SEScoops

Author: Jon Fuentes

  • “Mean” Gene Okerlund Passes Away At 76

    “Mean” Gene Okerlund Passes Away At 76

    The professional wrestling world has lost a legend today (Wed. January 2, 2019). WWE has announced that Hall Of Famer “Mean” Gene Okerlund has passed away at the age of 76-years-old. After leaving the radio industry, Okerlund began his professional wrestling career with the American Wrestling Association (AWA) in 1970. He remained there for 14 years before accepting a job with WWE in 1984.

    Okerlund remained with WWE until his deal expired in 1993 when he made the decision to venture off to World Championship Wrestling (WCW) after WWE did not offer him a renewal. Throughout his career, Okerlund solidified himself as, arguably, the greatest ring announcer and interviewer professional wrestling has ever seen.

    In 2001 Okerlund returned to WWE and had made sporadic appearances for the company over the next 17 years. In April of 2006, Okerlund was inducted into the WWE Hall Of Fame.

    He also inducted Mr. T into the HOF in April of 2014 just before WrestleMania 30. His latest WWE appearance came at the RAW 25th anniversary special last January when he interviewed then-WWE Champion AJ Styles.

    We here at SEScoops would like to offer our deepest condolences to Okerlund’s family during this difficult time.

    The Wrestling World Reacts to the Passing of Mean Gene

    https://twitter.com/LanceStorm/status/1080494555378503681

  • Braun Strowman Back In The Gym (Photo)

    Braun Strowman Back In The Gym (Photo)

    Braun Strowman hasn’t been physical inside the WWE ring for quite some time now. Strowman recently underwent surgery on his elbow to repair some bone spurs. He was booked to face Baron Corbin in a Tables Ladders and Chairs (TLC) match earlier this month. Strowman did show up for the match, but since it was a no disqualification match, he utilized some help.

    Finn Balor, Apollo Crews, Bobby Roode, Chad Gable, and Heath Slater all beat down Corbin, allowing Strowman to pick up the pinfall victory. Now, Strowman is set to face Brock Lesnar for the WWE Universal Championship at the Royal Rumble pay-per-view (PPV) on January 27th. Strowman is still recovering from his surgery, and likely won’t compete until the Royal Rumble.

    However, it looks like he’s on the right track to full recovery, as he posted a photo on Instagram of himself back in the gym. Check it out here:

    “And so it begins!!!! 8 weeks with out training has been killing me. First day back training shoulders. 25lbs at a time. Slow and steady and getting ready to pass these out”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/Br29QtHlJtZ/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading

    The 2019 Royal Rumble PPV event goes down from the Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona on January 27th.

  • Shawn Michaels On NXT Stars Competing In MSG

    Shawn Michaels On NXT Stars Competing In MSG

    Earlier this week WWE made its return to “The World’s Most Famous Arena.” The professional wrestling juggernaut held a stacked house show from Madison Square Garden in New York. The card featured several big match-ups, including the first-ever women’s match to main event a wrestling show in MSG. Ronda Rousey successfully defended her title against Nia Jax.

    Also, John Cena made his WWE return before Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose went head-to-head inside a Steel Cage. However, another big match on the card featured several of NXT’s top stars. The team of NXT North American Champion Ricochet, WWE UK Champion Pete Dunne, The Velveteen Dream, Aleister Black, and Matt Riddle defeated NXT Champion Tommaso Ciampa, Johnny Gargano, and The Undisputed Era (Adam Cole and NXT Tag Team Champions Kyle O’Reilly & Roderick Strong) in a Ten-Man Tag Team bout.

    It was a proud moment for WWE Hall Of Famer Shawn Michaels, who has been working a lot with NXT talents lately. Michaels has been training athletes at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando and also producing NXT television. “HBK” took to Twitter recently and expressed how proud he was to see the NXT crew in MSG:

    “One of the greatest pictures these eyes have ever seen!!! in MSG!!!!! ”

    What do you think about Michaels’ comments on NXT stars competing at MSG?

  • Shinsuke Nakamura Goes Back And Forth With NJPW Star

    Shinsuke Nakamura Goes Back And Forth With NJPW Star

    There have been plenty of rumors going around that now-former WWE United States Champion Shinsuke Nakamura could be going back to Japan. However, those rumors have been proven to be untrue. New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) has certainly shown interest in bringing “The King Of Strong Style” back. But Nakamura relocated his entire family to Orlando after signing with WWE in 2016.

    It would take a big financial offer to get him to make such another big move across the world. With that being said, rumors of Shinsuke’s return to Japan continue to run rampant. Especially after his recent interaction with Hiroki Goto on Twitter. Prior to signing with WWE, Nakamura founded the CHAOS faction in NJPW back in 2009. He served as the group’s leader before leaving in 2016.

    Shortly after his departure, Goto joined CHAOS and has remained a member ever since. Yesterday, Goto took to Twitter and posted a good morning Tweet to his fans. Nakamura responded by telling Goto good morning in return. Goto excitedly asked Nakamura how he is doing. Nakamura is coming off a United States Championship loss to Rusev. The WWE star responded by saying he’s feeling “Genki Dah,” which translates into feeling energetic or lively.

