Free agent Kylie Rae has spoke out regarding her WWE tryout and her status with the company.
Wrestling fans are curious about Rae’s status as a free agent. She has worked with several promotions in the past, like All Elite Wrestling and Impact Wrestling. Unfortunately, Rae has dealt with mental health issues that have affected her career. She took some time off from wrestling in 2020 and made her return a year later.
Since her return to wrestling, she has competed for independent wrestling promotions and NWA. On Dec. 6, 2022, PWinsider’s Mike Johnson reported that she had participated in a WWE Tryout at their Performance Center. She no longer worked with NWA at the time and was a free agent. Six days later, Rae competed as “Briana Ray” against Dana Brooke for a WWE Main Event taping.
Via NWA
In an interview with the Going Broadway Podcast, Rae spoke about how her tryout came together.
“…When WWE goes to towns, I’m sure you’re all familiar, they’ll use local talent to come and do extra work, said Rae. She continued, “… They were coming to Chicago, and from my understanding, again Freelance Wrestling is my home. It’s where I started. It’s where I continue to train and they were asking people from my school to reach out to WWE. I don’t know how many people know about this, but it’s Gabe Sapolsky and he’s one of the best people I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing.”
Rae credited Sapolsky for helping her throughout the process. She added that “…I talked to Gabe, and from what I understood, he was surprised that I was even reaching out for extra work because he’s like, ‘I think we could try to get you a tryout if you’re able to.’
“…As far as something long-term at this point, I got the not right now deal, which is okay because if it’s meant to be, it’ll happen, and if it’s meant to be, it would’ve happened kind of thing. They’re having me still come back for extra work. I was just there this past Friday and the Friday before,” said Rae. Regarding her match with Brooke, Rae said, “…From what it felt like after the match, they were, maybe I’m a little naive, but they seemed very happy with it. It feels good being there, like the environment it legitimate feels very positive and genuine and people are happy. Maybe I’m naive, so I don’t know, because again I’m not signed there, I’m not contracted, I don’t have to be there every single week kind of thing, so I don’t know anybody else’s experience, but from my experience it’s been wonderful.”
Rae will compete in Freelance Wrestling against Sandra Moone on Feb. 10. While she is a free agent, Rae seems to be on good terms with WWE. By Rae continuing to have a working relationship as an extra, it could see WWE make her a full-time talent.
WWE Superstars Karrion Kross and Scarlett were planning to start a family last year until a fateful call from Chief Content Officer Triple H put that on hold.
It might have surprised fans when WWE decided to release Kross and Scarlett on Nov. 4, 2021. The couple had great success in NXT, with Kross winning the NXT Championship twice. However, WWE had different creative plans for them on the main roster by separating them and changing Kross’s character. Ultimately, Kross’s first run with the company didn’t work out, and both talents found themselves as free agents last year.
(via WWE)
While in free agency, Kross and Scarlett could work together and compete for different independent wrestling promotions. In their time away from WWE, the couple decided they wanted to start a family. However, when Triple H called Kross about himself and Scarlett returning to the company, he and his wife halted their plans.
In an interview with My San Antonio, Kross spoke about the call from Triple H to return. MY San Antonio’s Nick Talbot transcribed the following quotes.
“He called us up and he said, ‘Do you want to come home?” And I responded, “Well, like, yeah.’ And then he was like, ‘All right. Here is my next question. Can you be here in a day and a half?’ And we’re like, ‘That’s pretty fast.’ You know, we had all these different bookings and different things going on.”
We had our lives planned out. I mean, and people don’t even know this, we’re thinking about maybe even having a kid, you know, or thinking about starting a family. And we looked at each other – and her and I have always been telepathic, even before we were married or dating — so, we just kind of gave each other a look and we knew what page we’re on. And we’re like, ‘Yeah, we can do that.
– Karrion Kross
WWE.com
Karrion Kross Plans for Royal Rumble 2023
Kross will compete in his first Royal Rumble event this weekend. He is looking forward to his first Royal Rumble appearance and hopes to have an impressive performance. “In a perfect world, I’d like to set some sort of record. I’d really like to do it,” said Kross(h/t Nick Talbot). He also shared in the interview that he hopes he could enter at number one.
“You know what, if I could, I would come out number one. I would love to do that. To be able to go out there and demonstrate your grit and how much fight you actually have. I need to have the opportunity to get in front of that many people and fight them all at once. I live for stuff like that,” said Kross(h/t Nick Talbot).
Before competing at the Royal Rumble, he will have to compete against Rey Mysterio on the Jan. 27 episode of Friday Night Smackdown. Since his return on Aug. 5, 2022, Kross has only lost one match to former WWE Champion Drew McIntyre. A decisive win by Kross this Friday could indicate how WWE will utilize him in the Royal Rumble match.
Game Changer Wrestling held their event GCW: Don’t Talk to Me on Jan. 20 at the Cabarrus Arena & Event Center in Concord, North Carolina.
The main event saw AAA Mega Champion El Hijo del Vikingo compete against Gringo Loco in a non-title match. The event also had a tag team match with BUSSY(Allie Katch and EFFY) against Charles Mason and Parrow and legend Ricky Morton competing against Tony Deppen. GCW: Don’t Talk to Me stream live on FITE exclusively for people with a FITE+ subscription at 8 PM ET/5 PM PT.
Fans could watch FITE+ for $4.99 a month or $49.99 annually. GCW: Don’t Talk to Me and all GCW events can be viewed on FITE+’s Video on Demand.
If you would like more results for this week’s events in wrestling, please check back on our results section.
The event opened with a tribute video packing for Jay Briscoe. It then transitioned to the ring, where Emil Jay led a ten-bell salute with talent and fans around the ring. After the ten-bell salute, Nick Gage also shared his condolences to Briscoe and his family.
Nick Wayne def. Arez
Blake Christian def. Andrew Everett
Jordan Oliver def. Kerry Morton
Cole Radrick def. Marty Garner
GCW Tag Team Championship: Los Macizos (Ciclope and Miedo Extremo) (c) def. The Ugly Ducklings (Lance Lude and Rob Killjoy)
Axton Ray def. Jimmy Lloyd, Marcus Mathers, Zenshi, Terry Yaki, and Yoya in a scramble match
BUSSY (Allie Katch and EFFY) def. Charles Mason and Parrow with Billy Dixon
Tony Deppen def. Ricky Morton
Second Gear Crew (Mance Warner and Matthew Justice) def. John Wayne Murdoch and George South, The Revolt (Caleb Konley and Zane Riley), and Bojack and Lucky Ali
AEW star Fuego Del Sol is showing off his new bulked-up physique.
