The 2019 WWE Superstar Shakeup continued Tuesday night on SmackDown Live.
Many of SmackDown’s top stars moved to Raw Monday night, including AJ Styles, Rey Mysterio, The Usos, The Miz and more. Click here to see a full breakdown of Superstar Shakeup Night 1 results.
The following is an ongoing list of Superstars traded to SmackDown Live:
Finn Balor
Intercontinental Champion Finn Balor is the first Raw Superstar to move to SmackDown.
The opening segment of SmackDown Live saw Kevin Owens hosting the Kevin Owens Show with guests Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods. Owens aligned with the New Day members for a 6-man tag match later in the show. Suddenly, Finn Balor’s music played and out came the IC champion.
Balor wrestled and defeated Ali in his first match on SmackDown.
Ember Moon, Bayley, Mandy Rose & Sonya Deville, Kairi Sane
Ember Moon interrupted a promo by Becky Lynch to announce she is now on SmackDown Live. She challenged Lynch, but was interrupted by former Raw Women’s Champion Bayley. Bayley declared she is now on SmackDown as a singles competitor and tried challenging Lynch as well. She was interrupted by the IIconics.
Paige then came out to announce the new team she would lead to tag team gold. She was interrupted Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville. Paige said those were not her her new team. The new team is Asuka and Kairi Sane.
On Tuesday, the former Intercontinental and multi-time tag
team champion revealed on Twitter than he has requested his release from WWE
after spending the past six years with the promotion.
Harper (real name Jonathan Huber) had just recently returned
to WWE television after suffering a wrist injury that put him out of action for
a period of time. He appared at WrestleMania 35 as one of the participants in
the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal but now nine days later he’s asking
to leave WWE.
“As of this evening, I have requested a release from WWE,”
Harper wrote on Twitter. “The past six years have been a simple amazing journey
around the world and back with lifelong friends and family. I am proud of it
all and proud to say I shared the ring with my co-workers.
“This decision, as difficult as it was, feels right for
myself and WWE. My goal in the future is to continue to grow as a performer and
person and continue to make my family proud. Thank you. From the top to the
bottom of WWE. Thank you to the fans for your undying support. Thank you
everyone.”
Harper came to the WWE after working the independent
wrestling scene starting in 2003 before finally signing with the promotion under
a developmental contract in 2012.
Harper was almost immediately put into a group dynamic
alongside Bray Wyatt and Erick Rowan as the Wyatt Family in NXT before they
eventually made the move up to the main roster.
Harper primarily worked in tag team matches with Rowan and
they were later rebranded as ‘The Bludgeon Brothers’ where they went onto win
the Smackdown tag team titles.
After Rowan suffered an injury that put him out of action, Harper
was also sidelined by his wrist injury. In late March, Harper revealed that he
had been cleared to return to the ring but he still hadn’t been inserted into
any storylines on television until he made his surprise appearance at WrestleMania
35 where he was eliminated by Braun Strowman during the battle royal.
Now Harper is looking to take his career elsewhere after
requesting his release from WWE. As of now the promotion hasn’t made any
statement regarding Harper’s future including if they will grant his release
from WWE.
WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions The IIconics were Lilian Garcia’s guests on the latest Chasing Glory podcast.
Some fans might not be aware that Billie Kay and Peyton Royce grew up together in Australia. They are close friends in real life and travel together on the road. Billie says Peyton is the only person she wants to see on her off days and considers their friendship ore of a sisterhood. “We really do consume each other’s lives,” she said. “And we spend every single second together”
As close as they have become, it wasn’t always that way. In fact, Billie says they “never liked each other” and had somewhat of a “silent rivalry” when they’d see each other out at wrestling events back home.
The “Silent Rivalry”
“I saw one time Peyton was ahead in the line,” she explained. “We used to spend hours trying to be the first in line. So, sometimes she would be second or third and I’d be sixth or seventh. I just knew she went to the same high school, I didn’t know who she was. I was like ‘Damn it.’ And then the next time I’d be ahead in line and we’d just shoot each other looks and stuff. There was just this silent rivalry. Years later, when Peyton joined the wrestling academy that I attended, and we spoke for the first time.”
A Fateful Encounter
Peyton Royce chimed in and said she knew she wanted to become a wrestler from a very young age. Before she started training at a wrestling academy, a chance encounter involving Billie Kay convinced her it was time to make her dream a reality.
“So, on my birthday I go out to dinner and I see a poster on the door and it says “pro wrestling” so it immediately draws my attention. So I look at the poster and it’s Billie. She’s the front and center of the poster. And I said, “Oh my god I’m going to go to this school because I know her and I want to wrestle too!” I wouldn’t have chosen that school unless I saw Billie on the poster. That just clicked. But it was also ‘I want to be with her doing this.’ This was a couple of years after the ‘silent rivalry.’ After time had passed.”
