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In the ever-evolving landscape of professional wrestling, competition is nothing new. However, when AEW President Tony Khan recently called out WWE's scheduling...
To the other side. With so much television time to fill in WWE, it can be easy for some of the company’s stars to start feeling stale. At some point a change needs to be made and that can be accomplished in a few different ways. One of the easiest is to turn someone either from good to bad or vice versa, and it seems that we saw that take place earlier this week. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: It Fits: Important Details On Next WWE Event In Saudi Arabia, Possible AEW Competition Following the February 10 SmackDown, WWE released a video of Santos Escobar and Rey Mysterio backstage after they both took part in a fatal four way. The two talked about respect and exchanged masks. This week, the two were backstage when Rhea Ripley and Rey’s son Dominik interrupted and insulted Rey. Escobar defended Rey and seemed to set up a match with Dominik. This would indicate that Escobar is moving further towards a full babyface turn, which would be a first in his WWE career. There is no word on what this wo..
Welcome back. With so many wrestlers on the AEW roster, it can be easy for one or more of them to get lost in the shuffle. You never know when someone is going to drop off of the radar and not appear again for a little while. That can make for some annoying absences, but it can also make for some very nice returns. Two of the latter took place this week on the same show. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: It Fits: Important Details On Next WWE Event In Saudi Arabia, Possible AEW Competition Jake Roberts and Lance Archer made their returns to AEW television this week on Rampage. Archer, with Roberts in his corner, returned and defeated Bryce Saturn. This was Archer’s first match in AEW since the November 18 edition of Rampage and his first match anywhere since December 23. There is no word on why he was out of action or what is next for him in AEW. Archer is a monster. Check out his return, plus some of his previous destruction: [This post contains video, click to play] [This post contains vid..
Mark your calendars. WWE is quite the international wrestling promotion and runs major events in different countries around the world. Most of these take place fairly at random, but there are two that you can pencil in just about every year. Those would be the two events that take place in Saudi Arabia every year, and now we might know some more about the next one. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: LOOK: Bray Wyatt Changes Up His Appearance In A Weird Way On SmackDown Earlier this week, a new report announced that WWE was bringing back King Of The Ring as a stand alone event, with the Queen Of The Ring tournament taking place on the same night. According to PWInsider Elite, the event will be held in Saudi Arabia on Saturday, May 27. WWE’s most recent Saudi Arabia show was Crown Jewel in November 2022. This is Memorial day weekend, which is when AEW normally holds its Double Or Nothing event, though this year’s edition has not yet been announced. There have been some great King Of The Ring mome..
More content is coming. This week on Dynamite, Tony Khan was scheduled to make a big announcement. That announcement was actually made by Adam Cole, in which he shared that a new AEW show was coming to TBS. Called “AEW: All Access”, the show will will follow some of the company’s biggest stars week-to-week as they seek to remain at the top of the company while also exploring rivalries between them. The show will also detail the lead up to major AEW events and pay-per-views. Cole also announced that the night that the show debuts, which will be sometime in March, he will also be making his return to in-ring competition. From Variety: “We’re always looking for new ways to engage with fans and give them unique access to our incredible talent,” Khan said. “With the new ‘AEW: All Access’ series, they’ll have a chance to peek behind the curtain and into the lives of their favorite wrestlers like never before. To show the human side of some of these larger-than-life figures will give fans..
Changing roles can be good sometimes. NXT Trainer and Coach Matt Bloom recently appeared on the ‘Real Monster Radio’ show, where he discussed a number of topics. One of them was the status of a former NXT superstar, now turned coach. Bloom had the following to say about Oney Lorcan: “My position now as a head coach, I oversee my coaches,” Bloom said. “I have an amazing staff. So, I gotta give props to those guys. Terry Taylor, Fit Finlay, Robbie Brookside, Norman Smiley, Steve Corino, Alexander Winkler, ‘Oney Lorcan’ Chris Girard, who just recently retired from being in the ring, Johnny Moss, and we have a few UK coaches that are on the cusp of being full-time coaches as well.” You can see the full interview below: [This post contains video, click to play] Lorcan was released from WWE in November 2021 but returned in October 2022 as a coach at the Performance Center. Editor’s Opinion: I always felt bad for Lorcan and his longtime partner, Danny Burch, because I feel like they n..
