SmackDown Superstars The Usos have opened up about being able to deliver unscripted promos during a recent appearance on D-Von Dudley’s podcast, Table Talk.
They recalled how they were finally given promo time after finally ditching their colorful paint gimmick. The caveat to this, however, is that the Usos were only allocated 30 seconds. The twins revealed it was a struggle to determine what to say in such a short period of time.
“We put black on because we went from colors to straight black and white. We put our hoodies on. We said, it’s not paranoia, it’s the Usos. Then we ran with it. We started saying that we are locking this down like in the penitentiary. We were just talking like we talked back in the day, talking trash on the court. Once that came along, we got so comfortable with that and that’s when it started oozing out and it became so fun and so new.”
The Usos then reflected on the Rap Battle idea they pitched. The team would have several Rap Battles against teams like The New Day and The Bar. When they were in the ring, the brothers admitted that they didn’t want to know what their opponents would say and vice versa. They stressed that was the “fun part” and that they “killed it.”
D-Von revealed he had pitched for the Usos to get promo time following their gimmick change. He explained how he believed all they needed to do was let the Usos be themselves. D-Von stressed that WWE creative shouldn’t write a script or tell them what to do. If they trusted him and his faith in the Usos, he had no doubt the team would succeed.
NXT Superstar Johnny Gargano has commented on the injury scare he experienced during this week’s episode. Gargano competed against former NXT UK Superstar Ridge Holland. Their bout would secure the winner a spot at NXT TakeOver: XXX’s North American Championship Ladder Match.
However, during the match, Gargano would be spiked on his head and neck following a botched power slam from Holland. Taking to Twitter, Gargano stressed how “‘All Heart’ isn’t just a catchphrase. You only lose when you quit and I got a Ladder match to win in 3 days.”
After the scary moment, both Triple H and Shawn Michaels were among those to rush to check on Gargano. When it was confirmed that Gargano could continue, the matchup was re-started. WWE edited the match to remove any sort of break after the near-miss took place. It was determined that, because Gargano was thankfully okay after being spiked, it was acceptable to air the botched power slam on television.
Johnny Gargano competes against Bronson Reed, Damian Priest, Cameron Grimes, and Velveteen Dream at NXT TakeOver: XXX. The winner will claim Keith Lee’s vacated NXT North American Championship.
NXT TakeOver: XXX takes place this Saturday from Full Sail University at Winter Park, FL, and will air on the WWE Network.
Former WCW star Marcus “Buff” Bagwell was recently involved in an unfortunate car accident. He would be hospitalized with reported serious injuries on August 16.
Atlanta promoter Ron Gossett has provided a medical update on his friend in a recent Facebook post. He asked fans to send prayers in support of Buff Bagwell. According to Gossett, Bagwell messaged him and shared how he hoped to soon leave the hospital. However, because of the severity of the car wreck, he suffered several broken bones.
Gossett noted how Bagwell is currently dealing with broken ribs, a broken right hip, broken left socket bone, a broken nose, a torn right groin muscle, and heavy bruising. Thankfully, despite the reported seriousness of the incident, Gossett shared how Bagwell does not require surgery of any sort.
Bagwell was driving his 2013 Chevrolet Tahoe on Cumberland Boulevard this past Sunday at around 5:18pm local time when the collision occurred. Investigators believe he was impaired by prescription medication at the time of the accident. At the time of writing, the investigation is still underway, and Cobb County police have requested that anyone with further information get in contact with its investigators at 770-499-3987.
All of us at SEScoops wish Buff Bagwell the best during the time and hope he has a speedy recovery.
WWE Superstar Riddick Moss was allegedly in line for a significant push in the company prior to the coronavirus pandemic.
When the pandemic hit, Moss was the WWE 24/7 Champion. However, with the pandemic risk, Moss wanted to protect his brother who has cystic fibrosis. Because of this, Moss wanted to shield as much as possible to help protect his brother from possibly contracting COVID-19.
WWE was reportedly respectful of his request. Moss subsequently dropped the belt to R-Truth on the 3/22 episode of Monday Night RAW.
