Archive for October, 2019

Jordan Myles Calls Out WWE Over Controversial T-Shirt Design

Jordan Myles (previously known as ACH) has called out Triple H and Vince McMahon over the controversial design of his merchandise.

Myles tagged both Triple H and Vince McMahon in the below Tweet critical of the design of his merchandise:

https://twitter.com/GoGoMyles/status/1188393687983759360

The design of the Jordan Myles t-shirt is drawing comparisons to a similarly controversial Gucci sweater. The company’s wool balaclava jumper was black in color and had a neck that could be pulled up over the person’s face which featured an image of red lips. Gucci discontinued the sweater after it was criticized for resembling blackface.

https://twitter.com/089968Raph/status/1188435515969822721

MVP Offers To Help

MVP asked Myles to call him in response to the thread.

Jordan Myles in NXT

Jordan Myles won the NXT breakout tournament earlier this summer. The finals of the tournament were held before Takeover: Toronto II in August. Myles defeated Cameron Grimes in the finals. He would then lose an NXT Championship match to Adam Cole on a future episode of NXT.

Myles has been wrestling on the NXT live event schedule as of late and has been teaming with Kushida and Keith Lee on recent cards.

AEW Signs Olympic Boxer Anthony Ogogo

All Elite Wrestling has signed former Olympic boxer Anthony Ogogo. Cody Rhodes is calling the new signing AEW’s first real developmental project. Cody was in attendance at Southside Wrestling’s 9th Anniversary show in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, England this weekend where Ogogo made an appearance in a segment with MJF.

Ogogo won a bronze medal in the middleweight division at the 2012 Olympics in London, England. He has a pro record of 11-1.

“I’m thrilled about this signing,” Cody Tweeted. “Anthony will be our first developmental project as a company. For those who followed his boxing career and saw his Olympic acumen, you’ll be happy to see he’s now applying that passion and work-ethic to pro-wrestling training. Welcome Anthony!”

Ogogo’s altercation with MFJ can be viewed in the player below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9A5hH5Eg7pI&feature=youtu.be

Anthony Ogogo Signs With AEW

Ogogo officially retired from boxing this March, although he had not fought since 2016. His last fight was the only loss of his professional career. He dropped a fight to Craig Cunningham for the vacant WBC International middleweight title.

“I’ve been through a lot in my career, I’ve had 17 operations and suffered every pain imaginable. I’ve won, lost, cried and hurt. But if you were to ask me would I do it again? In a heartbeat. I love this game,” Ogogo said upon his retirement.

“I’m seriously considering becoming a professional wrestler, I may join one of the big companies and do some wrestling because it has always been something I’ve enjoyed,” Ogogo said to the Eastern Daily Press this summer.

Spoilers: Impact Wrestling TV Taping Results (10/26/19)

The spoilers from the Impact Wrestling TV taping that took place on Saturday, October 26, 2019, in Windsor, Ontario Canada at the St. Clair College has surfaced online.

The biggest news to come out of the taping was the fact that Tessa Blanchard is the new #1 contender to the Impact World Heavyweight Championship, which is held by Sami Callihan after he won the title at Friday’s taping. 

These matches and segments will air over the coming weeks on AXS TV. You can read the results here, courtesy of WrestleZone: 

Impact Wrestling TV Taping Results

Fallah Bahh defeated Jake Crist.

El Reverso defeated a jobber.

OVE defeated Tessa Blanchard & Rich Swann. Post-match, Brian Cage attacks Callihan.

Trey defeated Willie Mack, Petey Williams, Aiden Prince, Brent Banks, Raju, and Romero in a six-pack challenge.

Madison Rayne defeated Alexa Nicole.

The North defeated Eddie Edwards & Marufuji.

Havok defeated a jobber.

Jordynne Grace defeated Taya Valkyrie & John E. Bravo.

The Rascals defeated Reno Scum, Desi Hit Squad & The Deaners in a four-way.

Ken Shamrock defeated Joey Ryan.

Gauntlet Match to determine No. 1 contender for Impact World Championship:

  • Moose defeated Daga.
  • Rich Swann defeated Moose.
  • Rich Swann defeated Michael Elgin via DQ after Elgin attacks a referee. 
  • Brian Cage defeated Rich Swann.
  • Tessa Blanchard defeated Brian Cage

Matt Hardy Publishes “Free The Delete” Ep. 1 (Video)

The last time Matt Hardy competed on WWE programming was on June 7th, 2019 at Super ShowDown in Saudi Arabia. Hardy competed in the 50-man battle royal won by Mansoor that night. He and his brother Jeff had won the Smackdown tag team championship shortly after WrestleMania but would later be forced to vacate the belts due to an injury to Jeff. Since then, Matt has appeared on a few live events but has not been a major part of WWE programming.

Hardy recently released the first episode of a YouTube series he has titled “Free the Delete.”

The full video can be viewed in the player below:

“It’s the first EVAH episode of “FREE THE DELETE”, which follows Matt Hardy’s journey to recapture his #BROKENBrilliance. Finding himself somewhere in limbo between mankind and the multiverse, Matt must embark on a mission to #FreeTheDELETE and PROCURE his true DESTINY,” a description of the video on YouTube reads.

Matt Hardy Says He Wants To Finish WWE Career As Broken Character

Last month, Hardy mentioned on the Cheap Heat podcast that he would like to finish his WWE career as his broken character.

“One thing I would like to do, I would like to finish up my run in WWE as ‘Broken’ Matt Hardy,” Hardy said during the podcast. “I think there is a lot of money in ‘Broken’ Matt Hardy, I think it’s different.”

Chad Gable Comments On Being Renamed “Shorty G”

Former Olympic wrestler Chad Gable has been renamed “Shorty G” in WWE. The 5ft 8 Superstar has been ribbed in storyline regarding his height. Gable spoke to SI.com recently about the name change.

“The key is to take advantage when given the opportunity,” said Gable. “Right before I went out last week to do the Shorty G promo, Bruce Prichard told me to make it my own and feel it.”

Gable continued to talk about the promo he gave on Smackdown last week.

“That promo, I felt it very deeply. The height thing is a message about overcoming whatever people believe are your shortcomings. Everybody can identify with that. That’s an area Chad Gable, up to this point, had been missing. Now you know what he stands for and what he means. Last Friday was the very first step in that process, and it’s only going to get bigger.”

He continued to talk about learning that WWE is an entertainment company as well.

“A lot of people look at WWE as a wrestling company, but at the end of the day, it’s an entertainment company,” said Gable. “I had to learn that, too. I’m one of the people who fell in love with wrestling because of the athleticism, but that’s not the only part of what we do here. WWE entertains.”

The full interview can be read here.

