SmackDown Superstar Jeff Hardy was a guest on this week’s episode of WWE show The Bump. During his time on the show, Hardy reflected on his recent feud with Sheamus. He acknowledged the comparisons that could be made between their current rivalry with his previous feud with CM Punk back in 2009. Both feuds utilized Hardy’s real-life personal problems as a starting point for a storyline.

“Since my early 20’s, I’ve been in and out of addiction – the roller coaster of good and bad. Sadly, but in a creative sense, it’s been a big power for me,” Hardy admitted. “Even back in the days of feuding with [CM] Punk, it kind of reminds me of that with Sheamus. It can be extremely uncomfortable at times, but that’s when I’ve got to stay strong on my beliefs, and where I am right now.” 

The hosts then spoke about his feud with Punk, highlighting when Punk cashed in his Money in the Bank briefcase on Hardy back at Extreme Rules 2009. Hardy confessed the moment gives him “goosebumps” and that he was genuinely excited for Punk to have his moment. He added how he was happy to be a “tremendous loser” that night, arguing that if you’re a good loser in pro wrestling you’re a better winner in the bigger scheme of things.

Jeff Hardy recently lost his matchup against Sheamus at WWE’s last pay-per-view, Backlash. 

WWE’s current Intercontinental champion AJ Styles has denied rumors regarding his move from RAW to SmackDown. Reports suggested that Styles had essentially been bullied off of Monday Night RAW and that the “Phenomenal One” was upset with Paul Heyman after Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson were released by the promotion.

Speaking on a recent Mixer stream, Styles addressed the rumors head-on:

“[…] there were some rumors going around that AJ Styles left Raw to go to SmackDown because he was being bullied. That may be the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard,” Styles stated. “I’m a grown man. If there was some bullying going on that upset me enough to leave Raw and go to SmackDown, I would handle it…”

Styles then turned his attention to the supposed Heyman animosity regarding his former OC members. He stressed how “that’s now what it was at all. Not even close.” AJ Styles then shared a snippet of what he, Gallows and Anderson know by labeling Heyman a liar.

“He’s a liar, now you know. I’m sure you’ve heard that before if you go back to his ECW days, you’ll hear that. He’s a bold-faced liar. That’s my take on that.”

Styles’ former teammates, Gallows and Anderson, were let go by WWE as a cut cutting measure due to the coronavirus pandemic’s impact on business. They joined several other WWE Superstars and backstage personnel in being released.

All Elite Wrestling President and CEO Tony Khan has shared his thoughts on this week’s ratings battle between Dynamite and WWE NXT. The two went head-to-head on Wednesday night with concurrent specials. AEW delivered Fyter Fest Night Two and WWE hosted NXT Great American Bash Night Two.

NXT Great American Bash Night Two actually defeated Fyter Fest Night Two in total viewership. This was WWE’s third victory in a row. However, they did not top the key demographic ratings. Khan took to Twitter to reflect on the numbers. He argued how he considers being a top 7 show on cable a “huge win.”

Khan stressed how “A win in the demo is a win in the business, and this is a business.” He noted how the industry as a whole no longer talks about the demographic as much as 20 years ago but explained how it “drives our revenue today.”

He shared the Nielsen ratings chart and stated how AEW loves and values all its viewers, whether they are inside or outside that 18-49 year old demographic. Khan did add, however, that this is how “we score the game.”

Tony Khan revealed he was thrilled about the ratings from this Wednesday night. He tweeted about celebrating with A Little Bit of the Bubbly on Thursdays whenever AEW is in the top 10. He added how “this is the 3rd time in 4 weeks, & I’m grateful for the great #AEW fans that make it possible!”

AEW will host another special episode next Wednesday night with Fight for the Fallen.

WWE Hall of Famer Booker T has shared his thoughts on Heath Slater’s recent return to Monday Night RAW. Speaking on his podcast The Hall of Fame, Booker T stressed how Slater’s “not a guy you want to lose.”

He explained how Slater is a talent “you want on your team” as he’s going to make sure to “pull his weight.” Booker T added how Slater is committed to playing the role he is given, whatever that may be.