Love At First Sight
They both feel that fate brought them together and intertwined their lives to this day. Royce remembers the first time they actually spoke.
“I say this all the time – it’s like, in the romantic movies, where the heavens open up and the two people come together and fall in love – it’s like love at first sight. That’s what happened. That’s exactly what happened.”
The IIconics mentioned that when they first joined NXT, there were people who tried to separate them for the sake of allowing them to develop individual acts. The duo fought to stay together Billie also went on to explain that once they became friends they wanted to stick together.
The decision ultimately led them to tag team gold on the main roster.
Listen to The IIconics on Chasing Glory with Lilian Garcia:
The first night of WWE’s 2019 Superstar Shakeup saw 17 SmackDown Live stars moved to the Raw brand.
Most of the moves were impactful, with Raw newcomers such as AJ Styles, Andrade, The Usos and Lacey Evans picking up impressive wins. Others such as Rey Mysterio and EC3 had rough nights, getting beat up by the likes of red brand monsters Lars Sullivan and Braun Strowman.
Cedric Alexander got a video package announcing his move to Raw, while Sanity leader Eric Young got a ‘blink and you’ll miss it’ inclusion on an on-screen graphic.
As the leader of the SaNITy, Eric Young’s move to Raw effectively disbands the faction that was hot in NXT but never quite found its footing on the main roster.
SaNITy member Killian Dain commented on the situation on Twitter, telling former partners Eric Young and Alexander Wolfe that he will miss them both terribly. He called both men phenomenal inside and outside the ring and thanked the fans for supporting them while they were together.
Ring of Honor star Bully Ray is questioning WWE’s decision to bring EC3 to the main roster.
EC3 has not had a great run on Raw since debuting a few months ago and Monday night was no exception. On the Superstar Shakeup edition of Raw, EC3 issued an open challenge. Braun Strowman answered and proceeded to beat the living crap out of EC3 and choke slam him through the stage.
Bully Ray worked closely with EC3 during their time in Impact Wrestling. He shared his view on WWE’s booking of EC3 thus far and thinks he would be much better off thriving in NXT.
IMO…
Whats the point of bringing up EC3 only to destroy him from day 1 on main roster??
Earlier in the show, Bully Ray praised the Raw debut of NXT tag team champions Viking Experience (previously known as War Raiders). He also gave props to Sami Zayn, who masterfully turned a rabid crowd from wild cheers to loud boos.
Ronda Rousey appears to have confirmed reports that she and husband Travis Browne are planning to start a family in the near future.
Rousey was last seen at WrestleMania 35, where she dropped the Raw women’s championship to Becky Lynch. It had been long rumored that Ronda Rousey was planning to take time off from WWE after WrestleMania to start a family.
On Monday afternoon, she posted a message on Instagram announcing she and Browne were setting off on an “impregnation vacation.”
Ronda Rousey Taking Time Off From WWE
The news of Ronda Rousey taking time off from WWE first broke back in January. She pushed back on the report in an interview with ESPN, lashing out at people reporting on her plans to start a family.
She told ESPN, “I honestly don’t know why [anyone] feels like [they’re] an authority to speak on the plans for my uterus … I really don’t feel like I should have to respond to that kind of thing. It’s my vagina, my life, keep the speculations to yourself. Leave me and my reproductive organs alone.”
This was a stark contrast to multiple public comments she had made previously about wanting to start a family. Her personal life with Travis Browne aside, Rousey suffered a badly broken hand at WrestleMania, which would also keep her out of the ring for the foreseeable future.
NXT star Punishment Martinez is now using the name, Damien Priest.
The Sports Business Journal recently published a profile looking at WWE’s talent factory, the Performance Center. Inside the article, the former Punishment Martinez spoke about his new character.
The former MMA star and Ring of Honor wrestler joined NXT in late 2018. As Damien Priest, he’ll be getting a new persona, new music and a new look.
Priest says the new character better reflects who he is in real life, because he’s “always been into the weird, the odd, the dark.”
At 37 years old, Damien Priest is on the older side of the typical WWE recruit. He does not think his age works against him, because at the end of the day, it’s all about how you can perform.
“If I can go at the same level, then age doesn’t matter,” Priest said. “As long as I’m doing a little bit more than you, you will never be on my level. I’m not a patient person, but I’m a positive impatient. I’m not willing to just stand by. I’m going to keep pushing until something sticks.”
On Monday night, the WWE will begin the annual superstar
shakeup following WrestleMania with performers making the move from Raw to
Smackdown Live and vice versa.
This year’s Superstar Shakeup also comes with a little extra
scrutiny because this will be the last major move for performers ahead of the
upcoming shift as Smackdown Live goes from USA Network to FOX later this year.
Now the new Smackdown Live won’t debut on FOX until October
but there are already huge plans in motion for the launch including a new
weekly ‘magazine’ style show that will feature interviews, behind the scenes
footage and coverage of WWE similar to other major sports that broadcast on FOX.