According to Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select, Paul Heyman did all he could to avoid Moss receiving any potential heat for his decision. It was reported that “Heyman was very high on Moss at the time and a big push was in order.”
Despite having been absent from WWE programming until recently, Moss’s decision allegedly hasn’t scuppered any long-term plans WWE has for him. Additionally, WWE officials are still said to see great potential in him.
Riddick Moss recently returned to television on the 8/10 episode of RAW. He participated in a RAW Underground segment, defeating Cal Bloom via knockout. On this week’s episode of RAW, he faced off against Arturo Ruas. Their bout would end after both men had to defend themselves from crowd members.
It is unknown if Moss will continue to participate in RAW Underground segments at the time of writing or if WWE will soon involve him with a new storyline or feud.
English explained how “the mind that is Vince McMahon is a very wild place.”
He noted Vince’s reaction to chants could be taken two ways: “it literally could just be point face, what it was, or he could have been saying that to try to get Miro, like angry, and like yeah, fire him up.”
He added that he wouldn’t put it past Vince McMahon to try a tactic like this to encourage a Superstar. English opened up about how there always seemed to be a creative hesitation in “pulling the trigger” with himself and Rusev.
This hesitation led him to believe there could be some truth behind Vince McMahon’s opinion of the chants, even if the reality was drastically different.
English also believed WWE’s reluctance lay in its desire to build Rusev as a heel at the time:
“They were trying to push him [Rusev] as a really strong heel, so I get the urge to be like ‘No, let’s not immediately jump into like everybody loves him,’ I get it. You don’t want to jump into anything too fast.”
Regardless, the ‘Rusev Day’ chants would continue gaining popularity week after week.
Both Aiden English and Rusev were released by WWE earlier this year. Their releases were attributed as a cost-cutting measure to offset the impact coronavirus has had on business.
Posted August 20th, 2020 in WWE, News. Tagged: Rusev.
The WWE Network has quietly removed several documentaries from its streaming library featuring WWE Hall of Famer Bret “The Hitman” Hart.
Although there is no official word as to why these specific documentaries have been removed, the decision is reportedly related to footage from Stampede Wrestling.
Bret Hart owns the rights to his Stampede Wrestling matches, having bought them from his parents before they passed away. That being said, WWE owns the Stampede Wrestling tape library. So, although the library can be featured on the WWE Network, unless WWE and Hart come to an agreement, footage of his matches will be missing.
This issue has occurred in the past, with several episodes of Stampede Wrestling being removed in 2015. Since these episodes were removed, any footage of Stampede Wrestling included on the WWE Network will be noticeably missing Hart and his in-ring skills.
WWE Network removed the following documentaries from their streaming library:
Bret Hart: The Best There Is, The Best There Was, The Best There Ever Will Be (2005)
Hart & Soul: The Hart Family Anthology (2010)
WWE’s Top 50 Superstars (2010)
Greatest Rivalries: Bret Hart vs. Shawn Michaels (2011)
Bret Hart: The Dungeon Collection (2013)
The Most Powerful Families In Wrestling (2019)
If Hart and WWE eventually come to terms, the matches and documentaries will likely be re-added to the WWE Network. However, at the time of writing, it is unknown whether any future negotiations are planned.
Following last night’s episode of NXT, fans took to Twitter and began using the #FireVelveteenDream hashtag to share their frustration with WWE’s decision to bring Velveteen Dream back to television.
In addition to the trending hashtag, fans also started a petition to convince WWE to once again investigate Velveteen Dream and the allegations made against him.
The #FireVelveteenDream hashtag managed to gain momentum after Jacob Schmidt helped to boost it. Schmidt is one of the people accusing Velveteen Dream of sexual misconduct. He used the hashtag and shared his alleged conversation with the Superstar. It was stressed that WWE never contacted him despite WWE’s claims a thorough investigation had been conducted.
During last night’s episode of NXT, Dream faced off against Finn Balor for a spot in the NXT North American Championship Ladder Match at NXT TakeOver: XXX.
Dream ultimately won the matchup despite the controversy currently surrounding him. He will now take on Johnny Gargano, Bronson Reed, Damien Priest, and Cameron Grimes for the championship opportunity.
