SEScoops

Author: Fernando Quiles Jr.

  • MMA News Roundup: Conor McGregor Spotted With Criminals, CM Punk’s UFC Return, Nick Diaz Cleared

    MMA News Roundup: Conor McGregor Spotted With Criminals, CM Punk’s UFC Return, Nick Diaz Cleared

    Another edition of the MMA News Roundup has arrived.

    Fresh off UFC 223, a new lightweight champion has been crowned and Rose Namajunas maintained her strawweight gold. Of course those weren’t the headlines dominating fight week. It was Conor McGregor’s antics and now we have even more details about the day he attacked a fighter van.

    That story and more are featured in this week’s MMA News Roundup. Let’s get to it.

    3. Nick Diaz Cleared By USADA

    It’s no secret that Nick Diaz is quite fond of marijuana. Many have debated whether or not it should be removed from the list of banned substances for mixed martial arts bouts. Diaz has been popped three times for marijuana use. He was even suspended for five years by the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) before getting that penalty reduced to 18 months.

    Diaz found himself in a bit of a pickle with the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA). In April 2017, he received his third Whereabouts Failure. Diaz accepted a one-year sanction and can return to action after April 19.

    2. CM Punk’s UFC Return Confirmed

    CM Punk will step back inside the Octagon in less than two months. The UFC announced that Punk will do battle with Mike Jackson on June 9. It’ll be a special night for Punk, as he’ll be competing in front of his hometown crowd inside the United Center in Chicago, Illinois.

    In his UFC debut, Punk was submitted by Mickey Gall in the first round. While Punk was clearly outmatched in the bout, the fight with Jackson is a bit more even. Jackson is 0-1 as a pro and was also submitted by Gall.

    1. Conor McGregor Pictured With Irish Criminal Duo

    The image you see above was posted hours before Conor McGregor attacked a van holding UFC 223 red corner fighters. The picture has since been removed from Instagram. The image is noteworthy because McGregor is hanging out with two men who have 66 convictions between them.

    The men seen with McGregor are Jonathan and Andrew Murray. McGregor was arrested following his assault after the UFC 223 media day session on April 5 before posting bail. McGregor hurled a dolly, smashing a van window and injuring two fighters. Many have questioned who McGregor has been surrounding himself with and this latest development is sure to raise some eyebrows.

    That does it for this week’s edition of the MMA News Roundup. Be sure to visit MMANews.com for live coverage of UFC Glendale tomorrow night (April 14).

  • Report: Brock Lesnar & Vince McMahon Involved In Backstage Altercation After WrestleMania

    Report: Brock Lesnar & Vince McMahon Involved In Backstage Altercation After WrestleMania

    Things appear to be getting heated between Brock Lesnar and Vince McMahon.

    Last night (April 8), WrestleMania 34 took place inside the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. In the main event Lesnar defended his WWE Universal Championship against Roman Reigns. The match was not what fans had anticipated.

    Going into the WrestleMania headliner, many had expected Reigns to emerge victorious and for Lesnar to make his way back to the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Whether fans agreed with Reigns’ fourth WrestleMania main event or not, the general consensus was that the match would be able to deliver. Those in attendance certainly didn’t feel that was the case.

    Lesnar won the match after delivering a series of F-5’s. Reigns kicked out of several finishers before finally succumbing to the “Beast Incarnate.” Fans were not having it and made it clear they weren’t fans of the match. Chants of “boring” and “this is awful” echoed throughout the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Apparently, they weren’t the only ones who weren’t happy with the match.

    The Heated Exchange

    Ryan Satin of Pro Wresting Sheet reports that Lesnar got into a verbal confrontation with Vince McMahon. Sources told Satin that Lesnar initiated the heated verbal exchange and McMahon fired back. The argument ended with Lesnar throwing his Universal championship. Sources are split as to whether or not Lesnar threw his title at McMahon or a wall.

    The report also notes that Lesnar is said to have gone off the script near the end of the match. Satin was unable to confirm whether or not that was the case. SEScoops.com will keep you up to speed as more details emerge from this reported confrontation.

  • Vader Expresses Gratitude Following Open-Heart Surgery

    Vader Expresses Gratitude Following Open-Heart Surgery

    Vader has provided another update on his condition after undergoing open-heart surgery.

    The former WWE, WCW, NJPW, and AJPW star hasn’t been in the best of heath in recent years. He is coming off open-heart surgery. The surgery was a success, but Vader admitted he was in a great deal of pain.

    A few days later, Vader is still dealing with pain but he is grateful. Check out his latest tweet below:

    Vader has accomplished more than most ever will in professional wrestling. He’s a three-time WCW champion, three-time IWGP Heavyweight champion, and a two-time Triple Crown Heavyweight champion under the AJPW banner.

    In 1993, the big man earned “Wrestler of the Year” honors from both the Wrestling Observer Newsletter and Pro Wrestling Illustrated. That year, his attention shifted solely to WCW.