They do history well. WWE has been around for a long time and has been the dominant wrestling promotion in the United States for the last twenty plus years. The company has not faced serious competition in a long time and a lot of that has been due to its flagship television show, Monday Night Raw. That show is about to celebrate a special anniversary and WWE is going down Memory Lane. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Another Way: WWE Plans Different Kind Of Royal Rumble Surprises Next week, Monday Night Raw is celebrating its thirtieth anniversary with a special show. The event will include a variety of legends, a steel cage match and a pair of title matches. This week on SmackDown, WWE aired a video looking back at some of the greatest Monday Night Raw moments in history. The video included moments from throughout the show’s history, which were not shown in chronological order. It’s a rather cool video. Check out the Monday Night Raw tribute and some other classic show moments: [This post ..
WWE CEO Nick Khan was recently interviewed on the Bill Simmons Podcast, where he discussed a number of topics. Among them were the idea that AEW is competition, his relationship to Tony and Shad Khan and more. Below are some highlights from the interview: On if he sees AEW as competition: “Well how do you think they’re doing now? Simmons responded, “Not as well although I think they are having a better 2023 than 2022.” On his relationship with Tony Khan: “I think a couple of things. I’ve never met the kid Tony Khan, seems like a nice kid to me. I don’t know him. I have met his dad who randomly I sat next to at some sports business luncheon that Stephanie and I went to a year and a half or so.” On Shad Khan: “I could not be more impressed with the dad. He made his money in the auto parts business, I believe. So he knows that inside out. I don’t believe he’s involved on the wrestling side of the business, outside of financing it. He has the pockets and that’s awesome and I’m sure ..
He’ll catch you next time. Next week, WWE is presenting its Raw XXX special, honoring thirty years of Monday Night Raw being on the air. This is quite the occasion and WWE is going to bring in a variety of stars and legends who have played a part in the show’s legacy. However, one name who was scheduled for the show is not going to make it, though he does have a good reason. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: It’s Complicated: Speculation Over Bray Wyatt’s WrestleMania Plans, Why He Could Be A Problem WWE legend Tatanka has announced that he will not be appearing at Raw XXX despite being scheduled for the show. Tatanka said that while WWE contacted him five weeks ago, his son’s wrestling team qualified for the state tournament and he will be attending the competition instead of coming to the show. Tatanka wrestled for WWE in two stints, from 1991-1996 and 2005-2007, while making various one off appearances since. Even though @WWE contacted me 5 weeks ago, I will not be attending the 30th Annive..
Already? Earlier this month, one of the longer running wrestling questions in recent months was answered, as Mercedes Mone, formerly known as Sasha Banks, made her debut with New Japan Pro Wrestling at Wrestle Kingdom 17. That seemed to be the end of things but also a new beginning. As it turns out, there might already be some issues with Mone and her new boss. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: WATCH: Steve Austin Works Does The Weather And Works The Drive Thru At Restaurant According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, there might be some heat on Mone in New Japan and Stardom (New Japan’s sister promotion). Mone had been talking about how she wanted to face wrestlers from the Sendai Girls and Tokyo Joshi Pro promotions, both of which are seen as competition to Bushiroad (the parent company of New Japan and Stardom). While in Japan, Mone went to the Sendai Girls dojo but not the Stardom dojo. There is no word on what this could mean for Mone, or if she will be in any actual trouble. It has b..
