WWE Superstar and former UFC Heavyweight Champion Cain Velasquez has reportedly been released by WWE. This according to Dave Meltzer on the latest episode of Wrestling Observer Radio. Velasquez has not been used on WWE programming since the Crown Jewel show in Saudi Arabia. That was back in October of 2019.

Cain Velasquez Cut

The former UFC Heavyweight Champion was reportedly released by the company as part of the recent budget cuts. WWE had signed Cain Velasquez to a multi-year deal however these contracts allow the company to release or cut talent at any time. Velasquez joins the recently released likes of Heath Slater, Zack Ryder, Kurt Angle and Rusev.

Meltzer noted during the episode of WON that AAA may be looking to bring Velasquez back into the fold as he was a short term success there before joining WWE. There had been interest from All Elite Wrestling before Cain signed with WWE, so he may be looking to leverage that to get a deal with the Jacksonville based promotion.

Although at this time it is unlikely that AEW will be looking to bring in too many talents. With of course live event and merchandising numbers being hit due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The full list of on-air and NXT talents cut now stands as follows:

• Drake Maverick
• Curt Hawkins
• Karl Anderson
• Luke Gallows
• Heath Slater
• Eric Young
• EC3
• Lio Rush
• Erick Rowan
• Sarah Logan
• Referee Mike Chioda
• Erick Rowan
• Primo
• Epico
• Mike Kanellis
• Maria Kanellis
• Zack Ryder
• No Way Jose
• Rusev
• Cain Velasquez
• Deonna Purrazzo
• Aleksandar Jaksic
• MJ Jenkins
• Nick Ogarelli
• Taynara Conti
• Dan Matha
• Cezar Bononi
• Mars Wang
• Tino Sabbatelli
• Mohamed Fahim
• Marcos Gomes
• Faisal Kurdi
• Edgar Lopez
• Hussain Aldagal
• Yifeng
• Kassius Ohno

Also Check Out:

• Heath Slater Talks About His Future After WWE Release
• Gerald Brisco Released By WWE
• Luke Gallows Applies To Trademark “Sex Ferguson”

UFC fighter Colby “Chaos” Covington recently appeared on an episode of SiriusXM’s Busted Open Radio. The 15-2 American Top Team affiliated fighter would appear on the show to express his want to move into the world of professional wrestling, specifically WWE.

Covington’s last MMA fight took place in December 2019, where he took a TKO loss against Kamaru Usman. That bout was for the UFC’s Welterweight Division title, and since the loss Covington has gone public with his want to leave the octagon and enter the squared circle. Colby Covington recently told SB Nation’s “What the Heck” show; “Not this summer, but next summer (2021). I’ve been practising [pro wrestling] moves and really working on my promo and mic skills. Also control and slowing things down and understanding the art of wrestling.”

Drew vs Brock

“Mark [Henry] it’s funny you bring up the name Drew McIntyre, you know?” Colby Covington began on Busted Open. “He’s a guy that’s coming out, he’s a big, powerful guy. He reinvented himself. He beat Brock Lesnar, that’s no joke.”

Top of The Mountain

Covington would go on to say that if he wants to enter WWE then he needs to be aiming for the top of the mountain; that being the WWE Championship. “Maybe, Brock [Lesnar] was overlooking him? Although that’s kind of weird because Drew McIntyre is almost seven foot tall (laughs). I’m getting to the top of the mountain, I’m trying to fight Drew McIntyre. That’s where the view is the best.”

Colby Covington vs Drew McIntyre

‘Chaos’ would elaborate further, saying “I’m not looking to pick on someone smaller than me, and guys? Let’s be honest. WWE may not want this because of the violence and it being too dangerous. The last time I checked? People love danger and violence so let’s give it to them. Because I expressed myself by saying that I want to go to WWE to wrestle. BUT, it sounds like Drew McIntyre expressed himself like he wants to FIGHT. If WWE does not want to sanction this? [Then] I recommend, we can do it in a ‘no sanctioned’ country. Maybe we do it in the UK? Maybe we do it in Saudi Arabia? But I think there needs to be a fight between me and Drew McIntyre, you know? David versus Goliath.”

There have been a number of ‘shoot’ fighters coming into the WWE over the past few decades, with arguably the most successful coming from amateur wrestling backgrounds, namely Kurt Angle and Brock Lesnar. Covington himself has a solid collegiate wrestling resume, and with that he brings an ability to promote/market his fights that could be a boon for WWE.

Do you think that Colby Covington could be successful in WWE? Let us know in the comments

Also Check Out:

• Heath Slater Talks About His Future After WWE Release
• Samoa Joe Returns On WWE RAW
• Gerald Brisco Released By WWE

WWE Hall of Famer and co-host of Busted Open Radio Bully Ray recently commented on the ongoing ’empty arena’ shows that AEW and WWE have been producing. These have obviously been a necessity, due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic that is affecting the entire globe.

Bully Ray mentioned the flagging ratings for both shows, with RAW recently hitting below 2 million viewers, something that would be unheard of even just five years ago. Ray would offer his own solution to the problem, saying that WWE needs to create more of an ‘ambience’ for the shows. Bully Ray’s solution? Bring back Stone Cold Steve Austin and Vince McMahon to do WWE commentary.

Bully Ray on WWE Commentary

“All right, this is gonna sound crazy. If somebody said to me, ‘who should be on WWE commentary every week right now?’ Considering the times that we’re in, considering what needs to be done? You know who I would put a commentary? Vince McMahon and Steve Austin” Bully Ray began on Busted Open. “Would you tune in just for the commentary? Of course you would.”

Bully Ray would elaborate further, saying how he believes Austin and McMahon would be hugely beneficial to the talent in-ring. “Do you think Vince McMahon and Steve Austin could get the talent in the ring over? Yes. Now, is there a chance that you’re going to be more invested in Steve Austin and Vince McMahon than you are the talent on the ring. Yeah, but you got to do everything you possibly can do to keep a rating right now.”

Credability

Bully Ray would finish by discussing the credibility that Austin and McMahon could bring to the talent on screen. “Vince McMahon has been one of the best people behind that announce desk ever Right? Because he’s getting across the stories that he wanted to tell. So if you put the greatest rivalry in the history of wrestling behind behind the announce table, holy crap what the hell are these two guys gonna say to each other? And when the time is right they bicker, and when the time’s right they lay out and tell stories. ‘Well you know these New Day guys they’re really good you know they’re sitting on 8 Tag Team Championships, only a matter of time before they break the record.’ Holy sh*t Steve Austin just put over the New Day!? Instant frickin’ credibility.”

Do you feel that WWE need to change up the commentary booth to bring some more life to the broadcasts? Let us know in the comments

Also Check Out:

• Vince McMahon Comments On Talent Morale Amid Coronavirus Outbreak
• Vince McMahon Provides Update On Status Of Next Saudi Arabia Show Amid Coronavirus
• AEW Dynamite Overtakes NXT In Viewership, NXT Cracks Top 150

Former Executive Director of WWE’s SmackDown brand Eric Bischoff recently discussed AEW and what he feels they need to improve. Whilst Bischoff was very clear in that the company have a lot of positives, he believes that more “storylines” and removing the “sameness” of some of the roster could help them exponentially going forward as a brand.

Eric Bischoff on AEW Overall

“I think they’re doing a lot of things well” Bischoff began on this week’s episode of After 83 Weeks w/ Christy Olson. “I know it’s gonna sound like a criticism I guess. I’m gonna try to make sure it doesn’t. When I look at my Twitter feed? When I read it, it’s like, people think I’m anti AEW!? I’m not at all. I mean I have a lot of friends there. And, people who I have a lot of respect for, who I may not be friends with them because I don’t really know them. But I know OF them and have a tonne of respect for them, so I’m pulling for them.”