NXT To Hold All-Women Event In December

While a second WWE Evolution PPV is not currently in the works, NXT evidently has plans to throw an all-female event in December. NXT held a house show in Jacksonville, Florida last night and NXT Women’s Champion Shayna Baszler announced the news. Baszler also informed the live audience that her championship will be defended on the show.

The all-women NXT event is scheduled for December 5th in Jacksonville. There is currently no word regarding if the special will air on the Network.

https://twitter.com/orinanne/status/1187891572190470144

As for who Baszler will defend her title against, there are a few possibilities. Rhea Ripley defeated Bianca Belair In the opener of NXT on USA this week. Other contenders in the division, Io Shirai and Candice LeRae, also got involved in the match. Shirai and LaRae will meet in singles action next week.

The next contender for Shayna Baszler’s NXT women’s championship will then likely come down to Rhea Ripley and the winner of Io Shirai vs Candice LeRae on next week’s show.

The WWE women’s tag team championships are also playing a role on NXT these days and could potentially be defended on the December 5th all-female show as well. Next week on NXT, Tegan Nox and Dakota Kai will challenge Asuka and Kairi Sane for the championships. Nox and Kai earned the right to challenge the Kabuki Warriors by defeating Jessamyn Duke and Marina Shafir last week.

Finn Balor On Heel Turn: “The Prince Is Back”

Finn Balor shocked the world on Wednesday night when he attacked Johnny Gargano following NXT on USA this week. Balor closed the show standing tall over Gargano and 2 days later appeared on WWE Backstage last night with Renee Young and Booker T.

“Felt good making a return, felt good. It felt better kicking Johnny Gargano in the head,” Balor said. “It felt good standing back up, seeing him on the ground, seeing the people speechless, that felt good.”

“I feel like maybe I haven’t been true to myself for a long time,” he continued.

Renee Young then mentioned that several wrestlers from a “particular club” have been talking about Balor’s actions from Wednesday. She asked Balor if he’s had a chance to speak with any of his former stablemates.

“I’ve spoken to a lot of people. Seems like I’m a popular guy this week,” Balor responded.

“This is the real Finn Balor. You’re a big fan of my work from before WWE, right?” Balor then asked Booker. “Let’s just say the Prince is back.”

The full interview with Finn Balor, Booker T, and Renee Young can be seen in the player below:

Impact Wrestling Issues “Significant Pay Raises” To Talent

Days out from their debut on AXS TV, Impact Wrestling has issued pay raises to several talents on their roster. According to a report from Pro Wrestling Sheet, multiple wrestlers, including X Division champion Ace Austin and tag team champions the North, have received a bump in pay.

The three members of The Rascals and Jessika Havok are also reported to have received a pay raise. No details are currently available regarding the size of the pay increase, however.

Most wrestlers were informed of the news before yesterday’s TV tapings in Windsor but some were informed before Bound For Glory last weekend.

The members of the Impact roster are said to be quite happy about the pay increase. One wrestler was said to have almost been brought to tears by the good news as well.

Impact Wrestling Debut On AXS TV

While previous PPVs and a “This is Impact” special has aired on AXS TV throughout October, this Tuesday Impact will present their first 2-hour weekly show on the network. The lineup for the first show is below:

  • Impact World Championship
    Brian Cage (c) vs Sami Callihan (Steel Cage)
  • Josh Alexander vs Naomichi Marufuji
  • Ace Austin vs Eddie Edwards
  • Ken Shamrock’s future revealed

Spoilers: Impact Wrestling TV Taping Results (10/25/19)

The spoilers from the Impact Wrestling TV taping that took place on Friday, October 25, 2019, in Windsor, Ontario Canada at the St. Clair College has surfaced online.

The biggest spoiler to come out of these tapings is the fact that Brian Cage is no longer the Impact World Heavyweight Champion as he dropped the title to Sami Callihan inside of a Steel Cage. 

This match will air on the premire episode of Impact Wrestling on AXS TV this coming Tuesday. 

These matches and segments will air over the coming weeks on AXS TV. You can read the results here, courtesy of WrestleZone: 

Impact Wrestling TV Taping Results

Sami Callihan def. Brian Cage in a Steel Cage Match to win the Impact World Championship.

Jordynne Grace def. Taya Valkyrie.

Rich Swann & Willie Mack def. Desi Hit Squad.

Daga def. Jake Crist.

Marafuji def. Josh Alexander.

Ace Austin def. Eddie Edwards in a Street Fight.

Michael Elgin def. Fallah Bah.

Ken Shamrock comes out to to the ring to cut a promo about his future. He’s interrupted by Joey Ryan. A match is made between the two for an upcoming episode.

Taya Valkyrie def. Madison Rayne. Posts-match, Jordynne Grace attacks Valkyrie.

Moose def. Willie Mack.

Daga, Tommy Dreamer, Tessa Blanchard & Rich Swann def. OVE in a Street Fight.

6 Takeaways From WWE SmackDown (10/25)

The October 25th, 2019 episode of WWE SmackDown aired live from the Sprint Center in Kansas City, MO. Here are 6 takeaways from the show:

Team Flair & Team Hogan Brawled

SmackDown opened up with an episode of Miz TV featuring Team Hogan and Team Flair. Shorty G was dressed like a basketball player with a giant “G” on his chest.

Hulk Hogan asked Flair what he is going to do when Team Hogan destroys you at Crown Jewel and Flair went on a rant before telling Roman Reigns that he is tired of looking at him all the time.

Hogan boasted about his team before Sami Zayn interrupted. Sami said that Shorty G could stand on Ali’s shoulders and would still only be half the man that Shinsuke Nakamura is. Ali poked fun at Sami for being Nakamura’s mouthpiece and then lamely joked that Zayn’s breath smells bad.

Corbin insulted Reigns and Roman responded by calling Corbin a fake king. Hogan suggested a 6-man tag match right now but Sami Zayn declined. Hulk then suggested that the match be the main event and Sami accepted. Zayn said that he tweaked his neck and announced Cesaro as his replacement. The superstars then brawled to conclude the segment.

Shorty G looked completely ridiculous in his new attire. I’ve seen some people claiming that this “Shorty G” gimmick will help get him over with the crowd. It seems more like WWE trying to embarrass Chad Gable at this point.

Firefly Fun House Returned

Firefly Fun House
Firefly Fun House

Firefly Fun House returned tonight on SmackDown. Wyatt held a funeral for Ramblin Rabbit and blamed Rollins for his death.

https://twitter.com/tde_wrestling/status/1187893478035984384?s=20

Wyatt stated that Ramblin’s mommy always said that he wanted an open casket. Bray took the Ramblin out of the casket and smooched him on top of his head. Ramblin Rabbit came back down to life and said that he was having a nightmare about a muscle man in a suit that kept firing him.

