SEScoops

Author: Steve Russell

  • Cody Releases Statement Regarding All Elite Wrestling

    Cody Releases Statement Regarding All Elite Wrestling

    The Elite recently cleared up all speculation and rumor by officially announcing the existence of All Elite Wrestling, as well as their subsequent intentions for the promotion in 2019.

    The reveal was done via their popular YouTube show, Being The Elite. Members of the group held up their phone screens to reveal their next event, ‘Double Or Nothing.’ They also revealed the logo for the new promotion.

    Fans First

    Since then, Cody has taken to social media to clarify his role within the promotion, expressing the burgeoning promotion’s mission statement in the process.

    “I feel so damn lucky. I believe that more than talent…more than chance…work ethic will guide me where I’d like to go.

    To be Executive Vice President for our new venture, and to be flanked by Matt and Nick and a few familiar names sharing that position: this is my dream job.

    I can’t think of a time when so many of wrestling’s top free agents all opted out of the road usually traveled and instead wanted to start something new. I am excited to see AEW into existence.

    What’s old isn’t new – what’s new is new. Perception isn’t reality – reality is reality. Fans first.”

     

  • Will Ospreay Thanks Kota Ibushi, Looks Towards Wrestle Kingdom 13

    Will Ospreay Thanks Kota Ibushi, Looks Towards Wrestle Kingdom 13

    We reported earlier on Kota Ibushi speaking with NJPW1972.com ahead of his NEVER Openweight Championship bout against U.K. sensation, Will Ospreay.

    Turns out The Sky King has also been ruminating on their impending clash at the Tokyo Dome come January 4th. The two will face off for New Japan Pro Wrestling’s Wrestle Kingdom 13.

    Taking to Twitter, Ospreay uploaded a picture of the two of them together during friendlier, albeit bittersweet circumstances.

    He took a moment to thank Ibushi for helping him through a difficult time two years ago when he sadly lost his friend, British independent wrestler, Kris Travis to cancer.
    His match with Ibushi — who he refers to as an “inspiration” — helped to disctract him from grieving as the two shared a ring.

    “You have no idea how much you helped me this day.

    Only a few days before this photo/match, I lost a friend who helped me in British Wrestling, Kris Travis. To be in the ring with a man I would call an inspiration, helped me not focus on grieving but to celebrate his life. After this moment and how fans reacted to how we were in the ring, I knew this was the match I wanted.

    Now I’m under a week from my dream match on the biggest stage of my life. For a championship that has lost its place on New Japan but now shall live up to what it should be, an Openweight Championship. What I’m saying is thank you for helping me all those years ago, but January 4th, 2019, my idol is my rival.”

    https://twitter.com/WillOspreay/status/1078995804113813506

    Ospreay was on track for a NEVER Openweight match against previous champion, Taichi, before becoming injured. Since then, Ibushi has bested Goto for the belt whilst Ospreay defeated Taichi to secure his spot as number one contender.

  • Elite Member Responds To Zack Ryder’s Sad Tweet

    Elite Member Responds To Zack Ryder’s Sad Tweet

    Zack Ryder recently took to his Twitter account to reveal a statistic regarding his in-ring career during 2018. Ryder divulged that he has gone all year without a match on Monday Night Raw. He shared the post in the hopes of securing a matchup for the New Year’s Eve show.

    It’s a sad statistic for the superstar, and his message wasn’t lost on one ex-WWE performer: Cody.

    The IWGP United States Champion responded to Zack’s Tweet, referencing The Office in the process, as he reminded Ryder of his previous success in recent years.

    Cody wasn’t the only person to respond, however, as Dolph Ziggler would also insert himself into the proceedings, adding further support for the former Intercontinental and United States champion.

    https://twitter.com/HEELZiggler/status/1078756590508040192

    He may not have had a single Raw match in 2018, but could 2019 see Zack Ryder on the comeback trail?

  • Forbes Reveal The Most Disliked WWE Videos Of 2018

    Forbes Reveal The Most Disliked WWE Videos Of 2018

    Forbes.com has unveiled a list of the most disliked WWE YouTube videos of 2018.

    If you wanted to relive the majority of moments that the WWE Universe chose to actively gift a ‘Thumbs Down’ on the video site, they are still available online to watch at the time of writing.

