SEScoops

Author: Steve Russell

  • Alexa Bliss Comments On Friendship With Nikki Cross

    Alexa Bliss Comments On Friendship With Nikki Cross

    Alexa Bliss is currently one half of WWE’s Women’s Tag Team Champions alongside her partner Nikki Cross. In an interview with Fightful, ‘Lil’ Miss Bliss’ addressed her friendship with the former Sanity member, admitting that teaming with Cross has been “quite an adjustment” for her.

    “We’re still getting there. You know what I mean. We’re still figuring it out. Because we both have such different styles. So you have to have tag moves, and that chemistry. So, we’re still working on that. Because our last two months we’ve just been costing each other matches by accident. So we’re adjusting to it. But our tag division is incredible.”

    She said that, when they started teaming together, the two of them agreed they wouldn’t judge each other based on their past history. Instead, they wanted to go in fresh and develop a genuine friendship—one that extends into the ring and their teamwork.

    “That’s what happens when you develop a friendship with someone,” Bliss said. “We agreed that we weren’t gonna judge each other on each other’s past; her past in NXT, my past with Nia and Mickie. And we understand each other, and we see a lot of each other in each other, and I think that’s what developed our friendship and the bond.”

    Bliss then reflected on her time in NXT, recalling how Triple H saw something in her at the time and signed her to NXT. She added that, despite the crazy life being a WWE Superstar brings, she loves doing it because she loves performing and connecting with fans worldwide.

    H/T to Fightful for the transcription.

  • Rhea Ripley Names Her WWE Role Model, Talks About Dealing With Criticisms

    Rhea Ripley Names Her WWE Role Model, Talks About Dealing With Criticisms

    Former WWE NXT UK Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley has named the Superstar she considers her WWE role model: The Miz.

    In an interview with Revolver, Ripley confessed her adoration of The A-Lister, highlighting his snarky attitude as an inspiration.

    “I love The Miz! I absolutely love him,” Ripley admitted. “He’s so snarky, and that’s who I want to be. I want to have cool comebacks and get people to listen to me and be invested in me. Even CM Punk — when he spoke, everyone listened.”

    This attitude helps fuel her when it comes to facing criticism, especially if it’s about her physique. When it comes to how she deals with this kind of negativity, Ripley named Beth Phoenix as a key inspiration:

    “My whole life I’ve had people telling me that I look like a man, I’m not feminine, I’m too masculine, all that stuff,” said Ripley. “Well, you know what? I could not give a shit. Just like I was inspired by [former WWE champion] Beth Phoenix, who also looks very masculine, I want to inspire other potential female athletes to go as hard as they want and feel comfortable in their own skin — that’s why I go out there day after day and do my thing.”

    Rhea Ripley recently appeared on NXT, confronting Shayna Baszler, teasing a potential matchup between herself and the NXT Women’s Champion.

  • Dustin Rhodes Compares AEW’s Darby Allin To Jeff Hardy

    Dustin Rhodes Compares AEW’s Darby Allin To Jeff Hardy

    Dustin Rhodes recently signed a new multi-year contract with All Elite Wrestling (AEW). This new contract will see him assume more responsibilities with the promotion. Alongside being an in-ring competitor, he will now act as match producer and promo coach for AEW talent. 

    In a recent interview with Sports Guys Talking Wrestling of The Horn in Austin, Texas, Rhodes made a favorable comparison between AEW wrestler Darby Allin and WWE’s Jeff Hardy. Reflecting on Allin’s recent matchup at All Out, Dustin highlighted one particular moment in the match that saw Darby leap off the top rope with only a barrel to cushion his fall into steel steps:

    “He [Darby Allin] reminds me a lot of Jeff Hardy. If I could compare him to anybody, he’s not scared.” Dustin said. “He’s fearless, and I know adrenaline plays a big part into all this, but he didn’t even look back. It’s like he put the barrel there and he’s ready and he goes when he wants to go, and it’s like ‘I gotta look back.’”

    Darby Allin competed in the Cracker Barrel Clash at All Out against Jimmy Havoc and ‘The Bad Boy’ Joey Janela. Jimmy Havoc would walk away the winner of their hardcore matchup.

    H/T to Wrestlezone for the transcription.

  • Steve Austin Talks About RAW’s Return To Madison Square Garden

    Steve Austin Talks About RAW’s Return To Madison Square Garden

    “Stone Cold” Steve Austin enjoyed a homecoming to Madison Square Garden during last night’s episode of Monday Night RAW. In the run-up to his appearance, where he participated in a contract signing between WWE Universal Champion Seth Rollins and Braun Strowman, Austin spoke with SI.com about coming back to MSG.

    “Walking through those doors at the Garden is still special for me,” said Austin. “That’s the WWE’s backyard. Even though they’ve been away for a couple of years, that’s a very special building to Vince.”

