Daniel Bryan announced in the opening segment of tonight’s WWE 205 Live that the new General Manager for the cruiserweight brand is former Impact Wrestling talent Rockstar Spud. Spud will be going by the name Drake Maverick moving forward.

Maverick announced a sixteen man tournament for the vacant WWE Cruiserweight title will kick off tonight. The finals of the terminate will take place at WrestleMania 34, where a new champion will be crowned.

Please give it up for the NEW #205Live General Manager, #DrakeMaverick!!!!! @WWE205Live @WWEDanielBryan @WWENetwork pic.twitter.com/jJ5TakBgyb

— WWE (@WWE) January 31, 2018

A 16-MAN tournament to crown a brand new @WWE #Cruiserweight Champion begins TONIGHT on #205Live, and it will all culminate at @WrestleMania! pic.twitter.com/zyf2oj8MxS

— WWE (@WWE) January 31, 2018

The post General Manager of 205 Live Revealed appeared first on Wrestling News & WWE News, Rumors & Spoilers.

Russo is joined on today’s show by “Starmaker” Kenny Bolin.

Bolin speaks about his rocky friendship with Jim Cornette. He informs that he’s been friends with Cornette for many years, but they’ve had their disagreements during that time as well. Just recently they had a huge fight which led to Bolin leaving Cornette’s podcast, and joining Russo here on The Brand. Luckily the two old friends were able to make up and thinks were looking fine again.

Just last week, Cornette called Bolin while he was recording a podcast with Russo and Bolin answered. This led to Cornette’s voice being heard on Russo’s podcast, and Bolin immediately felt bad about this given the history between Cornette and Russo. He called Cornette and told him what had happened; Cornette hung up on him and he hasn’t heard from him since.

Bolin says that sometimes Cornette acts like a 5-year old bipolar kid who refuses to take his medicine. He’s sick of Cornette bullying him emotionally because this type of thing has happened many times in the past. They’ve actually had physical disputes in the past as well and Bolin always came out on top in those, but Cornette’s emotional games have really taken a toll on him.

Russo points out that he, Cornette and Bolin are all in their mid to late 50s, and none of this childish crap should matter to any of them. Bolin agrees and says he’s done with Cornette because he refuses to be a part of this nonsense moving forward. He adds that Cornette should “…get some help because normal people don’t act like you.”

The post Vince Russo’s The Brand Recap – Cornette’s Childish Behaviour, Enzo Amore’s Demise, Rape Culture Within the Wrestling Business, More! appeared first on Wrestling News & WWE News, Rumors & Spoilers.

While speaking to Digital Spy, Becky Lynch commented on not being able to appear at today’s WWE Hell in a Cell pay-per-view event and mentioned that she feels like she missed a goal.

“To me, it always feels like a missed goal. I feel like I’m on a football field, I’m a striker and I missed a goal. In WWE things always change and there’s still hope, but you’ve just got to learn to ride it. You always want to be on top and you always want to be having pay-per-view matches and you always want to be having classics. That’s always my goal and my ambition – keep the eye of the tiger and keep looking forward. Who knows? By this time next year, I could have main evented WrestleMania with the Four Horsewomen. You’ve always got to keep your eye set on the ultimate goal.”

She was also asked if she felt like the women’s division is taking a step back because of the lack of a women’s Hell in a Cell match this year.

“No, I don’t think so, personally. Say for example you had Bray Wyatt in Hell in Cell last year – I know he’s not in our division, but if he’s not in a Hell in a Cell match this year, it’s not a step backwards. Not for him or for the brand or for the company. It’s just a rotation. You can’t overdo it, as well. Or do it for the sake of, ‘Oh there’s a Women’s Revolution so they have to have a Hell in a Cell match.’ I think that’s grasping at straws and that’s forcing things. Unfortunately, Charlotte and Natalya, they haven’t had the longest storyline in this circumstance going into Hell in a Cell. Charlotte has a new character and Natalya has a new character and we’re seeing a different element of both of them. To put them into a Hell in a Cell right off the bat, where do you go from there? So no, I don’t think it’s a step backwards at all to not have a women’s Hell in a Cell match.”

