During a recent episode of his podcast Talk is Jericho, Chris Jericho shared a story of pitching an idea to Vince McMahon. Regaling his guest Matt Hardy, he explained how it didn’t take long for Vince to change the initial idea.

Chris Jericho’s Original Highlight Reel Idea

“[…] the original Highlight Reel, I pitched it as ‘Jericho’s Junction’ because I was watching a bunch of Mean Gene Okerlund interviews and myself included,” Jericho said. “When I first started doing interviews, he was the Jedi. If you didn’t know what you were doing, Gene would lead you through the interview and make you look like a star, and I said, why don’t we do Jericho’s Junction where every week like a Piper’s Pit, we bring out underutilized stars whoever they were at the time. I’ll lead the interview. We’ll get the people over. We’ll get them to do interviews and connect with the crowd.”

According to Chris Jericho, Vince apparently loved the idea. He was then told that his first guest would be Goldberg.

“I’m like, well Goldberg is not really the guy. I’m thinking more like Bull Buchanan. Nope Goldberg. Next week Scott Steiner. The next week, it’s Rock,” Jericho recalled. “I’m like the whole concept of what I had is gone, and now it’s just another talk show which is fine. That’s great. But the original plan was much like you just like let’s give some of these underutilized guys guys a spotlight where somebody like me or you knows how to bring them along.”

Matt Hardy’s Broken Block Concept

Chris Jericho’s story came off the back of Matt Hardy’s ignored pitch for the Broken Block. Hardy detailed the idea, explaining that it would have been an opportunity to highlight underutilized Superstars. All he wanted was 10-15 minutes to do so.

“What I pitched [was] give me 10 to 15 minutes of the show, and I want to call it ‘The Broken Block’. My idea was give me underutilized guys like Chad Gable and Ali and Apollo, guys that aren’t being utilized at all. Let me put them on that show. Let them do badass things. Let me put some vignettes from the Hardy compound and House Hardy and just give me like 10 to 15 minutes, and I’ll call it ‘The Broken Block’ every show and just see how it does.”

Hardy continued, “These guys have matches in the arena. I’m almost like the commissioner or like I’m heading up this broken block, and we try to give Ali and Chad Gable a best-of-seven. Cut them loose. Let them have great matches. They’ll become stars on their own just because of the quality of their matches, and then will interject a little Vanguard 1 and we’ll have some of the you know House Hardy on it. ‘The Broken Block’. 10 to 15 minutes that’s all I was asking for. Never heard anything about it.”

Matt Hardy debuted for AEW last week on Dynamite, aligning himself with The Elite. This week, Chris Jericho and Matt Hardy are scheduled for a face-to-face meeting in the ring. 

H/T to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.

Returning WWE Hall of Famer Edge has shared which NXT Superstar he would love to clash with. During an interview with Sportskeeda, Edge praised several of black-and-gold brand talents. It was Keith Lee, however, that he would want to compete against.

“There are so many talents, you can seriously point to everyone on the roster,” Edge said. “Obviously (Tommaso) Ciampa and I have a very close relationship, we’re both ‘neck’ guys for a lack of a better term. So he’s picking his brain a lot and I love it because he cares a lot and he’ll try the ideas too. I love [Johnny] Gargano.”

Edge On Which Superstars Set An NXT Template

Edge shared how he believes Balor is the guy who is “dialed in” right now. He argued that Balor returning to NXT has allowed him to discover what he’s supposed to do. He added how Balor and Gargano “set the template” for what an NXT matchup should be.

Edge also praised Velveteen Dream. He labelled him a “raw, completely natural character.”

He stated how Dream has just tapped into his character and makes for an entertaining watch. Edge then turned his attention to current NXT Champion Adam Cole and Keith Lee.

“You got your workhorses like Adam Cole who’s just out there week-in, week-out, night after night in the grind and you just got to tip your hat to that guy,” Edge said. “Keith Lee is so impressive – I’d love to be able to get in the ring with that guy and just show him exactly what he is and how he can be.”

Edge is set to face off against Randy Orton in a Last Man Standing match at WrestleMania 36. The “Show of Shows” takes place on April 4 and April 5.

Orlando officials have announced a “Stay at Home” order that could have a knock-off effect on WWE production post-WrestleMania. The order will be instigated from Thursday, March 26 at 11PM EST and will initially last for two weeks.

This mandate will be implemented in Orange County, where the WWE Performance Center and Full Sail University are located.

WWE Working Through Coronavirus

In their efforts to deliver WrestleMania 36, WWE relocated from Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida to the WWE Performance Center in Orlando. The event has been split across two days, now taking place on April 4 and April 5. Most notably, “The Show of Shows” will now be pre-recorded. All of these efforts were put into effect due to the current coronavirus pandemic.