    If, however, you’re simply curious, here is the full list:

    • Roman Reigns vs. Bobby Lashley (RAW: July 24) 42,000 dislikes (53.2%); 37,000 likes
    • Roman Reigns attacked by Brock Lesnar (RAW: March 19): 19,000 dislikes (16.2%); 98,000 likes
    • Braun Strowman destroys a TV production truck (RAW: January 15): 17,000 dislikes (11.9%); 126,000 likes
    • Brock Lesnar defeats Braun Strowman (WWE Crown Jewel): 14,000 dislikes (51.9%); 13,000 likes
    • Ronda Rousey suspended (RAW: June 18): 13,000 dislikes (7%); 174,000 likes
    • Roman Reigns unleashes on Brock Lesnar (RAW: April 2): 12,000 dislikes (7.95%);139,000 likes
    • Paul Heyman and Brock Lesnar ambush Roman Reigns (RAW: August 13): 12,000 dislikes (16.4%); 61,000 likes
    • Shane McMahon replaces The Miz against Dolph Ziggler (WWE Crown Jewel): 11,000 dislikes (55.8%); 8,700 likes
    • Ronda Rousey vs. Nikki Bella (full match)(WWE Evolution): 9,500 dislikes (8.7%); 100,000 likes
    • The Shield get ambushed (RAW: September 3): 9,200 dislikes (17.3%); 44,000 likes

    It’s been an undeniably tumultuous year for WWE, especially in the past few months. So much so that the McMahons and Triple H have actively acknowledged their less than stellar product, promising to shake things up as we head into 2019.

    With a ready list of segments and moments their fanbase disliked, will WWE continue to listen and cater for the WWE Universe going forward, or will it be temporary change before sliding back into old habits?

    What do you think? Do you think that this list is accurate? Did you actually enjoy these segments or is this fully representative of WWE’s 2018?

  • ProWrestlingTees Announce Top Selling Wrestlers Of 2018, Young Bucks Respond

    ProWrestlingTees Announce Top Selling Wrestlers Of 2018, Young Bucks Respond

    ProWrestlingTees.com have released an official list of the ‘Top 10 Selling Wrestlers of 2018.’

    Somewhat unsurprisingly, members of The Elite ran away with the majority of the top spots, beating out former WWE Superstars like CM Punk and ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin.

    1. The Young Bucks
    2. Marty Scurll
    3. Kenny Omega
    4. Cody
    5. Bruce Prichard
    6. Kota Ibushi
    7. Steve Austin
    8. CM Punk
    9. Tama Tonga
    10. Adam Page

    Taking to Twitter, Nick Jackson commented on their Number One spot, reflecting on the past year with a keen eye towards the next.

    “2018 has been good to the Elite! Things like this wouldn’t be possible without our passionate fans so thanks again for taking this journey with us. 2019 is going to be even better!”

    The Elite has been on a tear within the pro wrestling sphere for the past few years. Whether it was whilst still running with Bullet Club, developing a broader fanbase via their YouTube show, Being The Elite, or through numerous appearances across the world for international companies, including New Japan Pro Wrestling and Ring Of Honor, The Elite (in all their forms) have been almost impossible to avoid.

    With the heavily discussed All Elite Wrestling on the horizon in 2019, The Elite appear ready to not only continue their staggering rise within pro wrestling, but seem ready to pierce pop culture as a whole.

  • WWE To Release New “35 Years Of Wrestlemania” Book

    WWE To Release New “35 Years Of Wrestlemania” Book

    For fans of WrestleMania’s long history, you’ll want to look out for the recently announced “35 Years of WrestleMania” book. It is currently scheduled for release on September 3rd 2019.

    WWE and DK Publishing will be releasing the 256-page hardcover book, written by Brian Shields and Dean Miller.

    Synopsis

    “This new edition of the fan-favorite, best-selling title 30 Years of WrestleMania (pub. 2014) brings the story of the biggest event in the WWE calendar right up to date with 32 pages of brand new content.

    Ever since the first-ever WrestleMania in March 1985, this annual, week-long, sold-out event has attracted hundreds of thousands of sports entertainment fans from all over the world. WrestleMania is where every WWE Superstar wants to make his or her name. WWE Champions such as John Cena, Randy Orton, Rey Mysterio, Hulk Hogan, The Rock, Shawn Michaels, Sable, and Lita have all found WrestleMania the perfect showcase for their incredible talents.

    35 Years of WrestleMania allows sports entertainment fans to relive, or discover, all the most exciting matches, celebrity appearances, and controversies in this premier event’s storied history. The key historic matches of every Wrestlemania are explored in depth. Spectacular full-color photographs from WWE’s own archive–many never seen before–superbly capture WrestleMania’s unrivaled glamour, and many of the most action-packed, unforgettable moments, both in the ring and behind the scenes. Get ready for the greatest spectacle in sports entertainment!”

