– WWE Intercontinental Champion The Miz took to Twitter to congratulate and welcome new United States Champion Randy Orton to the Grand Slam Champions club. Orton defeated Bobby Roode at the Fastlane pay-per-view (PPV) event to capture the United States Title for the first time ever.
Orton is now the 10th Grand Slam Champion under the current format. He joins Big Show, Daniel Bryan, The Miz, Chris Jericho, Dean Ambrose, Roman Reigns, Edge, Kurt Angle, and Eddie Guerrero:
– Also at Fastlane last night, 2018 Women’s Royal Rumble winner Asuka chose to challenge SmackDown Live Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania 34. She joined Talking Smack after the PPV event to offer her thoughts on whether or not “The Empress Of Tomorrow,” who has remained undefeated in WWE for two years, is overrated. Flair said she’s not underestimating Asuka ahead of their WrestleMania clash, and she doesn’t think the Japanese star is underestimating her either:
Last night’s WWE Fastlane pay-per-view (PPV) event finalized a pair of key championship matches for WrestleMania 34. In the main event of the evening, AJ Styles successfully defended his WWE Title in a Six Pack Challenge match. He will now defend his WWE strap in singles action against 2018 Men’s Royal Rumble winner Shinsuke Nakamura at “The Showcase Of The Immortals.” Also on the card saw SmackDown Live Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair successfully defend her title against Ruby Riot.
After the match 2018 Women’s Royal Rumble winner Asuka, who had yet to announce who she decided to challenge at WrestleMania, came out after Flair’s victory to confront the champion. She pointed at the WrestleMania 34 sign while staring Charlotte down, indicating she had made her decision.
WWE Hall Of Famer and former RAW General Manager Mick Foley took to his Facebook page and suggested he thinks Charlotte Flair vs. Asuka will steal the show at WrestleMania 34 in New Orleans next month:
– PWInsider is reporting that Aro Lucha’s Jason Brown, Ron Harris, and Don Harris were backstage at Friday’s Lucha Underground tapings. Two days later on Sunday, IMPACT Wrestling’s Ed Nordholm was in attendance for a taping as well. The visits were reportedly part of the organizations trying to build a working relationship with one another of some sort.
IMPACT is already set to partner with Lucha Underground April 6th for a Twitch live event special as part of WrestleCon in New Orleans on WrestleMania weekend. Aro Lucha is currently looking for talent for its upcoming TV tapings that are scheduled to go down later this year in Nashville, Tennessee.
– Kevin Owens recently took to Twitter to suggest he thinks he should be WWE Champion. During last night’s Fastlane pay-per-view (PPV) main event; a Six Pack Challenge between AJ Styles, John Cena, Owens, Sami Zayn, Dolph Ziggler, and Baron Corbin, Owens looked as though he had the match won at one point.
SmackDown Live Commissioner Shane McMahon, who was sitting ringside for the entire match, interfered in both Owens and Zayn’s pinfalls that would’ve likely secured them the match. Owens took to Twitter to voice his frustrations:
– Sports Illustrated is reporting that The Big Show’s WWE contract did expire in February last month. WWE has reportedly signed him to an agents contract in order to keep him with the company and prevent him from working elsewhere. Show recently stated that he plans to be back by WrestleMania 34.
– Just prior to WWE’s Fastlane pay-per-view (PPV) on the pre-show last night, Dolph Ziggler spoke to Cathy Kelly and Renee Young to hype his involvement in the main event of the evening – a Six Pack Challenge match for the WWE Title. During his promo Ziggler seemed to take a shot at WWE Universal Champion Brock Lesnar.
Ziggler said that SmackDown Live has their champion who defends his title week after week, seemingly taking a shot at Brock Lesnar’s part-time status over on Monday Night RAW:
“He [AJ Styles] is definitely a fighting champion and that’s been a huge factor that I like about SmackDown Live for RAW more. We have our champion, every night defending it but that also opens the door for me to slide in there and steal it.”
During a recent appearance for the Northeast Wrestling promotion earlier this month, former WWE World Heavyweight Champion Rey Mysterio suffered a bicep injury in the middle of his Tag Team match. Mysterio was still able to move his arm after the injury, however, had it been a complete tear he wouldn’t have been able to move it at all. As a result of the injury Mysterio did, and will continue to, miss some dates he was scheduled for.
