SEScoops

Author: Staff

  • Von Erichs To Team With Tom Lawlor For MLW Debut At Fury Road (6/1)

    Von Erichs To Team With Tom Lawlor For MLW Debut At Fury Road (6/1)

    Major League Wrestling (MLW) has announced the main event for next month’s Fury Road event has been signed.

    The league recently announced that World Champion “Filthy” Tom Lawlor was tasked with finding partners to face the self-proclaimed “global dealers in violence,” CONTRA Unit. Lawlor has selected none other than MLW newcomers Ross and Marshall Von Erich.

    According to MLW, “Calling the Von Erich ranch on Kauai, Hawaii, Lawlor got a quick ‘yes’ from the newly signed brothers. Lawlor notes banding together with Ross and Marshall Von Erich enables the World Champion to have his own wild card going into a guaranteed wild encounter.”

    Updated Card for MLW Fury Road 2019

    With the addition of the Von Erich brothers to the main event, the following matches are now set for MLW Fury Road on June 1st:

    • MLW World Champion “Filthy” Tom Lawlor, Ross and Marshall Von Erich vs. CONTRA Unit (Tornado Tag Match)
    • MLW National Openweight Championship tournament finals
    • Mance Warner vs. Sami Callihan (Falls Count Anywhere)
    • Teddy Hart vs. Jimmy Havoc
    • Davey Boy Smith, Jr. vs. Maxwell J. Friedman

    If you are in the Milwaukee area, visit MLWTickets.com for details on how you can attend MLW Fury Road 2019 starting at just $10.

    Stay tuned to SEScoops and MLW.com for additional match announcements.

  • Fox Touts WWE As Part Of Fall Lineup

    Fox Touts WWE As Part Of Fall Lineup

    This week, the television “upfronts” begin, where networks present their fall lineups to advertisers. Fox held its event on Monday from New York City’s Beacon Theater.

    WWE SmackDown is part of Fox’s push to feature sports programming from Thursday to Sunday nights. It was confirmed on Monday that WWE SmackDown Live will remain a 2-hour program when the show premieres on Fox this October.

    During the upfront media call, FOX Entertainment head Charlie Collier commented on the possibility of WWE programming being on “island” – which is television industry lingo for a show that does not draw viewers to the network’s other programming.

    “If it’s an island, it’s an island I would want to go to and spend some time, Collier said. “I don’t think it’s an island. I think it’s another great promotional vehicle for us, for our other nights. It’s a unique asset.”

    WWE will also have a presence at NBC Universal’s upfront event, which takes place today as well from Radio City Music Hall in New York City.

    Turner Upfronts

    WarnerMedia’s 2019 upfronts return to The Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City this Wednesday morning. WarnerMedia is the parent company of CNN, HBO, TNT, TBS, TruTV and many more stations.

    Last week, The Wrap reported that AEW will be airing on Turner’s TNT network this fall. An announcement from AEW expected Wednesday, before the upfronts event.

  • WWE Network To Air Bret Hart vs. Tom Magee Match & Documentary

    WWE Network To Air Bret Hart vs. Tom Magee Match & Documentary

    The WWE Network will air Bret Hart and Tom Magee’s infamous match from 1986 this coming Monday after Raw. A documentary titled, Holy Grail: The Search for WWE’s Most Infamous Lost Match will accompany the match.

    WWE.com had this to say about the match, which has recently been circulating online after decades in obscurity:

    “After the bell sounded and Magee’s hand was raised, he was labeled the next Hulk Hogan, but since the bout was untelevised, footage became lost over time … until today. VHS tape traders tried in vain to chase down the cassette of Hart vs. Magee for three decades to no avail, but it was recently discovered as part of ‘Hit Man’s’ tape library and is available Monday after Raw on WWE Network.”

    The documentary will cover, the full story on how the tape was discovered, what happened to Tom Magee, and much more.

    WWE Hall of Famer Bret Hart and Tom Magee are scheduled to appear together at Starrcast II in Las Vegas later this month. Visit FITE.TV for details on how you can stream that event as well as the entire Starrcast weekend.

  • Two Matches Added to MLW Fury Road (6/1)

    Two Matches Added to MLW Fury Road (6/1)

    The card is starting to take shape for Major League Wrestling’s next live event, Fury Road. Several new matches have been announced for the event, which takes place Saturday, June 1st from the Waukesha Expo Center outside Milwaukee, WI.

    The two latest additions are:

    • Davey Boy Smith, Jr. vs. Maxwell J. Friedman
    • Mance Warner vs. Sami Callihan (Falls Count Anywhere)

    Visit MLW.com for in-depth previews on each of these matches.

    MLW Fury Road

    The main event of MLW Fury Road will see MLW World Champion “Filthy” Tom Lawlor teaming up with a mystery partner against CONTRA UNIT.