Wrestlers can get attention for their ability and charisma in the wrestling business. However, their physical appearance can also significantly affect their career. A person’s physical appearance and health can aid in preserving their career and possibly getting more opportunities.
FDS posted a video on Twitter this week to show off the results of the past six months of hard work. Thanks to a new fitness program by the Modern Wellness Center, he’s added 15 pounds of muscle over the past six months.
I’ve gained 15 pounds in 6 months with a ton of hard work and the help of @TheModernWC! We’ve developed a program with tips and principles to help others do the same!
Follow them for a chance to win a free program decided on Feb 1st or message them directly to purchase now! pic.twitter.com/EV3mlgCx7E
Sol is still signed with AEW, although he hasn’t been seen on TV. The company has used Sol in several programs, but it, unfortunately, isn’t consistent. His last appearance on AEW Dynamite was a loss against Luchasaurus on Oct. 5, 2022. While he may not often compete on AEW Dynamite or Rampage, he competes for several independent promotions.
He competed in Pandemonium: Pro Wrestling’s Holiday in Hollywood against Alan Angels on Dec 4. 2022. Sol put on a great effort but ultimately lost the match. Fans could watch the entire event with Sol on IWTV for ten dollars.
Sol is advertised to compete in Rugged Pro Wrestling against Justin Fowler on Feb. 25. It’s unclear when his next AEW appearance will be or if the company has creative plans for him. However, he seems to be in good spirits and keeps busy with his indie dates and workout program.
The Jan. 19 episode of Impact Wrestling aired on AXS TV at 8 PM ET/5 PM PT.
The main event saw “Speedball” Mike Bailey take on Kenny King in a Pit Fight match. The event also had Knockout World Champion Mickie James discuss her title win over Jordynne Grace at Hard to Kill on Jan. 13. This week’s episode also aired on their Youtube channel for Impact Insider subscribers. Impact Wrestling offers a monthly subscription to watch weekly episodes on Youtube for $1.49.
If you would like more results for this week’s events in wrestling, please check back on our results section.
• NEW Knockouts World Champion Mickie James opens the show! • Deonna Purrazzo is in action • Wilde vs Killer Kelly • Dreamer’s exclusive interview w/ Dave LaGreca • PIT FIGHT – Bailey vs King#IMPACTWrestlingpic.twitter.com/BPFwd0vSQO
The show opened with an opening graphic paying tribute to Jay Briscoe. It transitioned to a video package recapping Hard to Kill from Jan. 13.
Mickie James Kicks Off Impact Wrestling
Mickie James came out to address the crowd. As she was thanking the crowd for their support, Bully Ray came out to interrupt her. Both James and Ray got into a back-and-forth on the microphone until Tasha Steelz and Savannah Evans interrupted them. Steelz and Evans attacked James, with Ray looking under the ring for a weapon. However, they were stopped by Grace and Frankie Kazarian, who aided James. Santino Marella came out to the ring but got interrupted by WCW legend Ernest “The Cat” Miller. Miller suggested that Marella make a six-person tag team match with James, Grace, and Kazarian against Steelz, Evans, and Ray. After a short back and forth with Ray, Marella made the match happen right away.
Mickie James, Jordynne Grace, and Frankie Kazarian defeated Bully Ray, Tasha Steelz, and Savannah Evans.
Grace and Evans started the match. The exchange moves until Grace gets the better of Evans with a scoop slam. Grace goes over to confront Ray, but Evans attacks her from behind. Evans takes control of the match until James tags in. James takes offense at Evans until she overpowers her. James counters with a hurricanrana that staggers Evans. As James runs towards the ropes on her opponent’s side, she gets attacked from behind by Ray.
Ray, Evans, and Steelz take control of the match with James in the ring. James gets the tag to Grace as her team takes control of the match. Ray eventually leaves the match, leaving Evans and Steelz by themselves. James gets the pin on Steelz to win for her team.
After the match, Masha Slamovich came to the ring to have a stare-down with James to set up a future match.
Marella and Miller had a backstage segment. Marella announced a Golden 6 Shooter match (six-man battle Royal) to determine the next challenger for Impact World Champion Josh Alexander next week. The match’s participants will be Moose, Eddie Edwards, Sami Callihan, Rich Swann, Rhino, and Chris Sabin. For tonight’s episode, he also made a match between Steve Maclin and Dirty Dango.
Both Kelly and Wilde lock up to start the match. However, Wilde gets the better of Kelly. Wilde landed a suplex and transitioned to a guillotine on her opponent. Kelly gets out of the hold and takes control of the match. The end of the match comes after Kelly locks in the Killer Clutch submission to win by tap out.
We get a backstage segment with The Design demanding that Callihan win the Six Shooter match or else there would be consequences.
Maclin starts off the match strong against Dango. He tries to do a sunset flip, but Dango punches Maclin and lands a leg drop. Dango tries to gain offense in the match, but Maclin takes control quickly. Maclin dominates Dango for several minutes until Dango hits a back suplex on his opponent.
Dango fires up, and it seems like he can win the match. He lands a falcon arrow and tries to climb the top rope, but Maclin rolls out of the ring. Dango tried a tornado DDT outside the ring, but Maclin countered the move. Maclin wins the match after landing the KIA on Dango.
Tommy Dreamer has a segment with Sirius XM Busted Open Co-host David LaGreca to discuss his issues with Ray. LaGreca tries to fix the relationship between Dreamer and Ray, but Dreamer refuses.
“Speedball” Mike Bailey Defeated Kenny King in a Pit Fight Match
Bailey tries to give a fist bump to King but gets ignored. The match begins with both wrestlers throwing feints at each other until Bailey takes King down. King fights off his back and tries to get up, but Bailey takes his back. King gets eventually gets up but gets arm dragged out of the ring.
He gets back in the ring and sweeps Bailey’s leg to get him down. King pushes Bailey out of the ring and kicks him in the face as he tries to reenter. King beats down his opponent outside the ring and attempts a triangle choke when Bailey gets back in the ring. Bailey gets out of the choke and tries to land an offense but gets countered quickly. King dominated the match for several minutes and busted Bailey open. He stays in control until Bailey lands a push kick that knocks King out of the ring.
Bailey takes over the match landing several kicks. He puts King in an armbar but gets slammed by his opponent. Bailey regains control of the match with his kicks until King catches his leg and lands a dragon screw that sends Bailey to the outside. Bailey took back control as the match seemed to be going in King’s favor. He beats up King until the referee has to stop the match.
Free agent Matt Cardona has filed a trademark on his former WWE ring name.