Mercy then ate Ramblin Rabbit again. Wyatt laughed and said that he will see everyone at Crown Jewel. Seth Rollins will defend his Universal Championship against Wyatt in a Falls Count Anywhere match at Crown Jewel.

https://twitter.com/tde_wrestling/status/1187894016630755328?s=20

Nakamura & Zayn Want Daniel Bryan To Join Them

Michael Cole interviewed Daniel Bryan tonight on SmackDown. Cole pointed out that the arena erupted in “yes!” chants after Daniel pinned the Intercontinental Champion last week.

Cole asked Bryan if the Yes Movement was back but Shinsuke Nakamura interrupted before Bryan could answer. Sami Zayn rolled footage from a promo that Bryan cut in the promo. Bryan said in the promo that the old Daniel Bryan and the Yes Movement were dead.

Zayn claimed that the new Daniel Bryan is actually the real Daniel Bryan. Sami added that Bryan is a good man and he is too good for the people in the crowd. Zayn stated that all three of them are artists and told Bryan that he might be one of the best to ever do this.

Sami told Bryan that his career is at a crossroads and that he can go back to the Yes Movement or move forward and join them. Bryan declined to shake Sami’s hand and exited the ring. Bryan looked back at them before heading backstage.

Nikki Cross Defeated Mandy Rose

Nikki Cross faced Mandy Rose tonight on the show. SmackDown Women’s Champion Bayley and Sasha Banks joined commentary for the match. Nikki Cross won a Six-Pack Challenge last week to become the #1 contender for the SmackDown Women’s Championship.

Mandy controlled the match early and leveled Nikki with a right hand to the face for a near fall. Rose connected with a Fallaway Slam and went for the cover but Nikki kicked out at two.

Rose threw Nikki out of the ring and Sonya Deville hit Cross with a cheap shot while Mandy distracted the referee. Back in the ring, Nikki hit a Splash in the corner and followed it up with a Bulldog. Cross climbed to the top rope and hit a Crossbody for a near fall. Nikki hit Deville with a Dropkick and then planted Rose with the Swinging Neckbreaker for the pinfall victory.

Brock Lesnar Attacked Rey, Dominick & Cain Velasquez

Photo Credit: WWE.com

Cain Velasquez had a face-to-face with WWE Champion Brock Lesnar tonight on SmackDown. Lesnar will defend the title against Cain at WWE Crown Jewel next Thursday.

RAW superstar Rey Mysterio came down to the ring (thought the Wild Card rule was over) and stated that it was time for Lesnar to pay for what he did to his son. Mysterio added that Velasquez is going to drop Brock once again and put another scar on his face at Crown Jewel.

WWE Champion Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman appeared on the jumbotron. Heyman claimed that Lesnar has other things to do tonight than to go face-to-face with Velasquez. Brock then revealed that he had attacked Dominick and Rey Mysterio ran backstage as SmackDown went to a break.

Velasquez and Mysterio stood beside Dominick as a doctor checked on him. Lesnar attacked them from behind and hit Cain with a trash can. Brock then hit an F5 that sent Mysterio flying into a wall. Lesnar then hit Cain with an F5 that sent him crashing on top of Dominick. The backstage beatdown was the best part of the show so far.

Reigns, Ali & Shorty G Picked Up The Win

Corbin, Nakamura, and Cesaro faced Roman Reigns, Shorty G, and Ali in the main event of this week’s SmackDown. Hulk Hogan and Ric Flair were ringside for the match. Reigns started off the match in control and planted King Corbin with a Samoan Drop for a near fall.

Reigns hit a Drive-By on Corbin as Nakamura tagged in. Shorty G tagged in and applied an Armbar to Shinsuke. Ali tagged in and walked into a kick to the face from Nakamura.

Cesaro tagged in and Ali hit him with a Hurricanrana. Cesaro battled back with a Gutwrench Suplex for a near fall. Ali connected with a Facebuster and went for the cover but Cesaro kicked out at two. Sami Zayn distracted Ali as Cesaro tagged in Corbin. King Corbin leveled Ali with a Clothesline and Sami shouted “that was awesome!” as SmackDown went to a commercial break.

https://twitter.com/WWEUniverse/status/1187909504890892288?s=20

When SmackDown returned, Ali planted Cesaro with a DDT. Shorty G and Corbin tagged in and Gable dominated. Shorty G connected with a Moonsault off the top rope and then applied the Ankle Lock in the middle of the ring. Nakamura broke it up with a running knee to the back of Gable’s head.

Corbin and Nakamura tried to Superplex Shorty G but Gable headbutted them both to off the turnbuckle. Reigns got a great reaction as he tagged in and planted Cesaro with a Powerbomb for a two count. Roman went for the Superman Punch but Cesaro countered into the Swing. Cesaro transitioned into the Sharpshooter in the middle of the ring but Ali broke it up with a Superkick. Corbin hit Ali with Deep Six but was then Dropkicked out of the ring by Shorty G.

Nakamura knocked Shorty G to the outside but turned around into a Superman Punch from Roman. Reigns went for the Spear but Cesaro dodged it and hit an uppercut for a near fall. Roman caught Cesaro with the Superman Punch and followed it up with a Spear. Ali tagged in and hit a 450 Splash for the pinfall victory.

https://twitter.com/tde_wrestling/status/1187912004176109569?s=20

I enjoyed this match and thought it was well done. Unfortunately, the majority of this show felt lifeless. I’m not sure why Drew Gulak is being booked like an idiot on the main roster now and why Lacey Evans is facing enhancement talent. There is a lot of talent on these rosters, so it is a little ridiculous to see the opening promo last 15-minutes and have it lead to a 15-minute main event. Sami Zayn and Shinsuke Nakamura were in the opening promo, the promo with Daniel Bryan and in the main event of a two-hour show.

https://twitter.com/tde_wrestling/status/1187912200045940736?s=20

Chris Jericho Says NXT Is Minor League, Talks Vince McMahon’s Genius Move Against AEW

AEW World Champion Chris Jericho made a recent appearance on Grado’s new Wrestling Daft podcast where he made some interesting comments about the Wednesday Night Wars. 

In this interview, Jericho brought up how he was always confident that AEW would win in the ratings. 

“NXT is still the minor league Those guys are still unknown performers, it’s not a competition to us and I knew we’d win because we have more star power.”

Jericho stated that AEW ended their premiere episode of Dynamite with himself, Dustin Rhodes, and Jon Moxley because fans all know them. They also had WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross calling the action, who fans know as well. 

Jericho continued by noting that WWE Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon decided to put NXT up against AEW in order to keep competition away from RAW and Friday Night SmackDown. 

He added that their competition is with WWE’s flagship shows as well as Universal Champion Seth Rollins, WWE Champion Brock Lesnar, and Roman Reigns. 

“I think it was a stroke of genius by Vince McMahon to put NXT on against up because it took the focus off ‘the main show and AEW’ and put it on ‘the minor league and AEW.'”

