NEWS

The pile just keeps getting bigger. We’re less than five days away from Backlash 2018 and that means we need to start cranking up the card. There’s only so much you can do with so much of the recent focus being put on the Greatest Royal Rumble but now it’s time to really start hammering things home. One of the best ways to do this is to set up some extra matches and if we can make it a title match, that might be even better.
The people involved were in action this week on SmackDown Live.
[This post contains video, click to play]

As confirmed this week on SmackDown Live, United States Champion Jeff Hardy will be defending his title against Randy Orton at Backlash. Hardy won the title in April on Monday Night Raw by defeating Jinder Mahal. Orton had won a title shot the week before by winning a triple threat match. The title match was to be against Jinder Mahal, who defeated Orton for the title at WrestleMania 34 but Mahal lost the title to Hardy the next week. ..

We’re not quite done yet. One of the biggest feuds in WWE at the moment is Shinsuke Nakamura vs. AJ Styles for the WWE Championship. The two faced off for the title at WrestleMania 34 with Styles pinning Nakamura clean with the Styles Clash. After the match, Nakamura turned on Styles by hitting him low to turn full heel. Their rematch at Greatest Royal Rumble went to a double countout but now we have a third match scheduled. However, there’s a little twist.
They were at it again on Tuesday.
[This post contains video, click to play]

As announced by SmackDown Live General Manager Paige, the third match between the two will be a No Disqualification match. The match, announced the same day as their Greatest Royal Rumble match went to a double countout, will take place at Backlash this coming Sunday. The stipulation stems from Nakamura’s frequent low blows on Styles, another one of which took place tonight in a sneak attack. You can read the full results of this we..

Several notable Superstars from the wrestling world have come forward to call out two very sketchy wrestling promoters, according to Ringside News. This includes Jack Swagger, Chelsea Green, Zack Ryder and James Ellsworth. Multiple personalities from the wrestling world have begun to target the promoters behind BlackCat Events. This promotion reportedly booked several talents for a meet and greet over WrestleMania weekend in New Orleans but are now accused of not paying talents for the event as it was canceled.
So what has BlackCat Events said? BlackCat Events have now made their Twitter account private, but they spent a good period of time tweeting in regards to this matter. To begin with, they tweeted that “the truth will come out soon.”
This led to former Impact Wrestling star Chelsea Green to comment on the matter: LOL BRO! The truth came out. You’re a fraud and we’ve made sure the wrestling community knows that!
Goodluck surviving in this industry. https://t.co/5YVZP9opEW
— C..

Davey Boy Smith Jr. is in hot water following an incident between himself and WWE Hall of Famer Jake Roberts during WrestleCon, according to Ringside News. Smith and Roberts reportedly had a confrontation in relation to Smith’s legendary father. Roberts reportedly insulted Smith’s father and refused to apologize for it. This led to Smith throwing coffee at Roberts.
There were battery charges out there on Smith, but F4WOnline has reported that Roberts will now be dropping the charges so Smith won’t face any criminal prosecution from the ordeal.
To continue this Pro Wrestling Sheet is reporting that police have been unable to make contact with Smith. They cannot drop the charges until they get in contact.
The New Orleans Police department issued the following statement: “Since this is a municipal charge, the victim can withdraw all charges by going through the city attorney’s office once the perpetrator has been located and either arrested or issued a summons. As far as we are aware, ..

Before Raw last night in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, a former WWE Cruiserweight Champion returned to action, partaking in a tag team match. The Brian Kendrick has been out of action for the past few months since receiving an injury from Hideo Itami via a botched GTS. This led to Jack Gallager being forced to go it alone. Gallagher would obviously go on to be part of the Cruiserweight Championship tournament and have mild success before being eliminated.
Kendrick has appeared on 205 Live in recent weeks backstage but did not come out to compete. This changed on Raw. He predictably teamed with Gallager in a losing effort against Lince Dorado and Gran Metalik.
Check out Kendrick coming out below: Brian Kendrick Is Back! #RAW #RAWMontreal pic.twitter.com/Yrp5EtjRO6
— Brian The Guppie (@briantheguppie) April 30, 2018
You can also see the finish of the match below: Great Finish! #wwemainevent #RAW #RAWMontreal pic.twitter.com/gWsgwSWaIk
— Brian The Guppie (@briantheguppie) April 30, 2018
..

A controversial former WWE Superstar has resurfaced for the first time in 13 years since he left the company, according to Steve Carrier of Ringside News. Muhammad Hassan previously worked in WWE where his character was connected with a terrorism-based storyline. This coincided with the July 7, 2005 London bombings. Due to pressure from television network UPN, WWE was forced to fire Hassan, who was receiving massive heat for his character.
Hassan was said by many to be a terrific wrestler who was dealt the wrong hand with his character, which had some serious potential but was misused at the wrong time.
He has now popped up in The Dynasty promotion, where he competed one-on-one with Padadon at their King of Thrones event. This was his first match since leaving WWE many years ago. He used the same name and gimmick he had made famous in WWE.
Check the match out below: [This post contains video, click to play]

It is unknown at this time if Hassan is intent on returning full or part-t..

