YouTube user, “ImSamCook”, has posted a video claiming to be “former best friends” with Enzo Amore’s accuser. Enzo’s accuser does appear in some of imSamCook’s earlier videos but it is not clear what their relationship is.
In the video, he claims to have gone on her phone and obtained text messages from Enzo’s accuser. He then runs down the timeline of events as he knows them.
Enzo Amore was suspended shortly after the story came out and was later released yesterday. There has been some speculation that his release was given due to failing to inform WWE of the investigation but that has not been confirmed.
Cage recently participated in the last set of Impact Wrestling tapings and keeps a regular independent schedule as well. He is expected to be a part of Lucha Underground’s Season 4, as is Santos. Cage was a prospect in WWE’s system from 2008-09 but was released. He got a lot of attention in PWG afterward.
Santos’ wrestling career started in 2012 with Women of Wrestling but has since caught on as the popular ring announcer for Lucha Underground.
Prior to debuting in WWE at the Money in the Bank PPV last year, Bennet and Maria had been a popular act in Ring of Honor and NJPW. They had a brief run in Impact Wrestling in 2016-2017 before signing with WWE last spring/summer.
Many have responded poorly to their gimmick of a love-struck couple. Since their debut, Mike has come out as having had a painkiller addiction (for which he is now sober), and Maria is approximately 6 months pregnant.
There are still a lot of unfilled slots for both the men’s and women’s Royal Rumble matches on Sunday. Let’s take a look at the confirmed participants for each match.
Ms. Money in the Bank, Carmella, is disputing Asuka’s claim to an undefeated streak. Carmella won a battle royal on July 1st, 2016 which Asuka was also in.
I’m just gonna leave this here… I have a history of winning battle royals AND a history of defeating Asuka…. ? this week I will make history again, TWICE!! ?? pic.twitter.com/NbfqjQmoxK
Asuka and Carmella will both be in the 1st ever women’s Royal Rumble match on Sunday. Their teams face each other in the MMC Challenge tonight.
Asuka and Goldberg’s Undefeated Streak
To be completely accurate, Asuka also wrestled in multiple fatal 4-way matches on NXT house shows in 2016 that she didn’t win either. She was never pinned or submitted, however, and has never lost a singles match.
A little-known fact regarding Goldberg’s undefeated streak is that he actually lost a non-televised match to a wrestler named Chad Fortune on July 24th, 1997. The story goes WCW wanted to see how he would react to being asked to lose.
A recent article in Variety is stating Fox, Amazon, and Facebook are all vying for the rights to broadcast Raw or Smackdown. WWE’s contract with the USA Network ends in 2019. The increased interest in their product should give WWE more leverage in upcoming negotiations with USA and other potential suitors.
“We are incredibly happy with our partnership with USA,” Stephanie McMahon said, “In terms of what the future might hold, I guess we’ll see, but we’ve been very, very happy and I hope NBC is happy as well.”
Will WWE Leave the USA Network?
In terms of Raw or Smackdown ending up being a WWE Network exclusive, Stephanie seemed hesitant to say the company would consider going that route:
“We leverage a content ecosystem, so at the moment, it is absolutely relevant and necessary to have [our content] on linear platforms,” she says. “It is still reaching a broad audience and it’s still our most profitable line of business. One piece doesn’t work without the other. Ultimately, would ‘Raw’ and ‘SmackDown’ go to the WWE Network? Maybe. But that’s certainly not where we are now.”
There are also continued rumors that Fox (or another company) are interested in buying WWE outright. In the wake of the $4 billion UFC sale last year, anything is possible.
Three matches have been announced for Smackdown tonight. The show will emanate from the Capital One Arena in Washington DC.
The new United States champion, Bobby Roode, will team with New Day to take on Jinder Mahal and Rusev Day. Roode defeated Jinder in the finals of the United States championship tournament last week.