“That’s what I talk in this game all the time as far as ‘hey man, just play your role tonight. Don’t try to play someone else’s role. If you do that, we’ll have a great show tonight, but if you go out there and you want to take one job then take on another job, then you got three jobs that you’re trying to take on, and then, you complain about it. You’re the one who took those jobs.'” Booker T said. “Heath Slater is a guy that’s gonna play his role, and that’s why he got the phone call. ‘Hey Heath, you want to come on back?’ That’s what it’s about.”

Booker T went on to compare Heath Sleater to WCW wrestler Brad Armstrong. He explained how Armstrong never had to worry about his job. That’s because he was a “utility guy.”

Extrapolating his point, Booker T added how Armstong could do just about anything at a moment’s notice. He noted that Slater has the same ability. He argued that this makes him a valuable talent that you can trust to get the job done.

Triple H has congratulated newly crowned NXT North American and NXT Champion Keith Lee. Lee emerged victorious from the Winner Take All match with Adam Cole during last night’s NXT Great American Bash Night Two.

Taking to social media, Triple H reflected on the occasion, calling it a “truly historic night” for NXT. He also noted how, with Lee now NXT Champion, the possibilities going forward are limitless.

“A truly historic night for #WWENXT tonight at #NXTGAB as @RealKeithLee now holds both the #NXTChampionship AND #NXTNATitle. Each new champion begins a new era… where he brings @WWENXT? The possibilities are #Limitless. #Congrats”

Triple H On Adam Cole’s Championship Reign

“The Game” also reflected on Adam Cole’s contribution to WWE’s black-and-gold brand. His loss ended his historic 403-day reign as NXT Champion.

Triple H explained how there is a saying that goes “it’s the talent that makes the title.” He stressed how Cole’s reign in NXT made the NXT Championship as prestigious as it is. Although the run may be over, Triple H noted how Cole is “just getting started.” He highlighted how Adam Cole is NXT and that fact is undisputed.

After the match, Lee dedicated his victory to WWE Hall of Famer Mark Henry. Cameras caught up with the Undisputed Leader as well. Unable to voice his feelings at the moment, Cole walked away from the interview.

Keith Lee has dedicated his momentous championship victory to WWE Hall of Famer Mark Henry. Lee successfully defeated former-NXT Champion Adam Cole last night in a Winner Take All match up. He is now the NXT North American and NXT World Champion.

Speaking after his win, Lee spoke about making NXT history before dedicating his win and remembering his trainer, “Killer” Tim Brooks who recently passed away. When asked how he felt, he admitted he was in a lot of pain. Despite the discomfort, however, he reflected on the moment, calling his journey “sweet in so many ways.”

“History, McKenzie. I’m feeling like a historian. I’m feeling historical,” Keith Lee said. “How else do you describe this, except for ‘magic’?”

Lee continued, “I believe Mark Henry said to me that I would bring back — forgive me if I misquote him, but, I’m fairly certain I was paying attention when he said I would bring back — ‘big man magic.’ Mr. Henry, this one’s for you, too. But more importantly, McKenzie, my coach who just passed away, just last week, once told me I would be the top, I would be one of the best this industry has ever seen. Today, he’s a prophet, and for me it doesn’t get sweeter than that.”

Keith Lee’s championship victory saw him snap Adam Cole’s record-setting 403-day reign as NXT Champion.

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WWE’s Renee Young has provided an update on her current condition having recently confirmed she, unfortunately, contracted COVID-19.

Taking to Twitter, Young implored her follows to wear face masks. She explained how doing so could be lifesaving, whether it’s your life or somebody else’s. Young also stressed how people need to trust her on this subject as she is somebody who has actively suffered from coronavirus.

Renee Young wrote:

“Just a friendly little reminder: wearing a mask can literally be saving yours or someone else’s life. As someone that’s had covid – trust me, you don’t want it. Be safe. Take care of each other.”

