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 his co-host, Jeff Lane.

Lane mentions that Wrestling Observer’s Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer spoke out this past week, criticizing WWE fans who’ve attended recent shows for being quiet and “dead”. Russo says it’s hard to blame the crowd when they’re just going to see a good show, and it’s not their fault if WWE isn’t providing them that.

Alvarez went on to say that Ric Flair had a great career, but Okada has broke the “Observer scale” with 5 and 6-star ratings several times this past year. He says that we’re living through history right now, and there’s no denying that Okada is “the best”. Russo has no idea what history Alvarez is talking about, and he thinks it’s a joke that Alvarez compared Okada to Ric Flair. Russo adds that he wouldn’t be able to pick Okada out in a lineup.

Lastly, Alvarez spoke about Samoa Joe’s promo work, saying Joe is a much better promo than The Miz. Meltzer then agreed, saying Joe constantly cuts great promos and he delivers the goods whether the material is good or bad. Russo disagrees, saying Joe has no range and he cuts the same one-dimensional promo over and over again. Russo worked with Joe in TNA and can speak first hand about this.

The post Vince Russo’s The Brand Recap – Mixed Match Challenge, Booker T’s Commentary Work, Okada Greater Than Flair? More! appeared first on Wrestling News & WWE News, Rumors & Spoilers.

While speaking with Peter Rosenberg for Rosenberg Radio, Daniel Bryan talked about his retirement from WWE and revealed that he initially refused to retire from WWE when Vince McMahon asked him to do so.

“I get the call from Vince McMahon on a Saturday and I retire on a Monday in Seattle, Washington. And I got a call on a Saturday from Vince McMahon and said, ‘I would like you to retire Monday in Seattle. I just think it would be the best for you,’ that sort of thing. At first, I said, ‘I don’t want to do it.’ And then, I talked to Brie and called him back and I was like, ‘hey, if I’m going to have to retire, my mom can be there, my friends can be there, there can be this support system around me.’” Bryan noted, “I was very thankful that WWE gave me such a platform to retire on, but it was just a hard day.”

Bryan continued, “They asked me to do commentary for a thing that they did called the Cruiserweight Classic, which was on the WWE Network. And they asked me to do that, and I said, ‘yeah, that sounds great!’ It’s only 10 episodes and I only have too go do it a couple of times, and I get to help this young, independent talent because they were all unsigned talent at the time. And I thought it was great, but then, they told me, ‘you’re coming back as the General Manager.’ That wasn’t a question. That’s not an ask. And I was like, ‘argh, I don’t know if I want to do this.’”

“One of the hard things about what I do now is that the entrance is the best part. And then, I go out there and I talk. And, like, I’ve gotten better at this whole thing. I used to be someone who is very bad on the microphone. But now, I’ve developed into being more comfortable with it, finding myself with it, and that sort of thing. But it’s still not my passion. I’ve learned how to do it because that’s what my job required.”

You can listen to the full interview here.

The post Daniel Bryan Reveals He Initially Refused to Retire When Vince McMahon Asked Him To appeared first on Wrestling News & WWE News, Rumors & Spoilers.

As seen on Tuesday’s episode of SmackDown Live, Daniel Bryan announced that AJ Styles will defend his WWE Championship Title against Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn in a 2-on-1 Hadicap match at the upcoming Royal Rumble pay-per-view this month.

Owens took to his Twitter account after last night’s SmackDown main event and reacted to the announcement. He wrote, “I like how checking on a referee’s well-being is enough of a reason for @shanemcmahon to put his hands on his top superstar. Thankfully, @WWEDanielBryan is a normal person who understands that such kindness and talent should be rewarded. #ThankYouDaniel #NextWWEChampion#YEP”

I like how checking on a referee’s well-being is enough of a reason for @shanemcmahon to put his hands on his top superstar.

Thankfully, @WWEDanielBryan is a normal person who understands that such kindness and talent should be rewarded. #ThankYouDaniel #NextWWEChampion#YEP

— Kevin Owens (@FightOwensFight) January 3, 2018

The post Kevin Owens Reacts to WWE Title Match at The Royal Rumble appeared first on Wrestling News & WWE News, Rumors & Spoilers.

