SEScoops

Author: Steve Russell

  • Cain Velasquez Opens Up About His Inexperience In Pro Wrestling

    Cain Velasquez Opens Up About His Inexperience In Pro Wrestling

    One of WWE’s latest major signings is former UFC Heavyweight Champion, Cain Velasquez. He made his debut on a recent episode of Friday Night SmackDown, accompanying Rey Mysterio to confront WWE Champion Brock Lesnar. 

    Velasquez was a recent guest on Sam Roberts’ podcast, Notsam Wrestling. During their conversation, Velasquez opened up about his current inexperience wrestling in the squared circle. 

    “I would say there is; I am very green in this sport,” Velasquez admitted. “I haven’t done it for so long but I’m training and I am trying to learn as much as I can and that is the name of the game, even with fighting. But yes, I am trying to learn the sport just like I know I did with MMA.”

    Velasquez made his pro wrestling debut earlier this year. He teamed up with Pyscho Clown and All Elite Wrestling’s Cody Rhodes at AAA’s TripleMania event. They defeated the team of Los Mercenarios (Texano Jr. and Taurus) and Killer Kross.

    WWE Crown Jewel Card

    • Team Hogan (Seth Rollins, Rusev, Ricochet, TBD, and TBD) (with Hulk Hogan) vs. Team Flair (Randy Orton, King Corbin, Shinsuke Nakamura, Bobby Lashley, and TBD) (with Ric Flair)
    • Braun Strowman vs. Tyson Fury
    • WWE Championship Match:Brock Lesnar (c) (with Paul Heyman) vs. Cain Velasquez (with Rey Mysterio)
    • Mansoor vs. Cesaro
    • Tag Team Turmoil For The WWE World Cup: The New Day vs. The Viking Raiders vs. Heavy Machinery vs. Lucha House Party vs. Zack Ryder and Curt Hawkins vs. The Revival vs. The O.C. vs. Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode vs. The B-Team
    • WWE Universal Championship Match (Falls Count Anywhere): Seth Rollins (c) vs. “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt

    Cain Velasquez will make his WWE debut against Brock Lesnar on October 31st. The two will clash for Lesnar’s WWE Championship at WWE Crown Jewel, which takes place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia at the King Fahd International Stadium.

    H/T to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.

  • Lacey Evans Reacts To Backlash Over Recent Staged Video

    Lacey Evans Reacts To Backlash Over Recent Staged Video

    WWE Superstar Lacey Evans isn’t phased by people’s opinions on her staged video with a Canadian police officer. Evans uploaded a video of her berating an officer during her time in Canada for a WWE Live Event. She would later explain that, although she did get a ticket, the interaction she shared online was staged to promote WWE’s show.

    Speaking with Digital Spy, Evans addressed the video once again. She explained that because she’s an entertainer, people should expect content of this nature. Evans added that she can’t help if people take offense to what she does. 

    “You’re going to get judged regardless. At the end of the day I’m an entertainer and that’s what I do. Some people are going to take offense to certain things, some people are going to love things and some people are going to hate.”

    Statement

    During the initial backlash to the video, Evans uploaded a statement to her social media accounts to break down her reasoning:

    “As prior law enforcement myself and a United States Marine, I do not condone, agree with or promote disrespecting or making LEO’s jobs harder than they already are. The video was created by both parties to promote the local live event taking place in the edmonton area. As a sports Entertainer it’s my job to not only entertain but also set the proper example. So with that being said… I’m glad you all were entertained but if you ever try to honestly disrespect or put my brothers and sisters in blue in harm…I hope you get what you ask for.”

  • Tyson Fury Comments On Wrestling Cain Velasquez

    Tyson Fury Comments On Wrestling Cain Velasquez

    Tyson Fury took part in a press conference last week addressing his scheduled matchup at WWE’s Crown Jewel event. The boxing lineal heavyweight champion will face off against Braun Strowman during the show in Saudi Arabia. During the conference, Fury commented on the possibility of eventually wrestling another new WWE signing: Cain Velasquez.

    “Yeah, listen. Me and Cain, we’ve got a rivalry going back from when he was UFC heavyweight champion, from a right few years ago,” Fury explained. “There was a lot of back and forward on social media back then. And, who knows, maybe that rivalry could spill over into WWE.”

    When asked if he would be willing to fight other large challengers, Fury responded that he wouldn’t back down from a challenge.

    “I’d love to fight them all. I’m a prizefighter. I’ve never ducked a fight in my life, and I’ll fight anybody.”

    WWE Crown Jewel Card

    • Team Hogan (Seth Rollins, Rusev, Ricochet, TBD, and TBD) (with Hulk Hogan) vs. Team Flair (Randy Orton, King Corbin, Shinsuke Nakamura, Bobby Lashley, and TBD) (with Ric Flair)
    • Braun Strowman vs. Tyson Fury
    • WWE Championship Match:Brock Lesnar (c) (with Paul Heyman) vs. Cain Velasquez (with Rey Mysterio)
    • Mansoor vs. Cesaro
    • Tag Team Turmoil For The WWE World Cup: The New Day vs. The Viking Raiders vs. Heavy Machinery vs. Lucha House Party vs. Zack Ryder and Curt Hawkins vs. The Revival vs. The O.C. vs. Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode vs. The B-Team
    • WWE Universal Championship Match (Falls Count Anywhere): Seth Rollins (c) vs. “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt

    Fury will wrestle Strowman at WWE Crown Jewel on October 31st. The event takes place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia at the King Fahd International Stadium.