NXT TakeOver: XXX takes place this Saturday, August 22, from Full Sail University, Winter Park, FL.
Kevin Sullivan has explained the logic behind WCW’s decision to feature Goldberg versus Hulk Hogan for free on Monday Nitro. The two faced off on the July 6, 1998, episode of Nitro in a WCW Heavyweight Championship matchup. Goldberg defeated Hogan to claim the gold for the first time.
Speaking on his podcast, Taskmaster Talks, Sullivan stressed how the decision to have Goldberg win the belt on Nitro was “made by the corporate side of the business.”
“They were into merging with AOL and they wanted to have a show and tell so those people from the corporate side were in with AOL and they were looking to see if they would buy,” Sullivan explained. “They brought them to the wrestling and they saw that building full and they knew they had a winner.”
Kevin Sullivan: “They Left A Lot Of Money On The Table”
Sullivan stressed how the match was originally meant to take place on a WCW pay-per-view. He recalled J.J. Dillon informing him of WCW’s decision to have it on Nitro for free instead and how the call came from corporate. According to Sullivan, it left him in a state of disbelief.
“It was a corporate decision. They left a lot of money on the table on that one. It would have been a huge PPV,” Sullivan said. “The people would have paid money and would have seen a clean finish. They would have been salivating for the next one when Bill defended against any of the top NWO members.”
He listed several nWo members that could have subsequently feuded with Goldberg. From a rematch with Hogan, he also mentioned Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, and even Scott Steiner as contenders against Goldberg.
Kevin Sullivan highlighted how WCW could have “gone down the line” and delivered an impressive 6-month run without “cute finishes.” As far as he’s concerned, “they blew a big year.”
Shaul Guerrero was the special guest on this week’s episode of her mother’s podcast, Excuse Me. During their conversation, Shaul spoke about the pressures she has felt breaking into pro wrestling as the daughter of late WWE legend, Eddie Guerrero.
When asked by Vickie if she believed her father would be proud of her breaking into the business, Shaul replied, “I want to say he would be proud.”
She explained how her time in FCW was fuelled by pressure to be as good as Vickie and Eddie Gurrero. Shaul stressed there was a lot of pressure to “earn” her name and, at one point, felt as though she wasn’t “Latina enough for them.”
“I understood where they were coming from that they don’t want to call you by your name because if you suck we don’t want you to be a disappointment. That happened to me about two months in. I was like holy sh*t.”
Shaul Guerrero On Pressures To Be The “Ideal Diva”
Shaul noted how she never felt pressure from Vickie Guerrero. She added how she believes her family never meant to put pressure on her. Regardless, she was made to feel there were issues with her body. According to Shaul, she “needed to look more feminine” and become the “ideal Diva.”
“I was having such a hard time and the pressure was so much. I don’t know if they meant to put that pressure on me. Every rehearsal was like, ‘well your Dad did it like this.'”
She explained how she loved being compared to Eddie Guerrero as she looked up to him so much. If she drew comparisons to him because of how she moved, it was a comparison she enjoyed.
However, Shaul stated how she now wants to do things her way and do it for her. She added how she will be putting Eddie Guerrero’s legacy “to the side a little bit” as she continues her pro wrestling journey.
All Elite Wrestling’s Chris Jericho has broken down the similarities he sees between himself and WWE Superstar Bray Wyatt.
Speaking on a recent episode of his YouTube show, Saturday Night Special, Jericho praised Wyatt and his refusal to become stagnant.
“Love The Fiend, love Windham Rotunda. It’s kind of a mouthful of a name, but, such a great guy, and super smart, creative. I think this is why he reminds me a little bit of me,” Jericho said. “He will never be the same guy twice. Because that’s the secret of having longevity in show business, you can’t be the same guy. Look at David Bowie or any great actor.”
Chris Jericho has embraced several gimmick changes to his character over his lengthy career. He has never been afraid to try something new or tweak characteristics to refresh his character, allowing him the succesful in-ring longevity he refers to.
Most recently, Jericho has been embroiled in a feud with Best Friends’ Orange Cassidy. The two faced off in a matchup this past Wednesday night on Dynamite.