Naomi Will face Liv Morgan in singles action. This match should also build towards the first women’s Royal rumble match on Sunday.
Also in one-on-one action tonight Chad Gable will be “in the match” against Jey Uso. On January 14th, Jey was arrested for DUI. WWE released the following statement shortly after.
“Joshua Fatu is responsible for his own personal actions. We are investigating the matter and awaiting information from local law enforcement officials.”
Confirmed Matches for Smackdown:
Jinder Mahal & Rusev Day vs. Bobby Roode & New Day
“Very had sitting at home and not being at #Raw25 with all my friends but really enjoyed seeing it all. My how great the show was HH”
Hulk Hogan and WWE’s Relationship
Last week, Hogan gave an interview to the Associated Press and spoke about how being black-balled from WWE has impacted him. Hogan and WWE parted ways 3 years ago after audio recordings of Hogan using racially insensitive language were leaked in the media.
“I don’t know if (WWE) want me back,” Hogan admitted in the interview. “I think the fans want me back. I think that I’m part of that company from the ground up. Triple H I know is a huge fan of the guys that gave their blood, sweat and tears and their personal life to make this happen,”
WWE responded to the article stating they were committed to their decision to distance themselves from Hogan.
“AT THIS TIME, WWE REMAINS COMMITTED TO ITS DECISION.”
WWE ran two 205 Live house shows over the weekend. The 1st show in Lowell is estimated to have drawn 1000 fans. On Sunday, the tour was in Poughkeepsie where attendance was said to have been nearly at capacity.
Looks like it did end up filling in better for #205Live in Lowell. Still can't imagine pushing Hardy Vs Wyatt on this show though. pic.twitter.com/os6jQsUoxi
ECIII was recently spotted at the WWE Performance Center.
Matt Hardy Q and A
Hardy also took part in a live Q and A session with fans on Facebook Live over the weekend. In addition to answering other questions, Hardy commented that he does not believe we have seen the last of the Undertaker.
According to Matt, the Undertaker has been around for nearly 4000 years:
“The Undertaker is one of the oldest souls in existence. I get chills speaking of him. He has been around for nearly 4,000 years. He was in the most powerful vessel ever when he was known as the Man of Dead, The Deadman. Yes, Undertaker — I have a very strong suspicion we have not seen the last of him. I have an enormous amount of respect for The Deadman. He is possibly the most magical Superstar in the history of World Wrestling Entertainment, the history of the WWE.”
Sasha Banks was recently interviewed by SkySports. The always out-spoken Banks had plenty to say regarding where she feels WWE should be headed with their women’s divisions.
Banks has played a key role in WWE’s “women’s revolution/evolution”. She was in the 1st ever women’s match to main event a PPV and wrestled in the 1st women’s match in Abu Dhabi. Banks will also be involved in the 1st ever women’s Royal Rumble match on Sunday.
According to her, the next step for WWE is women’s tag-team titles.
Sasha Banks on WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships
“I would love that,” Banks told Sky Sports. “I think we have enough women on the roster now to actually have a women’s tag division.
“We’ve been given multiple storylines but at the same time, it’s very hard to accomplish something if you’re not actually fighting for anything. Only one woman can go after the women’s championship and I think if we had tag team championships we’d be able to create way more interesting storylines.”
“We have tag matches all the time, every single week, so I say why not get a championship involved in that?”
Banks also referred to herself as “the greatest women’s wrestler ever” during the interview, something she did 2 days earlier in an interview with TalkSport.
Reporters recently caught up with current Raw Women’s champion, Alexa Bliss, and asked her about possibly facing former UFC bantamweight champion, Ronda Rousey.
Rousey was recently seen having dinner with Triple H, fueling speculation we could see her in a WWE ring sooner rather than later. Rousey and Triple H’s public outing may have also been away for the company to draw attention to the upcoming 1st ever women’s Royal Rumble match and Rousey’s potential inclusion in it.