    H/T to Wrestlezone for the quotes.

  • Details On Why WWE Split Up R-Truth And Carmella

    Details On Why WWE Split Up R-Truth And Carmella

    The most recent WWE Draft has shaken up the promotion’s roster, mixing up Superstars across RAW and SmackDown. This draft, just like the Superstar Shakeup earlier in the year, has seen a number of real-life couples stay together. One pair, however, have seen their partnership split in the aftermath of WWE’s decision making.

    Turns out that the comedic duo of R-Truth and Carmella were split in order to keep Carmella and her boyfriend, Corey Graves, together. Graves will be continuing his role as a commentator on Friday Night SmackDown. This led to Carmella being drafted to the blue brand. R-Truth, meanwhile, stays a part of the RAW roster as the current 24/7 Champion.

    WWE Couples

    Other real-life WWE couples that stayed together post-Draft include the WWE Universal Champion Seth Rollins and the RAW Women’s Champion Becky Lynch. Charlotte Flair and Andrade were also kept together, as were Zelina Vega and Aleister Black. Another couple, Naomi and Jimmy Uso, were not a part of the draft. It’s been reported that there are still no current plans for The Usos or Naomi at this time.

    It was noted by Dave Meltzer, via Wrestling Observer Radio, that WWE had no intention to split up Andrade from his manager, Vega. He also mentioned that Aleister Black, Cedric Alexander and Buddy Murphy all have a significant supporter in RAW’s Executive Director, Paul Heyman. 

  • Triple H Addresses Tyson Fury & Cain Velasquez Joining WWE

    Triple H Addresses Tyson Fury & Cain Velasquez Joining WWE

    Triple H has spoken about WWE’s mainstream crossover appeal in the past. Recently, WWE secured two top names to appear for them in heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury and former UFC Heavyweight Champion Cain Velasquez. 

    In an interview with the Not Sam Roberts Podcast, Triple H addressed their signing to the promotion, claiming that “it’s great for WWE.”

    “I also think it’s great for boxing and MMA. People forget that this is a global company, you talk about household names: Brock Lesnar, WWE Superstars are in many ways the biggest superstars athletically in sports out there because WWE kind of transcends language and nationalities,” Triple H said.

    “It’s kind of the one true sport that is everywhere so the aspect of this that crosses all those boundaries with Cain Velasquez, even in places where MMA is not necessarily as big or boxing is sort of everywhere, it’s that crossover that makes the appeal for everybody. It benefits us and benefits them. To me, it’s awesome to bring in this level of talent. Tyson Fury is one of the greatest boxers ever; Cain Velasquez, his career in MMA kind of represents itself well. There’s nothing you can say.”

    Transitioning To Pro Wrestling

    Athletes from outside of wrestling have often transitioned into the world of the squared circle. Triple H has previously stated that the WWE Performance Center has become instrumental in how they help talent adjust and learn to become sports entertainers. He commented on the journey both Fury and Velasquez are on in the run-up to WWE Crown Jewel.

    “It’s a funny thing, as I spoke with Cain Velasquez about a year, year and a half ago he came down to the Performance Center and saw what we did and got in the ring. And obviously from an athlete’s standpoint he was there but it was a question of him as an entertainer, what can he do? But, he has sort of reinvented himself over the last year and has shown that he can do more than just be the fighter.”

    He continued, “Tyson Fury I think was born to be a sports entertainer who just ended up in boxing in a way because of his background. But if you look across boxing right now it is hard to find someone as entertaining, not only in promotions for fights, but actually in the fights. He is a consummate showman at all times. He is made for this and I can tell you just from the few times that I have seen him step into the ring already just doing what we do, it’s like a fish in the water. He is going to be awesome.”

    Both Fury and Velasquez are scheduled to make their WWE debuts at WWE Crown Jewel on October 31st. Fury will face off against Braun Strowman. Velasquez, meanwhile, will compete against Brock Lesnar for the WWE Championship. 

    H/T to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.

  • Ricochet Shares The Scariest Moment Of His WWE Career, Who He’d Like To Feud With

    Ricochet Shares The Scariest Moment Of His WWE Career, Who He’d Like To Feud With

    WWE Superstar Ricochet recently divulged the scariest moment of his WWE career to date during an interview with Digital Spy. When asked, Ricochet shared that the double moonsault he performed off the cage during NXT: TakeOver WarGames last year is what sticks in his mind.

    “At that time I hadn’t done the double moonsault since about 2013, so it had been a while. I was like, ‘Man, can I even still do this?’ And it was so high. But when I got up there, I didn’t even think about it. I just kind of went and did it and you can’t practice it.”

    His athleticism has captured the imaginations of fans worldwide. His ability to fly, however, doesn’t come from a gymnastics background. Ricochet explained that his move set actually evolved through “trial and error.”

    His method of learning what would eventually become his in-ring style was perfected through this mindset. He admitted that “As a kid, there were a lot of shenanigans like jumping off something, or jumping out of something.”

    Championship Aspirations

    When asked over his current championship aspirations, the former WWE United States Champion confessed he’d like to reclaim that title. He also has an eye on the Intercontinental Championship.

