ESPN First Take commentator and sports personality Stephen A. Smith recently tweeted his thoughts on comments recently made by Paul Heyman about him.
Paul Heyman, often regarded as the great wrestling manager since Bobby Heenan, took issue with a complementary tweet comparing him to Stephen A. Smith. US Democrat Party strategist and LA Times journalist Kurt Bardella suggested a “mic battle” between Smith and Heyman would be “the greatest manager promo” ever.
In response, Paul Heyman dismissed both the manager title for himself, and the notion of Stephen A. Smith being on his level.
2 – @stephenasmith is not in my league. He's a screaming voice crying out for attention from the Ocean of Obscurity. I, on the other hand, reside on the Island of Relevancy! https://t.co/rJElzVdjm0
Stephen A. Smith took the time to tweet out an amusing response to Paul Heyman last night. Most interesting of all was his implied interest in potentially doing work with WWE in the future.
(WWE)
“I Am Coming One Of These Days” – Stephen A. Smith On Paul Heyman Tweet
Stephen A. Smith was unimpressed by Paul Heyman’s tweet, taking particular issue with the former ECW and WWE booker’s “land of obscurity” jibe. After threatening to show up Heyman’s acclaimed work as Special Counsel to Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns, Smith eased the mood by confirming he was merely kidding around.
What? What did you say @HeymanHustle. Land of obscurity! You’re very lucky I’m busy otherwise I’d have to come take your job, and show the fellas what REAL representation should look like in the @WWE. Haa!!!. Only kidding buddy. Love your work. But I AM coming one of these days?
Stephen A. Smith’s closing comment could prove to be of significant interest in the near future. The longtime ESPN personality is best known for his commentary and analysis on the NBA and the NFL.
Rumors have recently swirled of him potentially doing something with the WWE in 2023. If so, it’s not implausible that this recent back-and-forth on social media with Paul Heyman could be used in a storyline or segment when Stephen A. Smith shows up. He has discussed his WWE fandom in the past and has even tweeted about The Rock being his favorite wrestler in the past and admiring Vince McMahon.
I heard I was referenced on WWE Smackdown. For the record, I'm not bothered. I'm a fan of Vince McMahon — and THE ROCK! I'm Good! (Haaaa!!)
Kurt Angle has worked with some of the most influential people in wrestling history. However, there’s one person who stands out to him as having the highest wrestling IQ.
Angle spoke about this topic and much more on the latest ‘Ask Kurt Anything’ edition of his Kurt Angle Show podcast.
Throughout his runs in WWE and TNA, the Olympic gold medalist collaborated with the likes of Vince McMahon, Paul Heyman, Stephanie McMahon, Steve Austin, The Rock, The Undertaker, Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair, Bruce Pritchard, Pat Patterson, Dixie Carter, Vince Russo and countless others.
They’ve all made immeasurable contributions to the industry, Angle is convinced one name surpasses them all.
Triple H’s Wrestling IQ
Kurt Angle says Triple H has a grasp on the wrestling business better than anybody he’s ever worked with. The Game is an all-time-great in-ring performer, but also understands the psychology, creative and business aspects of wrestling as well.
“For me, personally, Triple H. He’s always had it. He’s not just from a wrestling standpoint, but from a creative standpoint, from a psychology standpoint, from a promo standpoint. Triple H is one guy that is so well educated. He loves pro wrestling like it’s his wife, okay? He cherishes it. He’s really good at it. He has a great mind for it.”
– Kurt Angle
Angle says he previously may have named someone like Hulk Hogan, who was a master at drawing business and holding crowds in the palm of his hand.
He went out of his way to praise Hogan, who helped blast wrestling’s popularity into the stratosphere during the 1980’s expansion period. Nobody would argue against the fact that Hogan was a bigger star than Triple H as an active competitor and pop culture phenomenon.
However, the topic at hand is ‘highest wrestling IQ’ and best mind for the business, and Angle says Triple h is number one.
Control Your Narrative banned multiple prominent moves when they were founded earlier this year, but there was a method to EC3’s supposed madness.
After his 2020 release from WWE, EC3 hosted multiple cinematic matches and announced Control Your Narrative as a promotion in February of this year.
In addition to Control Your Narrative, EC3 competed for Impact at Bound for Glory 2020, and signed with Ring of Honor in 2021, but was released when the company announced they would be closing their doors.
Banned Moves
After Control Yor Narrative was announced, EC3 announced the rules on social media, which earned ridicule from fans.
Those on social media mocked rules including rule 1 (You are in control) and rule 2 (YOU ARE IN CONTROL.)