Renee Young confirmed via social media on June 24 that she had tested positive for COVID-19. Her public announcement reportedly displeased some within WWE. She noted how she felt sick with pressure on her chest whilst being unable to do anything but stay in bed. She also lost her sense of taste. Given her recent tweet, it appears as though Young has thankfully gotten through the worst of it and has seemingly recovered.

Her positive test had a subsequent impact on All Elite Wrestling. Renee Young’s husband, Jon Moxley, was set to defend his AEW World Championship last night during Fyter Fest Night Two. However, as he had been in contact with someone with COVID-19 symptoms, the title bout was delayed. Moxley now faces challenger, and new FTW Champion Brian Cage, next week at Fight for the Fallen.

Brian Pillman Jr. made his AEW Dark debut during last night’s episode of the promotion’s YouTube show. The son of a Four Horseman alum faced off against Shawn Spears, who is managed by legendary Horseman Tully Blanchard.

In a recent interview with WrestleTalk’s Louis Dangoor, Pillman Jr. talked about how he was able to take this opportunity to appear on AEW despite being contractually signed to MLW.

Pillman Jr. explained how MLW became “very apprehensive” about running shows during the coronavirus pandemic. He indicated how Impact Wrestling, AEW and WWE were all running shows in front of no fans during that time.

Knowing this was happening, he confessed it was “hard for me to still and wait for them to bring me an opportunity.”

Instead, Pillman Jr. “went out and chased the opportunities that were available to me.” He noted how his contract allowed him to accept the work. This created a “no-brainer” opportunity he wanted to pursue. As long as there was no conflict, Pillman Jr.’s contract reportedly allowed him to take other work with different promotions.

Brian Pillman Jr. admitted he isn’t sure what MLW’s future plans will be given current coronavirus concerns. Pillman Jr. shared how that kind of uncertainty made it an easier choice to look for other promotions to work for.

All Elite Wrestling’s FTR recently appeared on Busted Open Radio. During their conversation, the team opened up about what frustrated them during their time in WWE. 

Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler acknowledged how they have a lot to be thankful for during their time in WWE. Harwood explained how WWE gave him the opportunity to “allow my family to have the life they did.”

Harwood then stressed how before he even had a family, he had a love and infatuation for professional wrestling. He confessed how FTR felt that, if they had stayed with WWE, they would be “spinning our wheels.” 

“There is so much more I want to give back to professional wrestling. I don’t want to just sit back and relax,” Harwood explained. “I don’t want to rest on any laurels or anything like that. We want to leave a mark and we want to leave a legacy in professional wrestling, and obviously, on top of that, we want to make money too. 

He explained how AEW and Tony Khan provided them with the opportunity to not only make money but to leave the legacy that matters to them. Harwood noted how they want to “do wrestling proud” and believes that competing in AEW is the way to do it.

FTR Unshackled

The team then turned their attention to their WWE finishing move, the Shatter Machine. FTR explained how, heading into AEW, there was one move both were eager to finally introduce into their arsenal: the spike piledriver.

It was explained how they had always wanted to use that move in WWE. There were even conversations with Triple H, who said no. That didn’t deter them, however, as they then went to Vince McMahon to ask permission. Ultimately, however, they were denied permission. 

Now in AEW, FTR has been using the spike piledriver as a purposeful “restart” for the team alongside the Shatter Machine.

It was stressed how no one has ever kicked out of the Shatter Machine, something they learned from “another great tag team that had the same kind of finisher with the same kind of premise.”

FTR is set to compete tonight on Fyter Fest Night Two. They team with The Young Bucks in an eight-man tag team match. They face off against The Butcher and The Blade and Lucha Brothers.

WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair has opened up about being a part of WWE programming during the coronavirus pandemic. Recording has been taking place at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida. WWE was recently rocked by numerous positive COVID-19 tests.

Speaking with the Wrestling Inc. Daily Podcast, Ric Flair talked about being a part of RAW and how WWE has been doing all it can to keep them all safe. According to Flair, WWE is doing everything and following every guideline possible to keep its staff and talent safe. He explained how all testing was conducted professionally by three doctors. He stressed how although there was a line to be tested, nobody was together and everyone had a mask on.