    He joined the WWE in 1996. Vader made an immediate impact, taking out on-camera WWE president Gorilla Monsoon. He never won any titles in the promotion, but he did take home a Slammy award for “Crime of the Century” due to his attack of Monsoon. “The Mastodon” challenged Shawn Michaels for the WWE title, but was unsuccessful.

    His run in AJPW was the last time he was viewed as a true threat in wrestling. His feud with the late Mitsuharu Misawa as well as his past work in Japan helped him along the way.

  • Impact Wrestling Touts Highest Viewership in 20 Months

    Impact Wrestling Touts Highest Viewership in 20 Months

    The folks over at Impact Wrestling have found some success.

    Since Anthem took over Impact Wrestling, many wondered what the future would hold. At first, the direction of the show seemed to be in the hands of Jeff Jarrett and Scott D’Amore. It wasn’t long before Jarrett made a second exit from the promotion.

    Now, New Japan Pro Wrestling color commentator Don Calis is at the helm along with D’Amore. For the most part, Impact has held steady in the 300k range for their episodes on Pop TV. The most recent episode, however saw a sizable spike up.

    The March 29 edition of the show took in 399k viewers. That’s up from the 365k number last week and it’s the most watched episode of Impact in 20 months. The promotion took to Twitter to thank fans for tuning in:

    This week’s episode of Impact featured a champion vs. champion match. World champion Austin Aries took on Grand champion Matt Sydal. Both titles were on the line.

    Also featured on the card was a match between two powerhouses. Former TNA World champion Lashley took on Brian Cage. In addition to that, Eddie Edwards traveled to Ohio to find oVe and Sami Callihan.

  • Shawn Michaels on Daniel Bryan’s Return: ‘This Isn’t a Comeback, This is a Second Chance’

    Shawn Michaels on Daniel Bryan’s Return: ‘This Isn’t a Comeback, This is a Second Chance’

    Shawn Michaels has spoken on Daniel Bryan’s return to in-ring competition and he couldn’t be happier.

    News of Bryan’s medical clearance took the wrestling world by storm. WWE wasted little time getting the former WWE World Heavyweight champion in the swing of things. On the March 20 edition of SmackDown Live, Bryan was attacked by Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn to set up Bryan’s return to the ring for WrestleMania 34.

    One man who is no stranger to Bryan’s journey is “HBK.” Bryan trained under the tutelage of Michaels at the Texas Wrestling Academy. Bryan ended up becoming one half of the TWA Tag Team champions in early 2000.

    WWE recently rolled out a video where Michaels talks about Bryan’s medical clearance. Here is some of what he had to say:

    “Like everybody else I was pulling for him because I know what it’s like to be forced away from this before you’re ready to let it go. I know it’s a special moment for him, clearly it’s an unbelievably special moment for the fans. This isn’t a comeback, this is a second chance. He’s a wonderful young man and I know he’s gonna make the most of this opportunity for sure.”

  • Rocky Romero Talks Having Creative Freedom in NJPW

    Rocky Romero Talks Having Creative Freedom in NJPW

    Rocky Romero likes having free reign in New Japan Pro Wrestling.

    Throughout the years, Romero has found success in NJPW’s junior heavyweight and junior tag team divisions. As Black Tiger IV, Romero captured the IWGP Junior Heavyweight title. He’s also captured IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team gold eight times.

    Nowadays, Romero finds himself as the head honcho of Roppongi 3K along with Sho and Yoh. Romero was the coach of the team, but recently revealed Sho and Yoh no longer need to be coached. He still accompanies them to the ring and acts as a manager.

    UPROXX recently caught up with Romero, who talked about his creative freedom in NJPW:

    “We have all the creativity in New Japan. We really have free reign there. Character-wise you can do whatever you want, you can say whatever you want. There’s no restrictions to anything. That’s why you’ve seen those funny, mean videos of Tama Tonga and Tanga Roa cursing up a storm.

    “There’s nobody to tell us that we can’t. Really, to work for such a big company and have that much freedom, it’s unheard of. I didn’t have to separate things or compartmentalize and say ‘Okay, well I’m going to use this for this.’ It was like cool, the music fit into the character, then this, and I just added stuff that was actually me and not just playing a role for somebody like I did in Mexico whatever. It just all came together and then I just kept coming. I was just like I’m going to keep creating stuff until somebody tells me, ‘Hey, you should stop doing that, because it’s not very good.’”

  • ROH COO Joe Koff: Supercard of Honor XII Will be a Sellout

    ROH COO Joe Koff: Supercard of Honor XII Will be a Sellout

    Ring of Honor COO Joe Koff believes Supercard of Honor XII will be a sellout.

    Supercard of Honor XII takes place on April 7 live from the UNO Lakefront Arena in New Orleans, Louisiana. In the main event, Kenny Omega will take on Cody in a bout that may give us some clarity on the direction of Bullet Club. Also set for the card, ROH World champion Dalton Castle will defend his title against Marty Scurll.