Their projected recording schedule has seen them already tape SmackDown and 205 Live last Friday. WWE also recorded NXT this past Sunday and future episodes of RAW on Monday and Tuesday. The company is reportedly recording WrestleMania 36 today, with plans to complete taping tomorrow.

“Orange County now has at least 50 cases within our county,” Orange County’s Mayor Jerry Demings confirmed. “On March 15, just one week ago we had just one case. It is an understatement that it is spreading throughout our community. We believe this is the most effective way to deal with the coronavirus threat. Our goal is to get our lives back to normal as soon as possible.”

Both Rey Mysterio and Dana Brooke are reportedly in quarantine. Both were pulled from WrestleMania 36 to monitor and self-isolate. Although it was reported that Brooke is sick, WWE didn’t want to take any chances, hence the quarantine action.

New Japan Pro-Wrestling has announced further cancellations amidst the coronavirus pandemic. They had previously cancelled their annual New Japan Cup tournament. Now NJPW has been forced to cancel both Sakura Genesis and their Road to Dontaku shows. Sakura Genesis was scheduled to take place on March 31 from Ryogoku Sumo Hall. The Road to Dontaku tour was intended to start from Sagamihara on April 11.

NJPW Official Statement

In an official statement, New Japan addressed how their decision is in line with the guidelines laid out by the Japanese Ministry of Health. They apologized to fans who were looking forward to the events but noted the importance of ensuring the safety of their fans, staff, and talent.

“We deeply apologise to fans who were looking forward to these events. Ultimately, the health and safety of our fans, wrestlers and staff, as well as society at large is our utmost concern, and we will make announcements about events scheduled after April 11 upon careful monitoring of this developing situation.”

“We will soon announce refund procedures for the affected events. Programs like the NJPW Together Project will continue to see wrestlers and staff come together to bring the best possible content to fans while we eagerly await the opportunity to entertain live crowds once more.”

NJPW has been putting on a range of alternative content in place of their cancelled shows via NJPW World. The Together Project brings stars together to talk, entertain, and provide wrestling commentary over matches.

All Elite Wrestling’s Cody Rhodes will be pulling double duty at this week’s episode of AEW Dynamite. Not only will Cody be facing off against Jimmy Havoc, he will also be providing guest commentary duties throughout the night alongside Tony Schiavone. 

Cody revealed the news on his Twitter account, writing: 

“This Wednesday I’ll be joining @tonyschiavone24 on commentary LIVE for #AEWDynamite (I have a bad habit on commentary that I’ll be totally leaning into, and hopefully it turns into something fun for the fans watching at home) More info to come…”

His opponent, Havoc, responded to Cody’s tweet, promising that he won’t be able to deliver any commentary if he takes his tongue during their matchup. 

At the time of writing, it is unknown whether Jim Ross and Excalibur will also be delivering commentary with Cody and Schiavone. Like last week’s episode of Dynamite, this week’s will be performed with zero fans in attendance due to the coronavirus outbreak. 

AEW Dynamite Card 3/25

• AAA Mega Title Matchup: Kenny Omega vs. Sammy Guevara
• Wardlow vs. Luchasaurus in a Lumberjack Match
• Lucha Bros vs. Best Friends in a Parking Lot Street Fight
• Cody Rhodes vs. Jimmy Havoc
• Matt Hardy and Chris Jericho confrontation

This week’s episode of Dynamite takes place at Daily’s Place in Jacksonville, Florida. It will air this Wednesday on TNT.  

WWE Hall of Famer Edge has revealed the only time he has been nervous during his pro wrestling career. Opening up to Digital Spy, Edge pointed to his recent return to the ring at this year’s Royal Rumble matchup where he was a surprise entrant.

“At the Royal Rumble, that was the first time I ever felt nerves,” Edge confessed. “Once the music hit, then it was just… you can’t explain it. You can’t do it justice.”

He continued, “There is no way to explain this melting pot of things that all came together, after nine years being off and being forced to retire. It is a story that has never happened before and to be in the center of that is just overwhelming, it really is. I don’t know if I have fully wrapped my mind around the whole thing.”

Edge was sadly forced to retire from in-ring action 2011 due to severe neck issues. Having made his triumphant return to WWE, however, he is now scheduled for a matchup at WrestleMania 36. Edge will face off against Randy Orton in a Last Man Standing matchup.

WrestleMania 36 takes place on April 4 and April 5 from multiple locations including an empty WWE Performance Center. The “Show of Shows” will be pre-recorded in a controlled environment due to the coronavirus pandemic.

