– WWE officials have soured on Mixed Match Challenge on Facebook Watch, according to Dave Meltzer in the latest issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. They were ‘very unhappy’ with the decline in viewership in Week 2, which for the live show, dropped about 32% from the premiere episode (from a peak of about 132,600 viewers for Week 1 to 92,000 for Week 2).

There was an even steeper live viewership drop during Week 3, which saw Braun Strowman and Raw Women’s Champion Alexa Bliss beat Sami Zayn and Becky Lynch. The show peaked at around 62,400 viewers, a decline of 54% from the premiere episode and 32% from Week 2.

Despite the decline in live viewership, the number of total views has not dropped as much percentage-wise from Week 1. Thus far, the premiere episode has drawn 1.9 million views after 18 days (Finn Balor and Sasha Banks vs. Shinsuke Nakamura and Natalya), Week 2 has drawn 1.7 million views after 11 days (The Miz and Asuka vs. Big E and Carmella), and Week 3 has drawn 1.6 million views after 4 days.

– Last Sunday at the Royal Rumble event, Trish Stratus made her surprise in-ring return as the 30th and final entrant in the inaugural Women’s Royal Rumble Match. The WWE Hall of Famer eliminated three competitors (Nia Jax, Mickie James, and Natalya) before getting tossed out by Sasha Banks. Stratus lasted in the match for over five minutes.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96V4Guw71HE&w=560&h=315]

In the video below, Stratus discusses the significance of the match, the current stars she’s excited to share the ring with, and what she misses most about wrestling.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAR65WW6qKw&w=560&h=315]

• Ricochet makes his NXT debut

– According to PWInsider.com, the next series of classic content to be added to the WWE Network will be episodes of WWF All-Star Wrestling. The series will be added to the Vault section next month.

WWF All-Star Wrestling was a syndicated show that consisted of top-tier or mid-card talent defeating enhancement talent (jobbers) and at times a “feature” match between main WWF talent. The show ran from May 20, 1972, through August 31, 1986, at which point it was replaced by WWF Wrestling Challenge.

– The Tampa Bay Times has a story on Titus O’Neil wanting to inspire kids with Black Panther, the latest Marvel superhero movie set to hit theaters Feb. 16.

“I’m 40 years old and I’ve never seen a Marvel character that looked like me, as an African-American male,” O’Neil said.

“This will be the first time I’ve seen a superhero on screen that looks like me and I want kids to not only be able to see superheroes on the screen but also to view themselves as superheroes.

“If they see that on screen, then maybe they can be the next doctor or lawyer or president, whatever they can be. This could be a great teaching moment if we can get them into theaters.”

– WWE is teasing a romantic angle between new Mixed Match Challenge tandem Goldust and Mandy Rose. In this video, Goldust asks his partner out to dinner.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vk0dBdWsBW4&w=620&h=349]

Goldust introduced Rose as his new partner last Tuesday after Alicia Fox was forced to pull out due to injury. Goldust and Rose face Naomi and SmackDown Tag Team Champion Jimmy Uso this Tuesday in Week 4 of Mixed Match Challenge.

• Is Mandy Rose dating a WWE NXT wrestler?

– With three slots left in the Men’s Elimination Chamber Match on Sunday, Feb. 25, WWE.com has announced that Roman Reigns will face Bray Wyatt in an Elimination Chamber Qualifying Match this Monday night on Raw.

Braun Strowman, Elias, and John Cena qualified for the Men’s Elimination Chamber Match this past Monday on Raw. The winner of the match will challenge Brock Lesnar for the Universal Championship at WrestleMania on Sunday, April 8.

– Chris Jericho and his band Fozzy will be on Last Call with Carson Daly this Monday night at 1:35/12:35 a.m. on NBC.

Be sure to tune into Last Call with Carson Daly this Monday, February 5th! @CarsonDaly #Fozzy pic.twitter.com/vnmY0lUjSI

— FOZZY (@FOZZYROCK) February 2, 2018

– WWE Hall of Famer Trish Stratus is Lilian Garcia’s guest on this week’s edition of her Chasing Glory podcast as she talks about being honored at Raw’s 25th anniversary show, her in-ring return in the first-ever Women’s Royal Rumble Match and more. You can listen to the episode on Podcast One and iTunes.

Here is the synopsis for the podcast, which was taped the night before the Royal Rumble.

