Former Executive Director of SmackDown Eric Bischoff has named which Superstar he was looking forward to working with the most. Talking about his time working with the blue brand on his podcast, After 83 Weeks, Bischoff shared an idea he had for a returning Superstar. 

“I thought Sheamus was somebody that I was really, really excited to work with because I think there’s far more potential there than we’ve seen,” said Bischoff. “There’s a fresh character there that, at least, I saw in my head. It may not have worked. But I saw it in my head and I was anxious to try to make it work.”

Bischoff worked with WWE as SmackDown’s Executive Director for approximately four months before being replaced. 

Eric Bischoff On Dennis Rodman

During the episode, Eric Bischoff also discussed Dennis Rodman. With WWE having announced that a WWE Network documentary is in the works on Rodman, Bischoff speculated about the chances of Rodman being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame as a celebrity entrant. 

“If it was me, and I was on the Hall of Fame committee, or I was the person making that decision, or whatever the process is, you would have to consider it, because Dennis is a pretty high-profile individual.”

When asked who he thought might induct Rodman if he were announced, Bischoff declined to answer. He explained that he is already so fatigued by the amount of Hall of Fame related tweets he is receiving, so he tends to scroll by it now instead. 

The nWo is due to be inducted into the Hall of Fame later this year. Though some believe Bischoff should be included as a part of the group, there are many who believe he deserves a solo induction.

H/T to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.

Former All Elite Wrestling World Champion Chris Jericho won’t allow coronavirus concerns to derail his upcoming Fozzy tour. Speaking with TMZ Sports, Jericho explained how the tour would still be going ahead, stating how he doesn’t think the public should be panicking the way they are. 

“Why wouldn’t it?” Jericho said after being asked if the tour was still on. “I don’t think the public should panic so much. [We’re still going on] unless the cops tells us we can’t.” He then referred to the coronavirus situation as “mass hysteria.” 

Chris Jericho’s Tour Dates

Jericho reportedly chose the dates of the upcoming tour so that there would be no conflict with his AEW commitments. Fozzy’s “Save The World” tour begins on Thursday, April 16 in Savannah, GA. It will culminate on Sunday, August 9 in Sturgis, South Dakota. 

His words come in the wake of multiple events, conventions, attractions and other tours being shut down in order to combat the spread of the coronavirus.

Chris Jericho lost the AEW World Championship to the current titleholder, Jon Moxley, during AEW’s Revolution pay-per-view on February 29. Jericho recently competed in a match on AEW Dynamite. He promised that if Moxley walked away of his own accord, he would take a leave of absence from AEW for 60 days. Last week’s episode of Dynamite ended with the Inner Circle power bombing Moxley off the ramp and through a table.

Former WWE Superstar Matt Hardy is now a free agent after allowing his contract to expire. Speaking with PWInsider, Hardy opened up about on whether WWE ever really truly understood his Broken/Woken Matt Hardy character. 

According to Hardy, he felt that the creative within WWE understood what he was trying to achieve with the gimmick. Overall, however, “I don’t think they got the character all the way.”

“People say, “Oh, creative should have done better,” but at the end of the day, it’s not up to them. I mean, you say it all the time. I mean, Vince is like the one. I mean, if he wants something done, it’s happening. If he doesn’t want something done, it isn’t happening.”

He continued, “The Halloween special, I and JB and Dan Pucciarello from WWE Network did that all together. So literally I had creative control in that. And those specials …what was sad in many ways. In January, I just got the word from them that they greenlit two more House Hardy specials because the first one did very well.”

Matt Hardy’s House Hardy Special

One of the more original concepts WWE eventually greenlit was the aforementioned House Hardy special. Despite its reception, WWE wasn’t quick to follow up with the idea. Hardy explained why the concept took so long to have more approved by WWE’s higher-ups, noting how it was difficult to get a “clear cut answer” from Vince McMahon.

“[…] there was just so much concern whenever I had left TV, whenever Bray and I had wrapped up [our storyline] and we were going to be off for a couple of months, they’ve been pitching to do specials, House Hardy, House Hardy, House Hardy. But then they said they couldn’t ever get a clear cut answer from Vince, or they couldn’t get a meeting with Vince. And then like they’re saying, “Well if you come back as a different character then it’s going to be our ass and we don’t want to do that.” So that’s why that never came to be. I was just like, I went in to [Vince McMahon] and he was okay with it, but then they can never get confirmation on their own. It is such a big company, so many moving parts and nobody wants to infuriate Vince.”

Matt Hardy has confirmed he is in talks with various promotions including AEW, NWA, ROH, and Impact Wrestling. He has yet to announce where he plans to join but has stated that it will be within the next 30 days. 

Jeff Hardy joined WWE Backstage this week, announcing that he has been cleared to return to in-ring action. Following his appearance on the show, Hardy took to Twitter to answer several fan questions that pertained to his career, opponents and future goals.