Rule 5 of Control Your Narrative announced that Superkicks, Tope Suicidas, and Canadian Destroyers are banned in the company.
“Part of my reality towards wrestling is how these amazing athletic moves are thrown away by overuse. They have no effectiveness. They have no reason. They have no rhyme, and these are some of the coolest ‘quote’ moves, physical feats that wrestling has to offer, and they’re just they’re thrown away.
“So by banning them, I therefore made them far more effective than they have ever been. They mean more, and there have been super kicks on CYN Shows. Every time that’s happened, maybe the Ref’s back was turned, maybe someone got disqualified, but every time somebody got kicked in the face, they were hurt.”
The Future of CYN
Fans won’t be seeing many (if any) of these banned moves at CYN events, but they may not be seeing any moves from Control Your Narrative.
Right now, the promotion is on a hiatus, and was forced to cancel plans for a tour that was scheduled for late 2022.
The news of the tour’s cancellation came days after Braun Strowman (a CYN co-founder) returned to WWE in September of this year.
Sami Callihan’s time with Impact Wrestling is seemingly coming to an end with his contract set to expire.
Callihan signed with Impact in 2017 and captured the Impact World Championship in 2019 during Impact’s debut on AXS TV.
Prior to arriving in Impact, Callihan wrestled for Ring of Honor, CZW, Evolve and Dragon Gate, as well as having a three-year stint in WWE as Solomon Crowe.
Leaving Impact
Callihan signed a two-year contract extension in early 2021, which means his deal with the promotion will expire within the next few months.
Sources who spoke to Fightful Select said that the former World Champion hasn’t been given any clarity about his status.
Callihan’s contract situation has caught the interest of “outside promoters” but no specific companies were named in Fightful’s report.
Callihan has remained an integral figure with Impact, main-eventing several Pay-Per-Views.
In addition to working for Impact, Callihan is a successful promoter himself with Pro Wrestling REVOLVER being one of the top indie companies on the planet.
Callihan in Impact
After debuting in 2017, Callihan aligned with Dave and Jake Crist of ‘Ohio Versus Everything,’ and would later unsuccessfully challenge for the X-Division Championship.
In 2018, Callihan would feud with Eddie Edwards and in one of the most gruesome moments of the year, Edwards would suffer a broken nose and broken orbital bone thanks to an errant shot with a baseball bat.
In addition to his reign as Impact World Champion, Callihan is a five-time Impact End of Year award winner, including having 2019’s match of the year against Tessa Blanchard.
All Elite Wrestling is set for a major change next year, with a new look coming to Television very soon.
Last week, it was reported that AEW TV will have a new look, starting with their January 4, episode of Dynamite.
During last week’s AEW Rampage, fans got their first glimpse of the new production for the show.
Tony Khan Comments
Speaking to Grapsody (and reported by Fightful Select) Tony Khan confirmed that the changes to AEW Dynamite won’t just be from a production standpoint.
Khan added that changes to the set are coming, and visual and production changes that will be made and will stick around
Addressing the changes, the AEW President assured fans that they’ll still get their fix of regular AEW action no matter what.
“The wrestling is going to be the same great wrestlers and the same great fans, but it’s in a new city, Seattle, and the look, the changes to the set, and the presentation are going to be changes that we’re going to keep. I’m really looking forward to the new look for the show.
“I’m really looking forward to the new look for the show.”
Tony Khan.
“I find, in wrestling, when you overpromise, you can disappoint people. It’s a set and a presentation. At the end of the day, the most important thing is what the fans bring, what the wrestlers and the staff of AEW and the crew bring every week, but the look of the show is important too and it’s going to look really cool.”
It has been announced that Ricky Starks will face Chris Jericho on the January 4, Dynamite.
Tony Khan may present himself as a much different boss than Vince McMahon, but like the former WWE CEO, he believes that not everybody can be happy.
2022 has arguably been AEW’s most difficult year, with multiple injuries to top talent and the fallout from All Out being huge parts of the year.
Throughout 2022, there have been reports of talent being unhappy within AEW, which led to meetings backstage with the roster earlier this year.
Can’t Please Everyone
Unhappy names on any roster in wrestling is nothing new, and the AEW President realizes he can’t please everyone.
In an interview with Fightful Select, Khan said that you’re never going to keep every single person on your roster happen.
The AEW President added that he takes every bit of criticism from talent with a smile.
A “series of circumstances” has led to people not being on Television in a regular role, but no details of those ‘circumstances’ were given.
Unhappy Talent
With such a huge roster (one that is too big in the opinion of some fans) it is not surprising that many names do not make it to TV.
Former TNT Champion Miro has been open with his disapproval of his booking in AEW, and liked a tweet suggesting he would do better if he returned to WWE.