Since October 2nd, WWE has been battling AEW with airing NXT in the same timeslot on the USA Network as a way to counterprogram All Elite Wrestling with their Dynamite series on TNT. 

Seth Rollins: Kenny Omega Is ‘Playing In The Minor Leagues’ (Video)

Jericho’s comments come at an interesting time as Rollins recently made similar comments about AEW and seeing them as the minor league promotion when talking about top AEW star Kenny Omega. 

Jericho makes his next title defense on PPV when he wrestles Cody Rhodes at the upcoming Full Gear pay-per-view event.

H/T to Cultaholic

2K Addresses #FixWWE2K20 Fiasco

WWE 2K20 has received a lot of negative feedback from fans.

This has led to 2K commenting on the bugs and glitches in the game that has led to many upset fans, who think the game is nearly unplayable. 

On Friday, 2K Games issued the following statement on their official Twitter account: 

“We are listening closely to the feedback that’s been shared regarding WWE 2K20 and are aware of the concerns some players are reporting. We’re working hard to investigate these concerns and address them as necessary. We expect to have an initial patch ready in the next two weeks, with others to follow. Stay tuned to WWEGames social media channels for more information.”

Edge Acknowledges Missing WWE 2K20 Autographs

It has gotten to the point that PlayStation is offering refunds to fans who want their money back after buying the game. 

When the game was released, fans started the “#FixWWE2K20” hashtag on social media, which has been trending for days, where fans vented about the issues with the game. 

These issues also include missing features and fans not physically receiving all of the advertised items with their Collector’s Editions.

It should be noted that there was no early access for collectors or deluxe versions this year. It’s available for fans to play on Xbox One, PS4, and PC.

WWE SmackDown Results & Live Coverage (10/25)

The October 25th, 2019 edition of WWE SmackDown took place at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, MO. This week’s episode aired on FS1 instead of FOX due to Major League Baseball.

– A pyro display goes off from the SmackDown stage as this week’s broadcast starts.

– The Miz is in the ring to host Miz TV to start the show. He’s joined by Ric Flair, Hulk Hogan, and members of their respective teams for the Saudi Arabia pay-per-view. Jimmy Hart is in the ring too, on Hogan’s side of course. Hogan and Flair exchange promos on the mic, and Hogan tells Flair to “check the history books dude, because you never beat me.” Hogan says how can he lose when he has Short G on his team, not to mention Ali, Rusev, and Roman Reigns. Sami Zayn speaks up and interrupts, and he starts making height jokes about Shorty G. Shorty G and Ali both fires back at Sami, and Ali points out that Sami doesn’t even compete anymore, he’s just a “mouthpiece.” Corbin starts trashing them now, and saying that he is the king now and Roman Reigns’ time has passed. Reigns says that Corbin looks stupid and sounds stupid, and Reigns wants to punch him in the face. Gable tells Corbin they can do this right now. Hogan tells them to hang on a minute. Hogan asks if the fans in Kansas City want to see a preview of their match at the pay per view. The crowd pops and it looks like they’re ready for a match, but Sami Zayn interrupts and says that won’t happen, and they are going to go think about it. They start leaving the ring, then Hulk tells them to hold on. Hulk proposes that in the main event tonight, Roman Reigns, Shorty G & Ali face off against Corbin, Nakamura, and Zayn. Hogan takes some shots and makes fun of Nakamura and Zayn. Zayn agrees, but says he can’t compete tonight, so he’s going to give someone else his spot. Zayn introduces his replacement, Cesaro. Cesaro starts running up to the ring, but Reigns rolls out and intercepts him, then they start brawling all over ringside. Shorty G comes flying off the apron with a dive on Nakamura, then Ali hits a dive on Corbin. The heels back up the ramp, and “Real American” plays as Hogan and his team members stand tall in the ring.

– Still to come: Brock Lesnar and Cain Velasquez come face to face.

– Kofi Kingston and Big E are shown backstage, with Xavier Woods on Facetime on an iPad. They’re getting ready to come out for their tag match.

Kofi Kingston & Big E vs. Dolph Ziggler & Robert Roode Kofi and Dolph start off trading strikes. Dolph misses a shot in the corner and he eats a kick from Ziggler. Kofi goes up top, but Roode knocks him down. Dolph runs over and superkicks Kofi to the outside floor now. Back from the commercial break, Big E hits a series of suplexes on Dolph, and then he knocks Roode off the apron. Ziggler goes out to ringside too, then Kofi tags in and hits a suicide dive on Ziggler. The B Team is shown backstage watching on a monitor. Roode runs back in the ring and hits a spinebuster on Big E, and then Kofi (still the legal man) runs in and dumps Roode outside. Ziggler runs in behind Kofi now and rolls him up from behind for the three count.

Winners: Dolph Ziggler & Robert Roode

– After the match, The Revival comes out and they attack Kofi and Big E. Roode and Ziggler join in on the brawl now. Heavy Machinery comes out to even the odds, and Heavy Machinery and The New Day team up to clear the ring. The Lucha House Party is shown backstage watching on a TV.

– Rey Mysterio is shown backstage talking to his son Dominic, and former UFC Champion Cain Velasquez.

– Michael Cole sends us to a video package looking at the feud between Braun Strowman and Tyson Fury, including footage of them getting into it at the WWE Performance Center.

– Lacey Evans comes out to the ring for a match with an enhancement talent, but she gets on the mic first. She tells the jobber she knows she’s scared, so she’s going to do her a favor and leave. Plus, she says these people don’t deserve to see her compete.

Lacey Evans vs. Cameron Connors: The opening bell sounds, and Lacey gets out of the ring and starts walking away. At the ref’s 8 count, Lacey runs back in the ring and attacks the jobber. Lacey hits the Woman’s Right for the three count.

Winner: Lacey Evans

– Michael Cole interviews Nikki Cross via video now. Nikki talks about Bayley’s attitude change briefly, but tonight she’s focused on her match with Mandy Rose. She says Mandy is beautiful, but this isn’t a pageant, it’s Friday Night SmackDown.

– Up next: The Firefly Fun House returns.

– Back from the break, it’s time for Bray Wyatt’s Firefly Fun House. He’s standing in a front of a new blain blue wall, with some pictures on it. Bray is holding a funeral for his rabbit puppet, who he says died in Seth Rollins’ attack. Bray and the puppets share some words about the rabbit, and then Bray takes the rabbit puppet out of it’s casket and hugs it. Some special effects wipe across the screen, and the rabbit puppet comes back to life. Bray is excited, and talks about believing in the power of — but Bray gets cut off by his buzzard puppet eating the rabbit puppet. Bray tells us we’re out of time, and the Firefly Fun House segment wraps up.

