Inside The Ropes has been forced to reschedule their Kevin Owens ‘One Night Only’ event due to the coronavirus pandemic. The show was intended to take place on March 20 at The Engine Works in Glasgow, Scotland. It will now take place on June 5 at the same location.

They released an official statement via their Twitter account. In it, they share how they have been in “constant communication” with WWE and Kevin Owens.

Ultimately, they have made the decision to postpone. This was done in order to ensure the safety of their fans, staff and Owens himself.

“We’ve been in constant communication with WWE and Kevin in regards to going ahead with the show. While we would have loved to have delivered the show next Friday, given the continuing escalation of the virus, we are left with no choice but to postpone the show until Friday June 5th 2020.”

They stress their commitment to delivering this event, but wanted to make sure they are able to host it in a “safe capacity for all parties involved.”

WrestleMania Coronavirus Concerns

The coronavirus has forced several events, conventions, tours and more to postpone, reschedule or cancel. At the time of writing, WWE remains committed to delivering WrestleMania 36. The company do have “contingency plans” in place, however, in case things worsen.

Tampa Bay officials met with WWE last Thursday to discuss viable options. Still, it was noted by Hillsborough Commissioner Les Miller that Tampa may have to “pull the plug” on ‘Mania if WWE does not deliver a firm plan of action.

All Elite Wrestling (AEW) announcer Jim Ross recently spoke about the possibility of Matt and Jeff Hardy joining AEW’s ranks. He addressed the idea during an episode of his podcast, Grillin’ JR. Ross wasn’t shy about wanting to see Matt in AEW and noted how Jeff can “help any company” he’s a part of, but only if he’s healthy.

“When Jeff Hardy is clean and sober and healthy, he can help any company in a big big way,” Jim Ross said. “Then Matt [Hardy], of course, now a free agent. You know there’s a lot of talk about where he’s going. I know where I’d like to see him go, you know obviously I’m selfish.”

Ross continued, “Matt Hardy is another guy that, from his intellect to his character, his integrity, and existing in-ring skills can help any wrestling company. Including the one that I worked for at AEW. I wish him the best.”

If Matt Comes, Will Jeff Follow?

Jim Ross speculated that if AEW is able to sign Matt Hardy to their roster, then “maybe” his brother wouldn’t be too far behind. Matt has been long suspected by fans to be the ‘Exalted One’ AEW’s Dark Order frequently refer to.

Matt Hardy has confirmed he is in talks with various promotions including AEW, NWA, ROH, and Impact Wrestling. No official announcement has been made over where he will go, but he has stated his decision will be within the month. 

Jeff, meanwhile, made his long-awaited return to SmackDown during last night’s episode. He defeated Baron Corbin in his return match to an empty WWE Performance Center.  

Last night’s unique episode of SmackDown Live took place in front of a crowd of zero fans. WWE made the decision to broadcast the show from the WWE Performance Center with only key personnel in attendance.

Because of this, it appears that measures were put in place to minimise potential danger to their Superstar. This extended to having them take a break during commercials. Unbeknownst to WWE, however, there were versions of the episode delivered to international audiences showcasing the break in the action.

SmackDown’s Opening Contest

During the show’s first match between Sasha Banks and Bayley versus Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross, all four Superstars stop competing when they know the show has gone to commercial.

This allowed them the opportunity to rest and take a break without needing to continue the action to an empty audience.

Taking A Break During The Break

In the footage, the women can be seen talking, with Nikki Cross frequently running around the ring and having a good time. During this, the referee adjusts the tag ropes in each corner. As the show comes back from commercial, however, it’s clear the competitors are once again getting into position for the show.

The decision was made to have SmackDown air in the WWE PC due to coronavirus concerns. Wanting to minimise the potential spreading of the virus, WWE instead opted to move their operations to the PC.

Despite this approach, the company appear to still be committed to delivering WrestleMania 36 from Raymond James Stadium on April 5. They do, however, have “contingency plans” in place if the situation were to change with Tampa officials or the stadium itself.

During an episode of their podcast, Feel The Power, The New Day opened up about how they deal with backstage politics. They also broached how they decide which member of the group wrestles in a matchup.

“I feel like when you really look at [backstage politics], a lot of it is getting that tough skin, so you know you can bite back because cutting promos is how we sell [pro] wrestling.” Woods explained, “so if you can’t do it in the back, then they don’t think that you can do it out there.”