“I would scrutinize anybody that said otherwise at the highest level,” Ric Flair noted. “I was tired of hearing the bullsh*t. Carrano, Ace, Vince himself, I could go down the list of people that are making sure that everybody’s life is at the best possible place while they’re there for the event.” 

Flair explained how he returned to the WWE Performance Center the next day. “The Nature Boy” then reflected on the fact he has a pre-existing condition and is categorized as high-risk as he is in his 70s. Despite this, however, he believes it is “safer going to a WWE event” as compared to a grocery store.

WWE Hall of Famer Edge has revealed a list of Superstars he would love to feud with once he is able to return from his recent triceps injury. Appearing on ESPN’s Cheap Heat podcast with Peter Rosenberg, Edge named several Superstars from across RAW and SmackDown.

According to Edge, Seth Rollins is an immediate “gimme” for him. He then mentioned AJ Styles, Cesaro, Shinsuke Nakamura and recently moved SmackDown Superstar Matt Riddle. He explained how he looks at a Superstar with the skillset of Ricochet and thinks “oh my God – I’d die to get in the ring with him.”

Edge suffered an unfortunate triceps injury during the recording of “The Greatest Wrestling Match Ever” with Randy Orton. The pre-recorded match would subsequently air on WWE Backlash in June. He ultimately lost the bout to Orton.

The result of “The Greatest Wrestling Match Ever” now leaves Edge and Orton with a win each in their recent feud. Edge won their Last Man Standing match back at WrestleMania 36. Although there were plans in place to have the two face off in a rubber match, those plans were derailed by the injury sustained. 

“The Rated R Superstar” has already undergone surgery to repair the injury. It is not known at the time of writing when Edge may return to in-ring action.

NXT Superstar Robert Stone has teased that there will soon be another member to his struggling Robert Stone Brand. Having recently been fired by his original client Chelsea Green in May, Stone found himself alone and miserable. That is until he was able to partner up with his new client, Aliyah.

According to Stone, he intends to announce a “HUGE new signing” tonight during Night Two of NXT’s Great American Bash special. He added how “The #RobertStoneBrand is on the rise. I know it. @WWE_Aliyah knows it. The @USA_Network knows it.”

Although Aliyah would reply, stressing how she’s “the only one u need,” Stone explained how there is “Power in numbers remember ???”

The team of Stone and Aliyah recently tried to get Rhea Ripley to become a member of the Robert Stone Brand. They teamed up in a Handicap matchup against the former NXT Women’s Champion during last week’s episode of NXT’s Great American Bash. If Ripley had lost, she would have been forced to align herself with Stone.

Despite their best efforts, however, they could not defeat Ripley. She would force both Robert Stone and Aliyah to tap out at the same time in a dual submission hold.

WWE reportedly has multiple new championship designs in place. Following the recently updated version of the WWE United States Championship, the company allegedly also has redesigned belts for the SmackDown Tag Team Championships and the NXT Championship.

According to belt maker and seller @BeltFanDan, WWE has had new SmackDown Tag Team Championships ready since WrestleMania 35. Additionally, the rumored version of the updated NXT Championship will be a “larger version of the same design.”

Given that both the RAW and SmackDown Tag Team Championships are virtually identical, it would be interesting if WWE chose to replace one set but not the other.

Later tonight on WWE’s NXT: The Great American Bash special, Keith Lee will face off against Adam Cole. Lee is currently the NXT North American Champion, whereas Cole holds the NXT Championship. They clash in a Winner Take All matchup. It is unknown whether the winner will choose to keep both belts as individual championships, or perhaps consolidate them into one, leading to a debut of the redesigned NXT Championship.

This past Monday Night on RAW, WWE officially unveiled its new WWE United States Championship. The belt was revealed in a segment that featured both Bobby Lashley and MVP. This was done ahead of MVP’s championship bout with Apollo Crews at The Horror Show at Extreme Rules.