When asked about the best storyline he was involved with, Hardy pointed to one with a WWE legend. “Overall, over the years, I would have to say the storyline with me and The Undertaker because it was huge for my singles career.”

Although he has not brought his high-flying style to NXT, Hardy already knows which black-and-gold Superstar he would like to face if he ever got the opportunity: Undisputed Era’s Roderick Strong.

“If I had to wrestle somebody in NXT, it would be Roderick Strong. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting that guy. We’ve never went face-to-face, so that would be nice.”

Jeff Hardy’s Future Ambitions & Favorite Opponent

Looking to the future, Hardy shared what he’d like to achieve next in WWE. Calling it a “long stretch,” he opened up about his ambitions to have a big singles match at WrestleMania.

“It’s a long stretch, but I definitely want to—not necessarily main event—but I want to have a big singles match at WrestleMania before I’m done. So, the next 2-3 years, that’s a huge goal that I’m setting for myself.”

Having such a long career in pro wrestling, Hardy has faced a plethora of big names. One name, however, still stands out to him as his favorite opponent.

“Over the years…God rest his soul, I miss him dearly, Umaga was one of my favorite competitors to be in the ring with. We had a great feud, and I miss him every day.”

With his brother, Matt Hardy, now a free agent, some might wonder what’s next for Jeff and whether he will pursue a singles run or find a new tag partner. If he were to find a new partner, Hardy already has one in mind, quickly naming R-Truth. He explained how they’re both into the music scene and believes they would compliment each other as Superstars.

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

Former WWE Superstar Matt Hardy has discussed why he feels WWE wrote his tag team with Bray Wyatt off of television. Joining Busted Open Radio, Hardy praised WWE and shared his gratitude. Despite this thankfulness, he noted how from a creative standpoint, they were “on different pages.” 

“When I went there, they treated me great. I had great conversations with everyone there. But creatively, we were just on different pages,” Hardy explained. “Nothing against them, but it was time for me to go somewhere else and maximize and optimize my creativity. Especially, with what my role is going to be, if I want to be involved in a prominent role for the last 3-4 years that I have to do this That’s where we’re at.”

Matt Hardy & Bray Wyatt

These attempts to optimize his creative extended to his time as a part of the Deleters of Worlds with Wyatt. According to Matt Hardy, the two Superstars would pitch several creative ideas about how they could be used. He believes that their thoughts, originality and insistence contributed to WWE writing them off RAW. 

“In all honesty, I think the reason why Bray and I were pulled off of TV at that time, was because they were tired of us suggesting ideas about how we should use the Hardy Compound, and we shouldn’t be wrestling all the time,” he said. “I think that the whole scenario between myself and Bray could have been so much more if we could have gotten people to listen to our ideas.”

Matt Hardy has confirmed he is in talks with various promotions including AEW, NWA, ROH, and Impact Wrestling. He has yet to announce where he plans to join but has stated that it will be within the next 30 days. 

H/T to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.

Ricochet recently joined Good Morning Washington with Julie Wright on WJLA. During their conversation, the RAW Superstar reflected on his Super ShowDown matchup against WWE Champion Brock Lesnar. He also broached the idea of returning to WWE’s black-and-gold brand, NXT. 

“That’s a place that I would always like to call a home for me,” Ricochet of NXT. “It was a place that I enjoyed thoroughly while I was there. Now that they have more exposure, every Wednesday on the USA network, I think that’s huge.”

He added how any time they might need him, he would “be there for sure, no problem.”

Ricochet’s WWE Schedule & Loss To Lesnar

Going back to NXT would undoubtedly add to an already hectic WWE schedule. Ricochet explained how there is no off-season for WWE Superstars. Despite being on the road for almost 300 days a year, he noted that traveling with friends helps make the journeys easier.

Turning his attention to his loss to Lesnar last month, Ricochet remained positive about his experience. He confessed that the match was a “dream come true” for him. “I can remember Brock facing The Rock or Kurt Angle and I am glad to be a part of that history now.” Ricochet lost to Lesnar in approximately one minute and thirty seconds. 

H/T to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription. 

RAW Superstar Cedric Alexander has previously shared his frustrations with his current spot in the company. Following his matchup last night against current WWE 24/7 Champion Riddick Moss, Alexander once again took to Twitter to reflect on how WWE is using him.

Uploading a Gif from an episode of The Simpsons, it showcases Abraham Simpson walking into a room, spotting his grandson, Bart, and immediately turning around, taking his hat, and walking out. He accompanied the Gif with a single hashtag: “#RAW”.

His wife, All Elite Wrestling’s Big Swole, responded to his message. Seemingly sharing her husband’s frustration, she replied, “Whew the mess of it all”.