Ricky Starks finished 2022 strong and looks forward to keeping the momentum going in the new year. The 32-year-old from New Orleans has been feuding with Maxwell Jacob Friedman, AEW’s reigning world champion. Starks won a tournament to earn a shot at MJF at Winter is Coming. Friedman retained the title, but Starks has more than held is own on the mic and in the ring during this program.
‘Absolute’ recently spoke to Casual Conversations and discussed his goals for 2023. The main thing he’s looking for is overall satisfaction and fulfillment.
“My main goal for this year is to really carve out my own type of… I want to be so fulfilled in myself,” he said. “What I mean is, I want to be fulfilled creatively, I want to be fulfilled in the ring, on the mic.”
Starks continued by saying he wants to be spoken about in the same way as AEW’s main event players.
“I want to be fulfilled as a person, on this television show, that has stepped up and is now on another level and he should be talked with those other people on that level.”
Championship Dreams
(AEW)
As a former member of Team Taz, Starks previously held the FTW Championship. He just challenged for the AEW World Championship, but he’s yet to hold a sanctioned championship in the promotion. He wants to get back in the hunt for the TNT Championship currently held by Samoa Joe. “I would love to win the TNT Championship, if I don’t get to the AEW Championship first. Those are things I want to do.”
He also expressed an interest in an acting career, a path taken by many other pro wrestlers. Starks wants to be star in the entertainment world and won’t let anything get in his way.
“Stepping out of the wrestling stuff, I want to star in a TV show, I want to star in a movie,” he said. “These are things that I want, that I’m going to get, because I deserve it. I’m going to make sure that I get it. Regardless, nothing is going to stop me.”
Ricochet teamed up with Braun Strowman to compete in a Miracle on 34th Street Fight against Imperium during the December 23rd edition of WWE SmackDown.
The main event featured cameos from a ballerina as well as The New Day’s Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods both of which emerged from a gift.
The ending of the bout saw Strowman reviving Ricochet with a kiss from his real life girlfriend Samantha Irwin. The duo then defeated Imperium after Ricochet hit a crossbody off Strowman’s shoulders.
Ricochet Shows Graphic Injury
While the high-flying star did win the match it was revealed later that he suffered an injury. The former IC champion’s head was split open during the bout. While he was able to finish the match, the officials checked on him afterward.
The SmackDown star provided an update on his health on Twitter after the pre-taped show. He shared some graphic photos of the injury and revealed that he received six stitches from the cut:
Ricochet has been involved in a feud with Gunther over the IC title recently. He won the SmackDown World Cup to earn a shot at the championship. Though he was unable to capture the title when he faced the Ring General earlier this month.
AEW’s W. Morrisey and Lexy Nair are celebrating after the two went public with their engagement.
On Twitter, Nair shared an image of her engagement ring, confirming her upcoming nuptials to the former WWE Superstar saying that “Mr. and Mrs. Morrisey coming soon.”
Well, today’s the big day. After weeks of counting down, Christmas Day is finally upon us.
This day will see countless people around the world open presents, and as we all know, WWE is no stranger to embracing the Holiday spirit
Here are five of the best Holiday moments to curl up in a warm blanket and watch this festive season.
5: A Christmas Carol starring ‘Rowdy’ Roddy Piper
We all have our favorite renditions of Charles Dickens’ classic tale ‘A Christmas Carol’ which tells the story of a wicked man who turns good when he learns about the meaning of Christmas.
Some people see the Muppets Christmas Carol as the best, while others like my father herald Alastair Sim’s 1951 portrayal of Ebeneezer Scrooge as the best telling of the story.
Well on December 20th, 1985, the WWF gave their own rendition of A Christmas Carol, this one starring none other than ‘Rowdy’ Roddy Piper.
Unquestionably the biggest heel of the year, that week’s episode of Tuesday Night Titans saw Piper visited by three spirits, eager to teach the Hot Rod to change his wicked ways.
Unlike Scrooge though, Piper learned no lessons, and would instead vow to be more wicked after his ghostly visitations.
It would be another two years before Piper turned face and become one of the most beloved good guys of all time, and by 1989, he’d be the one defending Christmas from Bobby ‘The Brain’ Heenan.
4: A Very Merry D-X-Mas
DX showed Commissioner Sgt. Slaughter exactly what they thought of him during an episode of Raw in 1997.
Forming in 1997, D-Generation X would establish themselves as a counterculture, anti-authority group, much to the chagrin of WWF Commissioner Sgt. Slaughter.
After making an ass out of the company, Triple H and Shawn Michaels would go one step further, exposing their buttocks to spell out a festive message, all while Chyna was in the ring with them.