You can check out the full interview here.

The post Becky Lynch Reacts to Being Kept Off Hell In A Cell appeared first on Wrestling News & WWE News, Rumors & Spoilers.

As of this writing Pedro Morales holds the record of longest accumulative time as Intercontinental Champion. Morales’ 2 reigns as champion earned him an impressive accumulated reign of 619 days. This record has stood for over 34 years and while it may be impressive, it also must end. In WWE, records are almost always made to be broken. John Cena is on his way to break Ric Flair’s record, Roman Reigns broke Kane’s royal rumble record and the New Day broke Demolition’s record, with many more being born only to finally become a career highlight for a future superstar in the annals of WWE history. Choosing who breaks these records is an important decision and to take them lightly is, consequently, plain disrespectful. There is – as of this writing – only one man to break Morales’ record and that man is The Miz.

Currently in his 7th reign, The Miz could break Morales’ reign by the end of 2017. That would be a fantastic choice to make and will do wonders for The Miz in the history of WWE. As an alternative WWE could even have the Miz tie or bet Chris Jericho’s record of most ever Intercontinental Championships. However it is Morales’ record that will be the better and more natural for this time. The Miz has proved countless doubters and haters wrong and breaking this record will continue that trend.

What the Miz has done over the past year and a half is astounding. Since Maryse returned to his side following Wrestlemania 32 he is having the best year and a half of his career. He held the Intercontinental championship with pride from the night he won it until the brand split where stuff really took off. The Miz was once – 6 years ago – branded one of the worst WWE Champions of all time. Now in 2017 he is without argument one of the best Intercontinental Champions of all time. As well as that he has morphed into one of WWE’s most talented all-round superstars today.

This is one of the main reasons he deserves to destroy Morales’ record. The simple fact is The Miz as the Intercontinental Champion fits. When people think of The Miz in 15 years they will think Intercontinental Champion, not the Wrestlemania 27 main eventer. Undoubtedly the greatest Intercontinental Champion of the last 10 years, The Miz took a title which had been dragged through the mud by poor booking, a lack of creativity, terrible feuds and unmemorable reigns and made it prominent prestigious as it was less than 2 decades ago.

It is the presence of the Miz and the way he treats the Intercontinental Championship which makes it feel special. The way he talks about the title and the way he presents it on social media on TV is fantastic. The Miz makes himself look like a champion and makes his championship feel special. In his promos and in his segments The Miz makes himself and his championship the centrepiece. Many a time in the past 18 months has The Miz’s Championship felt like the most prestigious. This is even over the world championships, and most of that has to do with The Miz.

The post Why The Miz Deserves To Beat Pedro Morales’ Record appeared first on Wrestling News & WWE News, Rumors & Spoilers.

As previously noted, Daniel Bryan did a Q&A on Twitter Wednesday night commented on Sami Zayn’s SmackDown status after being asked if he still wanted Cesaro to come to the brand. Here is the exchange:

@WWEDanielBryan Do you still wanna see @WWECesaro on Smackdown Live ? ? #TotalBellas

— Kat (@BrieNikkiMode) September 21, 2017

Yeah, but I wanted @SamiZayn on smackdown and that hasn't worked out as well as I thought thus far https://t.co/3apMAdoB15

— Daniel Bryan (@WWEDanielBryan) September 21, 2017

To say the least. https://t.co/rf0jcH6QNq

— Sami Zayn (@SamiZayn) September 21, 2017

The post Sami Zayn Responds to Daniel Bryan’s SmackDown Jab appeared first on Wrestling News & WWE News, Rumors & Spoilers.

It was reported on Monday that Paige was at the WWE Performance Center training for her comeback.