Dave Meltzer recently discussed Mysterio’s injury on the latest edition of Wrestling Observer Radio and reports that the Mexican star is expected to miss a month of action. His status for the upcoming Long Beach show is currently unknown as it happens in two weeks from now:
“He was in Lexington yesterday and he said he would be out of action for one month. Now the long Beach show is two weeks from today and he said he didn’t know. At least I am going to say it’s touch and go. It may just be go. We’ll probably know in a day or two. I think he may wait until the end because he probably has this idea.
“If he can possibly do it because it’s New Japan then he will do it, but I think there is a recognition that he may not be ready in time.”
With Brock Lesnar’s WWE contract set to expire soon after WrestleMania 34 in April, it’s still up-in-the-air whether or not “The Beast” will stay with the company or return to mixed martial arts (MMA) competition in the UFC. Lesnar is currently scheduled to defend his WWE Universal Championship against Roman Reigns in the main event of WrestleMania in New Orleans next month.
It’s expected that Lesnar will drop the strap to “The Big Dog.” WWE would like for Lesnar to enter a program with the returning Bobby Lashley soon after, but that’s dependent on whether or not he re-signs with WWE. Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Radio reports that if Lesnar does want to return to the MMA world he won’t be allowed to work for the UFC simultaneously while with WWE:
“They won’t let him do it again and that’s why he’s leaving. Failed drug test is probably why. It’s a big risk for them. I was really surprised they let him fight with Mark Hunt. He had to kind of talk them into that. I think that they thought that he would beat Mark Hunt, which is surprising to a degree just because – well he did win. I thought that fight was far from a given that he would win.”
Meltzer then noted that a possible superfight at heavyweight against former 205-pound UFC champion Jon Jones is a key reason Lesnar is interested in returning to UFC. He also suggested, however, that “The Beast” could simply be leveraging WWE for more money:
“The big fight with Jon Jones is probably one he won’t win but there is so much money to be made and I think that’s why he wants to do that fight. I don’t think UFC is that comfortable having to work through WWE to get somebody that they don’t have under contract. I mean they did because it was UFC 200 and it was a special show but I think that they would rather not do that.
“I think that he would rather not have to go and get Vince McMahon’s approval on everything he does. So it just makes sense. If the right fight is there, then the money is there for him to leave. If it’s not, it’s different. The flip is this may all be a bluff anyways and he’s just doing it to leverage and to get a better deal from Vince.”
TMZ Sports uploaded a video in which they caught up with WWE Intercontinental Champion The Miz and his wife Maryse. Miz was asked about how the thinks Ronda Rousey has done in WWE thus far. Rousey recently picked Stephanie McMahon to be her opponent at WrestleMania 34. She will team with Kurt Angle against McMahon and Triple H after Stephanie slapped her at the Elimination Chamber pay-per-view (PPV) and Triple H sucker punched Angle on RAW.
Miz said that Rousey is doing a good job on WWE TV thus far despite picking the wrong people to mess with in Stephanie and Triple H:
“I think so. So far she’s getting a great reaction out of the crowd, and that’s what it’s all about. But I think she’s messing with the wrong people in Triple H and Stephanie McMahon.”
As far as Rousey’s in-ring work, Miz can’t really comment on it as he hasn’t seen “The Rowdy One” in the ring and doesn’t know where or who she was training with:
“Form as in being in WWE – transitioning from the WWE – I haven’t seen her do anything in the WWE yet, as in her wrestling. In UFC she’s incredible, she’s one of the baddest women on the planet. In WWE, it’s a completely different art and I haven’t seen her train in the ring yet. I’m not down – wherever she’s training, I haven’t been there, so I haven’t seen it.”
Miz was also asked what Rousey should name her signature Armbar in WWE:
“I don’t know. I haven’t really thought about that – “Baddest Armbar On The Planet?”