Kalisto vs. Drew Gulak: We see a pre-taped promo from the Lucha House Party before the match. The opening bell sounds, but Drew steps out between the ropes and grabs a mic. Drew introduces himself as a former Cruiserweight Champion. He says he still has a powerpoint presentation from last week to finish, and he points up to the big screen. Drew starts reading off the screen, and calling for more slides to be shown. Kalisto has heard enough, and he dropkicks Gulak down. Kalisto hits a series of strikes, and a headscissor takedown. More kicks and right hands from Kalisto now, but then he misses a shot and Gulak drops him with an Alabama Slam. Gulak takes control of the match now, but then Braun Strowman’s music hits and Braun walks down to ringside. The distraction leads to Kalisto hitting the Salida Del Sol for the three count.

Winner: Kalisto

– After the match, Braun gets in the ring and picks up Drew by the hair. Braun hits the running powerslam on Gulak, then he grabs a mic. The crowd chants for one more slam, so Braun picks Drew up and gives him another. Braun gets on the mic again and says this is what happens when you disrespect him. Braun says at least Drew deserves to be in this ring, unlike Tyson. At Crown Jewel, Braun says he’s going to send Tyson back to where he belongs.

– Daniel Bryan is shown walking through the backstage area. He’s getting ready for an interview with Michael Cole.

– Back from the break, Michael Cole is in the ring, and he introduces his guest Daniel Bryan. Bryan steps in the ring, and Cole asks him about the fans bringing back the “Yes” chants for him. Cole asks Bryan if the “Yes Movement” is back or not. The crowd chants “Yes” again, but before Bryan can answer, Sami Zayn and Shinsuka Nakamura interrupt. Cole leaves. Sami steps into the ring with Nakamura, and he shows a clip on the big screen of Bryan talking about the Yes Movement being dead. Sami tells Bryan that he would be moving backwards by bringing back the Yes Movement. Instead, Sami says Bryan should move forward, and join him and Nakamura. Sami says that by joining forces, they could take Bryan’s career to a whole new level. Sami asks Bryan if he wants to move backwards with the fans, or move forwards with Sami and Nakamura. Sami extends his hand, but Bryan doesn’t shake it. Bryan walks past Sami and Nakamura, and leaves the ring.

– Hulk Hogan is shown backstage discussing strategy with Roman Reigns, Shorty G, Ali, and Jimmy Hart.

Mandy Rose vs. Nikki Cross: Women’s Champion Bayley and Sasha Banks are at ringside on commentary, and Sonya is at ringside in Mandy’s corner. Mandy starts off strong in this one, and she throws Nikki across the ring. Mandy controls the opening moments of this one, and she sends Nikki out to ringside after a fallaway slam. Sonya Deville hits a cheap shot on Nikki at ringside. Back in the ring, Mandy continues the offense until Nikki fires back with an elbow to the face. Nikki starts mounting a comeback now, and she hits a splash in the corner followed up by a running bulldog. Nikki goes up top and hits a flying cross body on Mandy for a two count. Nikki gets distracted by Sony, and Mandy tries to capitalize but she misses. Nikki fires back with the swinging neckbreaker for the three count.

Winner: Nikki Cross

– Ric Flair is shown backstage with his team for tonight’s match. Flair cuts a promo and gets them hyped up for tonight’s match.

– Rey Mysterio and Cain Velasquez are shown backstage getting ready to come out to the ring.

– Back from the break, we see footage of the two big Roman Reigns and Undertaker floats in the parade in Saudi Arabia recently.

– Rey Mysterio and Cain Velasquez come out to the ring next, and Rey gets on the mic. Rey talks about the night that Brock Lesnar attacked Dominic, and he thinks all of the fans for their support during Dominic’s recovery. Rey says no one, not even Brock, will interfere with Dominic’s dream of becoming a WWE Superstar. Rey says Brock has been doing anything he wants in WWE for too long, and now it’s time for Brock to pay for what he did to Rey’s son. Rey says next Thursday at Crown Jewel, his family Cain Velasquez is going to drop Brock again. Rey calls out Brock to come out to the ring now. Lesnar and Paul Heyman appear on the big screen. Heyman questions if they really want to come face to face this close to Crown Jewel. Heyman says that Brock has other things to do tonight than go face to face with Cain Velasquez. Heyman tells them to guess what Brock has been doing tonight instead of going face to face with Cain. Brock picks up Dominic from the floor by the head, and it looks like Dominic is unconscious. Rey and Cain see this on the big screen, and they immediately leave the ring and head to the back.

– Back from the commercial break, we see Rey and Cain checking on Dominic, who is now in the trainer’s office laying on the table. Brock runs in and ambushes them from behind with a trash can. He nails Cain with the trash can on the head first, then Rey jumps up on Brock’s back. Brock throws Rey on to another table, and then Brock gives Cain an F-5 on top of Dominic on the trainer’s examination table. Cain and Dominic both fall to the floor as Brock leaves.

– Ric Flair comes out first to bring out his team for tonight’s main event. Hulk Hogan (with Jimmy Hart) comes out next to lead his team to the ring.

Baron Corbin, Cesaro and Shinsuka Nakamura vs. Ali, Roman Reigns and Shorty G: Ric Flair, Sami Zayn, and Hulk Hogan are all at ringside. Reigns gets a fireworks display for his entrance. The opening bell sounds and all six men brawl out to ringside immediately. Corbin and Reigns get back in the ring and the others go on the aprons. Reigns and Corbin trade shots in the corner, until Reigns takes him down with a Samoan Drop for a two count. Nakamura tags in, and Reigns drops him with a right hand. Reigns runs around the ring now and hits the Drive By kick on Corbin. Reigns takes Nakamura into his corner and tags in Shorty G, who continues the offense on Nakamura. Gable and Nakamura trade a series of holds and reversals on the mat. Ali tags in and hits a dropkick on Nakamura. Nakamura fires back with a kick of his own on Ali, then Cesaro tags in. Cesaro brings the fight to Ali, but Ali sends him down with a hurricanrana. Cesaro fights back with a gut-wrench suplex. Ali fires back with a kick and a rolling facebuster, then he pins but Sami breaks it up. Cesaro knocks Ali out to ringside, then Corbin tags in and beats down Ali on the floor. Back in the ring, Nakamura tags back in and puts the boots to Ali. Cesaro tags in and starts trading shots with Ali now. Ali looks for a tornado DDT, but Cesaro blocks it and throws Ali down. Ali leaps back up and finally hits his tornado DDT. Reigns wants the hot tag, but Corbin runs around the ring and pulls Corbin down, then slams him into the barricade. Back in the ring, Corbin tags back in. Corbin grabs Ali by the leg, but Ali kicks him away. Shorty G gets the hot tag and hits a flying cross body off the top on Corbin, then he clears the opposing apron. Shorty hits a series of strikes on Corbin, and then a t-bone suplex on Nakamura. Shorty hits a rolling kick on Corbin, and then a swinging neckbreaker. Shorty goes up top and hits a moonsault for a two count. Cesaro runs in, and Shorty sends him out of the ring with a belly to belly overhead suplex. Shorty puts Corbin in the ankle lock now, but Nakamura breaks it up with a knee to Shorty G’s face. Corbin starts beating on Shorty G in the corner now, then Nakamura tags in for the double team. Shorty G fights off the double team attempt and he hits a double missile dropkick on both Corbin and Nakamura. Reigns gets the tag and cleans house now. Cesaro tags in and Reigns rolls him up, which leads to Reigns hitting a sit-out powerbomb for a two count. Reigns misses a Superman Punch attempt, then Cesaro swings him. Cesaro applies the Sharpshooter, but Ali runs in and superkicks him to break it up. Corbin runs in and hits the Deep Six on Ali. Shorty G dropkicks Corbin out to ringside, then Nakamura runs in and suplexes Shorty. Reigns hits the Superman Punch on Nakamura. Reigns now focuses on the legal man – Cesaro. Reigns looks for a spear, but Reigns counters with a boot to the face. Cesaro follows up with a European Uppercut for a two count. Cesaro misses a Neutralizer attempt, and Reigns answers with a Superman Punch. Reigns follows up with the Spear. Instead of pinning, Reigns tags in Ali, then Reigns knocks Corbin off the apron. Ali hits the 450 Splash on Corbin for the three count.