    “I really enjoyed my United States Championship run. I feel like there’s still something there I could do with AJ [Styles]. I would also love to share the ring with Shinsuke [Nakamura] again, especially now he has the Intercontinental Championship, which has always been one of my favorite belts.”

    Despite championship ambitions, there are still a few Superstars that Ricochet would love to feud with if given a chance. He believes that, if given an appropriate amount of time, he and Cesaro would be “gold” in the ring. He also named Rey Mysterio as an opponent he’d love to wrestle, stating that “there’s something there between us and we could really do some good together.”

  • Mike Kanellis Has Harsh Words For Lio Rush, Rush Responds

    Mike Kanellis Has Harsh Words For Lio Rush, Rush Responds

    Lio Rush is the new NXT Cruiserweight Champion. He recently defeated Drew Gulak to claim the title as his own on an episode of NXT. Rush would take to Twitter to commemorate his victory, writing:

    “I’m the greatest Cruiserweight in the world right now and that’s an amazing feeling. Pound for pound. #ThatsFacts @wwenxt @usa_network @WWE @WWEPC”

    Not everyone was happy with Rush’s sentiment, however.

    WWE Superstar Mike Kanellis responded by telling Rush to “chill out,” explaining that there was an entire roster of worthy Cruiserweights who were grinding and working as Rush was “sitting at home for bad behavior.”

    In a now deleted tweet, Kanellis wrote:

    “You won 2 matches. Chill out. There’s an entire roster of Cruiserweights that we’re grinding and working their ass off for our Brand, while you were sitting at home for bad behavior. Let’s not act like you weren’t gift wrapped the cruiserweight championship.”

    Rush responded with the following:

    https://twitter.com/itsLioRush/status/1183868183956066305?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1183868183956066305&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Foembedly.com%2Fembed.php%3Furl%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Ftwitter.com%252FitsLioRush%252Fstatus%252F1183868183956066305%253Fref_src%253Dtwsrc%25255Etfw%25257Ctwcamp%25255Etweetembed%25257Ctwterm%25255E1183868183956066305%2526ref_url%253Dhttps%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.mandatory.com%25252Fwrestlezone%25252Fnews%25252F1144314-lio-rush-to-mike-kanellis-i-get-your-anger-but-win-a-match-first

    Kanellis recently shared that he had formally requested his release from WWE. He released a statement on Monday explaining the reasoning behind his decision.

    Back in January both he and his wife, Maria, had reportedly asked for their releases from the company. They would then sign new deals in June that ensured they would be a part of the WWE roster for another five years. At the time of writing, there is no further information as to WWE’s response to Kanellis’ request.

  • Nick Aldis Explains Why CM Punk Should Consider A PPV Match With NWA

    Nick Aldis Explains Why CM Punk Should Consider A PPV Match With NWA

    Current National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) Heavyweight Champion Nick Aldis recently appeared on an episode of The NWA Podcast. During their conversation, Aldis opened up about NWA’s growth and future ambitions following the premiere of their new show, Powerrr. He was also asked at one point about who he would be interested in wrestling if no boundaries existed for his choice.

    Aldis responded by contemplating who would draw the most money. He listed Triple H, Brock Lesnar, and former WWE Superstar CM Punk as viable options as a dream opponent.

    “I’ll tell you this for free – Punk could negotiate a deal with us and we could do a PPV tomorrow where he keeps half the revenue. We’d do it no questions asked,” Aldis said. “If we said we’ll do all this, we’ll build all this and you come out of retirement because you wanna honor the business like Harley Race…You know, Punk was at Harley’s funeral. Punk paid his respects the same way I did. This is not me trying to cut an angle, I have great respect for Punk… He has the power to do that tomorrow.”

    Seven-Figure NWA Championship Match

    For him, a feud or match between the two of them for the NWA Heavyweight Championship would make sense because of the amount of money they could make.

    “I mean look at the packages we put together for me and Cody,” Aldis said, referring to his match with Cody at All In. “Imagine the kind of packages we could do with Punk. He could sell out Chicago like that, you know? I genuinely believe he could take the reigns on the entire business side of it and he could make seven figures to wrestle me for the NWA title.”

    NWA Powerrr recently premiered on YouTube. The entire show is available to watch below. 

    H/T to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription. 

    https://youtu.be/aegl1dWAT_8
  • Finn Balor Reunites With Bullet Club Members (Photos)

    Finn Balor Reunites With Bullet Club Members (Photos)

    WWE Superstar Finn Balor recently reunited with a few friends from New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW).

    The former Universal Champion took some time to catch up with some of his former Bullet Club stablemates for a Sunday BBQ. He joined Tama Tonga and Tonga’s father, Haku, for the event. They were also joined by NXT Superstar KUSHIDA, who made a name for himself in NJPW before signing with WWE.

    Both Balor and Tonga uploaded photos of their reunion to social media to commemorate their day. Balor wrote “Family. @Tama_Tonga & HAKU” to caption the picture of himself, flanked by Tonga and Haku. In the picture, Balor is throwing up the Too Sweet gesture on both hands.

    Tonga uploaded a few photos, including the one Balor uploaded, alongside the caption:

    “Had some friends over for a Sunday BBQ reminiscing about our good times together in [Japanese Flag Emoji]. Surround yourself with good people and keep moving forward.”