.@TripleH announces the launch of an all new weekly WWE studio show on FS1 this fall:
“To take people deeper into what goes on behind the scenes to being a WWE superstar… I can’t wait for this. If you're a WWE fan, across the board, this is the show that will be a can't miss." pic.twitter.com/81wBHkOG09
While Monday Night Raw has remained the featured show for
the WWE over the years, the $2 billion deal to bring Smackdown Live to FOX will
almost certainly change the way the Superstar Shakeup will work this year.
FOX is a bigger platform than USA Network because it’s
network television versus cable so no matter what else happens with this
Superstar Shakeup, that has to be noted before the first ‘trades’ are announced
on RAW on Monday night.
Triple H (Paul Levesque) previously addressed the move for
Smackdown Live to FOX and the shift in how that show will be handled going
forward.
“There are contractual obligations to provide that level of
exposure for us and all that other programming, but [FOX] have already gone
above and beyond that and that’s part of the partnership,” he told the Sports
Business Journal just after WrestleMania 35.
“Fundamentally as a company, we constantly reimagine
ourselves so we are deep in the process now of, when we get to October on Fox,
what is the reimagined version of SmackDown going to be?”
Because FOX will be available to more viewers along with the
initiative to help launch WWE programming on the network in October, that would
seem to indicate that the Superstar Shakeup will bring more of the biggest
stars to the blue brand.
One name in particular that would seem obvious for the move would
be former Raw women’s champion Ronda Rousey, who was a staple on FOX
programming when she was the women’s bantamweight champion in the UFC.
FOX executives know the kind of ratings that Rousey can
bring in and even if she’s only a part time employee going forward, there’s
little doubt that she would get a lot of attention performing on network
television. Obviously there are still a ton of rumors swirling about Rousey’s
future with WWE after her most recent match at WrestleMania, but if she’s
coming back, it would seem like a safe bet that FOX would like to see her on
Smackdown Live.
It’s also possible a couple of other top stars such as Roman
Reigns or even Brock Lesnar (assuming he’s returning to WWE) end up on
Smackdown Live.
The key for the move to FOX is getting people to tune in
week to week but also providing the kind of star power that will get more
casual viewers to make Smackdown Live must see TV right at the launch.
While Smackdown Live has produced numerous compelling
storylines over the past few years including the rise of Becky Lynch’s stardom
as well as the recent promotion behind Kofi Kingston, the blue brand has never completely
escaped being the ‘B’ show behind the ‘A’ brand’ at Raw.
That could all change with the upcoming shift for Smackdown
Live to FOX because that network didn’t shell out a lot of money to land WWE
programming only to get table scraps when it comes to the superstars performing
on the show.
It’s also worth mentioning that while FOX will definitely
get a lot of attention with this Superstar Shakeup, WWE can’t forget about
their longtime television partners at USA Network either, who are still footing
a hefty bill to keep Monday Night Raw.
While every year provides a few interesting storylines, the
2019 Superstar Shakeup might be one of the biggest to keep an eye on with the
massive shift about to happen to WWE television programming later this year.
Sasha Banks tweeted a message to ‘marks’ on Monday after a chaotic week of reports and speculation about her future with WWE.
For a full recap of all the news about Sasha Banks last week, check out our roundup feature from over the weekend, What’s Going On With Sasha Banks?
Ahead of tonight’s Superstar Shakeup, Sasha Banks tweeted a message stating, “If you only knew, ya marks!” The former Women’s Tag Team Champion tagged WWE brands Raw, SmackDown Live, NXT, NXT UK as well as independent promotions Progress and Evolve.
She included the lips and peach emoji, which has often been used to express the phrase, “Kiss my *ss.”
It will be interesting to where Sasha Banks lands after the Superstar Shakeup. More specifically, whether or not she remains on the same brand as Boss ‘n Hug tag team partner Bayley.
Late last week, Raw and SmackDown Women’s Champion Becky Lynch called out Sasha Banks on Twitter. After an abrupt ending to Sasha and Bayley’s title reign, Becky Lynch’s latest challenge is a sign Sasha Banks could be shifting back to singles competition.
WWE’s annual Superstar Shakeup begins tonight on RAW and continues on SmackDown Live. The 2-night roster reshuffling has the potential to completely alter the landscape of both brands. WWE has dubbed this the first-ever ‘International Superstar Shakeup’ since Raw emanates from Montreal, Canada.
Since WWE shifted from a ‘draft’ to Superstar Shakeup, some years have been more consequential than others. WWE crowned many new champions at WrestleMania, including Becky Lynch, Kofi Kingston, Seth Rollins, Finn Balor and the IIconics. We’ve also seen the recent call-ups of Ricochet, Aleister Black, Lacey Evans and most recently, Lars Sullivan.
WWE.com‘s Raw preview asks, “Will Raw’s champions bring their titles to Team Blue?” – setting the stage for big moves tonight.