WWE Hall of Famer Bret “The Hitman” Hart reflected on recommending Steve Austin to WWE during their recent conversation on Austin’s show, Broken Skull Sessions. He also spoke about how Austin warned him about joining WCW prior to his jumping to the promotion. 

“You know, this is a true story that people don’t know. I was going to Vince all the time trying to bring new guys in,” Hart shared. “I remember talking about you. You, I think, had just signed with ECW. And I said ‘Why didn’t you guys grab Steve Austin? He was free, he was available. You’re looking for new guys all the time, he’s one of the best guys down there.’ I talked to Vince about it, and I remember the next week, you were sitting in the dressing room.”

Bret Hart Remembers Austin’s Warning

Bret Hart then opened up about Austin’s WCW warning. He recalled how Austin told him that WCW didn’t know what they were doing. “Guys that had been there [in WCW], including Kevin Nash and different guys who had been there before, said ‘Don’t ever go there. They are the dumbest idiots in the world.’ I kind of knew that before I went. But I mean, they really proved that to me – that they were the stupidest people that could ever run a wrestling business.”

He named some of the talents he could have worked with, noting how WCW didn’t know what to do with him. Hart stated that he and Hogan should have worked together straight away, believing they would have done big numbers together.

Bret Hart joined WCW following the infamous Montreal Screwjob in November 1997. He would signal the letters WCW in the air following his last WWE match and debut for WCW a month later. 

H/T to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.

WWE’s Charly Caruso has shared one of the safety measures WWE has put into place to protect its staff and Superstars during the coronavirus pandemic.

Caruso uploaded an Instagram Story to her account, showcasing how backstage staff are now wearing surgical masks as a precaution.

Hair and makeup artist Valentina Costa can be seen wearing a surgical mask while doing Caruso’s makeup for last night’s episode of Monday Night RAW.

“Look at her. She’s as protected as they come; she’s even got the glasses going,” Caruso said in the video.

WWE’s Added Safety Procedures During Coronavirus Pandemic

WWE is reportedly making all talent and staff participate in requisite medical testing. This testing has to be done before an individual is allowed to enter the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida.

Tapings for RAW, SmackDown, NXT, 205 Live and even WrestleMania 36 are all set to take place there during the coronavirus pandemic. The company are also limiting the number of people allowed into the building.

WrestleMania 36 will now be shown across two days on April 4 and April 5. It will emanate from the WWE Performance Center as well as other locations and, as mentioned, will be pre-recorded. It is expected that WrestleMania 36 will be recorded this week on March 25 and March 26.

Returning WWE Superstar Edge has defended WWE’s decision to deliver WrestleMania 36 amidst the current coronavirus pandemic. Speaking with Digital Spy, Edge detailed how entertainment is now more important than ever to help distract people from their fears and concerns. He added how it’s a “privilege” as much as it is a responsibility to perform and help entertain during such a turbulent time.

Edge Considers WrestleMania A Privilege, An Honor, And A Responsibility

“This year more than any year we are all in the midst of something we have never experienced before, the world really needs outlets,” Edge said. “Whether that is books, whether that is movies, whatever it is, just to be able to try and forget and laugh and have fun and remember what it is to be human. That’s why we’re doing this. There’s one reason. That’s the reason.”

Edge continued, “If we can do that and if people watch and can have fun for a few hours then our mission is accomplished. It’s a privilege, it’s an honor, it’s also a responsibility – and it’s one that I know all of us don’t take lightly. There’s a reason the show is going on. Those are the reasons why.”

He noted how WWE will “try and be as responsible and as safe as we can” in delivering WrestleMania 36. Edge is set to face off against his former-Rated RKO tag team partner Randy Orton. The two will clash in a Last Man Standing match.

The “Show of Shows” now takes place on April 4 and April 5. It will take place from multiple locations and will be pre-recorded due to the current coronavirus pandemic.

Drew McIntyre had high praise for his WrestleMania 36 opponent Brock Lesnar during an interview with TalkSport.com, claiming that he hasn’t met another Superstar that “gets it” the way Lesnar does.

He also touched on Jon Moxley’s negative comments on “The Beast Incarnate.” Moxley, formerly WWE’s Dean Ambrose, and Lesnar tangled in a matchup back at WrestleMania 32.

“I don’t know what happened with Ambrose and their situation,” said McIntyre. “He’s somebody that I’m friends with and I had so many great matches with, so I don’t know what happened there. But, in my experience, Brock has gone above and beyond to ensure I look as good as I can possibly look.”