    We’ll also see MLW crown the first National Openweight Championship. A 4-man tournament is being held over the next two weeks on MLW Fusion. Semi final matches include:

    • Alexander Hammerstone vs. Gringo Loco (This week on MLW Fusion)
    • Rich Swann vs. Brian Pillman Jr. (Next week on MLW Fusion)

    The winners of those matches advanced to the finals at Fury Road.

    If you are in the Milwaukee area, visit MLWTickets.com for details on how you can attend MLW Fury Road 2019 starting at just $10.

    Stay tuned to SEScoops and MLW.com for additional match announcements.

    https://twitter.com/MLW/status/1126840079148900352
    https://twitter.com/MLW/status/1126479559417835520
  • WWE Champ-Champ Becky Lynch, Daniel Bryan Workout with Conor McGregor’s Head Coach

    WWE Champ-Champ Becky Lynch, Daniel Bryan Workout with Conor McGregor’s Head Coach

    WWE champ-champ Becky Lynch and Daniel Bryan decided to stop by the home of former UFC champ-champ Conor McGregor while touring Ireland this week.

    On Thursday, WWE posted photos of Lynch and Bryan working out at Straight Blast Gym (SBG) Ireland, the gym that McGregor calls home, as they worked with the Irishman’s head coach John Kavanagh.

    Lynch has actually worked out with Kavanagh previously when she was back at home in Ireland.

    Both McGregor and Kavanagh have often shown support of Lynch during her professional wrestling career. In fact, McGregor sent out a special congratulations to Lynch after she reached ‘champ-champ’ status following her win in the WrestleMania 35 main event.

    “The Man’ Becky-Two Belts, the champ-champ is here at SBG, the place that breeds the champ-champs in Ireland,” Lynch said. “Now I’m not saying this is the sole reason but I started training with John Kavanagh about this time last April and since then it’s been nowhere but up.”

    https://twitter.com/WWEUK/status/1126503127383863297

    Lynch even did her best McGregor impression as she copied his strut walking through the gym.

    https://twitter.com/WWEUK/status/1126545374930448385

    Meanwhile, Bryan is an avid mixed martial arts and Brazilian jiu-jitsu enthusiast who has trained alongside former UFC champion Benson Henderson at the MMA Lab in Arizona in the past as well.

    WWE is currently on tour in Europe with a stop in Ireland this week where Lynch and Bryan took the time to get some extra training in with one of the top teams on the Emerald Isle.

    Bryan has brushed up against more than a few fighters in his career as well.

    Bryan famously engaged in a short war of words with welterweight competitor Mike Jackson after he dismantled former WWE superstar CM Punk in his second UFC fight.

    He also fired off a few social media messages at reigning UFC flyweight champion Henry Cejudo after he went on a viral campaign hoping to catch the attention of Bryan’s sister-in-law, Nikki Bella.

    Now it appears Lynch and Bryan are getting in a little extra training and sparring under Kavanagh and his team at SBG before stepping back into the ring during the WWE European tour.

  • Angelico & Jack Evans Sign With AEW

    Angelico & Jack Evans Sign With AEW

    High-flying tag team Angelico and Jack Evans have signed with All Elite Wrestling.

    Angelo Tweeted a couple cryptic messages on Wednesday, asking, “Is it time for a change?” and stating that he’s facing a decision that will change his life and career.

    On Wednesday, he released a video (seen below) confirming Pro Wrestling Sheet’s report that he’s ‘All Elite.’ And he’s not coming alone. In the video, Angelico says he’s been competing in Europe with the simple goal of proving himself against the best competitors in the best promotions. He’s achieved that objective, but he’s also grown tired of the day-to-day, the travel, airports, injuries and routine of it all.

    Angelico is shown sitting down at a desk getting ready to sign a contract, when he receives a phone call from Jack Evans. Jack asks if he’s ‘ready to do this.’ Angelico replies, “The real question is, are THEY ready for us?” as he signed the contract and the AEW logo flashes across the screen.

    You can watch the announcement video below:

    AEW’s Tag Team Division

    Angelico and Jack Evans are the latest world-class team to round out AEW’s roster. The following is an updated list of tag teams signed to AEW:

    • The Young Bucks
    • Pentagon & Fenix
    • SCU
    • Best Friends
    • Angelico & Jack Evans
    • Private Party
    • Super Smash Bros

    AEW’s tag team scene will also be populated by teams from affiliate promotions Oriental Wrestling Entertainment and Lucha Libre AAA.

  • AEW Expected to Announce TV Deal with Turner Next Wednesday

    AEW Expected to Announce TV Deal with Turner Next Wednesday

    It appears Turner Sports is going all-in on AEW.

    After months of speculation and negotiations, All Elite Wrestling is expected to announce a television deal with Turner as part of the upcoming WarnerMedia upfronts in New York The news was first reported by The Wrap. SEScoops has reached out to AEW and Turner for comment.