    The card is also stacked with New Japan Pro Wrestling talent such as Hiroshi Tanahashi, Kota Ibushi, and Tomohiro Ishii. The first Women of Honor champion will also be crowned following semi-finals matches and of course the finals in the Women of Honor tournament.

    Speaking to Cageside Seats, Koff said the event will sell out:

    “We’re getting prepared. It’s our biggest crowd to date. We’re trying to anticipate the crowd and be ready for them in every way we can. The building is set up for roughly about 6,000. We’re coming up on that number. It’s pretty exciting. It will be a sellout. It’s amazing, too, considering last year when we ran Lakeland, which was a good hour to hour-and-a-half from Orlando for WrestleMania week. The number escapes me, but it was well over 3,000. And I said, Oh my god, that was amazing. One year later, we’ve now almost doubled our crowd. It’s pretty exciting.”

  • Cody Changing Bullet Club Logo, David Arquette is All In?

    Cody Changing Bullet Club Logo, David Arquette is All In?

    Cody Promises Change To Bullet Club Logo

    Cody has quickly become a polarizing heel in wrestling. From turning on Kenny Omega, to tearing the Bullet Club apart, Cody has garnered some serious heat. His recent announcement has created some more buzz and even hatred.

    The former Ring of Honor World champion recently took to Twitter to claim he is changing the Bullet Club logo next week. The logo has become iconic even outside of the wrestling world. In it, fans have even been seen wearing the faction’s shirts at WWE events. We’re not talking just one or two people, either.

    Here is Cody’s tweet:

    Is David Arquette “All In?”

    The All In event may be getting a former WCW World champion, although it’s not one who many are expecting. Actor David Arquette is still a huge fan of wrestling. In fact, on an episode of Monday Night Raw back in 2010, he teamed with Alex Riley to take on Randy Orton. It didn’t go so well for Arquette, as he was powerbombed through a table.

    Arquette recently went on Twitter to show support for Matt Hardy’s new shirt on WWE Shop by saying, “I’m in.” Nick Jackson of The Young Bucks asked Arquette if he was “All In.” Arquette replied with the following:

    https://twitter.com/DavidArquette/status/979922901821399040

  • AXS TV Airing NJPW Strong Style Evolved Replay Tonight (March 30)

    AXS TV Airing NJPW Strong Style Evolved Replay Tonight (March 30)

    If you missed NJPW Strong Style Evolved, now is your chance to catch it.

    This past Sunday night (March 25), Strong Style Evolved took place from the Walter Pyramid in Long Beach, California. In the main event, the Golden Lovers (Kenny Omega & Kota Ibushi) took on The Young Bucks. Also featured on the card was an IWGP United States title match between champion “Switchblade” Jay White and Hangman Page.

    A replay is set to air on AXS TV tonight (March 30) at 8 p.m. ET. Below is the card for Strong Style Evolved:

    6-Man Tag Team Match: Sho, Yoh, & Rocky Romero vs. Christopher Daniels, Frankie Kazarian, & Scorpio Sky

    Tag Team Match: Hiroki Goto & Gedo vs. Juice Robinson & David Finlay

    Tag Team Match: Killer Elite Squad vs. Chuckie T. & Toru Yano

    Tag Team Match: Guerrillas of Destiny vs. Cody & Marty Scurll

    8-Man Tag Team Match: Tetsuya Naito, SANADA, Hiromu Takahashi, & Bushi vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi, KUSHIDA, Ryusuke Taguchi, & Dragon Lee

    Special Singles Match: Will Ospreay vs. Jushin Thunder Liger

    Tag Team Match: Kazuchika Okada & Tomohiro Ishii vs. Zack Sabre Jr. & Minoru Suzuki

    IWGP United States Title Match: “Switchblade” Jay White (C) vs. Hangman Page

    Tag Team Match: Golden Lovers (Kenny Omega & Kota Ibushi) vs. The Young Bucks

  • Tenille Dashwood on Joining Bullet Club: ‘You Never Know What’s Ahead’

    Tenille Dashwood on Joining Bullet Club: ‘You Never Know What’s Ahead’

    Tenille Dashwood has heard the demand for her arrival in Bullet Club.

    For over six years, Dashwood performed for the WWE. In August 2012, she used the in-ring name “Emma.” Dashwood was released back in Oct. 2017 following her match against Asuka at the TLC pay-per-view.

    Dashwood has quickly found success in the independent circuit and Ring of Honor. She is a heavy favorite to win the Women of Honor tournament. The winner of the tourney will become the first ROH Women of Honor champion. Dashwood will meet Sumie Sakai in a semi-finals match at Supercard of Honor XII. The winner will advance to the finals that same night on April 7.

    During a recent ROH live stream, Cody said he wants to add women to the Bullet Club and has two names in mind. He didn’t reveal those names, but Dashwood has been someone who fans have been wanting to see represent the faction.