    With this book coming out late next year, it could be a perfect gift to pick up come Christmas 2019.

  • Daniel Bryan Proclaims Himself “The Planet’s Champion”

    Daniel Bryan Proclaims Himself “The Planet’s Champion”

    Not content with only being referred to as the ‘New’ Daniel Bryan, the WWE Champion has now christened himself with an additional moniker: The Planet’s Champion.

    At this past Friday’s WWE Live Event from Baltimore, Maryland, Daniel Bryan faced off against John Cena in a Steel Cage match.

    Prior to that, however, Bryan cut a promo where he proclaimed that he was not the champion of the people. He was the champion of the planet.

    “You people used to revere the old Daniel Bryan,” he said. “You used to love the old Daniel Bryan but the old Daniel Bryan is dead. Shut up! I did not give you permission to say ‘Yes!’”

    “I am not here to please you people,” he stated. “I am no longer The People’s Champion, I am The Planet’s Champion. I’m out here to defend the planet from you idiots, every single night, and I don’t care if it’s AJ Styles, I don’t care if it’s John Cena. Tonight, I am going to prove why I am The Planet’s Champion.”

    John Cena ended up replacing AJ Styles in this matchup against The Planet’s Champion after AJ fell ill with the flu. This illness has forced the Phenomenal One to stay at home this week. As of now, there is no word or indication as to when Styles will return to in-ring competition.

  • Further Update On Asuka vs Lynch At Royal Rumble

    Further Update On Asuka vs Lynch At Royal Rumble

    Despite having prematurely announced a match for the WWE SmackDown Women’s championship at the Royal Rumble during Main Event, it appears that those plans may not be entirely off the table.

    According to Dave Meltzer, WWE is going to have a number of meetings this week in order to “come up with a Rumble card.”

    “Originally, the match [Asuka vs Lynch] was happening, but then Vince decided that he wanted to revamp the card […] when they taped Main Event it was gonna air later in the week,” he explained.

    “At that time, the plan was to announce the match with Asuka and Becky Lynch on Tuesday’s SmackDown but, during that interim period, Vince decided to change his mind,” he said. “So they never announced that match on that SmackDown. Not saying that match won’t happen, but it was definitely off when that show came on.”

    So it appears that the Main Event announcement for the hotly anticipated opportunity for Lynch to compete for her former title was due to a lapse of internal communication, coupled with understandable confusion stemming from a last-minute change of heart.

    The fact that WWE is still holding meetings in order to finalize the Rumble card, however, means there could still be a (slim) chance the match goes ahead.

    What do you think? Would you prefer to see this matchup for the championship? Do you think Becky Lynch will win the Rumble?

  • Three Major Superstars Scheduled To Return For First Raw Of 2019

    Three Major Superstars Scheduled To Return For First Raw Of 2019

    With the McMahon family and Triple H having recently declared that change would be coming, WWE is clearly hoping to start 2019 off with a bang — shaking off the negative ratings from 2018 in the process.

    At the end of Friday night’s New Year’s Eve Raw tapings, it was announced that John Cena, Braun Strowman, and Brock Lesnar would be returning to the red brand sooner than people might have thought. The three will appear on the very first Raw of 2019 on January 7th.

    Despite this attempt to utilize some of their pre-established star power, WWE has not divulged what kind of role Cena will have on the show. Considering he is set to begin shooting a new movie soon, his contribution may most likely be minimal. This shoot is also the reason John Cena is not scheduled to appear at the 2019 Royal Rumble.

    Plans for Strowman and Lesnar, however, are a bit clearer. The two will feature in order to promote their upcoming clash for the WWE Universal Championship at the Royal Rumble event.

    If things go to plan as the McMahon/Triple H collective hope, then this first episode of Raw should herald in a new age as they actively attempt to deliver on their promise of improving their shows.

    Only time and inevitable ratings will tell if it pays off.

  • Mark Haskins Officially Signs With ROH

    Mark Haskins Officially Signs With ROH

    We recently reported on the rumors circulating popular U.K. independent wrestler, Mark Haskins, signing with Ring Of Honor. Since then, Haskins took to his social media account in order to break the news that he has officially signed with the company.

    It didn’t take long for ROH to jump in. The company announced that “[…] he’s coming to #ROHAtlanta & #ROHConcord next month!”