    According to the report, AEW will air a weekly show on TNT starting later this year.

    The new professional wrestling promotion being funded by Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shahid Khan with his son Tony Khan acting as AEW president has received a ton of interest since first unveiling the company.

    AEW was founded by former WWE superstar Cody along with the sibling tag-team duo the Young Bucks (Matt and Nick Jackson) after they put on a pay-per-view on their own last year titled ‘All In’. The success of that show led them to explore starting their own professional wrestling promotion and eventually AEW was created.

    Since first announcing the formation of the promotion, AEW has inked deals with several high profile professional wrestlers including former New Japan Pro Wrestling champion Kenny Omega as well as former WWE superstar PAC, who was previously known by the moniker ‘Neville’.

    As far as Turner’s involvement, the company is now part of the giant AT&T conglomerate that also includes entities such as DirecTV, HBO, TBS and numerous other outlets.

    Turner — under former owner Ted Turner — was a prominent force in the professional wrestling industry for decades while airing programming for NWA and then eventually WCW. Turner was in the middle of the infamous ‘Monday Night Wars’, which saw their WCW Monday Nitro go head to head with WWE’s Monday Night RAW.

    Eventually, Turner got out of the pro wrestling business when they sold WCW to WWE.

    Now it appears the new leadership at Turner from AT&T is interested in getting back into the deep end of the professional wrestling business with this new deal with AEW. Of course, WWE remains the biggest pro wrestling entity in the world but now it appears they will have a direct competitor after AEW landed a television deal of their own.

    The first major AEW show since announcing the launch will take place on May 25 at the ‘Double or Nothing’ pay-per-view from Las Vegas with the show airing on YouTube, Twitter and Facebook.

    An official announcement of the television deal will reportedly be made at the WarnerMedia upfronts in New York with Tony Khan and several of the wrestlers from AEW expected to appear.

  • Angelico Joins All Elite Wrestling (Report)

    Angelico Joins All Elite Wrestling (Report)

    High-flying luchador Angelico has joined All Elite Wrestling (AEW), according to an exclusive report by Ryan Satin at Pro Wrestling Sheet.

    The 32-year-old South African grappler is best known for his work in Lucha Underground and Mexico’s AAA promotion.

    Earlier today, Angelo tweeted, “Is it time for a change?” He followed up with another tweet about facing a decision that will change his life and career. Joining AEW would certainly fit the bill.

    The signing of Angelico is the latest encouraging sign affirming AEW’s keen eye for talent. Don’t be surprised if he turns up in the Casino Battle Royale match at AEW: Double or Nothing later this month.

    Angelico Teases His Future

  • Casino Battle Royale Winner Earns AEW World Title Shot

    Casino Battle Royale Winner Earns AEW World Title Shot

    The latest episode of AEW’s The Road To Double or Nothing Youtube series provides new information regarding the event’s Casino Battle Royale.

    AEW Executive Vice President announced the Casino Battle Royale winner will earn the first shot at the “newly crowned” AEW World Champion.

    The wording there is interesting, because AEW has yet to announce when the first AEW World Champion will be crowned. This stipulation implies a champion will be crowned sooner than later. We now know the AEW World Championship has been created, as it was sitting next to Cody (covered) in the video.

    Cody Rhodes with the coveted AEW World Championship

    AEW Casino Battle Royale Rules

    Cody also gave a more in-depth description of the rules for the Casino Battle Royale:

    • All 21 competitors will randomly select a card from a standard deck.
    • There will be four groups of wrestlers who will enter the battle royal in waves of five. The suit on the card (hearts, diamonds, clubs, spades) will correlate to the group they are in. The order of entry for the groups will be randomized.
    • Every three minutes, a new ‘suit’ group will join the match.
    • The wrestler who draws the Joker card will have the coveted 21st spot in the battle royal and will enter alone after all four groups have joined the match.
    • Eliminations take place when a wrestler is thrown over the top rope and both feet touch the floor at ringside.

    The last man standing wins the Casino Battle Royale and becomes #1 contender to the “newly crowned” AEW World Champion.

    Watch: The Road to Double or Nothing (Episode 15)

  • Dean Ambrose Appearing In ‘Cagefighter’ Movie

    Dean Ambrose Appearing In ‘Cagefighter’ Movie

    Former WWE Superstar Dean Ambrose has joined the cast of a new MMA-themed action movie, Cagefighter. Deadline was first to break the news.

    Cagefighter tells the story of a popular MMA champion who loses a big fight to a pro wrestler who crossed over into the world of mixed martial arts. Shaken by the loss, the MMA fighter must fight his way back to the top and earn a rematch.

    Former WWE star Christian (Jason Reso) is the Executive Producer of the film.

    Ambrose is billed under his real name, Jonathan Good. The movie also stars real-life MMA fighter and actor Josh Herdman, Michael Jai White, Gina Gershon, Michelle Ryan and Jason Maza. MMA legends Georges St. Pierre, Anderson Silva and Alexander Gustafsson will also appear.