In addition to the Superstar Shakeup, WWE is advertising the following items for the show:
– RAW and SmackDown Women’s Champion Becky Lynch will respond to Lacey Evans attacking her on both shows last week.
– New Universal Champion Seth Rollins awaits his next challenge. Could Rollins be on a collision course with former Shield brother Roman Reigs?
– Who will be Bobby Lashley’s next target after his vicious attack on Dean Ambrose last week?
Check back later tonight for our WWE RAW Results, our weekly “Takeaways” article covering the big happenings and a full breakdown of which Superstars changed brands.
All Elite Wrestling (AEW) has sent in word about the company’s upcoming event fro Jacksonville, FL, Fight for the Fallen. The show will take place on Saturday, July 13th from the Daily’s Place Amphitheater at TIAA Bank Field.
Proceeds from AEW: Fight for the Fallen will benefit Jacksonville’s Victim Assistance Advisory Council (VAAC), which provides assistance to crime victims and their families.
Tickets for Fight for the Fallen go on sale to the general public this Friday, April 19th. There will be special pre-sale Thursday morning. The pre-sale code is AEWFIGHT.
Here is the official press release for AEW: Fight for the Fallen:
ALL ELITE WRESTLING ANNOUNCES CHARITY PARTNER & TICKET INFO FOR “FIGHT FOR THE FALLEN” IN JACKSONVILLE ON JULY 13
AEW’s Third Major Event to Benefit Jacksonville’s Victim Assistance Advisory Council, Pre-Sale Code Unveiled on April 15 Episode of “Being The Elite”
JACKSONVILLE, FL (April 15, 2019) – Even as anticipation for DOUBLE OR NOTHING on May 25 and FYTER FEST on June 29 continues to build, All Elite Wresting is already looking ahead to its third major event by returning to the scene of where it all started three months ago –Jacksonville, Florida.
“FIGHT FOR THE FALLEN” will take place in Daily’s Place Amphitheater at TIAA Bank Field at 7:30pm ET on Saturday, July 13, just a few feet from where AEW was first introduced at a rally and to millions of YouTube viewers around the world. Stars scheduled to appear during the inspirational event on July 13 include Cody, Matt Jackson, Nick Jackson, Kenny Omega, Chris Jericho, PAC, Hangman Adam Page, Brandi Rhodes, Allie and many more.
Fittingly entitled FIGHT FOR THE FALLEN, proceeds from the gate will benefit Jacksonville’s Victim Assistance Advisory Council (VAAC), which coordinates cooperative efforts among social service, criminal justice, mental health and other agencies to provide assistance to crime victims and their families.
“Last year Jacksonville endured a horrible mass shooting at the Jacksonville Landing, and the VAAC was a tremendous support for the community,” said Tony Khan, AEW President. “When we decided to host Fight for the Fallen, there was no question that AEW would stage the event here in Jacksonville and would give back to the organization that helped so many people during that incredibly tragic time.”
“We are extremely grateful to All Elite Wrestling and the ‘Fight for the Fallen’ event for this generous donation,” said Lenny Curry, Jacksonville Mayor. “Making sure victims of violent crimes and their families have the support they need at one of the toughest times in their lives is a top priority for me. This donation is crucial in helping continue our efforts and providing victim assistance services when it is truly needed the most.”
Pre-Sale Code / VIP Packages
AEW will unveil a special pre-sale code during the April 15 episode of “Being The Elite” for fans to use to purchase FIGHT FOR THE FALLEN tickets on Thursday, April 18, from 9am-9pm ET at: ticketmaster.com/event/2200567D22098208. Tickets will go on sale to the general public starting on Friday, April 19, at 9am ET via www.ticketmaster.com/event/2200567D22098208.
VIP packages will be available for sale at a later date. All FIGHT FOR THE FALLEN ticket purchasers will be eligible to purchase VIP packages while supplies last.
Sasha Banks has been a hot topic of conversation in the wrestling world this past week. Since WrestleMania, there has been a lot of news about her future with WWE. In an effort to provide some clarity, we’ve compiled this timeline of events regarding Sasha Banks’ week.
Sasha Banks’ WrestleMania Loss
Sasha Banks and Bayley lost the Women’s Tag Team Championships at WrestleMania. They dropped the titles to the IIconics in a fatal 4-way match. This was surprising on a few levels. Banks and Bayley vowed to be fighting champions by defending the titles on Raw, SmackDown and NXT.
As cornerstones of WWE’s Women’s Evolution emphasizing wrestling ability and athleticism, Sasha and Bayley were an appropriate pick to legitimize the new titles. Their reign only lasted 49 days and the new champions represent the ‘Diva’ archetype of yesteryear.
Monday Fallout
On Monday, Sasha Banks posted a few introspective tweets questioning what she’d do differently if she could “start again.”