    Balor was at one point the leader of Bullet Club in NJPW, back when he was known as Prince Devitt. He recently returned to NXT, announcing that he was once more part of the black-and-gold brand during a confrontation with current NXT Champion Adam Cole. Tama Tonga, meanwhile, is one half of the current IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions in NJPW alongside his brother Tonga Loa.

  • NWA Vice President David Lagana Discusses NWA Powerrr Premiere

    NWA Vice President David Lagana Discusses NWA Powerrr Premiere

    National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) Vice President David Lagana recently spoke with POST Wrestling regarding the premiere of their new show, Powerrr.

    Lagana admitted that he and the NWA meticulously planned the premiere of Powerrr, down to the extra ‘R’ in the name. They intended to create buzz around the show with the name, helping to get more eyes on their product.

    “It was a conscious effort to keep it very much bottled up so that when everyone watched it, it became this… I hate using the word viral but it did. It’s one of the reasons we went with the extra ‘R’ because you’re like, ‘Wait, why is the word power trending with three r’s?’ It was all very conscious decisions to live in a culture where attention is everything and, as Billy [Corgan] has said in multiple interviews and I think it was even in the documentary that R.E. Dalton directed, we wanted to win the day and and, you know, as the numbers showed, AEW Dark ended up helping us get new viewers based upon our good friends at YouTube and the suggested video algorithm, you know, two shows that run with long watch times worked very well together.”

    Calculated Decision

    When asked why NWA had waited until now to produce a new television show, Lagana explained that it was a “calculated decision.”

    “[…] we could have done this two years ago but I think what’s been really good is, we’ve slowly seeped into the consciousness so that when we did this premiere, it was a lot bigger because we sort of touched a lot of different companies and talents over the last two years of doing this and so we wanted that first impression to be really strong and to be able to create a show that felt really familiar but I think the key is, it moved at a pace that I don’t think a lot of wrestling shows move at.”

    NWA Powerrr recently premiered on YouTube. You can watch the entire episode below.

    H/T to Wrestlezone for the transcription.

    https://youtu.be/aegl1dWAT_8
  • Update On WWE Draft Results Spoiled By WWE.com

    Update On WWE Draft Results Spoiled By WWE.com

    In the run-up to the WWE Draft, WWE.com accidentally spoiled some of the announcements that were to be made. These spoilers were uploaded to their own draft pool page. The subsequent announcements made last Friday night on SmackDown matched up almost perfectly with what was listed on WWE.com.

    So, what the heck happened? According to Dave Meltzer of F4WOnline.com, WWE management sent the list of Draft trades to the WWE.com team and instructed them to alphabetize the list. This direction was not followed, perhaps there was a miscommunication, and the list was posted online “as is.”

    As a result, WWE’s storyline plans were posted on the company website. Fans on social media had a field day with the blunder.

    https://twitter.com/LiamTheWinnard/status/1183273920390221829

    WWE Draft Scramble

    Because of this mistake, WWE reportedly made on-the-fly changes to some of their drafting decisions. Additionally, former WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Nikki Cross and Alexa Bliss were chosen as two separate draft picks. This occurred despite the ruling that tag teams would count as a singular choice.

    Nikki Cross even acknowledged on Twitter that she’s glad she and Alexa Bliss are staying together, drawing further attention to the lack of logic behind drafting them separately.

    https://twitter.com/NikkiCrossWWE/status/1182870874061332480

    occurred despite the ruling that tag teams would count as a singular choice.

    Meltzer added that this was apparently done on purpose, leading to SmackDown to essentially lose a pick. 

    Not everyone has been thrilled with the WWE Draft. Former Universal Champion Kevin Owens recently shared his feelings on not being chosen until round three, stating “I am angry. I still am.” 

    WWE Announces Additional Draft Picks Made By RAW & Smackdown

  • Natalya Has Been Receiving Backstage Praise For Recent Work

    Natalya Has Been Receiving Backstage Praise For Recent Work

    WWE Superstar Natalya has reportedly been receiving backstage praise for her work with Lacey Evans. WWE still views Evans as a future top-tier Superstar, and are willing to put in the time to help her further develop.

    Natalya’s recent in-ring work with Evans hasn’t gone unnoticed by backstage personnel, including Vince McMahon, and they have acknowledged her ability to elevate Evans. The general consensus is that Evans’ has been steadily improving. The pair have been wrestling against each other at recent WWE Live Events to help Evans improve. They recently clashed in a Last Woman Standing match on RAW.

    According to WrestlingNews.co, Natalya is seen as an unsung hero of the women’s division. Their source shared that “Fit [Finlay] deserves so much credit for what he’s done to help the girls but what people don’t know is Nattie has done so much to help so many people. She never asks for anything in return. She will have a job for life as a trainer whenever she decides to retire.”

    Despite their matches garnering this positive feedback, the two were recently drafted to separate brands. Natalya has been drafted to Monday Night RAW. Lacey Evans, meanwhile, will now call the blue brand home as she joins SmackDown on Friday nights.

  • Nick Aldis Comments On NWA’s Growth, Fanbase, Future Ambitions

    Nick Aldis Comments On NWA’s Growth, Fanbase, Future Ambitions

    The National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) World Heavyweight Champion, Nick Aldis, recently appeared on the This is the NWA podcast. During the interview, Aldis opened up about his ambitions for NWA and the kinds of fans they want to attract.