Drew McIntyre: Lesnar is on an “Elite Level”

Reflecting on Lesnar’s instruction for him to pick up the WWE title during a recent RAW segment, McIntyre shared how he was “so into it!” He explained how Lesnar felt that the moment was right and gave him the nod to grab the belt.

“The camera just picked it up, but that’s how much he’s invested in this. He made that call because he felt the crowd. Nobody one, sells like Brock Lesnar and two, feels a crowd like Brock Lesnar.”

McIntyre continued, “In my experience of anyone I’ve been in the ring with – and even talking with him backstage – in terms of learning it’s like wow… this guy gets it more than anybody I’ve ever spoken to. There’s a superstar level and being over level, and then there’s the elite level that very few people get to.”

Drew McIntyre earned his opportunity against Lesnar by winning the Men’s Royal Rumble matchup back in January. He faces Brock Lesnar in a WWE Championship match at WrestleMania 36, which takes place on April 4 and April 5.

The show will take place from multiple locations and will be pre-recorded due to the current coronavirus pandemic.

WWE Hall of Famer Mark Henry believes that wrestling fans need to show WWE Universal Champion Goldberg “respect.” Henry shared his thoughts during a recent episode of Sirius XM’s Busted Open Radio where he was discussing the upcoming WrestleMania clash between Goldberg and Roman Reigns.

“So Roman Reigns goes and does business. When will be the next time you see Bill Goldberg? You won’t see him very much because I don’t think that he’s going to work a full workload. […] primarily the whole thing is, we got to respect Bill Goldberg for who he is.” 

Henry reflected on Goldberg’s infamous matchup against The Undertaker. The two wrestled during the controversial Super ShowDown event in Saudi Arabia. Goldberg would suffer a concussion during the matchup, leading to dangerous moments and botched spots between the two veterans. Mark Henry argued that the chance to move on from that match is a huge motivating factor behind Goldberg’s current run.

“He [Goldberg] wanted to get that horrible taste out his mouth,” Henry stated. “From having a bad performance. And here he is given substance to the business, and he’s doing exactly what he needed to do to get rid of that. Like people will remember him being involved in a hell of an angle and going out at WrestleMania.”

Goldberg will attempt to defend his WWE Universal Championship against Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 36. “The Show of Shows” takes place on April 4 and April 5. It will be pre-recorded from multiple locations due to the coronavirus pandemic. 

WWE ring announcer Mike Rome has shared his recent experiences working in empty arenas during an appearance on The Chris Van Vliet Show. He acknowledged how it’s “definitely different” compared to when WWE is delivering a show in front of a live audience. 

“It’s weird but it’s so cool to see these guys perform these promos, and these epic things that they’re not used to and stuff outside of their comfort zone, and come together to put something out there for people,” Rome said. “So I think everybody was a little somber and trying to figure things out but once we got rolling, it was just like being back on Monday, somewhere else, just without the audience.”

Addressing how WWE was forced into a format change due to the coronavirus pandemic. Rome acknowledged how the company has now shifted into delivering the show under the current circumstances.

“[…] when you’re taking something that you’re used to doing a certain way for so long and now you kinda have to change it, there wasn’t a lot of time for us to kinda shift what was happening and how to make it, so I think what [fans] are gonna see moving forward is going to be a lot cooler of a process because the first two days, they didn’t have time to turn it around but now they’ve had time to sit there and give something back to everybody to get their minds off of what’s going on, and, as long as we can, I’m 100% sure it’s gonna keep going.”

Mike Rome On WrestleMania 36

With WrestleMania 36 fast approaching, “The Show of Shows” will now take place across two dates. It will also be hosted in multiple locations. Despite these pivots, Rome shared how he believes it’s great that WrestleMania is still happening.

“Yeah, I think wrestling in general, wherever it’s coming from, it’s great that it’s still continuing. I mean, the thing is everybody wants to sit on one side or the other, whatever it is, but any kind of wrestling happening right now or anything going out to the people is great for wrestling in general and great for everybody, and I think it’s cool and I love the fact that WrestleMania is two days now.”

He continued, “I’m like, ‘Oh my gosh, it’s gonna be insane,’ and I, literally, what’s even crazier about it is, I know, besides the matches and stuff, I literally know nothing about what’s happening for those two days. So I’m just sitting here going…’What’s gonna happen?’

WrestleMania 36 takes place on April 4 and 5. It will take place from multiple locations including the WWE Performance Center and will be pre-recorded.

H/T to WrestleZone for the transcription. 

