Shawn Spears contracted Tully Blanchard for his guidance ahead of his grudge match against Cody Rhodes. The two will clash at tonight’s All Elite Wrestling (AEW) event, All Out.
Speaking to the media during Starrcast III, Blanchard revealed that, despite being away from pro wrestling, he still has undeniable knowledge to share.
Looking back on how he first became associated with Spears, Blanchard said:
“He contacted me, and then I talked to Arn a little bit about it, […] Arn said all the right, positive things, and then Shawn and I had a couple of conversations and then we did the interview thing with J.R. [Jim Ross] down in Jacksonville at the stadium, and you know, sometimes you just gotta keep your mouth shut, and let actions speak louder than words.”
“He Can Raise Up And Take His Game To A Whole New Level”
When asked about the kind of advice he has been imparting to Spears, Blanchard stated that you’ve got to live in the moment.
“I mean that’s the thing, you’ve got to embrace it. I know that Shawn’s had a lot of things going on in his life, and I haven’t had a lot of contact with him in the last couple of weeks, and it’s a little bit disappointing, but the few texts and stuff that we’ve had have been good, so I’m sure that he’s in a good mental place,” Blachard confessed.
“I think he’s got enough experience, I think he can raise up and take his game to a whole new level, and that’s what I’m looking for.”
He was asked over which AEW talent he is excited about besides Shawn Spears. Blanchard admitted that he hasn’t watched a lot of wrestling over the past 30 years, but is looking forward to All Out to find out the answer for himself.
Dolph Ziggler conducted a Q&A session on Twitter with his fans, where he answered a lot of interesting questions which discussed whether he will watch AEW’s All Out, or he would he leave the main roster for NXT, and more.
Ziggler was asked if he would be watching AEW All Out, to which he said, “Nah. Hope it goes great! That’s good for everyone.”
One of the questions Ziggler was asked if he would like a name for his newly formed tag team with Robert Roode. He answered, “I’d prefer to not have one & just continues to be great at our jobs.”
He also gave a succinct “nah” for a question that asked if he would leave the main roster for NXT. He was also asked which woman he would want to tag with him and Roode. He choose Renee Young.
When asked who his favorite female wrestler was, Dolph replied, “Naomi. Always Naomi”.
Dolph Ziggler is scheduled to be in a tag team match where he will team up with Robert Roode against Seth Rollins and Braun Strowman for the Raw Tag Team Championships. The match is set to take place on Clash of Champions on September 15 2019, at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. The duo earned the opportunity by participating in an eight-man tag team turmoil match on Raw this week to determine the number one contender for the titles.
As reported, a new commercial to promote WWE airing SmackDown Live on FOX in October was released. The commercial video even revealed a new logo for the brand.
The video features SmackDown mainstays and other Legends like Steve Austin, The Rock, Becky Lynch, John Cena, Kofi Kingston, Charlotte Flair, The Undertaker, Daniel Bryan, Ric Flair, Seth Rollins, Randy Orton, Roman Reigns, and Rey Mysterio.
A few hours after the video was posted, Batista retweeted the ad with the comment, “C’mon guys really?! ? #zerorespect”. The implication being that he should have been included in the video along with the other stars.
Someone pointed out that other stars like Shawn Michaels, Bret Hart, Hulk Hogan, etc were also not featured, to which Batista replied, “But with all due respect this is an A,b #smackdown conversation. And I’m sure they’re capable of speaking for themselves. Which I am doing. Youre dismissed”
The premiere episode of WWE SmackDown Live on the FOX network will be a 20th Anniversary special. The show will take place on October 4 from the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. Brock Lesnar, WWE Hall of Famers Kurt Angle, Lita, Mick Foley, Booker T, Hulk Hogan, Trish Stratus, Goldberg, Jerry “The King” Lawler, Mark Henry, Ric Flair, and Sting are advertised to appear.
It is definitely true that Batista was a major part of SmackDown and deserved a mention in the video. What do you think?
If you haven’t already been caught up with this week’s WWE RAW, you might have missed what happened at the tag-team turmoil match on Monday.
Lucha House Party, The O.C., Viking Raiders, Hawkins & Ryder, B-Team, Heavy Machinery, The Revival and the seemingly random team of Dolph Ziggler & Robert Roode competed in a Tag Team Turmoil Match. The winner of this match would get a title shot at the Raw Tag Team Championships at Clash of Champions. Of course, the team of Dolph Ziggler & Robert Roode won, which means they will now face Seth Rollins and Braun Strowman on September 15.
Bryan Alvarez on Wrestling Observer Live reported that WWE were considering bringing back AOP for the match, but the company nixed the plan.
Now, the Wrestling Observer Newsletter is also reporting that the change regarding AOP’s return was made by Vince McMahon.
They were even supposed to do well in the match, but were ultimately scheduled to lose to Roode and Ziggler.
AOP has been out of action for some time now on WWE TV due to Akam recovering from a knee injury. They did however, wrestle at a live event SmackDown show in July.
It would have been brilliant if Akam and Rezar were given a return on the night and if they had been given an opportunity to shine.
To determine who will face the IWGP Tag Team Champions Guerillas of Destiny at Royal Quest, Revolution Pro Wrestling held the Road to Royal Quest tournament on Friday.
Aussie Open (Mark Davis & Kyle Fletcher) defeated Josh Bodom & Sha Samuels in the finals of the tournament at RevPro’s Summer Sizzler event at York Hall in London, England on Saturday to earn the title shot against the Guerrillas of Destiny (Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa) for the NJPW event set for today. The champs made an appearance after the match and had a stare-down with the challengers.
NJPW’s Royal Quest will take place today on August 31, 2019 at the Copper Box Arena in London, England and will be streamed live on FITE TV at 2:30 p.m. EST/ 5:30 p.m. BST.
Here is the full updated card for Royal Quest:
Six-man tag team match: Ryusuke Taguchi, Shota Umino and Ren Narita vs. Roppongi 3K (Rocky Romero, Sho and Yoh)
Kota Ibushi and Juice Robinson vs. Bullet Club (Yujiro Takahashi and Hikuleo)
Chaos (Will Ospreay and Robbie Eagles) vs. Bullet Club (Taiji Ishimori and El Phantasmo)
Los Ingobernables de Japon (Tetsuya Naito and Sanada) vs. Bullet Club (Jay White and Chase Owens)
IWGP Tag Team Championship Match: Guerrillas of Destiny (Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa) (c) vs. Aussie Open (Mark Davis & Kyle Fletcher)
NEVER Openweight Championship Match: Tomohiro Ishii (c) vs. Kenta
RevPro British Heavyweight Championship Match: Zack Sabre Jr. (c) vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi
IWGP Heavyweight Championship Match: Kazuchika Okada (c) vs. Minoru Suzuki
WWE’s Executive Vice President of Talent, Live Events and Creative Triple H did an interview with The Irish Mirror and talked about one of the hottest NXT UK stars, Jordan Devlin. He heaped praises at the 29-year-old and complimented his growth on the brand.