Winners: Roman Reigns, Ali & Shorty G

– After the match, Hogan and Jimmy get in the ring to celebrate with the winners as SmackDown goes off the air.

Xavier Woods Undergoes Surgery, Projected Return Timeline

After suffering an injury this week, Xavier Woods has reportedly underwent surgery to repair an Achilles tear earlier today. 

PWinsider.com was the first to report the news. As of this writing, there’s no official word yet on the timetable for Woods’ return. The belief is that he will be out of action for 6 months to 1 year.

He was injured this past Sunday at the WWE live event in Sydney, Australia when Woods and Big E took on WWE SmackDown Tag Team Champions Revival in the opening contest. 

Xavier Woods Confirms Injury Suffered During WWE Live Event

The injury happened once he was Irish-whipped into the ropes and went down right away. As a result, he was pulled from the rest of the tour and sent back to the United States. Big E finished the match by himself as Woods was taken to the back.

Woods has since confirmed the injury via his official Twitter account, as seen below: 

WWE had Woods advertised alongside Kofi Kingston and Big E as participants set to compete in the Tag Team Turmoil Match at the upcoming Crown Jewel pay-per-view event.

The winner will be crowned the Best Tag Team in the World. Kingston and Big E will compete in this contest that takes place on Thursday, October 31, 2019 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

CM Punk: “AEW Needs To Focus On Themselves & Stop Talking About WWE”

CM Punk continues to do the media rounds promoting his new horror movie, Girl on the Third Floor. The film opens today in select movie theaters across the United States and has been getting positive reviews from critics.

Punk spoke with Screen Rant this week and naturally, the topic of professional wrestling came up. During a discussion with Zak Wojnar, the former WWE Superstar asked to share his thoughts on the AEW-WWE “relationship.”

Punk was complimentary about AEW and its top stars, saying they’ve “got something great going on.” However, he feels the upstart promotion should focus on its own operations and stop talking about WWE.

CM Punk on AEW vs. WWE

“I think AEW needs to focus on themselves and stop talking about WWE,” he explained. “Cody and The Young Bucks and Kenny Omega, Jon Moxley, all those guys have something great going on. I just think it lessens and cheapens what they are doing when they constantly attack WWE.”

Punk continued, There hasn’t been an alternative to WWE in so very long, and I think they do a disservice to themselves when they’re trying to be the alternative but constantly bring up WWE.”

CM Punk understands the competitive nature between the two companies. He also knows that AEW talent can’t control what questions get asked in interviews. That said, he wants AEW to be successful and thinks everyone will benefit if AEW focuses on AEW.

“I would like them to just try to focus on their product and building it up and making it better,” he said. “I think that would benefit all the fans.”

AEW commentator Jim Ross replied to this article on Twitter, agreeing with CM Punk’s sentiments, “in theory.” JR wrote:

AEW vs. WWE

Of course, it’s not just AEW talking about WWE. Both sides have been firing shots at one another since Triple H called them a “piss-ant” company at the 2019 WWE Hall of Fame ceremony during WrestleMania weekend.

Seth Rollins made headlines this week when he said Kenny Omega is “playing in the minor league.” Rollins’ remark prompted a blistering response from Jim Ross, who went off on the Universal Champion in the opening segment of this week’s Grilling JR podcast. JR acknowledged that Rollins is a talented performer, but quipped, “Maybe someday he’ll be as over as his girlfriend [Becky Lynch].”

Head over to Screen Rant to check out their full interview with CM Punk.

Below, you can check out the official trailer for Girl on the Third Floor.

Hulk Hogan Explains How He Adopted The Leg Drop As His Finisher

WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan participated in a recent episode of WWE’s show, The Story Of. He explained the history behind his finisher, the Leg Drop. Hogan pointed to his time in Japan as being crucial in his decision to use it, turning it into what WWE described as “one of the most iconic finishers in WWE history.”

“When I dropped the leg, and nobody kicked out, it meant something,” Hogan said. “In the arena nowadays—in professional wrestling—if somebody used a leg drop for a finish, you’d probably have to come off the top of the building to get your opponent to stay down.”

Hogan explained that the leg drop is off the radar as a finish now, but “[…] at the time, when I dropped the leg and I beat people, it meant something. The place would explode on the one, two, three. Now I see the leg drop as a false finish, or they’ll use it as a high spot in the match, it’s got to the point where everybody does it, and everybody kicks out, it doesn’t mean anything.”

Big In Japan

When he first delivered the leg drop in Japan, it was the immediate reaction that made Hogan think “‘Oh my gosh, I might be on to something here.’”

“So when I brought it back to the States and I started dropping the leg drop, I’d started entertaining the crowd with my look and all this stuff, so they were with me with what I was doing. So when I dropped the leg and the referee started counting, it was like a cannon: one, two, three. So I knew I was onto something. But it was just my luck that I dropped the leg drop in Japan and got the reaction that I did, so I just stuck with it.”

If you use any quotes from this article, please provide a H/T to SEScoops.

Court Bauer Talks Being On WWE Writing Team After Chris Benoit Tragedy

MLW’s Court Bauer was the most recent guest on Chris Jericho’s Talk is Jericho. During the episode released today, Bauer speaks about his experience working on the WWE writing team following the Chris Benoit double-murder suicide in 2007. According to Bauer, the writing team was being asked to handle an issue that arguably should have been handled by people with more specialized training and expertise.

Jericho and Bauer were talking about not having run into each other in WWE while Bauer was on the writing team when the topic of WWE’s handling of the Benoit murder-suicide came up.