“This episode of Chasing Glory with Lilian Garcia features WWE Hall of Famer Trish Stratus! Trish chats with Lilian about her journey in the WWE, choosing between med-school and a career in professional wrestling, memorable moments, overcoming injuries, her transition to motherhood, being honored at RAW’s 25th Anniversary, her passion for yoga, a special return in the first ever Women’s Royal Rumble, and more!”

• Ricochet makes his NXT debut

– Prior to last Monday’s Raw in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Bayley wrestled at a WWE Main Event taping for the first time in her career. Taking on Sonya Deville, who was accompanied by Paige and Mandy Rose, Bayley scored the win.

Some fans see this as a demotion for the former Raw Women’s Champion since WWE Main Event is a secondary show and generally features mid-to-low card Raw wrestlers not involved in storylines. Bayley, however, considers it ‘a good thing’ that she’s on WWE Main Event.

In response to the criticism, she tweeted the following on Thursday night.

Guys…let’s get this straight…it’s a GOOD thing I was on #MainEvent. I’ll take any chance I can get to step inside the ring. Especially in a singles match and especially when it ends with a victory ?

— Bayley (@itsBayleyWWE) February 2, 2018

– According to a report by F4WOnline.com, “a lot” of episodes of WCW Saturday Night will be added to the WWE Network in April.

WCW Saturday Night was a weekly Saturday night television show that aired on TBS. Launched in 1971 by Georgia Championship Wrestling, the program existed through various incarnations under different names before becoming WCW Saturday Night in 1992. The program would air through August 2000.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gZdoNPzdBM&w=620&h=349]

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqH50aD83Cg&w=620&h=349]

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6kPzwZz1q3w&w=620&h=349]

• What happened to Lex Luger?

Three more wrestlers are gone from Impact Wrestling: Ava Storie, Idris Abraham, and Mario Bokara.

On Wednesday, the company updated its active roster page on ImpactWrestling.com with new promotional graphics and Storie, Abraham and Bokara were moved to the Alumni section. All three wrestlers had not appeared for Impact Wrestling since last summer.

Storie, who is 21 years old, joined Impact Wrestling last March after starting her career the year before on the independents under the name Brandi Lauren. The company introduced her as Kayci Quinn and in her debut match, she took on Brandi Rhodes in a bout that ended in a no contest. On Impact Wrestling on April 6, 2017, she wrestled in a gauntlet battle royal to decide the No. 1 contender to the Knockouts Championship (ODB won the match). She also wrestled at One Night Only: Victory Road – Knockouts Knockdown, where she lost to Angelina Love in a singles match.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lL5tHW-rY8E&w=620&h=349]

The company changed her name to Ava Storie on the April 20, 2017, edition of Impact Wrestling, as she unsuccessfully challenged Christina Von Eerie for the GFW Women’s Championship. She then lost four consecutive matches to Laurel Van Ness. Storie was last used at the August television tapings, where she picked up her only win in the company against Amber Nova before putting over Rosemary and Taya Valkyrie in separate matches.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EyFKePHylXE&w=620&h=349]

Abraham, who is from Ontario, Canada, joined Impact Wrestling last March after wrestling for various independent promotions in both Canada and the United States for six years. He competed in the Super X Cup but did little else of note as he was primarily used as an enhancement wrestler in the X Division. He last appeared for Impact in July 2017.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96MGubSMS4c&w=620&h=349]

Bokara is a 37-year-old Croatian-American wrestler from New Jersey with over 17 years of wrestling experience. He made his debut on the March 23, 2017, episode of Impact Wrestling, teaming with Fallah Bahh and Abraham in a losing effort to Mahabali Shera, Garza Jr., and Laredo Kid. He mostly teamed with Bahh, but the two never won a match together. He wrestled some singles matches as well but lost them all. Bokara made his last appearance for Impact in August 2017, where he and Bahh put over Dave and Jake Crist.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75g4ADo0zsA&w=620&h=349]

Bokara recently suffered a serious injury. On January 2, 2018, he underwent successful surgery for a torn ACL and meniscus in his knee.

• Has Vince McMahon had affairs with WWE female talent?

Ahead of tonight’s first-ever Women’s Royal Rumble Match, Nikki and Brie Bella are both backstage at the Royal Rumble event at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, according to PWInsider.

During an episode of Total Divas that aired a few weeks ago (and filmed back in the summer), there was a tease that the twin duo could return to WWE television at this time. There was a scene where Nikki and Brie sat down with WWE Senior Director of Talent Relations Mark Carrano about their future in the company. The result of the conversation was that they would return to WWE for the Royal Rumble and be a part of storylines through WrestleMania 34 in April.