    Cagefighter is currently in pre-production. No word yet on the targeted release date.

    Ambrose made his acting debut in the 2015 WWE Studios action film 12 Rounds 3: Lockdown.

  • Sasha Banks Not Going Overseas With WWE For European Tour

    Sasha Banks Not Going Overseas With WWE For European Tour

    Sasha Banks remains in the United States as the Raw and SmackDown rosters are overseas for WWE’s latest European tour.

    Over the next week, WWE’s main roster brands will hold shows in Ireland, Belgium, Finland, France, Sweden, England, Norway and Germany. Next week’s Raw and SmackDown will be taped from London.

    As for Sasha Banks, the latest update on Sasha Banks comes courtesy of PWInsider. Earlier this week, there were rumblings in WWE that she might be returning from her hiatus. She was “listed internally” as one of the wrestlers who would be traveling with WWE.

    Banks was also scheduled to film some promotional material for the upcoming WWE 2K20 video game, however there’s no word on whether or not she took part in that shoot.

    The former Raw Women’s Champion has been off WWE television since WrestleMania last month. She nor WWE have made any public comments about her status since then. The belief is that she has been frustrated with her role in the company, including WWE breaking up her tag team with Bayley.

  • AEW Double Or Nothing Airing In The UK On ITV Box Office

    AEW Double Or Nothing Airing In The UK On ITV Box Office

    All Elite Wrestling’s Highly Anticipated PPV Show will Ignite the Screen with Kenny Omega, Chris Jericho, The Young Bucks, Cody, SCU, and more.

    LONDON, UK, (May 8, 2019) – ITV, the largest commercial television network in the UK, announced a partnership today with All Elite Wrestling (AEW), the new wrestling promotion headlined by members of The Elite, to broadcast the highly anticipated DOUBLE OR NOTHING event on its ITV Box Office channel.

    Fans across the UK can look forward to seeing all the drama, action and entertainment live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on the night of Saturday 25 May going into Sunday 26 May. DOUBLE OR NOTHING, which sold out in under 30 minutes, features an electrifying card packed with stars including the headline clash between Kenny Omega and Chris Jericho. The wrestling world will rock as Cody takes on his brother Dustin Rhodes, The Young Bucks battle the Lucha Bros for the AAA World Tag Team Championship, Hangman Adam Page clashes with PAC,
    and Britt Baker, Nyla Rose and Kylie Rae compete in a three-way match.

    Additionally, before the live pay-per-view event begins at 1:00 a.m. GMT, Sunday, May 26, the hourlong live pre-show special BUY-IN will air for free on ITV4 at midnight. BUY-IN includes the first ever “Casino (Battle) Royale,” which will see 21 competitors including Jimmy Havoc, Billy Gunn, MJF, Michael Nakzawa, Jungle Boy, Glacier, Sonny Kiss, and Joey Janela entering the ring in waves of five wrestlers every three minutes followed by one final entrant, lucky number 21, all fighting it out in the ring until there is one winner, whose reward will be a future title shot against the first ever AEW World Champion. BUY-IN will also feature a pair of high-flyers squaring off one-on-one as the UK’s own Kip Sabian will face Sammy Guevara.

    “We’re delighted to announce this partnership with AEW, whose entry into professional wrestling is already making a massive impact on the industry and promises to deliver an electrifying event later this month, and a fantastic experience for our viewers and wrestling fans in the UK,” said Niall Sloane, Director of Sport, ITV. “Joining forces with AEW for this event is faithful to ITV’s More Than TV strategy to develop direct relationships with viewers through big events available on its platforms.”

    “We’ve stated since our launch that we want to make this the greatest time ever to be a professional wrestling fan, and part of this plan is to make our product as accessible as possible to a global audience,” said Tony Khan, President/CEO of AEW. “Since our launch in January, we’ve signed the best talent, sold out our debut show in record time, and we’ve built relationships and formed bonds with the best media partners like ITV. This collaboration with ITV is so important to AEW, ITV is the best in the UK, they were always my first choice to be our international PPV partner for DOUBLE OR NOTHING, and we’re looking forward to a great show.”

    “We’re delighted to announce this partnership with AEW, whose entry into professional wrestling
    is already making a massive impact on the industry and promises to deliver an electrifying event
    later this month, and a fantastic experience for our viewers and wrestling fans in the UK,” said
    Niall Sloane, Director of Sport, ITV. “Joining forces with AEW for this event is faithful to ITV’s
    More Than TV strategy to develop direct relationships with viewers through big events available
    on its platforms.”

    “We’re delighted to announce this partnership with AEW, whose entry into professional wrestling is already making a massive impact on the industry and promises to deliver an electrifying event later this month, and a fantastic experience for our viewers and wrestling fans in the UK,” said Niall Sloane, Director of Sport, ITV. “Joining forces with AEW for this event is faithful to ITV’s
    More Than TV strategy to develop direct relationships with viewers through big events available on its platforms.”