    He recalled how NWA Vice President David Lagana told him how NWA President Billy Corgan wanted a modern equivalent to the kind of wrestling he grew up watching. 

    “He wants men cutting promos and having physical rough and tumble wrestling matches,” Aldis explained. “I said, ‘That I can do.’ That was them describing their vision of what they wanted and then they asked ‘What is your vision?’ I said, ‘I wanted matches to feel like prize fights.’”

    Aldis continued, “I said ‘I’m sitting here watching the build to Mayweather/McGregor and it’s just the best s*** I’ve ever seen. It’s fantastic theater. They’re taking everything that pro wrestling did first, doing it better and pro wrestling’s not even doing it anymore. We’re just literally handing over all of this money to MMA and boxing. We gave them secret sauce and then stopped using the secret sauce ourselves.”

    “We’re Trying To Go After A Different Demographic”

    When it comes to the type of fan NWA is hoping to attract, Aldis shared his concern that the “whittled down niche audience compared to better days for our business is gonna be divided up even further.” 

    He added that they intend on going after a different market for their fanbase, explaining that, “If wrestling fans who predominantly exist in the current form decide not to watch our product, we’re okay with that because we’re trying to go after a different audience like any smart business would. We’re trying to go after a different demographic, and that demographic is fans who’ve fallen off for whatever reason because they preferred a certain style of stuff.”

    Future Plans

    The NWA World Champion already knows where he would like himself and the NWA to be in five years time. He shared that he would like to turn the NWA into the pro wrestling equivalent of HBO Boxing.

    “You know I’d like to think that in five years I’ll be firmly established as a top performer and a top attraction, a sort of respectable OG character,” Aldis said. “I think that the NWA, if we keep on our current trajectory and our current milestones, within five years we could be a very solidly established brand, attraction and organization. I think brand is the best way to put it because I could see us working with multiple different companies here and there but ultimately what I’ve always wanted for us is to be like the HBO Boxing of pro wrestling.”

    NWA Powerrr recently premiered their first episode. The show is available to watch in its entirety on YouTube. 

    H/T to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription. 

    https://youtu.be/aegl1dWAT_8
  • Joey Janela Details His Altercation With Big Cass

    Joey Janela Details His Altercation With Big Cass

    All Elite Wrestling’s Joey Janela has opened up about his recent altercation with Big Cass at a WrestlePro event. He shared his story during a recent episode of Wrestlers On The Road Ordering Room Service on the Being the Elite YouTube channel. 

    ‘The Bad Boy’ explained how he went outside for a smoke only to have Big Cass corner him and strike him in the head.

    “I went outside for a smoke and I had said ‘Hello’ to the dude earlier and he was like, ‘Hey, what’s up?’ I go out for a smoke and he corners me and then smacks me in the head,” Janela said of Cass. “It wasn’t like a hard smack but it just caught me off guard. I’m like, ‘What the f*ck is going on here?’ Then he starts chasing me, ‘Joey, I’m’ coming to kill you!’”

    He recalls how he ran through the locker room in an attempt to get away, comparing their chase to an episode of Tom & Jerry, as Cass allegedly threatened to shoot and kill him. 

    “It Was Like A Horror Movie”

    Promoters of the show eventually put Janela into a separate locker room, locking the doors in an attempt to protect him. Janela remembers being terrified saying, “It was like a horror movie,” as Cass attempted to open every door in his attempt to find him.

    When Janela prepared for his match at WrestlePro’s equivalent to the Gorilla Position, Cass would try to attack him once again. He ended up being tackled to the ground by other wrestlers.

    Despite this scary exchange, however, Janela doesn’t hold it against Big Cass. He explained how he had lost a friend because of substance abuse problems, and because of this he empathizes with Cass’ struggles. 

    Despite Big Cass’ repeated attempts to get at him, Janela refused to press charges, explaining that “He just didn’t know what he was doing and I felt bad…. Get him to a hospital because you know he’s dealing with something crazy.”

    Big Cass’ tag team partner, Enzo Amore, recently thanked both WWE and Diamond Dallas Page for helping his friend during this difficult time. 

    H/T to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription. 

  • Awesome Kong Reflects On How She Became A Part Of AEW

    Awesome Kong Reflects On How She Became A Part Of AEW

    All Elite Wrestling (AEW) talent, and star of hit Netflix show GLOW, Awesome Kong was a recent guest on Women’s Wrestling Weekly. During her appearance, Kong opened up about how she came to be a part of AEW. She discussed her surprise debut at Double or Nothing as well as how she got back into ring shape.

    She credited her agent in helping her become a part of AEW, explaining that he was the first one to tell her about it as she hadn’t been immersed in the world of pro wrestling for some time. 

    “I didn’t know anything about it because I hadn’t been immersed in it, the wrestling world, so I was doing StarrCast/Starrcade… and they said everyone is going to the show [All In] and I was thinking that it was just some random indie show…I get there and they are at the Sears Center and the production value is out of this world,” Kong said. “I’m like, ‘Wait… I need to be a part of this next time, someone needs to ask me next time’ …and they did, I’m glad they did, backstage the harmony is there, people are working, people are getting paid, people are getting medical… People are happy and people want to come in and work hard.”

    Double Or Nothing

    Kong noted that only three people knew about her surprise appearance at Double or Nothing. She recounted how she had to be snuck into the airport wearing sunglasses to try and disguise herself.