Despite Inner Circle’s best efforts to secure Jericho’s victory, Cassidy would emerge the winner after Jericho hit a low blow but missed connecting with the Judas Effect. Cassidy would wrap Jericho up in a pinning combination and managed to pin him for the three count.
Several WWE Superstars reportedly reached out to All Elite Wrestling to gauge its potential interest when their contracts expired. One Superstar to deny this claim is the current WWE Universal Champion, Braun Strowman.
According to Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Radio, many of WWE’s top Superstars reached out to AEW. He stressed that there are “guys who have claimed different,” but at one point, “virtually everybody in WWE” reached out to the rival promotion. It was noted how only Roman Reigns was the only Superstar to not even inquire.
Braun Strowman, however, refutes that claim. Speaking with Heel By Nature, The “Monster Among Men” labeled Meltzer’s statement as “fake news.” He also added how he doesn’t like “being clickbait for lies.”
Strowman signed a 5-year deal with WWE in July 2019. He made his decision before All Elite Wrestling had announced that its show, Dynamite, would debut on TNT.
Superstars like Randy Orton and Edge have previously spoken to AEW prior to signing new WWE contracts. Orton is now signed to a 5-year deal. Edge negotiated with AEW before returning to discuss options with WWE.
Braun Strowman will defend his WWE Universal Championship this Sunday at WWE’s SummerSlam pay-per-view. He faces off against “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt.
Former NXT Champion Adam Cole has shared what he believes NXT should do as the brand continues to compete with AEW Dynamite every Wednesday night.
Speaking with TV Insider, Cole acknowledged the Wednesday Night Wars waging between the two companies. He stressed how “When we’re focused on our show, we’re focused on our show. We’re not thinking about what they’re doing. At least I don’t. I’m not sure what anyone else is doing.”
Cole has several friends who work with AEW, including his girlfriend, Britt Baker. He noted how conversations with them reveal they have the same mentality.
Regarding the ratings war between WWE and AEW, Cole believes the right approach is to continue highlighting NXT’s strengths.
“I think finding ways to have really exciting matches and angles and interviews. Finding ways to constantly try new things and see what sticks and what doesn’t stick and evolving the television show. They’re both fairly new television shows.”
Adam Cole argued how being on USA Network is still a new experience for the black-and-yellow brand. Because of this, NXT needed to commit to finding new and exciting ways to tell its stories.
Cole gave credit to NXT’s crew and Superstars, noting how the roster boasts talent who are “the best in the world.” He stressed that if these wrestlers are highlighted, NXT will continue to grow.
Several of WWE’s top Superstars reportedly reached out to All Elite Wrestling to see what the promotion would be willing to offer at the end of their contracts.
During a mailbag segment on Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer was asked if certain names could wind up in AEW. Roman Reigns, Will Ospreay, Kota Ibushi, and even Don Callis were all mentioned. Incidentally, these were the same names Chris Jericho mentioned on a recent episode of his Saturday Night Special show. Jericho was listing who he’d like to eventually see in AEW.
According to Meltzer, Reigns is the only Superstar to never inquire with AEW. He stated how “everybody” in WWE has previously asked, even if they have claimed otherwise. He stressed how Reigns will never go to AEW.
“Roman Reigns is not going to AEW, not happening. Of all of the guys, virtually everybody in WWE including guys who have claimed different, at one point or another have called people in AEW trying to see what they can get or have had an interest.”
Meltzer continued, “Roman Reigns and there’s a couple of others but Roman Reigns is basically, of the top guys, he was the only one who never even inquired so he ain’t going anywhere.”
Superstars like Randy Orton and Edge have previously spoken to AEW prior to signing new WWE contracts. Orton is now signed to a 5-year deal. Edge negotiated with AEW before returning to discuss options with WWE.
Sonya Deville has shared her first public comments since a man was arrested after attempting to break into her home. Phillip A. Thomas II was found armed with a knife, plastic zip ties, duct tape, and mace. He had intended to kidnap Deville. Thomas had allegedly been plotting the kidnapping for 8 months.