To counteract, Slaughter booked a gift of a main event: Shawn Michaels Vs. Triple H for HBK’s European title.
After teasing dissension for the rest of the show, the pair ‘fought’ in the ring, but to call this a match is a stretch.
Triple H “powered” Michaels to the mat out of collar and elbow tie-up, then comically ran the ropes before delivering a big splash that didn’t make contact.
One pinfall later and the Game was the new European Champion, while the two friends celebrated their very fake match.
Sure, it may have devalued the European title somewhat, but DX got one over on Commissioner Slaughter in an iconic festive moment.
3: The Arrival of Xanta Claus
ECW alum Balls Mahoney played Xanta Claus, an evil counterpart to Jolly ol’ Saint Nick who heralded from the South Pole.
We all know the story of Santa Claus: the rosy-cheeked, bearded legend who lives at the North Pole, and judges whether people have been naughty or nice.
Well after a career of humiliating others, Ted DiBiase was definitely on the naughty list, and proved just how bad he could be in 1995.
Interrupting a segment with Savio Vega and ‘Santa,’ DiBiase proved everybody has a price for him, as Mr. Claus attacked Vega.
With that, DiBiase introduced the wrestling world to Xanta Claus, the polar opposite (quite literally) of Jolly ol’ Saint Nick.
Xanta Claus (played by future ECW staple Balls Mahoney) would not last long, and while the angle is incredibly goofy, it goes to show that anything can happen in the WWE.
2: ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin Stuns Santa Claus
WWE has hosted plenty of festive shows over the years, but the December 22, 1997, episode of Raw remains arguably the best holiday edition of the red brand ever produced.
Airing from Worcester, Massachusetts, the show was dripping in festive cheer, but the most iconic moment came from good ol’ ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin.
After a fake Santa Claus mocked a young boy, Austin made the save, stomping to the ring in that way only the Bionic Redneck can.
Berating the evil Santa, Austin dropped the not-so-jolly Saint Nick in what has become an iconic Christmas moment.
For all of Austin’s badassery, the segment showed that Austin still had a heart, cementing why it was okay to cheer this foul-mouthed, beer-swilling S.O.B.
Stunning the fake Santa proved that you could never quite predict what the Rattlesnake was going to do, and this unpredictability would be just part of what would launch Austin into mega-stardom the following year.
1: Tribute to the Troops
Six years after stunning Santa Claus, Steve Austin donned the iconic red suit himself to drop then-WWE CEO Vince McMahon.
For most of us, the holidays are a time to be with family and loved ones, surrounded by presents, food, and warmth.
For those serving in the armed forces though, they don’t get to enjoy such luxuries, but WWE attempted to bring some festive cheer to those on duty.
In 2003, WWE introduced Tribute to Troops, an event that has become an annual display of support and appreciation for those who are risking their lives for their country.
The brainchild of John ‘Bradshaw’ Layfield, the show still carries on to this day, though takes place back in the U.S. instead of being in the Middle East as it was originally.
Nevertheless, this small token of appreciation goes a long way, and with the show taking place every December, there are plenty of seasonal festivities to enjoy each year at Tribute to the Troops.
WWE Hall of Famer Kurt Angle may be retired, but the Olympian is ready to make a return to the ring with the right opponent.
Angle returned to WWE in 2017 after a near-eleven-year absence and competed in a handful of matches in that time.
The Olympic Gold Medalist last competed at WrestleMania 35 in a loss to Baron Corbin.
One More Match
Despite it being years since Angle’s most recent match, the former WWE World Champion has never been shy about teasing a return.
Speaking on the most recent episode of The Kurt Angle Show, Angle said he would have to work with a younger talent to ‘carry’ him through a match at WrestleMania.
“I’m not that stupid. So I’m going to make sure it’s a young guy because I’m a little bit older. I lost a little bit of a step. I would have to say someone like AJ Styles or Ricochet, I really liked that kid. I think I would have an incredible match with him.”
Kurt Angle.
While Angle and Styles faced off several times in TNA/Impact Wrestling, the Olympian has yet to face off with the One and Only.
Braun Strowman
It wasn’t just Ricochet and Styles that Angle had praise for, as he also highlighted the career of Braun Strowman.
The Olympian also named the Monster Among Men as someone he’d love to wrestle again if he returned to the ring.
“He is so athletic for his size. He reminds me a lot of Brock Lesnar with his athleticism. He’s not as athletic as Brock, he’s pretty close.”
Kurt Angle.
Strowman was released from WWE in June of last year and returned to WWE TV this past September.