One of All Elite Wrestling’s newest tag teams, FTR, has stressed the importance of the promotion enforcing rules during tag team matches. FTR members, Dax Hardwood and Cash Wheeler, made their opinions clear during a recent interview with Busted Open Radio.

Addressing AEW’s seemingly inconsistent rule set, FTR stressed how AEW needs to “start clamping down on those things.”

According to FTR, more authority needs to be placed on the referee. The team argued how, without these enforced tag team rules, every match might as well be a Texas Tornado or Fatal Four Way match. 

“If there are no rules, there is no heat. There is no way to make somebody care or somebody to be in danger. There is no way to put sympathy to put heat on a baby face.”

They continued, “There is no way to get the explosion on a hot tag because the guy has already blown his own comeback before he’s down, before the tag. Then, all four guys are in the ring for the last 10 minutes anyway.”

FTR On A Generational Tag Team Approach

Clearly a passionate subject to the team, they confessed they “get pissed talking about it” as the flimsy ruleset needs to be “buckled down” on.

FTR explained how by adhering to a tag team structure every team will subsequently mean more to the division. It was noted that the approach could be a “generational thing.” They acknowledged how wrestling has evolved to feature more “flashy” sequences and that this approach has led to a lackadaisical adherence to the rules. 

They then argued how there is an opportunity to be creative within a tag team ruleset. FTR’s belief is that creativity in tag team wrestling comes from building a story around the tag team rules. 

FTR will be in action tonight on AEW Fyter Fest Night Two. They team with The Young Bucks in eight-man tag team action. They will face off against The Butcher and the Blade and Lucha Bros.

All Elite Wresting’s Kenny Omega has chimed in on a recent story revolving around his former NJPW tag team partner, Kota Ibushi, and WWE Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon.

The 2016 story by Rob Wolkenbrod was recently re-shared on Twitter. The article recounted a meeting between Ibushi and Vince McMahon backstage at NXT TakeOver: Dallas.

According to the article, Ibushi went backstage during the show and “gave a ‘high-five’ to a ‘big man’.” As it turns out, that ‘big man’ was none other than Vince McMahon. Apparently, Ibushi had no clue who Vince McMahon was which caused several staff members to allegedly become “upset.”

Ibushi competed in WWE’s Cruiserweight Classic back in 2016. He would later decline a WWE contract. Last year, Ibushi signed a full-time deal with NJPW.

Kenny Omega’s Thoughts

Kenny Omega shared his thoughts on the matter having seen the story once again enter the public eye.

Taking to Twitter, he stated:

“Hard to believe, but yeah, some of the most talented wrestlers in the world aren’t constantly walking on eggshells and scared shitless of their boss.”

Kenny Omega is scheduled for action tonight at AEW Fyter Fest Night Two. He looks to defend the AEW Tag Team Champions with his partner Hangman Page. The duo will face off against Private Party, who will be accompanied by Matt Hardy.

Mickie James has confirmed she has been medically cleared to return to in-ring action. James has been away from the ring since tearing her ACL. She received surgery last July at the Andrews Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Center in Birmingham, Alabama. It was projected she would be rehabbing and recuperating for anywhere from 7 to 9 months.

Speaking with Chris Van Vliet, Mickie James revealed she had been medically cleared and had been preparing to return to the squared circle. At that point, however, the coronavirus pandemic forced all initial plans to be delayed.

“The doc had already cleared me, so I was literally just getting that last two weeks to get cleared to come back to in-ring action and everything got shut down,” Mickie James explained. “So, I went home and I just haven’t been back since.”

Considering COVID-19, James noted how there’s no point in her being at the WWE Performance Center. If she isn’t being utilized, she would rather wait for a better opportunity to return and make an impact.

Regarding her future plans once she has returned to action, Mickie James is quick to share her championship aspirations. According to her, she intends to come back and “take all the championships.”

She joked how she would become her own tag team partner to claim the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships. James then added that she would also claim both the RAW and SmackDown Women’s Championships for herself.

Bobby Lashley continues to express his interest in a matchup with former WWE Champion Brock Lesnar. Joining the Table Talk podcast, Lashley argued how now is a good time for WWE to finally book a clash between the two Superstars.