The Bella Twins’ brother JJ was also spotted in Philadelphia, which indicates they’re being filmed for Total Divas as well.

Nikki last wrestled at WrestleMania 33, where she and John Cena beat The Miz and Maryse in a Mixed Tag Team Match. After the match, Cena legitimately proposed to Bella, which she accepted. Two days later, Nikki announced via Instagram that she would be taking time off from wrestling.

Brie last wrestled in April 2016 on the WrestleMania 32 Kickoff, where she pinned Naomi in a 10-Diva Tag Team Match. After giving birth, she has said that she be open to wrestling again.

The Bella Twins were among the female legends honored by WWE last Monday on Raw 25.

• Has Vince McMahon had affairs with WWE female talent?

– During an interview at a Make-A-Wish event last Monday at the Hard Rock Cafe in New York City, Stephanie McMahon said she would love to return to the ring.

“I would love to do it,” Stephanie said when asked if she would like to return to the ring. “I think anytime I have the opportunity to be physical in the ring, it’s a privilege for me. So if, you know, the storyline and our audience demands it, then, of course, I’m going to give it to them.”

The Commissioner of Monday Night Raw also discussed tonight’s Royal Rumble event, her match with Brie Bella at SummerSlam 2014, Raw 25, Ronda Rousey and more.

– Natalya, Carmella, and Bayley are guests on the latest edition of Chasing Glory with Lilian Garcia as they discuss the first-ever Women’s Royal Rumble Match. Becky Lynch is also on the show as Lilian Garcia’s co-host. You can listen to the interview on PodcastOne or iTunes.

• Has Vince McMahon had affairs with WWE female talent?

– Former WWE Women’s Champion Gail Kim will not compete in tonight’s first-ever Women’s Royal Rumble Match.

In response to fan speculation on Twitter that she could appear as a surprise entrant, Kim replied “Hell no.” She will actually be in Dallas, Texas for a Royal Rumble viewing party.

Heading to a live viewing party for #RoyalRumble tomorrow night. Excited to see the women And hoping to see the women of my generation make some surprise appearances. I’ll live tweet as I’m watching. Can’t wait!

— Gail Kim-Irvine (@gailkimITSME) January 28, 2018

Hell no. Im in Dallas and I’ll be watching supporting these awesome women https://t.co/r5rQgCn0Kl

— Gail Kim-Irvine (@gailkimITSME) January 28, 2018

Kim again said she won’t be in the match after a fan said he hoped to hear her first WWE theme song. She said that song was good, but hated her song during her second run with the company.

Well it won’t. Lol. Again, I’m going to a viewing party and also remember the last run I had there, they gave me some garbage generic music that sucked. That entrance song was good however. I think my fave is puppets on a string https://t.co/WS1f2jVKhv

— Gail Kim-Irvine (@gailkimITSME) January 28, 2018

Kim also named some female WWE legends she would like to see in the match.

I’m hoping to see @AmyDumas @trishstratuscom @Phenom_Jazz @REALLiSAMARiE , Ivory @JackieMooreTx just to name a few. Would be amazing to see these legends back in the ring!

— Gail Kim-Irvine (@gailkimITSME) January 28, 2018

– Saturday marked the 25-year anniversary of the passing of Andre the Giant. On the night of January 27, 1993, he died in his sleep of congestive heart failure in a hotel room in Paris, France. He was in Paris to attend his father’s funeral.

In this post on Instagram, Hulk Hogan remembers his friend.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BeeX6mRAV3y/

• A look at the life and death of Miss Elizabeth

Following a two month absence from the squared circle, Kairi Sane returned to action at tonight’s NXT live event in Albany, New York.

Taking on Lacey Evans in singles competition, the inaugural winner of the Mae Young Classic beat “The Lady of NXT” after nailing her with the Insane Elbow.

https://twitter.com/thesteveorlando/status/956690099860901889

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

watching @KairiSaneWWE in action LIVE tonight was INCREDIBLE!!!! SHE EVEN DID HER ELBOW DROP!!! ?? #WWE #NXTAlbany pic.twitter.com/m0CwjLxccq

— blossom (@jokes316) January 26, 2018

https://twitter.com/jkulchinsky/status/956692810568208391

Sane had not wrestled since Nov. 18, 2017, at NXT TakeOver: WarGames in a Fatal 4-Way Match against Nikki Cross, Peyton Royce, and Ember Moon to see who would claim the vacant NXT Women’s Championship. Moon won the title after pinning Cross.