Speaking about Devlin’s contributions to NXT UK, Triple H said, “His transformation and what he has done in the NXT UK brand with the guidance of the people around him has taken him to a whole new level. He is a different performer from the guy that I saw when we first started this was very good and had a lot of potential.”
Triple H said that he sees Devlin as a global star and it’s just the beginning: “The guy I see now is a global star on every level and he is really just getting started.”
Devlin, known as The “Ace” of Over The Top Wrestling, had a memorable feud with WALTER in the promotion, and put on some great matches that are considered one of the best matches in OTT’s history. Triple H said that he wants to bring that rivalry for WWE television.
“I want to see the best face the best. I believe styles make fights, it’s what makes them great.”
Triple H expanded on the fact that Devlin is now on a higher level and if the rivalry comes to fruition on WWE television, then it would be even better than before.
“The thing people also need to keep in mind is that as hot as that has been locally, Jordan is at a much higher standard to where he was a year ago and a year before that. When you see that rivalry on NXT UK, it’s going to be nothing like what you’ve seen before because we will take it to another level, as good as it was before, you’ve seen nothing yet!”
While Devlin is not scheduled for a match at NXT UK Takeover: Cardiff event which is streaming today, he will be paying attention on the WWE UK Championship Match between Tyler Bate and WALTER. Make sure to check back SEScoops.com for coverage of the event.
A new commercial to promote WWE airing SmackDown Live on FOX in October was released along with a new logo.
WWE Hall of Famer Steve Austin released a version of the promo on his official Twitter account. He’s featured in the commercial. At the end of the video, the new logo can be seen, which you can check out here:
The premiere episode of WWE SmackDown Live on the FOX network will be a 20th Anniversary special.
FOX is helping promote the brand during its various sports broadcasts in hopes of increasing ratings when the show gets to the network.
Brock Lesnar, WWE Hall of Famers Kurt Angle, Lita, Mick Foley, Booker T, Hulk Hogan, Trish Stratus, Goldberg, Jerry “The King” Lawler, Mark Henry, Ric Flair, and Sting are advertised to appear.
WWE returns to the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff, Wales on Saturday, August 31st, as they present their NXT UK TakeOver: Cardiff live special event on the WWE Network.
Saturday’s show marks the second event promoted under the NXT UK TakeOver chronology, after their inaugural event — NXT UK TakeOver: Blackpool — back on January 12th. It will stream live via the WWE digital subscription service starting at 2pm Eastern Time / 11am Pacific Time.
Heading into the event this weekend, WWE is advertising a five-match card for the NXT UK special event, three of which will feature World Championships on-the-line.
Closer Look At NXT UK TakeOver: Cardiff Card
Scheduled in the headline spot for NXT UK TakeOver: Cardiff on Saturday is a one-on-one showdown pitting WWE United Kingdom Champion against Tyler Bate with the title up-for-grabs.
In other title matches advertised for the show, Toni Storm will put her NXT UK Women’s Championship on-the-line against Kay Lee Ray, while The Grizzled Young Veterans (Zack Gibson & James Drake) will defend their NXT UK Tag-Team Championships in a three-way match that includes the teams of Gallus (Mark Coffey & Wolfgang) and Mark Andrews & Flash Morgan Webster.
Rounding out the lineup will be two additional matches, as Travis Banks meets Noam Dar in the opener, and Dave Mastiff vs. Joe Coffey is scheduled in a Last Man Standing Match.
SEScoops.com NXT UK TakeOver: Cardiff Round-Table Team
As is the case before every major pay-per-view event, SEScoops.com compiles a handful of pro wrestling journalists to provide their in-depth insight and analysis into each match scheduled on the card in our SEScoops.com Predictions Roundtable feature.
Joining us for this NXT UK TakeOver: Cardiff installment will be veteran staff writers Matt Boone, Ian Carey and Andrew Ravens.
Without further adieu, let’s take a look at the SEScoops.com predictions for NXT UK TakeOver: Cardiff.
Travis Banks vs. Noam Dar
Matt Boone: In what could be, if positioned as such, an excellent show-opener to set the tone for the evening inside the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff, Wales this Saturday, Travis Banks and Noam Dar will collide. Banks is a talent the company has appeared to have their eye on since launching the United Kingdom title and brand. Meanwhile, Dar doesn’t exactly appear to be soaring through the ranks. That should be your indicator right there if you’re going to the betting window. (Prediction: Travis Banks)
Ian Carey: I want Noam Dar to win this but it feels as though he’s in NXT UK mainly to put over talent they see as bigger stars. Travis Banks is one of those stars. Dar is a fun wrestler to follow but it just doesn’t seem to be his role to in NXT UK to win matches on a Takeover show. Putting over other talent? That seems more what Dar is about on the brand. Expect Banks to get the win and move on to a top storyline. (Prediction: Travis Banks)
Andrew Ravens: In theory Banks should come out on top here considering the spot that Dar is in during this storyline. In the eyes of the casuals, I can see why people would think Dar would go over here but Banks is someone to keep an eye on. Banks should go over to finish this program. (Prediction: Travis Banks)
CONSENSUS: 3-0, Travis Banks
Joe Coffey vs. Dave Mastiff (Last Man Standing)
Matt: A Last Man Standing Match always makes for compelling storytelling from bell-to-bell. With the players involved in this one, Dave Mastiff and Joe Coffey, this one has the opportunity to be pretty unique. There is a lot they can do in terms of bells and whistles, but when the time comes for someone to stay down for the count of ten, I’m having a tough time envisioning which one it will be. In a coin-flip pick, I’ll go with … (Prediction: Dave Mastiff)
Ian: This should be fun as two big tough brutes clash in a Last Man Standing match. They have the opportunity here to have their match stand-out and I think they are going to do just that. At the end of this match, I’m expecting Mastiff to stand tall (unless Gallus gets involved) but this is basically a toss up. I think Mastiff could win because I could see them putting him up against WALTER shortly after. (Prediction: Dave Mastiff)
Andrew: Another Last Man Standing match on a TakeOver special and this will actually fit well on the card. Coffey and Mastiff have bright futures in the company. This one should deliver and I expect to see more of a hardcore style in this one. While I don’t think this feud needs this type of stipulation, it brings a different dynamic. (Prediction: Joe Coffey)
CONSENSUS: 2-1, Dave Mastiff
Grizzled Young Vets (C) vs. Gallus vs. Mark Andrews & Flash Morgan Webster (NXT U.K. Tag Titles)
Matt: The Grizzled Young Veterans just captured the tag-team titles from Moustache Mountain and still appear to be on their ascension. With that said, I can’t see a title change happening here. If WALTER doesn’t lose his title, and I don’t expect Toni Storm to drop hers this weekend either, you would think at least one title would change hands on this card. If so, this would seem the most likely candidate, unless they go the upset-route in the main event. From a logical standpoint, I think the champs retain. (Prediction: The Grizzled Young Veterans)