Alexa Bliss Comments on Ronda Rousey
When reporters asked Bliss if she was worried about Rousey taking her title, Bliss brushed off the question.
“Please I’m a fighting champion, I’m not worried about anyone taking this belt” – Alexa Bliss
Bliss was also asked about the possibility of Rousey appearing in the upcoming Royal Rumble and replied, “I think it’s a monumental moment in women’s history and if any woman wants to get involved, I think that’s awesome”.
Asked if Bliss had a message for Rousey, Bliss simply replied “Good Luck”.
Tetsuya Naito has twice competed for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship in the Tokyo Dome but has lost both matches to Kazuchika Okada. Although he did defeat Okada for the title in 2016, he would lose it back to him on only his 2nd title defense.
Naito was recently announced as Tokyo Sports’ MVP for 2017, the 2nd straight year he has won the award. During his acceptance speech, Naito claimed he is bigger than the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. NJPW1972.com translated his comments below.
Tetsuya Naito Acceptance Speech Transcribed
‘Representing New Japan Pro Wrestling and Los Ingobernables De Japon, your Tokyo Sports MVP is Tetsuya Naito. I’d like to thank the Tokyo Sports editorial board for naming me MVP. A lot of people saw me and Los Ingobernables De Japon as a flash in the pan, that just as quickly as we got popular, it’d all be over. Yet here I am, only the fifth in history to win this award two years straight. And I did this in a year where the IWGP champion held his belt from start to finish. What that means is that I exist on another plane. It means that Tetsuya Naito is bigger than the IWGP Championship. That’s not arrogance talking; that’s something that I’ve proven to everyone.”
Naito was attacked by Chris Jericho on the New Years Dash show the night after WrestleKingdom. It is believed the two will wrestle each other sometime in the near future, possibly on the NJPW in Long Beach show on March 25th.
Shawn Michaels was recently interviewed by the Daily Mirror UK and commented on the once rumored match-up between he and AJ Styles.
When asked about the possible dream-match, here is what HBK had to say,
“There was talk about it possibly happening at WrestleMania. I think he’s an unbelievably talented young man. I wish I was 10 to 15 years younger because there are so many great guys. But it’s very important to me, I wouldn’t have retired unless I was ready to walk away. I’m flattered that every year when WrestleMania comes up people talk about me coming back, but I enjoy my time with my family, I enjoy watching WrestleMania and I also enjoy watching WWE move into the future.”
Shawn Michaels Retirement
Speaking on the importance of staying retired, Michaels had this to say:
“It’s very important that continues to happen and the only way for it to do so is for some of us in a dignified way to walk away. Much as it would be interesting to be in there with some of those young men, it’s their time now and I think it’s important that we focus on them and the future of the WWE.”
It doesn’t look as though we will see HBK wrestle anymore but that isn’t to say he doesn’t think about who he would like to face. Speaking on the current roster, HBK mentioned a few guys he would like to face in the ring:
“There is just a litany of guys. I can go from Braun Strowman to Finn Balor and then you think about all the different guys between.”
Impact Wrestling star Alberto El Patron appears to be working to rebuild his public image. While promoting a charity event this Saturday with proceeds going to orphaned children in Mexico, Alberto claims to have apologized to Triple H for ‘things he said about him in the past’ and hopes to return to WWE.
The article was in Spanish, a Google Translate version (i.e not perfect) of his comments are below:
“I apologized to Triple H for the issues we were in when I was with the relationship with my ex-partner. She and her entire family made me believe that those who affected our relationship were them, specifically him. She made me believe that the videos (compromising of the fighter) and all that was outside was by Triple H and the company. Surely before I retire I will do something special with them.”
Alberto said some pretty horrendous things about Triple H less than a year ago when he was dating WWE Superstar Paige. In a Periscope (or in this case, Perro-scope?) video that is still online, Alberto got deeply personal with his insults towards WWE’s COO:
“Triple H, you are a f**** p*ssy, and I don’t have to be drunk to say this, you’re a p*ssy. You just married well, that’s all you did. You married well and you’re a p*ssy.”