Information on Sane’s hiatus has been kept under wraps, although Wrestling Observer Newsletter editor Dave Meltzer said earlier this month that she was “banged up.”

Yes, she's banged up https://t.co/9ELlyUEzO8

— Dave Meltzer (@davemeltzerWON) January 12, 2018

Sane last appeared on NXT television on Dec. 27, 2017. After Moon successfully retained the NXT Women’s Championship against Sonya Deville, Sane appeared on the stage and gestured that she has the NXT Women’s Title in her sights. “The Pirate Princess” was suddenly ambushed from behind by the person she beat to win the inaugural Mae Young Classic, Shayna Baszler. “The Queen of Spades” used a sleeper hold to render Sane unconscious before staring Moon down.

Safe to say the #MaeYoungClassic is still fresh in the mind of @QoSBaszler… #WWENXT pic.twitter.com/D88QyO2xj1

— WWE (@WWE) December 29, 2017

• Is Mandy Rose engaged to a WWE NXT wrestler?

According to both WWENetworkNews.com and PWInsider.com, the next series of classic content to be added to the WWE Network in February will come from the Coliseum Video collection.

According to PWInsider, 38 videos will be uploaded to the WWE Network during the first week of February.

Before WWE formed WWF Home Video in 1997 (now known as WWE Home Video), an independent company known as Coliseum Video handled their video distribution. From 1985 through 1997, Coliseum Video released VHS and Betamax cassettes featuring World Wrestling Federation action in the following categories:

* A series of “Best of” cassettes featuring classic matches, both recent at the time and from as far back as the 1960s. Many of these releases included title changes that occurred since completion of the previous volume.

– Profiles of wrestlers highlighting their best matches and moments in the World Wrestling Federation. Some of the wrestlers profiled include Hulk Hogan, Andre the Giant, “Macho Man” Randy Savage, Ultimate Warrior, “Rowdy” Roddy Piper, “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan, Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake, Demolition, George “The Animal” Steele, and Ken Patera.

– Compilations featuring rarely seen or exclusive matches that took place at television tapings and televised house shows.

– Pay-per-view events (many of which are available for viewing on the WWE Network).

This content dump has been planned for a while, although there was talk of adding episodes of WCW Thunder (WCW’s B-show that aired from 1998 through 2001 on TBS) in February since Buff Bagwell and Raven’s lawsuit over WWE Network royalties got dismissed last month. The lawsuit led to WWE delaying Thunder and WWE Sunday Night Heat uploads to the Network, but the door is now open for episodes from both series to be added.

PWInsider also reports that the frontrunner of classic content for March are old episodes of All-Star Wrestling, which aired on syndication from 1971 through 1986. This program consisted of top-tier or mid-card WWF wrestlers squashing enhancement talent, as well as a “feature” match between main WWF wrestlers.

• A look at the life and death of Miss Elizabeth

It was reported this week in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that Impact Wrestling fired Hania (aka Hania the SheWolf, Hania the Huntress) after she refused to do a 90-second job to newcomer Su Yung at the organization’s recent set of Impact Wrestling television tapings in Orlando, Florida.

On Friday, Hania issued a statement via Twitter addressing reports on her departure. The 27-year-old confirms that she has parted ways with Impact Wrestling, but that it was a mutual decision and there is absolutely no bad blood on either side.

https://twitter.com/HaniaHuntress/status/954455692873748480

Hania made her Impact Wrestling debut on Nov. 10, 2017, at a television taping in Ottawa, Ontario, where she attacked Rosemary following “The Demon Assassin”‘s victory over KC Spinelli. Jeremy Borash tweeted news of her arrival and the angle finally aired on last night’s episode of Impact Wrestling.

https://twitter.com/JeremyBorash/status/929157415878250499

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOhZl3TD_eo

.@HaniaHuntress has arrived in IMPACT. #IMPACTonPOP pic.twitter.com/8tUkWQtLkK

— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) January 19, 2018

Hania also worked a match on Nov. 10, 2017, beating Spinelli.

At the most recent set of television tapings, Hania worked three matches. She faced Amber Nova at the Jan. 10, 2018 tapings and wrestled Rosemary on Jan. 11 and Jan. 12.

• Is Mandy Rose engaged to a WWE NXT wrestler?