Leveraging Social Media

Eric Bischoff would then go on to praise how the company has leveraged social media, from Being The Elite all the way to getting a slot on the TNT Network. “They’ve certainly captured the imagination. They’ve certainly figured out a way to build their brand and [have] brought/build awareness on social media. To YouTube in particular. [They have] converted that to a live event phenomenon, that they were able to convert to a television opportunity. By the way, that’s a lot to be proud of. And that’s a lot of doing sh*t right right there.”

Making Improvements

Bischoff would then move into how the company could improve, discussing the aforementioned ‘storylines’. “In terms of what I think they could do perhaps differently? Again I’m gonna qualify this because this is what I like. What I’m about to suggest, this is what appeals to me as a 65 year old guy who’s been in the business for over 30 years. Which is not the same thing that necessarily appeals to a 25 to 49 year old, or 18 to 34 year old, or 18 to 39 year old audience. So just because it appeals to me? Doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s the right way to go.”

Emphasis on Story – Eric Bischoff

‘Easy E’ elaborated further, saying “I really do believe that they need more emphasis on story. I know they have stories, I’m not suggesting that they don’t. Please don’t misunderstand me, that’s not what I mean. But what I do mean is, I think the storytelling? Could be vastly improved. I think the character development could really be improved. Not AS much as the storytelling, because they’ve got some great characters. But I do believe that the characters could be developed to be a little bit more unique. To be a little more different from each other. There’s a ‘sameness’ to the characters. It’s just the way I see things, in the way I interpret things.”

WWE Also Being “Guilty of This”

Eric Bischoff would finish by pointing out that it isn’t just AEW who could improve on their storytelling. “For the most part? This is across the board, not just AEW. WWE is probably more guilty than AEW. I think the story, the emphasis on storytelling, has been abandoned for the most part. There’s a story there, yes technically, and I know that they try hard to try to create story. But in my opinion? The storytelling in WWE is no better.”

Do you think that AEW need to improve the way that they tell stories on television? Let us know in the comments

Also Check Out:

• AEW Dynamite Overtakes NXT In Viewership, NXT Cracks Top 150
• Dustin Rhodes Opens Up On Relationship With Cody
• The Young Bucks Believe Chris Jericho Is AEW’s Version Of Hulk…

The EVP of Global Talent Strategy & Development for WWE Triple H recently appeared on Corey Graves’ After The Bell podcast this week. ‘The Game’ discussed a number of subjects from his near 25 year career, including the filming and logistics of WrestleMania 36 that took place earlier this month.

This year’s WrestleMania is unlike any that fans have ever seen and hopefully the worldwide pandemic will have cleared by WrestleMania 37 next year. This year’s iteration of the biggest show in WWE’s calendar also took place over 2 nights, unprecedented in the event’s history.

Many fans and those in the industry would applaud the concept, with previous shows lasting nearly 8 hours including the pre-show. One of the bigger names that agrees with the two night concept? Triple H.

Triple H on a Two-Night Event

“Well, I mean my opinion is my opinion, but I think it was much more enjoyable than the eight hour extravaganza” Triple H began on the episode. “It’s just become so big that it’s almost when you think about it; it started out as a concert that ended up being a festival.”

Concert To Festival

The Cerebral Assassin would elaborate further, saying “it’s this week long thing you know? When you think about it in that manner. Now the Thursday would have been the Hall of Fame, Friday was Smackdown, Saturday was going to be NXT Takeover. Sunday would have been WrestleMania, Monday would have been RAW.”

With Chaos Comes The Genius

Triple H would then confirm that he much preferred the two-night concept for the actual WrestleMania event itself. “Like, it’s a week long festival and I think that the big main-stage attraction needs to be those two nights and it’d be this weekend of events. I do think that’s probably a change that; with chaos comes the genius and maybe that is the genius of it. I know there’s been people saying that for a period of time, but that’s a major shift and that doesn’t come easy. I think people in the world look at stuff like that and think ‘why can’t they just make it two nights?'”

Hunter would sarcastically finish by saying “yeah, because it’s really easy to!”

Do you think that WrestleMania should be a 2-night event going forward? Let us know in the comments

Also Check Out:

• TD Garden Claims WWE SummerSlam Still Going Forward As Scheduled
• Jim Cornette: WWE Classifying Talent As Independent Contractors is “F*cking Idiocy”
• WWE Issues Statement On Rob Gronkowski’s NFL Return

Former WWE on-air personality and backstage producer Jim Cornette recently made comments on the ‘independent contractor’ status in WWE. It is a conversation that has been going on for years; WWE hires wrestlers/on-air talent on an ‘independent contractor’ status which means that they do not get the same sort of benefits as a full-time employee.

This has been a point of contention for a long time, as WWE seemingly controls a lot of what their talent can and can’t do, thus seemingly nullifying the idea of the talent being ‘independent.’

Jim Cornette on Contracts In Wrestling

“F*cking contracts in wrestling” Jim Cornette began on this week’s episode of the Drive Thru podcast. “Once you get to the level of involvement with each other where you are working for a company like the WWE or like WCW? You’re an employee.”

Interestingly, Cornette would then state that AEW, a company that he has quite a few issues with, actually should be classing their performers as ‘independent contractors.’ “Now All Elite Wrestling? They run one day a week and then a pay per view every three months or whatever. You can work for other promoters. Anywhere where you legitimately can work for other promoters, or determine what your name is or how you’re presented? You’re an independent contractor.”

Full Time Employees

Jim Cornette continued to rip on WWE, saying “when you work for the f*cking WWE? You are a full time employee, you’re an employee in spandex. AND they’ve conned the government this long. You know, they’ll continue to do so until there’s a [wrestlers] union. And then the first thing that they’ll do is say ‘well this is f*cking ridiculous. We’re gonna call the IRS and talk to somebody important.'”

McMahon and…Trump?

Cornette would then finish by seemingly referencing the President of The United States, indicating how he and McMahon are both liable for crooked dealings.

“I’ve said this before, wrestlers should have always been independent contractors and should be independent contractors,” Cornette stated. “Because that’s the way that wrestling should be run. But if it’s going to be run THIS WWE way? Then the WWE wrestlers not being employees is f*cking idiocy, and it’s against the law. Guess who technically runs the IRS? We haven’t even seen dipsh*ts (Trump?) f*cking tax returns, much less get them to reclassify Vince McMahon and Linda McMahon’s employees but nevertheless. It’s just. It’s insane.”

The idea of a wrestlers union has always been prevalent, and potentially with the issues surrounding the handling of coronavirus by WWE it may be brought back into the fold once again.

Also Check Out:

• Ryback – “I Honestly Think We’re Seeing The Fall of Vince McMahon”
• Arn Anderson On WWE Management Not Liking Cesaro
• WWE Issues Statement On Rob Gronkowski’s NFL Return

Former WWE Superstar Ryback recently made some explosive comments regarding Vince McMahon and his status as the biggest name in sports entertainment. With the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic causing most major sports leagues and brands to cease operations; WWE has continued to tape shows and it has created controversy that has seen WWE in the mainstream news cycle.

It is arguable that last week was potentially one of the worst in Vince McMahon’s career as the CEO of WWE. The XFL went bankrupt, WWE had to offload numerous on-air and backstage personalities on ‘Black Wednesday.’ Legendary Hall of Fame announcer and the first ever WWE employee Howard Finkel tragically passed away, and Oliver Luck, the former XFL Head is suing Vince McMahon for wrongful termination.

Vince McMahon The Businessman

On top of this, there are reports and rumors that WWE may be ‘forcing’ staff to work during the pandemic. This however is not confirmed but we will be following the situation closely.

“Just knowing what I know. Vince [McMahon] as a businessman? He is a very savvy, very cutthroat businessman” Ryback began on his Conversation With The Big Guy podcast. “What he’s been able to achieve? It’s at the expense of human lives and there’s a lot of things wrong with how he treats, specifically the wrestlers and people in general. I don’t even really need to even say anything anymore.”