    “We got in, we did the deal. I was nervous and I hadn’t put on the Kong gear in for eons…I hadn’t summoned her.. She’s a real person, Kong is real, hadn’t summoned her in a while. I was in the bathroom… it was a whole process.”

    Coming back to in-ring action required her to train in order to channel Awesome Kong once again. She explained how she “hyped up” her cardio and avoided training in a ring. Kong believed people would easily figure out she was preparing for a wrestling return if she had. 

    H/T to WrestlingNews.co for the quotes.

  • AJ Styles Names Which NXT Talent Has Impressed Him

    AJ Styles Names Which NXT Talent Has Impressed Him

    Ahead of SmackDown’s FOX premiere, AJ Styles spoke with Denise Salcedo of Instinct Culture. The former WWE Champion shared his thoughts on NXT’s current roster of talent. He also named who he finds particularly impressive amongst the black-and-gold Superstars.

    “I think Adam Cole and his crew, I mean they are going to stand out, Velveteen Dream, obviously, guys like that. And the girls, you name it. There’s a lot of talent in NXT. It’s just whether or not they want to come to RAW or SmackDown or stay there in NXT. Everybody’s on Television now so it’s beneficial to everyone.”

    He reflected on how now is a great time to be a fan of professional wrestling. Styles pointed at the talent that exists on RAW, SmackDown and NXT as an example of how exciting wrestling currently is, and how he loves being a part of the WWE roster. 

    “[…] it’s so refreshing to know that we’re not just in a couple of houses. We’re all over the world. I no longer have to say ‘yeah, like WWE,’ no, [I can say] ‘with WWE.’”

    AJ Styles competed in six-man tag team action this past Sunday at WWE’s Hell in a Cell pay-per-view. He teamed with his O.C. stablemates Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson in a losing effort against The Viking Raiders and Braun Strowman.  They lost via disqualification. 

  • Pete Dunne Comments On Moving To NXT, Names Dream Opponent

    Pete Dunne Comments On Moving To NXT, Names Dream Opponent

    Former NXT UK Champion Pete Dunne recently became a permanent fixture of WWE’s black-and-gold brand in America. In an interview with PWInsider, Dunne addressed this move to NXT as well as who his current dream match would be against.

    Dunne confirmed his move to NXT but stressed that he doesn’t believe it changes his status in the company.

    “I think for the last three years I’ve been an independent wrestler, main roster wrestler, NXT wrestler and NXT UK wrestler. I’m all over the place, and I like the way that it’s opening up. Right? Cesaro can come do NXT UK, and I don’t want to close any door unnecessarily, but as of now the focus is USA every Wednesday.”

    When asked who he’d consider a dream opponent, Dunne was quick to name a fellow NXT Superstar.

    “First name [that] comes to mind would be Velveteen Dream. I just feel like me and him are on two opposite ends of the spectrum, character-wise. Right? And I feel like it’s an interesting dynamic that it’d be fun for me in front of him and obviously hopefully that translates out to the audience. Really, we’ve done a little bit in the past, but on TV at least, never had that singles match. Nothing. That’d be cool.”

    Dunne is currently involved in a feud with Damian Priest, who attacked him from behind during a recent episode of NXT.

    H/T to Wrestlezone for the quotes.

  • Adam Cole On Stables In Pro Wrestling, Not Expanding Undisputed Era

    Adam Cole On Stables In Pro Wrestling, Not Expanding Undisputed Era

    In an interview with GameSpot, current NXT Champion Adam Cole shared his thoughts on stables in pro wrestling and explained why Undisputed Era will probably never add new members to its ranks.

    “When a stable it’s done correctly, it’s so important. It’s so huge. It opens up so many different stories that that roster can tell,” Cole said. “So many different scenarios that guys can go. It just keeps things very fresh and different. Like you can do a million different tag matches, but at the same time, we’re individuals. Obviously, I’m NXT Champion, so I’m going to have a bunch of NXT Championship title defenses, but then the next week we can do a wild eight-man tag team match with all of us.”

    Cole explained how the Undisputed Era’s genuine friendship is the key to their success. He reflected on their ten-year friendship and how he has attended his stablemates weddings in the past. He believes this translates to screen and is a contributing factor behind the fans support of the Undisputed Era.

    “Never Say Never”

    When it comes to expanding the group, however, Cole confessed he thinks it is important the group stays small. Not only that but that their lineup doesn’t change.

    “As far as adding new people, no, I actually think it’s very important. I remember when it was me, Bobby, and Kyle at first. We were convinced it was just going to be the three of us, and then it was brought to us about Roderick Strong joining all of us. At the same time, we’re like, ‘man…’ [but] if anyone’s going to join us, he’s the perfect fit. And now that he’s there, we can’t imagine anyone else being involved either. So I think it’s going to stay with just the four of us. But again, it’s pro wrestling. Never say never.”

    Adam Cole recently successfully defended his NXT Championship against Matt Riddle. He appears to have new competition, however, in the form of both Finn Balor and Tommaso Ciampa.

  • Shayna Baszler On NXT’s Transition To Live Television, Not Holding Back

    Shayna Baszler On NXT’s Transition To Live Television, Not Holding Back

    Current NXT Women’s Champion Shayna Baszler has previously spoken about how now is the perfect time for “no-nonsense realism” in pro wrestling. In an interview with Newsweek, Baszler reiterated her feelings, stressing that she wants to bring realism into the women’s division.