Ian: I’m almost wondering if a title change could happen here purely on the fact that I don’t think we’ll see new champions in either of the other two title matches. With that being said, the last NXT Takeover in Toronto had no title changes either, so it’s not like that doesn’t happen. Still, I sort of feel like the belts could go on Gallus here. It doesn’t seem right to have the Young Vets beat Moustache Mountain only to lose the titles here but maybe that is what they have planned. (Prediction: Gallus)
Andrew: Well, this one is a hard one to pick. I can see Gibson and Drake retaining the titles but at the same time, I can see Andrews and Webster winning if WWE wants to do a title change. This should be a really fun match with high paced tag team action. In the end, I see this being the only title change on the card with Andrews and Webster winning. (Prediction: Mark Andrews & Flash Morgan Webster)
CONSENSUS: 1-1-1, PICK’M
Toni Storm (C) vs. Kay Lee Ray (NXT U.K. Women’s Title)
Matt: Toni Storm should get the “W” here. This should be a good match, but is most likely a showcase bout for what is one of the more promising talents on the current NXT U.K. roster. She’s already been called out by “The Man,” as Becky Lynch named her when asked about talent she’d like to fight that isn’t already on the main roster. With that in mind, the only questions are how good does she look and how much does she impress en route to victory on Saturday night? (Prediction: Toni Storm)
Ian: I’m expecting Toni Storm to retain here. She’s one of the top athletes in the company not on the main roster, it doesn’t seem like they would want to take the title off her anytime soon. As for Kay Lee Ray, she could get her time with the belt at some point but it feels like Storm might hold it for a while to really establish the NXT UK Women’s title as a tough one to win. (Prediction: Toni Storm)
Andrew: I’m a big Toni Storm fan and while I think it’s likely a lock for her to hold onto the title, I can’t rule out Ray getting an upset win if WWE wants to move Storm to NXT with the show moving to the USA Network soon. In the end, I think it’s best for Storm to stay in NXT UK and she will retain. (Prediction: Toni Storm)
CONSENSUS: 3-0, Toni Storm
WALTER (C) vs. Tyler Bate (WWE U.K. Title)
Matt: With the NXT U.K. brand still very much resting on the broad shoulders of their current champion and his faction, WALTER appears to be one of the locks of the card. While the match itself should be interesting, and could get you to bite on a potential title change due to how it is laid out (particularly if there are any run-ins and/or distractions), in the end, Imperium’s leader should retain with a victory. By the way, does Cesaro get inserted here, or somewhere else? WWE might want to do something newsworthy so they don’t overwhelmingly lose, at least in terms of fan interest coming out of each show, their final AEW vs. NXT (UK) same-day-showdown before the “Wednesday Night Wars” kick off. Nah. I’m over-thinking things! (Prediction: WALTER)
Ian: Watching WALTER chop down Tyler Bate could be the highlight of this show. We will get a real David and Goliath type battle. With Bate’s strength and WALTER’s size this could turn into a really interesting match. Don’t miss this one. In terms of who wins, WALTER has to be the heavy favourite as Imperium continues to make NXT UK their “yard.” (Prediction: WALTER)
Andrew: I like Bate a ton but does anyone actually give him a real chance of winning this match? WALTER has been an unstoppable force since making his way to NXT UK and with only holding the title for months, WWE should keep the title on him. The company likes for their champions in NXT UK to hold the strap for long periods of time and I don’t see that changing here. (Prediction: WALTER)
CONSENSUS: 3-0, WALTER
NXT U.K. TakeOver: Cardiff Outro
What do you think about Matt, Ian and Andrew’s picks for Saturday’s matches? How do their above picks compare to yours? Let us know by sharing your own NXT UK TakeOver: Cardiff predictions in the “Comments” section below.
Join us here at SEScoops.com throughout the weekend for the best coverage of NXT UK TakeOver: Cardiff news, rumors and spoilers. Make sure to stop by on Saturday afternoon for the absolute fastest and most-detailed live NXT UK TakeOver: Cardiff results coverage on the web.
The PWI rankings have been released and sitting atop the group this year is WWE Universal Champion Seth Rollins. “The Architect” of the Shield also topped the rankings in 2015.
Rollins joins Bret Hart, Steve Austin, Triple H and John Cena as the only wrestlers to top the list on multiple occasions.
“Those guys obviously are elite,” Rollins said in regards to the other 2x winners to WWE.com. “They are in a class all their own. They are Hall of Famers. So, to be mentioned amongst them is pretty special.”
All Elite Wrestling (AEW) Executive Vice President Kenny Omega has teased more information about the promotion’s interest in creating an AEW video game. He spoke about the prospect during a special Being The Elite Mailbag Live panel at Starrcast III.
“You know I’ve been globetrotting a little bit, and I’ve been trying to assemble and piece together some people who might be in the know the vision of what this needs to be,” he explained, before confessing that a video game for AEW is at the top of his priority list.
“I can’t share anything right now,” Omega added, “but I wouldn’t be surprised if there was something to announce by the end of the year. Be ready. Be ready for that, guys.”
Kenny Omega states an AEW video game is top of his priority list, and we may have an announcement by the end of the year.
This isn’t the first time that key figures of AEW’s management team have hinted at a video game. In a previous interview with Chris Van Vliet, fellow EVPs Matt and Nick Jackson also stated their interest in expanding into games.
When asked, they both replied “Yes.” Nick Jackson then added “We’re gonna have a little bit of everything.”
It’s no secret that Kenny Omega is a mega video game fan. He has infused video game references into his character from his move set through to his entrance at this year’s Wrestle Kingdom 13.
All Elite Wrestling (AEW) has their next big show, All Out, taking place this Saturday, August 31st from the Sears Centre Arena in Chicago. In recent tweet, the promotion revealed that it won’t be long before they return to the area.
AEW uploaded an image advertising that they will return to the Sears Centre Arena in Chicago on November 27th, Thanksgiving Eve. For those excited to check out the action, tickets go on sale today at 11am CT/12 ET/9 PT.
Ring of Honor (ROH) has officially announced that Mark Briscoe has suffered an unfortunate knee injury. This injury has forced the wrestler to pull out of the CMLL Grand Prix tournament. The injury occurred during an ROH live event from this past weekend. He was one of four ROH stars scheduled to participate in the competition.
The 11-time ROH World Tag Team Champion will undergo an MRI exam to determine how severe the injury is.
“It sucks that he’s hurt,” Jay Briscoe said during CMLL’s Grand Prix press conference. “We do double-team moves like no other tag team in this world, so that was definitely going to be a blow to the Mexican team, but it ain’t going to matter. We still gonna win.”