Drew McIntyre will only be allowed to step back in the ring when WWE are beyond certain that he is fully healed from his current injury.
The two-time former WWE Champion had been scheduled to compete at the upcoming Boxing Day live event inside Madison Square Garden.
The eight-man tag-team match McIntyre had been scheduled to be in has been replaced with a standard tag match pitting The Usos against Braun Strowman and Kevin Owens.
Injury
McIntyre has missed several events this month and was “medically disqualified” from an Undisputed Tag Title match on the December 9, SmackDown.
It has not been confirmed what injury McIntyre is dealing with, though many believe that he suffered a ruptured ear drum during the Men’s WarGames match at Survivor Series: WarGames.
McIntyre’s last match was almost a month ago at a WWE Live event on December 27, in which he competed in an eight-man tag-team match.
Fully Healed
Drew McIntyre may have been able to work the upcoming Boxing Day WWE Live event, PW Insider reports.
It is noted that WWE officials are being extra cautious with the Scottish Warrior, and want him to be “beyond 100%” before he’s cleared to compete.
There is no word on when McIntyre will be allowed to wrestle again.
It was noted that Mcintyre has been eager to wrestle, even trying to compete before he was medically disqualified, but WWE officials overruled him.
Visit WWE.com for ticket information if you’re interested in attending any of the shows on the 2022 Live Holiday Tour.
Becky Lynch is one of the top Superstars in WWE, but she’s already starting to feel the pull from Hollywood.
Lynch is coming up on a decade with WWE. She joined NXT is 2013 and has been a member of the main roster since 2015. With six Women’s Championship reigns, her WWE career really took off in 2018 when she evolved into The Man, a no-nonsense character that allowed her true personality to shine through.
She became a mother in December 2020 and married fellow WWE star Seth Rollins the following summer. More recently, Lynch has been branching out into the world of acting.
She got rave reviews for her role on NBC’s Young Rock sitcom, where she portrayed inevitable WWE Hall of Famer, Cyndi Lauper. According to Rollins, Lynch’s acting career may take them both in an entirely new direction.
Becky Lynch’s Acting Career
During a recent interview with Iowa’s WQAD News, Rollins discussed Lynch’s burgeoning acting career and stated, “that’s where she wants to go.”
He added that their family may have to move ‘out west’ if she continues to land projects in the entertainment business, whether it’s television or movies.
“Her acting career is starting to perk up a little bit and that’s where she wants to go. So, if we end up in that direction and that takes us out west, so be it. If not, then here we are.”
– Seth Rollins
Young Rock was not Lynch’s first taste of being on a set. According to IMDB, her acting credits include roles on the television show Billions (2020) and the movie Rumble (2021).
Lynch one of several WWE performers who is looking ahead to life after pro wrestling, with a strong interest in acting. Earlier this week, Liv Morgan named acting as part of her future plans.
Catch Seth Rollins’ full interview with Iowa ABC affiliate WQAD:
Jade Cargill is one of the most dominant competitors in All Elite Wrestling, but she’s in no rush to go after the AEW Women’s World Championship.
Cargill has been impressing wrestling fans since her in-ring debut on the March 3, 2021 edition of AEW Dynamite. She and basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal defeated Cody Rhodes and Red Velvet that night. She’s left a trail of bodies in her wake ever since.
As the reigning AEW TBS Champion, she’s got the gold to back up her pride. She talks about running out of worthy competitors, but wants to continue on the same track she’s on for now.
On Friday, Cargill fielded questions from her fans on Twitter. When asked when we can expect to see her go after AEW’s top prize for female wrestlers, Cargill showed a rare glimpse of humility.
“I have to get warm,” she said. “I think everyone should be HAPPY and GRATEFUL they seen me in MY FIRST match EVER!”
Some very talented women have held the AEW Women’s World Championship, including Britt Baker, Thunder Rosa and reigning champion, Jamie Hayter. Cargill says, “Most of the women who have carried the main title have hundreds of matches. I’ve literally had ONLY 45 and 1 off grid match.”
“Let me take my time. U all KNOW I’m going to be great”
– Jade Cargill
Jade Cargill has been AEW TBS Champion since January 5, 2022 (approximately 350 days). She defeated Ruby Soho in the finals of a tournament to crown the inaugural champion. She maintains an undefeated record of 45-0, with an additional victory in an unsanctioned match.
At only 30 years old, Cargill could have a long career still ahead of her. She’s confident that she’ll reach the top of the mountain in AEW, but is sticking with what’s working by getting more experience.
Learn more about Jade Cargill from her recent appearance on AEW’s Hey! (EW) digital series:
Kevin Sullivan, All Elite Wrestling’s Vice President, Post Production, has provided a sneak peek at the visual overhaul that’s coming to AEW Dynamite.