“There is something about the way life happens today that makes it hard to look ahead,” Banks wrote. “There are things that make it difficult to laugh; difficult to live the way you want. There are things that make it almost impossible to trust where you are, or to believe in where you want to be. You look around and life is happening way too fast. Sometimes it feels like the moments are gone. Everything happens all at once and right away.”
She continued, “We’re marching towards a destiny we cannot understand, towards the kingdom of convenient. Then one day you look up and you can’t find the meaning. Your crisis of purpose and passion is acting up, but they tell you that that’s supposed to be normal. Well… I don’t want normal, I want magic; cause that’s the place that feels like home to me. That’s the place where I remember what dreams look like, where meaning is effortless, and purpose is simple. That’s the place where love still matters. I want that feeling of coming home again. I want to feel like myself….. I want that magic.”
— Mercedes Moné Varnado (@MercedesVarnado) April 8, 2019
Dave Meltzer wrote in this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter, “She missed Raw on Monday and had been scheduled.”
Sasha Banks Misses Scheduled TV Appearance
Sasha Banks missed a scheduled appearance on the Wendy Williams Show on Tuesday. She did not appear. Page Six reported that the last-minute cancellation left Wendy and her staff fuming.
“She won’t be booked again,” an insider told Page Six. “She didn’t give a real reason for canceling, and she did it only hours before the show tapes, so production was left scrambling to fill her spot.”
Banks apologized on Twitter for missing the appearance due to “personal reasons.”
Due to personal reasons, I had to pull out of my appearance today on @WendyWilliams . Sorry to everyone who was looking forward to it. Hopefully the opportunity will be there again later. #IfYouOnlyKnew
— Mercedes Moné Varnado (@MercedesVarnado) April 9, 2019
Wendy Williams commented on the situation on-air. She told viewers Sasha Banks had a “family emergency” and is welcome back in the future.
Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful commented on the situation. “Whatever the situation surrounding Sasha Banks, many on the SmackDown crew had no idea that she’d even missed her morning obligation (despite her tweeting about it), let alone were clued in about what is going on.”
Sasha Banks Tries To Quit WWE?
This week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter shed new light on the situation. Dave Meltzer wrote, “According to one person high up, Banks tried to quit over the weekend, as she felt blindsided when finding out at the last minute that they were taking the tag team titles from her and Bayley.”
Meltzer noted that WWE taking the titles of her and Bayley was a big factor in Sasha’s hiatus from WWE. “Basically she has been given a few weeks to think things out before sticking to a choice the company believes may have been made as a rash decision. Anyway, that’s been largely confirmed by others but probably will be denied very quickly.”
Dominican Republic Vacation
Sasha Banks and her husband were spotted vacationing in the Dominican Republic with Kalisto and his wife.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BwH1dCDDqp5
Making A Scene At WrestleMania?
Sasha Banks and Bayley reportedly made their unhappiness known at backstage at WrestleMania.
Mikaze, a WWE costume designer and husband of Sasha Banks, posted an inspirational message on social media about life’s big decisions. Maybe it’s completely unrelated to Sasha Banks’ situation, but it seems relevant.
Becky Lynch is riding high after capturing the Raw and SmackDown Women’s Championships at WrestleMania. The Irish grappler has reached the top of the mountain, but is a marked woman with foes from both brands looking to dethrone her.
Lynch recently spoke with Middle East publication The National about her big night at WrestleMania and what she sees awaiting her in the months ahead.
“Now’s going to be the hardest part because not only do I have one target on my back, I have two targets on my back,” she said. “So everybody wants a piece of me, everybody’s going to want to be knocking me down. Plus, on Sunday I just showed what was possible.”
She continued, “I showed the entire women’s division that anything’s possible. That you can go from the bottom of the card to the top of the card in a year. So everybody’s going to be champing at the bit, but they’ll find out it’s not as easy as it looks.”
Based on what we saw on WWE television post-WrestleMania, it appears Lynch’s first feud will be against main roster newcomer Lacey Evans.
Lynch gloated about toppling Ronda Rousey at WrestleMania, joking that she ran Rousey straight out of WWE. She also took a dig at Rousey suffering a badly broken hand at WrestleMania. When asked how she feels about “Ronnie” the “little weirdo,” Lynch didn’t hold back.
“Oh yeah, slap the head off her and chase her out of the company,” she said of Rousey. “It was great. It was great. She talked about how my face was so easily breakable and then broke her hand on my face.”
Becky Lynch has dubbed herself “The Man,” a moniker that has been embraced by men, women and children alike. Although “The Man” is inherently a masculine descriptor, Lynch explains that it is not about gender, but instead about being the best you can be.
“It’s amazing,” said Lynch. “It’s amazing because the message of that is that it doesn’t matter who you are or what you are. It’s about being the top dog of whatever it is that you want to do.”