Briscoe Replacement
The company announced that Delirious will be replacing Mark Briscoe on Team Resto del Muno. Their name translates to “Rest of the World.” They will face Team Mexico in a 16-man elimination match. Delirious joins ROH’s World Champion Matt Taven, Jay Briscoe, and Kenny King. The other four wrestlers completing their team come from different international promotions.
Their opponents, Team Mexico, include RUSH, Dragon Lee, Volador Jr., Barbaro Cavernario, Negro Casas, Forastero, Diamante Azul, and Soberano Jr.
All Elite Wrestling (AEW) has announced that they have signed Dustin Rhodes to a multi-year contract extension. This new arrangement will see the former Goldust perform multiple roles for the promotion. Alongside competing in-ring, he will now also be a promo coach and match producer.
AEW President and CEO Tony Khan commented on the extension, highlighting how Rhodes has “rejuvenated” his career whilst with AEW. He also stressed the talent and knowledge that Rhodes will be able to provide them.
“Dustin Rhodes has had an incredible wrestling career that has spanned decades. His amazing journey brought him to AEW, and he’s rejuvenated his career here,” Khan stated.
“In addition to all of the wisdom he’s shared with us as we’ve launched All Elite Wrestling, he’s come here and worked so hard for us. His comeback match against his brother Cody at Double or Nothing was one of the most acclaimed bouts in recent years, and it marked a new chapter for all of us.”
He explained, “Dustin and I had agreed weeks ago after Fight For The Fallen that we both wanted him to stay with All Elite Wrestling. He’s already done so much for us, and I’m thrilled that it’s official now that Dustin will be on our team going forward, both backstage and in the ring!”
Rhodes recently wrestled on AEW’s Fight For The Fallen event. He and his brother, Cody, lost a tag team match against The Young Bucks.
As previously reported, WWE Hall of Famer “Stone Cold” Steve Austin will be in attendance at WWE’s September 9th episode of Monday Night RAW. The show takes place in New York’s Madison Square Garden.
The reason behind his scheduled booking allegedly lies in WWE’s push to try and sell out this MGS show, according to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
Apparently, the 9/9 episode of RAW and the 9/10 episode of SmackDown Live are both yet to sell out. This led to their bringing in “The Texas Rattlesnake.” Since the announcement, sales for RAW have increased but there still plenty of tickets available. They currently range from $31 to $1,1606 each. It is believed that RAW will eventually sell out.
Dave Meltzer noted how important it is for WWE to be able to sell out their MGS shows in the run-up to the Wednesday Night Wars against All Elite Wrestling. Success in the Garden will apparently keep AEW from being able to book shows there.
Austin won’t be the only legendary Superstar appearing for WWE that week. The Undertaker is also scheduled to appear during that week’s episode of SmackDown.
There is no information at the time of writing as to what Austin or The Undertaker’s roles will be.
“Stone Cold” was recently on WWE television screens again for the RAW Reunion special last month.
Lacey Evans frequently calls opponents “nasty” or “nasties.” She has slung the insult at Superstars both in the ring and on social media. The term is even included on her merchandise.
Turns out, the insult stems from her days in the military.
In an interview with Sirius XM’s Busted Open Radio, Evans revealed the background for the term. She explained how it is commonly used amongst US Marines as an insult those not pushing themselves.
Nasty
“The term ‘nasty’ came from the Marine Corp. when I was in boot camp,” she said. “It’s three months long, it’s hell, and you walk in there thinking that you are…whatever you thought you were when you walk into boot camp, you leave the complete opposite,” she explained.”
“They completely rip you down physically, mentally and emotionally, and they build you up to be a confident United States Marine. Now while you are in boot camp, you are called a nasty. […] In the Marine Corps, you’re always considered a “nasty” because you can always give so much more of yourself.”
She stated her character is the antithesis of this. Her intentions as Lacey Evans are to set a prime example, showing off what women are capable of.
Rey Mysterio appeared on RAW last week, starting a new storyline that may result in his son, Dominick, debuting for WWE. After appearing in a segment teasing his retirement, Dominick appeared and reminded his dad how he had promised to be his tag team partner for his professional wrestling debut.
Despite starting this narrative, Mysterio was missing from this week’s episode of Monday Night RAW. Turns out it was because the legendary luchador was undergoing another round of stem cell treatment.
Mysterio updated his fans via his Instagram account, uploading a picture of himself, still masked, of course, explaining the procedure. The injections have apparently helped to alleviate his knee issues, helping him to move better compared to a few years ago.
“I had an Intrathecal Stem Cell application yesterday by Dr. Halpert & have to admit that I could not have been in better hands despite the size of the needle ? that was never showed to me until after the procedure! #LoveTheBioXStaff @bioxcellerator_ is giving me & those who have been here a healthier & better way of living!??…??? Need info ….. talk to my homie @iowahawksfan06″
Once Rey Mysterio returns, it is believed that Dominick will eventually take up the moniker of “Prinicpe Mysterio”—a name that Rey Mysterio trademarked earlier this year.
With NXT moving to USA Network and extending to a new two-hour time slot, WWE’s black-and-gold ‘development brand’ are on the precipice of something fresh as they prepare to go head-to-head with All Elite Wrestling.
Speaking with Newsweek, NXT Champion Adam Cole openly discussed his brands extra hour, the move to USA Network, and whether the show can really be viewed as development any longer.
“It’s Something Our Team Is Ready For”
“It’s awesome, Cold state about the move. “I’ve said countless times that if more people got to see and experience NXT, they would be fans for life. And now we have this whole new avenue and outlet. So many new people get to check out NXT, and I’m convinced that a lot of people will watch this show on USA and go ‘I have to watch this every week’ just for the shows that we do deliver and put on. Going live on television is a lot more of a high-pressure situation, but it’s something our team is ready for.
He explained how the talent is used to big events thanks to their experience with NXT TakeOver shows, reiterating that, more than anything, he is excited. He also doesn’t believe NXT will change dramatically, despite its extension to two hours.
“I think we’re going to continue to do what we’ve done,” he stated. “I think it’s important for what we built with this brand, delivering exciting match after exciting match, week after week and that’s the game plan. Our crew is very passionate, we know the style of wrestling that we like, and we love the energy the NXT fans bring to the table. I can tell you this: we will bring the most exciting show we can every single week. That’s most certainly is the game plan.”
Switching Brands
So with a move to USA Network, an extension to two hours, and the intention of competing with AEW’s TNT television show is NXT really a development brand, or is it just WWE’s third brand alongside RAW and SmackDown?
“We’ve called it this for a while, but we look at NXT as the third brand. And now I feel this move to USA just solidifies it. Instead of calling it “moved up” it’ll just be “moving.” Some guys may move to RAW or SmackDown. Some guys on RAW or SmackDown can move to NXT. To me, this move to the USA totally solidifies NXT as the third brand. I’m sure you’ll see lots of guys moving to different brands as time goes on.”