Ryback “speaking up” for WWE Talent

Ryback would then elaborate further, discussing how fans have thanked him in the past for speaking up for the talent at WWE. “I’ve said my peace time and time again. I get people messaging me saying ‘you’ve told us the truth from the very beginning,’ and now they’re they’re finally seeing it just sit back and let everything play out this way. That’s kind of my take on this. I speak up for the wrestlers and I think karma is playing out.”

Losing Everything “In The Battle”

The ‘Big Guy’ would then reveal that he believes the worst is to come for Vince McMahon. “I honestly think we’re seeing the fall of Vince McMahon” Ryback stated. “He is truly being tested now, and I think he’s going to go down in flames. He’s going to go down swinging. Regardless, I could see him…he’s the type that will lose everything in the battle. And it’s the fact that there, it’s so public this, it’s right in your face what’s going on. And it’s almost like well ‘what do you guys gonna do about it?’ Okay, that’s worked in the past. The coronavirus is the one variable that he can’t control, and all it’s gonna take is one superstar dying, or their family member dying. Or just something, just even superstars getting it [COVID-19]. and it’s going to, it’s going to be a fire that not even Vince McMahon will be able to put out.”

WWE had previously announced that they would be taping live shows going forward on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. This has since been changed and certain shows will be taped to air at a later date. Either way, WWE seems to be playing with fire in this unprecedented situation.

Do you think WWE needs to take a break during the pandemic? Let us know in the comments

Also Check Out:

• WWE Issues Statement On Rob Gronkowski’s NFL Return
• SmackDown Hacker Takes Over Old WWE Account
• New Photos of Money In The Bank Setup Atop WWE Headquarters

Former WWE writer and actor Freddie Prinze Jr recently revealed that he had a ‘run in’ with The Miz during his time in WWE. Although apparently fairly light-hearted, Miz did not appear to be too pleased that Prinze Jr was brought in by WWE to give ‘acting lessons’ to the talent back at the start of last decade. Prinze Jr would discuss the situation and the context during this week’s episode of The New Day: Feel The Power podcast.

Acting Class

“It like 60% and it was mainly like the younger roster that were hyped” Prinze Jr began, discussing the ‘acting classes’ he was instructed by Vince McMahon to give backstage. “40% were like, ‘no chance.’ And I mean it was just they were not having it. The first promo class we did I remember Miz, who was doing his own thing and doing well with Morrison. They had the Dirt Sheet and I think..I don’t know if they had the [tag team] titles yet? But they were kind of doing their thing.”

Improv Technique

Prinze Jr would then go into the ‘improv’ technique to led to the ‘run in’. “We were going to do an exercise called repetition, where you’re locked into whatever I say. It’s like an improv technique. So I’d say to Big E for example ‘that’s the biggest Hawkeye shirt I’ve ever seen!’ And then Big E’s locked into that verbiage, so he goes ‘this is the biggest Hawkeye shirt you’ve ever seen!?’ It goes back and forth. When it’s two guys? That always gets almost physical. And then if it’s a guy and a girl that always gets like sexy right?”

The former WWE writer then got into how the incident with The Miz unfolded. “And so I said ‘who wants to try it?’ And nobody wanted to try it. But The Miz is like ‘I got it.’ And I’m like ‘alright, this guy’s got guts, he’s coming up. He doesn’t know what he’s in for but he’s stepping up.’ I said ‘I’ll start’ and he goes ‘no, no, I’ll start.'”

Freddie Prinze Jr vs The Miz

“And he goes, here’s the actual sentence, he goes: ‘what the hell are you gonna teach me about acting?’ And everybody, like all the energy in the room was gone. Just like you could feel it, and so I looked at him and just kind of cocked my eyes. I said ‘what the hell am I going to teach you about acting?’ Eventually he changed the verbiage which means you lose right? He tapped out. I remember saying this I said ‘look man I know I’m not Robert Downey Jr. But Robert Downey Jr don’t give a damn about you, I do.”

The Miz of course has gone on to have acting stints throughout his career, notably with The Marine series. It is interesting though that he would go right up against someone who Vince McMahon fired specifically to help talent.

Do you think that The Miz was out of line in this incident? Let us know in the comments

Also Check Out:

• The Miz Talks About Wrestling In Front Of Zero Fans
• MVP Praises Recently Released WWE Superstar
• New Day Win WWE SmackDown Tag Team Titles (Video)

Former WCW President Eric Bischoff recently discussed a tumultuous time in his career at the former Turner Broadcasting giant. On this week’s episode of the 83 Weeks podcast, ‘Easy E’ would talk about Spring Stampede 2000, the final iteration of the PPV before WCW folded in 2001.

Bischoff revealed some of the issues that he was facing personally around this time. To put the show into context, the PPV came just under a week after the returning tandem of Vince Russo and Eric Bischoff had vacated every Championship in the company. During the podcast, Eric Bischoff would reveal that he ‘compromised’ when it came to the creative at the time. Bischoff would also discuss how the company was “reacting too much to the internet chatter” and that WCW “were allowing the audience to dictate too much” of the product.

Eric Bischoff on Compromising

“I succumbed, I compromised here” Eric Bischoff would begin. “I think that’s, again. Looking back at the entire situation? I lived it, you know? I went through things that the audience will never know about. When I got done watching this episode and PPV? The thing that I walked away with just me personally, and, you know, 20 minutes after it was over? Was that I compromised.”

Bischoff would then elaborate further, confirming how he felt WCW ‘pandered’ too much to the audience and did not drive the narrative of their own storylines. Specifically, Eric Bischoff was referring to the Millionaire’s Club vs New Blood feud. This feud pitted the younger stars of WCW against the established veterans. Bischoff mentioned numerous times on the podcast how WWF’s attempts at the time to call WCW’s talent pool ‘old’ almost directly led to the creation of the angle to try and change the narrative.

Audience Dictating The Narrative?

“While some of those compromises ended up being pretty good under the circumstances?” Bischoff continued. “Overall, this show was really about compromise. And I knew going in that we were reacting too much to the internet chatter. I knew going into this before this show. I knew, based on the creative direction? That we were allowing the audience to dictate too much to us. And we weren’t taking control of our own product. And don’t get me wrong, I listen to the fans. I was the guy in WCW that wouldn’t sit backstage in [the] gorilla [position].”

Bischoff finished by discussing how he would attempt to get the ‘pulse’ of the fans in attendance. “[I didn’t have] can headsets on and watch a little eight by eight inch monitor. That’s a bullsh*t way of, in my opinion, a ridiculous way of trying to gauge or evaluate an audience’s response to anything.”

Bischoff would go on to discuss the PPV at length during the episode.

AdFreeShows.com

This podcast episode as well as a ton of other content is available now on AdFreeShows.com. AdFreeShows has exclusive content from Grilling Jr, What Happened When (w/ Tony Schiavone), 83 Weeks (w/ Eric Bischoff), ARN and Something To Wrestle with Bruce Prichard.

• Want EVERY episode from ALL 5 of my podcasts, early and ad-free?
• EXCLUSIVE merch from your favorite shows?
• Want BONUS content that you can’t hear anywhere else? 
• Want to CONNECT with other wrestling fans just like you?

AdFreeShows.com is bringing all of it to you, plus tons of other exclusive perks! 

Also Check Out:

• Jim Ross On Rusev Potentially Joining AEW: “He Would Be My Priority”
• Gallows & Anderson Talk WWE Release, Their Next Move
• Jim Ross ‘Shocked’ The XFL Went Bankrupt

AEW broadcaster and Senior Advisor Jim Ross discussed the XFL going into bankruptcy on a recent episode of his Ross Report podcast.

The rebooted league was Vince McMahon’s second attempt to establish an ‘alternative’ to the National Football League (NFL) and bring high-level football to fans during the traditional off-season.

JR has said in the past how much Vince McMahon invested into the original XFL concept, both financially and emotionally. Even after the league folded back in 2001 after just one season, McMahon hinted that he would give it another shot one day.