During last night’s Ring Of Honor (ROH) 16th Anniversary Show, current IMPACT World Champion and former ROH World Champion Austin Aries made a surprise appearance (showcasing all his current titles from various promotions) to challenge Kenny King for his ROH World TV Title. Aries has yet to win that championship in his professional wrestling career:
PWInsider reports that ROH and IMPACT are not currently working together in any sort of capacity. Aries is not signed to a contract with IMPACT so he is able to work for anyone else simultaneously at will. ROH and IMPACT have a rough history with one another after IMPACT bumped an ROH PPV off Direct TV thanks to a cease and desist letter for Matt and Jeff Hardy’s “Broken” gimmicks. Aries did reportedly alert IMPACT of his appearance for ROH last night and they supported his decision.
New IMPACT management are looking to run more of an open door policy to work with other promotions, and saw Aries’ appearance for ROH as a positive. IMPACT also allowed Aries to show off his IMPACT World Title at the show as well.
At Saturday night’s WWE live event from Minneapolis, Minnesota WWE Universal Champion Brock Lesnar was in action against Intercontinental Champion The Miz. You can probably guess how this one played out.
The Miztourage (Bo Dallas and Curtis Axel) tried helping out, but Lesnar ended up destroying them as well with suplexes. The referee called the match after about a minute after Lesnar had F5’d Miz, Dallas, and Axel.
The bell was rung without a pinfall even taking place and Lesnar was given his title back, which he hoisted up above his head as the crowd cheered.
“The Beast” then turned to the referee and hit him with an F5 as well before leaving the ring.
– The Rock has been receiving quite a bit of mainstream media attention for the video he posted with his young daughter earlier this week on International Women’s Day. Watch the adorable video here below:
“Girl power.
To every woman out there ‘round the world – all ages and races – I proudly stand by your side to always honor, protect and respect. Especially, the loves of my life at home.
Now if I can just get Jazzy to say the daddy is the most handsome, brilliant, sexiest man alive part, then we all gonna be cool. #MyAnchors#InternationalWomensDay ”
https://www.instagram.com/p/BgFhs6rlhvn/
– WWE posted the following YouTube video of the 10 “Most Infamous Sucker Punches In WWE.” Most recently, Triple H’s sucker punch on current Monday Night RAW General Manager Kurt Angle during a segment with Ronda Rousey was featured. Check out the video here:
– NXT General Manager William Regal took to Twitter to offer some advice to young current wrestlers looking to get into WWE. Regal noted that advertising themselves via Twitter is not the way to go about things:
If you are a Pro looking for work, be a Pro and find out the correct way to apply for @WWE or other Wrestling companies positions.Putting yourself over on twitter to companies is absolutely not the way to show yourself in the best way.
WWE SmackDown Live Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair recently did an interview with Hollywood Life to talk about a variety of professional wrestling topics. Flair was asked about RAW Superstar and the first-ever Women’s Royal Rumble winner Asuka possibly picking her to face-off against at WrestleMania 34:
“Streaks are meant to be broken and we’ve never faced each other. I think if she does choose me, then ‘The Empress’ versus ‘The Queen’ is a WrestleMania moment. I want to break her streak. I want to be that woman who can say, ‘I beat Asuka!’”
Flair was asked if she wants a regular match or a gimmick match against Asuka in a possible WrestleMania collision:
“You know, I thought about that. Maybe like a ‘Falls Count Anywhere’ match or an ‘Iron Man’ [match] but I think what will be so special is a regular match. No one has seen us in the ring before and we have such different backgrounds and styles. I don’t think it needs any enhancement or name on the match. I think just seeing us go at it on the biggest stage of all is just as exciting.”
Being the daughter of two-time WWE Hall Of Famer Ric Flair, Charlotte has learned a thing or two from one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time. She discussed what she is still able to learn from “The Nature Boy”:
“The one thing I love about my Dad is he knows who he is and he never second-guesses himself. He is just Ric Flair. I don’t know how really to explain it, but if you watch the 30 For 30, he doesn’t apologize for knowing that he is the best. He wakes up every morning and lives life to the fullest. I appreciate that.
“And him being so honest and not being afraid, and telling me how he did something well or this or that. It’s just a hope that I can get to a point in my life where I don’t second guess myself. That is what I learn from him everyday.”
You can read Flair’s full interview with Hollywood Life by clicking this link here.