He continued, “Come to La Cantanita and I’ll say it again. I don’t have to be drunk or sober. You’ve got a big nose and no balls.”
Alberto El Patron in AAA
LuchaBlog.com also translated a recent Spanish language interview with AAA officials who indicated talks between the promotion and Alberto are ongoing. The article mentions it is likely Alberto returns to AAA.
Last night Triple H, Stephanie McMahon, and the New Day competed in a lip sync battle on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.
The competition started with New Day singing “Motownphilly” by Boyz II Men. Jimmy Fallon went with “Billy Don’t You Lose My Number” by Phil Collins. As for Stephanie and Triple H, they ended up singing “How Far I’ll Go” from the Moana soundtrack, even though Triple H had wanted “Seek and Destroy” by Metallica. He got into it by the end, though.
Check out the video below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsSxRElRe1I
New Day on Smackdown Live!
New Day has fallen out of the tag-team title picture recently on Smackdown. For the last few weeks, the trio has been focussing on Xavier Woods’ inclusion in the U.S title tournament. Woods was recently eliminated in the semi-finals by Jinder Mahal.
Scott Hall was Sean Waltman’s most recent guest on his 12360 podcast and made some surprising comments about possibly wrestling on the RAW 25th anniversary special next week.
Scott Hall on Wrestling on RAW 25
Hall mentioned to Waltman that someone from the WWE office texted him and told him to bring his ring gear to the show.
“I just got a text from the office that said, ‘Please bring your ring gear.’ I said, ‘Are you ribbing me? You’re going to tell me like three or four days in advance, ya know?’ Give me a little notice and for the right money, I’ll have abs showing. I said, ‘Now, how about I bring what I wear to appearances?’ I’ve got gimmick street clothes. But I think we’re going to have a rematch, so I’m just giving you a heads up. I think it’s about time I went over.”
Scott Hall and Waltman shared a famous RAW moment in 1993 when Waltman scored an unlikely upset win over Razor Ramon. Wrestling as the 123 Kid, Waltman was used as enhancement talent at the time and his victory over Ramon helped establish RAW as a show where anything could happen.
Last week, the Wrestling Observer Newsletter reported that 20-year WWE veteran has retired. The Olympic powerlifter addressed that report head-on in a new interview published by Sports Illustrated.
Mark Henry Responds to Retirement Rumor
The former Olympic powerlifter and World Heavyweight Champion told Justin Barrasso that the reports about his in-ring career being over are simply not true.
“I’m not retired. There is still a lot I can do.”
He did indicate, however, that at 47 years of age and with 2 kids, he is looking to spend more time at home and less on the road. “I love the WWE, I love the company, but I have two kids and they want me home,” said Henry.
“They want me to see their recitals and sporting events, and I want to see them grow and evolve. My dad didn’t live with me when I was growing up, and he missed so much. I am not going to repeat that.”
Mark Henry will appear at Monday’s RAW 25th Anniversary special.
Joe Anoa’i (Roman Reigns) has issued a statement regarding recent allegations made against him by Miami gym owner, Richard Rodriguez.
Rodriguez was arrested last February as part of a $10 million steroid distribution ring. Under the name Wellness Fitness Nutrition, Rodriguez is alleged to have distributed steroids to several celebrity clients, one of whom he claims is Roman Reigns. Rodriguez made the allegations last week in a YouTube post.
Roman Reigns’ Statement
Reigns issued the following statement to ESPN yesterday on the matter:
“I have never heard of Richard Rodriguez or Wellness Fitness Nutrition. I learned from the mistake I made nearly two years ago and paid the penalty for it. Since then, I’ve passed 11 tests as part of WWE’s independent drug testing program.”
Reigns had been suspended for 30 days in June of 2016 for failing a Wellness Policy drug test.