    Austin reflected on how some of the most iconic moments of his career took place at Madison Square garden, including delivering his first-ever Stone Cold Stunner on Vince McMahon in 1997. He shared that the MSG crowd is a “tough” audience, but “if you can win them over, you’ve really done something. It’s a crowd that you’ve got to work really hard for to earn their respect, and I love that about that building.”

    Leaving The Garden

    The passionate crowd had a very different reaction to you depending on whether you were a heel or babyface, as Austin recalled incidents with fans ripping mirrors in the heat of the moment.

    “I remember when the business got so hot back in the day that when you would drive your rental car into the Garden, the fans would line up and wait for you on the way out,” Austin stated. “Depending on how over you were as a babyface or how much heat you had as a heel, they would tear off your side-view mirrors and rip off your antennas. People tearing up your automobile was almost like your reward for being over or having heat. We didn’t like it, but that was how it was. And eventually it started meaning something to us.”

    He added how Vince McMahon would always be in attendance for WWE shows at MSG, even house shows. When he did, Austin added that everyone worked even harder than they already were because they knew Vince was watching them.

  • The Miz Reflects On Talking Smack Promo With Daniel Bryan

    The Miz Reflects On Talking Smack Promo With Daniel Bryan

    WWE recently uploaded a video to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Intercontinental Championship. The video featured former champions The Miz, Randy Orton and Christian discussing the title and its history. It was during their conversation that The Miz reflected on his infamous Talking Smack promo with Daniel Bryan. He shared that the promo was the result of his frustrations with WWE not treating the title with the prestige he felt it deserved.

    “I Was The Intercontinental Champion And I Couldn’t Get On The Show”

    “I was in a time where, [the title] through the years started going down where anytime a person had the IC title, they would be on a show and lose, all the time, with the title,” said Miz.

    He continued, “It was like, ‘He has the title, he’ll just lose today.’ I was sick of that mentality because the title meant so much to me as a kid. It kept getting thrown away, so I came to a point where I got drafted to SmackDown, and they wouldn’t put me on the show. I was the Intercontinental Champion and I couldn’t get on the show. They were debuting new SmackDown titles and the one title that I thought was prestigious and had such a rich history, was being forgotten. That’s how the infamous Talking Smack came where I went off on Daniel Bryan. All my frustrations I had with the title were being unleashed on Bryan.”

    “Talking Smack was a show that they needed ‘a little oomph.’ That promo gave it the ‘oomph’ it needed. I got a lot of texts from people that were like, ‘Holy cow, you went off.’ Honestly, I look back at that promo and I go, ‘Oh wow, that wasn’t that good.’”

    Miz then commented on how he is a perfectionist. He stated that, when he went back and watched the promo, all he could notice was his stuttering throughout. His fellow guest Randy Orton then added that it was The Miz’s genuine emotions that made it “real” and memorable.

    H/T to Fightful for the transcription.

  • Charlotte Talks Women’s Evolution, Superstars She Expects Will Breakthrough

    Charlotte Talks Women’s Evolution, Superstars She Expects Will Breakthrough

    Charlotte Flair is scheduled to team up with RAW Women’s Champion Becky Lynch tonight at Monday Night RAW. They will face off against the team of SmackDown Women’s Champion Bayley and Sasha Banks. The women, WWE’s Horsewomen, are known for being instrumental in WWE’s Women’s Evolution.

    Speaking with Smacktalks, Charlotte discussed what might be next for the Women’s Evolution. She shared who she believes could be the next two break out female Superstars, and even named Stephanie McMahon as someone she’d like to tap out.

    Women’s Evolution

    Addressing the Women’s Evolution, Flair listed its next steps as “[…] continuing the momentum and headlining WrestleMania again and proving that it wasn’t a fluke. The women can continue to deliver like this at high levels. It’s gonna take a couple of years to show that. Maybe we’re not the main event this year, but it’ll happen again.”

    When it comes to new rivals for her in the women’s division, Charlotte Flair named both Nikki Cross and NXT’s Bianca Belair as Superstars ready to breakthrough.

    “I’m expecting big things from Nikki Cross. I’m a huge fan of hers,” Charlotte admitted. “I know she’s been on RAW and SmackDown for a few months now, maybe a year. It takes time, and I think she’s gonna have that breakout moment soon. I’m 100% behind her. From NXT, Bianca Belair just has it. She doesn’t have to try. She has that natural swag. She’s a star, and that’s one thing you can’t teach. You can teach someone how to wrestle and come up with a character, but whether you have it or not is on you, and she has it. I think she’s the next big thing.”

    Tap Out

    Having recently faced off against WWE Hall of Famer Trish Stratus, earning a submission victory in the process, Flair was then asked about who she would like to face from WWE 2K20’s roster of legends. She explained that having already tapped out Trish Stratus, “it would probably be tapping out Stephanie McMahon.”