Cardona is seemingly still weighing his options as he remains a free agent. Rumors have circulated that WWE could be interested in signing him for a return. His last run with the company lasted from 2007 to 2020.
“Matt Cardona filed a trademark filing on the name “Zack Ryder,” which, of course, was his WWE persona for many, many years, on 1/14. The trademark filing was for: Bandanas; Hats; Shirts; Socks; Shirts, and short-sleeved shirts; Sweatshirts; Hooded sweatshirts,” said the report.
He responded on Twitter to the PWInsider report by fueling the idea that he could return to WWE.
Cardona’s decision to trademark “Zack Ryder” is an interesting choice. As a free agent, he could use the name for merchandise ideas from which longtime WWE fans would remember him. If the WWE were to sign Cardona and wanted to rebrand him as “Zack Ryder,” he could make more money on his trademarked merchandise.
The free agent has shown no clear signs that he has signed with the company. Fightful Select shared on Jan 9 he’s not signed. However, the report stated, “…WWE sources have indicated to us that Cardona is not signed, but that we shouldn’t rule anything out for the future.”
If Cardona has plans to return to WWE, it doesn’t seem it will be anytime soon. Game Changer Wrestling has promoted that Cardona will be competing at their event, Eye for an Eye, on March 17. Cardona is also working with NWA and Impact Wrestling while working as a free agent.
WWE fans expecting a Cardona return will have to wait and see what he will do next. However, trademarking “Zack Ryder” could be an exciting development.
WWE Executive Chairman Vince McMahon has settled with former WWF referee Rita Chatterton after years of sexual assault allegations.
Chatterton has spoken publicly for decades about McMahon’s alleged assault on her. In 1992, Chatterton appeared on Geraldo Rivera’s talk show and went into detail about McMahon’s assault. She shared that he used his power over her as an employer and forced her to give oral sex.
At the time, she said, “…I was forced into oral sex with Vince McMahon. When I couldn’t complete his desires, he got really angry, started ripping off my jeans, pulled me on top of him, and told me again, If I wanted a half-a-million-dollar contract, I have to satisfy him. He could make me or break me, and if I didn’t satisfy him, I was blackballed,” said Chatterton.
The World Street Journal’s Joe Palazzolo and Ted Mann report that McMahon and Chatterton settled with Chatterton last month. Last November, Chatterton’s attorney sent a legal demand letter seeking $11.75 million in damages. However, the report states that Chatterton “…agreed to a lesser amount in the millions of dollars, one of the people familiar with the matter said.”
McMahon’s lawyer Jerry McDevitt shared with The World Street Journal after the settlement that “Mr. McMahon denies and always has denied raping Ms. Chatterton. And he settled the case solely to avoid the cost of litigation.”
What’s Next For Vince McMahon?
The report shared that McMahon is still facing potential legal troubles with a former Spa Manager he allegedly assaulted at a California resort. The World Street Journal’s Palazzolo and Mann reported on Dec. 13, 2022, that McMahon’s attorneys were talking with the Spa Manager. They added that it’s unclear the negotiation status between McMahon and the former Spa Manager.
The WWE Chairman claims he returned to the company to help it negotiate a new TV deal or potentially sell WWE to buyers. McMahon’s legal troubles could halt WWE’s opportunity to sell, forcing McMahon to try to reach settlements to avoid going to court.
For much more on the Vince McMahon-Rita Chatterton abuse allegations, we recommend this 1-hour video by POST Wrestling featuring wrestling historian David Bixenspan:
Longtime New Japan Pro Wrestling talent will stay with the company after renewing the contract.
NJPW is going through an interesting time as several talent contracts are possibly expiring. It was reported that one of the company’s top stars isn’t expected to sign on Jan. 10. The rumored top star had also gained interest from WWE. NJPW fans were looking to see if the company would possibly let more talent contracts expire.
However, NJPW has successfully re-signed one of its more featured stars.
Spoiler Warning on NJPW Talent Renewed Contract
Hiroshi Tanahashi has shared on his blog that he has renewed his contract with NJPW. He posted a picture with seemingly a contract and had the caption “Contract renewal. I’ll do my best!”
At 46 years old, Tanahashi still looks to be in greatshape and wants to push himself in his wrestling career. His last title reign was when he held the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship last year. He had also unsuccessfully challenged for the AEW Heavyweight Championship against Jon Moxley at Forbidden Door on June 26, 2022.
via Hiroshi Tanahashi Blog
Tanahashi had recently competed in a tag team match with Keiji Muto and Shota Umino to defeat Los Ingobernables de Japon(Tetsuya Naito, Sanada, and Bushi) at Wrestle Kingdom 17 on Jan 4. He will compete at The New Beginning in Nagoya on Jan 22. Tanahashi will again wrestle in a tag team match with Master Wato and Jado against Kenta, El Phantasmo, and Taiji Ishimori.
It’s unclear if he still wants to reclaim that IWGP United States heavyweight title or if he wants to challenge for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship. Regardless, NJPW fans can rejoice that Tanahashi will be with the company for a little longer.
It seems more WWE legends will appear on the Raw 30th-anniversary show.
WWE has reached a major milestone with their longest-running TV show, Monday Night Raw reaching 30 years of programming. Although the first episode of Monday Night Raw happened on Jan. 11, 1993, WWE decided to celebrate their milestone on Jan. 23.
The company has advertised several WWE legends, including The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels, to appear at the event. However, it seems WWE has at least two unannounced legends to pop in for the 30th anniversary of Monday Night Raw.
Spoiler Warning
The Daily Items’ Francis Scarcella reports former WWE talent Rikishi and Samu will appear at the 30th celebration of Monday Night Raw. In the article, Samu confirmed that he would be at the event on Jan. 23.
“…I want to thank the WWE for everything they have done for myself and my family,” Anoa’i said. “I look forward to next week when I can see a lot of familiar faces and be reunited with a lot of my family members,” said Samu(h/t Francis Scarcella).
Rikishi hasn’t shared if he will be at the event yet. The WWE has yet to advertise either Samu or Rikishi, so it’s possible their potential appearance is to be a surprise. The Bloodline faction led by Roman Reigns is to have a segment on Monday Night Raw listed as the “Acknowledgement Ceremony.” Samu and Rikishi could make an appearance during that segment.
What to Look Out For During the 30th Anniversary of Monday Night Raw?
The 30th anniversary of Monday Night Raw could be an exciting event to watch. While the WWE has advertised several legends, there could be more surprise appearances. WWE has also promoted two championship matches and a steel cage match between Becky Lynch and Bayley.