New Japan Pro-Wrestling’s President, Takaaki Kidani, recently sat down with Tokyo Sports to talk about his promotion’s Wrestle Kingdom 12 event.
During the interview, Kidani stated he is looking to work with more performers who, like Chris Jericho, have a history with WWE.
Takaaki Kidani to Tokyo Sports
“I will be able to pay more (fight money), and I also want more players involved with WWE to appear. I will do it until I say ‘Let’s get along’ from the other side. It has not become an adversarial relationship yet. It is also important to build a foundation in the United States.” Kidani told Tokyo Sports (via Google Translate).
As New Japan looks to continue its expansion in the United States, utilizing current and former WWE talent could be a piece of the puzzle to attract American fans. New Japan’s partnership with Ring of Honor makes NJPW/ROH a viable alternative for disgruntled WWE Superstars looking to ply their trade in a different environment.
Discussion: If you’re New Japan, which WWE Superstars are you (realistically) looking to sign?
Rusev & Lana are 1 of 6 teams that have been announced thus far for WWE’s upcoming Mixed Match Challenge tournament. The show is to debut on Facebook Live on January 16th, 2018 after Smackdown.
In preparation for the tournament, Rusev & Aiden English are helping Lana develop her wrestling skills.
James Ellsworth recently conducted an interview with Rolling Stone magazine. The always-positive 33-year-old, spoke highly of his time in WWE and his future in professional wrestling.
James Ellsworth Interview Highlights
On his time in WWE:
“I feel like I understand the business, and when I signed, I said I’m going to enjoy every moment. I was hoping and praying it was going to be five or 10 years, but I was like, “This is probably going to have a short shelf life, so I’m going to do the best I can to stay here as long as I can.” But I felt I was looked at as short shelf life from the beginning, which I’m not bitter about.
The whole thing’s bittersweet. I appreciate every opportunity WWE gave me. That’s the sweet part. The bitter part is I just don’t feel like I finished. Maybe I just didn’t finish now. Maybe I’ll finish there later, but I don’t think it was time to go. But it’s up to them, and they’re the ones who have taken this industry and made it into a global phenomenon, so they know more than I do I would imagine.”
On Rumors of Vince wanting to give him a transgender gimmick:
“All I can say is Vince never talked to me about it. If that was an idea, I surely didn’t know, and Vince and I never had a conversation about it, so I have no idea. [Laughs] Being in WWE, I can tell you a lot of the dirt sheets is just people guessing. I’m not saying that was, but it’s people guessing and hoping they’re right, and it gives their dirt sheet a reason to pay attention to it I guess.”
The full interview with Rolling Stone can be read here.
Daniel Bryan has been pulled from a promotional appearance he was to make this weekend.
The Smackdown General Manager will no longer be appearing at this weekend’s “World of Wheels” convention in Chattanooga, TN. As Bryan is normally not scheduled for house shows, he is free to make such appearances on behalf of WWE.
Daniel Bryan Appearance Cancelled
No reason has been given for Bryan’s cancellation. The convention only noted he will not be appearing due to reasons outside their control. Bryan has previously appeared at “World of Wheels” conventions in the past.
One fan documented his experience at a World of Wheels convention where he was able to meet Bryan.
It was a big night on Impact Wrestling last night. 5 new matches aired, 4 of which were for championships and the other was a career vs career match.
A new X-Division champion was crowned on Impact Wrestling last night. Taiji Ishimori defeated Trevor Lee to win the title. New tag-team champions were also crowned. Full results are below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCOLA0CvZxA
Impact Wrestling Results, January 4th, 2018
Taijji Ishimori defeated Trevor Lee (c) (wins X-Division Championship)
Ethan Carter III defeated Matt Sydal and Fallah Bahh (retains Grand Championship)
Dan Lambert defeated James Storm (Career vs. Career Match)
Eli Drake defeated Alberto El Patron (retains Global Championship)