“I left in 07 basically was just starting a family with my wife, wanted to move on, I was in the midst of their handling of the Chris Benoit thing, which was very uncomfortable,” Bauer said during the show. “They were having the writing team try to be part of the damage control PR crisis team, I’m like ‘This is not the gig and this is not how you really should handle this.'”

Jericho then asked for more details.

“One day we go in there and Vince is looking at several monitors saying he’s going to be called to Congress and we’re like ‘this is pretty heavy stuff and horrible, sad, tragic stuff’ and Vince being this Master of the Universe always like’s to have control of something. So, we basically get hold up there and try to figure out what the messaging is going to be from the company about the situation and we’re batting around different ideas.”

Bauer then suggested that experts should have been hired to come in and handle the situation.

“I’m just like ‘you have the money, hire the right people to do this.’ The creative team isn’t… Michael Hayes pitching ideas on this is probably not the best path for any of us.”

Bauer’s comments about his time on the WWE writing team come in around the 6-minute mark of the show.

Seth Rollins On Wrestling Evolving, His WWE Character

WWE Universal Champion Seth Rollins recently spoke to The Houston Chronicle. He discussed his career in WWE to date, the evolution of pro wrestling as an industry, as well as his character’s growth and change over the years.

“[…] it’s interesting seeing that evolution from the outside perspective,” Rollins admitted. “In the ring it’s a little different. The pace and energy and style aren’t different than what you’re accustomed to. But I agree, if you tune out for a decade and come back it doesn’t look the same. It’s a different audience. Attention spans are shorter, everybody has the internet on their cell phone. So wrestling is a different product and we’re catering to that audience. You have to try to stay ahead.”

When it comes to his own personal evolution, Rollins confessed his character arc over the past seven years has been “all over the place.” He teased that despite the changes he has already undergone, there is still an infinite number of possibilities and opportunities for him to explore.

“You transition into different slayers. Beast Slayer. Hey, there’s always something out there to slay. There’s always something out there to slay. You find a way to make a new monster. The arc of my character over seven years has been all over the place. And there’s an infinite number of places to go from here.”

Rollins is scheduled to defend his WWE Universal Championship against ‘The Fiend’ Bray Wyatt at WWE Crown Jewel on October 31st.

The Revival Add To Randy Orton’s Recent AEW “Elite” Tease

WWE Superstar Randy Orton recently sparked fan speculation after uploading a photo teasing interest in All Elite Wrestling (AEW). He posed next to a sign that read “Elite,” positioning himself so that the word could be clearly seen in reference to the promotion. Now the tag team he was briefly aligned with in WWE, The Revival, have acknowledged Orton’s message.

Scott Dawson and Dash Wilder both added to Orton’s suggested interest in AEW with recent tweets. Uploading the same image of Orton with an arm over each of them, Dawson wrote:

“What SHOULD’VE been! Thank you, Randy. We’ll see ya down the road. #FTRKO #TopGuys” His longtime tag team partner, Wilder, added, “What WILL be. Eventually.”

https://twitter.com/DashWilderWWE/status/1187535240086073347?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1187535240086073347&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwrestlingnews.co%2Fwwe-news%2Fthe-revival-add-more-fuel-to-those-aew-rumors-with-randy-orton%2F

The potential stable between Orton and The Revival came to an abrupt end thanks to the recent WWE Draft. Dawson and Wilder would end up drafted to Friday Night SmackDown. ‘The Viper,’ however, would wind up on WWE’s red brand, Monday Night RAW.

This isn’t the first time that Orton has addressed AEW. He was recently heard praising All Elite Wrestling’s debut episode of Dynamite whilst streaming a video game.

It’s worth noting that Orton is coming to the end of a 10-year contract with WWE. Unless a new deal has been negotiated in that time, Orton will become a free agent in early 2020.

Triple H On Tyson Fury’s Rumored Payday, WWE’s Return To Saudi Arabia

Triple H and Lineal Heavyweight Champion Tyson Fury recently joined Ariel Helwani for an episode of Ariel Helwani’s MMA Show. During their conversation, both Triple H and Fury addressed the rumors surrounding Fury’s reported payday. He also spoke about WWE’s decision to return to Saudi Arabia for their upcoming event, Crown Jewel. 

“Listen, I can’t comment on moneys. So I’ve read [the rumors] but I don’t know where their information has come from but I’m not going to confirm or deny because I don’t want to breach my contract,” Tyson said.

Triple H added, “It is amazing how much other people count people’s money isn’t it? Look, you could make an argument that WWE right now – if you say one of the big 4 sports in America, you could make an argument that we’re right there. This is a moment in time and, to his point, I’m not going to confirm or deny but the positioning of what we are is no different from any other sport. We’re not the size of the NFL or anything like that but what we do is up there.” 

He joked that “If you want the king, you’ve got to pay for the king!”

Crown Jewel

Turning the conversation towards WWE’s return to Saudi Arabia, Triple H explained how they are, ultimately, an entertainment company with millions of fans in the Middle East that they want to entertain.

“They love what we do, they love the product and love to be entertained by us. This is an opportunity for us to go there like we have been doing for years, and years, and years and go there and entertain our fan base,” Hunter said. 

He continued, “I think that our talent especially have seen that when they go there, what they do is they see an event just like the other events that they do. They see tens of thousands of fans in the stadium going crazy for what they do. That’s what we do – we entertain. We’re not in it for politics or anything else, it’s about going there and entertaining our fan base and there’s millions of fans there.”

Fury added that not only is he a prizefighter, he is also an entertainer. Because of this, he will go where he has to in order to entertain fans.

H/T to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription. 

CM Punk On If There’s A Place For Him In Wrestling, His Dream Match

In an interview with the 31 Thoughts Podcast on Sportsnet, former WWE Superstar CM Punk discussed whether there was a place for him in wrestling today. He also spoke about who his all-time dream match would be against.

When it comes to what he would consider his ultimate dream match, Punk pointed to ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin. He stressed that “for the sake of the big match” it would have to be Punk versus Attitude Era Austin. He confessed, however, that if he were to face any iteration of Austin without chasing that big match marquee, he would prefer to grapple against WCW’s ‘Stunning’ Steve. 

“The opponent [I would choose] is probably more difficult,” Punk said. “Actually, if I were to pick an opponent, it would be [Steve] Austin. Obviously everyone knows him as ‘Stone Cold’ – I would probably rather wrestle ‘Stunning’ Steve. Yeah, he was the best wrestler at that time [in WCW], like ’94. There was nobody better. For the sake of the big match, I think CM Punk/Steve Austin from the Attitude Era. But I always felt like I was a man out of time and I was told that by a great many legends – Dusty Rhodes, Harley Race, Terry Funk, so many old school guys.”

