SEScoops

Category: NXT

  • Scarlett Bordeaux Has A Good Reason To Want NXT 2.0 To Be Successful

    Scarlett Bordeaux Has A Good Reason To Want NXT 2.0 To Be Successful

    The rebranding of NXT has mostly been met with criticism from the fans. The new version of the show has failed to attract the younger audience as officials had hoped. Many believe that WWE should either revert back to the old presentation of the show or shut it down. However, Scarlett Bordeaux who was one of the last stars to be trained under the development brand before its repackaging is rooting for NXT 2.0 to succeed.

    Scarlett and her fiance Killer Kross recently appeared on the latest episode of Oral Sessions with Renée Paquette. When asked for their thoughts on NXT 2.0, Bordeaux claimed that she wants it to be successful. She explained the reasoning for it, saying that a failure for the brand would lead to more of their friends losing their jobs:

    “We have so many friends there. No matter what we want everyone to be successful and have jobs. We want it to do well, because if it doesn’t do well, that’s even more people we care about out of jobs. So we want [it] to be successful.

    Scarlett Bordeaux continued: “It’s different. I’ll say this. It maybe feels a bit more sterile compared to what it was for me. We understand why they’re trying to appeal to the largest market and we want it to do well. I prefer the old grungy underground NXT personally. I just think there’s a lot of really talented, awesome people in that company. We want to see our friends do well.”

    During the same interview, Killer Kross also gave his thoughts on his time with WWE. He explained that he doesn’t regret his run with the company overall. Though the former NXT champion also revealed the one thing he would change about his tenure. You can check out his comments at this link.

    If you use any quotes from this article please credit SEScoops with an H/t for transcription

    Killer Kross & Scarlett Comment On Their WWE Departures
  • Shawn Michaels Comments On New Role With NXT

    Shawn Michaels Comments On New Role With NXT

    Shawn Michaels recently discussed his new role in NXT during an interview with Denise Salcedo. Previously, Michaels had been in a coaching role for the brand. Since Triple H has been absent, however, Michaels has stepped up and is now involved more on the television and creative side of things.

    “I’ve now stepped out of the physical coaching aspect and into the Vice President of Talent Development and focusing more on television, the live show, and creative,” Michaels said. “The talent pool has gotten very big. To me, the biggest advantage of all of that is the freshness, the newness. When I went from a tag team to a single competitor, I wasn’t given a cookie-cutter ‘this is your character, this is what you’re gonna do.’ “

    https://twitter.com/WWENXT/status/1475587299282927626

    Shawn Michaels On Helping Characters Evolve In NXT

    Michaels continued to talk about needing some time to find his “Heartbreak Kid” character and how in NXT they work to allow characters to evolve. He also spoke about working in collaboration with new talent to find out who they are.

    “I was able to have some time to find ‘The Heartbreak Kid.’ I didn’t know who he was at the time but I had an opportunity to evolve this character and make it mine,” he continued. “That’s the one thing we’re allowed to do now with these new athletes coming in, is have time to sit down, to talk with them, to find out who they are, to get their insight, it really is a collaboration.”

    The full interview with Michaels can be seen in the player below:

    NXT will be live tonight from the WWE Performance Center in Orlando. 2 matches have been officially confirmed for the show. Cora Jade & Raquel Gonzalez will team up to take on the Toxic Attraction team of Gigi Dolin & Jacy Jayne. Also tonight, Dexter Lumis and Grayson Waller will meet in singles action.

    H/T To Wrestling Inc. for the above transcriptions.

  • Britt Baker gets the last laugh after WWE scrubs her NXT appearance

    Britt Baker gets the last laugh after WWE scrubs her NXT appearance

    AEW Women’s World champion Britt Baker was ringside NXT Takeover: War Games back in 2019. She was actually shown on camera during the broadcast, but you wouldn’t know that by watching the event on Peacock / the WWE Network.

    A fan informed Britt Baker on Instagram that WWE edited her off the broadcast – “they cut your moment out lol”

    Baker doesn’t seem bothered by WWE snubbing her with this edit. The Doc replied:

    “That’s okay. They took me out, I took their BAY BAY”

    Of course, Baker is referring to her significant other – Adam Cole, bay-bay.

    After being featured as the franchise player of NXT for the past several years, Cole jumped ship to All Elite Wrestling back in September.

    Kyle O’Reilly Comments On Signing With AEW
  • Shawn Michaels Comments On Adam Cole, Johnny Gargano, & Kyle O’Reilly Leaving NXT

    Shawn Michaels Comments On Adam Cole, Johnny Gargano, & Kyle O’Reilly Leaving NXT

    Shawn Michaels recently commented on the NXT departures of Adam Cole, Johnny Gargano, & Kyle O’Reilly. Now that they are gone, Michaels admits they are the reason he fell back in love with sports entertainment.