    Mark Haskins debuted for Ring Of Honor earlier this year during their Honor United tour in the United Kingdom. He would win their ROH International Cup in August after defeating Elite member, ‘Hangman’ Adam Page in the final. This victory earned him a shot against ROH World Champion, Jay Lethal, where he would lose to the reigning champion.

    It’s reported that Haskins signed with ROH around their recent Final Battle PPV in December.

    There was one wrestler in particular who was thrilled to hear the news: Jimmy Havoc. Havoc, who has teamed extensively with Haskins for PROGRESS Wrestling, gave Haskins a glowing endorsement and said he’s now looking for a new tag team partner.

    https://twitter.com/JimmyHavoc/status/1075779583415279621

  • NFL Analyst’s Breakdown References The Elite Throughout

    NFL Analyst’s Breakdown References The Elite Throughout

    If you’re still not sure about how far independent wrestling has permeated into modern pop culture, you should watch the video embedded below:

    Adam Rank uploaded the video with the hashtag “#theELITE” attached. It wasn’t long before it began to gain attention from wrestling fans on Twitter. Its reach even extended to members of The Elite, including Matt Jackson and “Hangman” Adam Page.

    Matt Jackson commented that “This is the greatest” whilst ‘Hangman’ playfully said, “This all sounds familiar but I can’t quite put my finger on it.”

    https://twitter.com/MattJackson13/status/1075898373348020224

    https://twitter.com/theAdamPage/status/1075899019803676672

    The video is a nice piece of referential journalism, snuck through onto a broadcast that wouldn’t have raised any attention unless you were a wrestling fan.
    To the uninitiated, it’s an analytical breakdown. But for those in the know, it probably wasn’t long until you resonated with every reference dropped. All within thirty-six seconds.

    An Elite Influence

    The Elite’s popularity is undeniable.

    With their products readily available in Hot Topic, their reputation built across multiple international companies, and their name recognition ever growing since their disassociation from Bullet Club, The Elite are on a precipice of integrating wrestling into mainstream pop culture that probably hasn’t been seen since the hey-day of the New World Order and Degeneration X.

    With All Elite Wrestling on the horizon, it could only be a matter of it, not when, that happens.

  • Details On Bandito Picking ROH Over All Elite Wrestling

    Details On Bandito Picking ROH Over All Elite Wrestling

    We have an update on Ring Of Honor signing popular luchador, Bandido. According to the latest issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Bandito signing with ROH came as a big surprise to … members of The Elite.

    Cody Rhodes, The Young Bucks and company were said to be very interested in featuring Bandito as one of the top attractions in their upstart All Elite Wrestling promotion. Looking back to All In, Bandido was not only booked into the main event, but had most of the highlight spots in the match.

    Bandido’s Reasoning

    As for why Bandito chose Ring of Honor over All Elite Wrestling, it boils down to the uncertainty surrounding AEW. The Elite is gearing up to make some huge announcements after the new year. However, they have yet to publicly announce a television deal or tour dates for 2019.

    Contrast that with Ring of Honor making a strong financial offer that includes exposure on their weekly television show and regular touring schedule.

    Despite this, Bandido “adores those guys [The Young Bucks/The Elite]” and wants to see them succeed with their new venture. It’s reported that he would have been thrilled to have been a part of AEW, but there was just too much uncertainty involved.

    With WWE, New Japan, ROH, MLW, Impact and now All Elite vying for talent as we head into 2019, it’s going to be a very interesting to see how the wrestling landscape looks in a few months time.

  • Flip Gordon Looks To His Future In ROH, Comments On ‘The Elite’ Leaving

    Flip Gordon Looks To His Future In ROH, Comments On ‘The Elite’ Leaving

    It’s always sad when friends move away. With The Elite seemingly moving on to greener pastures almost entirely across the board, that’s the reality that faces Ring Of Honor (ROH) wrestler, Flip Gordon.

    Addressing the recent spate of rumors that surround The Elite regarding All Elite Wrestling, leaving NJPW and ROH, as well as his place within Being The Elite, Flip was forthcoming in his answer as he spoke recently with the WINCLY podcast.

    He says that he wishes his friends well, no matter what they do or who they end up signing with. Regardless of where The Elite call home, Flip asserts that he will support their decision and remain happy for them.

    “I’m very thankful for the time I have been able to spend with them,” Gordan admits, “but my focus is Ring of Honor. I’m with Ring of Honor until 2020, and my focus is building Ring of Honor as much as I can.”

    There is, however, one member of The Elite still currently signed to ROH: ‘The Villain’ Marty Scurll.