WWE has released this week’s Power Rankings and the top spots are all taken by new champions. WWE Champion Kofi Kingston topped this week’s list, followed by RAW and SmackDown Women’s champion Becky Lynch, Universal Champion Seth Rollins, RAW tag team champions Ryder & Hawkins and WWE Women’s tag team champions, The IIconics.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BwKphtbhtP6/
WWE.com has released a gallery of 50 behind-the-scenes photos from WrestleMania 35.
Cody Rhodes responded to a fan asking if he would burn his old Starrdust outfit live on the air at AEW Double or Nothing. Cody says Starrdust was a rock-bottom professional low for him, but still a fairly successful gimmick that led him to where he is today.
Hell na friend! I’m very grateful for stardust. It was a professional low, but still fairly successful.
WWE has added a new Tom Magee match to the “Hidden Gems” section of the WWE Network. It’s not the mythical Bret Hart match from 1986, but rather a match against the “Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase from December 7th, 1988.
Brian Pillman Jr. has been announced for AEW’s first pay-per-view event, Double or Nothing. Pillman is the latest grappler confirmed for the Double or Nothing Over the Budget Battle Royal.
Other participants already announced for the Over The Budget Battle Royal include:
Sonny Kiss
Kip Sabian
Brandon Cutler
Ace Romero
Darby Allin
Former WCW star Glacier
Pillman is signed to Major League Wrestling (MLW), where he is part of the new Hart Foundation faction with Teddy Hart and Davey Boy Smith Jr. The Harts are the reigning MLW World Tag Team Champions.
Brian Pillman Jr. commented on his involvement in the Over The Budget Battle Royal. He tweeted, “Or nothing? I’ll bet most of the men and women in this Battle Royal don’t have a clue what “nothing” feels like… Well I do. That is exactly why I will win because I have NOTHING to lose!!!”
AEW Double or Nothing takes place Saturday, May 25th from Las Vegas, NV at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
Nia Jax has announced she will require surgery that will keep her out of action for significant time.
The former RAW Women’s Champion tweeted a message on Friday announcing that she has been working through pain in both her knees over the past year. She will soon undergo surgery to repair both of her ACL’s. The news of her injury was first reported by Pro Wrestling Sheet.
She wrote, “Some of you may or may not know, but I will be out of action for a little while. Unfortunately, I have been pushing through some pain over the last year due to injuries in my knees and I will be undergoing surgery to repair both of my ACLs. I’m grateful to everyone who has supported me! Thank you!”
While there are several factors that will determine her recovery time, ACL tears have have kept Superstars out of action for 9 months (and more). It would be optimistic to assume she will be back in action before 2020.
Nia Jax last competed at WrestleMania 35 this past weekend. She participated in the fatal 4-way match for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships. That match saw The IIconics take the gold from Sasha Banks and Bayley.
It has not been a good week for WWE Superstars on the injury front. In addition to Nia Jax announcing she needs double knee surgery, AJ Styles is dealing with a hip injury, Ronda Rousey has a broken hand, Big E is undergoing surgery for a torn meniscus and Daniel Bryan is reportedly dealing with an unspecified injury.
We wish Nia Jax (and everyone else) a speedy recovery.
Standout independent wrestler Darby Allin has joined All Elite Wrestling (AEW).
The former pro skateboarder has made a name for himself on the independent scene in recent years. He’s thrilled audiences across the world with his high-flying daredevil style. He’s been a mainstay in EVOLVE while also competing for Major League Wrestling (MLW), Game Changer Wrestling (GCW), Pro Wrestling Guerrilla (PWG), Bar Wrestling, DEFY Wrestling and more.
Darby Allin appeared at the conclusion of the latest episode of AEW’s The Road To Double or Nothing Youtube series, which you can view below. He will most likely be part of the Double or Nothing card, but his first advertised match for AEW takes place a month later.
Darby Allin vs. Cody Rhodes has been confirmed for FYTER FEST, AEW’s live wrestling event that is part of the CEO gaming event in Daytona Beach, FL on June 29th.
AEW also revealed that former WCW star Glacier will be a participant in the Double or Nothing Over Budget Battle Royal. Glacier admits that he is not the wrestler he once was and there will be wrestlers in the match who are probably half his age. That said, he can still muster what it takes to compete at a high level and plans to show fans what he’s got at Double or Nothing.
Big E has suffered a knee injury and will be out of action for the foreseeable future.
The big man was in action Tuesday night on SmackDown Live. Big E, Xavier Woods and WWE Champion Kofi Kingston faced Drew McIntyre and The Bar. The New Day was victorious, but it might be the last we’ve seen of Big E for a while.
On Thursday, Big E tweeted a message revealing that he damaged his meniscus during a crossbody spot, presumably at Tuesday’s taping:
Making mincemeat of my meniscus Crossbody cooked the cartilage Bye for a bit
KUSHIDA made his WWE debut for NXT at Wednesday night’s NXT television tapings from Full Sail University in Winter Park, Florida.