Current WWE NXT UK Champion WALTER has praised WWE Champion Brock Lesnar, calling “The Beast Incarnate” the “most successful and best wrestler.” The Imperium leader shared his thoughts during an interview with SPORT1, where he was asked who he believes is the best wrestler on the planet.

WALTER confessed that a question like that is difficult to answer, reasoning that it’s hard to judge as pro wrestling is not a “competitive sport.”

“Wrestling is not a competitive sport, it has a lot to do with personal taste. For me, Brock Lesnar is at the top of the food chain worldwide,” Walter shared. “He is the most successful and best wrestler. He is financially the most successful but does not have to work as much as others. He is not over-present and you can not see enough of him. He is very smart and is currently at the top for me.”

WALTER has previously shared how he believes Lesnar is the smartest man in pro wrestling right now. He also shared his interest in a potential clash between the two of them.

There are no plans at the time of writing for WALTER to defend his championship at WrestleMania 36. Lesnar, however, will be clashing with the winner of the 2020 Royal Rumble Drew McIntyre. The two will compete for Lesnar’s WWE Championship.

WrestleMania 36 takes place on April 4 and April 5 from multiple locations including the WWE Performance Center.

WWE Hall of Famer Arn Anderson discussed Bray Wyatt’s run prior to his gimmick change into “The Fiend.” Anderson addressed the subject during a recent episode of his podcast, The Arn Show, where he was answering fan questions.

“Anything that can get Bray Wyatt a fresh start after the raw deal he has gotten over the years, I’m all for,” Anderson said. “Whoever came up with the mask, it’s pretty scary looking. I think Bray can pull the character off. Bray Wyatt just as Bray Wyatt in the beginning with those promos that he used to do. The Cape Fear-esque character was pretty scary to me.”

Anderson explained how the issue was never in Wyatt’s performance. He praised Wyatt’s work with Luke Harper and Erick Rowan, noting how they had incredible six-man matchups together. He shared how their match against The Shield was one of the greatest six-man tag matches he’d ever seen. 

“They were awesome. So he did everything right except you’ve got to win the big one. If you continually lose the big one, people look at you as being a loser,” Arn Anderson stated. “But more importantly, they’re smart enough to know, our audience, if the company doesn’t have anything planned for you and you’re not going to be pushed as a star. They’re not going to look at you as a star. If the company doesn’t make you big the audience won’t make you big.”

Arn Anderson On Wyatt & Orton’s Feud

Arn Anderson also reflected on Wyatt’s pairing with Randy Orton. Orton would eventually turn on Wyatt, leading to a matchup between the two at WrestleMania 33. Anderson shared how he felt there was more to them as a team, and argued they should have lasted longer.

“They were over and they were getting over strong as a team. I was there for it. It was tremendous,” he said. “Randy Orton and Bray Wyatt made a great team. It was gonna be one of those things that we talk about on this show all the time, when something gets hotter than it was expected to get and it starts to boil and percolates. But without any help fro the office, a lot of times it just gets shut down. It gives those talents too much stroke and too much power. This was one of those situations because I was there and I saw it.”

He continued, “Those guys should have still been partners when that match went down at Wrestlemania. It’s one of those history things that get cut off way short. Once you’ve shot the angle, you’ve had the match now. You can’t go back to it and have the same results down the road. You get one crack at building these scenarios and if they haven’t ran their course, it is what it is.”

Randy Orton defeated Bray Wyatt during their clash at WrestleMania 33 for the WWE Championship. Orton is scheduled to face Edge in a Last Man Standing match at WWE’s upcoming WrestleMania 36. Wyatt will clash with John Cena. 

H/T to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.

Ring of Honor (ROH) COO Joe Koff has addressed how the promotion intends to look after its talents during the current coronavirus pandemic. He explained how ROH won’t be stopping their talent from taking independent bookings and that the process to do so remains the same. Joining The Wrestling Inc. Daily, Koff noted how ROH always wants to take care of its staff and wrestlers. 

“We always take care of our people. Should they be taking indie dates? They should be clearing that just as they would under normal circumstances. But who’s running? Are there promotions still running,” Joe Koff asked.

“That would be draconian but maybe that’s what’s necessary,” Koff said, referring to a potential lockdown forcing people indoors. “I would hope that in the spirit of humanity and social responsibility, but we’ll face that as it comes up. With certainly our contracted talent, we would have to know that anyway so we would find out. But [our talent taking indie bookings] has not been broached.”

Joe Koff On Sinclair’s Support

Joe Koff shared how ROH’s parent company, Sinclair, has allowed them to continue operating as usual so far. They are following all guidelines as needed, noting how “We’re taking the guidelines from the company in a corporate standpoint in all of the individual operations. The company is fantastic and have been nothing but supportive.”