    During an interview with WrestleZone.com, Dashwood talked about potentially joining the Bullet Club:

    “It all just depends on the situation. They would have to do some sweet talking and we’d have to work some things out. You never know what’s ahead. I’m not saying yes or no, I’m saying it depends.”

  • MMA News Roundup: UFC & FOX Split? Bas Rutten on UFC 223, Josh Barnett Freed From USADA

    MMA News Roundup: UFC & FOX Split? Bas Rutten on UFC 223, Josh Barnett Freed From USADA

    With NJPW Sakura Genesis coming up this Sunday (April 1) and WrestleMania week upon us, things are getting wild in the world of wrestling. Over on the mixed martial arts side, things are just as hectic. The night before WrestleMania 34, UFC 223 will take place inside the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY. On that same night, Supercard of Honor XII goes down.

    If you’re a fan of both wrestling and MMA, it can be difficult to keep tabs on everything. That’s why SEScoops.com and MMANews.com have you covered. If you aren’t up to speed on the latest MMA news, then have no fear. Here’s the latest edition of the MMA News Roundup.

    Let’s dive in:

    3. Josh Barnett Has USADA Suspension Revoked

    Since late 2016, Josh Barnett had been on a provisional suspension under the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA). Barnett was flagged for use of ostarine, which falls in the class of anabolic agents. “The Warmaster” fought the ruling and insisted that the substance in question was in tainted supplements he had used.

    After going through arbitration, Barnett was able to prove that he did indeed take tainted supplements. As a result, Barnett is no longer suspended and can return to active competition but there is a catch. Barnett must undergo a series of tests for six months before he can have another fight under the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) banner. Of course, those tests results must come back clean.

    2. MMA News’ Exclusive Interview With Bas Rutten

    UFC Hall of Famer Bas Rutten spoke to MMANews.com during the Super Seminar World Series event in Queens College. Rutten talked a bit about what his recent ventures. “El Guapo” is hoping that a third season of “Kevin Can Wait” gets renewed and he’s working with a new organization called Karate Combat.

    Rutten also gave us a breakdown for the two title bouts at UFC 223. Rutten explained the possible outcomes of Tony Ferguson vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov and Rose Namajunas vs. Joanna Jedrzejczyk II. You can check out the interview here.

    1. UFC & FOX Splitting Once Current Deal Expires?

    We’re in the seventh year of the UFC and FOX partnership. When UFC on FOX made its debut, it drew an average of 5.7 million viewers. The event peaked at 8.8 million viewers for the heavyweight title fight between Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos. Fast forward to UFC on FOX 28 and that show’s final numbers averaged just over two million viewers with a 2.73 million peak.

    While initial interest seems to always win out when it comes to viewership, one can imagine that FOX didn’t anticipate numbers to sink this low. While the UFC has given up on putting together big cards on the major FOX network, they have done their due diligence on FOX Sports 1 and 2 events.

    A large bulk of the programming on FS1 and FS2 have been thanks to UFC content. Still, FOX has its eyes on another promotion and it isn’t MMA. A report recently claimed that talks are swirling that FOX is more interested in signing a deal with the WWE than keeping the UFC. The report also notes there’s a good chance that FOX will be done with the UFC once the current deal expires.

    That’ll do it for this edition of the MMA News Roundup. There are no major events this weekend, but be sure to check us out at MMANews.com. We have two more exclusive interviews with Duane Ludwig and Shane Fazen of fightTIPS.

    Also be sure to stick with us for UFC 223 fight week. MMA News will be on the scene for all the events leading up to and including UFC 223.

  • NJPW Road to Sakura Genesis (March 30) Results

    NJPW Road to Sakura Genesis (March 30) Results

    The final NJPW event before Sakura Genesis took place earlier today (March 30).

    Stars of NJPW hit the ring inside Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan before heading to the Ryogoku Kokugikan on April 1. In the main event, Kazuchika Okada teamed with fellow CHAOS member YOSHI-HASHI to take on Zack Sabre Jr. and Taichi. Okada will defend his IWGP Heavyweight title against Sabre Jr. at Sakura Genesis.

    All members of Los Ingobernables de Japon took on most members of Suzuki-Gun on this road show. At Sakura Genesis, Tetsuya Naito will team with SANADA and EVIL to take on Minoru Suzuki and the Killer Elite Squad.

    Peep the results for the March 30 Road to Sakura Genesis show below:

    Singles Match: Tetsuhiro Yagi vs. Ren Narita ended in a draw

    Singles Match: Yuji Nagata def. Shota Umino

    Six-Man Tag Team Match: Togi Makabe, Michael Elgin, & Ryusuke Taguchi def. Tomoyuki Oka, Manabu Nakanishi, & Hiroyoshi Tenzan

    Six-Man Tag Team Match: Hiroki Goto, Jay White, & Tomohiro Ishii def. Juice Robinson, David Finlay, & Toa Henare

    Six-Man Tag Team Match: Toru Yano, Sho, & Yoh def. Hiroshi Tanahashi, KUSHIDA, & Tiger Mask

    10-Man Tag Team Match: Los Ingobernables de Japon (Tetsuya Naito, SANADA, EVIL, Hiromu Takahashi, & BUSHI) def. Suzuki-Gun (Minoru Suzuki, Davey Boy Smith Jr., Lance Archer, Yoshinobu Kanemaru, & El Desperado)

    Tag Team Match: Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi def. Kazuchika Okada & YOSHI-HASHI

  • Mike Tyson: I’d Love to be Back in WWE

    Mike Tyson: I’d Love to be Back in WWE

    Mike Tyson is someone who many WWE fans are familiar with.