– WWE Hall of Famer Kevin Nash announced today that he will be unable to appear at Raw 25 this Monday night due to issues he would have with air travel following recent knee replacement surgery.

Was so looking forward to being a part of RAW 25. It's nearly impossible to travel on our down sized airlines healthy. With a total knee replacement it would be self inflicted torture. See ya everyone at Mania

— Kevin Nash (@RealKevinNash) January 18, 2018

Nash is also no longer listed as appearing by WWE.com.

– WWE has posted this cinematic video of Braun Strowman’s Raw rampage on Monday night.

– Sasha Banks appears on Complex x Fuse tonight at 11 p.m. ET/PT on Fuse.

Promotional material for the episode says, “WWE’s Sasha Banks chows down on spicy wings on “Hot Ones” and discusses the evolution of female sports and the top highlights of her wrestling career.”

• What happened to Lex Luger?

– Following last Friday’s report that Paige’s WWE in-ring career is over, the leader of Absolution will be at tonight’s Raw from San Antonio, Texas.

On Sunday night, Paige revealed on Instagram’s “Stories” feature that she’s on her way to Raw.

https://twitter.com/Legit_Fighter/status/952762516198785024

Paige also has fans buzzing with this captionless photo she posted on both Twitter and Instagram on Sunday night.

https://twitter.com/RealPaigeWWE/status/952756638708051968

– Shane McMahon celebrates his birthday on Monday as the Commissioner of SmackDown Live turns 48 years old.

– Sami Zayn and Becky Lynch will compete for children across the globe with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), their charity in WWE Mixed Match Challenge. In the video below, Zayn and Lynch explain their support for UNICEF.

• Who is Becky Lynch dating?

Mauro Ranallo escaped death on Sunday night.

The voice of NXT revealed on Twitter that MMA legend Frank Shamrock saved his life tonight with the Heimlich maneuver after he began choking on food.

https://twitter.com/mauroranallo/status/952744080441622528

When asked what food he was choking on, Ranallo replied salmon.

https://twitter.com/mauroranallo/status/952749474534707201

Calling it the scariest moment of his life, Ranallo tweeted about his choking incident to let people know that the Heimlich maneuver works.

https://twitter.com/mauroranallo/status/952744552514768896

Shamrock was the first person to hold the UFC Middleweight Championship (later renamed the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship) and retired as the four-time defending undefeated champion. He and Ranallo are longtime friends as they regularly called Strikeforce events together on Showtime until the promotion’s acquisition and eventual merger by the UFC in 2013.

• WWE signs 6-foot-8 kickboxer-turned-actor

– John Cena and Nikki Bella held their engagement party on Saturday night, according to WWE.com. Cena gave fans some insight on his experience with this tweet.

Such a wonderful, meaningful, emotional day yesterday with the woman of my dreams and both of our families. I love you Nicole, you’ve made me realize the importance of togetherness.

— John Cena (@JohnCena) January 14, 2018

Nikki responded to Cena with the following.

Aww my Love… It was so magical. Love you too John. ?? https://t.co/QJAtxBRJjy

— Nikki & Brie (@NikkiAndBrie) January 14, 2018

– In this video below, former WWE commentator Sean Mooney and Peter Rosenberg go inside the WWE warehouse in search of the greatest Raw moments.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PejYIroU200&w=620&h=349]

After Raw, Rosenberg and Corey Graves will reveal the WWE Universe’s picks for the 25 moments in Raw history.

– Gene Snitsky celebrates his birthday on Sunday as the former WWE Superstar turns 48 years old. WWE acknowledged his birthday with this post on Instagram.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bd8gbncAxLR/

Snitsky wrestled on Saturday night as he took on former WWE Superstar Mordecai.

@TripleH Before @BraunStrowman there was @BIGGENESNITSKY now look at him. He would destroy Strowman. #RightCoastPro #Champion pic.twitter.com/dSxFcwJsph

— Fuzzbourne (@BowserSlayer87) January 15, 2018

Mordecai vs Big Gene Snitsky last night in Right Coast Pro wrestling event. Snitsky took a few lumps but came out the victor.. #indywrestling #wwe pic.twitter.com/9rfRiRMvT4

— Jim Stiehl (@StiehlPhoto) January 14, 2018

• What happened to Lex Luger?

Former WWE and Impact Wrestling star Christy Hemme has given birth to quadruplets.

The 37-year-old revealed the big news in a tweet on Saturday, saying that her surgery went well and all four babies — three boys and one girl — are safe.