    “I just want to bring back that grimy, no-nonsense realism that the women’s division has been lacking. And as long as I can stay true to that, the rest will take care of itself. I’m from the midwest, so I believe as long as you put your nose in the dirt it all comes out in the wash. It might take you a couple years longer than someone else, but I’m fine with that, and I think I’m finally seeing the fruits of that,” she said.

    Changes

    Baszler shared how NXT’s transition to the USA Network has seen some minor changes she had not anticipated. Now that NXT airs on USA, there are elements she had previously not considered she now has to be aware of.

    “It’s been an interesting thing to have to worry about different TV aspects like watching your mouth or something like a t-shirt you wear,” Baszler said. “I don’t know if this is a story I should tell, but I have a 1969 Mustang, and it’s my prize possession. I have a shirt that says ‘I heart 69 mustangs,’ so I was going to wear it and I put it on social media but just the camera shot showed ‘I heart 69’ and they were like, ‘No we are on TV now, so you can’t.’ It’s stuff I didn’t think of because I’m just all about my car. The point of [the Performance Center] is to groom us for TV, so when it was time to pull the trigger, we found that we were more ready than we thought. It was scary until we got in there, and then it was ‘OK, we got this.’”

    “We Aren’t Holding Back”

    When it comes to the next steps for herself and the NXT locker room, Baszler is confident they will continue to impress. 

    “[…] we aren’t holding back. It’s not like all of a sudden the reins are off. We’ve been doing this. Now everyone gets to see it on a bigger stage,” Baszler explained. “It’s not a case of ‘When we get on TV now we’re really going to have good matches.’ It’s not any different from us. The groundwork was laid out for us, and we are just continuing what we came into.”

    Baszler recently defended her NXT Women’s Championship against Candice LeRae. 

  • WWE Had Considered An Alternate Ending For Hell In A Cell Main Event

    WWE Had Considered An Alternate Ending For Hell In A Cell Main Event

    The main event of WWE’s recent Hell in a Cell ended in controversy after the official stopped the match. He did so out of concern for ‘The Fiend’ Bray Wyatt after Seth Rollins’ relentless assault. The response was overtly negative, with fans in the crowd chanting “AEW” and “Refunds.” Now Dave Meltzer of F4WOnline.com is reporting that there was another ending WWE considered.

    “The original idea for the finish was that Wyatt would take a gimmicked bump off the top of the cage and be unable to continue and the match would be stopped,” Meltzer said.” Then, after it was stopped, he would pop up like Undertaker and take Rollins out with the mandible claw.”

    The match was ended via referee stoppage after Seth Rollins piled ‘The Fiend’ under a ladder, chairs and even a toolbox. However, it was the introduction of a sledgehammer into the action that the official thought went too far.

    Seth Rollins recently broke his silence since Sunday, writing on Twitter:

    “Survive and Prevail is bigger than just what happens between the ropes. Question everything, even yourself, and fight your heart out every step of the way. #sethrollinsisnotcool”

    He will compete against Roman Reigns this Friday night on SmackDown. The winner of their match will win the first draft pick for their brand.

  • Booker T Wants Big E To Wrestle Brock Lesnar

    Booker T Wants Big E To Wrestle Brock Lesnar

    New Day member Kofi Kingston recently lost his WWE Championship to a returning Brock Lesnar. He lost a short match during SmackDown’s premiere on FOX. Taking to his podcast, The Hall of Fame, WWE Hall of Famer Booker T argued that he would like to see Big E to step up and feud with ‘The Beast Incarnate.’

    “I can see him competing with Brock Lesnar on a one-on-one scale. Just because, the guy is low center of gravity, but, he’s just as wide, and probably weighs more than Brock Lesnar. And a guy like that, literally, from a fighting standpoint, it would really be hard for a guy like Brock Lesnar, fighting a guy like that, just because, the strength. Who are you going to give it to?”

    He continued, “In a strength matchup, I’m going to give the strength matchup to Big E 100 percent of the time. Seriously, every time. Just say, for instance, being that size, and the quickness that Big E has, from a realistic wrestling match, he could get under Brock Lesnar a whole lot quicker than Brock Lesnar can get under him. I look at it from that perspective right there.”

    Booker argued that Big E isn’t featured as much as he should be, adding that not only does he deserve more air time, but that “the guy definitely can become a star” if given the right opportunity at the right time. 

    H/T to Wrestlezone for the transcription.

  • Bully Ray And Mark Henry Discuss Why Asuka Should Challenge Becky Lynch

    Bully Ray And Mark Henry Discuss Why Asuka Should Challenge Becky Lynch

    WWE RAW Women’s Champion Becky Lynch has been on a tear through the WWE Women’s division. On a recent episode of SiriusXM’s Busted Open Radio, Bully Ray and Mark Henry discussed Lynch’s momentum and who would work as a rival at this time. Both former WWE Superstars agreed on one name: Asuka.

    “Asuka, I believe, is the heel that can get the right type of heat on Becky Lynch,” Bully Ray said. “Because paying to see a champion retain their championship is very hard to do in 2019. I think people will pay money to see Becky fight and retain against Asuka, and Asuka is so credible—she hasn’t been credible since the Royal Rumble—but she’s so credible in her physicality and her demeanor, I think she can get the right amount of heat on Becky Lynch that people will sympathize and get into Becky even more.”