    Tyson is a Hall of Fame boxer. He’s won multiple championships in the heavyweight division. With scintillating knockouts over the likes of Trevor Berbick, Michael Spinks, Larry Holmes, and many more Tyson’s fan base grew astronomically.

    During the 1990s, Tyson had developed a reputation for being a bruiser with a bad attitude and that’s exactly the direction the WWE was going in. The company brought Tyson on board to be the special guest referee in the main event of WrestleMania 14. Tyson ended up raising Stone Cold Steve Austin’s hand and handed the WWE title to him over the fallen Shawn Michaels. “HBK” received a right hand to the jaw from Tyson soon after.

    Years later, Tyson was invited back for an episode of Monday Night Raw as the guest host. Tyson was later inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame class of 2012. Tyson felt the love from WWE fans, and he wants to experience it again.

    WWE’s Cathy Kelly was on the scene at the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards and briefly spoke to Tyson, who said the following:

    “I’m always willing to come back. I love the WWE, yeah. I’d love to be back.”

  • Cody Offers “Apology” to The Young Bucks Following Strong Style Evolved

    Cody Offers “Apology” to The Young Bucks Following Strong Style Evolved

    Cody has acknowledged his actions at NJPW Strong Style Evolved.

    In the main event of the AXS TV live special, The Young Bucks competed against the Golden Lovers in a tag team dream match. The contest lived up to the hype and at the end of it, it was Kenny Omega and Kota Ibushi who picked up the win. Drama ensued after the match was over.

    Cody ran down to the ring and got in Matt Jackson’s face for eating the pin. Nick Jackson tried to calm Cody down, but was shoved to the mat for his efforts. Cody took off his blazer and looked ready to attack his “friends” when the Golden Lovers returned to the ring to make the save.

    Cody took to Twitter to issue an “apology:”

    “It is with a heavy heart and the hope that this will be read by open minds, that I release this statement.

    Nick Jackson is my friend. At the climax of last night’s “Strong Style Evolved” it appeared that I deliberately, and with malice, shoved him to the mat. That was 100% not the case.

    After having just witnessed one of the most unbelievable matches of my generation, I became frustrated as I (like many others in attendance and watching at home) was hoping for a different result. My frustration was my undoing. In a misguided attempt to motivate Matt Jackson, I became so unaware of my surroundings…I assumed it was Kenny Omega who grabbed me by the arm and instinctually I shoved him backwards outta’ self defense. Imagine my horror upon seeing that it was my best friend Nick.

    This is the truth.

    A truth I hope the fans and my peers can respect and understand. Regardless, I formally apologize to Nick, Matt, and the entire Massie family.

    Thank you.”

  • WWE Confirms Talks With Hulk Hogan About Possible Return

    WWE Confirms Talks With Hulk Hogan About Possible Return

    Hulkamania may soon run wild in the WWE again.

    The return of Hulk Hogan to the WWE in 2014 was a warm welcome to many fans. Hogan had previously worked for TNA, where he played an on-camera authority figure from 2009 through 2013. Hogan’s role as an ambassador for WWE was short-lived after his 2015 sex tape debacle which included Hogan making racist comments about African Americans.

    It appears enough time has passed for WWE to consider bringing Hulk Hogan back into the fold. According to PWinsider, Hogan and WWE have been in talks over the past several weeks about a possible return, most likely as a brand ambassador.

    WWE issued the following statement regarding the recent talks with Hogan:

    “We have had discussions with Terry Bollea (aka Hulk Hogan) about how he can help others learn from his mistakes, however, he is not under any contract with WWE.”

    It’s been a roller coaster ride for Hogan the past few years. He’s had a lot of time to think about the behavior that cost him his job with WWE and his status as a role model to people across the world. He’s been vocal about wanting another chance, telling TMZ Sports last month, “For me, I’d love to change that last story that was told of the Hulk Hogan career. I’d love to get back in the fold, get back on the inside and correct a lot of stuff.”

    Hogan added, “It has to be the perfect timing for both sides. We’re all on good sides and all working towards the same goal so hopefully, I’ll be able to be back with my wrestling family someday soon.”

