NEWS

Not that one. The Royal Rumble is a complicated show as there are so many people taken up by the show’s namesake matches. That does not leave much room for wrestlers to not be around, though it can made a bit easier if the roster is deep enough coming into the show. It seems to be the case this year, as one prominent WWE star is no longer expected to appear at the event.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: REVIEW: Raw 25: The Previous Biggest Reunion Ever
According to Fightful Select, Ronda Rousey is no longer expected to appear at the Royal Rumble. Rousey was originally scheduled to have a singles match on the show but the plans have since changed. There is no word on any reason for the change, though Rousey was also scheduled to appear at Raw 30 before the plans were changed as well. Rousey last wrestled on the December 30, 2022 SmackDown, losing the SmackDown Women’s Title to Charlotte.
Leave the memories alone? Check out some of Rousey’s time in WWE:
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Smackdown
Date: January 20, 2023
Location: Little Caesar’s Arena, Detroit, Michigan
Commentators: Michael Cole, Wade Barrett
We’re just over a week away from the Royal Rumble and that could make for an interesting build to the show. Most of the card is set and that means it is time for a Bloodline show. Sami Zayn is having some issues with the rest of the team and that could be very interesting. Other than that, we start the #1 contenders tag team tournament. Let’s get to it.
We open with a recap of Sami Zayn going after Kevin Owens last week but getting some seemingly unwanted help from the rest of the Bloodline.
The Bloodline arrives and Roman Reigns doesn’t seem thrilled with Sami Zayn.
We get brackets for the Tag Team Title #1 Contenders Tournament:
Drew McIntyre/Sheamus
Viking Raiders
Los Lotharios
Hit Row
Brawling Brutes
Imperium
Maximum Male Models
Legado del Fantasma
Tag Team Titles #1 Contenders Tournament First Round: Drew McIntyre/Sheamus vs. Viking Raiders Valhalla..

Welcome to KB’s Old School (and New School) Reviews. I’ve been reviewing wrestling shows for over ten years now and have reviewed over 5,000 shows. Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, I’ll be posting a new review here on Wrestlingrumors.net, starting today. It could be anything from modern WWE to old school to indies to anything in between. Note that I rate using letters instead of stars and I don’t rate matches under three minutes as really, how good or bad can something that short be?
Monday Night Raw 25th Anniversary
Date: January 22, 2018
Location: Manhattan Center, New York City, New York/Barclays Center, New York City, New York
Commentators: Michael Cole, Corey Graves, Booker T., Jim Ross, Jerry Lawler
Now this is a big night with the show having been build up for several months and a slew of guest stars booked for the night. The show is also being run from two arenas, including the location of the first ever episode. I’m more excited for this than I am for Sunday’s Royal Rumbl..

And they’re done. Tag teams have been a major part of AEW’s history since the promotion was founded and continue to be to this day. AEW pushes tag teams like few other promotions today and it allows multiple wrestlers to appear on television in prominent roles. It can also lead to something when the teams split, and now another one has done just that this week.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: It’s Not The Same: Thunder Rosa Announces AEW Return, But Not To The Ring
Another AEW tag team split this week on Rampage. Eddie Kingston and Ortiz had a face to face meeting in the ring, with Ortiz asking Kingston about his recent behavior. Ortiz went on to ask what their mentors would have said about Kingston, resulting in Kingston hitting him with a chair. This was presented as the House Of Black attempting to split the team apart and succeeding.
It was a nasty situation. Check out the showdown, plus the two on their own:
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Well, kind of. Injuries are a terrible thing to see in wrestling as you never want a wrestler to be on the shelf for any length of time. You never know how long someone could be out of action as there are certain injuries that just take more time to heal. Unfortunately that is the case with a prominent AEW star, but now we have a bit of an update on her return. It just might not be the kind people have been waiting to see.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: If You Smell? Update On The Rock’s WrestleMania 39 Status
Former AEW Women’s Champion Thunder Rosa appeared on Busted Open Radio and revealed that she will be back on the road with AEW soon, albeit not back in the ring. Rosa said that she would be showing her face and being around. There is no word on when she will be back in the ring following her back injury. Rosa has not wrestled a match since August 10, 2022.
Rosa is an amazing star. Check out what she can do in the ring:
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Finn Balor was recently interviewed by BT Sport, where he discussed his conversation with Vince McMahon about joining the Judgement Day and turning heel. This was also the evening that Edge was kicked out of the group.
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Below are Balor’s comments:
“I’ve actually never watched this back at all. This was such a weird night because I remember it was like 7:55 PM, and we’re going live at eight o’clock. I knock on Vince McMahon’s office, and I go there, and I say, ‘Sir, have you got a minute?’ He looks up from his papers, and he goes, ‘Is it about tonight?’ I said, ‘Yeah, it’s about tonight. It’s about the heel turn.’ He goes, ‘Oh, come in.’
Balor continued, “I just wanted some direction as to, ‘Hey, am I going out there in the suit? In The Judgment Day colors, or am I going out as Finn? Am I going out to music? What way are we doing it?’ He said, ‘Oh, you just go out as Finn and then do the segment.’ I said, ‘Well, oh, okay. That’s cool’.
“The..

