC and Rey Fenix.

Kenny Omega does not yet have an opponent for Revolution. It will be interesting to see if AEW uses this six-man tag as a vehicle to set up Omega’s match at Revolution. It could be a stipulation against Jon Moxley, or someone else entirely.

Britt Baker vs. Thunder Rosa

Thunder Rosa will finally get her hands on Dr. Britt Baker. The former NWA Women’s Champion is out for revenge after several surprise attacks by AEW’s resident dentist. Baker has done everything in her power to avoid facing Thunder Rosa, but time running out.

Tag Team Battle Royal

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The winning team will be the next challengers to AEW World Tag Team Champions, the Young Bucks. The title match will take place at Revolution.

Participating teams include: FTR, Top Flight, Private Party, The Acclaimed, Jurassic Express, Evil Uno and Stu Grayson of the Dark Order, Santana & Ortiz, Chris Jericho & MJF, “Sammy Hegar” and the champions, the Young Bucks.

If Bucks win, they’ll get to hand pick their opponents at Revolution. They’ve teased their opponents could be anybody, even the Good Brothers.

Lumberjack Match

Eddie Kingston and Lance Archer squared off on the most recent episode of Dynamite. Kingston got the win, but not without controversy (outside interference). AEW President Tony Khan announced these two will ‘run it back’ and settle their score with Lumberjacks surrounding the ringside area.

Kip Sabian & Penelope Ford Wedding

AEW Beach Break Wedding

Finally, wrestling fans are cordially invited to the beach wedding of Kip Sabian and Penelope Ford. The lovebirds will finally tie the knot, with Miro serving as Kip Best Man. Wrestling weddings always go off without a hitch, so what could go wrong?

Join us here Wednesday night, February 3rd for AEW Dynamite: Beach Break Results and Takeaways.

Kurt Angle Announces “The Kurt Angle Show” Podcast With Conrad Thompson

Chris Stephens
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Kurt Angle has announced that “The Kurt Angle Show” podcast will debut on Westwood One on February 7th, 2021. He spoke to SI.com about the news.

“We’re going to have a lot of fun with this podcast and get into some great wrestling stories,” said Angle. “It’s true that I have a lot of stories to tell, and I won’t be holding back.”

Angle plans on being open about his past substance abuse issues on the show as well.

“I’m very proud of the fact that I’ve been clean and sober for nearly eight years, and I want to help others,” Angle continued. “If I can help one person with this show, that will mean the world to me.”

Conrad Thompson, who hosts popular podcast with Jim Ross, Tony Schiavone, and Eric Bischoff, will be Angle’s co-host.

“It’s almost become a gag about that he won an Olympic gold medal with a broken freakin’ neck, but Kurt Angle wrestled that match, the main event of WrestleMania 19, with a broken neck,” Thompson says. “His decision to wrestle is one that he is still paying for today, and it started his dependency on prescription drugs. He goes into all of it, and fans are going to love hearing his stories. This is going to be a chance to really learn about the human element of this wrestling machine.”

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