  • Triple H Talks Passion of NXT Stars, Jim Cornette on Mark Henry’s WWE Hall of Fame Induction

    Triple H Talks Passion of NXT Stars, Jim Cornette on Mark Henry’s WWE Hall of Fame Induction

    Triple H Praises Desire of NXT Talent

    Last year was a wild ride for the WWE and NXT was certainly no exception. In 2017, Bobby Roode, Drew Mcintyre, and Cien Almas emerged as the cream of the crop on the brand. We also saw Asuka continue her dominance until leaving for Monday Night Raw. A new women’s champion then emerged and her name is Ember Moon.

    San Antonio, Orlando, Chicago, Brooklyn, and Houston were all the destinations for NXT’s TakeOver events last year. The WWE Network is taking a look back with its “Best of NXT 2017” special. Here’s a first look with Triple H praising NXT talent:

    “The superstars of NXT scratch and claw everyday to be the best. They give it their all to be the best. But the truth is, we cannot do any of it without you. We say it all the time, “We Are NXT.” And we truly mean that. Without the NXT universe, without all of you, we are nothing. You rise us up, you make us bigger, stronger, and better. And that’s what we do. We go to the ring every night, our NXT superstars, and they leave it all out there for all of you.”

    Jim Cornette Thrilled With Mark Henry’s WWE HOF Induction

    Legendary wrestling manager Jim Cornette is happy to hear that Mark Henry is on his way to the WWE Hall of Fame. Henry will join the class of 2018 which includes stars such as Goldberg, Jeff Jarrett, The Dudley Boyz, and more. It’s a long time coming for Henry, who has been with the WWE since 1996.

    During a recent episode of “The Jim Cornette Experience,” Cornette talked about Henry’s road to this moment:

    “The Hall of Fame has gotten one right, and I don’t mean they’ve never gotten one right before but I’m saying this time the good guy wins. To a nicer guy, it couldn’t happen. Mark Henry is going in the WWE Hall of Fame and I am wholeheartedly behind that because I’ve known Mark since he showed up there for 22 years or whatever.”

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

  • Rey Mysterio Off NJPW Strong Style Evolved, Full Card Revealed

    Rey Mysterio Off NJPW Strong Style Evolved, Full Card Revealed

    Rey Mysterio will not be wrestling at the NJPW Strong Style Evolved event.

    Mysterio was scheduled to take on Jushin Thunder Liger inside Walter Pyramid in Long Beach, California on March 25. That is no longer the case as Mysterio’s bicep injury has forced him off the card. The announcement was made during a New Japan Cup post-tournament press conference.

    IWGP Junior Heavyweight champion Will Ospreay will take Mysterio’s place. It’ll be Ospreay vs. Liger in a non-title special singles match. The match will be contested under a 30-minute time limit.

    In addition to that bit of news, the full card for Strong Style Evolved has been revealed. Check it out below:

    Six-Man Tag Team Match: Sho, Yoh, & Rocky Romero vs. Christopher Daniels, Frankie Kazarian, & Scorpio Sky

    Tag Team Match: Hiroki Goto & Gedo vs. Juice Robinson & David Finlay

    Tag Team Match: Killer Elite Squad vs. Chuckie T. & Toru Yano

    Tag Team Match: Guerrillas of Destiny vs. Cody & Marty Scurll

    Eight-Man Tag Team Match: Tetsuya Naito, SANADA, Hiromu Takahashi, & Bushi vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi, KUSHIDA, Ryusuke Taguchi, & Dragon Lee

    Special Singles Match: Will Ospreay vs. Jushin Thunder Liger

    Tag Team Match: Kazuchika Okada & Tomohiro Ishii vs. Zack Sabre Jr. & Minoru Suzuki

    IWGP United States Title Match: Jay White (C) vs. Hangman Page

    Special Tag Team Match: Golden Lovers vs. The Young Bucks

  • Edge & Christian to Induct The Dudley Boyz Into The WWE Hall of Fame

    Edge & Christian to Induct The Dudley Boyz Into The WWE Hall of Fame

    The Dudley Boyz have their wish granted.

    During a recent appearance on SiriusXM’s Busted Open radio show, Edge was asked by Bubba Ray to be joined by Christian to induct The Dudley Boyz into the WWE Hall of Fame class of 2018. Edge said he was all in and that Christian would have no problem making the trip to New Orleans.

    Today (March 21), WWE made it official. Edge and Christian will induct Bubba Ray and D-Von Dudley ahead of WrestleMania 34. Peep the conversation that sparked today’s announcement below:

    Edge and Christian, The Dudley Boyz, and The Hardy Boyz ruled tag team wrestling in the attitude era. All three teams participated in numerous Tables, Ladders, & Chairs matches. The most memorable one took place at WrestleMania 17. Edge and Christian ended up winning that battle.

    The WWE Hall of Fame 2018 will stream live on the WWE Network on April 6. The ceremony is set to begin at 8 p.m. ET. Goldberg will be the main Hall of Fame inductee this year. He will be joined by Jeff Jarrett, Mark Henry, Ivory, Hillbilly Jim, and Kid Rock. Jarrius “JJ” Robertson will receive this year’s Warrior Award.