WWE fans may also be curious if WWE Chairman Vince McMahon will come out on the show. He hasn’t appeared on WWE TV since he unceremoniously retired from WWE following allegations of misconduct with female employees on July 22.
WWE has lost another employee this month as the Vice President of Communication departs the company
The company is off to a rough start to the year. It began with the unexpected return of WWE Chairman Vince McMahon after retiring last year. His comeback led to uncertainty for the company’s future, as WWE might be sold. As a result of McMahon’s return led to the departure of WWE Board of Director members JoEllen Lyons Dillon, Jeffrey R. Speed, Alan M. Wexler, Man Jit Singh, and Ignace Lahoud.
One of the significant departures from the company was former Co-CEO and daughter to the WWE Chairman, Stephanie McMahon. She resigned from her role with the company after taking over with current CEO Nick Khan after Vince’s retirement. While WWE fans may have hoped that would be the end of employees leaving the company, it’s now reported not to be the case.
Fightful Select reports that WWE’s VP of Communications, Adam Hopkins, has left the company. Hopkins has worked for WWE for over 25 years, from Fan Service Coordinator to his last role as VP of Communication. It’s unclear if his departure is a resignation or if he was fired.
On Jan. 13, it was reported that Triple H met with talent before Smackdown to reassure them that he is still the Chief Content Officer and that McMahon’s return would not affect WWE creative or talent relations. He also acknowledged that McMahon’s stance could change.
It’s unclear what the future holds for WWE. However, the departure of employees is not a good sign to help concerned fans.
However, his shareholders disagreed with his return and took action against McMahon. On Jan. 11, a WWE investor filed a fiduciary lawsuit regarding McMahon’s return to the company. The claims from investor Scott A. Fellows allege that the chairman asserted himself into his Chairman role illegally and that he disregarded the other WWE Board of Director members. Following the lawsuit filed by Fellows, it’s reported that McMahon is facing another similar lawsuit.
Sportico’s Michael Mccann has reported that the Detroit Police and Fire Retirement System has filed a lawsuit that they hope will prevent McMahon from selling the company and regaining control from the Board of Directors.
Mccann wrote the following quotes regarding the Detroit Police and Fire Retirement System complaint.
“…The complaint argues that McMahon has breached fiduciary duties as controlling stockholder by trying to “impose his personal will on WWE and its [board] by purporting to adopt a package of invalid and inequitable bylaw amendments that would hamstring the Board from making critical business decisions.”
Although McMahon owns approximately 39% of WWE’s equity, he enjoys far greater stockholder power due to the company’s financial configurations. According to the complaint, McMahon owns about 92% of outstanding Class B shares, which contain 10 votes per share, whereas Class A shares hold only one vote per share. “Overall,” the complaint asserts, “McMahon controls 81% of WWE’s total voting power,” wrote Mccann.
What Happens Next for Vince McMahon Lawsuit Issues
(via WWE)
The two lawsuits against McMahon both alleged that he had gone against the interest of the WWE’s business partners wrongfully. It’s also possible more cases will be filed against McMahon for similar grievances. The added lawsuit could halt McMahon from selling the company as fast as he could hope. However, WWE is still preparing to sell the company to buyers potentially.
Another thing to note in Mccann’s report is that he shared that the Detroit Police and Fire System Retirement believes that “…McMahon’s moves run afoul of both Section 141 of the Delaware General Corporation Law and WWE’s charter. Altering the company’s governance structure in the absence of bargained for exchange between WWE and McMahon, the system asserts, “usurps the power of the Board over critical corporate management functions and vests it solely in McMahon in his capacity as a stockholder.” Neither Delaware law nor WWE’s charter permits the kind of transfer of power the system says occurred, and the system wants a declaration the consent is void.”
Both lawsuits make the case that McMahon is wrong, and they have grounds to halt him from doing what he wants with WWE. The report adds at the end that the process of litigation could take some time and effectively complicate a sale from happening.
Former WWE CEO Stephanie McMahon and her husband, Chief Content Officer Triple H, opposed a potential WWE sell, according to Axios.
This year has begun with a major shakeup with the return of WWE Chairman Vince McMahon on Jan. 6. The chairman returned after retiring last year after allegations of misconduct from former WWE employees. However, McMahon’s return also has led to the possibility of WWE being up for sale.
While McMahon is exploring the possibility of selling the company, it doesn’t seem everyone is on board with the idea. Axios’s Tim Baysinger and Sara Fischer report that Stephanie and Triple H were against the idea of WWE potentially being up for sale.
Sources told Axios that Stephanie McMahon and her husband Paul “Triple H” Levesque, the company’s chief content officer and a retired professional wrestler, had opposed a sale.
While WWE employees and fans are worried about McMahon’s return, some former WWE employees and wrestlers are happy he’s in charge. Ric Flair has spoken openly about McMahon’s return and hopes he’s on TV for the Monday Night Raw 30th Anniversary on Jan. 23.
WWE future is up in the air, as the company opens itself to be sold potentially this year. However, it doesn’t seem everyone is on board with its current direction.
All Elite Wrestling talent Britt Baker has shared her thoughts on her husband, Adam Cole, returning to the company.
Cole made his shocking return to AEW Dynamite on Jan. 11 after several months off TV for AEW. His last match was against Jay White, Okada and “Hangman” Adam Page in a fatal four-way match at Forbidden Door on Jun. 26, 2022. He had been dealing with injuries, including a concussion that people were uncertain when Cole would return. However, Cole revealed in a promo on AEW Dynamite that he will return to competition and aspires to be the top performer in the company.
During his segment, he also spoke openly about the issues he faced from his concussion, including dealing with anxiety and motion sickness during his recovery. Baker has posted on Twitter about Cole’s return and expressed how proud she was of him.
“For months, the only time @AdamColePro left the house was to go to brain/physical therapy appointments. There was a time he wasn’t allowed to fly on planes or do anything more than go for a walk. I’m so damn proud of how hard he worked every single day to get back to you all,” said Baker.
Adam Cole responded to the tweet by saying, “Thanks for being in my corner every step of the way. Couldn’t have done it without you.”
(via AEW)
What’s Next For Adam Cole?
Although Cole made his return to AEW, it’s unclear when he will return to competition. In his promo, he didn’t say if he’s medically cleared to compete or when he expects to wrestle again. AEW also has yet to comment on when fans should expect to see Cole compete in the ring.
However, the important part of Cole’s return was that he seemed healthy and in good spirits. Cole’s immediate wrestling future may be unclear, but he is still motivated to be a top performer in professional wrestling.
All Elite Wrestling superstar Saraya wouldn’t mind participating in intergender wrestling matches in AEW.