Lashley admitted he hasn’t spoken directly to Vince McMahon about a match with Lesnar. He shared how at one point, he believed there were discussions about “maybe teasing it” to see what could happen. At the time, however, Lesnar was feuding with Roman Reigns with a Seth Rollins feud planned to follow. 

“They already had things lined up for him. I think if anytime, it is now,” Bobby Lashley said. “Now is a really good time. I think I’ve done all the paying dues stuff that I’ve done since I’ve been back.”

Bobby Lashley explained how his character has begun to develop more into who he actually is as a person. He noted how he’s finally getting the opportunity to “beat people up.” He believes that part of this evolution is in how he no longer has to “lay down” to Superstars that are 100 pounds lighter than he is. As far as he’s concerned, lighter Superstars like that “shouldn’t really even be in the room with me, let’s put it that way.”

Bobby Lashley recently lost a WWE Championship matchup to Drew McIntyre at WWE Backlash.

SmackDown Superstar Sheamus has reflected on his recent feud with Jeff Hardy. In an interview with Corey Graves on WWE’s podcast After the Bell, Sheamus opened up about the backlash he received over their rivalry. 

He noted how “a lot of people really hate me right now” before stressing how he and Hardy are both ultimately portraying characters on TV. Sheamus explained how his job relies on him being hated and that he thrives in that situation. 

Sheamus conceded that although he has a unique look, when it came to his promo abilities there was a lot to improve on. He shared how during his time in The Bar with Cesaro the pressure was lessened as they shared promo time.

“When I first started, the aggression part of the ring has always been easy for me. I always felt the promos in the ring was where I wasn’t sure where I needed to be,” Sheamus confessed. “I would trip over things I have to say because I have to get this promo out exactly right. It held me back quite a bit in my career.”

The SmackDown Superstar revealed he has been enjoying working with Jeff Hardy. This is primarily because it has allowed his character to “play with words.”

Sheamus explained he enjoyed watching the reaction to his promos, especially on social media. He added how the more people hate him, the more he enjoys “sticking a knife” into Jeff Hardy to further their feud. 

It appears as though former UFC Champion Conor McGregor wants to face Vince McMahon in the squared circle. The Mac Life, which is a brand owned by McGregor, posted an image of the fighter. In it, McGregor is adorned with a UFC and WWE championship belt over each shoulder. It was accompanied by the caption:

“All of the belts” Do you think we’ll ever see the McGregor billi strut in the WWE?”

The Instagram post would be later re-shared via Instagram Stories, where it tagged WWE’s Chief Brand Officer, Stephanie McMahon. In addition to the tag, it included the caption “McMahon Vs McGregor CEO Flashmatch.” It’s worth noting that McGregor announced his retirement from MMA last month.

Conor McGregor’s WWE Challenge

Current WWE Champion Drew McIntyre saw McGregor’s challenge to Vince McMahon. He challenged McGregor’s decision, sarcastically calling him a “Big man” for trying to pick a fight with “ANOTHER 70 year old.”

McIntyre added, “[…] you couldn’t drop a guy in a pub, you have no chance against Vince. You’re just the latest guy thinking he can have his PR team stick my title on his shoulder & walk into our world. Stick to whiskey McTapper”

Rumors have previously circulated WWE’s reported interest in bringing Conor McGregor into the squared circle. Triple H has previously praised McGregor. He once shared how a match between McGregor and Vince McMahon would be a “match made in heaven.”

All Elite Wrestling has posted a storyline update following Jake Hager’s actions at Fyter Fest Night One. Hager competed in a losing effort for Cody Rhodes’ AEW TNT Championship. After the controversial ending, Hager attacked the referee by punching him in the face. 

Furthering the storyline repercussion’s of the Inner Circle member, AEW addressed his actions via Twitter. AEW revealed that Hager has been suspended and fined for the assault. He has been suspended for 10 days, with the fine being listed as an “undisclosed amount.” 