  • Daniel Bryan on Being Cleared: ‘It’s Not The Destination, It’s The Journey’

    Daniel Bryan on Being Cleared: ‘It’s Not The Destination, It’s The Journey’

    Daniel Bryan is over the moon after being cleared to return to active competition inside the WWE ring.

    Yesterday (March 20), it was announced that Bryan is cleared to return to the ring. Bryan is the current SmackDown Live general manager and was given the spot due to being on the shelf following a history of concussions. Bryan was thrown right into the fire, being on the receiving end of a beatdown from Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn.

    Before last night’s episode of SmackDown Live aired, WWE filmed a video where Bryan talks about embracing the journey to making his in-ring return. Just when things seemed impossible, Bryan was willed to keep fighting in large part to his wife Brie Bella.

    Bryan gave some words of encouragement to those looking to fulfill their dreams:

    “If you have this dream, you fight for it. And you keep fighting for it and you keep fighting for it and then it may never come true. It might not, but it’s never the end-game. It’s not the destination, it’s the journey … It’s interesting because I’ve thought about this moment so much like in the last six months. ‘What would actually happen if you did get cleared?’ And it still seemed like an impossibility.”

  • Mojo Rawley Eyes Back-to-Back Andre Battle Royal Wins, Top 10 Moments From SD

    Mojo Rawley Eyes Back-to-Back Andre Battle Royal Wins, Top 10 Moments From SD

    Mojo Rawley Wants Another Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal Trophy

    Mojo Rawley is gunning for another WrestleMania moment. At last year’s mega event, Rawley scored an upset win to capture the Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal trophy. Rawley eliminated Jinder Mahal with some help from New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski.

    Back in those days, Rawley lived by the “Hype or Die” motto. These days, he takes a more serious approach. Of course, that is when he’s actually featured on an episode of SmackDown Live. Rawley took to Twitter to make it clear that he’s going for another trophy:

    https://twitter.com/MojoRawleyWWE/status/976260355709132802

    WWE’s Top 10 SmackDown Live Moments (March 20)

    Last night’s episode of SmackDown Live was supposed to be a celebration. The brand’s general manager Daniel Bryan had finally been cleared to wrestle earlier that day. After years of sitting on the sidelines, Bryan said he didn’t know when he’d wrestle again but that he is officially active once again.

    Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn crashed the party in the most sadistic way. Bryan fired Owens and Zayn for their attack on commissioner Shane McMahon last week. Owens and Zayn responded by ambushing Bryan. The assault was capped off when Owens powerbombed Bryan on the ring apron.

    You can see that segment and more in this week’s top 10 SmackDown Live moments below:

  • Main Event Set For NJPW Sakura Genesis 2018

    Main Event Set For NJPW Sakura Genesis 2018

    Following the New Japan Cup finals, we now know what the main event of Sakura Genesis will be.

    Earlier today (March 21), the New Japan Cup finals took place. The two men fighting for the trophy and a title shot of their choosing were Hiroshi Tanahashi and Zack Sabre Jr. Going into the bout, they were 1-1 against each other. Sabre Jr. broke the tie by submitting NJPW’s “Ace” and becoming the second foreign New Japan Cup winner.

    Following the victory, this transpired:

    Sabre Jr. said he was going after Kazuchika Okada’s IWGP Heavyweight title. This is a fresh challenge for Okada as he hasn’t competed against Sabre Jr. yet. Sabre Jr. has beaten a bevy of top-level NJPW talent on his way to a title opportunity.

    The first man Sabre Jr. got past in the New Japan Cup was Tetsuya Naito. Sabre Jr. submitted Naito, who appears to be on his way to an Intercontinental title clash with Suzuki-Gun leader Minoru Suzuki. The submission specialist then put away Kota Ibushi, followed by SANADA in the same fashion.

    The fact that Sabre Jr. submitted Tanahashi means that he put away two former IWGP Heavyweight champions in just one tournament. We’ll find out if he can end Okada’s historic reign on April 1.

  • New Japan Cup 2018 Finals Results: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Zack Sabre Jr.

    New Japan Cup 2018 Finals Results: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Zack Sabre Jr.

    The 2018 New Japan Cup finals have concluded.

    Hiroshi Tanahashi and Zack Sabre Jr. fought through some stiff competition to make it to the finals, which took place inside Ao-re Nagaoka in Niigata, Japan. Going into the finals, many fans were on the fence. Would Tanahashi renew his rivalry with Kazuchika Okada or potentially get revenge on Minoru Suzuki? Would Sabre Jr. pose a new threat to the IWGP Heavyweight champion?

    In the end, it was Sabre Jr. who emerged as the New Japan Cup 2018 winner. He was able to submit Tanahashi just over the 34-minute mark. After the match, Sabre Jr. said he’s going after Okada’s gold at Sakura Genesis on April 1.