    Check out Nakamura and Goto’s exchange below:

    “good morning”

    “How are you!”

    “Genki Dah”

  • Chyna’s Mother Calls For WWE To Induct Her Daughter Into HOF

    Chyna’s Mother Calls For WWE To Induct Her Daughter Into HOF

    One name that always gets tossed around when it comes to the WWE Hall Of Fame, is Chyna. Chyna was a very important piece of the WWE’s road to the Women’s Revolution. She helped break down barriers for women in professional wrestling during the Attitude Era in the late ’90s and early ‘2000s. Chyna competed in matches against men, participated in the Royal Rumble match, and even won the Intercontinental Championship.

    “The Ninth Wonder Of The World” was truly ahead of her time in her heyday. However, her exit from the WWE was a highly controversial one, as well as her choices after her unceremonious departure. Unfortunately, Chyna passed away in April of 2016 from an apparent overdose. She was found in her Redondo Beach, California home by her manager, Anthony Anzaldo.

    “Do What’s Right”

    Now, many WWE fans and stars believe that a WWE Hall Of Fame induction for Chyna is long overdue. Her mother, Jan LaQue, certainly agrees. In a recent Facebook post, LaQue urged WWE to “do what’s right” and finally induct Chyna (real name Joan Marie Laurer) into the WWE HOF:

    “As many of you know, yesterday would have been Joanie’s (Chyna’s) birthday. I truly appreciate all of the messages and rememberances of her that were posted by so many of you. As you can imagine, it’s always a very sad day for me. But it helps a lot to know how many people remember her and loved her.

    “It’s one of the worst things in the world to lose a child. We HAVE to get her into the WWE hall of fame. She richly deserves to be there. WWE – LISTEN UP and do what’s right for Chyna!! You owe her that for what she did for you and women’s wrestling. She earned her place there. And it’s long overdue.”

    For what it’s worth, WWE Chief Brand Officer Stephanie McMahon said she believes Chyna will one day be inducted into the Hall Of Fame. Her comments came just several weeks after Chyna’s passing in 2016:

    Do you think Chyna should be inducted into the WWE Hall Of Fame?

  • Hiroshi Tanahashi Re-Signs With NJPW

    Hiroshi Tanahashi Re-Signs With NJPW

    Plenty of free agents are expected to be leaving their respective promotions in favor of greener pastures in 2019. One man who won’t be going anywhere, however, is seven-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion Hiroshi Tanahashi. Tanahashi recently took to Twitter and announced that he has signed a new deal with NJPW:

    “Contract renewal with New Japan Wrestling. I will do my best next fiscal year too! ”

    Back in August, Tanahashi won the G1 Climax 28 to earn the IWGP heavyweight title shot at Wrestle Kingdom 13. He’ll be going after his eighth heavyweight title against Kenny Omega inside the Tokyo Dome. The show goes down from Tokyo, Japan on January 4, 2019.

    Check out the current card for NJPW’s Wrestle Kingdom 13 here:

    Main Card

    • IWGP Heavyweight Title Match: (C) Kenny Omega vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi
    • IWGP Intercontinental Title Match: (C) Chris Jericho vs. Tetsuya Naito
      Kazuchika Okada vs. Jay White
    • IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title Match: (C) KUSHIDA vs. Taiji Ishimori
    • IWGP United States Title Match: (C) Cody vs. Juice Robinson
    • IWGP Tag Team Title Match: (C) Guerrillas of Destiny vs. The Young Bucks vs. EVIL and SANADA
    • RevPro British Heavyweight Title Match: (C) Tomohiro Ishii vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
    • IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Title Match: (C) Yoshinobu Kanemaru and El Desperado vs. Roppongi 3K vs. BUSHI and Shingo Takagi
    • IWGP NEVER Openweight Title Match: (C) Kota Ibushi vs. Will

    Pre-Show

    • Gauntlet Match to determine #1 Contenders for NEVER Six-Man Titles: Ryusuke Taguchi, Toru Yano, and Togi Makabe vs. David Finley, Jeff Cobb, and Yuji Nagata vs. Best Friends and Hirooki Goto vs. Killer Elite Squad and Minoru Suzuki vs. Marty Scurll, Adam Page, and Yujiro Takahashi

    What do you think about Tanahashi re-signing with NJPW?

  • Toni Storm Calls Becky Lynch Her Biggest Inspiration

    Toni Storm Calls Becky Lynch Her Biggest Inspiration

    WWE NXT UK star Toni Storm has a big match ahead of her. She’s set to challenge Rhea Ripley for the NXT UK Women’s Championship. The match will go down at the NXT UK TakeOver: Blackpool event on Saturday, January 12th. A big showing in Blackpool could help Storm make an even bigger name for herself in the WWE.