A Place For Punk

With the landscape of wrestling having changed since his departure from WWE, Punk shared his thoughts on whether there was a place for him in modern pro wrestling. He confessed that the entire industry would be “completely alien” to him as it has evolved and changed so rapidly.

“Looking at it objectively and trying to put myself in someone else’s shoes, yeah, I think there absolutely could be [a place for me in pro wrestling]. Just knowing how many people they hire to micromanage everything, and they have agents, and producers, and this, this, that. Yeah, I think my greatest tool was my mind because I was never the most athletic, I certainly wasn’t the biggest. I imagine myself like in baseball terms, I was like a five-tool player but I always tried to tell the best stories and use my brain.”

Despite being recently tied to FOX’s planned WWE Backstage show, Punk recently shared that he never heard back regarding his audition. 

H/T to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription. 

Jon Moxley Disciplined Over “Unprovoked Attack” On AEW Ref

All Elite Wrestling (AEW) has officially warned Jon Moxley over his actions from this week’s episode of AEW: Dynamite. After the main event between himself and PAC, Moxley attacked the referee in frustration. This was because of their match ending in a time limit draw. This creative decision was reportedly made to add weight and importance to time limits in all AEW matches. 

In response, AEW took to Twitter to share they have reprimanded Moxley for his “unprovoked attack.” They explained that, as this is not the first time Moxley has attacked the referee, he has been officially warned that another violation could result in a fine or possible suspension. 

#AEW officials have reprimanded Jon Moxley for an unprovoked attack on referee Paul Turner, as this is not the first time Moxley has attacked the Senior Official. Moxley has been warned that another violation of AEW’s sportsmanship policy could result in a fine and/or suspension.”

Despite his best efforts, Moxley was unable to put away PAC. Even after hitting his finisher, The Paradigm Shift, he wasn’t able to get the win. PAC kicked out of the finisher as the time ran out. Afterwards, Moxley confronted AEW referee Paul Turner, laying him out with another Paradigm Shift. Moxley could be heard saying “Time limit, my ass” repeatedly as the show came to an end.

Moxley is scheduled to compete against Kenny Omega at AEW Full Gear on November 9th. The event takes place in Baltimore, Maryland. 

Sami Callihan: “I’m Kind Of Really Good at Professional Wrestling”

Sami Callihan will headline next week’s episode of Impact Wrestling on AXS TV. He’ll face Brian Cage inside a steel cage with the Impact World Championship on the line. Callihan spoke to Sportskeeda to hype Impact’s move to AXS TV next week and was not modest in his opinions regarding his own abilities.

“I tear the house down at everything I do,” Callihan said during the interview. “I’m kind of really good at professional wrestling.”

Callihan lost to Cage at Bound For Glory but would later blackmail the champion to receive another shot on the show which will air on Tuesday.

He also addressed his series of matches with Tessa Blanchard during the interview.

“Yeah, we just wrestled again at my company, The Wrestling Revolver, which you can check out on the HighSpots Wrestling Network as well as all social media platforms at PWRevolver and on the website, ProWrestlingRevolver.com,” Callihan said.

“Me and Tessa actually went to battle again and this time it was in an Ohio Street fight. Each time it gets crazier, a little crazier, a little crazier. Tessa Blanchard, I never thought I would have said this in 100 years but Tessa Blanchard has become one of the biggest rivalries of my career.”

Sami Callihan Says Impact Is Giving Fans The Attitude Era Back

Callihan was also asked about having given Melissa Santos a piledriver recently on Impact.

“Why not? It’s nothing that hasn’t been done in the Attitude Era. Everyone wanted the Attitude Era back and I think Impact Wrestling is the first company to kind of give it back to them,” Callihan said.

“They’re not afraid to get a little edgy, they’ll cross that line, not afraid to offend some people and upset some people.”

The full interview can be read here.

“One of the biggest influences of my career is Tommy Dreamer and he has Piledriven 150,000 women in his life.”

Jim Ross Takes Issue With Seth Rollins’ “Minor League” Comments

On an episode of his podcast, Grilling JR, WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross addressed comments made by WWE’s Seth Rollins. Rollins recently referred to AEW as the “minor leagues.” Ross admitted that he was pissed off about Rollins’ words, adding that it wasn’t a “classy” thing to say. 

“You’re right, I’m pissed off about it,” Ross stated. “Here’s what I’m pissed off about: Number one, it doesn’t do any favors for our business. Our business in general, any promotion in the total of all the pro wrestling business it’s bigger than any individual. Now I’m not inferring that Seth thinks he’s bigger than the business, but by what he says sometimes, you can make that assessment, rightly or wrongly, but it’s not a classy thing to say, for an athlete of his designation.”

“Maybe Someday He’ll Be As Over As His Girlfriend”

Despite taking issue with Rollins’ statements, Ross mentioned how he thinks he’s a “solid guy.” He explained that saying things like his minor league statement reflects poorly on the Universal Champion. He also noted that “maybe someday he’ll be as over as his girlfriend [Becky Lynch].”

“As another Hall of Famer has mentioned to me, it’s not about the individuals being over or drawing the house or selling out, it’s about the WWE brand selling out,” he said.

He continued, “Hence, the best illustration is WrestleMania. The brand name WrestleMania and the parent company, the big dog in the yard, WWE is what sells tickets to WrestleMania under the auspices that they’re going to do deliver a special show, opponents and participants to be named. But Rollins is in a great spot, he’s blessed, maybe someday he’ll be as over as his girlfriend, I don’t know, but nonetheless, I’ve always liked his work. He’s a solid guy, he’s a solid guy, but saying things like that make him look bad and for that I feel bad for him. I just do.”

Jim Ross recently shared his thoughts on social media “bookers” after receiving criticism over his referring to Jungle Boy as ‘Jungle Boy Jack Perry.’

H/T to Wrestlezone for the transcription. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/B33LcpUJOkH/

Video of Jimmy Uso’s DUI Arrest Shows Car Swerving & Speeding

Jimmy Uso was arrested for a DUI offense this summer. It is the 3rd time he has been arrested for such an offense. The Usos have only wrestled one match since Uso’s latest arrest, a loss in a tag team title triple threat match on RAW the week following. The Usos have not been apart of WWE programming since.

TMZ recently obtained footage of Uso’s latest arrest which includes footage of his car speeding and swerving.

The full video from TMZ can be viewed in the player below:

After being pulled over, the officer informs Uso he was speeding in a residential area and was also “all over the road.” When asked if there was a reason for his speeding Uso simply said he was being stupid. Uso admitted to drinking a glass of wine with dinner 2-hours before getting behind the wheel and that he felt he was safe to drive before being put through roadside sobriety tests. Footage of him going through the sobriety tests can’t really be seen in the video, however.

The Usos in WWE

According to a report from the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, there are currently no plans for the Usos return.

“There is right now no creative for them nor return date, nor a decision regarding which brand they will be with,” wrote Dave Meltzer.