How The New Day Decide Who Wrestles

Woods broke down how they usually decide who wrestles in a matchup. He detailed how the first step is for everyone to share their “selfish” reasons for being in the match. Once those are out in the open, the trio will discuss those reasons before talking about why everyone else should be in the match. This process leads to a detailed discussion. 

Despite this democratic process, there is also an element of rotation in play:

“[…] a lot of times, the rotation is, whoever wasn’t in gets rotated out, so like if it’s E and Kof, next it will be me and E, and then, it’ll be me and Kof. And then, Kof and E. Yeah, me and Kof are Speed Force. And then, Kof and E is Pops & Powers. And then, me and E are Muscle Bomb. Yes, E’s the muscle, Kof is the speed, and I’m the hybrid, so I’ll kind of adjust to whoever.”

At the time of writing, The New Day is not currently scheduled for a matchup at WrestleMania 36. The event is set to place on April 5 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. 

H/T to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.

WWE Hall of Famer Lita has shared her thoughts on one of WWE’s newest signings, Rob Gronkowski. Joining ESPN’s late-night sow Now or Never, Lita explained how she loves seeing people cross over from being a pro athlete to pro wrestling. She noted how they don’t normally account for the charisma and work ethic that goes into being an in-ring competitor. 

“I love seeing that small percentage of people that cross over because being a professional athlete you’re so focused and you’re not thinking about the charisma and the stuff that goes into being a wrestler.”

Lita Lists On Gronkowski Needs To Do To Succeed

Lita then pointed to how Gronkowski and his friend Mojo already showcase plenty of charisma and personality. She believes he has the raw tools to allow him a good starting point in WWE.

“But you see Gronk and Mojo together, who also has that larger than life personality,” Lita said. “You might not know all the moves, you might not know all the ins and outs but there’s no denying that charisma and that personality, he has the personality.”

Gronkowski will reportedly be making his SmackDown debut on March 20. He will apparently have some kind of role at WrestleMania 36, potentially setting up a future storyline past “The Grandest Stage of Them All”.

H/T to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription. 

SmackDown Superstar Sheamus has been open about his intentions to claim the WWE Intercontinental Championship. Doing so would see the ‘Celtic Warrior’ become a Grand Slam champion within the company.

Speaking with Sportskeeda, Sheamus was asked about his Intercontinental Championship ambitions. He also spoke about the current champion Sami Zayn, and whether it matters to him who he stands across when it comes to that belt.

When asked if he still wanted the title, Sheamus responded “Of course. That’s the only thing I want to do. At the moment, I set one goal at a time, and the one title that’s missing from my cabinet is the Intercontinental Title – so the goal right now is to win the Intercontinental Championship. I don’t care about anything else. That’s all I’m focused on.”

He shared how he can’t take anything away from Sami Zayn and his accomplishment. Sheamus joked how Zayn is 48-years-old and, “for someone who’s 48 years old and still doing this, it’s an incredible feat, you know?”

Sheamus On Choosing An Opponent

But what if it isn’t Zayn he faces if he’s able to secure a championship opportunity? Sheamus explained his opponent doesn’t matter to him, only the gold.

“Dunno, mate, I don’t… That’s all I care about right now, that’s what I’m focused on. The other things would be like an appetiser, do know what I’m saying? As of right now, I’m not really in a storyline, I just kind of finished one with Shorty G and Apollo Crews, and there’s only three weeks to ‘Mania, so it would definitely be Sami Zayn. If Cesaro had won that, Cesaro vs Sheamus at WrestleMania would have been incredible.”

At the time of writing, Sheamus does not have a WrestleMania 36 matchup.

Despite being advertised for last night’s unique episode of Friday Night SmackDown, Paige was not in attendance for the show. Turns out the reason behind his absence was thanks to travel concerns due to the coronavirus pandemic.

According to Ryan Satin of ProWrestlingSheet, Paige “did not travel to Florida for Smackdown due to coronavirus related travel concerns which the company accommodated.”

Paige herself would address missing the blue brand show. Taking to Twitter, she wrote:

“Sorry guys travel made it very hard for me to get there for #SmackDownLIVE with everything that’s going on. Completely out of my control. [sad face emoji] very sorry.. But at least @itsBayleyWWE is keeping you entertained” She accompanied her message with a gif of a woman laughing into her drink, causing it to spray everywhere.