Surgery went extremely well! Christy and all 4 babies are safe! pic.twitter.com/OI11LPwNAp

— Christy (@hemmepowered) January 7, 2018

Hemme has been documenting her high-risk pregnancy on YouTube and in this video below, said she expected to give birth on Saturday. She also notes that her newborns share the same birthday as her first child, a girl named Charlie Rose, who was born on January 6, 2015.

Hemme was the winner of WWE’s inaugural Diva Search in 2004, with a prize of a one-year WWE talent contract worth $250,000. She stayed with WWE until December 2005 and would join Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA, now known as Impact Wrestling) in April 2006. She worked as a wrestler through 2009 and stayed on as a ring announcer until 2016.

• Who is Becky Lynch’s boyfriend?

– WWE officials told F4WOnline.com this afternoon that Braun Strowman is scheduled for tonight’s Raw in Miami, Florida.

After working two live events where he brawled with Kane, Strowman returned home on Thursday due to a bad case of the flu. This caused him to miss the final three live events of 2017.

– In a post on Instagram, The Miz reflects on his professional and personal achievements in 2017 and reveals his goals for 2018.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BdYb3IwHjDx/

– The second season of the soap opera series Tainted Dreams, starring former Impact Wrestling star Jessie Godderz, premiered on Amazon and Amazon Prime this past week. According to F4WOnline.com, former WWE talent Lisa Marie Varon (aka Victoria) appears in the series as a parole officer for the character Godderz plays. This reunites the two as they played a couple in TNA in 2012 and 2013.

• Nia Jax explains why she doesn’t date

– NXT star Wesley Blake and 2015 Tough Enough winner Sara Lee got married over the weekend in Titusville, Florida.

Former WWE developmental talent CJ Dunning revealed the news in a post on Instagram.

The couple are the parents of a daughter named Piper, who was born on May 1, 2017.

– Above is the WWE Future Endeavors 2017 video from YouTube user mangler989, which highlights talent that officially parted ways with WWE this past year.

Among those who left WWE in 2017 are Mada Abdelhamid, Rosa Mendes, Jack Swagger, Simon Gotch, Chris Atkins, Andrea D’Marco, Theophilus Agbi, Austin Aries, HoHo Lun, Eva Marie, Emma, Darren Young, Summer Rae, Sawyer Fulton, Leo Gao, Bronson Matthews and James Ellsworth.

– Former ECW star Francine is now on Twitter @ECWDivaFrancine.

Happy New Year! I’m finally on Twitter! Tell your friends! #ScreamQueen #QueenOfExtreme pic.twitter.com/vIDYiXiXtM

— Francine (@ECWDivaFrancine) January 1, 2018

• What happened to Lex Luger?

– Paige is backstage at Raw in Miami, Florida, but the word going around is that she has not yet been cleared to return to the ring after suffering an injury last week.

Paige got injured last Wednesday during a Six-Woman Tag Team Match when she took a hard kick to the back from Sasha Banks. The match was immediately stopped and she was given medical attention for what is believed to be a stinger.

For precautionary measures, WWE pulled Paige from the rest of last week’s live event tour.

– On the latest edition of Chasing Glory with Lilian Garcia, former WWE Women’s Champions Michelle McCool, Victoria, Candice Michelle, Gail Kim and Molly Holly react to the announcement of the first-ever Women’s Royal Rumble Match. You can listen to the interview here or on iTunes.

HAPPY NEW YEAR! 🎊
Couldn’t be more excited 2 start this yr #ChasingGlory by having 5 amazing former @WWE Superstars who helped pave way 2 #WomensRevolution ! @McCoolMichelleL @gailkimITSME @REALLiSAMARiE @DIVACANDICEM Molly Holly https://t.co/luwhcg6Upyhttps://t.co/EhXZIrBK9v pic.twitter.com/W6vBpM9hBC

— Lilian Garcia (@LilianGarcia) January 1, 2018

– Former WCW star Kimberly Page celebrates her birthday on New Year’s Day as she turns 49 years old.

• Nia Jax explains why she doesn’t date

Tonight’s WWE live event in Toronto, Ontario, Canada abruptly ended after Samoa Joe bled profusely during the main event match against Intercontinental Champion Roman Reigns.