    In fact, she draws inspiration from, arguably, WWE’s hottest star at the moment. Speaking to Express.co.uk recently, Storm explained why Lynch is her “biggest inspiration” in professional wrestling after seeing what she has done for WWE’s women’s division:

    “Becky Lynch is currently my biggest inspiration,” Storm said. “She is taking the women’s division to a completely different level. Her strengths and her fire are definitely inspiring me right now. I hope to eventually step into the ring with her because I feel the biggest competition at the moment is Becky Lynch.”

    It’s hard not to draw inspiration from “The Irish Lass Kicker.” After her heel turn at SummerSlam this past August, the WWE Universe really rallied behind the Irishwoman. She went on to win the SmackDown Live Women’s Championship at the Hell In A Cell pay-per-view (PPV). Lynch then found herself in a feud with RAW Women’s Champion Ronda Rousey.

    Unfortunately, Rousey and Lynch were never able to work together inside the ring due to an injury. However, they may finally get to do so next year, and it could be the biggest women’s match in professional wrestling history.

    What do you think about Storm calling Lynch her biggest inspiration?

  • Enzo Amore Hangs Outside MSG During WWE Show (Photos)

    Enzo Amore Hangs Outside MSG During WWE Show (Photos)

    Earlier this week, the WWE held a massive house show from Madison Square Garden the day after Christmas. Several top stars appeared at the event, including Seth Rollins, John Cena, Dean Ambrose, Ronda Rousey, and more. However, just down the road, a former WWE Cruiserweight Champion was making a local appearance. Enzo Amore wasn’t too far away from the event, and did an interview session in front of fans in New York.

    Shortly after Amore’s appearance, he took to the streets of New York to hang out with fans and take photos. As the WWE’s house show was going on a few feet away from him, Amore was outside MSG taking photographs with fans. Check out some photos here:

    Why I Did It

    During Amore’s local appearance, he revealed why he crashed the WWE’s Survivor Series pay-per-view (PPV) this past November. Apparently, his motive was to upset WWE CEO Vince McMahon:

    “Why did I do it? It had nothing to do with my music. I’ll tell you why I did it – cause I knew for a fact Vince McMahon would be heated more than anything in the world – but he’d respect the f*ck out of it. That’s why I did it.

    “Because it was about one person, and that was it. Because I proved to him that I could beat him at his own game of statistics and numbers, and this that and the other, and I don’t even work for your company. I broke no laws, I bought a ticket.”

    What do you think about Amore hanging out near WWE’s MSG show?

  • Kurt Angle Reflects On 2003 Match With Chris Benoit

    Kurt Angle Reflects On 2003 Match With Chris Benoit

    WWE Hall Of Famer Kurt Angle has been a part of some tremendous matches in his professional wrestling career. One of the most memorable, however, was his WWE Title bout with Chris Benoit at the 2003 Royal Rumble pay-per-view (PPV). Angle, the then-WWE Champion, defended his title against “The Canadian Crippler.”

    For the 20 minutes the men shared the ring together, Angle and Benoit, two of the best technical wrestlers of all time, put on one for the ages. With the 2019 Royal Rumble approaching in the next few weeks, Angle took to Instagram to reflect on what was arguably his best match at a Royal Rumble PPV ever:

    “Up next….. Royal Rumble in January 2019. 16 years ago I had the privilege of defending my WWE Championship at the Royal Rumble. This is how the match was explained verbally to those who haven’t watched it. “Professional wrestling in its purest form is as beautiful as ballet, as elegant as a ballroom dance and as captivating as a theater.

    “By purest form I mean technical wrestling, which in today’s world is almost non-existent. The fiery chain wrestling, involving great chemistry, in-ring psychology and dream like story telling is something that happens when all the stars align.”

    “This match was one of my best performances of my career. If you haven’t seen it, give it a look.”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/Br57lFIHgmX/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading

    The Dark Shadow Of Chris Benoit

    Angle didn’t mention Benoit by name in the post, but his likely reasons for doing so are understandable. Benoit took his own life in 2007 after murdering his wife, Nancy, and seven-year-old son, Daniel, in their Fayetteville, Georgia home. Since the incident, WWE has essentially blacklisted Benoit from WWE memory.

    He is not mentioned on WWE programming or in WWE record books. The only evidence of his past matches with the company are on the WWE Network. Looking ahead to the 2019 Royal Rumble, Angle’s role remains unclear, but that’s likely to change in the coming weeks.

    What do you think about Angle’s comments regarding his 2003 match with Benoit?

  • Former NFL Star Pat McAfee Offered Multi-Year WWE Deal

    Former NFL Star Pat McAfee Offered Multi-Year WWE Deal

    WWE is always looking to snag up notable names and bring them into the fold. Earlier this year the professional wrestling juggernaut made, arguably, their biggest signing in history. WWE inked former UFC women’s bantamweight star Ronda Rousey to a contract. Rousey is one of the biggest female sports stars of all time. She has tremendously helped push WWE’s Women’s Evolution in the past several months.

    In addition to Rousey, WWE has gone after several other athletes, such as former NFL players and mixed martial artists. Notable names include Ronda Rousey, Baron Corbin, Mojo Rawley, Matt Riddle, and more. Now, WWE has apparently offered former NFL punter Pat McAfee a multi-year deal. McAfee already has a bit of a working relationship with WWE.

    Earlier this year he appeared at an NXT live event and served as a ring announcer for the main event. McAfee then made his debut as a panelist for WWE on the NXT TakeOver: New Orleans show. Now, it looks like WWE has been so impressed with his work that they’d like to make him a part of the company. McAfee took to his podcast  the “Pat McAfee Show,” and revealed WWE offered him a multi-year deal (via CBS Sports):

    “WWE has formally offered me a multi-year contract,” McAfee said. “Who knows what we’re going to be doing over there, they just want me to come make some content. And we’ll see where it goes.

    “I am very excited for this,” he added. “This is a dream come true.”

    You can hear McAfee’s comments on the latest episode of The Pat McAfee Show:

  • Enzo Amore Explains Why He Caused Scene At Survivor Series (Video)

    Enzo Amore Explains Why He Caused Scene At Survivor Series (Video)

    This past November, former WWE star Enzo Amore stole headlines when he crashed the Survivor Series pay-per-view (PPV) from the Staples Center. Amore purchased a ticket in the front rows of the show and sat there in secret for the first few matches of the night. He later got up on his chair and started to rile up the crowd, causing a scene before event security escorted him out.

    Amore had recently released a song about his ex-girlfriend and WWE star Liv Morgan. Many believed it was all a publicity stunt to help promote his new music career. However, it turns out Amore had other motivations for his actions. He recently held an appearance in New York, near WWE’s Madison Square Garden show, and answered some questions. Of course, one of those questions was to explain his reasoning for his Survivor Series fiasco.

    The former Cruiserweight Champion revealed that he did it because he knew it would anger Vince McMahon, and wanted to prove he could beat “The Chairman Of The Board” at his own game:

    “Why did I do it? It had nothing to do with my music. I’ll tell you why I did it – cause I knew for a fact Vince McMahon would be heated more than anything in the world – but he’d respect the f*ck out of it. That’s why I did it.

    “Because it was about one person, and that was it. Because I proved to him that I could beat him at his own game of statistics and numbers, and this that and the other, and I don’t even work for your company. I broke no laws, I bought a ticket.”

    What do you think about Amore’s explanation for his actions?

  • AJ Styles Dealing With Illness, WWE Fans Leave Live Event At Intermission (Photo)

    AJ Styles Dealing With Illness, WWE Fans Leave Live Event At Intermission (Photo)

    AJ Styles Dealing With Illness

    Some fans believed that former WWE Champion AJ Styles would emerge as Baron Corbin’s opponent for the WWE’s house show in Madison Square Garden last night. However, that wasn’t the case. The reason for the speculation was because Styles was abruptly removed from SmackDown’s live event the same day in Chicago.

    The Chicago crowd was told that Styles would not be appearing due to an illness. He was scheduled to face Daniel Bryan in a Steel Cage match for the WWE Championship. Instead, The Miz and Mustafa Ali were added to the match in Styles’ place. Fans were reportedly very into the bout, which saw Bryan retain his title when it was all said and done.

    Styles is still advertised for tonight’s live event in Uniondale, New York, but if he’s still sick, that could change.

    WWE Fans Leave Live Event At Intermission (Photo)

    Speaking of last night’s SmackDown live event in Chicago, it turns out some fans missed the main event of the night during intermission. Many fans began to leave after Bryan defended his title over Ali and Miz.

    They didn’t realize Asuka was main eventing with a title defense against Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair. WWE did not announce the main event ahead of time, thus the likely reason for the confusion. The following is a fan photo of the Chicago crowd leaving the arena after Bryan’s WWE Title defense:

    https://twitter.com/laurenbeeswax/status/1078134990444158976

  • Becky Lynch Reacts To Being Named CBS’ Wrestler Of The Year

    Becky Lynch Reacts To Being Named CBS’ Wrestler Of The Year

    Professional wrestling fans can’t stop raving about the rise of Becky Lynch in WWE this year. Lynch captured the SmackDown Live Women’s Championship from best-friend-turned rival Charlotte Flair at the Hell In A Cell pay-per-view (PPV) this past October. She was then set for a massive showdown against RAW Women’s Champion Ronda Rousey at Survivor Series the following month.

    Unfortunately, an injury suffered during the RAW invasion angle forced her off the card. Lynch dropped the SDL Women’s Title earlier this month. She was defeated in a Triple Threat TLC match thanks to some interference from Rousey. Given the current three-way rivalry between Rousey, Flair, and Lynch, WWE could have something massive planned for the feud.

    With 2018 coming to a close, it’s hard to spot a more impressive Superstar from the year other than Lynch. She was recently named CBS’ Wrestler Of The Year after an amazing 2018. Along with her Wrestler Of The Year award, Lynch also took home two more. She was awarded Match Of The Year with her involvement in the Triple Threat TLC bout in which she lost her title.

    Lynch also received Moment Of The Year for her attack on Ronda Rousey on RAW, before subsequently suffering a concussion and broken nose at the hands of Nia Jax. “The Irish Lass Kicker” recently took to Twitter to react to being named CBS’ Wrestler Of The Year for 2018:

    “Start of 2018, I couldn’t even get on TV. You’re never truly down, you’re never truly out. Stand up and fight. Keep swinging even if you don’t know what you’re swinging for, or at. If you’re like me you’ll eventually slap a head that deserves it and the whole world will notice.”

    https://twitter.com/BeckyLynchWWE/status/1078047928973967360

    What do you think about CBS naming Lynch their Wrestler Of The Year for 2018?

  • Cody Rhodes Denies WWE ‘Squandered’ Him

    Cody Rhodes Denies WWE ‘Squandered’ Him

    Before emerging as one of professional wrestling’s top stars, Cody Rhodes was a product of WWE. The son of WWE Hall Of Famer Dusty Rhodes was signed to the company in 2006 and competed in Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW). Eventually, he’d make his main roster debut in 2007 when he began a brief alliance with Hardcore Holly on Monday Night RAW. For the next decade, Rhodes would spend his career in WWE, learning, evolving, and growing great aspirations within the business.

    His time with WWE ended in 2016 when his creative goals simply weren’t in line with what WWE had in mind for him. Instead, Rhodes ventured off to promotions such as Ring Of Honor (ROH) and New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW), becoming one of the industry’s hottest stars outside the WWE umbrella. He has since captured a pair of World Titles for ROH and NWA, and is currently reigning as the IWGP United States Heavyweight Champion.

    Now, Rhodes is rumored to be involved with the upstart All Elite Wrestling (AEW) promotion. Over nearly three years away from WWE, it’s amazing to see how much Cody has grown away from the company. Some believe that WWE “squandered” Cody during his time with the professional wrestling juggernaut. He recently addressed this on Twitter, and noted it’s a notion he disagrees with:

    “They didn’t squander me at all. It was a great place to learn, travel, and grow-up across TV sets. Helped shape the business side of me forever. I just had different aspirations and saw a different path I wanted to take.”

    What do you think of Cody defending his time in WWE?

  • Becky Lynch Reveals Her Expectations For 2019 In WWE

    Becky Lynch Reveals Her Expectations For 2019 In WWE

    Becky Lynch lit the WWE on fire in 2018. “The Irish Lass Kicker” emerged as a huge WWE fan favorite back in August when she turned on Charlotte Flair at SummerSlam. While it might not have been what WWE was planning for, they made a star with Lynch’s post-match beatdown of Flair at “The Biggest Party Of The Summer.” Lynch went on to win the SmackDown Live Women’s Title from Flair at the Hell In A Cell pay-per-view (PPV).

    This set up a big match between Lynch and RAW Women’s Champion Ronda Rousey at Survivor Series. Unfortunately, Lynch suffered an injury that forced her to miss the card. However, she’s expected to be a big part of the plans for WrestleMania 35’s main event. Lynch recently dropped the SDL Women’s Title to Asuka at the Tables Ladders and Chairs PPV.

    She and Charlotte Flair were sabotaged by Ronda Rousey, who interfered in the match by pushing both women off a ladder. This allowed Asuka to climb the ladder and grab the title for herself. The issues between Lynch, Flair, and Rousey could be leading to something big in the future. But with that being said, the Irishwoman has emerged as one of WWE’s biggest stars in 2018. Her stardom has even attracted the attention of UFC mega-star Conor McGregor.

    Lynch recently took to Twitter to reflect on her amazing year, and looked ahead at what’s to come in 2019:

    “2018: Even the other wrestlers couldn’t take their eyes off me. 2019: I finish this job I started.”

    https://twitter.com/BeckyLynchWWE/status/1077913532086321157

    What do you think about Lynch’s comments regarding her 2019 in WWE?

  • Ronda Rousey Comments On Main Eventing MSG

    Ronda Rousey Comments On Main Eventing MSG

    RAW Women’s Champion Ronda Rousey made WWE history last night. WWE held its house show from Madison Square Garden, which featured a stacked card with great match-ups. However, in the main event of the evening, Rousey defended her title against Nia Jax. The bout was the first-ever women’s wrestling match to main event a show at Madison Square Garden.

    Rousey has been a huge factor in WWE’s Women’s Evolution and has been reaching milestones in WWE since debuting back in April. Having already accomplished so much in mixed martial arts (MMA), what Rousey has been able to do in sports is nothing short of incredible.

    Shortly after the show, Rousey took to Instagram to reflect on making history at MSG. Here’s what she had to say:

    “Another day, another glass ceiling shattered. I’m so incredibly honored to share the ring with these amazing women in the first ever WWE women’s main event at @thegarden”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/Br4M2opnfzK/?utm_source=ig_embed

    WWE MSG Results

    You can check out the full results from WWE’s MSG house show last night here:

    • John Cena def. Baron Corbin
    • WWE Intercontinental Title #1 Contendership Battle Royal: Apollo Crews def. Curt Hawkins, Heath Slater, Jinder Mahal, Konnor, No Way Jose, Rhyno, Titus O’Neil, Viktor, and Zack Ryder
    • Bayley & Sasha Banks def. Alicia Fox & Dana Brooke
    • Ten Man Tag Team Match: Aleister Black, Matt Riddle, Pete Dunne, Ricochet & The Velveteen Dream def. Johnny Gargano, The Undisputed ERA (Adam Cole, Kyle O’Reilly & Roderick Strong) & Tommaso Ciampa (w/Bobby Fish)
    • Guitar On A Pole Match: Elias def. Bobby Lashley (w/Lio Rush)
    • Ember Moon & Natalya def. The Riott Squad (Liv Morgan & Ruby Riott)
    • Triple Threat Match: Finn Balor def. Dolph Ziggler and Drew McIntyre
    • Triple Threat Match: WWE RAW Tag Team Champions Bobby Roode & Chad Gable def. AOP (Akam & Rezar) (w/Drake Maverick) and The Revival (Dash Wilder & Scott Dawson)
    • Steel Cage Match for the WWE Intercontinental Championship: Dean Ambrose def. Seth Rollins
    • WWE RAW Women’s Championship: Ronda Rousey def. Nia Jax (w/Tamina)
  • Report: John Cena To Miss The Royal Rumble

    Report: John Cena To Miss The Royal Rumble

    It looks like John Cena might miss this year’s Royal Rumble pay-per-view (PPV). The 16-time World Champion has been keeping busy outside of the WWE ring as of late. He was recently living in China for several months to work on his “Project X” film alongside Jackie Chan. Now, Cena is making the media rounds to promote his new “Bumblebee” film.

    According to a report from Cageside Seats’ “Rumor Roundup,” it’s being rumored that “The Leader Of The Cenation” could miss this year’s Royal Rumble PPV due to his busy film schedule. The 2019 Royal Rumble goes down from Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona on January 27, 2019.

    Cena has won the Royal Rumble match twice before, first in 2008 and later in 2013, which also took place in Phoenix.

    Earlier this week, WWE announced that Cena would be appearing on SmackDown Live’s New Years Day edition of the program next week. It will be interesting to see what WWE has in store for him when he returns to the ring for WWE’s annual Holiday live events tour.

    John Cena’s Upcoming WWE Schedule

    • 12/26: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
    • 12/27: Nassau Coliseum, Long Island, NY
    • 12/28: Royals Farms Arena, Baltimore, MD
    • 12/29: PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, PA
    • 12/30: Amalie Arena, Tampa, FL
    • 1/4: Columbus Civic Center, Columbus, GA
    • 1/5: Donald L. Tucker Civic Center, Tallahassee, FL
    • 1/6: Hertz Arena, Ft. Myers, FL
    • 1/7: Amway Center, Orlando, FL (WWE RAW)
    • 1/11: Charleston Civic Center, Charleston, WV
    • 1/12: Knoxville Civic Coliseum, Knoxville, TN
    • 1/13: Von Braun Civic Center, Huntsville, AL
    • 1/14: FedEx Forum, Memphis, TN

    What do you think about Cena missing this year’s Royal Rumble PPV?

  • Tetsuya Naito Vows To Retire Chris Jericho (Video), Another WWE Star Gets Married (Photo)

    Tetsuya Naito Vows To Retire Chris Jericho (Video), Another WWE Star Gets Married (Photo)

    Tetsuya Naito Vows To Retire Chris Jericho (Video)

    The rivalry between Chris Jericho and Tetsuya Naito has been brewing for quite some time now. It all stemmed from last year at Wrestle Kingdom 12 when Jericho claimed his match with Kenny Omega was the real main event of the show. However, Naito faced Kazuchika Okada in the main event for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship.

    Jericho went on to defeat Naito for the IWGP Intercontinental Championship at Dominion back in June. “Y2J” then successfully defended his title against EVIL at Power Struggle 2018. Now, he’ll rematch Naito at Wrestle Kingdom 13 in January with his title on the line. Last week, Jericho said he was going to end Naito’s career when they step into the ring again.

    In a recent video from Naito on New Japan Pro Wrestling’s (NJPW) YouTube channel, Naito has promised the same in return:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxEMUiBKbio&feature=youtu.be

    Another WWE Star Gets Married (Photo)

    A lot of WWE stars have been getting married recently. The Riott Squad’s Sarah Logan tied the knot with NXT star Raymond Rowe in a Viking-themed wedding. Then, RAW star Lio Rush married his longtime girlfriend Sarah Green last week as well. Now, 205 Live star Akira Tozawa has also gotten married. The ceremony took place this past Saturday on December 22nd:

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BrzrPT3gyYO/?utm_source=ig_embed

  • Interviewers Not Allowed To Ask John Cena About Nikki Bella

    Interviewers Not Allowed To Ask John Cena About Nikki Bella

    Speculation remains rampant regarding the relationship between John Cena and Nikki Bella. The couple broke up earlier this year and the incident was filmed for the latest season of “Total Bellas.” However, many fans assume the breakup is staged to help promote the show’s latest season. But both Cena and Bella have remained adamant that their breakup is legitimate.

    Since their split, both Cena and Bella have been spotted together on several occasions, making fans speculate even more. With that being said, it looks like Cena is done talking about the matter for the time being. Cena is currently making the media rounds to promote his new “Bumblebee” film.

    “The Leader Of The Cenation” was in New York City this past Thursday and was part of the Empire State Building’s lighting ceremony. Cena was also at the event doing promotional work for Make-A-Wish as well. However, The New York Post’s “Page Six” is reporting that interviewers were told beforehand that they were not allowed to bring up Cena’s past engagement to Bella.

    The couple got engaged at WrestleMania 33 in 2017 after their feud with The Miz and Maryse. Cena proposed to Bella in front of thousands of fans and millions watching around the world. However, they decided to split up from each other back in April.

    What do you think about Cena dodging questions about Bella?

  • EC3 Was “Violently Throwing Up” Over Holiday Break

    EC3 Was “Violently Throwing Up” Over Holiday Break

    WWE stars certainly enjoyed their holiday breaks this week. As we’ve mentioned, this week’s episodes of Monday Night RAW and SmackDown Live were pre-taped last week. This was in order for WWE stars to get the opportunity to spend Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with their families.

    However, some Superstars’ holiday breaks went better than others. NXT star EC3 recently took to Twitter to wish his fans a Merry Christmas this week. EC3 also included in the Tweet that he was battling the flu and was spending his Christmas Eve “violently throwing up”:

    “Merry Christmas to you all. I spent last night violently throwing up with the flu. I hope you have a blessed and charmed day with those you love the most.”

    EC3 seems to be a part of WWE’s plans to shake things up in the coming months. The McMahon Family recently announced on RAW that they will be giving WWE fans more of what they’re asking for. This includes new Superstars in the form of NXT call-ups. Several names have already been confirmed for the main roster.

    In addition to EC3, Lacey Evans, Nikki Cross, Heavy Machinery, and Lars Sullivan have all been announced to be making their main roster debuts. We wish EC3 a speedy recovery, and can’t wait to see him step into the squared circle on WWE’s main roster soon!

    What do you think about EC3 getting the call up to WWE’s main roster?

  • Jeff Cobb On Advice He Received From Punishment Martinez

    Jeff Cobb On Advice He Received From Punishment Martinez

    This past October it was revealed that former Ring Of Honor (ROH) star Punishment Martinez signed with WWE. Martinez dropped the ROH World TV Championship before departing to be a part of WWE’s NXT developmental brand. However, the man he dropped the title to has become one of ROH’s most promising stars.

    Jeff Cobb picked up the ROH TV Title from Martinez in his first match with the promotion. It was quite the performance for the former amateur wrestling Olympic hopeful. Recently, Cobb joined the WINCLY podcast to talk about his journey through ROH. He mentioned how helpful Martinez was to him before he eventually departed for NXT:

    “He was the previous champion so he definitely helped me out with how to represent the company,” said Cobb. “‘This is how you carry yourself.

    “This is how you represent the company, represent the belt, represent your peers.’ My interactions with him weren’t as much as I would have liked… but he definitely helped out in the short time that we had.”

    Just As Surprised As Anybody

    As aforementioned, Cobb’s ROH World TV Title victory was his first match with ROH. Not only did the move shock a lot of professional wrestling fans, but Cobb was just as surprised by the decision as well:

    “I was more shocked at how quick the belt was coming to me on my first official ROH match. I definitely was very shocked that day showing up to the venue,” Cobb said.

    “Well the day before. There was rumblings but I never believe anything until I show up and it’s on the call sheet.”

    Cobb has since defended his title several times, including a recent successful defense against Adam Page at Final Battle. The Hawaiian’s future with ROH looks extremely bright, and he has the potential to be a big star for the promotion.

    To listen to Cobb’s full interview on the WINCLY podcast, click this link here.

    What do you think of Martinez assisting Cobb before he departed to NXT?

    H/T Wrestling Inc. for the transcriptions

  • What Happened After Rusev Won The WWE US Title (Video)

    What Happened After Rusev Won The WWE US Title (Video)

    We’ve recently noted that this week’s episodes of Monday Night RAW and SmackDown Live were pre-taped. The episodes were filmed last week in order for WWE stars to enjoy this week’s holidays with their families at home. Yesterday’s episode of SmackDown Live ended with a title change. Rusev defeated Shinsuke Nakamura for the United States Championship in the main event of the night.

    With the victory, “The Bulgarian Brute” is now a three-time WWE United States Champion. Recently, WWE posted a YouTube video showing some extra footage from Rusev’s victory celebration after SDL went off-air. Rusev celebrated with fans at ringside before looking into the WWE’s camera. He then said he dedicated the victory to his mother, who gave birth to him 33 years ago on Christmas Day.

    Rusev then said “Thank you momma” before gesturing a kiss towards the camera. Check out the video here:

    Shortly after the episode aired, Rusev took to Twitter and issued out a message to WWE fans regarding his title victory. Not only is Rusev celebrating both his birthday and Christmas, but a US Title win. He called it the “best day ever”:

    “Merry Christmas Happy RusevDay and thank you for the birthday wishes. Best day ever.”

    What do you think of Rusev’s United States Title win over Nakamura?

  • Eric Bischoff Believes Becky Lynch Is The Next Stone Cold Steve Austin

    Eric Bischoff Believes Becky Lynch Is The Next Stone Cold Steve Austin

    Former WCW President Eric Bischoff just threw out a comparison that has been making the rounds as of late. Now-former SmackDown Live Women’s Champion Becky Lynch has been getting comparisons to Hall Of Famer Stone Cold Steve Austin. Lynch has become, arguably, WWE’s biggest star in recent months. After turning heel on Charlotte Flair, the WWE Universe really began to get behind “The Irish Lass Kicker.”

    She went on to capture the SDL Women’s Title at the Hell In A Cell pay-per-view (PPV) from Flair. However, she recently lost it to Asuka in a Triple Threat Tables Ladders and Chairs (TLC) match. That’s thanks in part to some interference from RAW Women’s Champion Ronda Rousey. With that being said, Lynch is undoubtedly one of WWE’s hottest stars at the moment.

    Its been quite some time since fans have gotten behind a Superstar the way they have for her. During a recent edition of the “After 83 Weeks” podcast, Bischoff explained his comparison between Lynch and Austin:

    “I’m more of a Becky Lynch fan right now than I have been a fan of anybody in the last fifteen years. It’s because about two weeks ago I began noticing her social media, tweets, the messages she was putting out…

    “If she has somebody writing them for her, I want to know who that person is because they are a really smart writer. If she doesn’t have somebody [writing the tweets] for her and she’s doing it herself, she’s going to be the next Stone Cold Steve Austin for WWE because she is a believable character.

    “Forget about what I’ve seen on television. I’m not discarding it, but setting it aside. Her ability to capture my imagination on social media was profound. I mean, I went, whoa! She’s got it! She’s becoming so believable and unique and you can’t teach that.“

    What do you think of Bischoff’s comparison between Lynch and Austin?

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2alxPmRda_8&feature=youtu.be

    H/T Wrestling Inc. for the transcriptions

  • Beth Phoenix Receiving Historic HOF Induction

    Beth Phoenix Receiving Historic HOF Induction

    WWE Hall Of Famer Beth Phoenix is one of the greatest female professional wrestlers of all time. This was recognized when she was inducted into the WWE Hall Of Fame in 2017 by Natalya. Now, “The Glamazon” will make history when she becomes the first-ever woman inducted into the George Tragos / Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame.

    Phoenix is a four-time WWE Women’s Champion who helped pave the way for the amazing things being done by the WWE’s Women’s Division today. She’ll be recognized in a ceremony from the Dan Gable Museum. The festivities will take place from July 25th to 27th. The George Tragos / Lou Thesz pro wrestling HOF was established back in 1999. It has several well-known names including Bret Hart, Gene LeBell, Antonio Inoki and Ric Flair.

    The portion of the Tragos/Thesz HOF that Phoenix will be inducted into is located in Iowa. It’s specifically dedicated for those with amateur wrestling backgrounds, such as Phoenix. She is a former amateur wrestling champion in North-East Wrestling and the New York State Fair from 1999.

    Phoenix had the following reaction to the news of her induction:

    “I am SO humbled and grateful!!! Thank you for this honor and putting a spotlight on women’s wrestling. I marvel at today’s female athletes and how they inspire all generations (including my two young daughters!)”

    What do you think about Phoenix being the first-ever woman inducted into the George Tragos / Lou Thesz HOF?

  • Ronda Rousey Getting WWE 24 Episode, Lio Rush Gets Married (Photo)

    Ronda Rousey Getting WWE 24 Episode, Lio Rush Gets Married (Photo)

    Ronda Rousey Getting WWE 24 Documentary

    The WWE is getting ready to release a WWE 24 special on RAW Women’s Champion Ronda Rousey. “The Rowdy One” debuted in WWE back in January after the Royal Rumble. She had her first-ever match at WrestleMania in April when she teamed up with Kurt Angle to defeat Triple H and Stephanie McMahon. Since, she has won the RAW Women’s Title and has shared the ring with the likes of Nia Jax, Charlotte Flair, Nikki Bella, and more.

    PWInsider reports that Rousey’s WWE 24 special will air immediately after the Royal Rumble next month in January. It will be the first WWE 24 special to air since this past June when “The Hardys: Woken” debuted. The documentary will likely document Rousey’s first year in WWE.

    Lio Rush Gets Married (Photo)

    We’ve previously noted that WWE stars Sarah Logan and Raymond Rowe will be getting married today. However, it looks like they’re not the only ones who will be doing so this week. RAW star Lio Rush recently took to Twitter to reveal that he too has gotten married this week.

    Rush and longtime girlfriend Sarah Green were married yesterday, and Rush shared the following photograph from the day:

    https://twitter.com/itsLioRush/status/1075975626299822080