Empty SmackDown

Last night’s SmackDown Live took place in an empty WWE Performance Center. Only essential personnel were in attendance, including ‘The Game’ Triple H and Michael Cole who both provided commentary.

The decision to move the show to the WWE PC was made due to the coronavirus threat. WWE aren’t the only ones affected, with All Elite Wrestling also having made changes to upcoming shows to help protect their fans and talent.

At the time of writing, WWE is still committed to going ahead with WrestleMania 36. Last night’s episode continued to build towards their biggest event of the year, despite other organizations delaying, rescheduling or outright cancelling their events.

Fans worldwide are waiting to see what will happen to WrestleMania 36 in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. Despite WWE’s apparent insistence that the show will go on, some Tampa officials don’t appear to share their approach.

WWE and Tampa officials met last Thursday to discuss options in the face of the pandemic. Hillsborough Commissioner Les Miller had previously explained that no firm decision had been made. Both parties will meet once more if WWE cannot make a decision. In an interview with Fox 13, Miller stated how Tampa officials will “probably have to pull the plug” on WrestleMania if WWE can’t come to a decision.

“I’m hoping that Vince McMahon and WrestleMania and WWE make that call themselves. But a week from now, if they have not done that and we consider the situation we’re in, we will probably have to pull the plug on that.”

WrestleMania’s Coronavirus Concerns

Worldwide events, conventions and organisations have all been dramatically impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. WrestleMania is one of the last holdouts to not postpone or cancel.

Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister expressed his hopes that WWE would follow in the wake of the NBA, NHL and MLB, to name a few.

“I commend every sports franchise for erring on the side of caution,” Chronister said. “I hope that the WWE follows suit. I don’t ever want to see people put profit over public safety.”

WWE’s Coronavirus Statement

Following Thursday’s meeting, WWE released an official statement. They stressed their commitment to WrestleMania and revealed they are putting “contingency plans” in place.

“While we remain committed to hosting WrestleMania at Raymond James Stadium on Sunday, April 5, we are putting contingency plans in place in the event that it is cancelled by government officials, civil authorities and/or local venues.

The health and safety of our fans, performers and employees are our top priorities and we are monitoring the situation closely with our partners and government officials in Tampa Bay.”

At the time of writing, WrestleMania 36 is still set to take place on April 5 from Raymon James Stadium. Last night’s episode of SmackDown took place in an empty WWE Performance Center. Only essential crew were in attendance. The show continued its build towards WrestleMania.

Drew McIntyre has opened up about the promo freedoms WWE has afforded him. Speaking with the Gorilla Position Podcast, McIntyre confessed it’s more natural for him to deliver a promo without a script. 

“It’s way more natural for me to go out there without a script, just bullet points, have a laugh and get the crowd involved than it was during the first time I returned to Raw and was talking about eating carcasses, which no-one could relate to because no-one talks like that in real life.”

Drew McIntyre On Paul Heyman & Earning Trust

Drew McIntyre shared how Paul Heyman is an individual who knows what he is capable of. He highlighted Heyman’s knowledge of his work outside of WWE contributed to his current promo work. 

“Paul Heyman is certainly someone who knows what I’m all about, what I’m capable of and what I’d done outside the company,” he explained. “I don’t think the boss had ever seen me just let loose on the mic.”

Reflecting on getting to this point of trust, McIntyre noted how it started small. At first, he was allowed to deliver unscripted promos for smaller segments. Over time, he earned enough trust to do deliver them for more significant moments. 

Drew McIntyre is set to face Brock Lesnar for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 36. The event takes place on April 5 from Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. 

H/T to WrestlingNews for the transcription.

All Elite Wrestling announcer Jim Ross has confessed he was wrong about his first impressions of Orange Cassidy. Speaking on his podcast, Grillin’ JR, Ross spoke about how Cassidy connects with the audience, and that he stands out by being “different.”

“Number one, Orange Cassidy is different. He is marketing himself differently. He’s got a different in-ring style,” Ross explained. “What he did in the match [against PAC], under his presentation rules. Hands in his pockets taking it easy. Chilling, you know, being cool. [It] was nothing short of extraordinary how this guy does what he does with his hands in his pockets. It is amazing to me.”

Jim Ross And His “Old School” First Take

Jim Ross shared how he felt bad for those fans criticising Cassidy, judging him by his size. Ross confessed he was too “old school” when he first started watching him perform, believing “‘it’s never gonna get over stupid.’”