The former New Japan Pro Wrestling star wrestled Kassius Ohno in his first match under the NXT banner. The match is expected to air on the May 1st or 8th episode of NXT on the WWE Network.
WWE announced the signing of KUSHIDA during WrestleMania weekend. He was shown ringside for Friday’s NXT Takeover: New York event and was photographed alongside Triple H and NXT General Manager William Regal.
KUSHIDA (35) is a former IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion and will be a great addition to NXT’s ever-growing roster.
Sunday’s WrestleMania 35 pay-per-view was full of memorable moments. From Seth Rollins’ Universal Championship victory to Becky Lynch standing tall at the show’s conclusion, Kofi Kingston capturing the WWE Championship was arguably the greatest ‘feel good’ moment of the marathon event.
On Monday morning, Kofi Kingston took a moment to address his supporters. In a message posted on Twitter, Kingston thanked everyone for their unwavering support. Kofi says he has achieved his childhood dream and he’s eternally grateful to have experienced that moment.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you all.
Without your love & support, especially over the past couple months, none of this happens. You helped me achieve my childhood dream & I’m eternally grateful for each & every one of you.
Whether Kofi Kingston’s title reign lasts two months or 12, the fact remains that he won “the big one” at WrestleMania. He is forever etched into the history books and has no doubt inspired many young fans that their own dreams are worth pursuing.
Watch: The New Day reacts to Kofi Kingston winning the WWE Championship
Major League Wrestling (MLW) has partnered with FreeSports to bring MLW programming to the UK and Ireland.
Tomorrow night (Tuesday), a 2-hour MLW Battle Riot special premieres on FreeSports at 10pm. Starting next week, MLW FUSION will air every Monday night on FreeSports at 10pm.
FreeSports is available on Freeview HD channel 64, Sky channel 422, Virgin 553, FreeSat 252, TalkTalk 64 and BT Vision channel 64. FreeSports is available in Ireland on Sky channel 429.
MLW CEO Court Bauer calls this a landmark deal for the thriving wrestling league. In a press release sent in to SEScoops, Bauer said, “FreeSports features some of the premier sports leagues in the world. This partnership is going to take MLW to the next level as we take the league global.”
Richard Webb, COO of FreeSports was quoted, “There is a huge wrestling following in the UK and we are delighted to bring Major League Wrestling, the fastest growing wrestling league to UK viewers. UK wrestling fans will be already familiar with the Hart Foundation, the famous wrestling family as well as Davey Boy Smith Jr.’s father, the British Bulldog who are stars in the promotion.
“MLW already adds to our whole range of sports including – ice hockey, pool, rugby, football, etc. And it’s all free to 18 million homes in the UK on FreeSports.”
FreeSports is available in 18 million UK homes through the Freeview, Sky, Freesat, Virgin TV (HD), TalkTalk and BT Platforms.
Former WWE champion Dave Bautista has wrestled his last
match after a ‘no holds barred’ showdown against Triple H at WrestleMania 35.
The ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ and ‘Avengers: Infinity War’
star made a return to the ring on Sunday night after building up a match
against his former teammate in ‘Evolution’.
The back and forth battle ended after Ric Flair interfered
to help Triple H secure the victory as he planted Bautista with a Pedigree
before earning the three-count.
While the match was billed around Triple H potentially wrestling
for the last time ever if he was defeated, Bautista was ultimately the one who
called it a career following WrestleMania.
“Thank you for letting me entertain you,” Bautista wrote on
Twitter. “I love this business and whether you cheered me or jeered me, I’m
grateful for being a small part of your life.
“I am officially retired from sports entertainment and I am
grateful for every second of my amazing journey.”
@WWEUniverse Thank you for letting me entertain you. I love this business and whether you cheered me or jeered me, I’m grateful for being a small part of your life. I am officially retired from sports entertainment and I am grateful for every second of my amazing journey ??
Ever since he stopped working a full time schedule several
years ago, Bautista has made a new career for himself in Hollywood where he’s
landed several marquee roles including his iconic turn as Drax the Destroyer in
two ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ movies as well as last year’s ‘Avengers: Infinity
War’.
This year, Bautista will return to the Marvel Cinematic
Universe for ‘Avengers: Endgame’ due out on April 26 and then he’ll take a
comedic turn in the buddy comedy ‘Stuber’ where he stars alongside ‘Silicon
Valley’ actor Kumail Nanjiani.
Bautista also has a featured role in the highly anticipated
new adaptation of ‘Dune’ from director Denis Villenueve.
It’s safe to say Bautista will be plenty busy in his acting career now that he has closed the door on the WWE following one final match on Sunday night.
Mexico’s Lucha Libre AAA promotion announced at a Thursday press conference that they will hold their first show at Madison Square Garden in New York City on Sunday, September 15th.
AAA’s managing director Dorian Roldán commented on the groundbreaking news, declaring that now is the time for AAA to make their presence known in the United States.