    “We’ve stated since our launch that we want to make this the greatest time ever to be a professional wrestling fan, and part of this plan is to make our product as accessible as possible to a global audience,” said Tony Khan, President/CEO of AEW. “Since our launch in January, we’ve signed the best talent, sold out our debut show in record time, and we’ve built relationships and formed bonds with the best media partners like ITV. This collaboration with ITV is so important to AEW, ITV is the best in the UK, they were always my first choice to be our international PPV partner for DOUBLE OR NOTHING, and we’re looking forward to a great show.”

    In addition, a special pre-event show “Before the Bell” will air for free on ITV4 and ITV Box Office in the build up to the DOUBLE OR NOTHING broadcast. Details about how to access DOUBLE OR NOTHING on ITV Box Office can be found at www.itvboxoffice.com.

  • Marshall & Ross Von Erich Sign With MLW

    Marshall & Ross Von Erich Sign With MLW

    Major League Wrestling (MLW) has signed third generation stars Marshall and Ross Von Erich to multi-year contracts. The news was first reported by Sports Illustrated.

    Marshall and Ross are the sons of Kevin Von Erich and grandsons of the late family patriarch Fritz Von Erich. The duo has been honing their skills as a tag team around the world, competing in Israel, England, Australia, Texas and Oklahoma.

    By signing with MLW, the Von Erichs are ready to make an impact on then national stage. They will debut for MLW on June 1st at Fury Road.

    “Signing with MLW is a big deal for,” Ross told SI. “They are the promotion that has allowed us to be with our dad, help out around the ranch, and still wrestle.”

    “We’re able to continue the legacy,” added Marshall. “It’s humbling, we’re honored, and it’s the perfect timing—we’ve never been this ready for this big a stage before.”

    MLW CEO Court Bauer has been working on this deal since January. Bauer says the Von Erichs are determined to write a new chapter in the family’s legacy.

    “It’s poetic,” said Bauer, who noted that the contract still allows Ross and Marshall the opportunity to work in Israel and for Pro Wrestling Noah in Japan. “They’re fighting for their family name and their future. They represent a new hope and a new chapter in the family’s fabled story.”

    For more on the Von Erichs joining Major League Wrestling, visit MLW.com.

  • AEW Double Or Nothing: Casino Battle Royale Rules Announced

    AEW Double Or Nothing: Casino Battle Royale Rules Announced

    The Over Budget Battle Royal at AEW: Double or Nothing has been renamed the Casino Battle Royale.

    On the latest episode of Being The Elite (Episode 150), AEW referee Bryce Remsburg explained the rules for this new match concept:

    • 21 wrestlers will be part of the battle royal
    • The match begins with 5 wrestlers in the ring
    • Every 3 minutes, a new wave of 5 men join the match
    • A lucky 21st wrestler will be the final solo entrant
    • Elimination takes place when a wrestler is thrown over the top rope and lands with both feet on the floor at ringside
    • Order of entry will be determined at a later date

    Casino Battle Royale Participants

    • Joey Janela
    • Brian Pillman Jr.
    • Maxwell J. Friedman
    • Ace Romero
    • Sonny Kiss
    • Kip Sabian
    • Brandon Cutler
    • Glacier
    • Sunny Daze

    AEW: Double or Nothing takes place Saturday night, May 25th from Las Vegas, NV at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

    Watch: Being The Elite (“Ransom Note”)

  • MLW National Openweight Championship Tournament Participants Announced

    MLW National Openweight Championship Tournament Participants Announced

    Major League Wrestling has announced the tournament participants to crown the first MLW National Openweight Champion. As the name implies, MLW fighters of all weight classes will be eligible to challenge for the belt.

    The MLW National Openweight Championship kicks off on this week’s MLW Fusion. The finals to crown the first champion will be held at MLW Fury Road on Saturday, June 1st at the Waukesha County Expo Center in the greater Milwaukee area.

    MLW matchmakers have announced these semi-final bouts:

    • Alexander Hammerstone vs. Gringo Loco (This week on MLW Fusion)
    • Rich Swann vs. Brian Pillman Jr. (Next week on MLW Fusion)

    Visit MLW.com for information on each of the four competitors.

    If you are in the Milwaukee area, visit MLWTickets.com for details on how you can attend MLW Fury Road 2019 starting at just $10.

    MLW Fury Road 2019

    In addition to National Championship tournament finals, the main event is set for Fury Road. MLW World Champion “Filthy” Tom Lawlor will team with a mystery partneer against CONTRA Unit.

    Other talent signed to appear includes LA Park, the Hart Foundation, Low Ki , Salina de la Renta, Hijo de LA Park, Mance Warner, MJF, Ricky Martinez, Rey Horus, Jordan Oliver, Daga, Air Wolf and more.