WWE Superstar Baron Corbin recently spoke with NOLA.com about several professional wrestling topics. Corbin is a part of tomorrow’s WWE Title match at the Fastlane pay-per-view (PPV); which will be a Six Pack Challenge between WWE Champion AJ Styles, John Cena, Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, Corbin, and Dolph Ziggler. “The Lone Wolf” explained his need to win the match by pinning Styles:
“While guys are worrying about what John Cena and AJ Styles are doing, I can take Sami Zayn’s head off and walk out WWE champion. Pretty simple. I think that’s a good strategy to have. I’m going to keep my head on a swivel and take opportunities when I see them.”
Corbin also expressed interest in getting his revenge on John Cena for costing him his Money In The Bank cash-in last year:
“I think it would be good retribution (to cost Cena on Sunday). To see the look on his face knowing his WrestleMania moment just got taken away, his dream of another WrestleMania championship match is taken away. It would make me feel good to know I played a role in taking his little dream.”
The former NFL lineman also said he’s looking forward to taking away the ‘dream match’ between Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura at WrestleMania with a WWE Title win tomorrow:
“How many people can say they walked into WrestleMania as the WWE champion? I would like to watch all the people cry that they don’t get AJ Styles vs. Shinsuke Nakamura. There’s a lot of gratification in that.”
You can read Corbin’s full interview with NOLA.com by clicking this link here.
WWE RAW Women’s Champion Alexa Bliss recently did an interview with The Detroit News to talk about several professional wrestling topics. “Little Miss Bliss” talked about now feeling more comfortable with her on-air persona and how naturally it now comes to her:
“Before I was portraying the character Alexa Bliss, I was very shy, very uncomfortable with playing a bad guy or showing any emotion, really. Now when I’m in the ring or doing a speaking segment, I get so wrapped up in the character that I don’t even notice I’m doing it. It’s a natural feeling for me.”
Bliss also commented on what it was like working with NXT General Manager William Regal. Regal would study people in airports to get ideas for heel characters on WWE TV, and Bliss described how a child throwing a temper tantrum actually drew some inspiration for her character:
“He would sit and watch people in airports and out in public and he would study their mannerisms, and he’d say if they bothered him, chances are they’d bother other people.
“I saw how other people were looking at this child, screaming his head off, kicking and screaming in the store, and the poor mother was just mortified and trying to get her son to stop. I was like, ‘that’s gold. I’m using that.’ ”
“Five Feet Of Fury” then talked about how Marilyn Monroe related to her on-air character and in real life:
“Marilyn is very shy and quiet and unsure of herself, but there’s a scene where she’s walking down the stairs and she turns to (Eddie Redmayne’s character) and says, ‘do you want to see me be her?’ And then she switches into Marilyn mode. I was like oh my gosh, that’s exactly how I feel. ‘Do you want to see me be her.’ If you could put it into words, that would be it.”
You can read Bliss’ full interview with The Detroit News by clicking this link here.
– Currently there are only four matches confirmed for WWE NXT TakeOver: New Orleans, as of the last NXT TV taping. One thing that has yet to be confirmed is whether or not Johnny Gargano vs Tommaso Ciampa would be happening at the event as well. Gargano recently lost a match against NXT Champion Andrade “Cien” Almas, and was forced to leave NXT as a result.
WWE accidentally posted a lineup of matches scheduled for NXT TakeOver: New Orleans, which included a yet-to-be-announced Unsanctioned Match between Gargano and Ciampa. The post was quickly taken down, but not before some screenshots could be grabbed:
— Unfiltered Capitalism Respecter (@SoDuTw) March 10, 2018
– WWE is currently teasing a romance storyline between SmackDown Live Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair and United States Champion Bobby Roode. The two are currently paired up together on the Mixed Match Challenge as “The Robe Warriors.” WWE posted an article teasing the romance angle between the two. Here’s an excerpt:
Charlotte Flair’s tweet leads to speculation of romance with Bobby Roode
“Later that night, The Queen tagged Roode in a tweet that included lyrics from Brandy & Monica’s “The Boy is Mine,” leaving many in the WWE Universe wondering if romance could be brewing between the two.
However, The Riott Squad were none too pleased with Roode’s meddling, and they used social media to send a warning to the United States Champion about what would happen if he stuck his nose in their business again.