AEW President Tony Khan recently confirmed Dynamite will have an all-new look starting January 4, 2023. During a conversation with SEScoops correspondent Scott Fishman for TVInsider, Khan said, “This will affect the way people view AEW on Wednesdays and Fridays in terms of presentation with the set and the show with the same great action.”
On Saturday morning, Sullivan uploaded a video that gives us a first look of what to expect from the ‘new look’ of AEW’s flagship show.
In a message posted on Twitter, he says the AEW production team set out to create a new ‘brand identity’ for Dynamite. The new identity includes many elements, including a new stage (yet to be seen) and a new comprehensive set of ‘package elements.’
Dynamite and Rampage have kept a similar look since the shows premiered. In addition to the first week of January marking the new year, it’s also the one year anniversary of Dynamite’s move from TNT to TBS.
Sullivan says his team is thrilled to finally share their new, bold vision that he feels will help usher in a “new spirit” for the show.
He also revealed this project has been nine months in the making. He thanked Tony Khan, the team at Warner Bros. Discovery and AEW’s graphics team for making this vision a reality.
Time is ticking on WWE’s plans for the main events of WWE WrestleMania 39 as the company wants to have these plans locked in by mid-January. The company will need two headline attractions for the main event of each night.
They will need to also figure out the plans for the men’s and women’s world title matches by January 28th, as that is when the WWE Royal Rumble premium live event goes down.
The women’s roster will need two title challengers for its two world champions: Raw Women’s Champion Bianca Belair and SmackDown Women’s Champion Ronda Rousey. On the men’s side, things are a little more complicated.
As previously reported, WWE is hoping to have Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns face The Rock at WrestleMania 39, but it comes down to The Rock’s busy Hollywood schedule.
WWE has targeted this show because it takes place in Hollywood and will get more mainstream attention. Reigns has been championing himself as the head of the Anoa’i family for his entire run as The Tribal Chief. The stars are aligning for a battle between the two stars, but the match has yet to be confirmed.
Where Things Stand
In the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer reported that Reigns vs. Rock is neither “off the boards” nor “a lock” for WrestleMania. The uncertainty of the match means that there have to be “back-up plans put in place,” although it’s unclear if those plans have been made yet.
The report emphasizes that The Rock has to “make up his mind,” likely “just before the Rumble.” Should he not go forward with the match, fans have speculated Cody Rhodes is stepping up to challenge Reigns for the title at the show.
“Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery,” a Netflix film with a limited theatrical run, has been released on the streaming service.
Dave Bautista is among the cast, including Daniel Craig, Edward Norton, Janelle Monáe, Kathryn Hahn, Leslie Odom Jr., Jessica Henwick, Madelyn Cline, and Kate Hudson. Here is the synopsis of the film:
“Tech billionaire Miles Bron invites his friends for a getaway on his private Greek island. When someone turns up dead, Detective Benoit Blanc is put on the case.”
The Moment
Rian Johnson wrote and directed it and produced the film alongside Ram Bergman.
As seen below, while the movie was being made, the former WWE star gave Johnson a World Heavyweight Title belt while entering the set to his WWE theme music, “I Walk Alone” by Saliva.
Dave Bautista entering the Glass Onion set to his theme and giving Rian Johnson the World Heavyweight title is the best thing I’ve ever seen pic.twitter.com/Q3q0yY1QGT
Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special” started streaming last month on Disney+ featuring Bautista.
Bautista portrays Drax in the franchise. Also, part of the cast includes Kevin Bacon, Chris Pratt as Peter Quill / Star-Lord, Zoe Saldaña as Gamora, Vin Diesel as Groot, and Bradley Cooper as Rocket.
“Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” hits theaters May 5, 2023. Bautista has indicated this movie could be the end of his run as the character.
Marcus “Buff” Bagwell has updated his fans regarding his sobriety.
The former WCW star noted in a post on Twitter that he’s been sober for 117 days and is on a healthy path toward recovery. Bagwell added that sharing his experiences on Cameo and with those at live events has been super beneficial for his process.
His full tweet reads, “117 days sober. My walk of sobriety has just begun but I have learned so much in just a few months! Thank you to all those who continue to support me. Sharing my experience on my cameos and at recent live events has been a huge part of knowing I’m on the right path.”
Progress
Back in October, in a video posted on the DDP Yoga YouTube channel, Bagwell revealed that he was working on the “Change Or Die” project to document his addiction issues before going to rehab. Bagwell said that when an intervention was done on him, and he initially didn’t want to go to rehab, he decided to go through with it.