    Check out the rest of the results below:

    Singles Match: Shota Umino def. Tetsuhiro Yagi

    Singles Match: Taichi def. Tomoyuki Oka

    Six-Man Tag Team Match: Bad Luck Fale, Tanga Loa, & Yujiro Takahashi def. Togi Makabe, Michael Elgin, & Toa Henare

    Tag Team Match: Killer Elite Squad def. Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano

    Tag Team Match: Juice Robinson & David Finlay def. Hiroki Goto & Yoshi-Hashi

    Eight-Man Tag Team Match: Tetsuya Naito, SANADA, Hiromu Takahashi, & Bushi def. Minoru Suzuki, Yoshinobu Kanemaru, El Desperado, & Takashi Iizuka

    Tag Team Match: Kazuchika Okada & Chuckie T. def. Kota Ibushi & Chase Owens

    New Japan Cup Finals Match: Zack Sabre Jr. def. Hiroshi Tanahashi

  • The Rock & Hulk Hogan Reflect on Their WrestleMania Match 16 Years Ago

    The Rock & Hulk Hogan Reflect on Their WrestleMania Match 16 Years Ago

    If there was ever a proper time to use the word “electrifying” to describe a wrestling match, it was The Rock vs. Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania 18.

    Aside from Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Rock and Hogan are easily the two biggest stars in the history of professional wrestling. While fans had been clamoring for a showdown between Stone Cold and Hogan, egos clashed and the match never happened. This set the stage for Rock-Hogan I inside the SkyDome in Toronto, Canada.

    Over 68,000 fans packed the dome to see what was considered to be the real main event of WrestleMania 18. On this March 17, 2002 night something unusual happened. For the first time since he was riding the coattails of The Corporation back in the Attitude Era, The Rock was heavily booed.

    Fans inside the SkyDome were pro-Hogan and wanted to see the wrestling legend turn back the clock. The Rock ended up winning the match and he embraced Hogan afterwards. Soon after, Scott Hall and Kevin Nash attacked Hogan. The Rock ended up making the save and Hogan posed for the fans.

    Sixteen years later, The Rock took the time to reflect:

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BgdDLrLFD7B/

    Hogan also had some words, laying out just how special the match was:

  • New Japan Cup Finals Confirmed, Wrestling Dontaku 2018 Poster

    New Japan Cup Finals Confirmed, Wrestling Dontaku 2018 Poster

    New Japan Cup 2018 Finals Official

    On March 16, Hiroshi Tanahashi became the first man to advance to the finals of this year’s New Japan Cup tournament. He defeated Juice Robinson inside Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan in semi-finals action. Today, we found out who will be joining him.

    In the other semi-finals match, SANADA took on Zack Sabre Jr. In the end, it was Sabre Jr. who punched his ticket to the finals. He will now face Tanahashi on March 21 to determine who will go on to Sakura Genesis on April 1. The winner of the New Japan Cup can go after any singles title of his choosing.

    Wrestling Dontaku 2018 Poster

    Following Sakura Genesis, NJPW will begin their Wrestling Dontaku tour. The road to Wrestling Dontaku begins on April 13. There will be 14 road shows leading up to the event and NJPW World will air at least five of them. In addition to that, Wrestling Hi No Kuni takes place on April 29 as the calm before the storm. That card will also air live on NJPW World.

    Wrestling Dontaku will be a two-night event. The first event takes place on May 3 and wraps up the following night. You can check out the event’s official poster below:

    Wrestling Dontaku 2018

  • New Japan Cup Night Eight Results: Who is Going to The Finals?

    New Japan Cup Night Eight Results: Who is Going to The Finals?

    We now know who will be in the finals of the New Japan Cup.

    Night seven saw Hiroshi Tanahashi emerge victorious over Juice Robinson to advance to the finals on March 21. The question going into night eight was, who will join “The Ace?” SANADA and Zack Sabre Jr. did battle earlier today to answer that question.

    Plus, there was a slew of undercard matches that took place. Notable stars such as IWGP Heavyweight champion Kazuchika Okada, Tetsuya Naito, Tanahashi, Kota Ibushi, and many more were in action. Peep the full results below and find out who is going to the New Japan Cup finals:

    Singles Match: Shota Umino def. Ren Narita

    Six-Man Tag Team Match: Bad Luck Fale, Tanga Loa, & Yujiro Takahashi def. Togi Makabe, Toa Henare, & Tomoyuki Oka

    Tag Team Match: Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano def. Taichi & Takashi Iizuka

    Tag Team Match: Michael Elgin & Juice Robinson def. Kota Ibushi & Chase Owens

    Tag Team Match: Killer Elite Squad def. Hiroki Goto & Yoshi-Hashi

    Six-Man Tag Team Match: Tetsuya Naito, Hiromu Takahashi, & Bushi def. Minoru Suzuki, Yoshinobu Kanemaru, & El Desperado

    Tag Team Match: Hiroshi Tanahashi & David Finlay vs. Kazuchika Okada & Chuckie T.

    New Japan Cup Semi-Finals Match: Zack Sabre Jr. def. SANADA