    Past tonight’s tag match on RAW, Charlotte Flair will be facing Bayley in a match for the SmackDown Women’s Championship at Clash of Champions on September 15th.

  • WWE’s Four Horsewomen Discuss RAW Tag Team Match, Future Ambitions

    WWE’s Four Horsewomen Discuss RAW Tag Team Match, Future Ambitions

    Tonight’s Monday Night RAW will see RAW Women’s Champion Becky Lynch team up with Charlotte Flair against SmackDown Women’s Champion Bayley and Sasha Banks. Ahead of this Four Horsewomen reunion, all four Superstars sat down with ESPN.com to discuss their tag match. They also spoke about their future ambitions.

    When it comes to tonight’s match at Madison Square Garden, Bayley reflected that “The four of us will always be tied together and having a match with all of us in a place like MSG is special. I came up to the main roster last and this is one of the only times we’ve all been in the ring together on the main roster.”

    “It’s a pretty big moment especially in somewhere like MSG, which is so historical,” Lynch added. “It’s a whole different kettle of fish now, and I’m a whole different woman now.

    Sasha Banks commented on how “It’s really crazy to know that I’m gonna be in the ring with these girls that I started with and I haven’t been in the ring with them for a very long time.”

    “Our stories are so intertwined if you go back to the beginning,” Flair said. “But I will say for Monday, this is the first time that the four of us have been on Raw together — just the four of us in a solo storyline.”

    Never Satisfied

    When it comes to their future plans, Bayley admitted that, despite everything they have achieved, none of them will ever be content or satisfied. Lynch added to this idea, claiming she would like to main event more shows. 

    “Just more main events,” Lynch said. “Just constantly main eventing and generating interest, whether it’s the main event or not. And that’s what we’re doing. Look, that’s all I’ve ever wanted — for women’s wrestling to be the coolest thing on TV, for people to be talking, for people to have opinions, for people to be so invested they can’t miss our matches.

    Banks doesn’t want to main event more pay-per-views—she wants to main event every single one. She explained she wanted to main event every major show as well as every TV show and Live Event. “I want it just like as the guys do — I want to have it all. I’m never gonna be satisfied. Even when I get that, I’m gonna want more. That’s just the kind of person that I am.”

    Charlotte Flair, however, believes that although it may not take place next year or even in a few years, a Fatal Four Way match between them will eventually main event WrestleMania:

    “I hope the future holds the four of us in a Fatal Four Way in the main event of WrestleMania. That’s what I hope the future holds. I’m not saying it’s this year, next year, the next or the next after that. But eventually I truly believe that the Fatal Four Way will be a main event match at WrestleMania.”

  • Sean Waltman Looks Back On His Feud With Razor Ramon

    Sean Waltman Looks Back On His Feud With Razor Ramon

    On an episode of his podcast X-Pac 1 2 360, Sean Waltman reflected on his feud with Razor Ramon back in 1993. He recalled being told how their rivalry would play out by Vince McMahon and Pat Paterson, with him getting the upset victory over Razor that helped establish him as a Superstar.

    “I never thought I would get hired by WWE. I never thought they would even consider me,” Waltman confessed. “So I had the tryout, and I am at home waiting; it seemed like forever till they called. Then one day I pick up the phone, and it’s Vince, and he runs this whole Razor Ramon story by me.”

    He continued, “Pat Patterson is on the line with him, and they’re laying the whole thing out exactly how it happened. And I even mentioned, ‘Well I have this Japan tour.’ And they’re like, ‘Okay, well we’ll have Scott doing the promos, challenging me to a re-match.’ [They’re] putting the money up until, eventually, it’s too much for me to pass up. Vince asks me what I think of it, and obviously I am blown away by the whole thing. Everyone else when they come into WWE, they just get three weeks of vignettes and some squash matches, and it was so much greater the way I was brought in.”

    Sean Waltman defeated Razor Ramon after executing a moonsault, pinning him for a surprise victory. This win saw him earn the name the 1-2-3 Kid.

    H/T to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription. 

  • Braun Strowman Discusses How He Got Into Professional Wrestling

    Braun Strowman Discusses How He Got Into Professional Wrestling

    Braun Strowman has shared how he got into pro wrestling in an interview with Not Sam Wrestling podcast.

    Strowman recounted his interest in wrestling as a boy but admitted he had no idea about how to become a pro wrestler due to the small town he grew up in. He explained that he “wanted to, but I just didn’t know what to do.”

    It wouldn’t be until he was working a nightclub in downtown Charlotte that his journey to pro wrestling would begin—though it wouldn’t be a direct path. 

    He met a few people that had competed in a Strongman competition, who noticed he was a “larger human being than normal.” They offered him an invitation to give Strongman training a try, which he accepted. This invitation and subsequent involvement in competitions would eventually catch the eyes of WWE talent scouts.