“He’s a stud man, he’s got it. So I feel badly for those criticising, because they’re basing it on size only or that he’s got a different presentation that they haven’t seen. That’s not really fair to the talent.”

Ross continued, “I admit when I first saw Cassidy, my old school self said ‘it’s never gonna get over stupid.’ And I was wrong. I don’t mind admitting I’m wrong when I’m wrong, and I was wrong on Orange Cassidy, he’s a fine guy. He’s a good Pro, and he’s got a different act.”

Orange Cassidy joined Best Friends in saving Joey Janela and Private Party from a beatdown at the hands of Death Triangle this past Wednesday on Dynamite.

H/T to WrestlingNews for the transcription.

AJ Styles joined FS1’s WWE Backstage this week. During his appearance, he was asked about his upcoming matchup against The Undertaker at WrestleMania 36. 

This past Monday night on RAW, Styles delivered a promo that referenced ‘Taker by his real name and suggested he was past his prime. Despite his promos disrespect, Styles confessed he is excited to grapple ‘The Deadman.’

“Come on, I don’t think I said anything that one of our fans wouldn’t have said themselves,” he argued. “Let’s talk about the retirement, putting his fist up, what a beautiful moment that was, and he came back!”

He continued, “Listen, he’s The Undertaker right, so much respect for this guy and everything he’s done for our business. Hopefully we get in the ring together, I’m excited about it.”

AJ Styles’ Bucket List Match

AJ Styles referred to this matchup as a “bucket list” item for anyone in the pro wrestling business. “I mean really, it’s The Undertaker guys. It’s huge, I want to be able to learn from this man. How much can I learn from this man?”

He continued, “I have studied him for years, the matches with Shawn [Michaels] are unbelievable. I want to know what he knows and the only way to get it is to get in the ring with him.”

Styles stressed that he’s not done yet and that he’s keen to keep learning. He admitted that getting older means Superstars can’t do things they used to. Instead, they have to learn and adapt in order to keep performing and moments that “have the most impact.”

AJ Styles and The Undertaker face off at WrestleMania 36. The event takes place on April 5 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. 

H/T to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription. 

Triple H has shared his thoughts on ‘The British Bulldog’ Davey Boy Smith‘s induction into the Hall of Fame.

Taking to Twitter, he highlighted Smith’s decorated career. He noted how he provided a national sense of pride for the United Kingdom. Triple H added how this induction allows the British Bulldog his rightful place in the Hall of Fame.

“A favorite of the @WWE Universe, decorated career and a source of national pride for the entire @WWEUK, British Bulldog is taking his rightful place in the #WWEHOF. Together, we can celebrate his in-ring career and memory as a father, husband, and Superstar.”

British Bulldog Announcement

Corey Graves revealed the news that Smith would be inducted into this year’s class during his podcast, After The Bell. He was joined by Smith’s son, Davey Boy Smith Jr., Tyson Kidd and Natalya. It was revealed during the episode that Smith Jr. will have the honor of inducting his late father. The Hall of Fame ceremony takes place on April 2 during WrestleMania week.

“It’s been long overdue but I am really excited and glad to be inducting my father into the 2020 Hall Of Fame,” Smith Jr. said. “It’s something that is great not only for my family but the WWE Universe as well.”

‘The British Bulldog’ joins Dave Batista, The Bella Twins, JBL and the nWo as part of the 2020 Hall of Fame class.

You can add the Bullet Club Beach Party to the growing list of coronavirus canceled events.

The stable shared the unfortunate news via their Bullet Club Beach Party Twitter account. The official statement noted how their first priority is to the health and safety of their guests and talent. They added how “No one is more disappointed in this outcome than us.”

“We are as upset by this outcome as you all are, but we do not want to let this be the end of the road. We have plenty of gas left in our tank, and we fully intend on running an event in the distant future, within calendar year 2020.”

Bullet Club conceded that the entire coronavirus situation is “fluid.”

They added that they are working diligently to get fans refunds for their tickets and meet and greet purchases.

Bullet Club members Tanga Loa, “Switchblade” Jay White, KENTA, Bad Luck Fale, Haku, Bone Solider and El Phantasmo were just some of the club’s members scheduled to appear. Other wrestlers included RUSH and Dragon Lee.

Although WrestleMania 36 still seems to be going ahead, plenty of other promotions have taken action to help combat spreading the virus. New Japan Pro-Wrestling has canceled several New Japan Cup events, and ROH has recently canceled their 18th Anniversary pay-per-view.

Former Impact World Heavyweight Champion Sami Callihan has declared he will not be performing until the coronavirus pandemic has been contained.

Callihan shared his intentions via his Twitter account, stressing how “safety is the most important thing” for all concerned. He shared how he won’t be doing any wrestling shows before asking everyone to be as safe as possible.

“F–k characters, f–ks storylines…. our safety is the most important thing. Until this gets better I’m not going to ANY wrestling shows. I beg the world to be as safe as possible in this extremely scary time. Let’s join together like never before. We can get through this.”

Sami Callihan later sent a follow-up Tweet, noting how his family, pets, and himself were all more important than “fake fighting our underwear.”

“My family… my animals… myself is more important than fake fighting in our underwear. I’m sorry. I’m not going to show until this in contained. I hope everyone does the same. The world. Our loves. Is not worth it.”

Coronavirus Pandemic

Several events worldwide have been affected by the coronavirus. Concerts, conventions and entire sports seasons have all been postponed, rescheduled and cancelled in the midst of the coronavirus outbreak.

Although WrestleMania 36 still seems to be going ahead, plenty of other promotions have taken action to help combat spreading the virus. New Japan Pro-Wrestling has cancelled several New Japan Cup events, and ROH has recently cancelled their 18th Anniversary pay-per-view.

WWE Superstar AJ Styles joined FS1’s WWE Backstage this week where he opened up about his role as a locker room leader. During his time on the show, he also offered some words of encouragement to a couple of frustrated WWE Superstars. 

With a career has extensive as Styles’, there are plenty of Superstars eager to learn from ‘The Phenomenal One.’

“I don’t think they’re green, they’ve earned their way into the WWE but it is a roller coaster ride,” Styles said. “There is going to be ups, there’s going to be downs. You have the internet saying this and that and a lot of it is not true.”

He continued, “I want to talk to those people, I want to sit down with them and say listen: ‘Keep doing what you’re doing, keep working, keep learning and you’ll get to where you need to be. How’s everything at home? Is everything great? Think about that stuff, your bills are being paid, think about the positives in your life, don’t think about your job.’ As much as we love this business at the end of the day it’s still a job.”

AJ Styles With Words Of Encouragement

When asked to name a few Superstars he believes will be WWE’s next big stars, AJ Styles was quick to name Ricochet, Cedric Alexander and Shayna Baszler.

“Ricochet, definitely, this guy is unbelievable, the talent that he has,” Styles shared. “Cedric Alexander, another guy, unbelievable. Shayna Baszler. There are opportunities for these athletes, and they will come if they are not already. These guys were high for a moment, I’ve gotten beat by Cedric, beat by Ricochet, it’s okay, we’re gonna get there. I see these guys on their way up. Just because you’re on the downturn doesn’t mean you’re not going to come back up. We just got to wait our turn sometimes.”

He confessed that he’s been in a similar situation and has shared their frustrations. Styles added that he has felt that way in WWE. He explained how it comes down to accepting the idea that “[…] it’s not my turn it’s somebody else, I’ll just wait and do the best I can with what I’ve got.”

AJ Styles is scheduled to face off against The Undertaker at WrestleMania 36. The event takes place on April 5 from Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. 

H/T to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription. 

WWE Hall of Famer Mark Henry joined this week’s episode of WWE show The Bump. With WWE boasting so many athletic big men, Henry spoke what it’s like to be a big guy in wrestling. Mentioning large talents like The Big Show, Keith Lee and Braun Strowman, he revealed how there were some who had doubts regarding Strowman when he was first brought into the company.

“[On the ‘Big Guy gimmick’] It starts off as heat like you’ve got a problem with everybody. We call that ‘Big Guy Heat,'” Henry explained. “You get too many big guys in the room, people start to talk about their accolades, and say things like ‘Yeah, I’ve beaten this guy. Yeah, I’ve beaten that guy. I’m over, look at me.’ Then, you start to look at people as your contemporaries. You look at them as your peer group. You learn from each other. Then, you start to work against each other.”

He continued, “Me and The Big Show – arguably the biggest guys of our era – we worked together probably 100 times. It was always cordial when we met. He was like my brother. So, it’s been different in the case for me and him. When I brought in Braun Strowman, some people were like ‘I don’t know about this guy, man.’ I told him ‘That’s the big guy heat. Let it die down. It will work out in the end, and it did.'”

Mark Henry On Scouting Talent

Working as a talent scout for WWE, Henry pointed to NXT North American Champion Keith Lee as a Superstar he believes will excel. He noted how Lee is an unbelievable worker that has great ring psychology.

“There are some other guys in developmental that I’m looking forward to seeing show up. We have a 7’0″ giant named Jordan from Nigeria, who looks the part. I’m looking forward to seeing the future. There are about 10 guys there, and six of them are over 7-feet-tall.”

Mark Henry noted how Superstars like Braun Strowman is the “A-typical” person they need in wrestling. He shared how Strowman isn’t shy and that when he walks into the room, he owns it. According to Henry, these are qualities he is looking for when he’s scouting future talent. 

H/T to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription. 

President Trump has announced a 30-day travel ban between the United States and Europe due to the coronavirus pandemic. The imposed ban will begin this Friday at midnight and end after WrestleMania 36. European fans travelling into the United States for WrestleMania 36 will be affected by this decision. It’s worth noting that the ban will not include travel to and from the United Kingdom at this point in time.

It has been reported that WWE is closely monitoring the coronavirus situation in relation to WrestleMania 36, which takes place in Tampa, Florida. Tampa city officials will be meeting to discuss viable options regarding several major events set to take place in the area, including WrestleMania. WWE recently denied reports they were cancelling this week’s episode of SmackDown due to concerns. They revealed the show will go ahead as planned, but they are putting “contingency plans” in place for future shows.

Coronavirus Pandemic

The World Health Organization (WHO) recently defined the coronavirus outbreak as a pandemic. It has been confirmed in over 100 countries so far and has infected more than 120,000 people. There have been an unfortunate 4,300 coronavirus related deaths worldwide, with a vaccine taking as long as 18 months to develop.

Due to the nature of the coronavirus, numerous events have been postponed, rescheduled or cancelled. Events, conventions, attractions and tours have been shut down in order to combat the spread of the coronavirus.

WrestleMania 36 takes place on April 5 from the Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.

Following last night’s anarchic ending to WWE’s black-and-gold brand NXT, NXT General Manager William Regal took to Twitter to release a statement on their actions:

“The actions of Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa to each other and to the WWE Performance Center are beyond unprofessional and UNACCEPTABLE on every level. I will be dealing with this privately with both gentlemen.”

Chaos At The Performance Center

In case you missed it, last night’s episode of NXT took place from the Performance Center. The episode ended with a heated brawl breaking out between Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa.

The two Superstars fought throughout the PC from the back, through to the gym and finally out to the crowd. Their clash ended after Ciampa drove Gargano through the announce table from off of a platform above the commentary area.

Their fight saw mass amounts of property damaged as Gargano and Ciampa battled one another. Gym equipment was used, mirrors were broken, walls were destroyed, and at one point Ciampa was thrown through a glass pane door. It’s believed that the two will take part in a major matchup at NXT TakeOver: Tampa Bay as part of WrestleMania 36 weekend.

NXT TakeOver: Tampa Bay takes place on April 4, 2020, from the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida.

Former New England Patriot player Rob Gronkowski is reportedly close to signing a deal with WWE. The news was announced by Ryan Satin during last night’s episode of FS1’s WWE Backstage. 

At the time of writing, it is still unclear what kind of role WWE has in mind for Gronkowski.

“According to multiple sources, former NFL star, three-time Super Bowl champion and current Fox Sports analyst Rob Gronkowski is deep in talks with WWE and close to finalizing a deal,” Satin said.

“While the capacity in which he’d be used is unclear at this time, I’m told that Gronk could be making an appearance in WWE as early as March 20th on Friday Night SmackDown in New Orleans.” 

Rob Gronkowski’s WrestleMania Moment

This wouldn’t be the first time that Gronkowski has been featured in WWE. Back in 2017 during WrestleMania 33, he jumped the barricade in order to help his friend Mojo Rawley. Thanks to his assist, Rawley was able to win the Andrew the Giant Battle Royal.

Adding to the speculation, both Triple H and Stephanie McMahon recently attended Gronkowski’s Super Bowl beach party. Triple H has also publicly invited Gronkowski to this year’s SummerSlam event in Boston, Massachusetts. 

Rob Gronkowski has previously shared his dreams of getting involved with pro wrestling. He noted how it probably wouldn’t be a full-time career, but he would love to have “one crazy match.” 

With other notable celebrities and sports stars having recently had notable matches in WWE, including Cain Velasquez and Tyson Fury, it seems that it will only be a matter of time until a marquee match might involve Rob Gronkowski.

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

NXT Superstar Lio Rush recently joined Sports Illustrated for an interview. During their conversation, Rush opened up about his six-month hiatus from WWE before sharing his future goals in the company. He also touched on his musical ambitions outside of the squared circle.

“Craved for Blood began during my time away from the WWE when my mind was in a tenuous space, all over the place, and that’s the vibe that created the song, I went through a negative place, and I worked to harness that and put it in the song,” Rush said.

“The entire song is a code that people have to crack, A line that means a lot to me is, ‘These tricky minds deep inside, we all think alike.’ Every job has its stresses, and the entertainment field is stressful. People need to find a release. A creative outlet for me outside of wrestling is my music.”

Lio Rush On His Time Away

Following his time away from WWE, Lio Rush admitted that his return was “pretty special.” He reflected on his first run in NXT, noting that he only had a short time there. 

“Some people were surprised I am a wrestler after they were only used to seeing me beside Bobby Lashley as a manager on Monday Night Raw. People know I can talk on the mic, but I want to show the world I can do it all. It’s special to be back wrestling, and I want to show I am one of the best wrestlers in the world.”

When it comes to his future goals, Rush is focused on creating a bigger name for himself. He also wants to highlight that he is a hard worker and is ready for whatever may come, noting “I’m prepared for anything that comes my way.”

WWE NXT UK Superstar Ilja Dragunov discussed what his career has been like since signing with WWE. Speaking with talkSPORT, Dragunov also opened up about working with WWE Hall of Famers Triple H and Shawn Michaels, as well as sharing his ambition of facing RAW Superstar Aleister Black.

“I get the feeling people understand me and that’s very important to me, it’s why I love my work here so much,” Dragunov said. “They understand what I’m doing without really telling them a lot. And in WWE, I’ve seen absolute professionals on a whole new level that I’ve never seen before, I don’t regret a single day that I’m here.”

Ilja Dragunov On Growing As A Performer

Ilja Dragunov expressed how working with legends like Triple H and Shawn Michaels allows him to learn from the very best. Dragunov explained how his experiences in WWE are a “completely new horizon” for him. “I know things I never thought I’d know and I see them from a different perspective. I’ve grown as a performer every single day. This is the most exciting time in my life.”

Having previously faced off against Cesaro and Finn Balor, Dragunov isn’t content with that being his last crossover with a main roster Superstar. He admitted there are a lot of names he would love to face, but one stands out more than others: Aleister Black.

“I think when it comes down to European names, guys like Aleister Black, who I knew before his time in WWE. I think we would connect very well and that’s a fight people would want to see, maybe.”

Joining The New Day on their podcast Feel The Power, SmackDown tag team The Usos recounted how WWE told them they looked too much like Roman Reigns following their heel turn. 

Jey Uso explained how “Obviously, for the heel change, we needed to change everything, but they were saying when they had first seen us working in all black, it was like, ‘you guys look too much like Roman. Don’t look like Roman.’ Man, who the hell else are we supposed to look like? We’re in the same gene pool, uce.'”

He continued, “Like, we fought to get that [face paint] off. They wanted us to keep it, but in my mind it wasn’t going to work. There was no way we could get away from that. Like, we were colorful, but then we had to get completely away from that. ‘They can’t tell who y’all are without the face paint.’ You know how that is.”

The Usos On Standing Out From Their Family

They confessed that separating themselves from their wrestling dynasty was a difficult task. Alongside Reigns and their late uncle Umaga, The Usos are the sons of Hall of Famer Rikishi.

Jimmy Uso shared how “[…] they all had their own style, right? And that’s why me and use [were] like, ‘man, that’s what we need.’ But we always knew our style is easy. It’s us. It’s hip. It’s cool. We can kick it with anybody. It’s neutral. To me, we’re just neutral to everybody.”

The Usos recently competed in an Elimination Chamber matchup for the SmackDown Tag Team Championships. Despite being one of the final two teams, The Miz and John Morrison would manage to defend their titles. 

H/T to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription. 

Former WWE Superstar Ryback has shared that some current roster members believe WrestleMania may be cancelled due to coronavirus concerns. Addressing the situation on Ryback TV Shooting Blanks Wrestling Report With Raj Giri, Ryback highlighted the spread of the virus in the United States. He noted how it would only take one Superstar to get sick. If they did, the entire locker room would be affected in no time.

“From a wrestler’s standpoint, [WrestleMania] is in Tampa and they’re gonna bring people from all over the world to this location. If I’m a wrestler – and I’m speaking from the talent as I’ve talked to a couple of people – the talent believe that WrestleMania is possibly going to get cancelled. This is a business and it will impact a lot of things but you have to protect the wrestlers at all costs.”

Ryback On Fan Interactions During Coronavirus Concerns

Ryback added how there should be no fan interaction between Superstars and fans at any Axxess events, noting how “[…] wrestlers should only have to show up to WrestleMania and if you do the Hall of Fame, you keep the talent away from the audience.”

He continued, “You have to be really protective of the wrestlers from a business perspective if you go through with this. I have a feeling [Vince] is gonna try to go through with it no matter what. He’s gonna have to be forced to say ‘No’ if it does happen.”

Multiple events, conventions, attractions and concerts have been shut down, rescheduled and cancelled in order to combat the spread of the coronavirus. With ‘Mania taking place next month, officials are reportedly in serious talks to ensure the safety of fans and talent.

WrestleMania 36 takes place on April 5 from the Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. 

H/T to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription. 

WWE Hall of Famer Booker T recently shared his support in WWE’s decision to book Roman Reigns vs Goldberg at WrestleMania 36. However, during a recent episode of his podcast The Hall of Fame, Booker T remained unconvinced about another headline matchup: Shayna Baszler vs Becky Lynch.

“I’m not sold on it. I’ll just say that. I’m not sold on it yet,” he confessed. “But I’m like this man. I’m thinking about the performance more than anything, I’m thinking about when you go out and perform, you know, in Elimination Chamber…WrestleMania. Those are big moments for me. Going into a match like that. I trust Becky Lynch. Becky has done a lot of good things over this last year, she’s put herself in position to, you know, be called ‘the man.’”

Booker T On Becky Lynch’s Past Opponents

Booker T noted how Lynch has been performing at a consistent quality against “really, really high calibre talent.” Booker T then pointed towards her matches with both Charlotte Flair and Sasha Banks, adding how they can “go out there and really perform [at the] next level.”

“Now I’m wondering, Becky Lynch against Shayna Baszler. You know, how is that thing gonna go? How are they going to match up? As far as going out there and creating some beautiful magic? Because at the end of the day it really is all about Shakespeare. It really is all about going out there and performing for the fans.”

Becky Lynch aims to defend her WWE RAW Women’s Championship against Shayna Baszler at WrestleMania 36. The event takes place on April 5 from the Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. 

H/T to WrestlingNews for the transcription.

WWE Superstar Rusev has opened up about his goals ahead of WrestleMania 36. Speaking with The Pop Break, he also shared his journey becoming a naturalized US citizen and reflected on his babyface turn.

“Oh, it’s my biggest accomplishment in life,” Rusev said on becoming a US citizen. “I’ve always admired the United States of America growing up. Call it brainwashing, call it destiny, call it whatever—I knew one day I was going to come here. Just to be able to be called a US Citizen here in America, it’s the proudest thing I can probably say that I’ve achieved.”

Rusev Day & Future Goals

When he first debuted with the company, Rusev was positioned as a monster heel. Since that time, however, his image has softened with the WWE Universe who now enjoys chanting ‘Rusev Day’ alongside him. 

Reflecting on the babyface turn, Rusev admitted that he’s just being himself now. “The WWE Universe, they just appreciate all the body of works that I’ve done. And the commitment that I’ve done with every single character, and every single storyline that I’ve been put in.”

He continued, “Whether good, bad, or indifferent, or some just badly written stuff. I’ve always committed one thousand percent and so has [Lana]. Fans can see that and they appreciate it. That’s why my popularity just grew and we are where we are.”

Despite not having wrestled since February, Rusev is focused on achieving a few goals ahead of WWE’s biggest event of the year. The first one? Get back on TV.

“Well my goal is to get on TV, because I haven’t been on TV in a while,” Rusev admitted. “That’s my goal. Where’s my next opportunity? I’m just waiting for that. I just can’t wait to crush—pun intended—whatever they throw at me. I’m ready for it.”

WrestleMania 36 takes place on April 5 from the Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.