Taking to Twitter, Deville wrote:
“Thank you everyone for your love and concern. A very frightening experience but thankfully everyone is safe. A special thank you to Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office for their response and assistance.”
Thank you everyone for your love and concern. A very frightening experience but thankfully everyone is safe. A special thank you to Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office for their response and assistance. ?
The man gained access to Deville’s porch after cutting a hole into the Superstar’s screen door. He reportedly waited there as Deville and a friend watched this weekend’s UFC 252 event. Upon trying to access the property, Deville’s alarm system triggered. Having seen Thomas in her house, she fled her home and called the police.
Thankfully, Thomas was arrested by police. He has been charged with Aggravated Stalking, Armed Burglary of a Dwelling, Attempted Armed Kidnapping, and Criminal Mischief.
“Our deputies are unveiling the suspect’s disturbing obsession with this homeowner who he had never met, but stalked on social media for years,” Sheriff Chad Chronister said in a press release. “It’s frightening to think of all the ways this incident could have played out had the home alarm not gone off and alerted the homeowner of an intruder.”
A Twitter account with the username @Phillip80400010 appears to belong to Thomas. It features a litany of of tweet and retweets revolving around Sonya Deville.
Read more about the Sonya Deville attempted kidnapping at the Tampa Bay Times:
Bret Hart has revealed how Triple H and Shawn Michaels allegedly bullied The Rock when he first started in WWE.
Speaking on his Confessions of The Hitman series, Hart stressed how plenty of jealous wrestlers wanted The Rock to quit the business and would actively give him a “really hard time.”
According to Hart, their attempts to “break” The Rock almost worked on a few occasions. He added how he and his brother, Owen Hart, often supported The Rock and would look out for him: “I think Owen and I had a lot to do with sort of looking out for him when he first came down. [The Rock] was kind of a marked guy.”
He noted how the Superstars who were envious of The Rock also happened to be those involved in the infamous Montreal Screwjob. Because of this, Hart felt compelled to support The Rock backstage. He admitted he had the “same dislike for the same petty bulls–t that these guys were all about.”
Bret Hart On Witnessing Shawn Michaels Chew Out The Rock
Bret Hart recalled an incident that saw Michaels allegedly reprimanded The Rock following a top rope dropkick. Michaels insisted the move was his. Hart stressed to the then-rookie that Michaels’ claim was “bulls–t.” He noted how he and his brother would often do top rope dropkicks without issue.
“The Rock was [deflated] because in those days, Shawn had a lot of weight. He was a pretty important guy for the company, a veteran guy kind of dressing him down like that, he was apologizing and said he didn’t know, and he thought it would be okay. I remember the door closed after Shawn left and I said, ‘that’s bulls–t. That’s total bulls–t.’ I said, ‘nobody owns the dropkick off the top. You can do that. Owen does it all the time! Why doesn’t he cut a promo on Owen?’ I said, ‘they’re just busting your chops and they’re trying to work on you.'”
He then claimed that Triple H was the same as Michaels. Hart shared how Triple H was “always out to get The Rock.” According to him, both Triple H and Michaels wanted The Rock out of the company “as bad as they wanted me out.” He explained how there were plenty of occasions where the two would make things difficult for The Rock. However, because Hart had some clout at the time, he could go in and help The Rock “rebound” with help and advice.
Following The Rock’s eventual success and rise to Superstardom, Hart shared he was glad he “overcame their petty bulls–t.”
You can sign up for Bret Hart’s Confession of The Hitman series here.
NXT Superstar Shotzi Blackheart unfortunately recently had her car stolen. Her car contained not only wrestling gear but also the recognizable helmet she wears during her ring entrance.
In a recent video Shotzi Blackheart uploaded to her YouTube account, she drove to where police have recovered her car. She is accompanied by fellow NXT Superstar Jake Atlas. Thankfully, her possessions—including the helmet which holds sentimental value to Blackheart—were all recovered without issue.
In the video, Blackheart is dressed in her wrestling gear and holding a toothbrush. She explained she was preparing to wrestle when she got the call that her car had been found. The video then details their journey towards the police as her nervous excitement grows.