“I had the first meeting with Vince after the XFL went belly-up [in 2001]” Jim Ross said on an older episode of Grilling JR. “I talked with [McMahon’s personal assistant] Beth Zazza, ‘Is the boss gonna want to meet today?’ She said, ‘Oh yeah, yeah. He’s fine.’ He [Vince] just lost $50 million, I think it was, something like that. I said basically the same thing. ‘What could we have done differently?’ Vince said, ‘Not a god damn thing, JR. The way it was laid out? We did the best we could with what we had, but I wouldn’t change a thing. It was a calculated risk. And I would do it all over again. Because I believe in the concept.’”

XFL 2.0

It appeared as though this second attempt was at least on course to be viable. The games had been met with generally positive reviews and the quality of the football on show was solid.

The issue with this iteration of course stemmed from the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, which has seen the majority of sports leagues cancel or postpone their seasons. The NFL, NBA, MLB and MLS have all stopped play, and the XFL had to follow suit. The big issue for the XFL, unlike these other leagues, is that due to its infancy it was operating on a loss.

McMahon was hoping to get strong television rights following the initial success of the opening part of this season, but without the potential revenue coming in from networks? The brand was doomed to fail for a second time, albeit due to matters outside his control.

JR On The XFL Folding (Again)

When asked about the XFL filing for bankruptcy earlier this month, Ross admitted he was “a little bit shocked” by the news.

“I can see suspending play, much like the NFL has and other leagues,” he said on a Patreon Exclusive episode of Grilling JR. “MLB so forth and the NBA Playoffs. All these things that are being suspended based on, ‘Are we going to be able to proceed at some point in time, sooner than later?’ And of course we don’t know that. I think it’s absurd for [government] officials to talk about May 1st or June 1st. They’re just bullsh*tting us. Yeah, come on. They don’t know, right?”

Do you think that the XFL had a chance to succeed if not for the pandemic? Let us know in the comments

AdFreeShows.com

This podcast episode as well as a ton of other content is available now on AdFreeShows.com. AdFreeShows has exclusive content from Grilling Jr, What Happened When (w/ Tony Schiavone), 83 Weeks (w/ Eric Bischoff), ARN and Something To Wrestle with Bruce Prichard.

• Want EVERY episode from ALL 5 of my podcasts, early and ad-free?
• EXCLUSIVE merch from your favorite shows?
• Want BONUS content that you can’t hear anywhere else? 
• Want to CONNECT with other wrestling fans just like you?

AdFreeShows.com is bringing all of it to you, plus tons of other exclusive perks! 

Also Check Out:

• WWE Filmed Money In The Bank Footage on the Roof of Corporate Headquarters
• John Morrison Comments on Backstage Morale in WWE
• Tommy Dreamer on Recent WWE Releases: “You Can’t Hate Vince McMahon”

AEW commentator and WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross recently discussed the firing of WWE talent this past Wednesday. The company released and furloughed a number of on-air and backstage personnel, due to the economic climate and ongoing uncertainty regarding the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.

In a Patreon Exclusive episode of Grilling Jr, Jim Ross would specifically make some intriguing comments on one released WWE Superstar in particular, Kurt Angle. Interestingly, Ross would discuss the potential of bringing in Angle to wrestle for AEW, even after his retirement from in-ring action last year at WrestleMania.

Jim Ross on Kurt Angle

“I know he wasn’t being used a lot” Jim Ross began, discussing the Olympic gold medallist. “There’s always some trepidation about Kurt’s health. He has had a lot of injuries. And you don’t want to get a guy [that’s] pushing beyond the pale. Look, Kurt’s also got a young family, he’s got several kids, you know? He’s got to find work. There’s a million things Kurt can do, no doubt. But he may have to get out of the day to day pro wrestling business to accomplish that.”

“his age and his injury situation may be a little bit prohibitive”

Jim Ross

Comparisons To Tom Brady

Jim Ross would elaborate further, discussing the quality that Angle could bring to the table in a number of industries. “He’s a great talker. He’s a hell of a personality, you know? He’s got acting chops, he’s got talent. But his age and his injury situation may be a little bit prohibitive. Now, he’s one of the greatest talents I’ve ever seen. He was a great signing for us [then WWF] when we signed him, he adapted. He took Dory Funk Jr’s coaching and Tom Prichard’s coaching very very well.”

Ross continued, comparing Kurt Angle to legendary NFL quarterback Tom Brady.

“He is a monster athlete,” JR said of Kurt Angle. “But again, he’s like Tom Brady, he was at one time considered the greatest in the game. But at 42 for Brady? How’s Brady gonna play this year at that age? We’ll wait and see if he plays this year, If anybody plays [football] this year.”

JR – Short Run in AEW?

JR would finish by fantasy booking Angle for a short run in-ring at AEW. “Just fantasy booking here. This will make the internet for clickbait, because that’s what goes through their head. No creativity, and they’re little wh*res.” (Author’s note: Love you too, Jim!)

“Theoretically, if he’s cleared physically, and I don’t know that he would be. But if he was cleared physically? He may be a guy that you can bring in for a program against a guy like [AEW Champion Jon] Moxley. The matches between Moxley and Angle if Kurt is healthy and able to go? They could be phenomenal. But it’s not a long term thing, right? It might be a big program you get that takes you to a pay per view. But that’s it.”

AdFreeShows.com

This podcast episode as well as a ton of other content is available now on AdFreeShows.com. AdFreeShows has exclusive content from Grilling Jr, What Happened When (w/ Tony Schiavone), 83 Weeks (w/ Eric Bischoff), ARN and Something To Wrestle with Bruce Prichard.

• Want EVERY episode from ALL 5 of my podcasts, early and ad-free?
• EXCLUSIVE merch from your favorite shows?
• Want BONUS content that you can’t hear anywhere else? 
• Want to CONNECT with other wrestling fans just like you?

AdFreeShows.com is bringing all of it to you, plus tons of other exclusive perks! 

Also Check Out:

• Jon Moxley Talks About WWE’s Recent Releases
• Cody Rhodes: Zack Ryder’s “Best Wrestling Days Are Ahead Of Him”
• Jon Moxley Retains AEW World Title Over Jake Hager

Former WWE SmackDown Executive Director Eric Bischoff recently discussed what is now being billed as ‘Black Wednesday.’ WWE released a significant number of on-air and backstage talent earlier this week and Bischoff would weigh in on the situation for the After 83 Weeks w/ Christy Olson podcast. As part of the discussion, Bischoff would also talk about AEW and whether they would be likely to hire a number of talents from the released list.

Eric Bischoff on Released Talents

“I mean let’s take a snapshot of reality as it exists today” Eric Bischoff began. “Where can they [the released talents] go? They could, theoretically at least, go to AEW. But how bloated can that roster get? They don’t do house shows, they don’t tour. They do a pay per view once a month or whatever it is.”

Comparing AEW and WCW

Eric Bischoff would then shift the conversation into a comparison between WCW, saying “nobody’s really talking about it. As opposed to WCW when guys like Dave Meltzer and everybody couldn’t wait to disclose internal information about WCW that was leaked to them by talent. You don’t hear any of that coming out AEW. I have a pretty good idea what some of the talent are making. And, it’s astronomical sums of money compared to what even some of them have ever made at the peak of their careers in WWE or WCW.”

AEW’s Talent Budget

Eric Bischoff then clarified that statement, saying that AEW clearly has a ‘substantial’ talent budget to work with. “There’s a substantial talent budget there. It’s a talent budget for a roster that isn’t generating a lot of revenue, other than television. And, of course, pay per view. So how many top talents, how many of those names from WWE can AEW afford to hire? If they bring in three, four, or five or maybe they only bring in one?”

Bischoff finished by discussing a talent he worked with in WWE that he would consider bringing in. “That makes sense, one or two of the bigger names, I’m sure, Erick Rowan is a guy that I’d be surprised if they’re not looking at that got released. Super guy by the way I loved working with him in WWE. But there’s a handful of stars that I’m sure WWE or AEW are thinking about right now. But to think that they’re gonna absorb eight or nine or 10 people? It’s not realistic.”

Do you think that AEW will bring in some of the recently released WWE Superstars? Let us know in the comments

Also Check Out:

• Money In The Bank Ladder Matches To Be Held At WWE Headquarters
• John Morrison Comments On The Backstage Morale In WWE
• Dustin Rhodes Reflects On Goldust’s Origins, Dusty Rhodes’ Polka Dots

Former WWE SmackDown Executive Director Eric Bischoff recently discussed what is now being billed as ‘Black Wednesday.’ WWE released a significant number of on-air and backstage talent earlier this week and Bischoff would weigh in on the situation for the After 83 Weeks w/ Christy Olson podcast.

Eric Bischoff on Released Talents

“Like most people? My thoughts go out and to some degree my heart because some of these people I know. And some I know quite well and have worked with and I’m friends with” Eric Bischoff began on the released and furloughed talent. “But many of them I don’t know, nonetheless you can’t help but feel bad for them. You know professional wrestling is not like any other business, really. Maybe you could draw some parallels in professional sports? But so many of the talent that get into professional wrestling get in at a very young age. Either in lieu of college or right after college. They spent 5, 10, 15, 20 years in the industry? I think reading some of the social media posts by some of the individuals let go? Some of them have been with WWE for 10 years 15 years or more.”

Transitioning To Another Industry?

Eric Bischoff would then discuss how it may be difficult for some of the performers to transition into another role in another industry. “It’s not easy to pickup and apply those job skills that you’ve acquired, perfected over the last decade or more to another line of work” Bischoff stated. “So it can be shocking anytime you get let go. I guess I can speak from experience right!? Anytime you get let go, it’s a little bit of a shock to the system and you’re kind of dazed and confused and wondering what’s going to happen next. But a lot of that talent, a lot of them if not all the talent? They wouldn’t have been there if they didn’t have a high degree of skill, talents and abilities.”

Drake Maverick

When the news broke on Wednesday 15th released talent Drake Maverick posted an emotional video on Twitter acknowledging his departure from WWE. As you can see above, Eric Bischoff responded to the British Superstar, and he referenced this on the podcast. “I said this to Drake Maverick actually in a post not too long ago. Take the opportunity to just reflect a little bit. Recharge and just get ready to return stronger than ever. Take advantage of the time off to heal up if you’ve been on the road a lot over the last year or two, or 10. Think about your career. Think about your character, think about some new ways that you can modify and evolve that character to make it even more entertaining. Take an acting class online, you don’t even have to take a class in person. Learn how to write comedy, learn how to do anything other than things you already know to to help improve your ability. To be entertaining when we all come out of this pandemic, and we will.”

Also Check Out:

• Jon Moxley Talks About WWE’s Recent Releases
• Lana Commits To Rusev Storyline Following His WWE Release
• EC3 Has Already Reinvented Himself Following WWE Release (Video)

New WWE Universal Champion Braun Strowman recently appeared on the Gorilla Position podcast. The SmackDown Superstar would discuss his title win at WrestleMania 36 earlier this month, as well as the hectic 24 hours that preceded the event.

Strowman was not initially pegged to face then Champion Bill Goldberg at WrestleMania. Roman Reigns was the challenger heading into the event, however due to concerns surrounding the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic the ‘Big Dog’ would pull out of the show. This forced WWE to make a last minute change, and it was decided that Braun Strowman was the man to take the belt from Goldberg.

Driving To Wisconsin

“Oh yeah, without a doubt it was the craziest 24 hours of my life” Braun Strowman began. “There was quarantine and telling everybody to stay at home and doing everything they could to help control the spread of this virus. So I figured, you know, I have some land up in Wisconsin, I haven’t seen my family, they live out in the middle of nowhere. I’ve got 80 acres out in the middle of nowhere, it’s literally a town that’s barely incorporated. There’s 400 people in the old town so I was like, well, if I got to be locked down I’m gonna be locked down out in the middle of nowhere, being the country boy that I am.”

Vince McMahon

Strowman would then reveal how the 21 hour car journey ended with phone call from Vince McMahon. “So I loaded up my belongings in my car and drove 21 hours to Wisconsin. I got one hour away from my property and I got a phone call from the chairman of WWE, saying ‘Braun we’ve had some last minute changes, there’s a couple emergencies happening. We need you.’ And I said, ‘well, I’m in Wisconsin I just drove for 21 hours.’ He [Vince McMahon] said ‘we know, we’re sending a jet to Atlanta at 9pm, you leave at 9:15pm.’ So I made it to Wisconsin long enough to grab a quick bite at dinner and then headed to the little regional County Airport.”

Braun Strowman in a Four-Seater Jet

Strowman elaborated further, saying “I jumped on a four seater jet; which I’m terrified of flying on by the way because I barely can fit my large hairy self in there. So it was a pretty impressive, a very fast jet. It was timely to get me there. I think we got from Wisconsin back to Orlando in 1 hour 30 minutes? We were rocking and rolling. I landed, with the time change and everything? I got into Orlando like midnight-ish back to Florida? Got in bed about at one o’clock in the morning, woke up the next day and headed to the Performance Center.”

Goldberg vs Braun Strowman

Braun Strowman would finish by thanking his opponent in the WrestleMania 36 match. “I want to say a big thanks to Bill Goldberg for giving me the opportunity. To know and trust in me to want to get in there and ‘get these hands’ per se.”

Do you think that Strowman was the right man to beat Goldberg for the Universal Championship? Let us know in the comments

Also Check Out:

• Roman Reigns’ Wife Pregnant With Their Second Set of Twins
• Cody Rhodes: Cesaro is “The Most Underrated Guy On The Planet”
• Cris Cyborg Talks Wanting To Face Ronda Rousey In WWE

NJPW star Will Ospreay recently appeared on the Chris Van Vliet podcast/YouTube channel. The ‘Aerial Assassin’ discussed a number of topics from his recent career, including the move from the Juniors division to the Heavyweight class of the company.

Will Ospreay would talk about how the idea for the transition came together. With the Essex born star revealing that he initially pitched an idea to PROGRESS Wrestling, one of the top independent promotions in England.

Idea Pitched To PROGRESS

“I had an idea that I pitched to PROGRESS” Ospreay began. “And they didn’t go along with it. They had the ATLAS title at the time. and the ATLAS Title is a super heavyweight title so you have to be over 93 kilos. And at the time I was at 85kg. I was like, ‘I can make that, I’ve got the right height, I’m six foot.”

Will Ospreay would elaborate further, revealing how he hoped that the extra weight could pay dividends in Japan also. “Instead of focusing on putting that towards PROGRESS I thought maybe I should just start doing it anyway, just to see if there are any benefits. Because like everyone’s known I’ve always had neck problems, I’ve always like had this body pain. I was just like, I’m just gonna do it anyway to protect my body. In like a month and a half I shot to 90 kilos, just by eating. Not good stuff, just pizza! (laughs)”

Will Ospreay Asked If He Is ‘On The Gas’

Will Ospreay would then reveal that he started to get questions from others in the industry regarding his size. Due to the muscle mass that Ospreay had gained some were asking him if he was taking steroids, or ‘on the gas.’ “I just must have a good metabolism. So I just kept lifting and then every now and again, people just ask ‘are you on the gas?’ So I was like ‘NO! I wouldn’t know where to start stuff like that!’ So I’ve just been eating. I broke my ribs I think because my body put on so much mass. And then finally I did something where, like, I do it blindfolded do it all the time but my body kind of wasn’t prepared enough to do it so my body just buckled in on itself.”