    Mark Henry referred back to the matches between Asuka and Lynch before WrestleMania 35, calling Asuka the most underutilized Superstar on WWE’s roster. 

    “I think that Asuka was the most underutilized and, not only that, she kind of got lost in the shuffle. She was almost forgotten about,” Henry stated. “It was good Becky mentioned the fact that the last person that she lost to that was a complete one-sided mismatch was the match she had with Asuka, […] and then they never used it. They never went back to it. So now we get to see all of that pay off, […] and that’s what the fans want to see. They want to see redemption.”

    Asuka and her tag team partner Kairi Sane recently won the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship. They defeated former champs Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross to claim the titles at Sunday’s Hell in a Cell pay-per-view.

  • Triple H Discusses Athletes Transitioning Into Pro Wrestling

    Triple H Discusses Athletes Transitioning Into Pro Wrestling

    It’s not uncommon for athletes from different sporting backgrounds to try professional wrestling. Whether it’s from professional football or mixed martial arts, numerous sports stars worldwide have attempted wrestling. Speaking with Sam Roberts’ Wrestling Podcast, Triple H discussed this crossover appeal as well as the transition period and struggles people have encountered entering the squared circle.

    “I am a big believer in athletes. No different than you see Baron Corbin, I know he gets a lot of heat, but he’s a phenomenal performer. He was an NFL player. He was a fan but came into this a little bit later as a performer,” said Triple H. “You see Braun Strowman coming in from Strongman competitions, so you see athletes coming in from all different backgrounds.”

    He credited the WWE Performance Center in being instrumental, explaining that the concept of the WWE PC was to create a pathway for these people into sports entertainment.

    “I would meet people all of the time in various sporting events or entertainment where they talk to us about saying that they have always dreamed about being in WWE. They are such fans and would love to do it but how would they get into it? There was no clear path to do this. I would meet guys that were in the NFL thinking that they had another year left to play but I’m 23 and I want to continue to be an athlete. I have always dreamed about two things: NFL, which I had done that and WWE. How can I get there? To create a pathway for them and create a place where they can go train so that they can make that transition.”

    Triple H then highlighted Ronda Rousey’s successful foray into pro wrestling. He shared that without that system in place, it would have been a lot harder and less likely for outside athletes to succeed.

    H/T to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.

  • Jon Moxley Shares His Thought On WWE’s “Stupid” Scripts

    Jon Moxley Shares His Thought On WWE’s “Stupid” Scripts

    Last week, during an AEW panel at New York Comic Con, Moxley spoke of his dislike for WWE’s “stupid” scripts. He recently discussed his dislike for WWE’s schedule. The panel featured Moxley, Nyla Rose, Jungle Boy, Awesome Kong, Brandi Rhodes and AEW World Champion Chris Jericho. During NYCC, Moxley spoke with Still Real To Us where he broached his issue with WWE’s scripts.

    “I had to do that for years, when I had to do these stupid scripts,” Moxley said. “I’d have to say stuff like, ‘I’m going to eviscerate your skull at Hell In A Cell!’ It’s like, ‘No, I’m not. I know I’m not. I know that there’s not going to be any blood. I’m lying. I’m lying to the fans. I’m selling this violence that’s just not going to happen.’”

    Conversely, in AEW, Moxley stressed that their lack of writers is due to the faith put into them as professionals.

    “We don’t need writers or producers, or anything like that,” Mosley stated. “We know what we are doing. You’ve got myself, Jericho, Kenny, Cody, The Bucks, PAC, and Spears. We’re all at the top. If we wanted to be in WWE right now, we could, and make huge money. Any one of us. We’re all actively choosing to do this, instead.”

    When it comes to his promos, Moxley explained he works off of bullet points for promos and matches. He was told to “do whatever you want” in his match against Joey Janela and shared that had he asked for anything within reason, he probably would have got it.

  • Chris Jericho Comments On AEW’s Ratings Success

    Chris Jericho Comments On AEW’s Ratings Success

    All Elite Wrestling (AEW) World Champion Chris Jericho made a recent appearance on KTLA 5 Morning News show in Los Angeles. During his interview, Jericho spoke about what made AEW special compared to WWE. When asked about whether there are similarities or differences between the two promotions, Jericho explained they are “completely different.”

    “It’s [AEW] a brand new company, backed by the owners of the Jacksonville Jaguars, and we just debuted on Wednesday, last Wednesday, on the TNT Network, to what was the highest-debuted show in 5 years for the network. A huge hit. It’s something different. People are excited because for the first time in 20 years there’s an alternative to the WWE, and it’s new, and it’s exciting, and it’s fresh, it’s fun.”

    He added how he acts as a bridge for wrestling fans who may not be familiar with AEW but are fans of Chris Jericho:

    “So, when they come and watch me on the show, then they see all these other great performers that they’ve never watched. So, for me it’s a chance to do something, build something up from scratch, which has never happened in our lifetime for the wrestling business,” Jericho said. “It’s a really cool time for the business. We have created a whole buzz for wrestling now, to where it’s becoming cool again, and more specifically, AEW is cool.”

    During last night’s episode of AEW: Dynamite on TNT, Jericho took a shot at WWE’s creative team during a promo.