Intergender wrestling matches I’ve caused debate throughout the years between wrestling fans. Some critics may say they don’t like seeing men wrestle women. However, people that support intergender wrestling may point out that it creates equal opportunity and that men and women should be able to work together. It’s a wrestling debate that doesn’t have a right or wrong answer but could depend on a fan’s preference.
Saraya spoke about possibly facing a male wrestler in AEW on the Whoo’s House Podcast. The AEW talent shared that she’s open to having an intergender match but doesn’t think fans would like it.
“I feel like people are really sensitive in this world currently, and it’s really hard to do matches like that without someone being offended by it. I would love to do matches like that.”
– Saraya on Intergender wrestling
Who Would Saraya Face in an Intergender Match?
(AEW)
As Saraya discussed possibly having an intergender match, DJ Whoo Kid asked about challenging Chris Jericho. She added that it is something that she has thought about with her boyfriend, Ronnie Radke.
“…It writes itself. I said even Ronnie even wanted to become part of it, like a storyline to do something against Chris Jericho,” said Saraya. Radke added that he loves Jericho, so it’s unclear if he wants to get physical with Jericho.
Saraya continued, “…He’s such a good bad guy. He plays a very good bad guy and people just love to hate him but I feel like they would have such a good storyline. I would love to wrestle one of the guys. If I have to beat up Chris Jericho, Chris Jericho I’m sure he’d be like ‘Yeah, let’s do it.’ He doesn’t care, he’s very selfless worker. He’s a good guy. He’ll wrestle anybody and if he has to let somebody win he’d be like ‘Absolutely.’ There’s never an ego there, he’s always just like ‘Sure.’ He just wants to help people.
After praising Jericho’s selflessness, she joked that if they wrestled, she’d “…beat that sh*t out of him.” It’s unclear if Jericho would be interested in doing an intergender match. Fans may remember Jericho had a rivalry with WWE Hall of Famer Chyna in the 90s. However, Jericho is currently in a feud with Ricky Starks and Action Andretti.
Saraya has put the idea to the public, and it’s up to AEW and Jericho to make it happen.
All Elite Wrestling tag team FTR will take a break from the company as their contracts expire.
After leaving the WWE, the “Top Guys” have worked with AEW since 2020. During their career in AEW, FTR has gained popularity and success by winning the AEW, Ring of Honor, IWGP, and AAA Tag Team Championships. However, FTR’s future with the company is unclear.
FTR’s Dax Harwood spoke openly about the team’s contract situation on the Jan. 12 episode of his podcast. He also received permission from his teammate Cash Wheeler to publicly discuss the team’s status. He said the team has no championship titles, so they have a clean slate for the year.
“… I’ve also got the blessing of Tony Khan to talk about this and make a statement about this. Tony has been nothing but top-notch to me and Dan since day one. There are things we haven’t agreed on, as any boss and any employee, and even any friend. There are times I felt the boat was missed on opportunities for us. There were times that I was super happy with everything we were doing,” said Harwood.
Harwood began to explain why the team’s future with AEW is uncertain. “But, there has come a time where we are on the tail end of our career, okay. I mean, I’m 38 years old. I talked last week about how hard it is for me to play with my daughter and things like that. We are on the tail end of our career now, so I think right now this point in our career is the most important time in our career. I mean that monetarily. I mean that creatively. I mean that personally. It is the most important time of our career. With that being said, we have asked and been granted the next few months off of television so we can sit back, reflect, decide, let our bodies heal and figure out what we are going to do for the next few years, because whatever we decided to do next will be the absolute last thing we do.”
Dax Harwood Talks About His Future and FTR’s Expiring Contract
It’s unclear what Wheeler thinks about the future of FTR or his career. However, Harwood is still determining if he or the team will be active in five years.
“…I don’t see myself after I’m done with whatever we are going to decide next. I don’t see myself in five years going on the independents and wrestling independents. I don’t see myself working in five years a Japan tour or a Mexico tour or traveling around the world and wrestling all over places. That’s why these next few months are the most important few months for us, said Harwood.
He continued, “…By April at least at most we will have an answer, but now again I have to take in my health, I have to take in my family, I have to take in my creativity and I have to take in my personal life all into consideration about what we are going to do next. I know what I want to do, but whatever we do I just want to be respected. We, I feel, I have done something so special in 2022 and most of that is in part to the fans. I think we deserve to continue to build on our legacy for ourselves, but also we owe it to the fans to build on that legacy because they made us this past year.
What’s Next For FTR?
Harwood confirmed that FTR’s contract would expire this April. He also shared that he isn’t sure how long FTR will not be on AEW TV. The company did tease a feud between The Gunn Club and FTR, but it’s uncertain if AEW will drop the storyline until they can confirm FTR will re-sign.
If FTR’s next contract is their last, it’s possible both Harwood and Wheeler could be in their early 40’s. The AEW tag team is in limbo as both men try to figure out what is best for themselves. That could also mean testing free agency in April for the best offers for their careers and personal life.
WWE hopes to secure a protective order for its anti-trust lawsuit with Major League Wrestling.
On Jan. 11, 2022, MLW filed a lawsuit against the WWE. The lawsuit alleges that WWE tried to halt MLW from finalizing media deals with Tubi and Vice TV. MLW also claims that WWE tried to poach talent away from the company.
When the anti-lawsuit was filed, MLW CEO Court Baurer said, “WWE has been wrongfully depriving its competitors of critical opportunities for many years, but its latest conduct has been even more unconscionable.” He continued, “I think we speak for the rest of the professional wrestling world when we say that this anti-competitive behavior has to stop.”
WWE has attempted to dismiss the lawsuit but hasn’t succeeded. On Dec. 14, 2022, it was reported that the case is expected to move forward. The week prior, our’s Andrew Ravens reported that “MLW laid out the materials they were seeking in discovery.”
PWInsider’s Mike Johnson reports that WWE has requested a protective order to prevent the company from providing discovery material.
“World Wrestling Entertainment filed a motion with the United States District Court, Northern District of California, San Jose Division on January 5th, seeking a protective order from the court that would suspend WWE’s obligation to search for and produce materials requested by MLW in regard to the lawsuit Major League Wrestling brought against them last year,” said the report.
WWE Reason for Requesting a Protective Order
WWE believes the company should wait to provide material for discovery as it’s still being determined if the court will have jurisdiction over the case. Johnson also reports that “…WWE’s stance is that if the Court decides they are not dismissing MLW’s antitrust allegations against the company, the remaining allegations would likely land in State Court, which could require WWE to begin the discovery process anew, at an additional cost to the company.”