Jake Hager responded to AEW’s ruling via social media, calling it “BS.” According to Hager, Cody had been choked unconscious after he had secured his Head and Arm submission hold. Cody Rhodes managed to maneuver himself on top of Hager into a pin. Hager maintained the hold throughout. The referee, however, didn’t check on Cody and instead made a three count. 

Relinquishing the submission, Hager initially believed he had won the match and TNT Championship as Cody came to. Hager believes that the referee’s decision to count the pinfall instead of registering the fact Cody Rhodes had been choked unconscious was a “blown call.” He noted the situation was made worse by AEW’s decision. 

AEW Fyter Fest Night Two takes place next Wednesday night on TNT. 

WWE has purchased EVOLVE Wrestling. Originally founded in 2010 by Gabe Sapolsky, EVOLVE developed a working relationship with WWE, acting as a feeder system for WWE developmental since 2015.

Several current WWE Superstars wrestled for EVOLVE prior to signing with WWE. Johnny Gargano, Matt Riddle, Ricochet, Austin Theory, Keith Lee and current WWE Champion Drew McIntyre are just some of the names to have been associated with EVOLVE Wrestling. 

According to PWInsider, the deal was finally completed after months of negotiations between the two companies. This acquisition means that WWE now has access and rights to EVOLVE’s brand name. It can also run EVOLVE Wrestling events and now owns the promotion’s entire video library. 

This tape library includes the work of talents like AR Fox, Eddie Kingston, The Young Bucks, Zack Sabre Jr., Trent, and several other non-WWE wrestlers. 

EVOLVE Wrestling was reportedly suffering from financial issues. The coronavirus pandemic is said to have significantly impacted the company, especially after WrestleMania 36 was canceled. Per the report, existing EVOLVE/WWN contracts are not a part of the sale. Additionally, the purchase did not include WWNLive, which will reportedly continue.

WWE had previously featured footage and clips of EVOLVE events on their website. EVOLVE’s 10th Anniversary special was also hosted on the WWE Network last year. This was done in an attempt to bolster ticket sales and interest. It is not known at the time of writing if WWE intends to offer any existing EVOLVE talent new deals or if it plans to include EVOLVE’s shows on the WWE Network.

Dolph Ziggler would love the opportunity to compete against Edge one more time. Speaking with Sports Illustrated, Ziggler reflected on their previous matchup at Royal Rumble 2011. 

Ziggler recalled how he was a guy “that lost 99% of the time.” Back then he wouldn’t cut promos, and instead relied on Vickie Guerrero. He stressed how their Rumble matchup had “no cool backstory” to it. 

Instead, “we built this up for a couple weeks and maybe, maybe, I had a 1% chance of winning, which I’ve made a career out of over the past 15 years. I learned so much from Adam on the road during the live events we did together.” 

Reflecting on their 2011 bout, Ziggler remembered how they opened the show with their World Championship match and that the crowd was hot throughout. According to Ziggler, “everyone knew I was losing that match for the first 10 minutes” but stressed how they successfully turned their bout into a back-and-forth affair. “People weren’t sure what was going to happen, and no one sat down during those last 10 minutes.”

He joked how he tries to take credit for everything he does, but admitted that this match was him “trying to hang with Adam.” Ziggler stated how he used to think he was great back then, but can now re-watch his older matches and find a million things he did that annoys him. Leading the crowd to believe he could actually beat Edge is something he fully credits to the “Rated R Superstar.” 

Dolph Ziggler continued his praise for Edge, sharing that their Royal Rumble match is one of his “absolute favorite matches” and that “If there is a chance where him and I get to go toe-to-toe in the ring again, I would love it.”

RAW Superstar Bianca Belair has reflected on making her debut on the red brand to an empty arena. Speaking with Charlotte Wilder of FOX Sports, Belair admitted that the experience was a challenging one.

She confessed she couldn’t lie and pretend that debuting on RAW to zero fan reaction was okay with her. Belair explained how the fans play a major role in what they do as Superstars:

“I actually debuted at WrestleMania with no crowd. I debuted on RAW with no crowd,” she said. ‘When I found out I was debuting at RAW after WrestleMania, it was something that I was really looking forward to because you can’t ask for a better debut than to debut at RAW the day after WrestleMania.”