Holding a toothbrush throughout, Blackheart inspects the car with the police. She explained how “there’s a really sentimental helmet in the trunk […] I don’t even care about the car, I just want this helmet.”
Guiding the police over the driver’s side, they open the trunk. Blackheart immediately jumps for joy having seen everything is still safely in the back of her car. She then grabbed her helmet, hugging it tightly.
When asked by an officer why the helmet mattered so much to her, Blackheart explained:
“The reason I love my helmet so much is because my first day of training it was hung up on the wall of my training facility, and every day I saw it, and then when I first started having matches, my trainers let me have the helmet. It’s been with me my entire career—I’ve taken this thing all over the world.”
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Former WWE Superstar Erick Rowan has shared what he pitched to be revealed in the cage he carried with him before his release.
Speaking with Sportskeeda, Rowan — who is now known as Erick Redbeard — opened up about the cage gimmick. He revealed how he pitched having American Horror Story actress Jyoti Amge being shown as being kept within the cage. Amge owns the Guinness World Record as the world’s shortest adult woman. She measures in at 2 feet and 1 inch.
“I’m so large and she would be so small, and delicate. It would show a different side of me to the fans,” Rowan explained. “Everyone is trying to humanize people in wrestling these days, and I thought the most un-human characters are the best. That’s the most intriguing when you watch a movie. You watch a movie and you see people that you can relate to as being your creepy uncles in prison. That’s interesting to me. And that’s what I like. I like the horrors of the world and how they have feelings as well, but no one can sympathize with them because they’re such horrible people.”
Erick Rowan’s Disappointment
Erick Rowan confessed how the story’s extended build-up did not live up to the reveal of a giant spider. He called the spider “trivial” and admitted it was “kinda sucky.” It was made worse for him following the work put in and the ideas over what it could have been prior to the reveal.
He explained how he had sent messages to Paul Heyman and WWE’s creative team about what could be in the cage. Rowan also shared how he had written down extensive ideas over what it should be, including “over the top ideas about it.”
Erick Rowan was released by WWE earlier in the year. The decision was made as a cost-cutting effort following coronavirus’ impact on business.
All Elite Wrestling is reportedly still heavily invested in Jurassic Express member Jungle Boy.
According to Dave Meltzer via Wrestling Observer Radio, the promotion is still committed to their long-term build of Jungle boy. This news comes following his recent loss on AEW Dynamite.
It’s reported that AEW wants to hold off on the push until its fanbase can once again attend live events. It is speculated that when this happens, AEW will be giving him some major momentum.
This week’s episode of AEW Dynamite saw Jungle Boy and Luchasaurus team up for an AEW Tag Team Championship opportunity. Despite their best efforts, the defending champions Kenny Omega and Hangman Page were able to retain their tag belts. Jungle Boy would be the one to take the pinfall at the conclusion of the bout.
Before the coronavirus pandemic forced changes to AEW’s plans, the Jurassic Express member had been involved in several notable singles matches. He faced off against some of AEW’s top talent, including Cody Rhodes, MJF, and Inner Circle leader Chris Jericho.
Jericho has previously stated that, had it not been for the pandemic, he and Jungle Boy would probably have continued working together following their short rivalry.
Having had several memorable SummerSlam moments over the years, Seth Rollins was recently asked if he could single out one as his all-time favorite SummerSlam memory.
Reflecting on his numerous SummerSlam matches during an interview with BT Sport, Rollins admitted how he’s had some “real bangers” to choose from.
“To be honest with you, anytime you beat John Cena with the help of John Stewart, it’s pretty sick. A year prior to that, Ambrose and myself had one of the best lumberjack matches in history.”
Last yeah, “The Monday Night Messiah” found himself face-to-face with Brock Lesnar at SummerSlam. According to Rollins, that bout saw him finally get the match he wanted out of Lesnar. Their SummerSlam clash was the kind of match he had been “hoping for” throughout their feud.
“My back was up against the wall. I went into Toronto and began to get strong backlash from our hardcore audience,” Rollins recalled. “Luckily for me, I ended up turning [boos into cheers] during the course of the match, beating Brock in a hell of a fight. I’ll have to go with that moment, to be honest.”