NXT debuts on USA Network on September 18th, starting at 8/7 C.
This week’s episode of SmackDown Live ended with Roman Reigns delivering a spear to Daniel Bryan and latest reports suggest that this angle will finally lead to a match between the two at the Clash of Champions PPV.
This bout which was considered for the SummerSlam PPV is now listed as part of the internal line up for the next WWE PPV according to F4Wonline.com.
Other matches which are set to take place on the show
include Sasha Banks vs. RAW Women’s Champion Becky Lynch, The Revival vs.
SmackDown Tag Team Champions The New Day and The Miz vs. WWE Intercontinental
Champion Shinsuke Nakamura.
A match for the Women’s Tag Team Championship is also scheduled for the special event but so far there is no word yet on who will be challenging Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross for the Championships.
Who will be challenging the current United States Champion AJ Styles is not known at this point either. If he does not defend the title at the show then under the current lineup the event will feature a total of 11 matches.
Updated Clash Of Champions Match Card
Here is a list of officially announced matches for Clash Of
Champions so far:
WWE Championship Match: Randy Orton vs. Kofi Kingston (c)
WWE Universal Championship Match: Braun Strowman vs. Seth Rollins (c)
RAW Tag Team Championships Match: Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode vs. Braun Strowman and Seth Rollins (c)
SmackDown Women’s Championship Match: Charlotte Flair vs. Bayley (c)
WWE Cruiserweight Championship Match: Humberto Carrillo vs. Drew Gulak (c)
King of the Ring Tournament Finals
Clash Of Champions will take place on September 15, 2019, at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina.
AEW’s Chief Brand Officer Brandi Rhodes recently spoke with veteran MMA reporter Jonathan Snowden for Bleacher Report’s Off The Top Rope feature. During the interview, she discussed things like the company’s approach to women’s wrestling, her on-screen character and more in detail.
The Diversity Of AEW Women’s Roster
Brandi said that one of the best things about AEW’s women’s division is its diversity. According to her, having wrestlers belonging to the Japanese Joshi Puroresu interact with the American style of wrestling is going to be a nice mix which everyone, no matter what their preference is, will be able to enjoy.
The upcoming Casino Battle Royal will be one such spot where we will be able to see the clash of different styles as 21 amazing female wrestlers will be showcasing their talent. However, since AEW does not have 21 females signed to the promotion, they are bringing some outside talents to fill the spots.
This list includes names such as Sadie Gibbs and Jazz and people have been wondering if their appearance will be the start of a long term relationship between the company and the wrestlers. When asked about it, Brandi said that this is an opportunity for a lot these women to showcase their skills but she confirmed that they are not considered active members of their roster:
“This is an opportunity for a lot of these women to get in front of a larger audience. Maybe an opportunity most of them have never had, or at least not in a long time. Right now, most of these women aren’t active members of the AEW roster. But that doesn’t mean they won’t continue to work with us. “
Facing Negative Fan Reaction For Being A Woman Of Color
Being a woman of color in the position of power means that Rhodes has to deal with a lot of narrow-minded people and she has to face negative reactions on social media every day. Discussing this issue, the AEW Official said that Social Media has always been a platform where people can say whatever they want without being accountable. However, it’s not going to stop her from doing her job:
“Social media always has that anonymous factor to it where people can say whatever they want to say without being accountable. Definitely, there are people who have adverse reactions to our brand as well as my role. That’s OK. It’s just social media and it’s never going to change as far as I can tell. But it’s not going to stop me from doing my job and what I need to do and what I love to do.”
Apart from this, Brandi Rhodes also discussed the changing dynamic of her on-screen character. She claimed that her character is more complicated than people give her credit for. She does have moments where she can rope people in and make them feel sorry for her but it’s up to them to decide whether she is being real or playing everyone.
Brandi Rhodes is currently set to compete in the Casino Battle Royal at All Out from Chicago on August 31st. The winner of this match will receive an opportunity to compete for AEW’s women’s championship during the company’s TNT debut on October 2nd.
AEW returns to the pay-per-view arena this weekend, as All Elite Wrestling presents their ALL OUT event from the Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates, Illinois on Saturday, August 31st.
The show will feature the crowning of the inaugural AEW World Champion and the unveiling of the AEW Women’s World Championship belt.
In the headline spot for Saturday’s highly-anticipated event is Chris Jericho vs. “Hangman” Adam Page in one-on-one action to determine the first-ever World Champion in AEW history.
Supporting the main event at ALL OUT will be Kenny Omega squaring off against late-replacement PAC.
PAC, formerly known as Neville during his WWE days, fills in on short-notice for Jon Moxley after the former WWE Superstar known as Dean Ambrose came down with a vicious bout of MRSA in his elbow.
Closer Look At AEW ALL OUT Undercard
Also on tap for AEW ALL OUT main card this weekend is Cody vs. Shawn Spears, The Lucha Bros vs. The Young Bucks in a Ladder Match for the AAA Tag-Team Championships and The Dark Order vs. Best Friends with the winning team earning a bye in the first-round of the AEW World Tag-Team Championship Tournament.
Additionally, Darby Allin vs. Joey Janela vs. Jimmy Havoc in the “Cracker Barrel Clash,” Riho vs. Hikaru Shida in women’s action and a six-man tag-team match pitting Luchasaurus, Jungle Boy & Marko Stunt vs. SoCal Uncensored is advertised for the card.
AEW ALL OUT “Buy-In” Pre-Show & Round Table Notes
AEW ALL OUT will also feature a “Buy-In” pre-show.
The show leading into the main card currently features two advertised matches — Private Party vs. Angelico & Jack Evans and the 21-Woman Casino Battle Royale with the winner advancing to the inaugural AEW Women’s World Championship bout on the debut episode of AEW On TNT on Wednesday, October 2nd.
As is the case before every major pay-per-view event, SEScoops.com compiles a handful of pro wrestling journalists to provide their in-depth insight and analysis into each match scheduled on the card in our SEScoops.com Predictions Roundtable feature.
Joining us for this AEW ALL OUT installment will be veteran staff writers Ian Carey, Andrew Ravens and Jeff Moss.
Without further adieu, let’s take a look at our official AEW ALL OUT Predictions.