    With the majority of his friends departing, it perhaps leaves Flip’s role as a member of the Being The Elite YouTube show somewhat in the air — though he doesn’t rule out trying a series spin-off with Marty Scurll.

    “[…] Marty’s still gonna be in Ring of Honor,” he said, “so maybe it’s ‘Marty and Flip take Ring of Honor.’ We’re still all really good friends, so I’m sure that we will continue to still do Being The Elite,” Gordon said. “Nothing is guaranteed, but anything can also happen in this business, and that’s one of the cool things about wrestling.”

    What do you think the future holds for Flip Gordon? Will he become a main event player in ROH?

  • NXT Tag Team Are SmackDown Bound

    NXT Tag Team Are SmackDown Bound

    This week’s Monday Night Raw saw the McMahon Family/Triple H promise to shake things up and make their product fresh once again.

    Since then, both Raw and SmackDown have been playing a certain video package. The package highlights the NXT superstars that are heading to the main roster.

    Although there is still storyline speculation over which brand ‘The Freak’ Lars Sullivan ends up on, an aura of mystery also remains as to where the rest of the chosen superstars will call home.

    Except for Heavy Machinery.

    Turns out that Tucker Knight and Otis Dozovic will be representing the blue brand going forward as they become a part of WWE SmackDown Live.

    Bound For The Blue Brand

    Dozovic took to his Twitter account in order to share the news, saying:

    “#TUCKy We’re COMINNNNNNN’ to Tuesday Night #SDLive

    AAAAASSSSA! #BlueCollarSolid #HeavyMachinery #STEAKSandWEIGHTS #WorkinMansPHD #DOZER”

    The other names that have been called up from NXT include Lars Sullivan, Lacey Evans, EC3, Sanity’s Nikki Cross, and Heavy Machinery. They are scheduled to begin main roster duties in January.

    It’s interesting that Dozovic has been able to share where they are going, whilst the rest remain quiet on the subject.

    Do you think SmackDown Live is the right place for Heavy Machinery? Do you think they’ll thrive on the main roster? Are we looking at future tag team champions?

  • Update on Shinsuke Nakamura’s WWE Status

    Update on Shinsuke Nakamura’s WWE Status

    Important Note: This post contains a key spoiler from the recent SmackDown Live tapings that are scheduled to air next week.

    We recently reported on a title change occurring during the taping for next week’s episode SmackDown Live. The episode was taped in Fresno, California and will air on December 25th, 2018.

    The episode saw a US title match between Shinsuke Nakamura vs Rusev. Rusev would emerge victorious, bringing an end to the United States of Nak-America.

    This title change has led to deeper speculation about Nakamura’s future in WWE.

    With New Japan Pro Wrestling expressing interest in re-signing the ‘King Of Strong Style,’ WWE having Nakamura drop the title, and the fact Shinsuke’s current contract expires in February, it appears he may be wrapping up his WWE duties.

    According to Dave Meltzer, however, that is not the case.

    Responding to a question via Twitter regarding Nakamura’s future plans, Meltzer provided a pointed answer:

    Shinsuke relocated his entire family from Japan to Orlando after signing with WWE. It would presumably have to be a major offer to entice him to uproot once again.

    Nakamura has hinted in the past that he would at least consider other offers. His decision, apparently, would be based on who could present the best money deal.

    If that’s the case, it’s probably a safe bet that Nakamura will continue to call WWE his home. At least for the foreseeable future.

  • Charlotte Flair Reflects On Main Eventing TLC

    Charlotte Flair Reflects On Main Eventing TLC

    With WWE’s Tables, Ladders and Chairs event still in the rearview mirror, Charlotte Flair has taken the opportunity to share her opinion of the event and her role within it.

    Speaking with Fox 26 in Fresno, California prior to Tuesday night’s SmackDown Live event, ‘The Queen’ reflected on how she felt at TLC, just before the main event got underway, believing that the women of WWE stole the show once again.

    “It was exciting. The best part was that the women stole the show again,” she stated, proudly. “And, actually, before I walked up to the curtain, I was like, ‘I know we kept saying we wanted the main event, we wanted the main event.’ And then when I was walking up to the curtain I was like, ‘Oh, I hope this lives up to its expectation.’ But it was amazing.”

    The event saw history being made as then-champion Becky Lynch defended her SmackDown Women’s Title in a triple threat against Charlotte Flair and Asuka. The match was held under TLC rules and was the first women’s TLC match in WWE’s long history. Asuka would wind up victorious by the end of the gruelling match after an assist from Raw Women’s champion, Ronda Rousey.