COVID-19 has impacted several industries worldwide, including pro wrestling. Like other promotions including New Japan Pro-Wrestling, ROH has cancelled their events due to coronavirus concerns. They won’t be running any shows through to May 31.

H/T to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.

Brodie Lee was revealed to be the Dark Order’s Exalted One during last week’s episode of AEW Dynamite on TNT. The long mystery of the Exalted One heavily teased several wrestlers could be the Dark Order leader, including former WWE Superstar Matt Hardy, but it was the former-Luke Harper that would unveil himself.

After AEW uploaded a post to Twitter welcoming Lee to the promotion, Brodie Lee responded to their greeting, writing:

“Odd that you would welcome the wolf to a land full of lambs.”

Brodie Lee Appears

During a promo featuring Dark Order’s Evil Uno and Stu Grayson alongside SCU members Christoper Daniels and Kazarian, a video package played. This video package revealed Lee as the Exalted One.

Dynamite then cut back to the ring. Inside it, behind the SCU members who had been watching the screen, was Brodie Lee. Leading the charge, Lee and the Dark Order then assaulted Daniels and Kazarian.

Last Wednesday’s episode of AEW Dynamite was set to take place in Rochester, New York, which is Brodie Lee’s hometown. AEW reportedly had plans for Lee to debut on this specific show. It was expected that Lee would debut to a huge response thanks to the hometown crowd.

However, the coronavirus pandemic currently affecting the world scuppered those plans. It ultimately forced AEW to relocate the episode to Jacksonville, Florida.

Colt Cabana has opened up about signing with All Elite Wrestling (AEW). He broached the subject during a recent episode of his podcast, The Art of Wrestling. He reflected on his debut as well as his matchup against Peter Avalon on AEW Dark, which he called a “basic fun introductory match” for him. 

“Let’s talk about AEW, I made my debut on Dynamite. I wrestled on AEW Dark against Peter Avalon, and I’m recording this before Dark airs. But you will be listening to this after Dark airs. And my match against Avalon was a very simple, basic fun introductory match for me to the AEW world.”

Colt Cabana On Connecting With Fans

Cabana touched on how, although there are plenty of people plugged into pro wrestling and know who he is, there is also a large part of the AEW audience who might not know who he is. He confessed how he is a “blip on the radar of the world of professional wrestling” before adding “[…] some of these fans they don’t dive into it unless it’s the big time, quote unquote, and I have loved that I have championed the little time quote unquote for years.”

Colt Cabana reflected on how some people backstage were surprised to find out “‘holy sh*t Colt knows what he’s doing.’” He is well aware that his friends knew about his abilities, but he surprised some with his skills and professionalism. “[…] sometimes I guess it takes 21 years to prove to people, but I’m here, and I’m doing it, I’ve proved it so this is just the start.”

You can watch Colt Cabana’s matchup against Peter Avalon below:

H/T to WrestlingNews for the transcription. 

One of All Elite Wrestling’s newest signings is former WWE Superstar Matt Hardy. Hardy made his debut for the promotion during last Wednesday’s episode of Dynamite on TNT. During an interview with Chris Jericho on Talk is Jericho, Hardy shared how his decision may have been different if Triple H had been solely in charge at WWE.

“I’ll just go my own way, and even days after I left, I talked to Triple H,” Hardy said. “It’s just like he was cool, and I feel like if Triple H would have been the guy that was solely in power, I would have probably had a much better opportunity of kind of getting to do what I wanted creatively, but it is what it is.”

Matt Hardy & The Elite

Matt Hardy ultimately left WWE due to his desire for more creative freedoms, something WWE wasn’t giving him. He aligned himself with Elite members Kenny Omega, Cody, Hangman Page and Matt Jackson. Matt Hardy will join them as their fifth man in an upcoming Blood & Guts matchup against Chris Jericho and his Inner Circle members. 

That match, originally to take place on the next episode of Dynamite, has been postponed due to coronavirus concerns, especially as it pertains to the number of people gathered together at any one time. 

H/T to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription. 

WWE Hall of Famer Bully Ray has shared his thoughts on Matt Hardy’s recent AEW debut. Hardy appeared during the closing moments of this Wednesday’s episode of Dynamite, aligning himself with The Elite. Bully Ray noted how debuting in an empty arena actually suited Matt Hardy’s broken character.

“I think Matt Hardy debuting last night in front of no people was just as impactful of debuting in front of a full house,” Bully Ray said. “It kind of fit Matt Hardy. Just seeing Vanguard fly in, and then just hearing the piano… the Broken character—it works with no people there.”