Also Check Out:

• Kota Ibushi Shares His Thoughts On Empty Arena Matches
• NJPW Cancels More Shows Due To Coronavirus Pandemic
• NJPW President Pens Open Letter To Fans Regarding Event Cancelations

Headline Image Credit to Beyond Gorilla

AEW on-air personality and former WWE agent Arn Anderson recently answered questions from fans on the ARN podcast. One of the queries centered on a potential film adaption of the Four Horseman. Co-host of the podcast Conrad Thompson asked Arn Anderson who would play Ric Flair in the film, and Arn replied with Joe Exotic. If you haven’t been following the hype about Exotic? He is the ‘star’ of the recent Tiger King series on Netflix.

Anderson would then compare the series to pro wrestling. There have been points where the eclectic nature of the big cat owners and the ‘carny’ sensibilities of old-school ‘wrasslin’ promotors have maybe intermeshed.

Arn Anderson on The Tiger King

“You know what’s what’s hilarious about that series is?” Arn Anderson began. “I mean this thing has blown up. People are stuck at home and they’re looking for a different alternative viewing and all that and this. We heard about it and heard about it before we decided to watch it. That’s Erin and I, we watched that. We watched the whole series over, you know, a couple, three days, whatever it was.”

Arn would then hilariously reveal that his wife Erin didn’t think that the personalities in the series were all that weird. “She said, you know what horrifies me? I don’t think all those people are that weird!? Now she’s grown up in the wrestling business, right? She’s seen some, some crazy stuff being around Ric [Flair] all these years. She is so jaded just like me that, that whole thing just didn’t come across as being that out of bounds! Now once you see the whole series and you go back and look at it you go ‘well something was really quirky about everybody in that show. Then it starts to pile on you a little bit but, it was it was entertaining, that’s for sure.”

In case you missed it, we had some further information on Joe Exotic’s foray below:

Tim Storm On Joe Exotic’s Wrestling Shows

• NWA’s Tim Storm Describes Meeting Joe Exotic

The former NWA World Heavyweight Champion recently spoke about his experience working with Joe Exotic. He noted that he was shocked by what he was charged and convicted of in a video posted to the NWA YouTube channel.

Vice recently spoke to promoter Robert Langdon from Texoma Pro Wrestling who worked with Joe to promote multiple shows. The events served as a fundraiser for Joe’s zoos. Joe Exotic served as the color commentator for the shows which were streamed on his official YouTube channel. Check out the full story here.

New Japan Pro Wrestling star Will Ospreay recently addressed CM Punk’s comments on the ‘Aerial Assassin’ being a potential match up he would consider. In a recent interview, CM Punk stated that if the “conditions were right” then he would consider discussing potential matches against John Cena, Daniel Bryan, Rey Mysterio and Will Ospreay.

Obviously, Ospreay is the only name on that list that does not currently work for WWE. This has lead many to believe that not only does Punk keep up with New Japan Pro Wrestling, but that it might be a consideration.

Will Ospreay vs CM Punk?

Whilst there’s no confirmation of this whatsoever, Will Ospreay has publicly stated that he would like the match at Wrestle Kingdom in January next year. Appearing recently on the Chris Van Vliet podcast; Ospreay said that the ball is completely in Punk’s court when it comes to the potential match.

“It can happen and the only person that can make it happen is him” Ospreay began. “We live in this world of possibility. Anything is possible and the whole ‘Never Say Never’ thing? But like whenever someone goes ‘Will are you ever going to go to WWE?’ like my natural reaction is to go like ‘no.’ But the reality is it IS never say never.”

Punk Has Left Wrestling?

Will Ospreay would elaborate further, saying how he really never considered facing CM Punk a possibility, due to the way he left WWE initially. “But like, Punk? I didn’t really consider this a possibility at all. Because the way he talked in the Colt Cabana interview? He was DONE with wrestling. And when he showed up in the UFC it was ‘all right so this is him just pretty much done with wrestling.’ It was only when I saw that (aforementioned) interview.”

“Because my phone just went off on a random day, my phone just started going off. And when Punk did that interview and he said like, ‘I would listen to your idea if it was John Cena, Rey Mysterio, Daniel Bryan or Will Ospreay!?’ and I was like, ‘dude those three are legends right there. That’s the cream of the crop stuff. So no matter what you say about my confidence in ability or whatever? Like, they’re there (up in the echelons). I’m here, I’m not even on the screen down here (laughs).”

The Pipebomb

Ospreay also mentioned that whilst he was taken aback by the suggestion, he knows that Punk is at least aware of what is happening in Japan. “I thought, If he’s coming back he’s going to WWE. But then I always remember that promo where he sat cross legged, and he was like, ‘maybe when I’m done here I could go to New Japan Pro Wrestling, maybe I could go to Ring of Honor.’ So he does watch. And that was back in 2011. He’s still watching (New Japan), because I wasn’t around in 2011.”

Do you think that we could see Punk vs Ospreay at Wrestle Kingdom? Let us know in the comments

Also Check Out:

• CM Punk Says It’s Impossible To Watch Wrestling Without An Audience
• CM Punk: “It’s Completely Strange’ For WWE To Hold WrestleMania Right Now
• NJPW President Pens Open Letter To Fans Regarding Event Cancelations
• CM Punk On How Brock Lesnar Is In Real Life

Wrestling legend Jim Cornette recently weighed in on the ongoing situation regarding Ronda Rousey.

To recap, the former WWE RAW Women’s Champion recently indicated that she is very unlikely to return to the company, largely due to unappreciative fans.

Rousey said on ‘Jackass’ star Steve-O’s Wild Ride podcast, “I love performing. I love the girls. I love being out there … but, at the end of the day, I was just like, ‘F*ck these fans, dude.’ My family loves me and they appreciate me and I want all my energy to go into them.”

Ronda Rousey vs Nia Jax

It was recently revealed by Nia Jax that she had to go to WWE management regarding a WWE talent who was legitimately roughing up her friend Alexa Bliss during matches. Although not confirmed, it was heavily indicated that it was Ronda Rousey.

Nia recently commented on the situation, saying “I can’t wait for Ronda 2 one day return 2 WWE. Even if WWE orders me to make Ronda look good in the ring, which is the ONLY way for Ronda 2 look good in the ring w/me. I’ll risk my job 2 go down in history as the one from this biz that knocked her the F**K out! #TestMeBitch”

“So why did they put her in with Ronda Rousey? I have no f*cking idea”

-Jim Cornette

Jim Cornette Comments

“I can see why they [WWE] didn’t want to put Ronda Rousey in with Nia Jax,” Jim Cornette stated on his Drive Thru podcast. “Because they were trying to get Rousey over and she would not be able to do all of her sh*t and throw Nia Jax around like a rag doll etc.”

Cornette then questioned why WWE chose to put Alexa Bliss in a programme with Rousey initially. “I’ve seen that Alexa Bliss. She’s gorgeous girl but you know she is five foot nothing and doesn’t weigh 100 pounds or whatever the f*ck. She looks the furthest thing from physically intimidating. So why did they put her in with Ronda Rousey? I have no f*cking idea. Because they should have known a little lady like that cannot be f*cking thrown around.”

Cornette continued, “I don’t think Alexa Bliss has ever fought in a cage, I don’t think she’s been in any contact sports, she might have been a cheerleader whatever the f*ck. I would have picked one of the larger, more physically equipped ladies to work with Ronda Rousey especially if she was that f*cking dangerous.”

It looks as though this won’t be last that we’re hearing about Ronda Rousey and her time in the WWE.

Also Check Out:

• Recent Ronda Rousey Comments Reportedly Not A Work
• Hulk Hogan Reacts To Ronda Rousey’s “Work Yourself Into A Shoot” Tweet
• Mark Henry Defends Ronda Rousey, Believes She Is Due More Respect

Former WWE Smackdown Executive Director Eric Bischoff recently commented on the ‘Monday Night War’ that saw TNA head to Monday nights back in 2010. On March 8th 2010, TNA would air on Monday nights head to head with WWE’s flagship RAW program. The experiment would only last until late April, when the company would move back to their Thursday night slot after losing a hefty chunk of their audience against WWE.