    Do you agree? Did the triple threat steal the show for you? If not that match, which one impressed you the most?

  • Bray Wyatt Scheduled For In-Ring Return

    Bray Wyatt Scheduled For In-Ring Return

    Although he has not been a part of WWE’s on-screen product lately, Bray Wyatt has continued to cause a stir via social media. He most recently sent out a series of cryptic tweets that hinted towards major changes on the horizon for the “Eater Of Worlds.”

    According to PWInsider, Bray Wyatt is scheduled to return to in-ring competition next week. What’s interesting to note, however, is that this is in relation to WWE’s Live Events and not a return to Raw, yet. There is no indication as to when Wyatt will return to our screens despite working next week’s Raw Live Event tour after Christmas.

    Bray has been missing from WWE TV since the go-home Raw prior to SummerSlam back in August. It was during this show that he and Matt Hardy would drop the Raw Tag Team Titles to the — at the time — burgeoning B-Team, comprised of Curtis Axel and Bo Dallas.

    He did work a number of live events past this and even returned for WWE’s Network Special, Starrcade, in November where he worked as a babyface against Baron Corbin.
    There has been speculation in the past about a character change for Bray. With his teaming with Matt Hardy having come to an end, an extended hiatus away from screens, and these continued mysterious tweets, it appears that WWE may be ready to finally pull the trigger on a new Bray Wyatt.

    What do you think? Is it time for a different Bray Wyatt? Do you think his old character could still work if used correctly?

  • Dalton Castle Addresses WWE Rumors

    Dalton Castle Addresses WWE Rumors

    Former Ring Of Honor (ROH) World Heavyweight Champion, Dalton Castle, was recently interviewed by Bill Apter for the latter’s Apter Chat after the company’s recent Final Battle event at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York.

    They covered a few subjects during their backstage interview, including who some of Castle’s favorite opponents have been during his tenure in ROH, as well as how he fell into professional wrestling. Apter even managed to convince Dalton to deliver a few ‘impressions’ of previous wrestlers like “Macho Man” Randy Savage and Rick Rude.

    As the interview wrapped up, however, Apter would ask Dalton Castle about the rumors circulating him regarding WWE’s interest in the Peacock of ROH.

    “Of course I heard those rumors,” Castle confirmed. “Who wouldn’t be interested in Dalton Castle? I think about them a lot. What do you want, do you want me to go there? It’s a big world out there.”

    “I don’t know what to say to you Bill, you want the scoop?” he teased. “I shouldn’t be telling you this. This is between you and me. I got a lucrative offer from WCW…and I’m thinking about taking it.”

    You can watch the entire Apter Chat interview below:

    What do you think? Is Castle deferring because of WWE’s interest? Is he playing coy to avoid ruffling feathers in ROH? Would you even like to see Dalton in WWE or do you prefer him in ROH?

  • Velveteen Dream Deletes Tweetstorm Asking Fans To “Spam” WWE

    Velveteen Dream Deletes Tweetstorm Asking Fans To “Spam” WWE

    In the wake of the McMahon/Triple H announcement from this past week’s Monday Night Raw, it was revealed that a number of NXT superstars would be making their way to the main roster to help shake things up.
    WWE unveiled an official image and has since been playing video vignettes that tease each NXT superstar that will soon call Raw or SmackDown their home.

    One NXT superstar that wasn’t included in that line up was The Velveteen Dream, and he certainly made his thoughts on the matter known.

    Since his initial Tweetstorm, however, the Dream has since rescinded on his call to arms from the WWE Universe and has deleted all the tweets he hoped would grab managements attention.

    Perhaps it did, but not in the way he had hoped for.

    It’s unclear whether Dream deleted these Tweets by his own volition, or whether management intervened.

    The Velveteen Dream has been blatant with his attempts to move to the main roster in the past — most notably sporting a pair of custom tights emblazoned with ‘Call Me Up Vince’ on them.