Bianca Belair explained how debuting at WrestleMania or the RAW after WrestleMania is the “biggest debut you could possibly have” as a Superstar.

“That’s what I was going to be getting, and it was this huge build-up. Then, it was like, OK, now it’s not gonna be in front of thousands of people. Not only that, it’s not gonna be front of anybody,” Bianca Belair recalled. “It was very challenging, but you just have to make the best of what it is, and you really have to rely on your talent and try to tell that story to convey it to the TV screen and not just to the fans in the crowd.”

Despite the circumstances surrounding her RAW debut, Bianca Belair remains positive. She noted how everyone has “learned so much” during the coronavirus pandemic and that empty arena matches have made them into better performers. She is excited for when fans can once again attend shows, adding how WWE Superstars are going to be “grateful” once the WWE Universe can finally return.

Current NXT Superstar Velveteen Dream was involved in a car accident last Friday. Although it required a trip to the hospital, Dream would be released the same day. 

According to Wrestling Inc., the accident occurred on Friday afternoon at approximately 4 pm. The Superstar reportedly failed to stop at a red light when he crashed into another car. The owner of the other car did sustain injuries, but it is not known how serious they are. The Velveteen would subsequently be issued with a citation. He will not have to appear in court over the incident. 

It’s worth noting that The Velveteen Dream has not been featured on WWE programming since NXT: In Your House. He lost an NXT Championship match against Adam Cole. A few weeks ago, allegations came out naming Velveteen Dream during the #SpeakingOut movement. 

Back in April, allegations were brought up against Velveteen Dream regarding an inappropriate image being sent to an underage fan. Dream released the following statement at the time:

“Be assured I did not communicate inappropriately with anyone. A private photo of mine was shared without my consent or knowledge and I am working with a third party to look into this matter.”

Since the #SpeakingOut movement, reports from the Mat Men Pro Wrestling Podcast and Fightful have stated that Dream’s time in WWE could be coming to an end.

Several Superstars have been released in the wake of the #SpeakingOut movement. “Gentleman” Jack Gallagher, Ligero and Travis Banks have all been let go. More recently, NXT UK’s Joe Coffey was suspended and two NXT UK referees let go.

All Elite Wrestling’s Cody Rhodes was a recent guest on SiriusXM’s Busted Open Radio. During their conversation, he was asked about WWE using the Great American Bash name in association with its upcoming special two-week NXT event. 

Cody admitted he wasn’t angry about it. He mused on how some people mistakenly think Dusty Rhodes simply named Starrcade and the Great American Bash. Cody argued how it goes beyond just devising an event name. Instead, “It’s a matter of booking them, of marketing them, of the creation.”

According to Cody, Dusty Rhodes once told him that Starrcade was for his sister and that Great American Bash was for him. For that reason, both events hold a special place for them. Cody noted how it doesn’t anger him in any way as it’s an excuse for people to once again talk about his father in a positive way. 

Cody Rhodes On WWE’s Marketing Nostalgia Efforts

“The American Nightmare” likened WWE’s recent use of In Your House and Great American Bash to Disney’s nostalgia marketing strategies.  

“The marketing of the event reminds me a lot of what Disney currently does. If you go to Disney World, they still sell Haunted Mansion shirts and they’re all done retro-style. They market nostalgia.”

He acknowledged how his sister found NXT’s sudden Great American Bash announcement strange. Cody then reflected on how the announcement seemed to be “willy nilly, last-minute, in the strangest of ways.” 

Cody Rhodes pointed to WWE’s decision to utilize the Starrcade name for a WWE Live Event. He believes this decision diminished the name value of the event and was done because “they weren’t selling any tickets in North Carolina.” He shared his hope that WWE would instead do “something special” with Great American Bash.

NXT’s Great American Bash is a two-week special airing on USA Network. It competes head-to-head with AEW’s Fyter Fest on TNT. Both events begin tonight.