Not this time? We are rapidly approaching WrestleMania 39 and there are several questions about where things are going. One of the biggest questions is about the main event, which has been rumored as the Rock facing Roman Reigns for several months now. The story would make sense, but it all hinges on the Rock being available. Now we might have a better idea on the match’s status.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: WATCH: The Firefly Fun House Returns On SmackDown
A source has told the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that the Rock does not feel he has enough time to get into ring shape for a main event match. Unless things change in the next few days, Rock will not be taking part in the match, though there is always the chance that he could change his mind. There is also the chance that the entire situation is a way to cover the fact that Rock has agreed to the match.
Rock being back would be a big deal. Check out what it is like to have him around:
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The trip continues. Back at Extreme Rules 2022, Bray Wyatt made his return to WWE, revealing himself to be the White Rabbit after weeks of speculation. Once Wyatt was back though, the question became what is he supposed to do now. That is the tricky part, as Wyatt is one of the most complicated stars in all of WWE. A few months have passed and we might have a better idea, but now things have taken another twist.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Glow On? Details On Naomi’s Current WWE Status, Possible Future
Last week on SmackDown, Wyatt said that he was the Eater of Worlds, referring back to his original persona. This week, Wyatt returned in the Firefly Fun House, complete with all of his puppet characters. This was the first Fun House since 2021 and there is no word on if there will be more of them going forward. Wyatt will wrestle his first televised match since his return at the Royal Rumble when he faces LA Knight in a Pitch Black match.
It was always a weird trip. Check out the Fun House..

Impact Wrestling
Date: January 19, 2023
Location: Center Stage, Atlanta, Georgia
Commentators: Tom Hannifan, Matthew Rehwoldt
We are done with Hard To Kill and that means it is time to go through the fallout period. The big story coming out of the show was Mickie James ending her Last Rodeo by defeating Jordynne Grace to become the new Knockouts Champion. Other than that, Josh Alexander is still the World Champion, having defeated Bully Ray in Full Metal Mayhem. Let’s get to it.
In Memory Of Jay Briscoe, with Tom Hannifan giving a brief voiceover about thoughts and prayers being with the Briscoe family.
Long Hard To Kill recap.
Here is Mickie James to get things going. The Last Rodeo may be over but Hardcore Country lives forever…and Bully Ray interrupts. Ray tells her to get out but James tells HIM to get out. Ray: “You were not in the main event of Hard To Kill.” Fans: “YES SHE WAS!” Ray insists that HE was the main event, not he and Josh Alexander. The reality is that no one car..

There’s your cameo. There have been all kinds of wrestlers throughout history and some of them are names who do not make the biggest impact. Some of them make a short term impact and become a bit more infamous than famous, but they are not around all that long. Now one of the more memorable stars from WCW made an appearance in a spot you might not have expected him.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: It’s About That Time: Wrestling Legend Says He Does Not Have Much Time Left In The Ring
Ernest “The Cat” Miller made a surprise appearance this week on Impact Wrestling, helping new Director Of Authority Santino Marella set up a six person tag match for later in the night. There is no word on if Miller will be appearing again for Impact Wrestling. Miller was a former WCW Commissioner during WCW’s final years before eventually wrestling and commentating for WWE. After a nearly ten year hiatus, Miller returned to the ring in 2015 and still wrestles occasionally.
Miller certainly had some interesting ..

You have to hang it up sometime. There are all kinds of wrestlers throughout the industry but one thing they have in common is they all have to stop wrestling at some point. While it seems that some wrestlers will go on forever, at some point they are going to have to hang up their boots someday. A former WWE star seems to realize that and is announcing that his time in wrestling is almost over.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Maybe Later: AEW Star Removed From Roster Page, Seemingly Done With Wrestling For Now
According to Puroresu Today, during a press conference for an upcoming Kyushu Pro Wrestling event in Japan, former WWE and ECW star Tajiri said that he knows he does not have much time left in his career. Tajiri, 52 and the reigning Kyushu Pro Champion, said that at his age, he still wants to be the champion and have hot matches, but he also want to nurture the next generation. There was no word on how much time Tajiri feels he has left in the ring or what else he wants to accomplish i..