21-Woman Casino Battle Royale (Pre-Show)
Ian Carey: This is tough, especially considering we don’t know all the participants. Awesome Kong seems like the safest pick, however. She’s popular, she looks larger than life, and she’s a key character on a hit Netflix series which just released its newest season. Expect many talented wrestlers to get some time to shine in this match but in the end, Kong has to be the favorite, though how likely it is she’ll win is not clear. (Prediction: Awesome Kong)
Andrew Ravens: AEW has done a great job of loading up this battle royal with some fun names. It’s no secret that I am a big fan of Britt Baker although I don’t see her winning this match despite the fact that she could be the real star of this division. It’s a battle royal so expectations should be kept low. I have Nyla Rose being an upset winner. (Prediction: Nyla Rose)
Jeff Moss: Like the Male version of the Casino Battle Royal, this one is hard to call because we don’t know everyone in the match. I’d have to say that of the announced participants, Brandi Rhodes would be a front runner in that I feel like she should be in the October 2nd match for the Women’s Title in some way. Jazz, Ivelisse and Britt Baker all make perfect sense as winners as well. Given that I don’t know how the other participant(s) of the Oct 2nd match will be determined, I suspect it’s an unannounced entry that wins here. (Prediction: Unannounced Entry)
CONSENSUS: 1-Awesome Kong, 1-Nyla Rose, 1-???
Private Party vs. Angelico & Jack Evans (Pre-Show)
Ian: I think Angelico and Evans will win the match but the commentary team will focus on how much potential Private Party has. Evans and Angelico are an established team and Jack Evans on the mic can keep them heels in any situation. I expect Evans and Angelico to get the crowd against them and then cheat to win, building sympathy for Private Party. (Predictions: Angelico & Jack Evans)
Andrew: Private Party all the way. Evans and Angelico are a fun tag team but I see more potential in Private Party as a top tag team under the AEW banner. Private Party should be booked as near the top of the division. Thus, Private Party goes over. (Prediction: Private Party)
Jeff: I love watching Angélico and Jack Evans work, so I’m pretty stoked for this match. That said, aside from getting a bit of momentum (Copyright & Trademark WWE) heading into TV, the winners of this match are pretty inconsequential. So with that in mind, I’ll take Angélico and Jack Evans. (Prediction: Angelico & Jack Evans)
CONSENSUS: 2-1, Angelico & Jack Evans
Luchasaurus, Jungle Boy & Marko Stunt vs. SoCal Uncensored
Ian: SCU will get the win in this fun trios match which will likely have a lot of comedy in it. If you notice, we’ve got no librarians and no Michael Nakazawa on the preshow here so I expect AEW to get all their silliness out in this match. Despite his popularity, I’m expecting Marko Stunt to eat the pin in this match as AEW attempts to build SCU into one of their top tag teams. With the tag tournament coming up, Stunt likely will be the 3rd man out from the A Boy and his Dinosaur team, which makes him taking the pin in this match the most likely result. (Predictions: SoCal Uncensored)
Andrew: With this being such a late short notice match, this has a ton of potential to be a really fun match and one that I am looking forward to seeing. Luchasaurus, Jungle Boy, and Marko Stunt have been on the independent scene for a few years now but are unknown to the masses. That changed at the last AEW show and they put on one heck of a match. I expect nothing less. With that being said, it’s a pick em so I have SCU getting the win. (Prediction: SoCal Uncensored)
Jeff: Jungle Boy. I’m going to pick Jungle Boy in every match he’s in until it pays off. I love that guy. SCU are an awesome team and have proven so in a million matches, but Jungle Boy RIDES TO THE RING ON A LUCHASAURUS WHO’S ALSO HIS PARTNER. (Prediction: Luchasaurus, Jungle Boy & Marko Stunt)
CONSENSUS: 2-1, SoCal Uncensored
Riho vs. Hikaru Shida
Ian: The winner of this match will face the winner of the Casino Battle Royale on October 2nd for the AEW Women’s Championship. Riho’s stock with the company seems like it’s higher than Shida’s. Riho is Omega’s former tag partner in DDT and seems to be someone AEW wants to feature in their Joshi matches. The winner here will really depend on who wins the Casino Battle Royale, however. (Prediction: Riho)
Andrew: This should be a solid match but I don’t think AEW has done a great job of explaining the back stories of these two stars. Personally, and I think a lot of people would agree with this, but I have no interest right now in seeing this contest. It’s just a match on the card. In a real pick em, Riho goes over. (Prediction: Riho)
Jeff: These are two wrestlers who will definitely wrestle a wrestling match that will be seen by the audience in attendance and on PPV. The winner of the match will for sure be the one who beats their opponent. It will be enjoyed by some, but perhaps not enjoyed by others. Possibly. Beyond that, I got nothing. But I’m told I can’t just put “ ¯_(?)_/¯ ” for my prediction, sooooo…. (Prediction: Hikaru Shida)
CONSENSUS: 2-1, Riho
Darby Allin vs. Jimmy Havoc vs. Joey Janela (Cracker Barrel Clash)
Ian: The Cracker Barrel Clash could be the show-stealer for fans who like plunder and hardcore matches. This is a toss up, honestly but I feel Janela needs the win more than anyone else. Janela could use a win as he’s lost in every match he’s had in AEW so far. Jimmy Havoc seems like he could lose every match and it wouldn’t impact him much so I don’t expect him to win. Darby Allin could use a win but his draw against Cody was basically that. I’m picking Janela here but wouldn’t be surprised to see Allin win this either. (Prediction: Joey Janela)
Andrew: Well isn’t this a pick em match. I don’t see how Havoc winning will do anything so it comes down to Allin and Janela. Both guys have so much potential and either could win here but I think AEW has more stock in Janela right now although I think Allin will be the bigger star among them. (Prediction: Joey Janela)
Jeff: (I will NOT call it a Cracker Barrel Clash… unless it’s IN a Cracker Barrel). Should be a good one as all three men are known for doing whatever it takes to win. I’m pretty into the idea of three guys being mad at each other about losing a wrestling match settling it with another wrestling match (Jesus, has watching WWE for so long actually made that concept something NOVEL in wrestling?) and it should get the crowd whipped into a frenzy. I have no idea why, but my guy is telling me Jimmy Havoc ends up with the win. (Prediction: Jimmy Havoc)
CONSENSUS: 2-1-0, Joey Janela
Shawn Spears vs. Cody
Ian: Spears needs the win more than Cody does. We’ve watched Spears as Tye Dillinger lose and lose and lose again in other promotions, it wouldn’t make sense for him to drop his first single’s match in a new promotion. Cody can lose, Cody’s fairly untouchable. Spears needs a little boost right now. Receiving Tully Blanchard as a manager is a good start to his push and beating Cody will help even further. (Prediction: Shawn Spears)
Andrew: Rhodes is the bigger star and the babyface going into this match. With history saying that Rhodes should get his revenge on Spears, I think it’s a pretty clear booking decision by AEW. Spears has done a great job of reinventing himself as a heel and could be a solid star going forward. While Rhodes should go over, you can’t rule out a surprise outcome. (Prediction: Cody Rhodes)