Bully Ray stated how it worked with no crowd noise and just the soft piano playing in the background.

“It actually fit his debut really, really well. And think about a pop that character will get the first time it’s in front of an audience… So I had no problem with Matt Hardy last night, it definitely worked.”

Bully Ray On AEW’s Trust In Its Performers

Bully Ray then complimented AEW’s ability to allow their wrestlers to connect with audiences. He stressed how their wrestlers get themselves over organically thanks to this trust. He added how “AEW is going to allow Matt Hardy to push himself to the moon.”

Matt Hardy joins Elite members Kenny Omega, Cody, Hangman Page and Matt Jackson for their Blood & Guts matchup against The Inner Circle. This matchup will take place on the next episode of Dynamite.

If you use any quotes from this article, please provide a H/T to SEScoops.

Sasha Banks and Bayley have both commented on being left off this year’s WrestleMania event. Responding to a tweet from WWE Hall of Famer Edge, Banks joked how she would be headlining the pre-show. She was interjecting her joke into a twitter exchange between Edge and Roman Reigns.

Sasha Banks & Bayley On WrestleMania

“That’s cute Mr. Wolf and Mr. Dog. But this Panther will be main eventing the pre show. I left my mark at the @WWEPC. Just ask the eagle @itsBayleyWWE. She was there for 5 years so technically that’s her land and she wants you off her yard! #TheMainEventbeforeTheMainEvent”

Bayley also saw Reigns’ initial tweet, which was hyping the now two-day event. Answering Reigns’ question over who would claim one of the night’s, she replied “NOT ME!!! hahahahahahahahahaha Have fun Big dog woof woof”

Sasha Banks would see Bayley’s response and reply to her friend, writing “Oops I mean, we will not be on. Let’s go gather some sheep baaaaahaha”

Both Sasha Banks and Bayley performed to an empty crowd in the WWE PC for last week’s episode of SmackDown Live. They competed against Nikki Cross and Alexa Bliss. Banks and Bayley would walk away with the win.

WrestleMania 36 has been relocated from Raymond James Stadium due to coronavirus concerns. It will now take place in multiple locations, including the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida.

Originally set to take place on Sunday, April 5, the show has now been split across April 4 and April 5 and may even be pre-recorded.

Ring of Honor (ROH) star Silas Young has issued an apology following a Tweet where he underplayed the impact and dangers of the coronavirus (COVID-19).

His apology reads:

“Part of being a man is being able to admit when you’re wrong. I always try to downplay things or situations. perhaps I have done this with covid19. for anyone I may have offended I apologize.”

Silas Young’s original tweet has since been deleted. In it, Young suggested how people were too easily scared into giving up their rights. He pointed out how New Jersey has passed a curfew until further notice, stating how the coronavirus was a form of the flu before telling people to “Grow up.”

ROH Cancellations

Like many promotions worldwide, ROH has been forced to cancel events due to the global coronavirus pandemic.

The promotion has cancelled all of their events through May 31. Affected shows included Supercard of Honor, Pure Excellence, Battlestar 2020, Quest For Gold and the joint show between ROH and NJPW, War of the Worlds. The coronavirus outbreak has caused several industries to postpone, reschedule and cancel events and conventions.

WrestleMania 36 was recently announced to have been relocated from Raymond James Stadium. It has also been split into two days across April 4 and April 5. The show will now emanate from multiple locations and may even be pre-recorded.

New Japan Pro-Wrestling acted quickly as the coronavirus pandemic first started taking hold. The promotion cancelled their annual New Japan Cup tournament in order to help protect their fans and talent. Speaking with Sports Illustrated, NJPW President Harold Meij discussed how he intends to help get business back to normal.

“The Coronavirus has impacted the entire world,” Meij said. “However, throughout our 50-year history we have experienced and overcome numerous crises, not only emerging stronger as an organization, but also as a good social beacon bringing hope and excitement worldwide. NJPW sincerely believes professional wrestling will once again unite us all very soon, sharing our passion for wrestling together.”

Harold Meij On NJPW’s Alternative Content

Harold Meij reiterated how all New Japan events have been cancelled up to and including their March 21 show. He noted how eagerly everyone involved wants to get back to “business as usual.” According to Meij, NJPW officials are actively working towards that ambition. He acknowledged that the continuous situation is “fluid” and so they have to act responsibly with every decision.

“The Coronavirus has dramatically affected how sports and events-based businesses worldwide are able to operate,” Meij continued. “Being the biggest professional wrestling organization in Japan put a spotlight upon us and gave us a significant social responsibility. It has been our duty to not just act in the best interests of our fans, wrestlers and staff, but of society at large.”