WWE Hall of Famer Diamond Dallas Page commented on Bagwell’s post to tell him that he is super proud of the progress he’s made.
The WWE Hall Of Famer has been instrumental in Bagwell’s recovery as he’s been working next to him at his compound. He previously helped Jake “The Snake” Roberts and Scott Hall with their addictions. Check out the tweets below.
I’m so Proud my brother Mr. Bagwell? Marcus really has come along way. I wanna Thank all our friends/fans for supporting him on this journey.Thanks everybody! DDP. https://t.co/TyImHkYvew
Santino Marella was a lovable comedy wrestler (portrayed by Anthony Carelli) who competed for WWE from 2007-2020. A new trademark filing indicates he could be headed to Impact Wrestling in the coming new year.
Anthem Wrestling Exhibitions LLC, parent company of Impact, recently secured a trademark for the name Santino Marella. According to the USPTO database, the live trademark was filed on December 19, 2022.
The ‘Goods and Services’ usage description includes:
Entertainment in the nature of wrestling contests;
Entertainment services, namely, wrestling exhibits and performances by a professional wrestler and entertainer;
Entertainment services, namely, live appearances by a a professional wrestler and sports entertainer;
Entertainment services, namely, personal appearances by a professional wrestler and sports entertainment personality;
Entertainment services, namely, televised appearances by a professional wrestling and sports entertainment personality;
WWE previously held the Santino Marella trademark, but let it expire in October 2021.
Santino’s daughter, Bianca Carelli, currently wrestles for WWE’s NXT brand as Arianna Grace.
Drew McIntyre will be unable to compete at next week’s WWE live event from Madison Square Garden.
WWE’s Live Holiday Tour continued this coming Monday, with eight shows scheduled between Christmas and New Year’s:
New York, NY
Columbus, Ohio
Atlanta, GA
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McIntyre is still advertised for MSG as of this writing, but a report at PWInsider states that he won’t be medically cleared in time.
WWE sources have confirmed that the reason a change was made to their MSG main event for the annual post-Christmas event is that Drew McIntyre will not be cleared to return to the ring by the time the show takes place.
– PWInsider
McIntyre Dealing with an Injury
Drew McIntyre has been pulled from several appearances this month, including a tag title match on the December 9 edition of SmackDown on Fox. WWE noted at the time that he was ‘medically disqualified’ from competing.
It’s believed he’s dealing with an injury. McIntyre was optimistic he’d be back in time for the Christmas-week tour, but he won’t be there on Monday.
McIntyre’s most recent match took place nearly a month ago. He competed on November 27 at a non-televised SuperShow from Portland, Maine. He teamed with Kevin Owens & The Brawling Brutes (Butch & Ridge Holland) to defeat The Usos, Sami Zayn & Solo Sikoa of The Bloodline.
Visit WWE.com for ticket information if you’re interested in attending any of the shows on the 2022 Live Holiday Tour.
John Cena is set to wrestle for the first time this year at the December 30 edition of SmackDown.
The longtime star-turned-Hollywood actor will tag with Kevin Owens against Roman Reigns and Sami Zayn. John Cena has not wrestled since his SummerSlam main event loss against Reigns last year. In that time, Cena has been focusing on film and TV work, including the popular HBO series Peacemaker.
As per the Wrestling Observer, several angles for John Cena at next year’s WrestleMania could be implemented in next week’s match. Despite interest in seeing the 16-time World Champion perform at the Show of Shows, it’s not yet definite he will be able to. The former face of the company is very busy with other commitments at the moment but it’s believed he will manage to make the Mania event.
Due to his show business commitments, John Cena will be unavailable for much of February and March. This could make building his WrestleMania angle troublesome.
Who Did Vince McMahon Want Cena To Face At WrestleMania?
Before his retirement earlier this year, Vince McMahon was apparently keen on John Cena facing Austin Theory next year. Seeds for a feud were seemingly planted at Cena’s 20th Anniversary celebrations on RAW earlier this year. Theory was in his first run as US Champion at the time. The rising star cut an aggressive promo on “The Doctor of Thuganomics”.
Since then, Theory has lost the US Title, won and failed to cash-in the Money in the Bank briefcase, and regained the US Championship. The title’s long been synonymous with John Cena due to both his early years in the WWE midcard and his acclaimed 2015 title run. Therefore, a US Title bout between the two could work as a passing of the torch-type angle.
Vince McMahon reportedly considered Theory the next John Cena-level star. However, Cena has been inserted into the Kevin Owens/Sami Zayn/Roman Reigns angle. With this in mind, a Theory feud coming soon doesn’t look as likely as it did earlier this year.