    Velveteen Tweetstorm

    The Tweets, if you missed them, encouraged fans to “spam” WWE over calling him up, and read:

    “It’s Not His (Vince’s)
    Call 2 Make
    It’s URs,
    So let ur voices B heard….#CallDREAMUp@WWE Universe pic.twitter.com/9ZecWpWJQl”
    — The DREAM (@VelveteenWWE) December 18, 2018

    “#CallDREAMUp
    SPAM @wwe @wwenxt
    And let’s see if they’re really listening!!”
    — The DREAM (@VelveteenWWE) December 18, 2018

    “RAW
    SmackDown
    NXT
    NXTUK
    Seasame Street
    Doesn’t matter,
    if UR entertaining ur entertaining.
    I don’t need writers and I don’t need a lot of time. A superstar should bleed through ur TV. And not when someone’s producing it.
    Give Me The Red Light ?
    And It’s #DREAMOn
    Any Night”
    — The DREAM (@VelveteenWWE) December 18, 2018

  • Paige Officially Relieved As SmackDown Live General Manager

    Paige Officially Relieved As SmackDown Live General Manager

    This past Monday saw an announcement made by Stephanie McMahon, Shane McMahon, Vince McMahon, and Triple H where they assumed control going forward as a four-person collective, declaring an end to General Managers and Commissioners.

    One person who tweeted out after this was SmackDown General Manager, Paige. Her reaction was short and direct:

    https://twitter.com/RealPaigeWWE/status/1074836778245214209

    It didn’t take long for her to get an answer.

    Fresh Start

    Last night during SmackDown Live, Paige was officially relieved of her duties as General Manager by Shane McMahon.

    Her removal from SmackDown management opened the show as Shane McMahon addressed the SmackDown roster and confirmed that Paige would no longer be GM going forward.

    Shane had high praise for Paige and her work for the blue brand since first being hired for the role. He thanked her on behalf of all those assembled, including the WWE Universe.

    It was then announced that although her duties as GM have ended, Paige wasn’t going anywhere and would still be a part of the company.

    There has been no further word as of yet as to WWE’s future plans for Paige, though she has shared thoughts on managing talent.

    WWE’s official Twitter account did send out a message, simply stating “#ThankYouPaige @RealPaigeWWE @ShaneMcMahon #SDLive”

    Where does Paige go from here? What do you think WWE has planned for her?

  • WWE Plans For R-Truth And Carmella

    WWE Plans For R-Truth And Carmella

    If you’ve been a fan of R-Truth and Carmella’s antics in recent weeks, then you’ll be happy to hear that WWE doesn’t want to wrap up their partnership any time soon.

    The pair recently won the Mixed Match Challenge finals at this past weekend’s Tables, Ladders and Chairs event. This victory has afforded them to each enter their respective Royal Rumbles at the lucrative number 30 spot when the event takes place this coming January. In addition to their Rumble placement, they were also gifted an all expenses paid vacation to anywhere in the world.

    It was at this point that R-Truth divulged that he had taken care of it for the team. He revealed that he had signed them up for a trip to — of all places — WWE headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut. To say Carmella was disappointed at R-Truth’s revelation would be an understatement.

    According to Mike Johnson of PWInsider, WWE intends to film numerous vignettes of Carmella and R-Truth visiting WWE headquarters.

    It’s reported that these vignettes won’t be filmed until after Christmas. Each one is intended to continue the comedic stylings that R-Truth and Carmella have become known for on WWE television.

    What do you think of this? Is the partnership of R-Truth and Carmella working for you?

  • Chris Jericho Responds To Naito’s Remarks, Promises He’s “Not Tranquilo”

    Chris Jericho Responds To Naito’s Remarks, Promises He’s “Not Tranquilo”

    New Japan Pro Wrestling’s YouTube account has uploaded a rebuttal from Chris Jericho addressing Naito’s recent promo. The leader of Los Ingobernables de Japon would insult the current IWGP Intercontinental champion, condescendingly mocking him as he referred to Jericho as an “international superstar.”

    In his response, Jericho (sans makeup) snipes back, introducing himself as “[…] the guy who stole your t-shirt design to make some cash” before showing off that he “made a lot of cash from that, so I thank you.”

    “You know it’s funny,” he mused, “you say no one’s talking about me, but everyone’s talking about you, Naito. Everyone is talking about how Chris Jericho kicked your ass at Dominion. How Chris Jericho left you laying and became the IWGP Intercontinental Champion, and I know that’s driving you crazy,” he goaded. “People [are] talking behind your back. Ever since [Dominion], you’ve done nothing of merit.”

    “You’re right, Naito. I’m an international superstar. But what does it matter?” he asked. What does it matter where I’ve been, what I’ve done, what legends I’ve beaten? All that matters is that I’ve beat you. And it bothers you.”

    Closing out his response, Jericho promises that he’s “going to shut you up for good. Your sarcastic, arrogant, little b**** self. Remember I’m not tranquilo, Naito. I’m f****** crazy.”