Bryan Alvarez discussed Paige’s status on today’s installment of Wrestling Observer Live and provided further details on her return. Alvarez said that Paige was evaluated at the Performance Center and her neck checked out just fine. She is expected to return at any time now.

In regards to which brand Paige will be on, it’s very possible now that she is brought to the SmackDown Live brand instead of RAW because Asuka is headed to RAW.

The post Backstage Update on Paige’s Return to WWE appeared first on Wrestling News & WWE News, Rumors & Spoilers.

PWInsider reports that the RAW brand will have two WWE Live Events in December in New Delhi, India at the 16,000 seat Indira Ghandi Indoor Stadium. This is the first time the company has toured that country since launching its localized weekly series WWE Sunday Dhamaal in Hindi.

WWE will hold it’s events at the stadium on December 7th and December 8th. The tour will also include WWE’s return to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates on December 6th, running the Zayed Sports City Tennis Stadium.

It’s very possible that WWE adds Jinder Mahal and the Singh Brothers to these events, even though it’s a RAW-brand event.

The post WWE Touring India This December appeared first on Wrestling News & WWE News, Rumors & Spoilers.

As seen on Tuesday’s episode of SmackDown Live, Bobby Roode made his debut as a babyface in a match against Aiden English.

Dave Meltzer discussed Roode’s status on today’s installment of Wrestling Observer Radio and indicated that Roode might be moved into John Cena’s empty babyface slot on the SmackDown Live brand. Initially it was being speculated that he would be moving into the place of Baron Corbin as one of the top heels on the brand, however that doesn’t appear to be the case.

Meltzer also indicated that his entrance theme music could be the one big thing standing in Roode’s way that could keep him from drawing the heat he needs.

“The problem with him is well it’s not a problem — if they want him as a heel he’s gotta ditch the music because that’s total babyface music for life. So when it comes time for him to be a heel I think what he should do is just say ‘I hate this music, it sucks.’ And people would be so pissed at him that they couldn’t sing that music and I think at that point he’ll be a really good heal. But not with that music.”

Would you rather see Roode remain a babyface or should the company turn him heel? Sound off in the comment section below…

The post Possible Plans for Bobby Roode on the SmackDown Live Brand appeared first on Wrestling News & WWE News, Rumors & Spoilers.

Shawn Michaels indicated on Twitter that he will be working the NXT Live Events this weekend in Wisconsin and Minnesota.

I think I'm gonna come along for that one!!! @WWENXT on the road!! #NXTMilwaukee #NXTGreenBay #NXTMinneapolis https://t.co/49aAdZqGvq

— Shawn Michaels (@ShawnMichaels) July 25, 2017

PWInsider reports that Michaels will be working as a producer at these events. While Michaels has been helping out at the performance center, this will be his first time on the road with the yellow brand.

The post Shawn Michaels Working NXT Live Events This Weekend appeared first on Wrestling News & WWE News, Rumors & Spoilers.

Russo is joined on today’s show by his co-host Jeff Lane, Glenn Gilbertti (Disco Inferno), and Konnan.

Russo opens today’s show by discussing the rise in viewership for Smackdown Live this past week. The blue brand’s viewership increased by 500,000 last week and he believes that was a direct result of the booking from Sunday’s Money in the Bank PPV, specifically the Women’s Money in the Bank ladder match.

Konnan agrees and although he thinks the finish could have been done better, it accomplished its goal of drawing attention to the brand. Russo points out that when you tell stories and leave viewers wondering, they will tune into the next show to see what happens.

Gilbertti says that the fan backlash over that finish was silly to begin with. He says the problem with the wrestling industry right now is that there are too few experts, and the actual experts are criticized and ridiculed by people who consider themselves experts simply because they’ve watched a lot of wrestling.

The post Vince Russo’s The Brand Recap – Ranallo Returns, Snow vs. Meltzer, Ellsworth’s Heat Leads to Rise in Smackdown Viewership, More! appeared first on Wrestling News & WWE News, Rumors & Spoilers.