Seth Rollins is set to face off against Dominik Mysterio at this year’s SummerSlam. This match marks Dominik’s WWE in-ring debut. The event takes place on August 23.
Booker T doesn’t believe that former WCW President Eric Bischoff belongs on anyone’s WCW Mount Rushmore. As far as the Hall of Famer is concerned, Bischoff’s “not in the conversation.”
Booker T shared his thoughts on his Hall of Fame podcast. He explained how people like Bischoff who “haven’t put time in the ring wrestling for years” don’t deserve consideration. He stressed that this was just his opinion on the matter.
Extrapolating on his opinion, Booker T reflected on Bischoff’s impact on WCW and the wrestling business. He acknowledged how Bischoff did a lot for him and his career in WCW. However, he noted that when business and pleasure mingle, problems can occur.
“When Eric Bischoff stopped being the president, stopped being the boss and wanted to start being one of the boys and wanting to be one of the talents on the show, that’s when everything got clouded.”
Booker T continued, “Judgment totally didn’t come into play in certain instances because you got a lot of guys around you that you think are your friends. Eric Bischoff should have never been in a position to even be considered to be a part of Mount Rushmore.”
FTR has shared their approach to tag team psychology and whether they believe AEW needs a 6-man championship.
Speaking with Fightful Select, Cash Wheeler and Dax Harwood explained how they approach tag team psychology. They revealed how, when it comes to finally hitting a hot tag, “you don’t want to come in and do a bunch of flips and roll like that.”
FTR shared how, because their partner has been beaten down for minutes on end, they would come charging with fists instead of flips.
“I’m going to come in and throw fists. I’m going to come in and beat the sh*t out of you. That’s the psychology of tag team wrestling that you can build so much around that.”
FTR On 6-Man Tag Team Championships
When asked if they thought AEW needed 6-man tag team championships, FTR’s Wheeler expressed how the promotion could consider it “down the line.”
He explained how including them now would be akin to “trying to run before we can walk.”
Wheeler stressed how AEW is still building its tag team division and establishing all of its tag talents:
“We don’t need to bring more championships into the fold when these aren’t even established and are less than a year old. We don’t need to bring 6 man teams into the fold when we are still trying to establish the 2 man.”
He reiterated how AEW may consider it at some point in the future. However, until their current tag team division is firmly established, it would be an unnecessary endeavor.
WWE Hall of Famer Booker T has agreed with Lance Storm’s recent comments on intergender wrestling. Speaking on his podcast, The Hall of Fame, Booker T addressed the issue as well as the backlash Storm received. During the episode, he also shared his thoughts on who he believes the MVP of WWE’s COVID-19 era is.
Addressing Storm’s recent comments stating that intergender wrestling should be abolished, Booker T pointed to the backlash Storm’s words received on social media. Despite the negative response, the Hall of Famer shared how he seconded Storm’s feelings.
“I second that emotion as far as definitely abolishing intergender wrestling. I don’t think it does a whole lot for female wrestlers. If it is to ever be done on an independent level, for women to be able to get a little more training because there are less women out there working at the top level or better level that can get a lot of practice in working with guys, but as far as intergender wrestling ever making it to the big stage in professional wrestling, I think it would screw everything up.”
He recalled his thoughts from earlier in the year pertaining to Tessa Blanchard’s intergender matchups.
Booker T stressed how he didn’t agree with it but didn’t dispute her talent. He added how he didn’t agree with Impact Wrestling’s decision and reiterated how he 100% agrees with Storm’s sentiments.
Booker T Names His WWE COVID-19 Era MVP
Booker T then turned his attention to WWE’s current product and how it has been forced to pivot due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Acknowledging how COVID-19 has forced both WWE and its Superstars to change and evolve, Booker T shared who he believes is WWE’s current MVP. He stressed that, even though it’s been a relatively short period of time, his MVP is MVP and The Hurt Business.
Booker T explained his decision, noting how MVP has been “going out and creating some really good drama.”
He stressed how MVP has managed to do this by going out and cutting promos. He believes this career resurgence is more memorable than MVP’s first run in WWE and thinks the Superstar has really found his “groove” during this time.