The report also shared that MLW wants documents from WWE regarding”…all lawsuits, claims, or complaints, threatened or actual,” made by WWE’s employees (not just professional wrestlers) in connection with WWE employment or contractor agreements.”
It’s unclear if WWE’s request to get a protective order will be granted. WWE could also try to settle the matter out of court, especially with hopes of potentially selling the company.
Another New Japan Pro Wrestling talent could be leaving the company soon.
NJPW is dealing with an interesting situation due to several of their talents’ contracts possibly expiring soon. On Jan. 8, reports circulated that one of their current champions could leave in the next few weeks. However, one of NJPW’s top stars could soon leave the company.
Spoiler Warning Ahead on NJPW Free Agent
Fightful Select has reported that the “Switchblade” Jay White contract will end soon, and he’s also not expected to re-sign with NJPW. While it’s unclear where he could end up, WWE is interested in signing White. The company is rumored to be interested in signing other NJPW talent in Tama Tonga and Hikuleo.
“…Switchblade Jay White’s contract is up relatively soon and is expected to leave New Japan Pro Wrestling, per those in the company. Those that we’ve spoken to believe both WWE and All Elite Wrestling are interested in getting the former IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, however, WWE sources seemed confident they would land him,” said the report.
While they report that White is expected to leave, it adds that it’s not official and that no wrestling company could approach White until his contract is finished. The length of his contract has always remained a mystery, as he’s debunked rumors about his contract status.
(WWE)
What’s Next For Jay White?
White will face Hikuleo in a loser leaves Japan match in Osaka, Japan, on Feb. 11. He’s also on the poster for NJPW Battle in the Valley at the San Jose Civic in San Jose, California, on Feb. 18. It doesn’t seem like White could be done in the next month, but his situation could change. It’s unclear exactly when his contract with NJPW could end.
For now, wrestling fans are left to wait to see if one of NJPW’s top stars becomes a free agent.
Vince McMahon’s dramatic return to WWE’s Board of Directors could result in a lawsuit by shareholders.
The recent turmoil atop pro wrestling’s largest promotion has caused a lot of unease and uncertainty for WWE fans. McMahon ended his retirement and re-joined the company on Jan. 6 after stepping away following allegations of misconduct with female employees. His reasoning for his comeback was to help WWE in its effort to negotiate a TV rights deal or to sell the company.
However, McMahon’s return could lead to a lawsuit against himself and others in the company. PWInsider’s Dave Scherer reports that his friend, who is part of the group in the WWE shareholder lawsuit that was filed last year after the NDA allegations against Vince McMahon surfaced, claimed in an email his return could be a “…breach of a fiduciary lawsuit.”
“…You also may have seen the news this past week about Vince McMahon forcing his way back onto the board, along with a major board shakeup. As a result, we believe there is enough of a basis to bring a breach of a fiduciary lawsuit. We hope to file a complaint against McMahon and possibly other directors/officers for breaching their duties to WWE and its shareholders. We should have a draft for you to review in the next couple of days,” said the email.
What Happens Next with Vince McMahon In A Potential Lawsuit?
While PWInsider’s Scherer reports that McMahon could be in breach of a fiduciary lawsuit, it’s worth pointing out that the email states that a complaint hasn’t been filed yet.
Based on the email, McMahon’s return goes against shareholders’ interest, which helps the case for a lawsuit. Despite the WWE Chairman’s belief that his return aids the company with a potential sale, the shareholder may disagree. An official complaint against the WWE Chairman could be filed if the email is valid.
If McMahon is found to have breached his commitment to his shareholders, he would have to pay for the damages he caused.
SEScoops will provide an update on a potential lawsuit against McMahon occurs.
As Moné navigates the waters of free agency, Paquette expresses admiration for her bold career choice. Having left WWE herself, Paquette understands what it’s like to work outside the company. On the latest edition of her The Sessions podcast, Paquette and co-host Emilio Sparks recapped Moné’s WWE departure and NJPW debut.
“…For me, having worked with her at such an early time, met her in NXT, watched her rise through WWE, watched those ups and those downs, those times of kind of stepping out, after Wrestlemania, after losing the tag titles, having that moment, kind of leaving for a little while, spending some time in Japan,” said Paquette. “I believe she spent some time in Mexico. To seeing what she has done now from whatever exactly happened on her and Trinity(also known as Naomi in WWE) walking out from WWE, I really applaud the balls of this women.
Why Moné Deserves Praise for Becoming A Free Agent
Paquette added that she believes Moné is a free agent because of her passion for women’s wrestling. She explained, “…It’s not easy. I know a lot of people if you want to watch from the outside and be like, ‘yeah, you know what, it’s good. Leave that company. Go do whatever.’ It’s not fu*cking easy to walk away from making a good amount of money.” Paquette did acknowledge that she doesn’t know what Moné WWE contract was, but believes she made a good salary based on her position with the company.
Paquette praised Moné for believing in herself and choosing her passion for wrestling over the comfort of staying with WWE. She also added that she has requested an interview with her and hopes to speak with her about leaving her former employer.
Thank you!
Over one month away, all tickets are SOLD OUT for Battle in the Valley February 18!
Moné choice to leave WWE seems to be a success as fans look forward to what she does next. After the announcement of her match at NJPW Battle in the Valley, tickets for the event have sold out. It’s unclear what Moné has planned for the future of her wrestling career. However, it is possible that Moné could become a giant star outside of WWE as a free agent.
WWE superstar Natalya thinks we will see the all-women’s Pay-Per-View Evolution again under the leadership of Stephanie McMahon.
Wrestling fans have wanted to see WWE hold another Evolution event since its inaugural PPV in 2018. Although fans have shown interest in another all-women’s PPV, WWE hasn’t shown any signs of doing it again. However, Natalya is optimistic fans may see it return now that McMahon has taken over the company after her father retired.
In an interview with Faction 919’s Darren Stone, Natalya shared she does think Evolution PPV will return and her reason why.
“I definitely see Stephanie wanting to do more with women’s wrestling,” said Natalya. “Stephanie always wanted women to have more representation. She doesn’t want a show where it’s like, okay, we have 75 percent male matches, and we’ve got 25 percent women’s matches. She wants a show where it’s half men and half women. She wants equality for the women in WWE.”
Triple H & Stephanie McMahon’s Leadership
Natalya believes that WWE’s future is bright under the leadership of McMahon and Triple H. She shared that both McMahon and Triple H’s thoughts on women wrestling could bring more opportunities for more female wrestlers in the company.