Jeff: A grudge match brought on by a devastating chair shot to the head! (I know the story, don’t @ me). Newly-married Spears is coming off a gruelling honeymoon and has the legendary Fifth-Greatest (of the original Four) Horseman in his corner. This’ll be Spear’s biggest match to date since leaving WWE, so I expect him to win here. Cody is an established star, but Spears, even though most of the audience knows him, needs to get a win here to show he’s a force to be reckoned with. (Prediction: Shawn Spears)
CONSENSUS: 2-1, Shawn Spears
Kenny Omega vs. PAC
Ian: Kenny Omega has to win this match. PAC is no longer the Dragon Gate champ and can lose in other promotions again so the issue which impacted Double or Nothing won’t apply here. Omega has a big rivalry with Jon Moxley pending in AEW and it’s unlikely the promotion has him lose in a match with little build-up and no chance of his rival interfering. (Prediction: Kenny Omega)
Andrew: This is one of the hardest picks of the entire card because both guys have big status’ and the promotion will want to keep them looking as strong as possible coming out of this show. I think PAC losing here won’t hurt him as many might think. I also see AEW booking Omega vs. Jericho for the AEW World Title at a later date potentially at their final 2019 PPV event. Thus, Omega should go over. (Prediction: Kenny Omega)
Jeff: Everyone was bummed to hear that Jon Moxley wouldn’t be able to take on Kenny Omega. But if you’re looking for a replacement, PAC ain’t a bad choice! Also not a bad way to debut PAC in AEW. This is the match of the night for me, which is saying a lot since it has had almost no build due to time constraints. As for a winner, I’m going with Kenny Omega. It makes more sense to keep him hot until Mox is able to come back and the two of them can tear up TNT. (Prediction: Kenny Omega)
CONSENSUS: 3-0, Kenny Omega
The Dark Order vs. Best Friends (AEW Tag-Tourney First-Round Bye)
Ian: The Dark Order should take this match and be granted a bye to the second-round of the upcoming tag title tournament. It’s too early for the Dark Order to lose as it does appear AEW wants to build them up as a heel team in the division. Fans know and like the Best Friends but don’t seem as knowledgeable regarding the former Super Smash Bros. It seems unlikely that AEW has them lose straight up here. (Prediction: The Dark Order)
Andrew: Best Friends are a more well-known team compared to The Dark Order. This should be one heck of a match but I see more upside with The Dark Order as AEW is gonna want a babyface vs. heel dynamic in the finals of this tournament. I have The Young Bucks making it to the finals so The Dark Order has to go over here. (Prediction: The Dark Order)
Jeff: Winners receive a first round bye in the AEW World Tag Team Championship tournament. Given how stacked this Tag Team Tournament is going to be, having a bye in the first round is a huge advantage. The Best Friends have really impressed me in their AEW matches, so I’m thinking them taking this one and getting the Bye would be great. After all, these teams could face each other again in the tournament brackets, so let’s give it to the Best Friends and light a fire under the Dark Order. (Prediction: Best Friends)
CONSENSUS: 2-1, The Dark Order
Lucha Bros (C) vs. Young Bucks (AAA Tag-Title Ladder Match)
Ian: To fans who have not been following AAA as well, this rivalry seems incredibly one-sided. The Bucks won at Double or Nothing and Fyter Fest, so if they win again here it’s not going to make the Lucha Bros look like title threats in the upcoming tag team title tournament. The Bucks have yet to lose in AEW but I think All Out is where they take their first L. (Prediction: The Lucha Bros)
Andrew: Their match at Double or Nothing was great and this could be the match that ends up stealing the show. Throw in the fact that this will be a ladder match with some insane moves could prove to be one of the best matches of the year and that’s a bold statement to make. With the AAA titles on the line, I don’t see a reason as to why Young Bucks should hold the titles any longer considering they will be exclusive to AEW. Lucha Brothers go over. (Prediction: The Lucha Bros)
Jeff: This match is going to be a banger! We all know what these guys are capable of, and I’ve loved just about every match they’ve had over the last few months over the AAA Titles. As for this match though, I can’t see the Bucks heading into a weekly TV show with another promotions tag straps (especially with the AEW tag titles as a primary focus as the kick off the TNT show) so I’d expect the Lucha Brothers to retain here, in what is sure to be a great match. (Prediction: The Lucha Bros)
CONSENSUS: 3-0, The Lucha Bros
Chris Jericho vs. “Hangman” Adam Page (AEW World Title)
Ian: AEW is doing their best to make you believe Hangman Page has no chance in this match. On recent shows, he’s been portrayed as injured and barely able to eek out a win over Kip Sabian, somebody many AEW fans have little experience watching. AEW may be doing this so that Page winning is a total shocker or they are doing this so that somehow they can make it believable during the match that Page could win. In the end, they just aren’t going to put that belt on Page yet and maybe not for a few years. That belt is going on Jericho. (Prediction: Chris Jericho)
Andrew: As much as I would like to see Page become the top champion, I don’t think it’s his time and especially going up against the biggest name that AEW has right now. Yes, having a former WWE star be their first champion isn’t the great thing to do but in this situation, it will help them more than hurt them just starting out. Page should be showcased in this match and be a bigger star coming out of it. It’ll be interesting to see how long Jericho stays champion. (Prediction: Chris Jericho)
Jeff: It’s exciting as hell to be in on the ground floor of a World Title that means something again. It reminds me a lot of how the NXT title still feels important in that promotion. This is going to be a straight up fight though, with Jericho somehow still doing the best work of his career and Page able to match him every step of the way. In the end, it makes more sense to me to put the inaugural title on Page. It fits with the “newness” of AEW and gives Jericho a reason to continue heeling it up so excellently. It’ll be weird to have two Wednesday night shows with “Adams” as champions. But I’ll take it. (Prediction: “Hangman” Adam Page)
CONSENSUS: 2-1, Chris Jericho
AEW ALL OUT Predictions Outro
What do you think about Ian, Andrew and Jeff’s picks for Saturday’s matches? How do their above picks compare to yours? Let us know by sharing your own AEW ALL OUT predictions in the “Comments” section below.
If you have somehow failed to get your fill of insight, analysis and predictions for Saturday night’s show, fear not!
In addition to the above picks from our trio of veteran reporters, you can also see what the “betting experts” expect to happen in the top matches by checking out the AEW ALL OUT betting odds.
Join us here at SEScoops.com throughout the weekend for the best coverage of AEW ALL OUT news, rumors and spoilers.
Make sure to stop by on Saturday night for the absolute fastest and most-detailed, live AEW ALL OUT results coverage on the web!
Kota Ibushi recently sat down with njpw1972.com to discuss his G1 Climax victory back on August 12th. He covered a range of topics including the ankle injuries he suffered on the first night of the tournament. Ibushi also clarified what he meant with his closing promo, stating that the context was somewhat misunderstood.