Cedric Alexander’s Frustration

Last year, Cedric Alexander was involved in a high-profile rivalry with AJ Styles. The two were feuding over the WWE United States Championship, which Styles held at the time. Their feud would culminate with Styles emerging victorious over Alexander at last September’s Clash of Champions show.

It has been previously reported that Vince McMahon allegedly doesn’t see any value in Alexander. It’s worth noting that Alexander hasn’t won a matchup on Monday Night RAW since his Clash of Champions match.

Cedric Alexander has previously taken to Twitter to vent his frustrations. He previously shared a tweet that read “Frustrated is an understatement.” This message, first shared on February 12, is still pinned to the top of his Twitter profile.

WWE Hall of Famer Booker T has spoken about WWE’s decision to book Roman Reigns versus Goldberg at WrestleMania 36. The two will compete for Goldberg’s WWE Universal Championship. He defeated ‘The Fiend’ Bray Wyatt for the gold during WWE’s Super ShowDown event in Saudi Arabia.

“[…] Roman Reigns, he’s set up. I see this thing working out perfectly, and we were just talking about this a month ago,” he said on his podcast, The Hall of Fame. “Callers were calling in, all upset, ‘You know man, it doesn’t look like anything’s going to happen. It’s going to be the worst WrestleMania in history.’ There’s still a lot of people upset about The Fiend thing, and there’s going to be.”

Booker T Argues In Favor Of Reigns Vs. Goldberg

Booker T shared how he personally liked the decision to go ahead with this matchup. His co-host Brad Gilmore agreed, highlighting the list of Superstars that Reigns has previously faced at Wrestlemania. Alongside Triple H, Brock Lesnar and The Undertaker, Gilmore argued that facing Goldberg would help solidify his place in wrestling history.

“Nah, man Roman’s done that already,” Booker T stated. “I said he had big shoes to fill coming into this company, and he’s went out there and he’s done that very, very well. At one point, the direction of his character was slipping a little bit. The fans didn’t want to see that Roman Reigns, and I think that’s what started the downward spiral of Roman Reigns—was the fans not wanting to support him. Then, all of the sudden, the ship was righted, and Roman said, ‘Hey man, let me just go out and do what I do, man…And that’s beat guys up, and lock and load, and drop the hammer. We might can make some monies.”

Booker T continued, “And I think that’s what happened. Roman went out and started being himself and the fans still were kind of on the fence. But when Roman went away – and then was gone for a while – with his illness and then he came back [to the ring] again…absence make the heart grow founder! The people love it, and now with this match right here, is a moment. There’s a moment that we can capture right here, that we can never ever get back.”

Roman Reigns faces Goldberg for the WWE Universal Championship at WrestleMania 36. The event takes place on April 5 from the Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.

H/T to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.

Samoa Joe has revealed his ambitions to wrestle against The Undertaker before “The Dead Man” retires. Speaking with SportBible, Joe was asked if he would like the opportunity to face off against the Legend. His response? “Absolutely.”

He added how there are certain things that ‘Taker does in a match that he appreciates all the more now. Joe noted how these things are “more on display” now than ever before.

“You know, I think the things that especially now that I appreciate about ‘Taker’s work are much more on display now than they probably ever have been. And yeah, I would be down to get down with ‘Taker, whether it would be now or whenever in the future.”

Samoa Joe’s Long History With AJ Styles

One Superstar that Samoa Joe has a long history with his O.C. leader, AJ Styles. The two have feuded over the years across several promotions including WWE and TNA. Reflecting on their feuds, Joe confessed it was great that they were able to have a renewed rivalry on WWE television.

“I mean, any time you get in the ring with AJ — any time I have throughout my career — usually great things happen,” he said. “And it’s a testament to him and his ability. It was nothing new for us, we knew it was bound to happen, we’ve kind of been intertwined throughout the breadth of our careers, so us managing to see each other across the ring was no surprise [laughs].”

Samoa Joe is currently serving a 30-day suspension from WWE. This is his first violation of the WWE Wellness Policy.

RAW Superstar Aleister Black recently joined Busted Open Radio where he discussed a few of WWE’s recent signings: Killer Kross and Timothy Thatcher. Both Kross and Thatcher have honed their craft before being signed by WWE, with Black sharing he has some history with Thatcher from their indie days.

“I’m not very familiar with Kross, but I am familiar with Thatcher,” Black confessed. “I think Thatcher was my first ever competition when I went to the United States for EVOLVE. It was over WrestleMania weekend.”

He continued, “I have yet to be introduced to Killer Kross. I know that there is a lot of hype around him and people are very excited that he got signed so obviously there are a lot of good reasons for that. So, we will see what the future holds, but with guys like Thatcher and Kross being signed it opens up a big door of opportunities and possibilities for future bookings or matches. It is a very exciting time for the industry in my opinion.”