    “We still keep in contact, but yeah it is bittersweet, those young men were a big part of my life, they were a lot of the reason that I sort of got back into this line of work,” Michaels said during an interview with Denise Salcedo. “I was happily retired.”

    “When it came to Johnny, Tommaso, Adam, those guys, even way back, the Revival Boys, Shawn Spears who was Tye Dellinger at the time, all those young men sitting in a room with them; their passion, their excitement, their desire to be better was just hard not to love,” he continued.

    In November of 2018, it was revealed that Michaels was now working as a writer and producer for NXT. This was shortly after he had returned for one match at the Crown Jewel event in Saudi Arabia.

    “They are the reason that I came back, and fell back in love with Sports Entertainment, with this line of work. As you’ve heard and everyone has numerous times, in NXT at the Performance Center, is where it’s still pure, it’s still all the reasons we get into it before it becomes business, and money and negotiations and things of that nature. To fast forward your question, I miss them.”

    Adam Cole, Kyle O’Reilly, and Bobby Fish Unite In AEW

    Adam Cole debuted for AEW this fall at the All Out PPV in Chicago. He aligned with the Young Bucks and they re-created their Super Kliq team. Then on this week’s Dynamite show from the Greensboro Coliseum, Kyle O’Reilly debuted for AEW as well. O’Reilly helped Adam Cole defeat Orange Cassidy. Then him, Cole, and Bobby Fish all left together, leaving the Young Bucks alone in the ring. After being at the top of NXT since 2017 as the Undisputed Era, they now appear to have re-aligned in AEW.

    The full interview with Shawn Michaels can be heard in the player below:

    H/T To WrestlingNews.co for the transcriptions

  • Wade Barrett Explains How He Got His Current Role In NXT

    Wade Barrett Explains How He Got His Current Role In NXT

    When Wade Barrett left WWE in 2016, many expected him to return to the promotion sooner or later. Very few, however, thought that he would be returning as a full-time commentator for NXT. The former IC champion returned to the promotion in August 2020. He replaced Mauro Ranallo who was released by the officials. Barrett has been the lead commentator for the developmental brand ever since.

    The former Nexus leader was the latest guest on Corey Graves’ After The Bell. Explaining why he took the commentator job, Barrett revealed that he was first given the opportunity by the late Dusty Rhodes. According to him, it was something that was always in the back of his mind:

    “I left WWE in 2016. I’ve been with the company close to 10 years through developmental and all that stuff. I was really kind of burned out by 2016 and looking not only to step away from WWE but from the industry in general. So I kind of took a couple of years, went away, did some other things like acting, some TV hosting and slowly but surely as tends to be the case the love for sports entertainment wrestling, came back. [So] I started doing some independent things here and there.

    Wade Barrett continued: “The one thing that I always knew I wanted to do when I got a little older, I didn’t want to be a coach. I didn’t want to be a trainer or set up my own training school, which a lot of guys do. I really wanted to be a commentator. When I was back in developmental in Florida Championship Wrestling in 2009, I was actually a commentator there under Dusty Rhodes. He decided to give me a shot at that and he really liked what I was doing. I was working with Byron Sexton who was the play-by-play guy, so I always knew, Okay, that’s in my back pocket. One day I [would] love doing that. I’d love to get back to it one day.”

    Wade Barrett Explains How He Got Hired As A Commentator

    Wade Barrett
    Wade Barrett

    Wade Barrett then explained how he got the position in NXT. Michael Cole first contacted him in the summer of 2020. The two sides talked for a while but a deal was not made. At first, Barrett was told that it was going to be a while before he can take up the position, but then things changed in a very WWE manner:

    “Thankfully I got a call from Tom Phillips and Michael Cole back in summer 2020 saying ‘look, we’ve got a position opening up. We think you be great for it. We’ve seen what you’ve done before. We think you’re a good fit for the show. Are you interested?’ Two or three weeks after chatting with them, they’re like, ‘yeah you know, probably come back in about six months or something like that. It’s gonna be a little while.’ Then I got an emergency phone call from Michael Cole: ‘Hey, we need you in tomorrow. Can You get on a plane? We need you to start right now.’ [I went] ‘Okay, yeah, let’s do it.’ So, as is the case in WWE, things change very rapidly.”

    If you use any quotes from the article please credit SEScoops with an H/t for transcription

    Wade Barrett Teases Potential WWE In-Ring Return

  • Kevin Owens feels no attachment to NXT 2.0, not interested in returning

    Kevin Owens feels no attachment to NXT 2.0, not interested in returning

    Kevin Owens says he feels no connection to NXT 2.0, despite being a former NXT Champion and one of the most successful Superstars to pass through developmental.