WWE heads to the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ for tonight’s episode of SmackDown Live. Here are the highlights from tonight’s show:

Daniel Bryan opens the show talking about the Women’s Royal Rumble match. Bryan talks about the main event of tonight’s show before Shane McMahon comes out. Shane talks about what transpired at Sunday’s WWE Clash of Champions where Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn one their match with the assist from Daniel Bryan. Bryan said he did it to protect Shane from himself. Bryan and Shane talk about the vision for the SmackDown brand. Bryan says if he has a problem, he can fire him. Bryan says he doesn’t want Shane to turn into Vince McMahon. Shane says he turns Bryan before telling him “Good luck with the show tonight.”

Bryan and Shane talk about the vision for the SmackDown brand. Bryan says if he has a problem, he can fire him. Bryan says he doesn't want Shane to turn into Vince McMahon. Shane tells him Good luck.#WWE #SDLive Results – https://t.co/o5468sCc7H pic.twitter.com/V3wCOSBPNc

— Ringside News (@RingsideNewscom) December 20, 2017

Chad Gable & Shelton Benjamin defeat The Usos.

Chad Gable & Shelton Benjamin defeated The Usos#WWE #SDLive Results – https://t.co/o5468sCc7H pic.twitter.com/klvLIyITab

— Ringside News (@RingsideNewscom) December 20, 2017

Charlotte in-ring promo. She talks about her win at WWE Clash of the Champions and the first-ever Women’s Royal Rumble match. Charlotte says she will be waiting to defend her championship to whomever wins the Women’s Royal Rumble. Naomi comes out and announces herself as the first women in the Women’s Royal Rumble match. The new NXT rookies come out and Naomi calls them “chicken heads.”

Naomi & Charlotte defeated Sarah Logan & Ruby Riott.

Backstage segment with The New Day, Rusev Claus and Aiden English. Rusev Claus puts everyone on the naughty list before a challenge is issued. The New Day accepts.

Dolph Ziggler in-ring promo. Ziggler talks about all the championship titles he had won. He then drops the United States Championship Title and walks to the back. It appears that he just forfeited the title.

"YOU'RE NOT WORTHY OF MY PRESENCE!" –@HEELZiggler pic.twitter.com/0yXxtBbzeH

— WWE (@WWE) December 20, 2017

(Note: Ziggler’s contract was rumored to be expiring. We will keep updated)

The New Day defeat Rusev & Aiden English.

Randy Orton, Nakamura & AJ Styles defeated Jinder Mahal, Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn.

Goodnight, @SinghBrosWWE!#SDLive @RandyOrton pic.twitter.com/G7T4C7dvgL

— WWE (@WWE) December 20, 2017

The post WWE SmackDown Live Highlights – December 19th, 2017 appeared first on Wrestling News & WWE News, Rumors & Spoilers.

According to Dave Meltzer of The Wrestling Observer Newsletter, WWE is not building to a Shane McMahon vs. Daniel Bryan match.

While Shane & Bryan are feuding on SmackDown Live, there is no blow-off match planned for a match between the two because Bryan has not been medically cleared to compete inside a WWE ring. Vince McMahon has made it clear to Bryan that the decision will come from Dr. Joseph Maroon on whether he gets cleared to return or not.

Meltzer mentioned that if he does get cleared, there has been talk about him possibly wrestling at next year’s SummerSlam event and even working a limited schedule after that.

If Bryan was to get cleared to return, who would you like to see him face? Sound off in the comment section below…

The post Daniel Bryan Could Possibly Be Wrestling At SummerSlam Next Year appeared first on Wrestling News & WWE News, Rumors & Spoilers.

While speaking with Sports Illustrated, The Miz mentioned that he woud like to have a match against Daniel Bryan inside a WWE ring because he would like to beat him up.

“I would love to beat him up. I would love to beat him up in a WWE ring; all day; every day. I know he’s working tremendously hard to get back in the WWE ring…I would love to have a match with Daniel Bryan; he’s one of the best in-ring technicians that WWE has ever seen, and I would like to showcase how much better I am than him.”

It’s very unlikely that The Miz vs. Daniel Bryan would ever take place inside of a WWE ring, as many are under the impression that WWE doctors will not clear him. The on-going the concussions lawsuit isn’t doing Bryan any favors either. The belief is once Bryan’s contract with WWE runs out, he will return to the indies.

The post The Miz Says He Wants a Match Against Daniel Bryan appeared first on Wrestling News & WWE News, Rumors & Spoilers.

Daniel Bryan recently spoke with Busted Open Radio this past Thursday and talked about his future in professional wrestling. They passed along the following notes from the interview:

“Smackdown Live GM Daniel Bryan sat down with Busted Open at WWE Night at the New Jersey Devils this past Thursday, and we aired our interview with him on the show today. Below are two tweets with the audio of unedited comments by Daniel Bryan on his health and concussions as well as his future.