After getting busted open above his eye, Joe continued brawling at ringside as he threw Reigns into the barricade. WWE personnel then began checking on Joe and despite him telling them that he was OK to continue, the referee decided to call off the match seconds later, ending the show.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpE930eTzCE

They will battle again this Monday on Raw as Reigns defends the Intercontinental Championship against Joe. Raw General Manager Kurt Angle made the announcement on Twitter on Friday, with an added stipulation being that Reigns will lose the title if he gets disqualified.

Angle wrote, “On the first #Raw of 2018 @WWERomanReigns will defend his #ICTitle against @SamoaJoe; if Roman is DQ’ed, he’ll lose the match AND his title.”

On the first #Raw of 2018 @WWERomanReigns will defend his #ICTitle against @SamoaJoe; if Roman is DQ’ed, he’ll lose the match AND his title

— Kurt Angle (@RealKurtAngle) December 29, 2017

• Nia Jax explains why she doesn’t date

After Sid Vicious no-showed last night’s Absolute Intense Wrestling event in Cleveland, Ohio, the independent promotion tried to make things up to fans in attendance by having Impact Wrestling’s Ethan Carter III (EC3) dress up as the former WWE and WCW star.

Appearing under the name “EC Justice,” he took on Gregory Iron in a comedy match. Iron himself came out dressed as Sid and wrestled as “Greg Justice.”

Who needs Sid Justice when you have ECJustice3 @therealec3 #AIW pic.twitter.com/IOSnbiGz7I

— DD With Amy & Mylie (@DD_Amy_Mylie) December 30, 2017

EC-JUSTICE. THIS CANT GET ANY BETTER pic.twitter.com/8kg0nlHpB7

— The Doctor (@LuchaMax) December 30, 2017

GREG JUSTICE JUST TRIED TO STAB EC3 JUSTICE WITH SCISSORS. #AIW pic.twitter.com/oZN9bSltxr

— The Doctor (@LuchaMax) December 30, 2017

EC3 also did an autograph signing dressed as Sid.

EC3 is doing Sid’s full meet and greet signing his 8×10’s. pic.twitter.com/05lm1PRlmu

— The Doctor (@LuchaMax) December 30, 2017

https://twitter.com/jgreeds/status/946927799054499840

AIW advertised Vicious to wrestle on the show, but he didn’t board his scheduled flight according to a post on the promotion’s Facebook page. After multiple phone calls to Vicious went unanswered, the promotion reached him through former WWE star Hornswoggle’s number. Vicious claimed Donald Trump’s travel ban prevented him from flying to Cleveland due to an unpaid speeding ticket and that he didn’t have his passport with him (even though he was traveling within the United States and is a United States citizen).

AIW explained, “Sid claimed Donald Trump’s travel ban prevented him from boarding his flight to Cleveland this morning because of an unpaid speeding ticket and he claimed this is new government policy since he didn’t have his passport even though he was traveling within the United States and is a United States Citizen. We recorded his cancelation call just so there is proof of all this and we we will do our best to play the audio tonight or on a future episode of our podcast.

“We apologize to all of the fans who were excited to meet Sid tonight and unfortunately this is something 100% out of our control. We invested quite a bit of money in this appearance and we have now lost out on close to $1,000 we will never get back on airline tickets, hotels, and merchandise we had made for Sid.”

• What happened to Lex Luger?

– On the latest edition of “Fan Questions With The Nature Boy,” Ric Flair addressed his relationship with girlfriend Wendy Barlow (aka Fifi the Maid in WCW) and whether wedding bells are in their future

“Oh, most certainly, yeah,” said Flair, who’s been married four times. “It’s just a question of, you know. her children are in school … it’s a long story.”

Flair married his first wife, Leslie Goodman, on August 28, 1971. They had two children, daughter Megan and son David, before divorcing in 1983 after twelve years of marriage. On August 27, 1983, he married his second wife, Elizabeth Harrell. They had two children, daughter Ashley and son Reid. Flair and Beth divorced in 2006 after nearly 23 years of marriage. On May 27, 2006, Flair married his third wife Tiffany VanDemark, a fitness competitor. In 2008, Tiffany filed for divorce from Flair, which was finalized in 2009. On November 11, 2009, Flair married his fourth wife, Jacqueline Beems, in Charlotte, North Carolina. In 2012, Flair filed for divorce from Beems, which was finalized in 2014. Flair began dating Barlow in 2012 and they got engaged last year.

Flair also reveals that he cried when the Cleveland Cavaliers lost to the Golden State Warriors in this year’s NBA Finals and that it contributed to his health issues in August.