Dave Meltzer provided some insight into why Raw Superstar The Big Show was not involved in the 50-man Royal Rumble match at the Greatest Royal Rumble. Show was one of the Superstars advertised to appear in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia for the Greatest Royal Rumble show late last week. However, he wasn’t there.
During the Wrestling Observer Radio, Meltzer had the following to say on why Show wasn’t available for the match: “Big Show was injured about three weeks ago again he was coming back from his injury and he got reinjured. So that’s why he wasn’t in the match. I don’t know how severe but it was severe enough. They wanted him in this match you could tell because look at all those big guys they brought in and except for [the Great Khali] you know [Big Show] is the biggest guy.”
“But Big Show got hurt. Hopefully, it’s nothing serious.”
Wrestling Rumors will continue to update you as more information does become available on his status, and when he is expected to return to in-ring competiti..

During Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer discussed the updates surrounding a potential Triple H vs. Batista match for WrestleMania 35. Despite not being employed by WWE, Batista is a name that continues to surface as somebody who could return at any moment.
It has widely been reported that Batista denied a Hall of Fame spot because he feels his career with the company isn’t over. He has said in the past on many occasions that he wants to work a full program with Triple H, culminating in a WrestleMania match.
Meltzer had the following to say as an update on a possible match between Batista and Triple H next year: “You know Batista wants to work with Triple H at next year’s WrestleMania as a retirement match. Will they do it? They may. It’s not a bad idea as far as a match goes. Batista retirement, Hall of Fame and all that. They asked him to go into the Hall of Fame this year but he didn’t want to because he still wants a final run.”
The idea, as Meltzer mentions, is for Batista..

The Wrestling Observer Radio has provided some insight into why former sumo wrestler Hiroki Sumi was added to the Greatest Royal Rumble match. Sumi was a surprise entrant in the 50-man Royal Rumble match in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Sumi famously wrestled as Hishofuji over his twelve-year career. In the Rumble, Sumi entered at #7 before being eliminated quickly, following a staredown with Mark Henry.
Dave Meltzer noted on the Wrestling Observer Radio that the price in Saudi Arabia was the one who wanted to bring the company to Saudi Arabia. The prince himself reportedly spoke with Vince McMahon to organize the show.
A number of wrestlers were reportedly discussed by the prince. He wanted some of his favorites in The Undertaker, The Ultimate Warrior and Yokozuna to perform at the show. The prince was uninformed, not knowing that the latter two Superstars have sadly passed away years ago.
So what does this have to do with Sumi? While at this time it is unconfirmed, Meltzer highly believes..

Leading independent wrestler Will Ospreay has revealed his new finishing maneuver during a recent match against a talent from NJPW, as confirmed by Ringside News. During a recent NJPW show, Ospreay was scheduled to face KUSHIDA, who had got the best of him in the past. To the shock of everyone, including KUSHIDA himself, Ospreay debuted a new finisher.
He would use this finisher, which he would title “The Storm Breaker” as a safer alternative to the OsCutter, taking out the “Time Splitter.”
Check out the move through the GIF below: .@WillOspreay gets the better of KUSHIDA this time around! #njHINOKUNI
?? https://t.co/8n90d75Nfk pic.twitter.com/AwWj9oueuk
— TDE Wrestling (@totaldivaseps) April 29, 2018
Ospreay responded to this by saying the following: May I introduce you to,
“The Storm Breaker”
Just as strong as the OsCutter. But less of the risk.
Either of these moves shall put an end to the Time Splitter. https://t.co/31RWPX0QV7
— ????????? (@WillOspreay) April 29, 2018
Fan..

PWInsider has provided an update on if female Superstars in WWE are being paid for the Greatest Royal Rumble, despite not having the opportunity to work the event. Recently, Jerry “The King” Lawler indicated on his “Dinner With The King” podcast that WWE was intent on paying their female talent for the Greatest Royal Rumble show. This is despite not being able to appear on the show due to the culture of Saudi Arabia.
PWInsider have said they’ve confirmed female Superstars are being paid as if they were on the show. This was something beyond the control of WWE and the women themselves.
WWE is reportedly making major money from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with the new 10-year deal the two sides have made. There are now expected to be more events held in the future.
Take a look back at the Greatest Royal Rumble below in a video uploaded to WWE’s official YouTube channel: [This post contains video, click to play]

It is unknown if every woman on the main roster in WWE received the mone..