He has an idea. There are some great wrestling stars who are no longer active wrestlers. That does not mean their careers are over though, as there are other roles that they can fill once their in-ring career is over. However, there are still some moments where an ex-wrestler is the perfect choice to put back in the ring, and now one legend thinks that might be the right move. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Safe At Home: Hacksaw Jim Duggan Explains How He Stopped An Intruder At Gunpoint The end of this week’s Monday Night Raw featured Bobby Lashley shoving a referee who he blamed for a loss to Seth Rollins. As a result, WWE executive Adam Pearce came to the ring and fired Lashley, only to reinstate him the next day. During a recent edition of Busted Open Radio, WWE Hall Of Famer Bubba Ray Dudley suggested that Pearce could face Lashley in a match. Pearce, 44 years old and a former five time NWA World Champion, retired from full time competition in 2014 but wrestled two matches for WWE in 202..
So much for that. There are all kinds of wrestlers on the WWE roster and it can be quite the competition to see who can make it to the top. You can see a star in the making when WWE decides to push someone to the moon. That can be the case on the main roster or in NXT, but every now and then someone has the rug pulled out from underneath them, which seems to have been done again. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: WATCH: Wrestling Fans Make Roman Reigns Part Of Their Wedding Reception According to Fightful.com, Mandy Rose has been released from WWE. The release was possibly due to risque content posted to her FanTime page, which WWE felt was outside the parameters of her contract. Rose, who has been with WWE since 2015, lost the NXT Women’s Title to Roxanne Perez this week on NXT, ending her title reign after 413 days. The title change was said to have been an “abrupt” decision. Rose had a heck of a run. Check out some of her time in WWE: [This post contains video, click to play] [This post ..
The next generation. One of the most important things a wrestling promotion can do is make sure that there is fresh talent being brought in. At some point the older wrestlers have to be phased out of the spotlight with new stars being moved up. That does not work if the stars are not brought in at some point and now WWE might have their eyes on another second generation star. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: LOOK: Bianca Belair Enters Fashion And Fitness Competition (And SMASHES It) According to Bodyslam.net, Colby Corino’s NWA contract expires at the end of December, which will make him a free agent going into the new year. WWE is reportedly interested in signing Corino, who will be heading to the Performance Center in Orlando, Florida. If things go well for him, he is expected to be signed with the company. Corino’s father Steve us a trainer at the Performance Center and an NXT producer. Colby has made a name for himself. Check out some of his work: [This post contains video, click to play..
It suits her. There are some incredible athletes in wrestling and a lot of them do not get the credit that they deserve for being so skilled at what they do. A big part of this is their fitness and athleticism, both of which can be overlooked. Sometimes you will see a wrestler get the accolades that they deserve for their efforts and another one certainly did that recently. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Just Not Quite: WWE Legend On Why Shelton Benjamin Didn’t Become A Main Event Star Monday Night Raw’s Bianca Belair revealed on Instagram that she participated in a recent WBFF (World Beauty Fitness And Fashion) event. Belair placed first in wellness and second in fashion, which was enough for her to earn her pro card from the organization. Belair, also the reigning Raw Women’s Champion, also revealed that she designed every outfit that she wore on stage for the competition. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Bianca Belair (@biancabelairwwe) She has other talents too. Check out B..
End of the line? Wrestlers are a unique breed when it comes to athletics. While they are all athletes in one way or another, many of them top caliber, many of them do not walk away from competition like others are able to do. This is partially due to being able to get back in the ring for one more match, making it hard to finish up. Now one legend is ready to finish things up for good though. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Perfect Timing: AEW’s Saraya Undergoes Ironic Surgery Dustin Rhodes began wrestling back in 1988 and has wrestled for a variety of promotions all over the world, from WCW to WWE to Impact Wrestling to AEW and various other stops in between. According to Premiere Streaming Network, Rhodes announced at this weekend’s Blizzard Brawl tapings that 2023 will be his final year wrestling. Rhodes, 53, did not say when in the year he planned on retiring or any specific plans for the year. .@dustinrhodes has announced at the @BlizzardBrawl tapings that 2023 will be his last year wre..