“One of the first things I thought about all these new changes, especially with Stephanie, is that Stephanie and Triple H, they really care about women’s wrestling, and you know the thing is that when you’re in that position of authority, you’re never going to please everyone,” said Natalya.
(WWE)
She continued, “…I know how hard that was for Vince McMahon because we wouldn’t have had any of this without Vince and so I always expressed so much gratitude to Vince because we wouldn’t have this company with to do our work and I wouldn’t have the dreams that I have without Vince McMahon having allowed those dreams come true because he built all this.”
Although Natalya expressed gratitude to the former chairman, she is looking forward to the new changes. She also shared in the interview that she hopes to have an opportunity to win the Raw Women’s Championship and become a Grand Slam Champion.
The future of WWE does look promising, but it’s unclear if that means we will see an all-women’s PPV again. Although, WWE superstars like Natalya are optimistic that fans will get to see the event make its return.
WWE NXT Champion Bron Breakker plans to showcase his wrestling ability at Halloween Havoc on Oct. 22.
Breakker will defend his title against Ilja Dragunov and JD McDonagh in a triple-threat match at Halloween Havoc. The champion already successfully retained the WWE NXT Championship against McDonagh at NXT Heatwave on Aug.16. However, McDonagh earned a second opportunity to compete for the title by defeating Tyler Bate on the Sep. 20 episode of NXT.
Dragunov inserted himself into contending for the title because he had vacated the now-defunct NXT United Kingdom Championship. Since he never lost the title in a match, Breakker decided to defend the title against McDonagh and Dragunov.
Both opponents have more ring experience than Breakker, but the champion plans to display some new moves this Saturday. In an interview with past “Get to Know” series guest The Black Announce Table Podcast, Breakker teased that fans will be surprised by what he does in his title match.
“I got some stuff up my sleeve for Halloween Havoc, let’s say that. I got some new things; I’m going to break out,” said Breakker. The champion continued, “…I would like to do some stuff that’s uh, we’ll say legacy moves. You guys are just going to have to watch the show and see.” He added that he is still early in his wrestling career and continuously attempting to improve.
(via WWE)
Bron Breakker Praises Halloween Havoc Opponents
Although they will be his opponents at Halloween Havoc, Breakker shared his admiration for McDonagh and Dragunov. In the interview, the champion revealed that he’s followed Dragunov for years.
“…Ilja is tough. He’s a really great competitor. I’ve known about him for years. I mean, I know how tough he is. I actually got to watch him and Gunther; I want to say it was Takeover 36. I’m not positive of that, but I got to watch him live, and he’s an animal, so it’s going to be a battle,” said Breakker.
The WWE NXT Champion credited McDonagh for making him a better sports entertainer.
“JD McDonagh has made me better. He’s made me a better sports entertainer, you know, just made me sharper. I think he’s a great performer. Both of them are great, so I’m excited. We’re going to tear the freaking house down, and I can’t wait,” said Breakker.
Breakker seems ready to defend his title at Halloween Havoc successfully. He will have his hands full against two opponents looking to win their first WWE NXT Championship. While preparing for McDonagh and Dragunov, Breakker may also have to worry about 2022 Money in the Bank Winner Austin Theory cashing in on him.
All Elite Wrestling star Darby Allin decided to get extreme as he competed for Nitro Circus.
Allin appeared during Nitro Circus’s tour Nitro Circus: Good Bad and Rad on Sep. 9. The event took place at Maimonides Park in Brooklyn, New York.
His participation at Nitro Circus: Good Bad and Rad shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise. Both he and AEW has promoted that he would the former TNT Champion has promoted his involvement earlier this week on social media. AEW also shared a special code offer that would’ve given fans that wanted to attend 30 percent off.
Allin has participated in Nitro Circus in the past, as he unsuccessfully attempted to do a backflip down a long ramp while on a tricycle. However, yesterday the AEW star redeemed himself and successfully performed the stunt.
Darby Allin Out of AEW Grand Slam Tournaments of Champions
Allin was unsuccessful in his recent quest to challenge for the AEW World Championship when he faced Sammy Guevara at AEW Rampage yesterday. The loss happened after multiple distractions from Anna Jay, and Tay Melo led to Guevara defeating Allin.
The loss to Guevara puts Allin in an interesting position in his AEW career. The company’s Aug. 31 men’s contender’s rankings have him ranked fifth.
His loss to Guevara removes him from contending for the AEW World Championship, at least for a little while. Now that he is no longer in the title picture, for the time being, it should be interesting to see what the company has planned for Allin.
Allin and Sting seemingly ended their feud with the House of Black at AEW All Out on Sep. 4. As AEW builds towards AEW Grand Slam, it’s unclear if Allin will be involved at the event. Hopefully, the company will soon give Allin another notable feud.
While WWE spent over a year competing for ratings with AEW, the company has consistently downplayed talks of AEW as rivals. Triple H, in the past, has denigrated AEW and has gone as far as calling them a “pissant company.”
In an interview with BT Sport’s Ariel Helwani, Triple H was asked if it was true that NXT got rebranded to NXT 2.0 because they couldn’t beat AEW in the ratings. The WWE executive Vice President of Talent Relations denied the rumor and again downplayed talks of WWE viewing AEW as a competition.
“People put so much pressure on this, all these competitive wars, it never was that. Look, first of all, they beat our developmental system. Good for them, right?”
– Triple H on AEW
He continued, “It was never that. There was never even a pressure of like you have to beat that like it was never that. It was put on the best product we could.”
Triple H on Why NXT changed to NXT 2.0
Many wrestling fans felt that NXT’s shift to NXT 2.0 resulted from not being able to compete with AEW Dynamite’s success. One reason could be that the change happened soon after moving the brand to Tuesday.
However, Triple H expressed that it was a necessary change because they missed the ability to use a developmental system to make new stars.
“It shifted over time during the pandemic, all of that shifted over time and the opportunity for us to change it back to what it truly was, right when you look at a lot of the stars that have come through that system that had either started from zero or very little exposure anywhere and then became massive stars with us, kind of so many people and we lost the ability to take those people and groom them from the ground up. We really had, and it’s the biggest change that’s out there,” said Triple H.
He also shared that he is proud of Shawn Michaels and the NXT 2.0 staff for handling the developmental brand. He added that the decision to rebrand NXT UK to NXT Europe is similar to NXT 2.0 situation and wants to expand the developmental system to different parts of the world like India or South Africa.
Conclusion
Wrestling fans continue to be split on whether they should be a fan of WWE or AEW. However, Triple H is of the mindset that the WWE is operating on what is best for them and thinking about AEW.