Will The Glorious One’s robes be losing their luster anytime soon? Is romance in the future for he and Charlotte Flair? Tune in to SmackDown LIVE on Tuesdays at 8/7 C and find out!”
– It’s been quite some time since Carmella won the first-ever Women’s Money In The Bank briefcase. Many fans have been wondering when “The Princess Of Staton Island” could be cashing in her Women’s Title opportunity. Brad Shepard of BodySlam.net is reporting that he has heard rumblings of Carmella cashing-in at WrestleMania 34 unsuccessfully.
Given that Charlotte Flair will likely take on Asuka at “The Show Of Shows,” and assuming the former NXT Women’s Champ’s streak continues on, it’s unlikely Carmella breaks the streak with her cash-in:
“Carmella, I’m told could very well cash in her Money in the Bank at WrestleMania and lose.”
“Well apparently from what I heard she’s okay with it. She’s down to do it. She basically knows Asuka is going to be champ and she doesn’t have a chance of winning the championship from her so it’s kinda like, ‘you might as well make the most of losing. Why not WrestleMania?’”
With Alexa Bliss likely defending her RAW Women’s Title against Nia Jax at WrestleMania, perhaps it’s possible Carmella could attempt to swap brands and cash-in on that match’s winner?
– WWE Hall Of Famer Scott Hall recently took to Twitter and issued a controversial statement about Lex Luger & Davey Boy Smith. A fan said the following on Twitter:
“Lex Luger & Davey Boy Smith were everyone a kid from the 90s wanted as a tag team.”
Hall responded by saying:
“You mean failed single wrestlers.”
Bulldog’s daughter, Georgia Smith, and wife, Diana Hart-Smith, furiously responded to Hall’s Tweet – which he has since deleted:
Fuck you @SCOTTHALLNWO, my Dad was not a failed man in ANY way. Don’t have the fondest memories of you as a child, & haven’t seen much recently that makes me think you’ve changed. 3 of your 5 best matches involved my family, & you didn’t win one of them. @GenuineLexLugerhttps://t.co/UxLzKS1DL8
— Georgia Joyce Smith (@georgiasmith87) March 8, 2018
We’ve noted a recent report from Wrestling Observer Newsletter’s Dave Meltzer who suggests WWE is planning to have Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn involved in the Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal at WrestleMania 34. This means, despite their differences on WWE TV right now, they will not be involved in a match with Shane McMahon at the event. Per McMahon’s contract, however, he needs to wrestle at “The Show Of Shows” and needs a dancing partner.
Brad Shepard of BodySlam.net reports that current plans have the SmackDown Live Commissioner facing off against Dolph Ziggler in New Orleans, as Ziggler has never had a singles contest at WrestleMania before:
“It looks like plans have recently changed and now Shane McMahon’s match, it sounds like his opponent will be Dolph Ziggler. From what I’ve been told, that’s what they are looking to do.”
“Shane has got to have his match and Dolph has never had a singles match at WrestleMania. It will be a good match, that’s fine. Not everything I am dying to see but.. That will be something to watch for if they do go with that — we should start seeing that build soon.”
Discussion: How do you feel about a potential match between McMahon and Ziggler? How would WWE set this up? And what other options are out there for “Shane O-Mac?”
As we’ve noted, the expectation for The Undertaker at this year’s WrestleMania is that he’ll be working John Cena at the event. Cena teased the match-up a few weeks ago on RAW by saying he challenged “The Deadman” to a match at “The Showcase Of The Immortals.” He later stuck a dagger in wrestling fans’ hearts by saying he was told that match was impossible. “The Leader Of The Cenation” then went to SmackDown Live where he earned his way into tomorrow’s WWE Championship match at the Fastlane pay-per-view (PPV).
The match will be a Six Pack Challenge between WWE Champion AJ Styles, John Cena, Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, Baron Corbin, and Dolph Ziggler. The winner of the match will go on to WrestleMania to defend the WWE Title against Shinsuke Nakamura. Cena has the opportunity to win a record-breaking 17th World Title tomorrow night. Unfortunately for fans of Cena, that’s not expected to happen.