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. 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? Survivor Series 2019 Date: November 24, 2019 Location: Allstate Arena, Chicago, Illinois Commentators: Michael Cole, Corey Graves, Vic Joseph, Jerry Lawler, Nigel McGuinness, Beth Phoenix We have finally arrived. After several weeks of Raw, Smackdown and NXT invading each others’ shows, it is time to see which show is best and that could be interesting. Raw has won the competition three years in a row, though this is NXT’s first time being included. The card looks good, albeit huge. Let’s get to it. I was in the are..
I remember him! Wrestlers are celebrities, but they have a bit of a strange status to them. While they are famous, they are famous for pretty much one thing. Occasionally they will be able to break through to the other side and gain fame for something else, which can open up some doors. That was on display this week, as a wrestling legend was unveiled on a competition show. AEW’s Chris Jericho was unveiled as the Bride on this week’s edition of the Masked Singer, where he was eliminated from the competition following his performance of Billy Idol’s “White Wedding”. This came a week after Jericho, then still masked, performed on the show and was identified by fans recognizing his voice. Jericho’s appearance on the show has not been mentioned in any way on AEW television. Jericho can do a lot. Check out his Masked Singer reveal and something else he is better known for: [This post contains video, click to play] [This post contains video, click to play] Opinion: This wasn’t a shock ..
The news dropped on Monday that Triple H and WWE officials were interested in having Stone Cold Steve Austin do more with the company following his long awaited return to in-ring competition at WrestleMania 38 against Kevin Owens. Since then, the internet continues to speculate on who the best opponent would be for The Texas Rattlesnake with WrestleMania 39 returning to Hollywood. Naturally, there are a handful of dream matches that would help sell out SoFi Stadium this April. The few names that have emerged from the rumor mill thus far include John Cena, The Rock and CM Punk. While they each have their own unique intrigue for the grandest stage of them all, The Nature Boy is ruling out a few of these big names himself. Related: How A Possible CM Punk WWE Return Is Being Received Backstage During his latest To Be The Man podcast on Wednesday, Ric Flair was asked about Austin’s next opponent and immediately didn’t see a potential WWE return and match with Stone Cold as a valid option ..
That’s a good sign. Wrestling is in a weird place when compared to mainstream sports. While wrestling is certainly an athletic endeavor, it is closer to a performance than a competition. At the same time, wrestling has quite the audience and that is something that can bring in quite a bit of money. Now the two biggest wrestling companies in the United States might be ready to use their audience to bring in a lot more money. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: WATCH: WWE Star Teases Taking Going In A New Direction According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Thursday Night Football on Amazon is drawing in the same numbers in the 18-49 demographic as Monday Night Football on ESPN. This suggests that a core audience will watch a show on streaming, which could lead to online platforms such as Amazon Prime or Netflix could be interested in acquiring WWE or AEW programming when the new broadcasting deals are available. WWE’s current TV deals expire in September 2024, with the negotiations for a new ..
It’s worth looking at again. There are a lot of recurring ideas throughout the history of WWE and some of them are around more often than others. WWE often adds a prize to the competition, usually in the form of a title or a shot at a title down the line. It can be a lot of fun to hear about one of those ideas coming back and now WWE seems set to bring back another of them. According to WrestleVotes by way of GiveMeSport, WWE is considering bringing back King Of The Ring as a stand alone event in 2023. That would mean that the entire tournament would take place in one night, with no matches taking place on regular television, as was the case in the original pay per view versions. There is no word on if the Queen’s Crown Tournament would continue as well. Opinion: King Of The Ring is one of the few WWE shows that goes away for a long time but then coems back to some pretty solid fanfare. I like the idea of the show, but I don’t know about having it be a full on event. Maybe WWE can ma..