Eric Bischoff would claim on his 83 Weeks podcast that the move to Monday was never permanent. In fact, it was designed to give TNA a ‘kick start’ and market the product and get the wrestling audience to potentially ‘sample’ something they hadn’t seen previously.

Eric Bischoff on Competition

“It’s another strategy that we created” Eric Bischoff began. “It’s competition, it’s a way to get people to sample your product and that’s all it was. How do we make the biggest impact? How do we maximise the addition of Hulk Hogan to the TNA brand? Can we exploit that to the maximum potential? How do we do it?”

Bischoff would then describe how the ‘peripheral’ wrestling media would be instrumental to the ‘sampling.’

“We thought going head to head because we knew it would make noise. We knew that the ‘peripheral’ wrestling audiences or ‘peripheral wrestling industry’ would be buzzing about it. They’d either be ripping it apart or they’d be putting it over, one or the other. It did not matter, as long as they were talking about it, they would be encouraging people one way or the other to at least sample it out. Either to validate the criticism for going head to head or to validate the choice to do it.”

Small, Niche Product

Although some fans would argue that the pre-Hogan era of TNA was working, Eric Bischoff would comment on how the company needed to make a ‘big move.’ “TNA needed to make a big move. They were quite successful as a small niche product is in a certain segments of the country, right? TNA had some of the same problems that WCW had early on, in that they weren’t real popular on the West Coast. They didn’t have a lot of Upper Midwest kind of success. They were very popular in certain pockets of the country.”

“But for the most part it wasn’t a national kind of brand. They were pretty niche. And bringing Hulk Hogan in with Ric Flair was a way to change that perception, and that’s all going head to head was. It was ‘let’s let the world know we’re here, and we’re here to put on a good show.’ And there’s no better way to do it, in terms of getting an audience and attracting curiosity; if nothing else, it was to make a big move and go slap the giant [WWE] in the face and see what happens.”

As mentioned, TNA would eventually move back to Thursday nights on Spike TV as the experiment had failed. Or had it? Do you think that TNA were right to take the gamble? Let us know in the comments

If you use any of the quotes from this article please credit 83 Weeks Podcast with a h/t to SEScoops.com for the transcription.

Also Check Out:

• Hulk Hogan Reacts To Ronda Rousey’s “Work Yourself Into A Shoot” Tweet
• The Rock Still Loves Wrestling & Reveals What He Misses Most About It
• Kurt Angle Comments On The Coronavirus Pandemic

WWE Superstar Cesaro recently appeared on The New Day’s ‘Feel The Power’ podcast. The ‘Swiss Superman’ discussed a number of topics from his WWE career, including the incidents involving ‘beach balls’ in the crowd. The most infamous was during SummerSlam 2017, when Cesaro went into the crowd and ripped up a beach ball on camera.

“Magic things like that just happen and you cannot plan that.” Cesaro began, recalling the moments. “I love it right. So, that was in Brooklyn. And I remember it must have been, I think it was like SummerSlam right? I think it was SummerSlam or something like that.”

Royal Rumble 2017?

Cesaro then talks about an incident that may or may not have occurred, unfortunately there’s some inconsistencies in the story. “Maybe a couple of months earlier it was me and Sheamus against Rollins and Ambrose, and it was at the Royal Rumble. We ended up going on after the Men’s Royal Rumble match and I think that was when Shinsuke won it.”

Nakamura actually won the Royal Rumble in 2018, and after that match Sheamus and Cesaro faced Seth Rollins and Jason Jordan. Watching the match back there doesn’t appear to be any incident, so he may have just got confused with another bout. Potentially from a house show around that time.

“So the crowd just was crazy (following Shinsuke’s win) and we go out and it’s just really hard to get them back into the match. Certain spots on the card are sometimes tougher to get the crowd into it. But I’m always like ‘no, forget it. Don’t worry, we’ll, we’ll get them out, I’ll find a way.’ We all find a way to do something.”

Frickin’ Beach Balls

Cesaro elaborated further, talking about the crowd not reacting to the match itself. “You’re look up and there’s frickin’ beach balls, and I’m like ‘why are they not paying attention?’ I look over there’s a beach ball. We’re all just trying our hardest to make it great right? I think Sheamus and Rollins are in there and like Sheamus is like ‘what’s going on?’ Because like he doesn’t see the beach balls he’s focused on [what’s going on] in the ring right? And I just look at Sheamus, I see the beach balls jumping around and I’m like ‘I don’t want to jump in the crowd, and then not get the beach ball. I’d look like an idiot (laughs).'”

‘SCREW THAT BEACH BALL THIS IS MY MATCH!’ – Cesaro

Cesaro finished by discussing how cathartic the feeling was of destroying the distraction to his match. “I wait till like one of our security or something just secures it, so now it’s in one place. And I just look at Sheamus he goes like ‘DON’T MOVE’ (laughs). I run over and grab it. It’s just like one of those like ‘no screw you (the fans) this is OUR thing.’ So when I saw that beach ball I was like ‘okay I’m not gonna let that beach ball ruin my match.’ I was like, ‘SCREW THAT BEACH BALL THIS IS MY MATCH!’. Again an organic moment that was authentic.

Also Check Out:

• Drew McIntyre Thanks Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson For His Support
• Mark Henry Defends Ronda Rousey, Believes She Is Due More Respect
• Big Show: Drew McIntyre Is The “Champion RAW Deserves”

WWE Superstar Nikki Cross recently appeared on the Gorilla Position podcast in the UK. The Scottish born Superstar discussed a number of topics regarding her WWE career thus far, including her WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship win at WrestleMania 36. Over the past year Cross has been teaming with Alexa Bliss, in a team that many fans believed would be short lived. Nikki Cross would discuss how the team came together, and how her and Alexa Bliss are now best friends beyond the ring as well.

Nikki Cross on WrestleMania 36

Discussing her WrestleMania 36 win, Nikki Cross would say “to do it alongside Alexa, who’s someone that I could see speak all day about? And just have wonderful things to say about? To get to do it with her and to get to do it with my best friend? Was just fantastic.”

Teaming With Alexa Bliss

Cross would then move on to how the team was formed. “So it was almost a year ago now. Yeah, May last year. You know, we both had ideas that kind of involved involved the other [person], we had ideas to work together” Cross revealed. “And then we kind have on screen and off screen kind of developed [in a] very similar way. We became closer, you know, initial conversations and then it turned out a longer conversation that then turned into ,travelling together. You know sat next to each other as we’re waiting for the plane to board the plane. During the drives together; these four hour drives, and three hour drives together. You know, checking into the same hotel you know? It kind of just grew. Whatever you saw on screen was very much what happened off screen.”

Carmella and Dana Brooke challenged the new Tag Team Champions on SmackDown this week, you can check out the video for that below.

Do you think that Bliss and Cross will remain a team for the foreseeable future? Let us know in the comments

Also Check Out:

• WWE Issues Statement On Decision To Return To Live TV
• Goldberg Opens Up About Roman Reigns Backing Out Of WrestleMania
• Big Show Says WWE Is Keeping Talent Safe During Pandemic

Former WWE Superstar Enzo Amore recently appeared on Ryback’s Conversation With The Big Guy podcast. The former Cruiserweight Champion discussed a litany of topics from his career in wrestling, including the ‘failed’ deal between he, Big Cass and NJPW/ROH when they ‘invaded’ the Madison Square Garden event over WrestleMania weekend.

Enzo Amore on Big Cass’ ‘bumps in the road’

“Well Cass hit some bumps in the road” Enzo Amore began. “Bumps that would have made it an impossibility. At that point when I piqued my interest in getting back into pro wrestling? I wanted to do it with Big Cass. It was the endeavour that I took on, to see my best friend back on his feet doing well and doing what he loved.”