In the latest installment of Wrestling Observer Live, Brian Alvarez was asked if we could possibly see the build-up to Cena vs. Undertaker on WWE TV this week. Alvarez speculated that the program could actually kickoff at tomorrow’s Fastlane event, as he doesn’t think WWE will wait for RAW to start the feud. It’s expected AJ Styles will successfully defend his title tomorrow to set up a singles match against Nakamura at WrestleMania – which has the potential to tear the house down and steal the show.
As for Cena, it’s possible Taker could accept his challenge and cost him tomorrow’s match to setup their bout at Mania. It should be interesting to see if this actually transpires during tomorrow’s PPV event.
– For the past several weeks filmmaker Jon Bravo has been teasing the release of evidence that WWE Superstar Roman Reigns was involved in an illegal steroid ring operation as a customer. In a new teaser released by Bravo, he mentioned that former WWE Superstar Luther Reigns could be involved in the scandal as well.
This led to some speculation that Bravo could’ve mistaken Luther for Roman. The first name of one of the “Reigns” characters in question was cropped out in one of his photos. Check it out:
Bravo responded to some of the speculation that he could’ve confused Luther and Roman, saying they’re two different people and fans shouldn’t be irresponsible by spreading rumors:
“Luther and Roman are 2 different people everyone. Stop spreading rumors and wait until I release more information. Be responsible guys…”
Bravo had teased the release of the Reigns evidence video last week but had to halt posting due to what he claims to be last-second editing. It should be interesting to see when he releases the video, and what evidence he actually has on Reigns, with WrestleMania 34 right around the corner.
– In WWE’s latest preview for Monday Night RAW next week they teased when the Final Deletion match between “Woken” Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt could take place. Here’s the preview for the segment:
“The Ultimate Deletion” is upon us, and the battleground has been chosen.
After “Woken” Matt Hardy invited Bray Wyatt to The Hardy Compound for the final battle in the “Great War,” The Eater of Worlds accepted the challenge via social media.
WWE 205 Live star Drew Gulak recently appeared on former Cruiserweight Champion Sean “X-Pac” Waltman’s podcast, X-Pac 12360, to talk about several professional wrestling topics. Gulak started off by saying that his character in WWE is all his creation and how much he turns it up on TV:
“It’s all me. I mean, I definitely turn it up for the show and stuff like that but it’s been cool being in WWE. It’s a collaborative process here. Because there are so many different people you know in creative positions, but they’ve been really receptive to working with our ideas and getting the most out of that.”
Gulak also divulged that, for the most part, his promos are written for him; however, he has the ability to manipulate them and make them sound more real:
“They are mostly written for me, but we are given freedom to manipulate them or make it sound more natural. A lot of guys will come in here and they’ll just see what’s written on the paper and go, ‘Ah, I can’t do this.’ And they’ll go out there and do their own thing or they’ll have it rewritten for them. I try to do my best with what I’m handed… If something doesn’t connect I’ll speak up or if something doesn’t’ look right I have no problem mentioning it.”
With Triple H now taking over 205 Live, Gulak also sounded off on the new decision to have “The Game” call the shots:
“I think originally it was his [Triple H] concept coming out of the Cruiserweight Classic. It was very much Triple H’s idea to bring in a Cruiserweight division and build this brand up. And as soon as we came over, Vince was like ‘hey this is great, let’s run with it,’ and he kinda took the ball and ran with it. Up until the last couple weeks, they basically went to the idea of basically having a tournament again to rechristen the new Cruiserweight Champion. That’s pretty much been under the guide of Triple H.”
Gulak also explained why he wants to see Joey Janela come to WWE in the near future:
“Well we were talking about Joey Janela, he’s someone that has come through the CZW school and worked hard later on in his career and lately he has just been doing a great job. He’s proven to me, that if he has a goal or is set on something he can go out and achieve it. So, really it just comes down to if you really want it , if you’re willing to do the things to kinda adjust and get here, I think it is within reach for some people.”
You can listen to Gulak’s interview on X-Pac 12360 by clicking this link here.