In the wake of his victory, Ibushi used phrases such as ‘I won’t run away,’ ‘I won’t give up,’ and ‘I won’t repeat the same mistakes.’ Extrapolating on his meaning, Ibushi said:
“Hmm. I’ve been asked the same question; that I’d been saying ‘I won’t run away’, so was there a time when I was running away from things? But it’s like this. If you go all the way back to your childhood, everyone has at least one moment where they feel they’ve let themselves down, right?”
He continued, “Go all the way back through life, and there was a time when everybody has messed up, or run away from an issue, or quit something. So what I was saying was in response to all of that. That was the idea at least.”
Ankle Injury
Ibushi suffered an unfortunate injury during his opening match against KENTA. Not only would he hurt his ankle, but he also lost that match. This physical setback was something he called “the toughest mental hurdle” he’s ever had to overcome. Despite the pain, Ibushi struggled on with the tournament.
“Obviously there was a lot of pain, but pain in itself is no big deal,” Ibushi said. “Not being able to move, that’s what really sucks, mentally. […] It was really tough. Honestly, I was pretty proud of myself for making it [to the airport] in that state. I proved to myself how much I’d grown.”
“This Is Pretty Much The Biggest Thing To Ever Happen To Me”
In the end, Ibushi would emerge victorious from the gruelling tournament, defeating Bullet Club leader Jay White in the finals. When it’s brought up how he’s never been in the spotlight the way he currently is, Ibushi agreed that this might be the first time he’s ever been in such a high position within NJPW.
“Last year it looked like I could do it, but didn’t. Yeah, this might be the first time I’ve been in this position. I’ve won Best of the Super Juniors in the past, but that was a different thing, really. This is pretty much the biggest thing to ever happen to me.”
The landscapes of WWE and the entire industry are changing rapidly. In just 5 weeks time, NXT will be airing on the USA Network live each week for 2 hours in prime time. SmackDown is moving to network television, giving WWE programming its largest platform ever. Then there’s the upcoming launch of AEW on TNT, dragging WWE back on to the battle field.
WWE held a Superstar Shakeup back in April, which reshuffled the rosters of Raw and SmackDown. However, this year’s Shakeup had a minimal impact on the makeup of the Raw and SmackDown rosters. Almost immediately, WWE blurred the lines between Rw and SmackDown by having superstars showing up on both shows. WWE eventually announced a Wild Card rule to justify the crossovers, but it’s been a futile effort.
Ahead of SmackDown moving to Fox and NXT moving to USA, there has been talk of WWE going back to a ‘hard brand split.’ According to the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter, WWE officials are discussing holding a WWE Draft in September to give Raw and SmackDown more-defined rosters:
“Right now there is a concept of another draft type of thing to build permanent Raw and Smackdown rosters. What we were originally told is that they wouldn’t be making major changes, but some changes, but this is Vince. Everything is being kept quiet and USA and FOX will be the first to know when the concept is decided.”
It will be interesting to see if this proposed idea comes to fruition. Over the past week or so, a few WWE Superstars have teased or outright stated their intentions to get more involved with NXT. Cesaro will attend this weekend’s NXT UK Takeover: Cardiff PPV. The Viking Raiders are vowing to wreak havoc in NXT once again. NXT is gearing up for a war against AEW, so expect to see that roster get infused with some Raw and SmackDown talent in the near future.
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Chad Gable has opened up about facing Andrade during the next round of WWE’s current King of the Ring tournament. He advanced after defeating Shelton Benjamin this past Tuesday on SmackDown.
“Look, I’m not a cocky guy,” Gable said, “but I’ve been telling everybody, and especially Shelton for the last couple of weeks, that I’m going to be the one that comes out on top. He’ll be looking up at me. Maybe so many people won’t be looking at me as an underdog anymore.”
For him, he believes that people have struggled with Andrade as they have been so mismatched with his style. Gable, however, believes that Andrade has never wrestled anyone like him before.
“I think a lot of people have had trouble with Andrade because he’s such a style mismatch for so many people. I mean, he’s incredible. But there’s nobody on this roster, I promise you, that has more experience wrestling international athletes from all over than I do and that includes Andrade. He’s never wrestled someone like me.”
“He’s Not A Threat To Me”
Andrade’s manager, Zelina Vega, explained how Andrade isn’t nervous about facing anybody. She called Gable’s victory over Shelton Benjamin a “lucky win.”
When it comes to being an underdog, Vega claimed no one knows what that means better than her, and she intends to use that knowledge to help focus Andrade.
“Last week, I said that this is my destiny,” Andrade stated. “I will become the next King of the Ring, and Gable…he’s not a threat to me. I will beat him. I will move onto the next round in this tournament, okay?”
The two will face off next week on SmackDown Live, competing for a chance to advance to the semi-finals of the tournament.
As soon as Moxley found out, he apparently contacted Conrad to inform him of the situation, telling them he was sorry.
“We received word today that unfortunately @JonMoxley won’t be able to travel to @StarrcastEvents. Once he got the word from his doctor he told us, “I’m sorry, this sucks.” I’m sure we all echo those sentiments. We wish him a speedy recovery and look forward to seeing him soon.
Everyone who purchased his meet and greet has been notified via email. Refunds will begin being processed tomorrow. His stage show has been cancelled and a new schedule will be released tomorrow.
— Conrad the Mortgage Guy (@HeyHeyItsConrad) August 29, 2019
He followed it up with another tweet, regarding those who had purchased Meet and Greet opportunities to meet Moxley:
“Everyone who purchased his meet and greet has been notified via email. Refunds will begin being processed tomorrow. His stage show has been cancelled and a new schedule will be released tomorrow.”
Despite this bad luck, Starrcast will still feature an all-star lineup.
Notably, former WWE Superstar CM Punk will be in attendance for an on-stage interview. Other wrestlers have speculated that Punk’s involvement with this massive pro wrestling event may be a step towards a return to the squared circle.
Starrcast III takes place between August 29-September 1st from the Hyatt Regency Chicago in Schaumburg, Illinois.
When asked why he wouldn’t want to be the 24/7 Champion, the former Universal Champion explained that his familial commitments and responsibilities are reason enough to not want to be on constant alert.
“I have a family. I have 3 dogs and 3 cats. I have responsibilities. I can’t worry about being rolled up by some dude while I’m dropping my kids off at school or enjoying a lovely night out with my wife. Congrats @WWEMaverick, though. Have fun with all of that.”
Drake Maverick recently reclaimed the 24/7 Championship during this week’s episode of SmackDown Live. After an attack from Kevin Owens, Owens nailed Elias with a Stunner, leaving him prone in the ring. R-Truth attempted to take the victory. Maverick would break up the pin and was able to secure his own three count, once again becoming champion.
At this time, Kevin Owens does not yet have a match scheduled for WWE’s upcoming pay-per-view, Clash of Champions. The show takes place on September 15th from the Spectrum Center in North Carolina.