Mandy Rose is already receiving interest from other promotions following her surprise release from WWE earlier this month.
As the leader of the Toxic Attraction stable, Mandy Rose was the face of women’s wrestling in NXT this year. Holding the NXT Women’s Title and unifying it with the NXT UK Women’s Championship, Rose had arguably the finest run of her career on the developmental brand. She successfully reinvented herself following a main roster run best known for her romance angle with Otis in 2020.
Mandy Rose’s release from WWE was announced shortly after Roxanne Perez ended her epic 413-day reign. The release was decided on due to the adult content on Rose’s FanTime account which was considered inappropriate for modern WWE.
A key figure in the Impact Wrestling Knockouts division has now revealed she’d like to face Mandy Rose in the squared circle.
Mandy Rose in Impact Wrestling?
Deonna Purrazzo wants to wrestle Mandy Rose
Former two-time Impact Knockouts Champion Deonna Purrazzo recently revealed that she’d love to wrestle the former NXT Women’s Champion.
Oh, I’m gonna open the door and welcome her in! I think that the Mandy Rose that came to NXT a year and a half, almost two years ago, to the Mandy Rose we see today has been a complete evolution of Mandy Rose.
To see her in a different light and on a different platform, and see what else she can do without the WWE confines, is going to reinvent her again. ‘Obviously we can’t speculate what she’s gonna do, or what her mindset is… But if she chooses to wrestle, I want to wrestle her.
– Deonna Purrazzo
Deonna Purrazzo is a key figure in Impact Wrestling. She was even voted Wrestler of the Year by the promotion in 2020. In 2022, she’s focused more on the Knockouts tag team division, forming the VXT duo with Chelsea Green. Earlier this year, she main-evented an episode of AEW Dynamite. There, she faced Mercedes Martinez in an ROH Women’s Championship unification bout which she lost.
“The Virtuosa” is known for her realistic, technical, submission holds-focused ring style. Her matches often revolve around her well-protected Fujiwara armbar submission hold finisher. Going up against the more explosive offense and vainglorious persona Mandy Rose exhibited in NXT could make for an interesting styles clash.
AEW fans have been concerned regarding the health of Adam Cole as he’s been on the sidelines for months.
The promotion is being cautious with him, although there is still no timetable on when he will return to the squared circle. Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer has reported the update after a fan asked him on Twitter where things stand with the former ROH World Champion.
Still No Return
“He’s doing much better. The last I heard is they were being cautious. Don’t have any time frame for a return. With concussions, you can’t predict a time frame,” Meltzer tweeted.
Cole has been out of action since he suffered a serious concussion at the Forbidden Door pay-per-view this past June when he was involved in a Four-Way for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship on the show with Jay White, Kazuchika Okada, and Hangman Page.
The popular star fell to the ground at the end of the match, leading to White covering him immediately. He reportedly suffered another concussion at Double Or Nothing.
In August, Cole resurfaced for one show so he, Kyle O’Reilly, and Bobby Fish could turn on The Young Bucks but he hasn’t been seen on TV since. Cole has been a part of AEW since September 2021.
In May, Sasha Banks and Naomi walked out of an episode of WWE Raw over a creative dispute about how they were being booked as WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships.
They put their titles on John Laurinaitis’ desk and left the arena before the company stripped them of the titles and suspended them. The commentary teams for both Raw and SmackDown publicly chastised them for weeks.
Once Laurinaitis and Vince McMahon were gone from the company, some fans believed it would only be a matter of time before the two returned. For Naomi, fans are still waiting for that day to happen while Banks negotiated her WWE release months ago and is slated to start working for NJPW next month.
Banks reportedly signed a highly-lucrative contract with New Japan’s parent company Bushiroad. Although not confirmed, it’s believed Banks will feud with Kairi (Sane) over the IWGP Women’s Championship.
Dax Harwood, who is good friends with Banks, offered some insight in a new interview with AdFreeShows while promoting his new podcast “FTR With Dax Harwood.” He noted that she worked hard for the company and became a big star, but still feels slighted.
Insight
“I think that, just like me, I feel that sometimes she gets a bad rep because of how passionate she is and how much she wants,” Harwood explained. “You know, she wants it all, but she wants to work for it. That’s the same with us. Like, I want everything this business, but I want to work for it and I want you to know that I’m going to work hard for you, and that’s her, man. She knows what she deserves, and she knows what she’s earned, and she works her ass off to get it, and if she doesn’t get it, she feels slighted and she has a reason to feel that way. Huge star, huge heart, beautiful human being, the greatest woman wrestler of all time. I think she’s just incredible.”
FTR was in action on Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite, where they lost to Austin & Colten Gunn.