    Stay tuned to SEScoops and MLW.com for additional match announcements.

    https://twitter.com/MLW/status/1124782123192217600
  • WWE Raw Preview: Roman Reigns, Road To Money In The Bank

    WWE Raw Preview: Roman Reigns, Road To Money In The Bank

    Tonight’s edition of WWE Raw takes place from Cincinnati, Ohio at the US Bank Arena. Following last week’s sobering television viewership, WWE is looking to spike fan interest with a “jaw dropping” appearance by SmackDown Live star Roman Reigns.

    • Over the weekend, Roman Reigns tweeted that he still has unfinished business on Raw and he’d see everyone on Monday. WWE officials stated that Reigns will not be there, but he is defying them and plans to open the show.
    • Last week, Braun Strowman, Baron Corbin, Drew McIntyre and Ricochet were announced for the men’s Money in the Bank ladder match. WWE is questioning how the four men will be able to coexist in the lead up to the May 19th pay-per-view.
    • How will Universal Champion Seth Rollins respond to AJ Styles putting him through a table during their MITB contract signing? WWE.com states, “If The Architect wants to keep up, a response will be required.”
    • Raw and SmackDown Women’s Champions Becky Lynch has a serious threat in front of her in Lacey Evans. After consecutive attacks by the challenger, Becky Lynch might have to reassess how she handles her first challenger on Raw.
    • After a victory over Samoa Joe last week, Rey Mysterio could be in line for an Intercontinental title shot.
    • WWE attempted to humiliate The Revival last week on Raw with a cringeworthy back-shaving segment for the ages. With reports that The Revival have declined new WWE contracts, WWE.com asks, “In other words, this could be the beginning of a whole new Revival or the first humiliation of many. The choice is up to them.”

    Join us here later tonight for our weekly Takeaways from WWE Raw.

  • Garza Jr. Debuts At NXT Live Event

    Garza Jr. Debuts At NXT Live Event

    Garza Jr. made his in-ring debut for WWE at Thursday night’s NXT live event from Melbourne, FL. He lost to Mansoor Al-Shehail in the opening match.

    Garza is a 3rd-generation wrestler who began training at the Performance Center earlier this month (along with KUSHIDA and Shane Strickland).

    He is the grandson luchador El Ninja, nephew of former WCW Superstar Hector Garza and cousin of NXT and 205 Live Superstar Humberto Carrillo. The high flyer from Monterrey, Mexico has been competing since 2008. He has worked for AAA, Crash, Pro Wrestling NOAH and various independent promotions.

    NXT Live Results From Melbourne, FL (5/2/19)

    • Mansoor Al-Shehail defeats Garza Jr.
    • Kacy Catanzaro & Lacey Lane defeat Reina Gonzalez & Taynara Conti
    • Albert Hardie Jr. defeats Luke Menzies
    • Brendan Vink defeats Brennan Williams
    • Danny Burch & Oney Lorcan defeat Rinku Singh & Saurav Gurjar
    • Tyler Breeze defeats Shane Thorne
    • Bianca Belair defeats Jessie Elaban
    • Keith Lee defeats Bobby Fish
  • “Filthy” Tom Lawlor Goes To War Against CONTRA Unit On June 1st

    “Filthy” Tom Lawlor Goes To War Against CONTRA Unit On June 1st

    MLW World Champion “Filthy” Tom Lawlor will finally get his hands on CONTRA Unit next month. MLW has announced that Lawlor and a partner will battle CONTRA Unit at MLW Fury Road.

    In addition to this marquee match, Fury Road will also see the crowning of MLW’s first National Champion. This new title will be defended under “openweight” rules, so MLW fighters of all shapes and sizes will be eligible to challenge for it.

    MLW Fury Road takes place Saturday, June 1st from the Waukesha County Expo Center in Milwaukee, WI. If you’re in Milwaukee area, visit MLWTickets.com for tickets starting at just $10.

    CONTRA Unit Unleashes Chaos On MLW

    CONTRA Unit has been the most dangerous force in MLW since their arrival. The following is a recap of the events that led to the Fury Road encounter:

    CONTRA Unit has unleashed chaos since Jacob Fatu crashed down on “Filthy” Tom Lawlor from high atop of the steel cage 2 months ago in Chicago. Vowing to disrupt and destroy the league, the trio of outsiders in Fatu, Josef Samael and Simon Gotch have caused chaos since emerging in MLW.

    Sudden, brutal and unleashing total destruction at any time, CONTRA Unit is an international organization cloaked in mystery but driven to gain power, disrupt leagues such as MLW and conquer all in their path by any means necessary. With whispers of connections to the dangerous and shadowy underworld, CONTRA has put the entire sport on edge.

    Self proclaimed “global dealers in violence,” CONTRA struck Lawlor again on April 5th in the closing minutes fo the live 2019 Battle Riot broadcast where they pummeled the World Heavyweight Champion during his post fight press conference.