Big Cass’ ongoing battle with depression

Big Cass went public back in 2019 about his ongoing battles with depression. The former WWE Superstar spoke with DDPYoga’s YouTube channel back in July, saying “Being depressed is one thing, having depression on a daily basis is something different” Cass revealed. “Anyone that looks at them like they’re weak or a crybaby or whatever? That person is ignorant. ‘He has money and everything he dreamed of.’ That don’t mean f—-all when you’re not well mentally.”

NJPW/ROH deal falling through

Enzo Amore would finish by clarifying that the deal with NJPW/ROH did fall through. He also questioned how exactly he could get back into the pro wrestling industry as the deal he and Cass were hoping for fell through. “Ultimately? You know when he [Cass] had a hiccup here and there? I was now kind of finessing the idea of potentially getting back in the ring. But I didn’t want to do it for anybody. Like I love Mike and NEW (North East Wrestling), but was I going to do that every weekend? F*ck no. What am I gotta do? You know? Ring of Honor, New Japan, you know that deal fell through.”

If you use any of the quotes from this article please credit Conversation With The Big Guy podcast with a h/t to SEScoops.com for the transcription.

Also Check Out:

• NJPW Cancels More Shows Due To Coronavirus Pandemic
• NJPW’s Harold Meij On Coronavirus, Getting Back To “Business As Usual”
• Will Ospreay Responds To CM Punk’s Comments About In-Ring Return

Former WWE Superstar Enzo Amore recently appeared on Ryback’s Conversation With The Big Guy podcast. The former Cruiserweight Champion discussed a litany of topics from his career in wrestling, including when he was fired following allegations of sexual assault.

Enzo Amore Accused of Assault

Amore was alleged at the time to have assaulted a woman on October 19th of 2017. Enzo was subsequently fired by the company on January 23rd following a suspension the day before. The charges were then dropped by law officials in May of 2018 due to insufficient evidence.

Main Event of RAW

When asked about the situation in January 2018, Enzo (now nZo) replied it was “crazy. Nothing can prepare you for it. But I think that the crazy thing about it is, for me? Is people forget, because of the perception of me on the way out. Yeah, I was in the main event and I was on a three hour thread on the 25th anniversary of Monday Night RAW that had to get rewritten at 4pm.”

It was a somewhat unprecedented situation for the company at the time. Enzo Amore was the Cruiserweight Champion, and the 205 Live division had been ‘main eventing’ episodes of Monday Night RAW in fits and starts. So essentially, a ‘main event player’ was ejected from the company when the situation unfolded.

RAW 25th Anniversary

Enzo Amore would then discuss the situation further, saying “when I got sent home on the 25th anniversary I had a title around my waist. I was maintaining my job at the highest level in the world. Coming out in the main event of matches, and somehow through getting falsely accused, getting my livelihood ripped out of my hands? People think that I’m a bad guy.”

“Yeah, cuz I’m playing one on TV. It’s my job, but as I’m playing a heel it’s easy to say [that’s] who I am. I just did a Make A Wish with a kid named Enzo, and they never aired it! Because I got f*cking fired. And you don’t see that side of me, you just hear the stories. I go off the grid for five months take a self induced social media hiatus. [It was a] brilliant plan, because when I do come back out? I show up to 5000 people in Times Square.”

If you use any of the quotes from this article please credit Conversation With The Big Guy podcast with a h/t to SEScoops.com for the transcription.

Also Check Out:

• Ronda Rousey Doesn’t Plan To Work Regular WWE Schedule, Blasts Ungrateful Fans
• Charlotte Flair Opens Up WrestleMania Victory, NXT Return
• AJ Styles Shares Details Of WrestleMania’s Boneyard Matchup

WWE Superstar Nikki Cross recently appeared on the Gorilla Position podcast. The Scottish born Superstar won the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships at WrestleMania 36 this past weekend alongside her partner Alexa Bliss. Nikki Cross discussed this during the interview, describing the feeling of winning the belts for the 2nd time in front of an empty Performance Center.

Nikki Cross on WrestleMania 36 Moment

“It was such a fulfilling moment” Nikki Cross began. “It was, so emotional like, I mean i think it was funny. I was watching it back and I saw the photos, and there’s this hilarious moment. I’m just on my knees and the referee has given me the Championship title, and I can’t get up! I’m just like…I was just overwhelmed like you know? I think you can see it in my face. It was [also] on Alexa’s face you know? It was so emotional for both of us. Because we’re still connecting with fans, it’s just the fans are in a different location. And they’re all safe in their homes and they’re watching it through their television.”

Women’s Tag Team Division

The WWE Women’s Championships have seemingly taken a backseat over the past few months, whilst the Kabuki Warriors of Asuka and Kairi Sane are extremely talented and entertaining there just hasn’t been a viable push for the belts in recent memory. Nikki Cross would however say that her and Alexa Bliss care greatly about the division and want to see it thrive.

“We’re all striving to make this division special”

Nikki Cross

“We care so much about the women’s tag team division” Nikki Cross stated. “And we’re striving to make that the best we can. Because we’re nurturing that [division], it’s like a newborn baby. And you know, we speak, so many of the girls feel that way. That we’re all striving to make this division special and the best division it can be. Winning the championship from the Kabuki warriors…getting to compete against them in a match? A match I’m very proud of? It was, it was so so emotional and the emotion, everything was still there.”

If you use any of the quotes from this article please credit Gorilla Position podcast with a h/t to SEScoops.com for the transcription.

Also Check Out:

• Nia Jax Talks About Protecting Alexa Bliss From An Unsafe Superstar
• Charlotte Flair Opens Up WrestleMania Victory, NXT Return
• WWE Reportedly Contacted Hulk Hogan For WrestleMania 36 Appearance

Executive Vice President of AEW Cody Rhodes recently appeared on Busted Open Radio. The former WWE Superstar would discuss a plethora of topics regarding AEW’s ongoing taping schedule and the way that they are dealing with the COVID-19 coronavirus situation.

One of the topics brought up was that of Brodie Lee’s Exalted One character. Over the past few weeks there have been vignettes with Lee that show him to have characteristics akin to WWE CEO Vince McMahon. Cody was asked about this on Busted Open, and he denied that the character is an ‘outright parody’ of McMahon.

Cody Rhodes on the Exalted One

“I could never tell you the original plan. And I don’t even know if there ever even was an original plan” Cody began. “I will say it’s very unlikely on AEW you’ll ever hear the name Vince McMahon said.”

Cody Rhodes would then go on to talk about his respect for McMahon and his time in WWE. “If you do hear me say it [Vince’s name] in interviews? In general I always speak very, very highly of him. Because A) he’s Vince McMahon and B) I was a WWE guy to start. I didn’t come from anywhere else, I came up through their feeder system. They were the house that built me.”

Parallels Between WWE CEO & Brodie Lee

Cody Rhodes would finish by stating that there are definitely parallels between the Exalted One and Vince McMahon. However Cody seems to indicate that these are purely coincidental, and that it’s all down to Brodie Lee’s “style of leadership” for the Dark Order.

“I don’t want to be vague or coy with your question,” Cody said. “When it comes to the parallels between Brody’s style of leadership? There are a lot of unique parallels but I don’t think it’s particularly a spoof on Vince McMahon. We’ll see how develops in the next few weeks, I think Brodie just has a very…’power’ boss, very animal kingdom, kind of social Darwinism type approach to the Dark Order. And I think that falls in line with perhaps some of Vince’s quirks. But it is not an outright spoof on the legendary Mr. McMahon…not outright.”

Check out the video below if you have not already seen the Exalted One on AEW television. Let us know in the comments if you think that it is a spoof on the WWE CEO, is Cody Rhodes playing around with us?

Also Check Out:

• Jim Ross On His Recent Absence From AEW’s Announce Team
• Edge Confirms He Had Talks With ‘Another Company’ Prior To WWE…
• Brandi Rhodes Talks About Critics And Expecting Backlash