“Lucha Libre needs to arrive in America. We are trying to break the walls. We are trying to bring part of the Mexican culture, trying to bring a little bit of Mexico to America through the Lucha Libre.”
Roldán says he envisions a show that marries AAA’s top homegrown stars with well-known American talent. AAA has a working relationship with All Elite Wrestling (AEW).
“We are going to create a crossover show,” Roldán said. “It’s even going to be in the two languages, English and Spanish, to make everybody feel comfortable. We are also going to explain to the American audience which are the rules and what the differences are between the regular American wrestling versus Lucha Libre.”
Emphasizing the need to connect New York fans with Lucha Libre culture and talent, he added, “We are working so that everybody can understand what we are doing and what they are seeing,” he said.
Roldán calls AAA running Maidson Square Garden a game changer and a model for their continued expansion across the Untied States.
“It will be much more easy for us to have a success at Madison Square Garden and to try to copy that to all the different venues. We want to start in the top level, and we think that we are going to have many promoters from all over America wanting to have our show.”
Tickets for AAA’s debut at Madison Square Garden go on sale May 5th, Cinqo de Mayo.
WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross has officially signed with All Elite Wrestling (AEW).
Jim Ross has signed a groundbreaking 3-year deal with AEW. Effective immediately, JR will take on the role as Senior Advisor in what the company says is “the most lucrative deal in pro wrestling commentary history.”
Jim Ross’ first in-ring appearance for AEW will take place at Double or Nothing, which takes place Saturday, May 25th from Las Vegas, NV at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
According to a press release sent in by AEW, Ross will also work closely with senior leaders at AEW on their roadmap to shift and reinvent the wrestling landscape.
“I’ve been part of the wrestling community since I was 7 years old, and there’s no greater thrill than welcoming the voice that I grew up with, Jim Ross, to our AEW family,” said Tony Khan, President of AEW. “We all share a common goal to make this the true golden age, to make this the greatest time ever to be a professional wrestling fan. And, as a business, we also seek to make this a new golden age for the performers and our staff members. Our entire team is thrilled to have Jim onboard and we can’t wait to shake things up together.”
“We’re all excited about having the legendary voice of our childhood come here and help the new generation of talent with his expertise,” said Nick Jackson, EVP at AEW.
“I’m moving on in a very positive way to this timely opportunity to be on the ground floor of one of the most exciting moments in the history of pro wrestling,” said Jim Ross. “I’ve known Tony, Cody, The Young Bucks and Kenny for a long time, and I know they’re going to change the world of pro wrestling. Their roster is already packed with top-level talent and up-and-comers. They’ve got a huge show coming up in May. They’ve brought in game-changing partners like KultureCity. And they’ve got an all-inclusive, welcoming culture like I’ve never seen before. I’m ready to change the world with them.”
As seen below, Jim Ross is featured on the latest episode of AEW’s Road to Double Or Nothing YouTube series.
The legend of the infamous Tom Magee vs. Bret Hart WWF TV match from 1986 has taken another twist.
This match has long been considered the “holy grail” of ‘lost’ wrestling matches. Tom Magee is a world champion powerlifter, martial artist and gymnast. He was trained by Stu Hart. He was easy on the eyes and the prototype of a mid-1980’s main event wrestler.
When he joined the World Wrestling Federation, one of his first televised matches for the company took place on October 7th, 1986. He wrestled Bret Hart at a television taping from Rochester, New York. The Hitman made the green Magee look like a million bucks. Vince McMahon saw his “next Hulk Hogan.”
Magee bean touring with WWE on the C-level towns, so he could get experience without being in the public eye of major markets. Unfortunately, without an all-time great like Bret Hart to work with, Magee’s flaws were exposed. Vince eventually soured on Magee and the rest is history.
At the bottom of this article, we have embedded a clip of Colt Cabana talking about the pro wrestling career of Tom Magee and his match with Bret Hart.
Tom Magee vs. Bret Hart: Lost Tape Found
Last week, a fan named Mary-Kate Anthony announced that she has a VHS copy of the mythical match. Anthony posted a few screenshots and even this .GIF to substantiate her possession of the tape.
Some are still doubting me and the legitimacy of the tape. Here is a small clip to show it’s real. It’s actually Bret. #HartMageepic.twitter.com/v8wrawxLsy
Wrestling fans were giddy at the prospect of finally seeing the bout. In the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer commented on the situation He wrote, “[Mary-Kate Anthony] got a letter from WWE legal making it clear she could not put the tape on YouTube or share it in any form. I believe WWE sent a letter order her to send the VHS tape to them.”
Mary-Kate Anthony refutes this claim by Meltzer. She wrote on Twitter:
With all due respect Mr Meltzer, your “facts” could not be more wrong. Not one statement here highlighted is true. My DM’s are open and you could have contacted me.”