    Now Lawlor looks to take to the battlefield at Fury Road.. and he’s not coming alone. Will it be two on two? Three on three? Only time will tell but Lawlor isn’t coming alone.

  • Top Matches Confirmed For NXT Takeover XXV (Spoilers)

    Top Matches Confirmed For NXT Takeover XXV (Spoilers)

    WWE announced this week that NXT Takeover XXV will take place on Saturday, June 1st from Bridgeport, CT.

    This will be a rare NXT Takeover event that does not take place during a WWE pay-per-view weekend. Initially, this show would have been coupled with the since-cancelled WWE Backlash pay-per-view. That show was scrapped to accommodate WWE’s return to Saudi Arabia on June 7th.

    WWE held the latest round of NXT television tapings Wednesday night from Full Sail University in Winter Park, FL. You can check out full spoilers from those tapings here.

    NXT Takeover Card (6/1)

    The following contains spoilers for the next several weeks of NXT TV:

    Based on the happenings of this week’s NXT TV tapings, we know the top thee matches for the next Takeover show.

    • NXT Champion Johnny Gargano will defend against Adam Cole of the Undisputed Era.
    • NXT North American Champion Velveteen Dream defends against Tyler Breeze.
    • Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Riley vs The Street Profits vs The Forgotten Sons vs Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch for the vacant NXT Tag Team Championships

    Takeover events often outshine the WWE pay-per-views that occur during the same weekend. As great as the shows are, there’s no question NXT’s ticket sales benefit from WWE fans attending both shows. It will be interesting to see how this show does without piggybacking off a WWE PPV.

  • Carmella Says She Is Not a Homewrecker in Response to Corey Graves Rumors

    Carmella Says She Is Not a Homewrecker in Response to Corey Graves Rumors

    Carmella is not a homewrecker.

    That’s the message from the former Smackdown women’s champion as she addressed rumors that she started dating WWE commentator Corey Graves while he was still married to the wife of his children.

    Earlier this year, Graves’ wife Amy unleashed an explosive post (that was later deleted) on her Instagram where she accused him of cheating on her with Carmella.

    Graves later addressed the situation by revealing that he’s going through a divorce with his estranged wife and that message was sent out during a particularly messy time when the two of them were not in a good place.

    Now Carmella is responding during a recent appearance on ‘The Bellas Podcast’ where she spoke to retired WWE superstars Nikki and Brie Bella.

    “Let me just first and foremost say I would never wreck somebody’s home. That is not the life that I’m about,” Carmella stated. “I would never in a million years do that. I don’t care how hot the guy is, how in love I think I am, that is not the life I’m about.

    “So I’m going to kill that rumor right now. That absolutely did not happen, I did not wreck a home.”

    Based on Graves’ previous statement about his divorce, it would appear that a potential relationship with Carmella sprung up in the aftermath of his marriage ending.

    Still, Carmella promises that there is more to this story than what has been exposed publicly because apparently all of the drama will unfold during the new season of ‘Total Divas’ on the E! network.

    “I will say there’s always so many sides to each story so if you do want to know the truth about this story, you guys already mentioned I will be on ‘Total Divas’ this season, so the whole story plays out on ‘Total Divas’,” Carmella said. “So if you do want to know, you’ve got to tune in.”

    Carmella had previously appeared on a past season of ‘Total Divas’ and then did not return to the show. Now she is back as one of the regular cast members for the next season of ‘Total Divas’, which will debut on E! later this year.

  • Rey Mysterio Celebrates 30 Years In Pro Wrestling

    Rey Mysterio Celebrates 30 Years In Pro Wrestling

    Congratulations are in order for Rey Mysterio, who is celebrating 30 years since his pro wrestling debut. His first match took place in 1989 back when he was just 14 years old.

    Mysterio commented on the milestone on Twitter. He wrote, “On this day at the age of 14 I made my debut and it’s a very special day in Mexico ‘Día del niño’ (“Day of the Kid”). If I had the opportunity to re live these 30 yrs I would do it all over again. Thank you to all my fans!! Much love and respect!”

    WWE has posted an interview with Mysterio talking about his storied career.

    Mysterio said he was actually shocked to learn that today was his 30th anniversary in the business. He keeps various pieces of memorabilia from throughout his career and still has the pay check from his debut match.

    Incredibly, the video below includes footage from that match. Rey says he could have never dreamed how his career would unfold. The struggles, the memories, the places he’s traveled and the crowds he’s performed in front have all been part of his journey. He was a fan of WWE as a child. He dreamed of becoming a pro wrestler and never expected to end up in WWE.

    Mysterio is humbled that he’s one of the Superstars to have competed in WWE, WCW and ECW. He’s always tried to make the most of opportunities that were presented to him. He owes a lot of his in-ring ability to Konnan, who believed in him and opened doors for him from the beginning.