All Elite Wrestling’s TNT Champion Cody Rhodes has opened up about what the company looks when considering indie talent. During a sit-down interview with Tony Schiavone, held ahead of his championship match with Scorpio Sky, Cody also revealed when fans can expect to finally see the completed TNT Championship.
Cody Rhodes addressed how most of his Open Challenge opponents have been selected following online social media support from wrestlers. Cody has recently faced talents such as the recently signed Eddie Kingston and Warhorse in successful defenses. He noted that the finalized version of the TNT Championship will be debuted on tonight’s episode of AEW Dynamite.
When it comes to what the promotion seeks in its potential talent, Cody explained its process. He pointed to how AEW President Tony Khan and Arn Anderson have done a “really great job at looking at the overall landscape.”
He stressed that this is true regarding talent in AEW as well as those not currently signed.
“I think it has less to do with polished talent and pedigree and more to do with work. Those are the type of individuals I like to hang with, to work with, to train with and of course to compete with, Cody said. “I think that’s a big part of it – your ability to do the work. It went from a fun motto and hashtag but it’s applicable to everything especially in this era of wrestling on TV. Content is what matters.”
Cody explained how Tony Khan is an individual who has his “ear to the ground.”
He highlighted how Khan is a youthful person in management. This makes him more in tune with “what people want.”
Because of this approach, Cody Rhodes believes he’s been able to face some great opponents during his Open Challenge.
WWE RAW Superstar MVP has opened up about the show’s newest segment, RAW Underground. Speaking with Newsweek, MVP addressed the creative process behind the concept and how his stable, The Hurt Business, has taken over.
MVP confessed that the idea of RAW Underground “shocked” him at first. He detailed how Shane McMahon pitched the idea and how he felt it was a good idea to try. He explained that, because the WWE locker room is full of competitive athletes, no one shied away from the idea of RAW Underground.
From a creative input perspective, MVP revealed how “it was just go in there and beat people up and that’s what we do.”
He reflected on how they had received “a lot of positive feedback” following RAW Underground’s debut. MVP added that the general reaction to the segment has been “favorable” before promising that The Hurt Business will continue “going in there and wrecking shop.”
MVP, who recently signed a new multi-year deal with WWE, admitted he’s excited to see what happens with the segment going forward. He highlighted how it provides a “different flavor, different vibe” to Monday Night RAW before acknowledging how new ideas sometimes take a little while for people to get used to. For MVP, however, he liked everything about the concept straight off the bat.
Posted August 11th, 2020 in WWE, News. Tagged: MVP.
WWE Hall of Famer and former WWE Universal Champion Goldberg has labeled Roman Reigns a “joke.” His words come in response to a tweet Reigns uploaded earlier this year in January. In the tweet, Reigns poked fun at Golberg’s decision to headbutt doors during his entrances:
Nothing to explain Nick. It’s a little piece of pad. So I don’t break my hand on steel grate. I gota perform like 48 weeks a year man. So that would be stupid. It would be like,? head butting a door before my match level of stupid. Anyway, have a good day Nick. ?? https://t.co/OgHEoUuDIt
Speaking with American Monster Productions, Goldberg addressed Reigns’ comments. He detailed his reasoning behind the headbutts, explaining they were an integral part of helping him get into character.
“Roman, you’re a joke, first of all. Second of all, when he ragged on me about headbutting the doors and stuff, you know, um, I never really explained my whole thought process on that.”
“For you guys to get the character that you got, I had to do certain things. Well, one of them was headbutt the door, right? And that may, on the outside, look like a stupid move…but as I mentioned, we all weigh the positives and negatives. So it’s very positive to make it as violent as humanly possible, and as real as humanly possible, and all the negative is you lose a little blood and hey, man, you get another concussion and cut a week off your life, man.”
Goldberg was due to face Reigns at this year’s WrestleMania 36 event in April. Reigns would ultimately pull out of the match, citing coronavirus concerns. Goldberg would go on to lose the WWE Universal Championship to Reigns’ replacement, Braun Strowman.
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