In the wake of the New Japan Cup cancellation, the promotion has attempted to deliver alternative content to fans worldwide. NJPW has been releasing videos for their NJPW Together Project via NJPW World. The videos bring stars together to talk, entertain and provide wrestle commentary over matches.

SmackDown Superstar Daniel Bryan has acknowledged his recent wardrobe malfunction. Speaking with the Bella Twins’ on their podcast, Bryan opened up about the moment that took place during WWE’s Elimination Chamber pay-per-view.

Bryan explained how he didn’t find out about what had happened when he came backstage. He shared how most people were either complimenting his matchup or concerned about his neck. “[…] so not a single person mentioned it. I went to sleep [that] night not even knowing that it was a thing. I didn’t feel anything, and you’d think because that’s a sensitive area, you’d think you’d feel a breeze or something like that, you know? But [that] night it wasn’t even a thing.”

Daniel Bryan’s Reaction

It wasn’t until the next morning when he got text messages from some friends that he realized what had happened. Bryan stated how he’s a terrible texter, so most people don’t bother texting him. “So that meant when I got two text messages from people saying, ‘Dude, I saw your balls!’ [laughs] I was like, ‘What?’ I didn’t know what was going on.”

He admits his first reaction was some natural embarrassment. That being said, he soon found the funny side to the situation. “[…] if your boobs come out … And then all these guys — I don’t want to say all these guys, but traditionally men — are like, ‘Boobs, yay!’ I didn’t see when I looked on social media, nobody said, ‘Balls, yay!’ [laughs]”

Daniel Bryan competed against Drew Gulak in a hard-hitting matchup during Elimination Chamber. Bryan would eventually walk away with the victory. At the time of writing, Daniel Bryan doesn’t have a scheduled match at WrestleMania 36, which now takes place on April 4 and April 5 from multiple locations.

H/T to 411Mania for the transcription.

WWE Hall of Famer Lita recently joined the Women’s Wrestling Weekly Podcast. During their conversation, she addressed WWE’s decision to not follow up with another Evolution or May Young Classic event. Given the feedback those shows received, Lita shared her disbelief at WWE holding back.

“Dude, why is it not back? So Mae Young got so much positive feedback, Evolution was sold out, granted, you can’t look at your own timeline for how people feel because they’re like, ‘You’re so great,’ and I’m like, oh, everyone loved it, but from what I got, everybody responded really positively to it, even just financially, it was sold out, I don’t understand why there is not another Evolution, why it didn’t make the regular PPV cut, was really shocking to me.” 

Lita competed during the Evolution pay-per-view. She teamed up with Trish Stratus. The duo defeated the team of Mickie James and Alicia Fox.

Lita’s Wrestling Mount Rushmore

Lita was then asked which female wrestlers would adorn her personal wrestling Mount Rushmore. She listed names from the industry’s past and present. Alongside Chyna, Lita included the current WWE RAW Women’s Champion Becky Lynch and Luna. She explained how she always found Luna really cool and believed her to be underrated, “[…] she doesn’t get the love that she deserves.” 

Adding onto the conversation of legacy recognition, Lita noted how Chyna should be added into the WWE Hall of Fame as a solo entrant. 

H/T to 411Mania for the transcription. 

Jake “The Snake” Roberts has shared some harsh words regarding Shawn Michaels and Bret Hart. During an interview with FlipDaScript, Roberts revealed how he felt that Michaels and Hart were “chumps” who needed the title to be relevant. He claimed the two were the worst champions WWE could have had and that neither man drew any money.

When asked which Superstars needed a championship to be relevant, Jake Roberts was quick to name Michaels and Hart. “Those chumps needed the title. Nobody paid attention to them. [Michaels] was in a tag team and they were pretty good and they made the girls say, ‘Oooh!’ But that’s about it. [Michaels] worked his ass off. I’ll give him that. He performs his ass off. But was he a good champion? Hell no. Did he put asses to seats? Not that many. Check the books.”

He continued, “Bret Hart & Shawn Michaels were the worst champions of all. They did not put money in the bank. Shawn Michaels had the ‘It’ factor but he was 215 pounds and in my day, you’re getting in the ring with 275, 300, 350 pound guys. Then you go Andre who’s 550. Can you imagine Shawn going up against Andre? My case is closed.”

Jake Roberts is currently a part of All Elite Wrestling. After teasing a new association with a key talent, Roberts soon revealed former New Japan Pro-Wrestling star Lance Archer was his new client. 

H/T to Fightful for the transcription.