    He does not know how much time he has left in the ring, but he’s humble and blessed that he can continue working at such a high level. He plans to continue wrestling until he can pass the torch to his son, Dominic.

    Watch: Rey Mysterio Celebrates The 30th Anniversary of His Debut

  • Sting Names The WWE Superstar He’d Most Want To Work With

    Sting Names The WWE Superstar He’d Most Want To Work With

    WWE Hall of Famer Sting is most likely retired for good, but that doesn’t stop fans from asking him about which current Superstars he’d like to work with.

    Sting was in Washington, D.C. over the weekend for the Awesome Con event. During his panel, Sting spoke about his legendary career. When asked about a hypothetical matchup against an active performer, Sting said he’s intrigued by Bray Wyatt.

    “Bray Wyatt has the personality,” Sting explained. “I like the whole Bray Wyatt thing. That would have been pretty interesting.”

    The Undertaker is usually cited when talking about a ‘dream match’ for Sting, but Bray Wyatt’s character definitely fits the mold of creepy and mysterious.

    Unfortunately, fans will probably have to fire up WWE 2K19 to see Sting vs. Bray Wyatt. The 60 year old has not wrestled since 2015 when he was injured in a match against Seth Rollins at Night of Champions.

    Listen: Sting Q&A Panel from Awesome Con 2019, courtesy of Lee Sanders and the RCWR Show.

  • Update On Gallows & Anderson Moved to Raw, Their WWE Futures

    Update On Gallows & Anderson Moved to Raw, Their WWE Futures

    As seen Monday night, Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson are now part of WWE’s Raw roster. While it was nice to see the Good Brothers back on television, they came up short against fellow Raw newcomers The Usos.

    Gallows and Anderson are the latest act to switch brands well after the Superstar Shakeup two weeks ago. According to PWInsider, the decision to move them to Raw was made the night of the Shakeup. There’s no word on why WWE did not announce the change until this week.

    Last month, word got out that Gallows and Anderson were offered new WWE contracts worth millions of dollars. They reportedly declined the offers and are still expected to finish up with WWE when their current deals expire in the fall.

    Gallows and Anderson’s situation is strikingly similar to that of The Revival. Both teams are very talented, underutilized in WWE and might be on their way out despite big money offers that would provide them longterm financial security.

    Both teams could very well decide to stay with WWE. However, even this hesitation to re-sign is indicative of the widespread unhappiness in the WWE locker room.

  • More Heat On Lio Rush, Update On His Future With WWE

    More Heat On Lio Rush, Update On His Future With WWE

    We have an update on Lio Rush, courtesy of PWInsider. Rush’s WWE run has been plagued with reports of backstage heat. He addressed the situation last week on social media, but his future on the main roster remains in question.

    The Man of the Hour was backstage at Monday’s Raw, but he was not used on camera despite Bobby Lashley having a prominent role. WWE has yet to acknowledge his absence. The latest buzz is that Lio Rush will soon be moved back to WWE’s NXT brand

    Lio Rush did not make any allies when he mocked Tenille Dashwood’s WWE release back in the fall of 2017. PWInsider has provided new details about a few other incidents that are working against the 24 year old star.

    Rush apparently got a lot of heat on himself back in November on WWE’s European tour. Junior members of the roster are expected to follow backstage etiquette that includes menial tasks. For example, handing out water bottles to talent in the gorilla position after their matches, setting up a private area for the talent back at the hotel, etc. Rush did not participate in these ‘paying your dues’ tasks. Not only was he unreceptive to feedback, but he reportedly complained to WWE management.

    In addition to these incidents, Rush has also been bringing people backstage without proper credentials and has continuously ignored advice from veteran talent.

    Overall, he’s earned a reputation that he feels ‘above it all’ and does not have to follow the rules and protocols that apply to everyone else. The behavior was first chalked up to inexperience, but things have not improved and he’s turning out to be his own worst enemy.

  • Seth Rollins Disposes Of The Revival After Raw (Video)

    Seth Rollins Disposes Of The Revival After Raw (Video)

    The closing segment of Monday’s WWE Raw from Lexington, KY saw the Money in the Bank contract signing between Universal Champion Seth Rollins and AJ Styles.

    Believe it or not, the contract signing did not go as planned. Styles ended up putting Rollins through a table to end the segment.

    After Raw went off the air, The Revival came out. The ‘top guys’ delivered a beatdown to Rollins, who was already in bad shape from the Styles attack.

    Being the fighting champion that he is, Rollins eventually fought back and got the upper hand on Dash Wilder and Scott Dawson. Rollins hit a double Curb Stomp on The Revival to end the segment. You can see footage of the confrontation below.

    Our live correspondent also noted the upper deck of the arena was tarped off due to renovations. She estimated the building was approximately 2/3 full.

    Watch: Seth Rollins Takes Out The Revival After Raw

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