    The 37-year-old grappler from Quebec recently appeared on les Anti-Pods de la Lutte to discuss his decision to re-sign with WWE and much more.

    During his discussion with Pat Laprade and Kevin Raphael, Owens said he barely recognizes the current incarnation of NXT.

    Kevin Owens doesn’t recognize NXT 2.0

    Kevin Owens NXT Champion
    Kevin Owens as NXT Champion (2015)

    “Today’s NXT is very different than the NXT I was part of, to the point I believe it should have a totally different name,” he said. “And I don’t think it’s better or worse, but it’s just too different. So when I’m watching NXT, I don’t see the NXT I was part of. It’s not the same thing.”

    Owens says NXT is a bit like Ring of Honor, in that it evolved so much that it’s barely recognizable anymore. “I don’t even consider that to be the same show,” he added. “I don’t really feel any attachment to NXT now.”

    He still checks in on NXT 2.0 and sees talented people down there. However, the brand is so different that he’s not interested in returning there like Finn Balor did.

    “I don’t think I fit in the new NXT as I was fitting in the NXT I was part of, with guys like Sami, Finn, Samoa Joe and Nakamura. When I watch NXT now, I don’t feel the same thing I felt when I was watching NXT two years ago.”

    Original Plans For Kevin Owens’ 2019 NXT Return
  • NXT’s Cora Jade Calls Out Darby Allin Over Past Allegations

    NXT’s Cora Jade Calls Out Darby Allin Over Past Allegations

    AEW star Darby Allin and NXT star Cora Jade are trending worldwide on Twitter after getting involved in a heated exchange earlier yesterday.

    It all started when the former TNT champion made a post showing him skateboarding at a local park. This prompted a number of responses.

    A fan suggested that Allin should have a skateboarding match with Jade, whose NXT character is also based around skateboarding.

    Responding to the fan, Darby Allin fired some shots at the NXT star. He wrote: “Skating is a huge part of my life not a fake character for tv lol”

    This led to Cora Jade firing back at the AEW signee, she wrote back: “Being a good person with no abuse allegations against me is a huge part of my life and not just a character I play on TV.”

    Both the stars have since deleted their tweets, but social media has been eating up this inter-promotional spat.

    Jade is referring to Allin being accused of sexual abuse by indie wrestler Hawlee Cromwell during the speaking out movement last year.

    Jade is a friend of Cromwell and the two have previously teamed in the indies. Allin’s ex-wife Gigi Dolin, who is one-half of the current NXT tag team champions, has also feuded with Jade.

    Darby Allin Doesn’t ‘Give A Sh*t’ About AEW World Title
  • Zoey Stark Provides Update On Her Recovery

    Zoey Stark Provides Update On Her Recovery

    NXT star Zoey Stark has provided an update on her health and confirmed that she is now able to walk around on her own without crutches.

    The female star provided the update on Instagram on Wednesday. She posted a video and thanked her physical therapist for her progress in the caption:

    “Officially off the crutches and walking on my own! Next step = RUNNING Thank you to my awesome Physical Therapist Lauren! @wwenxt #WWENXT,”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CXhRaB3g85w/

    Zoey Stark has not wrestled on WWE TV since the NXT Halloween Havoc special on October 26. Stark and her partner Io Shirai defended their NXT tag team titles in a triple threat match.

    The ladder match dubbed as Scareway to Hell saw Toxic Attraction’s Gigi Dolin and Jacy Jayne win the tag team championships from the duo.

    The company then did an injury angle with Zoey during the November 2 episode of NXT. She was taken to the hospital after being attacked by Dolin and Jayne.

    The angle was done so the female star can take time off to repair a torn ACL. She underwent the required surgery in early November.

    There is no news on when we can expect her back in the ring at this point. Though this latest update is a positive sign for her fans.

    FTR Shares Plans for 2022: “We Don’t Have Much Longer on These Current Contracts”
  • Bron Breakker Wants to Work With Brock Lesnar: “It Would Be a War”

    Bron Breakker Wants to Work With Brock Lesnar: “It Would Be a War”

    Bron Breakker has shared his thoughts on the possibility of competing against Brock Lesnar.

    The NXT 2.0 star appeared on El Brunch with Quetzallli Bulnes to discuss who he’d like to face on the main roster. The interview came after he defeated Rodrick Strong on Tuesday’s NXT 2.0.

    Bulnes brought up names like Roman Reigns and Finn Balor, but Breakker expressed intrigue when Lesnar’s name came up.

    “I met him, I want to say like 2017, maybe or something like that. I went backstage to a Raw when I was in college,” said Breakker. “I met him there, but as a performer, I haven’t ran into him. Yeah, I’d love to work with Brock.”

    Bron Breakker sees Brock Lesnar as someone who would push him to step up his game.