    “I think I started in a little less than two years I earned my pro card in Strongman and I was in Los Angeles, California in 2012 for The World’s Strongest Man and Mark Henry was there along with [WWE Talent Relations] Canyon Ceman were there recruiting,” Strowman said. “I met them and exchanged information with Canyon, that was in September of 2012. They wanted me to come down to the FCW building since The Performance Center wasn’t around back then. They wanted me to come down to the FCW down in Tampa, Florida. I walked around and cut a promo, and they offered me a deal.”

    Strowman recalled injuring himself during his final Strongman competition trying to break the world record on an Atlas Stone. He would get this injury fixed during March 2013 before moving to Orlando, Florida in July of that year to begin his time at the WWE Performance Center. 

    H/T to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription. 

  • Dustin Rhodes Opens Up About His New Role As AEW’s Promo Coach

    Dustin Rhodes Opens Up About His New Role As AEW’s Promo Coach

    All Elite Wrestling (AEW) recently announced they had signed Dustin Rhodes to a new multi-year contract. This new contract sees Dustin assume new roles within the promotion. Not only will be an in-ring talent and match producer, he will also be assisting as a promo coach.

    Speaking with Sports Guys Talking Wrestling on The Horn in Austin, Texas, Dustin discussed his new role. He also mentioned which AEW wrestlers he is looking forward to working with.

    “There was talks [in WWE] on this last run that I had with the Goldust character that I would transition after my father’s passing to take over where he left off, and they seemed to be on board with that. I was looking forward to it, and then they chose somebody else and so it didn’t happen,” he said. 

    Rhodes continued, “I’m excited about the talent aspect of it—me performing—but I am really excited about teaching these young kids how to handle a camera in their face and to bring out some of their character and really express it in ways that they can, they just have to step out of that comfort zone a little bit and experiment with things and we see what works and what doesn’t. I need to see what they do before I even put my hands on them. I need to see their characters I have to learn their characters and what they bring to the table.”

    AEW Talent

    When it comes to who he’s looking forward to working with, Dustin admitted he sees a lot of potential in Luchasaurus and Jungle Boy. He also mentioned Leva Bates before adding:

    “Until I get behind the scenes and kind of know how they’re running the ship, basically, then I’ll know a little better, but I can’t wait. I’m really excited that they named me their promo coach and that’s very cool.”

    H/T to WrestleZone’s Dominic DeAngelo for the transcription. 

  • RevPro Statement On Wrestlers Attacking A Referee During Show

    RevPro Statement On Wrestlers Attacking A Referee During Show

    During Revolution Pro Westling’s (Rev Pro) show Summer Sizzler, an incident took place that saw some of their wrestlers legitimately attacking a referee. This altercation resulted in the referee sustaining injuries that have forced him to retire from officiating.

    The referee, Aaren Wilde, administered a three-count during a matchup featuring Josh Bodom and Sha Samuels versus Aussie Open. Bodom did not kick out in time, leading to the match ending before it was meant to. The correct team, Aussie Open, still won.

    Bodom and Samuels then attacked the referee. Samuels bodyslammed him, while his partner, Bodom, went on to pull him out of the ring and strike him on the outside.

    Taking to Twitter, Wilde detailed the incident, writing:

    “Last weekend at RevPro I was attacked after the Royal Quest tag match. This was not part of the show, it was not planned. I was grabbed and slammed to the mat by Sha and then something happened on the outside. I honesty don’t know what, that part was a blur.”

    He added that “As a result, I have sustained a much-more-serious-than-originally-thought neck and shoulder injury that means I am no longer able to referee. I hate the term ‘retire’, so I’ll say this; I am indefinitely unable to referee due to medical restrictions.”

    https://twitter.com/Shasamuels/status/1170748227617992704
    https://twitter.com/ADellanzo1/status/1170702504763547648

    Rev Pro Statement

    Rev Pro has since issued a statement on the situation, severing ties with Josh Bodom and putting Sha Samuels on a “zero tolerance” policy. They have also offered Aaren Wilde work with the promotion in other areas of the business if he was interested.

    https://twitter.com/RevProUK/status/1170759596803350530
  • Lacey Evans Says She’s Improving & “Not Going Anywhere”

    Lacey Evans Says She’s Improving & “Not Going Anywhere”

    WWE Superstar Lacey Evans has shared that she’s “not going anywhere.” 

    In an interview with SiriusXM’s Busted Open Radio, Evans addressed the negative reactions she has received regarding her in-ring abilities. She explained that she is continuing to learn and adjust with every show.

    “You know what, it’s going to [take] time – time in this business and learning how to do what it is that is expected of me with all of this light. However, one thing I have going for me is confidence. No matter what the reviews are for any match that I have with anybody, I am not going anywhere.”

    She continued,” I am going to continue to learn, and I will be the first to tell you that my in-ring work, my promo work, you name it, is not somebody that has been doing this for 10 plus years. I just now hit over three years in this business, but like I said, I am not going anywhere. I have a lot to learn, but I am confident enough to tell you that I am going to learn it and I am going to come back, week after week, month after month, year after year until I feel like I am on top. But I am not going to stop, and I am going to continue to learn what I can learn to be up there. I have the confidence to tell you what I need to learn, and it is a package deal in my mind.”

    Evans then reflected on her time as a Marine. She mentioned that Marines don’t get microphones or “prance around” as she does now as a Superstar. She maintained that she will continue learning and improving with each show, and uses Live Events to help her to hone her craft, helping her “learn as much as I can for the next time my music hits on live television.”

    H/T: Wrestling Inc

  • Big E Talks About WWE’s Push For Inclusivity And Representation, Not Falling Behind In The New Day

    Big E Talks About WWE’s Push For Inclusivity And Representation, Not Falling Behind In The New Day

    In an interview with App.com, New Day member Big E opened about wanting to provide value to his team. He reflected that, with Kofi taking charge as WWE Champion, he doesn’t want to fall behind.

    “I want to feel like I continue to bring value to this team. So I guess seeing Kofi take charge — he’s our World Champion right now, he’s the guy on our brand, on SmackDown Live — so right now, I guess, for me, I feel that, you know what? I want to be able to keep up. [Kingston] is kind of like the pace car right now, and I want to be able to keep up as well.”

    “So I guess that’s kind of one thing and I’m always looking. I’ll use anything as motivation to continue to get better and display how good I am and what I want to bring to the trio,” he admitted.

    Big E On Inclusivity And Representation

    Big E also addressed WWE’s push for more inclusion and representation. He highlighted Kingston’s championship victory as well as Becky Lynch, Charlotte Flair, and Ronda Rousey main eventing WrestleMania 35 as important moments for pro wrestling.

    “[…] the problem is, a lot of times people bristle at the mere mention of race or representation or feminism or whatever minority group there is that’s trying to have a voice in media, people don’t even want to have that discussion. But I think for Kofi to be the first African-born champion I think is such an incredible feat. And also Becky Lynch and Ronda and Charlotte being able to close WrestleMania, to have the women close the biggest show of the year, is also pretty incredible.”

    Despite these steps, however, Big E stressed that the discussion over inclusivity is one that everyone needs to be open to. He added that being able to have a discourse about these subjects is a huge step forward for pro wrestling—one he hopes continues to grow.

    https://youtu.be/11FyqdOrTbA
  • Sheamus Recalls Changing His Diet After Jab From Vince McMahon

    Sheamus Recalls Changing His Diet After Jab From Vince McMahon

    Sheamus has been missing from WWE programming for some time now, with rumors persisting over his career status. Despite this, ‘The Celtic Warrior’ has used this time away from in-ring action to get himself into fantastic shape, hosting a YouTube series called Celtic Warrior Workouts.

    He recently appeared on an episode of E&C’s Pod of Awesomeness, where he recalled the moment he decided to change his workout routine, thanks to a comment from Vince McMahon. 

    At one point, Sheamus was focused on bulking up. He admitted that he would see Superstars like Brock Lesnar and Braun Strowman, and despite the bulking felt “it just got to a point where I didn’t look good, mate. Just like I put on a lot of weight, but I was carrying a lot of body fat and I just kind of lost control of where I was at.”

    “[…] it also started because I came back from holidays in Ireland and me and Cesaro were walking by Vince and Vince goes, ‘Hey Sheamus!’ I said, ‘Yeah?’ He goes, ‘Enjoyed the holidays, huh?’ and he was looking at me in the gut, and I was like, ‘Okay, that’s it. That’s it. I need to do something about it.’ But that was the change in gear, and Cesaro will tell you as well. Cesaro knew right away when that comment was made. I just put too much weight on, man.”

    If Sheamus does return to the ring, he already has his eyes set on the Intercontinental Championship. Capturing the IC title would put Sheamus in the rare class of WWE Grand Slam Champions.

    H/T Wrestling Inc

  • Cody Details How AEW’s Television Show Will Differ From WWE

    Cody Details How AEW’s Television Show Will Differ From WWE

    Cody has opened up about how All Elite Wrestling (AEW) intend to present their television show when it debuts on October 2nd. He detailed how their show will differ from WWE, noting that AEW wants to provide “bell-to-bell sports-centric pro-wrestling.”

    In an interview with IGN.com, he addressed the impending Wednesday Night Wars between AEW and NXT, admitting that AEW can’t pretend to be blind to what’s happening.

    “We can’t pretend that we don’t know that’s happening,” Rhodes said, “but we were always planning our show. And have been for a long while. This isn’t a reactionary move on our part. This is what our intentions were. To be on Wednesday nights and to be on a major network with such a great partner like Warner Media and TNT. Our focus is still on providing the best AEW, providing the best alternative. We haven’t switched over to ‘Well how can we compete?’ because we already felt like we had a product that people wanted to see.”

    He added, “We want to provide bell-to-bell sports-centric pro-wrestling. That’s going to mean longer matches. That’s going to mean stories being told between the ropes. That means no invisible camera backstage. That’s gonna mean more of a live-sports approach to our product. That’s 100% what we’re doing, so I want to avoid any reactionary elements.”

    Cody added that he’s not ignoring the NXT situation, but is more focused on developing and pushing AEW’s roster of young and upcoming talent.

    AEW on TNT debuts on October 2nd. WWE will air their first episode of NXT on USA Network a few weeks beforehand on September 18th.

  • Drew McIntyre Wants To Wrestle NXT UK Champion WALTER

    Drew McIntyre Wants To Wrestle NXT UK Champion WALTER

    Several WWE Superstars have recently been jumping between different brands including Kassius Ohno, Cesaro, Pete Dunne, and Rhea Ripley. Turns out that ‘The Scottish Psychopath’ Drew McIntyre would like to do the same.

    In an interview with SPORTBible, McIntyre spoke once more about in his interest competing for NXT UK. In particular, he would love to have a matchup against the current NXT UK Champion, WALTER.

    “There’s a bunch of people I want to work with,” McIntyre said, “but if we want to give people a show they won’t forget, then I guess me and WALTER would be quite the spectacle.”

    In the run-up to NXT UK TakeOver: Cardiff, WALTER addressed the idea of Drew appearing for NXT UK, saying:

    “[…] somebody like him joining here would up the level of competition here, and I think you need competition to grow. So, for sure, [I would want him here].”

    It appears that Triple H is well aware of Drew McIntyre’s interest in NXT UK. He commented on how McIntyre can see something special happening and wants to be a part of it.

    “I think that the opportunity when you see guys like Drew McIntyre talking about a brand, it’s because that brand is hot. They see something that is on fire, and we all live for the adrenaline rush of fans being wild and passionate about things,” Triple H told SPORTBible.

    He added, “When a guy like Drew McIntyre says ‘I see UK and I see it on fire and I want to step in a ring with WALTER,’ it’s because he sees something special happening and he wants to be part of it.”

    https://youtu.be/7Bh554gtn3k
  • Becky Lynch Reflects On History With Sasha Banks, Offers Advice To NXT Superstars Ahead Of Move To USA Network

    Becky Lynch Reflects On History With Sasha Banks, Offers Advice To NXT Superstars Ahead Of Move To USA Network

    Current RAW Women’s Champion Becky Lynch has spoken about her history with Sasha Banks. She also offered advice for NXT Superstars ahead of the show’s move to USA Network later this month.

    In an interview with Newsweek, Lynch looked back at her time in NXT with Sasha Banks.

    “When we were in NXT, she was seen as the top dog, and I was lucky to even get a look,” Lynch recalled. “And now it’s funny because the tides have changed. I think that it’s a different animal up here on the main roster. Things have changed, match times have changed, and everything is cutthroat, and I took that and ran with it and became ‘The Man’ I am today.”

    Lynch commented on how Banks “took her ball and went home” for a few months. She added that Banks believes she can just return to WWE and take Lynch’s spot—a spot the RAW Women’s Champion has no interest in giving up.

    When it comes to NXT’s move to USA Network, Lynch offered her advice to the black-and-gold brands Superstars.

    “Work hard,” she said. “Work harder than anyone else, and don’t be afraid to fail. You fail, you fail. You can always come back, you can come back from anything. Keep working hard. Take those risks, they are so important.”

    NXT debuts on USA Network on September 18th.

  • Information On How Chris Jericho’s AEW Championship Was Found

    Information On How Chris Jericho’s AEW Championship Was Found

    News has come out regarding the discovery of Chris Jericho’s recently missing AEW Championship.

    In the wake of its disappearance, Jericho launched a “worldwide investigation using the top private investigators” to recover his title. Turns out he didn’t need those investigators. Instead, it was a 41-year-old Florida State University employee who would find the championship abandoned in the road as he was driving home.

    In an interview with The Tallahassee Democrat, Frank Price spoke about discovering the title, which was inside a velvet bag in the middle of a turn lane. Price, who is not a wrestling fan, recalled opening the bag when he got home and discovering the belt inside:

    “I think I said something like, ‘Whoa, it’s a huge wrestling belt, check this thing out!’ I never would have guessed that if I had a lifetime of guesses.”

    He explained that “At that time there was nothing in the news about anything being lost or stolen, so we thought it was just a replica or a costume or something like that.”

    Lost & Found

    Price listed the AEW Championship on the Lost & Found section of CraigsList Tallahassee before being informed that the belt was actually reported as missing. He then contacted the Tallahassee Police Department who told him to bring it in.

    Despite questioning, Price had enough texts, emails, receipts, witnesses and GPS data on his smartphone to prove he was nowhere near Million Air or LongHorn Steakhouse when the belt first went missing. He even received a $200 reward from Mike Vaughn of Mike’s Limousines—the service Jericho was using at the time. 

    “I was joking that there would be investigators following me around,” Price said. “I figure the best approach is to just tell the truth and have fun with the whole thing.”

    Speculating on how Jericho’s prized possession ended up in the street, Price offered:

    “I think what happened is they just set it on the trunk of the limo and it just fell off,” he said. “The only other possibility is that it was part of a pro-wrestling plot setup. They need all the publicity they can get.”

  • NJPW CEO Harold Meij Features In New ‘Tokyo, My City’ Series

    NJPW CEO Harold Meij Features In New ‘Tokyo, My City’ Series

    New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) CEO Harold George Meij features in a new YouTube series by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. The series, entitled ‘Tokyo, My City,’ highlights some of Tokyo’s leading personalities, artists, and celebrities as they talk about what makes Tokyo special to them.

    NJPW shared the announcement in a post to their Twitter account, writing:

    “TOKYO, MY CITY invites leading personalities from various fields based in Tokyo to share their views on what makes Tokyo special. In this video, CEO Harold Meij invites you to take a look at Tokyo through his own eyes!”

    Maij spoke about how Tokyo offered unique Japanese night experiences for locals and tourists to enjoy. He highlighted the countless restaurants available, the nightlife, and the safety that the city provides.

    “Japanese pro-wrestling is one such unique nightlife experience Tokyo offers,” Meij said. “Nightlife has given so many more options. The old, the new, the Western, the Japanese, all of that put together helps Tokyo stand out.”

    Harold Meij was appointed president and CEO of NJPW back in May of 2018. He is also the director of Bushiroad Inc. Prior to his role with New Japan, Meij worked for Unilever Japan. He has also been an executive for Sunstar and Coca-Cola Japan.

  • Kevin Owens Says Juice Robinson Delivers The “Best” Promos In Wrestling

    Kevin Owens Says Juice Robinson Delivers The “Best” Promos In Wrestling

    Kevin Owens is well-known for his talent on the mic. In recent months, he has been frequently able to showcase his promo abilities.

    Speaking with SI.com, however, Owens was quick to dismiss that he delivered the best promos. Instead, he named current New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) star Juice Robinson as being on “another level” when it comes to promo skills.

    “I think I’m pretty good at talking and getting my point across, but nobody makes me feel what they’re saying the way Juice does,” Owens admitted. “Yes, he’s my friend and I love that dude, so it might seem like I’m biased, but I’m not. I’m friends with a lot of people and some of them suck at talking, and I’m happy to tell them.”

    He continued, “I don’t think saying ‘no’ is me being humble, although I think that is a quality everybody should have—and a quality a lot of people within our industry don’t have, and I find that a bit appalling, to be honest—but I don’t think it’s humility. I think it’s foolishness to consider yourself the best at anything. But Juice is just on another level. He just comes and talks. I used to see it in the Performance Center. We would have these promo classes with Dusty Rhodes. The way he talks comes from a real place, and he’s genuine. He is the best.”

    Juice Robinson will compete in a rematch for the IWGP United States Championship against Jon Moxley at NJPW’s King of Pro Wrestling show in October.

  • David Starr Believes That WWE’s Door Is “Closed” To Him

    David Starr Believes That WWE’s Door Is “Closed” To Him

    Independent wrestler David Starr isn’t afraid to speak his mind, no matter what the repercussions might be.

    In an interview with WINCLY, Starr admitted his openness has probably ensured that the “door is closed” when it comes to WWE.

    “I’ve heard from some people that things have been said directly and I know that. I’m not afraid and don’t have much to lose,” said Starr. “I’m very fortunate that I have been saving money my whole life, and I do have a supportive family if need be. I’m fortunate to have systems in place where I know that I’m gonna be okay no matter what.”

    He continued, “I’m fairly certain that the WWE door is closed and I’m not concerned about that because if I was there, I would have to sit down and shut up and just take the money. I don’t think I could actually do that as I would feel like I’m betraying myself.”

    Starr added that it’s important to “keep speaking truth to power.” He stressed that people need to come together and acknowledge the shortcomings of major corporations like WWE, highlighting the company’s recent controversial Saudi Arabian shows.

    He added it’s “egregious” that people like Vince McMahon can become a billionaire off the work of labourers who are “currently broken and have no financial recourse.”

    H/T to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.

    https://youtu.be/tRbXgYUz7KE
  • WWE Announces They Have Signed King Cuerno And Former Football Player Edgar Lopez

    WWE Announces They Have Signed King Cuerno And Former Football Player Edgar Lopez

    WWE has announced that they have signed former Lucha Underground competitor King Cuerno.

    King Cuerno is also known as El Hijo del Fantasma. His real name is Jorge Bolly, son of legendary luchador El Fantasma.

    The promotion made the news official on their website, stating that the second-generation luchador had arrived at the WWE Performance Center in Florida.

    Bolly has an impressive list of accolades to his name. He has held both singes and trios titles in AAA and CMLL during his career and won AAA’s Antonio Peña Cup in 2017. With his background in lucha libre and extensive experience in pro wrestling, it may only be a matter of time until we see him on NXT.

    Another New NXT Rookie

    Alongside the announcement that they have signed Bolly, WWE revealed they have also secured former football player Edgar Lopez.

    The 6’4”, 250 pound Lopez used to play football on the Monterrey Institute of Technology’s Borregos Salvajez squad. He was an offensive captain. WWE write that their scouts discovered him during last December’s tryouts in Santiago, Chile.

    The two newest NXT rookies join a number of other signees to the Performance Center including EVOLVE Champion Austin Theory and Mae Young Classic competitor Santana Garrett.

  • Kevin Owens Explains Why He Changed His Finisher To The Stunner

    Kevin Owens Explains Why He Changed His Finisher To The Stunner

    Kevin Owens has been using his version of the Stunner in recent months to finish matches in explosive fashion. Before adopting the Stunner, he used to use a Pop-Up Powerbomb to great effect.

    Speaking with SI.com, Owens has explained why he decided to introduce the Stunner into his arsenal as his new finishing move.

    “I felt like everybody was doing powerbombs left and right, and I wanted to try something else,” Owens said. “And one day it occurred to me that no one does the Stunner as a finishing move, but to me, it’s always been the best move. So I just went to Steve [Austin] one day when he was here, and I asked him, and he said, ‘I can’t believe nobody’s asked me this before, but of course you can use it. Do whatever you want with it.’”

    Owens wanted to ensure that “Stone Cold” Steve Austin was happy with him using the move that Austin made famous. For him, it was all about respect.

    “I did that out of respect for the people who’ve come before me. I would never want to do that without his approval. He gave me the approval, and it’s working for me, so I have no intention of stopping and no intention of renaming it, either. It’s the Stunner, and it always will be the Stunner.”

    Kevin Owens has been involved in a long-running feud with Shane McMahon. At the time of writing, he does not have a matchup set for WWE’s upcoming pay-per-view Clash of Champions.

  • Shawn Spears Talks AEW Going Head-To-Head With NXT

    Shawn Spears Talks AEW Going Head-To-Head With NXT

    All Elite Wrestling (AEW) wrestler Shawn Spears has shared his thoughts on AEW’s TNT show going head-to-head with NXT on Wednesday nights.

    In an interview with MuscleAndFitness.com, Spears stated that no matter who is involved or whatever the time slot is, “everyone is going to be motivated regardless.”

    “We are gonna do our thing on Wednesday nights, we’re gonna tear it up and if you watch, fantastic, we think you are in for one hell of a treat, and if you don’t watch, you are missing one hell of a show, it is really that simple,” Spears said.

    He stressed that the most important thing AEW and WWE will provide wrestlings fans is an alternative—something he believes will benefit the audience.

    “Not just the audience of AEW, or WWE, or Impact, or Ring of Honor, it benefits the everyday casual wrestling fan,” he explained. “You now have another option. I can’t speak for everybody, but we are not looking at it as a head-to-head competition, where we need to knock these guys out of the water, we are going to go out there and do our thing.”

    All Elite Wrestling’s television show debuts on TNT on October 2nd. NXT will air on USA Network a few weeks prior on September 18th.

  • Information On WWE’s Current Approach To Superstar Promos

    Information On WWE’s Current Approach To Superstar Promos

    This week on RAW and SmackDown, Bayley, Sasha Banks and Rey Mysterio delivered promos to the WWE Universe. Turns out that these promos weren’t heavily scripted, as WWE has enforced in the past.

    According to Dave Meltzer via the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, they were allowed to deliver their own promos utilizing bullet points. He claimed that there is a movement within WWE right now to commit to less scripted material going forward.

    “Bayley, Banks and Mysterio’s promos on Raw were all done without being scripted word-for-word, basically the old bullet points style and going for it,” Meltzer said. “There is a movement to try and do more of that going forward, similar to the leeway that Owens (and I believe Bryan but that hasn’t been told to me directly) get on SmackDown and why his promos, if not both of theirs, come off better than almost anyone.”

    Another successful example of this style saw Kevin Owens deliver a passionate promo against Shane McMahon. Because he wasn’t forced to read a script verbatim, the entire promo came off as being more organic and believable. His words reflected how many within the WWE Universe, and potentially even the WWE locker room, felt about the amount of time Shane was receiving versus several talented Superstars.