D. Bryan says that if he were to get any test back that says he couldn’t wrestle that he wouldn’t because his family is his top priority, but that right now “All the tests that I’m taking are all saying that not only am I good, but better than your average person who’s never had any concussions.”

D. Bryan when asked about the possibility of returning to the ring for the WWE or going to a company like Ring of Honor or New Japan Pro Wrestling when his contract with the WWE is up, he says “I think there is an 85% chance that I will wrestle again and a 20% chance that WWE will clear me to wrestle.” He also says that in 2013 he wrestled 227 matches that year for the WWE and that he would never want to wrestle that type of schedule again. He believes if the WWE were to clear him, he would wrestle a much lighter schedule than previously.

Busted Open with Dave Lagreca & co-hosts Bully Ray & Larry Dallas can be heard weekdays from 2p-4p Eastern Time only on SiriusXM Rush Channel 93 and is available any time on demand on the SiriusXM App.”

#SDLive GM @WWEDanielBryan says if a test told him he couldn't wrestle he wouldn't because his family is his top priority, but right now the tests are showing he's healthier than most. pic.twitter.com/1qSymkvKcG

— SiriusXM Busted Open (@BustedOpenRadio) November 13, 2017

In 2013, #SDLive GM @WWEDanielBryan wrestled 227 matches for the #WWE. He says if they were to clear him, they'd likely give him a lighter schedule, but is only 20% confident that he'll be cleared. pic.twitter.com/IiQoowWDjT

— SiriusXM Busted Open (@BustedOpenRadio) November 13, 2017

The post Daniel Bryan Reveals the Chances of WWE Allowing Him to Wrestle Again appeared first on Wrestling News & WWE News, Rumors & Spoilers.

While speaking to The Trentonian, Daniel Bryan revealed that he has continued to get cleared to return to action and revealed that all his tests have came back fantastic.

“I’m trying to get cleared as we speak,” Bryan said. “All my tests have come back fantastic, better than people who have never had any concussion-type stuff. But it’s a weird thing. We’re in a weird situation politically with the climate around concussions; right now, it’s very difficult. WWE would love to have me back, but is that the smart thing for me as a business to bring me back? If I was to come back, and they let me back, would they get a lot of flak for it? They have a ton of stockholders that they’re responsible for. It’s more than just, ‘Is he healthy to do it?’”

He continued, “There’s more than that to the whole situation. All the concussion doctors think that I’m healthy enough to do it, and that I should be able to do it — well, I don’t want to say all of them, I’m sure there’s somebody out there who doesn’t think that — but there’s a lot more than goes into it than just that. That’s the unfortunate situation with giant corporations and big business in the United States.”

Bryan hasn’t wrestled in the WWE since April of 2015. He has expressed in multiple interviews that once his contract is up, he will be leaving the company if they don’t allow him to perform.

The post Daniel Bryan Says He’s Been Trying to Get Cleared for In-Ring Return appeared first on Wrestling News & WWE News, Rumors & Spoilers.

Hell in a Cell has been around for 20 years now. Between 1997 and today, nearly 40 matches have been contested inside Satan’s Structure. While the stipulation has produced many classics (who can forget Undertaker v. the Big Boss Man?), there have been a fair share of stinkers as well.

Obviously the older Cell matches are better (blood and brutality really add to the match), but there have also been some real classics in recent history. Since 2010, nearly 20 matches took place inside the Devil’s Playground. Which of these newer matches is the best? I’ll try my best to rank them.

4. Daniel Bryan v. Randy Orton (Hell in a Cell, 2013)

This was the sort-of culmination of the feud between Daniel Bryan and Randy Orton. After Bryan won the title at Summerslam, Orton cashed in his Money in the Bank contract, and the rest is history. Bryan won the title back at Night of Champions, but then he was stripped of it after a supposed fast count. After a draw at Battleground, the duo were set to settle their differences inside Hell in a Cell.

They went to war inside the structure. There were chairs involved. Lots of chairs. Also Shawn Michaels was there, for some reason. While Orton and Bryan failed to truly set the world on fire in previous bouts, they delivered here. There was lots of violence and barbarism on display here.

Shawn Michaels eventually kicked Bryan’s head off, which allowed Orton to pick up the win. Many believed this was the end of Bryan’s story, but he would get his win back at Wrestlemania the following year.

The post Best Hell in a Cell Matches in Recent History appeared first on Wrestling News & WWE News, Rumors & Spoilers.