– Goldust is clamoring to team with Asuka in WWE Mixed Match Challenge, airing exclusively on Facebook Watch beginning Tuesday, January 16, at 10 ET/7 PT. In this video from backstage at today’s WWE live event in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Goldust says they should team since he competed in a Mixed Tag Team Match before, with Luna Vachon at WrestleMania 14 (against Marc Mero and Sable). However, “The Empress of Tomorrow” says he’s not ready for Asuka.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BdV9xMTAPHL/

• Nia Jax explains why she doesn’t date

– Braun Strowman got ill during WWE’s ongoing holiday tour and returned home on Thursday, according to PWInsider.com.

On the first two nights of the live event tour, Strowman had a brief brawl with Kane before powerslamming him through a table, which you can see below when WWE stopped at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12mNIihLJRY

– On WWE Superstar Superfan, Bayley sits down with Peter Rosenberg to talk about being a WWE superfan ever since she was a kid and reveals who her favorite WWE stars are. During the interview, Bayley reveals how Matt Hardy ruined a relationship she had.

– Former WWE star Jean-Pierre LaFitte (Carl Ouellet) celebrates a milestone birthday on Saturday as he turns 50 years old.

• What happened to Lex Luger?

According to an Instagram post by Kalisto’s wife on Thursday night, her WWE star husband received stitches and underwent an MRI following an unspecified assault. She also speculates that Kalisto may have suffered a fracture from the attack.

It appears that she’s talking about Kalisto being struck in the face by a water bottle that a fan hurled on this week’s episode of 205 Live from Newark, New Jersey as she enclosed a photo of her husband showing a busted lip.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bc_OhmojG8Q/

The water bottle incident occurred as Kalisto was laying outside of the ring to sell a beatdown from Gentleman Jack Gallagher and The Brian Kendrick (teaming with Gran Metalik against Kendrick and Gallagher, the match got ruled a disqualification after Kendrick attacked Kalisto while Gallagher was the legal man).

The incident got caught on camera and shows a water bottle bouncing off the floor and nailing Kalisto in the mouth.

According to this tweet by WWE’s Talent Parking Coordinator, the fan who hurled the bottle got caught.

https://twitter.com/WWEParkingGuy/status/943364005145571328

• What happened to Lex Luger?

In a post on social media on Saturday addressing sexual assault, former WWE Women’s Champion Melina Perez revealed that she felt suicidal after being raped.

In response to a tweet from comedian Josh Wolf on actor Matt Damon’s controversial comments about sexual misconduct (in which Damon said that not all allegations should be handled the same way), Perez shared that she got raped in the past.

Been raped, been grabbed, been cornered and told things that a guy wants to do to me even though I told him to stop. All unwanted. All made me feel helpless, uncomfortable & scared of what's going to happen next. Different levels but ALL WRONG regardless.

— 🄼🄴🄻🄸🄽🄰 (@RealMelina) December 16, 2017

A short while later, Perez posted a blog about her tweet on Instagram and Facebook saying that she felt suicidal after being raped.

“Granted being cornered to be harassed & being grabbed didnt lead me to want to commit suicide like rape did but all were life altering,” Perez wrote.

“All made me feel like I had no power, I wasn’t safe, I had no value and I wasn’t a human being. That I am simply a thing. My worth, my purpose, my existence altered. If I say anything I’m a liar, exaggerating or looking for attention. So many suffer this helplessness in silence. Which I did for years.”

Perez, however, declined to give specifics as she only wants to educate people on the subject of sexual assault.

“I’m not looking to point fingers, I want to educate people on the subject, be here for victims and get those suffering silence on the path to recovery. Sexual assault doesn’t just happen to women. Like @safehorizon posted on Twitter:

“Sexual assault doesn’t discriminate and neither should we. #MeToo has to include women of color, immigrants, LGBTQ, people living with disabilities, children and teenagers, the elderly, and yes, men and boys.”

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

This is not the first time in which Perez has addressed suicide and sexual assault as she touched on both subjects back in April during a podcast interview on how she dealt with online bullying. Perez said she watched the Netflix series 13 Reasons Why and the drama tracing factors including online bullying and sexual assault which led to a teenage girl committing suicide brought back painful memories.

“That was my experience as an adult, that’s the sad thing,” Perez said. “Now that I’m reaching 40, I have better awareness and ways of coping. In my 20s, I couldn’t see things as clearly, be as articulate and process as much.

“I can only imagine what it would be like to go through that in my teens, how much more insane the emotions,” Perez said.

• What happened to Lex Luger?