  • Becky Lynch Reveals There Was Locker Room Animosity Towards Ronda Rousey

    Becky Lynch Reveals There Was Locker Room Animosity Towards Ronda Rousey

    The SmackDown Women’s Champion, Becky Lynch, recently appeared on popular MMA show, ‘Ariel Helwani’s MMA Show.’

    During the course of the interview, ‘The Man’ broached a number of different subjects. These ranged from her career and recent broken nose, to Conor McGregor and her growing popularity.

    She also shared her opinion on current RAW Women’s Champion, “Rowdy” Ronda Rousey.

    “Nobody Can Take That Away From Me”

    According to Becky Lynch, there was a sense of resentment and animosity towards the former UFC Bantamweight champion upon her arrival and immediate push.

    “Absolutely [there was dislike towards Ronda Rousey],” Lynch admitted. “That’s the thing with so many people and the people they want to succeed, right? And that was never me. There are chosen people and that was never me. I was never meant to succeed. I was never the one that was meant to be the champion, the one that was meant to be on top, the one that was supposed to be on the posters and the billboards,” she said.

    “I think that’s what made it [Lynch’s success] all the more sweeter and I think that’s what the audience relates to because they could see that,” Lynch declared. “And that is why I think they’ve supported me because I made this myself and nobody can take that away from me. Nobody can take that away from me.”

  • Shawn Michaels Reflects On Coaching At The Performance Center

    Shawn Michaels Reflects On Coaching At The Performance Center

    Shawn Michaels has accomplished pretty much all a person can hope to achieve during his legendary career. From captivating the WWE Universe with his in-ring work to entertaining fans with his promos, the man has accrued an unquestionable amount of experience about the business.

    That knowledge is something he has been sharing recently with those training at WWE’s Performance Center in Florida, where he now works as a coach.

    Speaking with ESPN, The Heartbreak Kid reflects on his time at the Performance Center, discussing what he enjoys most about coaching the newest crop of talent currently working hard to debut for the company.

    “I Still Do Not Have To Grow Up”

    “For me to have a huge influence or impact on anybody is probably not a healthy thing. It’s 30 years later and I still have no idea why this company still has me employed or is letting me talk or instruct or coach younger talent because it’s obvious that it’s not good for the wrestling business in any way shape or form,” he jokes. “They’re all going to be incredibly bad influences — and hopefully, that’ll all be because of me.”

    “I always wondered,” he continued, “after wrestling for 30 years, and in a sense never having to have a real job or really have to work a day in my life, what I would do after I was done doing that,” Michaels confessed. “Then I get to stumble into this job at the PC, and clearly I still do not have to grow up, which is phenomenal. You get to coach a bunch of other young men who you are encouraging not to ever have to grow up, and you can’t beat it.”

    Shawn Michaels recently returned to action for WWE’s event in Saudi Arabia, Crown Jewel. He teamed up with HHH in a winning effort against The Brothers Of Destruction, Kane and The Undertaker.

  • Paige Biopic ‘Fighting With My Family’ Delayed

    Paige Biopic ‘Fighting With My Family’ Delayed

    It appears the theatrical release for the Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson’s new movie, ‘Fighting With My Family’ has been delayed. It is now reported to be releasing on Thursday, February 21st as opposed to the original date of Friday, February 8th.

    The movie will be premiering in both New York and Los Angeles on Thursday, February 14th.

    Focusing on the real-life story of current WWE SmackDown General Manager, Paige and her family of pro wrestlers, it documents her journey from wrestling for British independents to trying out for, and eventually signing to, WWE.

    Paige is played by Florence Pugh, with Tessa Blanchard acting as her in-ring stunt double. Zelina Vega also appears in the movie as ex-WWE Divas Champion, AJ Lee. Nick Frost and Lena Headey also star, cast as Paige’s parents.

    Although produced by The Rock, his role in the actual movie is limited to cameo status.

    Fighting With My Family

    The Rock recently released a new poster for the movie which features Paige, her family, and himself outside a house. The Rock, in particular, looks a little out of place in the poster when contrasted with the family.

    He accompanied it with some kind words, promoting the movie:

    “New poster for our lil’ crazy comedy based on the true story of @WWE’s @RealPaigeWWE & her wrestling family. Honor for me to play a small part in Paige’s career defining moment, as well as bringing her family’s story to the big screen. #FightingWithMyFamily @SevenBucksProd”

    Are you looking forward to watching this movie? Do you think it will live up to expectations?