He also has a big ambition to focus on making developmental territories worldwide to discover new stars.
What AEW President Tony Khan thinks about Triple H’s comments is unclear. Although, we may hear his thoughts at the All Out post-Press Conference this Sunday.
In the latest installment of the Get to Know series, we bring you a special interview with UK wrestling podcast Wresthings.
The United States has seen many independent wrestling podcasts grow and expand their reach worldwide. However, it’s not as common to see international wrestling content creators gain popularity in the U.S.
Wresthings have slowly risen as one of the most popular United Kingdom podcasts in wrestling. They’ve already grown a fanbase in their hometown of London, England, but they are also gaining popularity in America. People are taking notice of the Wresthings group, whether it be other podcasters or wrestlers.
I recently spoke with Delboy, N.K, Anarfi, VRSYJNES, and Mekz of Wresthings about their growing successful media career. Sam Blackz and Laps were, unfortunately, unavailable at the time.
Here’s the video of our discussion, followed by written highlights.
How Did The Wresthings Podcast Start?
The Wresthings podcast started as a group of wrestling fans wanting to discuss current wrestling content without being judged and making it cool to watch. Finding people still watching present-day wrestling in the UK may not be easy, particularly in the inner city community.
Working as musicians, Delboy and Anarfi know each other and bonded in an Instagram group chat about wrestling. Having a common interest, both creators decided to start the Wresthings brand.
When talking about coming together as wrestling fans to discuss wrestling, Anarfi said, “…It’s crazy because back in the day, I’d speak to people about wrestling, and the first thing people would say is oh, isn’t that fake or they say something like oh, Stone Cold still wrestling and stuff and it’s like those were conversations there I didn’t really want to hear. For example, there was a moment in time when I didn’t watch wrestling, and Del was my go-to guy.”
He continued, “…It was just nice that we can have this sort of like this forum or community, or brotherhood or sisterhood or family or whatever that we can actually come through, post our wrestling content, speak about other stuff, check on up with mental health and life and stuff. So yeah, It’s gone from us being like wrestling fans and just talking about wrestling all the time to doing other stuff and caring for each other.”
Delboy would also contact VRSYJNES and Blackz to join them as they also bonded about wrestling. They officially launched their podcast on Jan. 11, 2019. As the podcast progressed over the years, other current podcast members joined, and the brand gained popularity.
Dealing with Fame as Content Creators
While the podcast is gaining success, the group members are getting more recognized among their peers. Although it can sometimes be overwhelming, the group takes pride in helping make wrestling popular among the black community in the U.K.
The group noted how they are getting noticed in public by fans and how much it meant to them to see people love their work. Delboy shared what it meant to see his brother watching Wresthings.
“…I’m tired of my siblings watching WhatCulture. I’ll be real, said Delboy jokingly. He continued, “I’m tired of them watching What Culture and Cultaholic and Wrestletalk, no disrespect to them. I love them. I watch them all the time, but it brings a smile to my face when I’m going downstairs, and I’m watching my brother watch my podcast. it makes me feel like, yeah it’s just as important as watching Simon Miller or an Adam Blampied. For him to look at us, yeah I want to listen to your podcast. I don’t agree with this, what Anarfi said here was rubbish or what Blackz said here I enjoyed, for me it’s like yeah this is why I do it.”
Delboy also added that “…The fact that there are black kids watching us and being able to have us as an alternative to the majors, for me, it’s like we are doing what we need to do. So we have to carry on and continue until we take over, and we have all these black kids watching us.”
Their Thoughts on Clash at Castle Taking Place in Cardiff, Wales
WWE will hold its next event, Clash at the Castle, on Sep. 3 at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales. Although the event is in the U.K, it’s not an easy trip to make if you live in England.
Wresthings shared that they wouldn’t be able to attend, and the travel would cost more than going to New York. The group is also confused about why the event is happening in Cardiff.
“…No disrespect to Wales, but London is the capital or at least if not London, you know we have big other cities here Manchester, Birmingham, like not too sure why they went to Wales. Maybe it’s availability of the stadium, but those that are going, they’ve done hard work to make sure they are going,” said Mekz. He continued, “…I know people that are going that aren’t staying in Cardiff, which is the city it’s happening in. They are staying in other cities in Wales, just because of availability of hotels and cheaper tickets and they are going to go from those other cities into Cardiff on the day. WWE hasn’t made this show as accessible as you would like really and truly. You know, hopefully it’s a successful show for them and they come back to the U.K somewhere closer to us in general.”
Clash at the Castle isn’t sold out, with tickets still on sale at Ticketmaster. The event also has tickets available for resale.
What Are Wresthings Future Plans?
The future for Wresthings seems to be promising. Each podcast member has goals they want to accomplish for the brand.
One of the biggest things they look to achieve is creating subscription services like Patreon to create more content and earn more financial growth. However, Anarfi shared that it won’t be happening just yet.
Outside of doing weekly wrestling content, they continue to have famous U.K wrestlers sometimes appear on their show, like Will Ospreay or Gabriel Kidd. They recently had Ava White on their Aug. 12 episode, who will be competing in the IWGP Women’s Championship Tournament at Royal Quest 2 Night two on Oct. 2.
The group also discussed doing more things creatively in wrestling, like having their wrestling event under their brand. Wresthings have shown great ambition to take the brand to new levels.
They hope to continue making discussing wrestling fun and entertaining as they flourish. While it started as friends discussing WWE, Wresthings has become a successful wrestling media brand.
The WWE Draft that was rumored to take place shortly after Clash of the Castle is no longer expected to take place.
Earlier this month, it was reported by Fightful Select that members of the Raw roster were scheduled to appear on the first SmackDown after Clash at the Castle, while while SmackDown superstars were slated for the following week’s Raw.
This led to a feeling amongst talent that WWE will be holding a Draft over the next several weeks. On Tuesday, we got another update that dispels that earlier report.
Conflicting Reports
Per Fightful, Raw talent is no longer scheduled to appear on SmackDown. While some WWE stars still expect a draft to be held, there’s reason to believe that’s not the case.
The latest update is that sources within the USA Network are not aware of any plans for a WWE Draft taking place in September. In fact, April 2023, following WrestleMania 39, is a more likely timeframe for the next roster shakeup.
“USA Network sources have told talent that the Draft isn’t happening in the immediate future, have outright stated to that after WrestleMania is a likelier landing spot.”
– Fightful Select
WWE has yet to announce anything related to an upcoming Draft. For now, it’s safe to say that your favorite Raw and Smackdown talent will be staying put for the foreseeable future. We’ll be tracking this story and will keep you posted if there are any developments.