    “He is an animal,” he continued. “I think he would kind of like Roddy elevate me. You know, force me to elevate and bring my game up as well. I think Brock would do the same thing, and I think it would be a war.”

    Bron Breakker Feud with Tommaso Ciampa

    Since his debut in NXT 2.0, Breaker’s goal is to be NXT Champion. He also played into the heel role. He challenged the current champion, Tommaso Ciampa, at Halloween Havoc on October 26th. While he lost the match, Breakker shared the following week on NXT 2.0 that the feud wasn’t over.

    The two competed on opposite teams during WWE NXT WarGames on December 5th. Breakker team won, with Breakker also pinning Ciampa to gain victory. Both have pinned each other in a match, which helps set up an NXT Championship rematch. However, it seems that Ciampa is now the heel in the feud.

    On Tuesday’s NXT 2.0 episode, Ciampa attacked Breakker after his match with Strong. The attack also seemed out of character from how Ciampa has acted recently. It’s unclear if the WWE is swapping roles with Ciampa and Breakker. However, it does appear that NXT 2.0 fans will be getting a rematch soon.

  • Johnny Gargano Becomes Free Agent

    Johnny Gargano Becomes Free Agent

    Johnny Gargano has become a free agent.

    The former DIY member originally had his contract expiring on December 3 but he signed a week’s extension to work the Takeover: WarGames PPV and this week’s NXT.

    Gargano decided not to sign any further extensions despite offers from WWE officials and he has become a free agent after midnight on December 10. The news was first reported by FightFul Select.

    The former NXT champion’s departure is said to be ‘incredibly amicable’. The door has been left open for both sides to work together in the future and many within WWE are hopeful about his return in the future.

    Gargano’s Future

    Since his contract has expired Johnny Gargano is now free to sign with any promotion or appear on TV for any other organization.

    Though after his promo on Tuesday’s NXT, there is speculation that Gargano may take some time off from wrestling and help his wife Candice LeRae as the couple prepares to welcome their first child together in February.

    Kyle O’Reilly also has his NXT contract expiring this month but there hasn’t been a confirmation of the exact date for the same as of yet.

    Johnny Gargano has not made any comments about his future plans so far. It appears that fans will have to wait for him to show up somewhere to know where his next destination is.

  • Update On Johnny Gargano & Kyle O’Reilly Possibly Staying In WWE

    Update On Johnny Gargano & Kyle O’Reilly Possibly Staying In WWE

    On NXT this week, it seemed as though both Johnny Gargano and Kyle O’Reilly were written off television. According to comments made by Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio, however, there is reason to believe that both will be back in the company.

    “Both of their contracts are up or will be up in a couple of days. Neither has signed,” Meltzer said. “The feeling from what I was told from people in NXT is that they believe they are going to be back.”

    It was noted that both Gargano and O’Reilly are having children early next year. The belief from some in NXT is that the angles on Tuesday night were meant to write O’Reilly and Gargano off television but that they will both return later.

    “Both are having children early next year. Gargano talked about it, O’Reilly it’s the same situation. The feeling is the angles were to injure them, take them out for awhile and then they would comeback.”

    Meltzer noted that if they are returning in 2022, then why had they not signed new contracts with WWE?

    “If that’s the case, do you let your contract just expire? If that was the case then why didn’t you just sign a new contract? I don’t know exactly what the deal is. I know that in one of the cases, one of those people was very much considering AEW but had not made that choice.”

    He concluded that WWE would not have done the angle they did for Gargano if they were expecting him to show up on AEW shortly after, however.

    “WWE didn’t do that thing for Johnny Gargano to have him show up next week in AEW,” Meltzer said.

  • Cora Jade Comments On Wrestling In WarGames Match

    Cora Jade Comments On Wrestling In WarGames Match

    Cora Jade got the pin for her team in the women’s WarGames match on Sunday. The 20-year-old has only wrestled in 11 matches in WWE thus far. She recently spoke to Sports Illustrated about what her match at WarGames meant to her.

    “I started crying and it was such raw emotion,” said Jade. “I fell in love with this when I was eight. It’s what I’ve wanted and worked for over the past 12 years. To go into the back after the match, after a WarGames match, and have people like Shawn Michaels and Road Dogg shake my hand, it’s the craziest, most amazing thing.”

    Jade made her professional debut at only 17 years old in 2018. She then wrestled on the independents for a period. Jade was also squashed by Havok once on Impact and wrestled on 2 episodes of AEW Dark. In 2021, she was signed by WWE and debuted in the Women’s Dusty Rhodes Classic where she partnered with Gigi Dolin. They were eliminated in the first round.

    “I wrestled on the indies before this, but there is nothing that can ever compare to tonight,” said Jade. “And I’ll always remember standing up on top of that cage. It’s pretty high and scary. But when opportunity arises, you go get it.”