Ring Of Honor’s (ROH) Christopher Daniels recently did an interview with WrestleZone to talk about several professional wrestling topics. Daniels first discussed getting a role as a stunt performer in Netflix’s series “Love”:
“Chavo Guerrero is a stunt coordinator, he was the stunt coordinator for GLOW, and when Love needed a wrestling scene they knew that he was someone that has worked with wrestlers and stunt people at the same time. Chavo put myself, Tyrus, Lil’ Cholo from Lucha Underground is in it, and Lisa Marie Varon is in it, but that’s how it all got set up. Chavo knows that there’s a lot of us out here in [Los Angeles], and whenever there’s a wrestling scene he kind of just throws his friends together and gets us in there.”
The former ROH World Champion was then asked if he takes roles based on appeal to his fanbase, or if he is simply trying to build up his resume as a stunt performer:
“For me, someone that is entertaining the idea of branching out into stunt work in the future, it’s just an opportunity to sort of hone my skills and get to know more stunt coordinators and stunt performers in the Hollywood scene. I understand, and I hope wrestling fans understand that these shows may not be on the toplists of fans that watch me in Ring Of Honor, but they understand the difference between Christopher Daniels of Ring Of Honor and Christopher Daniels as a stunt man.
“We’re playing different roles and I’m serving a different show and a different storyteller. It doesn’t bother me to go into stunt work, and if [ROH fans] are watching Love because I’m on it, hopefully they enjoy the show, and it might get them into watching the entire series if they like the episode that we’re on.”
Daniels then discussed facing The Hung Bucks (The Young Bucks and Adam Page) at ROH’s 16th Anniversary show this weekend:
“The feud between myself and Frankie [Kazarian] and the Young Bucks has been going on for a couple of years now. As far as our toughest opponents, I have to throw the Young Bucks up at the top of the list. So, now with them as the Six-Man Tag Team Champions with Adam Page, we recently recruited Scorpio Sky as a fellow So-Cal professional wrestler to be on our side, so over the course of the past few months we’ve had so many interactions with them were Friday is going to be a Vegas Street Fight.
“Basically there’s no rules, and anything goes. The tensions between us and them have escalated to the point where there’s going to be weapons, there’s probably going to be blood, but I feel confident in myself, Frankie and Scorpio where we’re going to come out as the new Six-Man Tag Team Champions.”
When asked about his Mount Rushmore of ROH wrestlers, Daniels offered up names such as Samoa Joe, Jay Lethal, and Bryan Danielson:
“I feel like probably the top four guys for me are, and I’m not going to name myself, that’d be wildly arrogant. I’d have to put Bryan Danielson, Samoa Joe, Jay Briscoe and Jay Lethal. It’s tough to narrow it down to four, because you leave out guys like Nigel McGuinness, who deserves to be in that conversation. You leave out Low Ki, Austin Aries as the first two-time champion, or Adam Cole as the first three-time champion.
“All of those guys deserve to be in that conversation, but certainly looking back at the history of Ring Of Honor, the first two guys, Samoa Joe and Bryan Danielson are locks. And what Jay Briscoe and Jay Lethal have meant to Ring Of Honor, especially over the past decade, it certainly says a lot about their hard work and their effort and what they brought to this company as a whole.”
You can read Daniels’ full interview with WrestleZone by clicking this link here.
– For the past several months Matt Hardy has been utilizing a modified version of his “Broken” persona on WWE TV, calling himself “Woken.” He is currently embroiled in a feud with Bray Wyatt and will likely have a match with him at the Hardy Family Compound. Hardy recently took to Twitter and noted that “W” is going to start sounding like “BR”:
– Deadline is reporting that WWE Hall Of Famer Hulk Hogan’s legal battle with Gawker over his leaked sex tape could possibly be turned into a feature film or TV series. David A. Neuman’s Blackrock Production company has acquired the rights to turn Ryan Holiday’s “Conspiracy: Peter Thiel, Hulk Hogan, Gawker and the Anatomy of Intrigue” book into a production. The book was released last Tuesday and was written with cooperation from Hogan. Hogan wound up winning $140 million in the lawsuit.
This past November at NXT TakeOver: WarGames former NXT Champion Drew McIntyre suffered a torn bicep injury during his title loss to Andrade Almas. The former Intercontinental Champion needed surgery to repair the injury. PWInsider‘s Mike Johnson reports that McIntyre has been spotted working out at the WWE Performance Center for the past few days, meaning he is close to making his in-ring return.