Aleister Black Reflects On Buddy Murphy Series

Black is coming off the back of a successful feud with Seth Rollins’ disciple, Murphy. Addressing his opponent, Black believes that the two still have unfinished business. He explained how he thinks things will eventually circle around for them, allowing them to clash yet again.

“I think that there are always these opponents that you circle back to that you have made some sort of legacy with and I feel Buddy Murphy is that for me. Despite coming out of that on the upside, I don’t think we are done. I don’t think this was it. I think that there is a very real possibility that we will circle back to each other sooner rather than later.”

Aleister Black is scheduled to face off against AJ Styles this Sunday at Elimination Chamber. The two will compete in a No Disqualification matchup. 

H/T to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription. 

WWE Hall of Famer Booker T has shared who was responsible for him becoming a part of FS1’s WWE Backstage show. Speaking with Lilian Garcia on her podcast, Chasing Glory, Booker T was quick to credit his co-host, Renee Young, as being instrumental in his hiring.

“Big props to Renee, actually, because I wasn’t even on the radar, I think, to come and do this thing,” he said. “Renee was like, ‘Man, you all need to interview Book. You all need to bring him in, look at him,’ because me and Renee, we’ve got chemistry together.”

He continued, “We were doing the WWE Kickoff parties, and we realized we had chemistry, and it was just organic… They brought me in, they auditioned me. Next thing you know, I get the gig.”

Booker T On CM Punk

Despite being a panelist on the show, Booker T shared that he had no clue that CM Punk was going to become a part of WWE Backstage. Punk occasionally joins the team as a contributor and WWE analyst. He admitted that it’s great to have Punk as a part of their team and provide his unfiltered take on WWE. “I didn’t know he was there,” Booker T admitted. “It was definitely authentic. Having him be part of the show is awesome.”

Booker T joins Renee Young every Tuesday night for WWE Backstage on FS1.

H/T to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription. 

Although he has since become a popular Superstar amongst the NXT faithful, there was a time when Dominik Dijakovic struggled to join WWE. Appearing on WWE’s The Bump, Dijakovic reflected on being rejected by the company after his first tryout for FCW in 2013.

“It was an interesting experience,” Dijakovic said. “It was one of those experiences that it felt like it was a lifetime ago because everything was so different about the WWE and what’s now the Performance Center. The whole facility was as big as where I’m doing this interview now. It was a couple of rings and incredibly hot…”

He continued, “It was difficult for me to accept that I didn’t have what it took at the time to be in the WWE. It was kind of like a harsh reality. At the same time, you use that as motivation, an experience, a stepping stone to learn what it takes to get to the WWE level, especially the developmental level.”

Dominik Dijakovic’s WWE Mentors, Facing Keith Lee

Now a part of the NXT roster, Dijakovic named who has helped him to grow on his WWE journey. He shared how he mostly works with Shawn Michaels and Triple H. “Those are the guys who we see every Wednesday. The Undertaker has also been here, as well as Mark Henry. Those are the guys that I’ve worked closely with.”

Turning his attention to his recent series of matches against NXT North American Champion Keith Lee, Dijakovic acknowledged the in-ring chemistry between them. 

“The pressure is to never have a good match or to top a match or anything. It just naturally happens. There’s a lot of chemistry there. It works out, because he’s a big guy, and I am as well, so that correlates between the two of us. For me, the pressure is always the championship platform. I mean, I’ve been talking about the NXT North American Championship for over a year now. So, anytime that comes into play, that’s my focus and where I put the pressure on myself.”

Dominik Dijakovic recently lost a match to Cameron Grimes on NXT, thanks to the interference of Damien Priest. 

H/T to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription. 

WWE Superstar The Big Show was a recent guest on “Stone Cold” Steve Austin’s Broken Skull Sessions show on the WWE Network. During their conversation, Show reflected on how Vince McMahon contacted him to come back to in-ring action before naming who his favorite opponent is.

Looking back to his comeback in January, Big Show explained how he was only asked by Vince a few days before RAW aired. “I did a little thing on RAW with Kevin Owens and Samoa Joe. I got that call on a Friday night at midnight,” he said.

“Literally, I was setting my alarm to go to the gym Saturday morning [and] Vince texted me 12:02 a.m. No, [McMahon] doesn’t [text a lot]. Like, I mean, I think he’d rather pull his eardrums out and dive on a pitchfork than talk to me. But anyway, I look at the text and it says [imitating McMahon], ‘can you go Monday?’ And I was like, ‘go where and for what?’ He said, ‘I need you in a match Monday.’ ‘Single or tag?’ ‘Tag.’ ‘Yep, I’m good.'”

Big Show’s Favorite Opponent

Big Show has an extensive history performing in the ring. He has faced off against some of the greatest Superstars during his long career. When asked who his favorite opponent of all time is, Show not only revealed who is favorite opponent is, but also who his toughest opponent is.

“In the ring, John Cena, as far as we did good business, we made a crap-ton of money, and it was zero headaches with John. Toughest [opponent], like I knew I had been in a fight, was Sheamus. Like, I was covered in bruises with Sheamus. He will lay it in!”

Big Show is currently scheduled to return to appear on Monday Night RAW over the first few weeks of March 2020.

H/T to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.

Former RAW commentator Renee Young has reflected on WWE’s decision to remove her from the red brand’s announce team. Catching up with Lilian Garcia on Garcia’s podcast, Chasing Glory, Young confessed the whole transition was “odd” at first.

“It was really odd. You realize how much of your identity is wrapped up in WWE. For me, it wasn’t like ‘Oh, I’m not on TV anymore with the WWE.’ For me, it was like ‘I’m not going to be around my friends.’ Without these people, who are my other adult friends? I don’t really have any. You get plucked out of your life, and then think like oh s–t, what do I do now? You feel a little bit lost at first. You’re like Oh my God, what is everyone up to?”

She added how she doesn’t miss WWE’s demanding touring schedule after having done it for 7 years. Young confessed she feels a lot more comfortable working from a single location, hosting FS1’s WWE Backstage show.

Renee Young Felt She “Didn’t Belong” On Commentary

Renee Young then addressed dealing with fan criticism as she adjusted to her commentary role, highlighting how she felt she “didn’t belong there.”

“I wanted to be like I belong here, I earned this spot. This should be my spot. But, I kept hearing the background chatter, like ‘Why is this woman calling the matches? She’s never been in the ring. What’s she going to bring to the table?'”

Although she received an “immense amount of support,” it was difficult for her to tune out the negativity from her critics. She confessed that she naturally felt insecure about the role because of their reaction. Young spoke about how she was glad when WWE removed her from the commentary role. 

“I was up for the challenge and I really wanted to make it awesome. Like, I really wanted to make it succeed. You get down on yourself and you’re waiting to get the call from the office saying we’re not doing this anymore. They let me stay out there a lot longer than I thought they were going to. It was nice to feel like I got a good opportunity. But honestly, I was relieved to stop doing it.”

Renee Young hosts WWE Backstage every Tuesday night at 11 PM EST on FS1. 

H/T to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription. 

RAW Superstar Liv Morgan is scheduled to participate in a Chamber match at this Sunday’s pay-per-view, Elimination Chamber. If victorious, she will have earned a RAW Women’s Championship opportunity at WrestleMania 36. Speaking with New York Post, Morgan opened up about the matchup. She also discussed her inclusion in the recent Lana/Bobby Lashley storyline and her new character.

“The Elimination Chamber match, I feel like, is the biggest opportunity I’ve gotten so far in my career. I’m taking it very, very, very, very, very seriously,” she admitted. “I just came back from a nine-month hiatus where I got a makeover and did a lot of self-discovery. I feel like I need this win more than anyone. I need this win more than anyone else in this match. Not only that, we have Ruby and Sarah. Our friendship pretty much blew up. So there are a lot of factors in this match.”

Liv Morgan Returns

Having returned to screens as Lana’s former lover, Morgan shared that she was happy to be a part of the storyline. She believes that the shocking nature of her return and role in the narrative helped make it more memorable.

“I think it was very shocking. I think it came out of left field and no one expected it, and I think maybe that was the goal. I don’t think anything is dead in WWE. I can’t really answer that, but I do think the door is open for it to be touched on again.”

New Attitude

With her return came a new attitude for the Superstar. When asked what fans should know about her new approach, Morgan stressed how she is confident and comfortable with herself.

“Just that I’m confident, I’m comfortable within myself, by myself. I don’t need to do these extra things to get people’s attention. I can get attention on my own with my work. I don’t need these extra factors to get noticed anymore. I’m not shuffled in with other people. I’m still growing. You don’t just grow and stop growing in nine months. I’m still figuring out my footing and my placing, and it’s just a work in progress.”

Liv Morgan competes against Natalya, Shayna Baszler, Asuka, Ruby Riott and Sarah Logan in an Elimination Chamber match this Sunday.

Current WWE Intercontinental Champion Braun Strowman has shared his WrestleMania goals during an interview with Sports Illustrated. During their conversation, Strowman also spoke about his upcoming handicap match at Elimination Chamber and the events he is partaking in during WrestleMania week.

Strowman confessed that a personal goal for him is to have a singles match on the main card of WrestleMania. He added how he sees himself in the main event on the “The Grandest Stage of Them All,” believing he has the star power and fan support to help get him there.

“Having a singles match on the main card, that’s been a personal goal of mine since I started with WWE. One day, I can see myself main-eventing WrestleMania. I feel like I have the star power and the fan base behind me that wants to see it, but I just need to find the right opponent.”

Braun Strowman At Elimination Chamber

This Sunday, Strowman will be defending his Intercontinental Championship at WWE’s Elimination Chamber event. He competes in a 3-on-1 Handicap match against Shinsuke Nakamura, Cesaro and Sami Zayn. Looking to his title defense, Strowman admits he has his hands full on Sunday.

“Those three are pretty tough, and when they have their game plan working together, they’re even tougher,” he said. “I need to get past them first, but hopefully I’m carrying that title out of Elimination Chamber and into WrestleMania. I’ll represent it proudly to whomever wants to step up and get these hands.”

Magic City Mania

Past Elimination Chamber is WrestleMania 36. Unsurprisingly, WWE is going all out for the event. Several events are planned over the course of the week leading up to the show itself featuring WWE Superstars. One of these is Magic City Mania, a fan event that Braun Strowman is participating in.

“There will be so many wrestling fans in Tampa for WrestleMania, and we want to sell this event out and have people hanging from the rafters,” he said on the event. “My life has been so chaotically crazy and awesome. The platform I’ve been given and the opportunities presented to me in WWE have been unbelievable, and the coolest thing I have learned as a WWE superstar is the power that we have to help people get through hard times in their life.”

Elimination Chamber takes place this Sunday from the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Nyla Rose defeated former champion Riho to claim the AEW Women’s Championship a few weeks ago on AEW Dynamite. Not everyone was happy about her victory, however. Speaking with TV Insider, Rose spoke about AEW’s attitude towards having a transgender Women’s Champion. She also addressed the backlash she has received, admitting that the “online flak” has helped motivate her.

Rose explained how AEW doesn’t make her transgenderism a “checkmark.” Instead, it’s just one of those things that is simply there. She noted how “Everyone knows about it, but nobody talks about it. That’s not a matter of us wanting to be hush-hush or hide this. They’re not making it a thing because it shouldn’t be a thing. You are a person and a performer first. That’s what I love so much and makes me feel so proud to be part of this company because they are helping normalize these ideals.”

Nyla Rose On “Onlike Flak”

When it comes to her championship win, Nyla reflected on her first promo after having won the belt. She confessed that she was well aware of the online reaction to her.

“Some of the motivation came from a lot of the online flak you see out there. A lot of pushback. That added fuel to the fire,” Rose said. “I was trying to wrap everything up and have it make sense. I wanted to keep it short and sweet and to the point. I wanted to put all the competition on notice that I’m not going to take this lightly. I’m not going to take anything lying down.”

Nyla Rose recently defended her AEW Women’s Championship against Kris Statlander at AEW Revolution.

RAW Superstar Ricochet has been on a losing streak recently. WWE’s “Resident Superhero” recently suffered a quick loss to WWE Champion Brock Lesnar. They competed last week during WWE’s Super ShowDown event in Saudi Arabia. He lost in one minute and thirty seconds. This past Monday night on RAW, the former United States Champion suffered a loss to current WWE 24/7 Champion Riddick Moss.

Taking to his Instagram account, Ricochet shared a message with his fans:

“It’s not bad to dream. But you also have to consider what’s realistic. Whether you win or lose, looking back and learning from your experience is a part of life.”

The quote is reportedly from the anime series My Hero Academia, which Ricochet is a fan of. At last year’s Crown Jewel event in Saudi Arabia, Ricochet competed in wrestling gear inspired by one of anime’s characters, All Might.

At the time of writing, Ricochet has yet to be scheduled for a matchup at this Sunday’s Elimination Chamber pay-per-view. He also doesn’t have a match at this year’s WrestleMania 36 event, which takes place on April 5 from the Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. Between now and April, WWE still has the opportunity to involve the Superstar on the “Grandest Stage of Them All.”

Former WWE Superstar Konnor spoke about being released from WWE late last year during a recent episode of Wrestling Inc. Daily Podcast. He was one half of WWE tag team The Ascension alongside his partner, Viktor. 

When asked if he had anticipated they would be released, Konnor confirmed they knew it was going to happen. “We knew. I think the one thing that anybody knows about us is we’re not big social media guys,” Konnor said. “We don’t go out there, and we don’t blast our problems out anything like that. We try to keep everything under the umbrella. There had already been talks that were discussed as far as there wasn’t really a purpose.”

He noted how they had both loved being a part of WWE. That being said, “[…] you can only sit around for so long before you start twiddling your thumbs kind of like, ‘ok guys, what are we doing here?'” Konnor added how they were told several times that things were in the works for them, only for none of them to come to fruition. 

“It’s just one of those things where there’s no need to pay, and we knew we weren’t going to re-sign,” he explained. “There was no intention of re-signing, and that’s nothing against WWE. It was more along the effects of the situation and the circumstances as far as them not really having anything for us just keeping us around.”

Konnor’s Example & Vince McMahon

Konnor shared how he wasn’t interested in staying with WWE just for the money. He explained how he didn’t want to send a negative message to his son by doing so. It was more important to him to stick to his values and encourage his son to invest in what he believes in rather than just for a paycheck. 

When asked about his working relationship with Vince McMahon during his time in WWE, Konnor explained that they didn’t really have one. Instead, they would be civil and polite but had no connection past that. 

“It wasn’t a ‘hey Vince, how you doing’ type thing. We always said hello and stuff like that, but we would try to get meetings with him. You just never know around that place. Some guys would just knock on the door, but for the majority of the time, Vince was either busy with writers. It just seemed like, at the time, it was always something.”

He continued, “We threw pitches out. Some of the greatest stuff that we did that we really enjoyed was the Fashion Files, and it was a lot of fun because you got to see a new side of us or at least a different side of us. I always knew we could be goofy at times, and that was a lot of fun. I think they pulled the plug on that too because Vince wasn’t quite buying it. I don’t know. It’s just one of those things where us personally, we didn’t have a very close relationship with him. Some guys get that benefit, and some guys don’t. We, unfortunately, were the ones that didn’t get that one-on-one time.”

H/T to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription. 

Current WWE Universal Champion Goldberg defeated “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt at Super ShowDown to claim the gold. His victory was met with a critical backlash from fans. This week, Goldberg joined WWE show The Bump. He discussed his victory over Wyatt as well as how he has dealt with the negative reception to his current reign. 

“I’d love to see them do it, at any age, let alone at 53,” Goldberg stated. “I answered a phone call, and I did whatever I had to do to get ready in a short period of time, and provide a little bit of Goldberg out there. Fortunately, I was able to do it, and I’m looking forward to the next one [his title defense against Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 36]. If I get a phone call and I believe that I can still do what I did back in the day to at least an acceptable level, then I’m not going to say ‘No.’ If you give me a challenge, I’m going to take it.”

Goldberg’s Next Challenger

Last week on SmackDown, Roman Reigns would be the Superstar to step up to Goldberg’s WrestleMania challenge. Goldberg noted how Reigns has been in his sights since he discovered “The Big Dog” played for Georgia Tech and does the spear. He shared that he “loves Roman to death” and appreciates all that he has done as an entertainer. 

“I’m one of his number one fans,” he explained. “There’s no animosity there, I just have a job to do. Babyface, heel, I don’t give a damn what it is. I’m going to go out there and rip his face off like I do with everyone else.”

With both men known for their use of the spear, Goldberg broke down the differences between how they execute them. According to him, he always attempts to drive through people. Whereas Reigns’ is more “theatrical,” Goldberg’s is all about “delivering pain.” 

H/T to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.

WWE Superstar Sasha Banks has opened up about her four-month hiatus last year. “The Boss” was missing from WWE programming following WrestleMania 35, where she and Bayley lost the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships to The IIconics. 

Speaking with WWE’s The Bump, Banks explained what she did with her time away and why she had to step away when she did. She stressed that she loves what she does as a Superstar, but was burned out.

“I really, really, really love what I do. I took that break knowing that I needed to recharge,” Banks stated. “I was legit so done. My mind was just so gone. During that time [being away], I missed wrestling.”

Sasha Banks Goes To Japan

Sasha Banks spent some time in Japan during her time away. She shared how she had dreamed of wrestling in Japan before WWE signed her.

“I always had a dream to go to Japan to train. That’s where I wanted to go before I got signed to the WWE, but they called me first. I just knew in my heart that I had to go accomplish something.”

She contineud, “I bought a ticket, I DM’ed Meiko Satomura and asked her if I could come train. She said ‘Yes, we’re training next week.’ I still think about that trip to this day. I think that was the best trip I’ve ever taken. It’s also the craziest thing I’ve ever done. I learned so much. I just love wrestling, and I love learning.”

Sasha Banks wrestled last Friday night on SmackDown. She and Bayley lost to Lacey Evans and Naomi. At the time of writing, Banks does not yet have a match at this Sunday’s Elimination Chamber event or WrestleMania 36 in April.

H/T to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription. 

WWE RAW Superstar Humberto Carrillo has opened up about teaming with wrestling legend Rey Mysterio. The two partnered up this past Monday night on RAW in a matchup against Angel Garza and the current United States Champion, Andrade.

Speaking backstage in a WWE.com exclusive, Carrillo confessed how teaming with Mysterio has been a childhood dream of his.

“It’s been a dream since I was a kid, I’ve always looked at Rey and all these lucha things that he made in WWE back in those days. I just feel blessed. Blessed for being here tonight, tagging with Rey Mysterio against my cousin, Angel Garza, and Andrade. I just feel very good.”

Humberto Carrillo Is Ready For The Gold

This Sunday Humberto Carrillo faces Andrade at Elimination Chamber for the United States Championship. Thanks to his experience with Mysterio, Carrillo believes he is now more prepared than ever to claim the gold.

“As you said: I have another opportunity for the United States Championship. I think I can handle this. And since tonight, tagging with Rey Mysterio, a legend, he gave me that stamina and that power to handle this match against Andrade. Elimination Chamber, the United States Championship is going to be here,” he said, indicating at his waist.

Elimination Chamber takes place this Sunday, March 8. The show goes down from the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 

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

WWE Hall of Famer Kurt Angle took to his official Facebook page to once again take part in a Q&A session with fans. During the session, Angle spoke about one of All Elite Wrestling’s top stars, Cody Rhodes. He shared his thoughts on Cody’s evolution since his time in WWE, noting how WWE would probably use him more now thanks to his growth as an in-ring performer and entertainer.

“I think Cody has expanded as an entertainer after he left WWE. I believe WWE would utilize Cody much more at this time. It’s not WWE’s fault, Cody has evolved since he left. He’s at the top of his game.”

Kurt Angle On Favorite Submission & Worst Weapons

Other questions Angle answered revolved around his favorite submissions and his thoughts on the worst weapon to be hit with. As someone who utilized the ankle lock as a submission finisher, Angle has a good eye for an effective hold. For him, the current best submission in WWE belongs to Charlotte Flair and her Figure 8 hold: “Charlotte Flair. The Figure 8 is pretty impressive. Charlotte is a flexible bad ass.”

When it comes to being hit with a weapon, Kurt Angle was quick to reply with his thoughts, naming steel chairs as the worst thing to get hit with. “Steel chairs for me. I got hit by one on the head 17 years ago and it broke my neck. Makes me cringe when I think about it.”

New Day member Big E was recently interviewed by The Daily Orange where he spoke about WrestleMania 36. He also talked about wrestling in across multiple countries in two days and how important fans are to him. 

With Big E and Kofi Kingston suffering a SmackDown Tag Team Championship loss at last week’s Super ShowDown event, Big E isn’t too sure what WrestleMania has in store for the New Day.

“It’s hard to say. I think this time last year we were deep in KofiMania, and that was something that kinda came out of nowhere,” he said. “We always just try to do our best and be hopeful. But at the end of the day, whether it’s a singles title run or regaining the tag team titles, we’ll just continue doing our best and roll with whatever happens.”

He admitted that performing across two countries in two days was a “whirlwind.” The Superstar competed in Saudi Arabia on Thursday before returning for an episode of SmackDown the next day. 

“I’ve been signed for over a decade, but I’ve kind of gotten used to it. We actually had an event last night in a makeshift arena, and then just two hours ago, we landed in Boston to prepare for tonight. You kind of get in that mode of working. It’s what the job is.”

Big E On The WWE Universe

When it comes to the WWE Universe, Big E stressed how important they are to the whole process. He noted how they are crucial, and that “without the fans, none of us would be here.”

“The reason that The New Day had any kind of success is because of them. I remember when The New Day actually started out as heels (the bad guys), but the fans pushed us to turn face (the good guys). I remember we had a SummerSlam match in 2016, where we continued our record-breaking reign, and I remember sitting in my hotel room after that match and I was looking at social media at fans being so loud even after it was over. When I’m an old man, I’ll look back and remember nights like that.”

Big E and Kofi Kingston have the chance to reclaim the SmackDown Tag Team Championships this Sunday at Elimination Chamber. They will participate in an Elimination Chamber match for the titles. Their opponents include The Miz and John Morrison, The Usos, Heavy Machinery, Lucha House Party and Dolphy Ziggler and Robert Roode. 

William Regal has opened up about his role as NXT’s General Manager during an interview with Sportskeeda. He explained why he doesn’t consider the job a “role” compared to the previous times he’s played a General Manager on-screen. In real life, Regal is the Director of Talent Development and Head of Global Recruiting.

“For me, it’s not really a role because it’s what I do – which makes it very different than whenever I’ve done this role before,” he said. “Although it’s not exactly what I do, it is in a lot of ways, if that makes any sense. It’s the first time that has probably been… When I played that role anyway, where I am actually a big part of that and, fortunately for me that I am.

William Regal’s Request

William Regal explained how, when he was first asked to assume the role, his one request was to not be put on camera. He noted how he doesn’t need to be on camera “unless it’s absolutely necessary.”

“This isn’t about me, it’s about the talent, and everyone that works in NXT, that’s what we think. It’s about the talent but you do need the odd person.”

When it comes to the role of General Manager, Regal believes there is still a place for that kind of character in today’s modern landscape. He noted how, if done right, it can still be “very valuable.”