    Jade dove off the cage and went through a table during WarGames. She then sold an injured arm for the remainder of the match. Jade would later say that her dive off the cage symbolized that it’s her time now in NXT.

    “The ‘Generation of Jade’ is here in NXT 2.0,” said Jade. “It’s a new generation, a new time, and that dive off the cage symbolized that.”

  • Bron Breakker Comments On Being The 3rd Steiner To Wrestle In WarGames

    Bron Breakker Comments On Being The 3rd Steiner To Wrestle In WarGames

    When Bron Breakker wrestled in the men’s WarGames match on Sunday, he became the 3rd member of his family to do so. Both Rick and Scott Steiner were in the 1991 War Games match, and Scott also participated in the 2000 men’s War Games match.

    “It’s a night I’ve dreamed about for a long time,” said Breakker in an interview with Sports Illustrated. “WarGames was an unbelievable opportunity, and I put absolutely everything I had into it.

    “The path that my family has paved for me is something I have always wanted to do,” he continued. “I’m very blessed and privileged to be in a spot where I can look to my family for advice. They always give me great advice and pointers of where I can improve.”

    Breakker also commented on being in the match with Johnny Gargano. He also wrestled and defeated Gargano to earn his team the WarGames advantage on the November 30th episode of NXT.

    “To be in a WarGames with Johnny Gargano, that means the world to me,” Breakker said. “Johnny is a fantastic performer, among the best in the world. He’s so great out there, as tough as nails, he’s gone out of his way to help and give me advice. He’s a fantastic human being and performer, and I can’t say enough good things about Johnny Gargano.”

    Bron Breakker’s 12 Professional Wrestling Matches

    The WarGames match on Sunday was just the 12th professional wrestling match in Bron Breakker’s career. In addition to the matches he’s had on NXT, Breakker wrestled 5x on WWE’s recent live event tour in the UK. Breakker is 6-1 in matches on NXT. He’s also 0-5 in matches on house shows, where he lost a triple threat match to Tommaso Ciampa (Sami Zayn was the 3rd wrestler) 4x. He also lost one singles match to Ciampa on the tour.

  • 5 Matches Announced For Next Week’s NXT

    5 Matches Announced For Next Week’s NXT

    Bron Breakker pinned NXT Champion Tommaso Ciampa in the men’s War Games match on Sunday. He will face Roderick Strong on next week’s episode.

    Breakker came out on last night’s NXT ready to issue a challenge for the title but instead he was interrupted by Diamond Mine manager, Malcolm Bivens, as well as the Creed Brothers and Ivy Nile. Bivens told Breaker that while he may have Ciampa in his sights, Strong’s sights are focussed on him.

    When Breakker faces Strong next week, it will be just his 13th professional wrestling match. He was defeated by Tommaso Ciampa in an NXT title match at Halloween Havoc in just his 4th professional match.

    4 other matches have also been scheduled for the December 14th show.

    We will also see the in-ring debut of Parker Boudreaux, aka Harland next week. He has been aligned with Joe Gacy since October. No opponent has been announced for him for next week.

    Cameron Grimes and Duke Hudson will continue their rivalry next week. They will meet in a no holds barred match.

    Tony D’Angelo will also be in action next week when he takes on Andre Chase.

    Boa will also face Edris Enofe on the show.

  • Watch Shawn Michaels Greeting Johnny Gargano And Kyle O’Reilly After NXT

    Watch Shawn Michaels Greeting Johnny Gargano And Kyle O’Reilly After NXT

    Shawn Michaels has been a mentor for many NXT stars that have gotten through the brand over the last few years, including Johnny Gargano and Kyle O’Reilly.

    The close bond among these stars was visible when they greeted each other after this week’s episode of the show went off air.

    The show ended with Gargano delivering an emotional speech about his future. After the cameras stopped rolling, Michaels came out and shared a moment with both Gargano and O’Reilly as seen below:

    https://twitter.com/covalent_tv/status/1468442791067926533

    Both Johnny Gargano and Kyle O’Reilly’s WWE contracts expire this month. There has been a lot of speculation on what’s next for these stars.

    They were brought to a SmackDown episode last month. Latest reports suggest that the officials have offered them multi-year deals to stay with the promotion.

    Though like the other recent NXT departures such Adam Cole and Bobby Fish, many believe that Johnny Gargano and Kyle O’Reilly are both likely to be heading to AEW once done with their WWE obligations.

    Now this emotional greeting with Shawn Michaels has added another layer to the belief that Gargano and O’Reilly are leaving and it’s only a matter of time before we see them on AEW TV.

  • Io Shirai On If She Would Be Open To A Move To Main Roster

    Io Shirai On If She Would Be Open To A Move To Main Roster

    Many of the NXT stars have reservations about a potential move to the main roster. Though Io Shirai is not one of them and she actually looks forward to the challenges she might face after a call up.

    The former NXT women’s champion recently had an interview with Sports Illustrated. She talked about things such as her experience in WWE so far and more.

    When asked if she will be open to a move to Raw or SmackDown, Shirai replied positively, saying that the opportunity would present new goals for her:

    “Of course, I would be open to a move to SmackDown or Raw. The opportunity would present new goals and encounters different from what I have achieved and experienced in NXT.”

    Io Shirai also named a couple of stars she would like to step into the ring with, including a potential rematch with none other than Sasha Banks:

    “I would like a rematch with Sasha Banks as soon as possible. I also heard Bayley say she wanted to have a match with me, and I would definitely relish my first confrontation with her. If it is a title match, even better.”

    The team of Io Shirai and Zoey Stark lost the NXT tag team titles at the Halloween Havoc event in September. People have been wondering if it’s an indication of her moving to the main roster soon but the same hasn’t been announced yet.

    Io Shirai Compares Wrestling In Japan & The United States
  • Carmelo Hayes wants to wrestle Roman Reigns: “He’s that guy.”

    Carmelo Hayes wants to wrestle Roman Reigns: “He’s that guy.”

    Carmelo Hayes has big aspirations in WWE.

    The high-flying Superstar has garnered a lot of attention since debuting for NXT back in June. Since then, he’s won the NXT Breakout Tournament and captured the coveted North American championship.

    Hayes appeared on The War Report podcast this week to discuss his plans to elevate NXT 2.0, his friendship with Trick Williams and more.

    When asked who he wants to work with on the main roster, Carmelo Hayes set his sights on the biggest dog in the yard.

    “Roman,” he said. “I feel like that’s the only answer. I feel like, go big or go home. It’s Roman, bro.”

    Carmelo Hayes on Roman Reigns

    Carmelo Hayes

    Co-host Justin says that it seems like Roman Reigns is a mythical figure within the WWE locker room. Everyone looks at him as the gold standard for success. He asked Hayes if that’s true, and he agreed.

    “Yeah, that’s true, bro. He’s that guy, for real. I met him when I did SmackDown. He’s that guy. He’s that guy who you should want to wrestle, because he’s the big money guy. If you think about it, big match, big moments. He’s that guy.”

    For Carmelo Hayes, it makes sense that he’d want to challenge the biggest star in WWE. For Roman Reigns, it’s another example that being the best means you’ve often got a target on your back. You can’t take your foot off the gas peddle, because there’s always someone young and hungry wanting your spot.

    Listen to Carmelo Hayes’ appearance on The War Room podcast:

  • WWE May Be Ditching NXT Cruiserweight Title

    WWE May Be Ditching NXT Cruiserweight Title

    WWE may be doing away with its NXT Cruiserweight Championship.

    The Orlando-based developmental brand has undergone huge changes in recent months. All aspects of NXT’s identity have been revamped, from the roster to the taping studio at the Performance Center.

    On the latest Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer revealed there is reporting that WWE is considering dropping the NXT Cruiserweight Title.

    NXT Cruiserweight Title Being Replaced?

    Roderick Strong is the current NXT Cruiserweight Champion. He’s currently feuding with Joe Gacy, who has been hinting at introducing an “all-inclusive” championship.

    Gacy will get a chance to dethrone Roderick Strong this Sunday at NXT Takeover: WarGames. Should Gacy capture the title, this would be a prime opportunity to introduce a rebranded undercard title.

    Stay tuned this weekend, when we should get a better idea about the future of the NXT Cruiserweight Championship.

  • Beth Phoenix Done With NXT Commentary After WarGames

    Beth Phoenix Done With NXT Commentary After WarGames

    Beth Phoenix is ending her run as a commentator for NXT. Her final show as a full-time broadcaster for the brand will be this Sunday at WarGames.

    The WWE Hall of Famer announced her decision on Thursday. Phoenix says she is stepping away to spend more time with her family. She and WWE Superstar Edge have two children together.

    “Ahead of WarGames, I wanted to share that this Sunday will be my final night in NXT,” she wrote. “While I will remain a part of WWE, I have made the choice to step away from the weekly broadcast booth to spend more time with my family.”

    Phoenix says it was not an easy decision to step away from the NXT commentary table. She’s been with the brand for over three years and has called the action on 135 episodes of NXT TV.

    “I’m incredibly proud of the brand.”

    – Beth Phoenix

    She thanked many people who have helped her in NXT, including Vic Joseph, Wade Barrett, Nigel McGuiness, Tom Phillips, Mauro Ranallo, Triple H, Shawn Michaels, Michael Cole and more.

    “NXT will always be a part of me and Auntie Betty will always be a part of NXT,” she added. “Leave the porch light on for me!”

  • WWE Surveying Fans For Feedback On NXT 2.0

    WWE Surveying Fans For Feedback On NXT 2.0

    WWE has sent out a survey to many of their email subscribers recently asking for feedback on the NXT 2.0 brand. According to a report from PW Insider, the survey asks fans if they watched the old NXT and what they think of the new brand re-launch.

    Fans were asked to rate how much they enjoy or do not enjoy the following on NXT 2.0:

    • Outcomes of the matches
    • Look and aesthetic of the show
    • Quality of wrestling
    • Variety of stars featured
    • Providing unexpected moments
    • Storylines
    • Quality of the matches
    • Level of excitement
    • Whether it was entertaining from start to finish
    • Athleticism of the stars
    • Length of the show
    • Entertainment value of the show

    Fans were also asked if they agree or disagree with several statements including:

    • This show has many unique and exciting characters.
    • I enjoy the athleticism of the wrestling talent on the show.
    • Character development is believable.
    • The wrestling talent has creative freedom to speak their minds.
    • Promos feel natural and not too scripted.
    • The show does a good job in developing newer wrestling talent.
    • This show is one of my favorites among all professional wrestling shows.
    • Most segments on the show feel necessary to watch.
    • I can count on seeing at least some big or important moments.
    • Match outcomes feel meaningful.
    • Storylines are consistently engaging.
    • The show offers an amount of humor that appeals to me.
    • I share content or talk about this show with my friends or other fans.
    • Rivalries and match-ups on this show are consistently entertaining.

    Fan Vote To Determine Participants In War Games Advantage Ladder Match

    NXT is building to the upcoming War Games PPV on December 5th. WWE.com is holding a fan vote to determine which members of the men’s teams square off in a ladder match to determine which team gains the War Games advantage.

    NXT War Games 2021 Lineup:

    • Women’s War Games Match
      Raquel González, Io Shirai, Cora Jade, and Kay Lee Rayvs. Dakota Kai and Toxic Attraction (Mandy Rose, Gigi Dolin, and Jacy Jayne)
    • Men’s War Games Match
      Tommaso Ciampa and Johnny Gargano, Pete Dunne, and LA Knight vs. Bron Breakker, Carmelo Hayes, Grayson Waller, and Tony D’Angelo
    • NXT Cruiserweight Championship
      Roderick Strong (c) vs Joe Gacy
    • Hair vs Hair
      Cameron Grimes vs Duke Hudson
    • NXT Tag Team Championships
      Imperium (Fabian Aichner and Marcel Barthel) (c) vs. Kyle O’Reilly and Von Wagner or Legado Del Fantasma(Joaquin Wilde and Raul Mendoza)
  • Pay Close Attention To This On Tonight’s NXT 2.0

    Pay Close Attention To This On Tonight’s NXT 2.0

    The road to War Games continues tonight on NXT 2.0. It’s sure to be an eventful broadcast, with three of the brand’s top champions in action. However, fans should pay close attention to the North American Championship match.

    North American champion Carmelo Hayes will put his gold on the line against Johnny Gargano and Pete Dunne. The finish of this triple threat match could say a lot about Gargano’s future with WWE.

    Johnny Wrestling’s WWE contract is set to expire in just a matter of weeks. The expiration date is believed to be December 3rd. He recently removed all NXT references from his Twitter account. This fueled speculation that Gargano will test his value on the free agency market.

    In this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer stated that WWE has “made a very strong offer” to keep Gargano with the company for “a very long time.”

    Tonight’s triple threat match will speak volumes about his standing with the company. If Gargano wins the title, that would be a strong indication he has re-signed.

    If Carmelo Hayes retains, or if Pete Dunne walks away as champion, it’s safe to say Gargano’s long-term future with WWE remains questionable at best.

    NXT Preview (11/23)

    Here’s the full lineup for tonight’s WWE NXT 2.0 on the USA Network:

    • North American Champion Carmelo Hayes defends against Pete Dunne and Johnny Gargano in a Triple Threat
    • NXT Champion Tommaso Ciampa vs. Grayson Waller (Non-Title Match)
    • NXT Women’s Champion Mandy Rose vs. Cora Jade (Non-Title Match)
    • Indi Hartwell and Persia Pirotta vs. Kayden Carter and Kacy
  • Update On Walter Potentially Moving To US

    Update On Walter Potentially Moving To US

    Walter’s unwillingness to move to the United States has been a major reason behind his limited involvement with NXT and the main roster but it appears that things may be changing in near future.

    Mike Johnson of PWinsider recently provided some update on the UK star’s future within the company. He noted that some changes in the WWE star’s personal life have led to him being more open to a potential move:

    “Over the last year, we are told that there have been changes in Walter’s personal life that have led him to being more open to moving to the States.”

    The former NXT UK star resides in Germany with his wife. Staying close to his home has been a major reason why the Austrian star has been reluctant to make the move.

    However, he has started dating fellow NXT UK star Jinny recently. The two have been open about their relationship and have shared pictures together on social media. This has led to further speculations about the future of Walter.

    The heavyweight star certainly has the physique and character to become a big star in the main roster. Though we will have to wait and see if he does become a regular part of WWE’s US roster in the future.

    WALTER Calls Brock Lesnar The “Most Succesful And Best Wrestler”
  • Eric Bischoff Thinks NXT 2.0 Is Having An Identity Crisis

    Eric Bischoff Thinks NXT 2.0 Is Having An Identity Crisis

    Former WCW President Eric Bischoff is of the belief that NXT 2.0 doesn’t quite know what it wants to be.

    A lot has been made about NXT 2.0. Various reports noted that WWE Chairman Vince McMahon was changing the look and feel of NXT and is straying away from signing indie talent.

    As a result, the NXT brand is now full of talent that is quite green and not ready for primetime despite being seen on the USA Network every week.

    Eric Bischoff Questions NXT 2.0 Identity

    During an appearance on the Generation Of Wrestling podcast, Eric Bischoff gave his take on what issues lie in front of the NXT makeover.

    “I think what I’m seeing thus far, and we don’t know yet because NXT 2.0 is new at this point, but I think NXT 2.0 is having an identity crisis. I think deep down inside, there are people that know, hey, we just have to go back and be a little gritty and it needs to have an edge.

    “It can’t be so pretty. It can’t be so WWE in order for it to have its own identity. It needs to be different from the RAW and SmackDown product.

    “What I’m seeing so far is a tendency to lean into the RAW and SmackDown product in terms of its presentation, which if I’m right, and I could be wrong, I hope I am, but if I’m right, it will just further distance the audience away from NXT because they want something different.”

    NXT 2.0 hasn’t been all doom and gloom, however. Many have praised Bron Breakker, the son of Rick Steiner. Breakker lost his first NXT Title match against champion Tommaso Ciampa but vowed to claim the gold one day.

    H/T to WrestlingNews.co for the quotes.

  • Original Plans For Kevin Owens’ 2019 NXT Return

    Original Plans For Kevin Owens’ 2019 NXT Return

    A number of main roster stars were sent to NXT for extended runs when the brand started competing with AEW. It turns out, Kevin Owens could have been one of them if Vince McMahon hadn’t changed his mind.

    The former Universal champion recently had an interview with TalkSport. He discussed things such as his WrestleMania 37 match against Sami Zayn and more.

    Discussing his one-off return to the development brand in 2019, Owens revealed that there were plans for him to have an extended run but the boss nixed them:

    “Before I did the War Games return, there were concrete plans for me to go back to NXT for an extended period before coming back to the main roster.

    At the time Paul Heyman was in charge on Raw” said Kevin Owens, “and those were just plans we had and Vince [McMahon] had signed off on all of them and, eventually, he changed his mind and nothing happened.”

    The former NXT champion claimed that it wasn’t something he had floated about. It was a plan they had made before things went in a different direction.

    Kevin Owens made a one-night return to NXT during the 2019 WarGames event. He was revealed as the mystery member of Team Ciampa in their fight against the Undisputed Era.

  • Xyon Quin On How Shawn Michaels Reacted To His NXT Tribute

    Xyon Quin On How Shawn Michaels Reacted To His NXT Tribute

    Xyon Quin is one of the rising stars of the rebranded NXT. He has delivered some impressive performances in recent weeks and he paid tribute to Shawn Michaels with one such performance.

    The NXT star had a confrontation with Robert Stone where the two competed to see who can do a better singing and dancing performance.

    Quin chose Michaels’ theme song for his act. During a recent interview with SportingNews, he revealed how the people backstage reacted to the segment:

    “I got a bit of a standing ovation when I came back through the curtain, so that was pretty cool, it was a group effort, we all came together and had a meeting about it and talked about it.”

    Xyon Quin On How Shawn Michaels Reacted To His Performance

    Xyon Quin then claimed that it was about bringing something different to the table before revealing how the heartbreak kid himself reacted to it:

    “That was a bit interesting. Shawn Michaels was happy with it, he said he forgot how good his song was, so it was pretty cool to hear that from a legend such as himself.”

    Xyon also discussed how it feels on having people like Shawn Michaels and Triple H providing guidance. He said that you don’t get used to such an experience and he still has to pinch himself sometimes.

    Shawn Michaels Says It’s Impossible For Him To Fill Triple H’s WWE NXT Role