Johnson also noted that he was previously told that the timeframe for McIntyre’s return from injury ended sometime in April. WWE’s goal was to have him return for WrestleMania weekend and they’re right on track to make that happen. There is currently no news on what WWE has planned for McIntyre once he returns to NXT, but we’ll keep you updated as we learn more.
WWE Superstar Dolph Ziggler recently appeared on Isacc Wenzel’s “All Things Wrestling Radio” show to talk about several professional wrestling topics. The former World Heavyweight Champion revealed that he actually campaigned to WWE brass to remove him from television, citing that someone who loses as much as he does doesn’t deserve to be on the show. Here’s what he had to say:
“I will say that I really begged and pleaded for a couple of months off the television show,” Ziggler said. “Because no matter how good I am or what I’m up to it seems that 99 times out of 100 I would lose. I didn’t think that I deserved to be on the TV show if I was someone that was losing every night, so I asked to be taken off. I was hoping for maybe six months or a year and it ended up being four weeks.”
The four weeks Ziggler is referring to is when he vacated the United States Championship after winning the strap at WWE’s Clash Of Champions pay-per-view (PPV) this past December. He won a Triple Threat match against then-champion Baron Corbin and Bobby Roode. The following Tuesday on SmackDown Live Ziggler vacated the title after walking out on WWE. He left the championship in the center of the ring and walked away.
He was off WWE TV for several weeks before returning in the number 30 spot in the Men’s Royal Rumble in January. Ziggler is now one of six men involved in the Six Pack Challenge this weekend for the WWE Title at Fastlane. Ziggler will compete against champion AJ Styles, John Cena, Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, and Baron Corbin.
WWE Champion AJ Styles recently joined Busted Open Radio with David LaGreca and Mark Henry to discuss his upcoming Six Pack Challenge WWE Title defense against John Cena, Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, Baron Corbin, and Dolph Ziggler. “The Phenomenal One” sung Cena’s praises and called him one of the greatest of all time:
“I’m not saying that John is a great athlete, I don’t want to discredit who John is,” Styles said. “He’s not known for his moveset. But his psychology is unbelievable! Like, he gets it on another level. It makes up for things he lacks in his moveset because he’s so unbelievable in that ring. When he and I work together… I say him signing something, and he is a leftie, he uses his left hand.
“I said, ‘that’s gotta be what it is John, that’s why we work so well together, because you’re a leftie and I’m a rightie and it just works.’ We’re different in every way, but we keep on putting on great matches.”
On RAW this week Cena suggested a Triple Threat match at WrestleMania between himself, AJ Styles, and Shinsuke Nakamura for the WWE Title. Styles said that he doesn’t want that match to happen as he wants Nakamura all to himself:
“I guess John Cena was on RAW last night saying that he’s going to win [at Fastlane] and I should invoke my rematch clause at WrestleMania so that it can be a three-way between myself, Nakamura and John Cena,” Styles said. “Well I don’t want to do that. I don’t want to lose this match coming up at Fastlane. I want Nakamura all to myself.
“I’ve got a score to settle with Nakamura,” Styles admitted. “We had a match – one match – between him and I in Japan. He took that match, he won that one. He had home field advantage. I want the home field advantage this time and we’ll see what happens. I want him all to myself.”
– As we’ve noted, Braun Strowman and RAW Women’s Champion Alexa Bliss defeated the team of SmackDown Live Tag Team Champ Jimmy Uso and Naomi in Week 9 of the Mixed Match Challenge. Bliss and Strowman will challenge WWE Intercontinental Champion The Miz and Asuka in Week 10 of the Mixed Match Challenge. The winner of that match will go on to the finals.
WWE posted a post-match video of Bliss and Strowman to talk about their win. Dasha Fuentes asked the pair if anything was going on between them after Braun said he and Alexa were going “all the way”… in the tournament. Check it out here:
– Former WWE Superstar Darren Young, real name Fred Rosser, has announced that he will be launching his own YouTube channel. He made the announcement on Twitter via video:
— nodaysoff FRED ROSSER III (@realfredrosser) March 7, 2018
– The Rock’s daughter was taken to the emergency room Saturday night. Rock’s two-year-old, Jasmine, is fine now, but “The Great One” took to Instagram to thank first responders in Los Angeles for helping out:
