SEScoops

Category: NXT

  • Adam Cole: There Is Zero Chance My Twitch Channel Is Going Away

    Adam Cole: There Is Zero Chance My Twitch Channel Is Going Away

    Adam Cole has no plans of shutting down his Twitch channel anytime soon.

    Cole has become a talking point in the world of pro wrestling. He is currently a member of the NXT roster but that isn’t expected to last regardless of his next move. Cole’s contract was recently extended through SummerSlam weekend after WWE reportedly made a clerical error. It’s said that the company thought Cole was under contract for a longer period of time.

    While there is no word on whether or not Cole will re-sign with WWE, he has let it be known that his Twitch channel will remain intact.

    “Guys, I love ya’ll so much. I wish so bad that I could stream for a few more hours. It makes me so happy to be able to stream for a little bit. It’s why, when I say there is a zero chance that this channel is ever going away, I will never give this up. I love it with my whole entire heart. I love you guys and that’s how important you are to me because you guys make me feel very important. There’s been a lot going on lately and I want to make sure everyone knows that this is going nowhere. It’s going absolutely nowhere.”

    The timing of Cole’s statement is interesting. While NXT talent has been able to avoid problems with WWE as far as running Twitch accounts is concerned, main roster talent has been forced to go dark on their channels. The prevailing thought is that if Cole ends up signing a new deal with WWE, it’ll be for a main roster spot.

    In what could be his final WWE match, Cole will take on Kyle O’Reilly at NXT TakeOver 36 on Aug. 22. It’ll be a best two-out-of-three falls match.

    Do you think Adam Cole sticks with WWE or does he go elsewhere?

  • Title Match Removed From WWE NXT Tonight (Aug. 17)

    Title Match Removed From WWE NXT Tonight (Aug. 17)

    Fans hoping to see Kushida defend the WWE NXT Cruiserweight Title against Roderick Strong tonight are sure to be disappointed.

    NXT General Manager William Regal has announced that Kushida is off tonight’s card as he has not been medically cleared to compete. Strong will remain on the card, however.

    “Unfortunately after a medical examination, officials learned Kushida
    is not cleared to compete tonight. When I informed Malcolm Bivens and Roderick Strong, they expressed Roderick’s desire to compete.

    Therefore, WWE NXT will begin with a Diamond Mine open challenge.”

    This edition of NXT will be the go-home show for TakeOver 36. The TakeOver show will be held on Aug. 22. This will be the night after WWE SummerSlam.

    At TakeOver 36, Samoa Joe will challenge Karrion Kross for the NXT Championship. Plus, Adam Cole and Kyle O’Reily will collide in a best two-out-of-three falls match. Also set for the card will be an NXT UK Title match between champion WALTER and Ilja Dragunov.

    That’s not all for TakeOver 36 this weekend. Raquel Gonzalez will put her NXT Women’s Title up for grabs against former friend Dakota Kai. LA Knight will meet Cameron Grimes once again for the Million Dollar Championship. This time, if Knight wins then Ted Dibiase will become his butler.

    Here’s an updated look at what’s in store for NXT tonight.

    • Roderick Strong vs. TBA – Diamond Mine Open Challenge
    • Carmelo Hayes vs. Duke Hudson – NXT Breakout Tournament semifinals
    • Timothy Thatcher vs. Ridge Holland
    • Robert Stone & Jessi Kamea vs. Dexter Lumis & Indi Hartwell
    • MSK (c) vs. Imperium – for WWE NXT Tag Team Titles
    • Interview with WWE NXT Women’s Champion Raquel Gonzalez & Dakota Kai
    • WWE NXT Champion Karrion Kross & Samoa Joe meet face-to-face
  • Update On USA Network’s Reaction To Taped NXT Shows

    Update On USA Network’s Reaction To Taped NXT Shows

    Earlier this week, it was reported that NXT has been discussing the idea of returning to a taped format. This could possibly begin as soon as after this weekend’s TakeOver 36.

    On Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer noted that there has been “lots of talk about NXT no longer airing live and doing tapings ahead of time as a cost-cutting measure.”

    “NXT taping schedule may be temporary, but for sure they’re taping several episodes after Takeover,” Tweeted Bryan Alvarez of Wrestling Observer Live.

    According to comments made by Andrew Zarian of the Mat Men podcast, however, the USA Network would not be on-board with such a decision. Zarian Tweeted out that when asked about NXT possibly being taped ahead of time, his source responded that “a taped show is not what we paid for”.

    USA Network Concerned About Roster Cuts

    Zarian also spoke with sources from the USA Network following the recent NXT roster cuts.

    “Personally I’m disappointed with how this is going,” is what a source from the USA Network reportedly said to Zarian. 

    The roster cuts and rumors of a cost-cutting switch to taped formats appears to be concerning to network executives. They are also a part of what appears to be an overhaul of NXT. According to Dave Meltzer, the directive from within WWE is to return NXT to a strictly developmental brand. The focus will reportedly return to creating stars for RAW and Smackdown. Losing the Wednesday night war to AEW is the likely catalyst for the change.

    “This is the aftermath and this is the new direction. And the new direction is younger guys and bigger guys,” Meltzer said. 

    “What happened happened and now they want to get it back to what it was.”

  • Reason Ember Moon Was Pulled From NXT Last Week

    Reason Ember Moon Was Pulled From NXT Last Week

    Ember Moon was originally announced for a match on last week’s episode of NXT. However, the female star was abruptly pulled from the show on the day of the event.

    The sudden change made fans worried about her status and health especially after her tweet on the matter. Now Fightful select has provided some update on the situation.

    According to the site, Moon has been recovering from a dental procedure. This procedure is the reason why she wasn’t cleared to compete and had to be pulled from NXT last week.

    Despite not being cleared, the former NXT women’s champion was still backstage for last week’s show. She was willing to work the event regardless of her condition but the officials decided to keep her off TV.

    Ember Moon was scheduled to face Sarray in a singles match on NXT. She was replaced by Dakota Kai in this bout and Kai ended up winning the one on one match.

    The former Raw star has not competed inside a WWE ring since the July 13 episode of NXT. She had faced Dakota Kai in a match on the show which Ember lost.

    There is no word yet on how long Ember Moon is expected to stay out of action. We will keep you posted about any further updates on her health.

    Ember Moon On The Origin Of Her Finishing Menuever
  • Ember Moon Update: “I Am Not Injured”

    Ember Moon Update: “I Am Not Injured”

    NXT star Ember Moon says she is not injured, despite a report that was circulating online last week.

    Moon last appeared on NXT TV on July 13th, when she lost to Dakota Kai. She was scheduled to face Sarray on last week’s episode of NXT. Prior to bell time, however, WWE sent out a notice that she would be replaced by Dakota Kai in the match.

    Moon commented on having to be pulled from the match, revealing that she’s been dealing with an “extremely rough month.” She was “angry and gutted” to miss last week’s NXT, but hopes to be back soon.

    News site PWInsider ran a report that Ember Moon was dealing with an injury, but she’s setting the record straight. She tweeted on Monday:

    Last fall, Moon was interviewed by Daily DDT and spoke about returning to NXT.

    “I was like, ‘Man, I’m really digging this NXT vibe right now.’ Raw and SmackDown are doing great, but I’m sitting here thinking, ‘I don’t know if I fit in there anymore.’ I didn’t know if Ember Moon still belonged on Raw and SmackDown. I was looking at NXT and all my friends from the indies were there killing it. Not that any of the other girls weren’t, I’m just saying that when you’ve traveled the road for a hot dog and a handshake, you have a different friendship and admiration for those people than you do with coworkers.”

  • NXT Getting A New Look Soon, Will Be Taped After TakeOver 36

    NXT Getting A New Look Soon, Will Be Taped After TakeOver 36

    Times are changing in the land of NXT. Earlier this month, PW Insider reported that fans can soon expect changes to the brand. The changes noted in the report were a new logo, lighting, and a new feel to the show.

    Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Radio reports that those changes will be coming this week. In addition, Fightful is reporting that NXT shows will be taped after TakeOver 36, which is set to take place on Aug. 22.

    Recently, 12 stars who once worked under the brand were released. Among those names were Bronson Reed and Bobby Fish. It was later reported that WWE no longer looks at NXT as the third brand due to “losing the war” to AEW in terms of television viewership. The idea is that the brand will now focus on talent who are bigger in size and younger than 30.

    It’s a far cry from what NXT had been known for years prior. There was a time when WWE scooped up some of the hottest stars on the independent scene in an attempt to make the NXT brand profitable. We’ve seen former indie and international stars such as Kevin Owens, Finn Balor, Sami Zayn, and more get their start on NXT before going onto the main roster to win titles.

    At TakeOver 36, Samoa Joe is scheduled to challenge Karrion Kross for the brand’s main title. Plus, Raquel González puts her women’s gold on the line against Dakota Kai. We’ll also get to see UK Champion WALTER defend his gold in a rematch with Ilja Dragunov.

  • Candice LeRae Reveals When She Plans on Starting Maternity Leave

    Candice LeRae Reveals When She Plans on Starting Maternity Leave

    WWE NXT Superstar Candice LeRae recently revealed that she and Johnny Gargano were expecting their first child.

    Candice confirmed on Instagram that she does not plan on going on maternity leave right now, and she will stay working for NXT until the last possible minute.

    “Just when I didn’t think I could possibly be happier, you all proved me wrong. My heart is so full of love and support I never expected,” Candice LeRae revealed.

    Candice LeRae on Maternity Leave

    “This road for me and Johnny has been long, and I’ve had days where I thought this would never happen for us. It’s hard as a woman to choose between your career you’ve wanted since childhood and growing a life inside you. There never seems to be a right time,” LeRae noted.

    “I have been a wrestler for 19 years and it’s been my constant since I was a little girl. It’s my first love. It’s given me irreplaceable friends, a brother, experiences I’d have never had otherwise, the blessing of traveling the world, the ability to make an impact on people’s lives, and (last but not least) a husband.

    CANDICE LERAE

    “I don’t plan on being “away” until I absolutely have to”, Candice continued. “Indi clearly needs me! — And I want to be there for my locker room of girls as long as I possibly can!”

    “However, I do have to take a step back from my favorite part of this business for a while- physically wrestling. But I know this little one is going to be soooo very worth every second away from the ring,” the former WWE NXT Tag Team Champion concluded.

  • Triple H Being Blamed For “Failing To Stop AEW’s Rise”(Report)

    Triple H Being Blamed For “Failing To Stop AEW’s Rise”(Report)

    NXT losing the Wednesday night war to AEW is reportedly being blamed on Triple H. According to a report from the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the loss to AEW has given Triple H’s detractors backstage ammunition.

    “Levesque had been thought to be untouchable, but in failing to stop AEW’s rise, and eventually losing the war, it gave both his detractors and those who felt he would replace them the obvious ammunition,” wrote Dave Meltzer.

    “The idea is he was in control and in a fight, and his vision for the product failed to attract younger viewers.”

    It is also being reported that Triple H and Shawn Michaels were not given advanced notice about the roster cuts. This has reportedly led to morale issues in NXT.

    “The idea is that Levesque had stocked NXT with too many wrestlers who had no main roster potential, in his being quick to sign independent talent as fast as possible if they showed potential, to stockpile and keep from AEW.”

    In recent weeks, top NXT stars have been beaten on the main roster. NXT Champion Karrion Kross has lost to Jeff Hardy and Keith Lee. Also, Dakota Kai was beaten by Aliayah recently on Main Event.

  • Samoa Joe Talks the Importance of William Regal and Triple H to NXT

    Samoa Joe Talks the Importance of William Regal and Triple H to NXT

    The entire wrestling world was shocked when news broke about Samoa Joe being released from his WWE contract. They were equally shocked when he re-appeared on NXT. Since then, Joe has gone from being the non-active right-hand man to William Regal to the number one contender for the NXT championship. With current champion Karrion Kross pulling double duty on NXT and the main roster, it is looking likely that Joe will secure his third NXT championship.

    The NXT brand is currently in a very precarious position. There are lots of unknowns, heavy releases and big talk about structural changes to the entire company. Talking during a recent interview on the WrestleSlam podcast, Samoa Joe talked about the two men who have been leading NXT from the front lines. Heaping praise on both William Regal and Triple H citing their importance to the product.

    During the interview, Samoa Joe talked about both men, who are incredibly active in NXT.

    “You know, when you’re around Regal he has so much information packed in that brain. It’s almost as if he doesn’t have the processor just to get it all out at once. But, you hang around him long enough and then, these kinda spouts of wisdom will kind of flow out of him. And then, you’re kinda like ‘oh that a good one, oh I’ll take that too’. Anytime you’re around them, you’re always gonna learn something.” Samoa Joe said about William Regal.

    Samoa Joe Gives Respect When Respect is Due

    Samoa Joe, the wrestler, is a badass who has a problem with authority. However, he is also a man who recognizes and gives respect when it is due.

    When talking about Triple H and his impact on the NXT brand he was very clear with his praise.

    “I think the biggest thing is, the biggest influence he has, is he has an ability to kind of look at a superstar and figure out, what that extra little need is.”

    – Samoa Joe on Triple H

    A lot of those entrances, a lot of the spectacle that you see produced on NXT, a lot of that comes out of his head and you know it just works so many times. It’s amazing to see him kind of sit down with the character, and kind of figure out this is how we need to put it together. This is how we need to make it look, and it’s going to be awesome. Then, lo and behold, we’ll come to TakeOver and it’s this amazing entrance. It’s just this great introduction to the world. So, I tip my hat to him for that.”

    The future of NXT remains unclear. However, one thing that is for sure, Samoa Joe will be there, leading from the front line.

  • Candice LeRae & Johnny Gargano Are Expecting A Baby

    Candice LeRae & Johnny Gargano Are Expecting A Baby

    Candice LeRae and Johnny Gargano have announced that their family is about to get a little bigger. The couple revealed today that Candice is pregnant and the baby is due in February. It will be the couple’s first biological child, with all due respect to Austin Theory and Indi Hartwell.

    Johnny Gargano and Candice LeRae were married in 2016.

    Candice hasn’t wrestled since the Green American Bash on July 6th, 2021. Along with Indi Hartwell she dropped the NXT tag team championships on that show to Io Shirai and Zoey Stark. Hartwell and LeRae held the titles for 2 months after defeating Ember Moon and Shotzi Blackheart for them in May.

    Last fall, LeRae was interviewed by Daily DDT and spoke about what she loves about being in NXT.

    “I’m very biased, but I love NXT. I really love the environment, and for me, so much of it is feeling a certain way when you’re wrestling as a fan and there’s something about NXT for me that feels like home and I feel like I belong in NXT. It makes me so happy and I always feel like the talent there push me to be my best because no matter how long I’ve been doing this, I’m always trying to get better.”

  • Bianca Belair Addresses Reports Of Major Changes Coming To NXT

    Bianca Belair Addresses Reports Of Major Changes Coming To NXT

    Bianca Belair has given her take on NXT’s potential new direction.

    Reports have surfaced claiming that there are some major changes being made to the brand. The rumors have come off the heels of many NXT roster cuts. Names such as Bronson Reed, Bobby Fish, Mercedes Martinez, former NXT North American Champion Leon Ruff, and more were released.

    Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Radio recently reported that neither Triple H nor Shawn Michaels had anything to do with the talent cuts. On top of that, it’s been said that NXT will be more focused on getting talent prepped for the main roster rather than being a third major brand.

    ViBe & Wrestling was able to catch up with Belair, who shined bright in NXT and has since become the SmackDown Women’s Champion. The “EST of WWE” responded to a possible repackaging of NXT.

    So Good At Adapting

    “NXT is home to me. They really built me from the ground. When I came to NXT I didn’t know anything so it’s an amazing place to be and no matter how long you are there, [they’re] always gonna instill something in you that can ignite the fire in you and help you to succeed no matter where you’re at.

    “As far as repackaging NXT, I know no matter what happens, NXT and WWE, in general, are so good at adapting and just being successful at anything that they do. Look at the ThunderDome and how they adapted at what was happening in the world, making the ThunderDome and virtual fans being able to adapt no matter what to be successful and that’s what’s amazing about this company. Anybody that steps foot in this company, no matter what can go off and be successful inside and outside.”

    Bianca Belair also talked about being inspired by Olympic gymnast Simone Biles, who recently went public with her mental health struggles.

    Update On Expected Changes To NXT (Report)
  • Ember Moon Comments On Being Pulled From NXT: “I Am Angry And Gutted”

    Ember Moon Comments On Being Pulled From NXT: “I Am Angry And Gutted”

    Ember Moon was expected to compete in a one-on-one match on this week’s episode of NXT but she was deemed unfit by the doctors and pulled from the show.

    The former women’s champion took on her Twitter recently to comment on this development. She claimed that this has been an extremely rough month for her and she is angry with the situation:

    “@wwenxt This has been an extremely rough month,” wrote Ember Moon, “I am angry and gutted! I was really looking forward to this match and getting back on track but just got another pothole in the road. I’m sorry!,”

    The former Raw star has not wrestled since the July 13 episode of the Black and Yellow brand. She competed against Dakota Kai on the show and lost the bout.

    Moon was expected to face Sarray on this week’s episode of the show but WWE announced in the evening that “Moon was declared unable to compete by the NXT Medical Staff earlier today.”

    The announcement did not provide any further details on the reason behind this decision. The NXT star herself did not reveal the reason for her troubles either so it’s hard to say when we might see her returning to the ring.

  • Former NXT Superstar Mercedes Martinez Comments on WWE Release

    Former NXT Superstar Mercedes Martinez Comments on WWE Release

    Former NXT superstar Mercedes Martinez has shared her thoughts on her WWE release.

    On August 6th, WWE decided to cut 12 NXT talent unexpectedly. Among those cuts was Martinez, who had been with the company for a year. In a Twitter post, Martinez gave her first comments since being let go.

    “My life…I never thought I would ever make it to the WWE. I stayed dedicated, hustled, grinded, and sacrificed more than I could ever imagined to reach that goal. It took 20yrs…but I wouldn’t change anything bc the universe has a way of making things work out,” said Martinez.

    Martinez Last Days in NXT

    Martinez’s last appearance in NXT was on June 29th in a mixed-tag team match with Jake Atlas against Boa and Xia Li. In the match, Li landed a spinning heel kick that resulted in Martinez receiving a concussion. The referee stopped the match, and Martinez had to go to a local hospital. She has not given an update on her current condition.

    The news of Martinez’s release after suffering a concussion on NXT is disheartening. However, she has shown gratitude for her time with the company.

    …”I truly want to thank @tripleh, @wwe, and @WWENXT for giving me the opportunity of a lifetime. I understand this business is never a guarantee for anything and that sometimes the risk is higher than the reward. I’m grateful, blessed, and humbled,” said Martinez.

    In her posts, Martinez seems ready to return to in-ring competition. “…The BEST of me is still yet to be unseen. I’m rebuilding myself, and I know my worth, always have. My drive, dedication, perseverance, and my hard knocks stubbornness says I have more to prove,” said Martinez.

    It is unclear when Martinez can compete again or if she has a doctor’s clearance to wrestle.

  • Dakota Kai To Replace Ember Moon In NXT Opening Match

    Dakota Kai To Replace Ember Moon In NXT Opening Match

    Tuesday’s episode of NXT will be a busy one for Dakota Kai.

    Tuesday, WWE reported Ember Moon was declared unable to compete by the NXT Medical Staff, removing her from tonight’s opening match against Sarray. Kai will now face Sarray in place of Moon.

    Shortly after the announcement, Moon took to Twitter to share a statement of frustration. The tweet read:

    “.@wwenxt This has been an extremely rough month, I am angry and gutted! I was really look forward to this match and getting back on track but just got another pothole in the road. I’m sorry!”

    Also scheduled for Tuesday, NXT Women’s Champion Raquel Gonzalez will confront Dakota Kai. The New Zealand native turned on the women’s champ on the July 27 episode of NXT, stating that she was no one’s “sidekick”. The two will face each other for the NXT Women’s Championship at TakeOver 36 on Sunday, August 22.

    Also scheduled for Tuesday’s episode:

    • Ilja Dragunov will appear
    • Odyssey Jones will face Trey Baxter in the semifinals of the NXT Breakout Tournament
    • A special look at the feud between Samoa Joe and NXT Champion Karrion Kross
    • General Manager William Regal will act as a mediator for a face-to-face segment featuring Adam Cole and Kyle O’Reilly
  • Tensions ‘Running High’ at Tuesday’s NXT TV Taping

    Tensions ‘Running High’ at Tuesday’s NXT TV Taping

    It has been a difficult few weeks for WWE Superstars, particularly on the NXT brand, with the company releasing several names across the developmental system.

    WWE are back tonight with a live programme after two weeks of taped shows on SyFy. According to a new report from WrestleVotes, the tensions behind the scenes at NXT are sky-high.

    “The mood at the PC today ahead of tonight’s NXT show…. hooooooo boy. Tensions running high, to say the least,” the Twitter leaker noted.

    Tensions in NXT

    WWE has confirmed several matches and moments for this week’s episode of the show, including Adam Cole, who may well be on his way out of the company in the next few weeks himself.

    It isn’t surprising that there may be some issues backstage at the taping; with 12 members of the NXT brand released this past Friday, this is probably the first time that many Superstars have been around the locker room as a whole since then.

    Here’s the current lineup for NXT on USA Network tonight:

    • Sarray vs. Ember Moon
    • Adam Cole and Kyle O’Reilly meet for a “Face to Face” segment mediated by NXT General Manager William Regal
    • Women’s Champion Raquel Gonzalez addresses Dakota Kai and their Takeover 36 match
    • UK based Superstar Ilja Dragunov appears
  • Bully Ray Compares NXT To WWE’s Version Of ECW

    Bully Ray Compares NXT To WWE’s Version Of ECW

    Bully Ray recently spent some time on Busted Open Radio comparing WWE’s treatment of NXT to its treatment of ECW. According to Bully, there are many similarities between the two situations.

    “There are many of us who believe that Vince McMahon brought ECW back for one reason: to kill it,” Bully said on the show. “He was going to get as much blood out of that stone as possible and then he was going to kill it because he could not stand to hear those letters E-C-W anymore. And guess what? It was his to kill.”

    “Vince owns NXT,” Bully continued. “Hunter doesn’t own NXT, Shawn Michales doesn’t own NXT, Vince McMahon owns NXT. And I will do whatever I want to do with it, thus what’s going on lately. I do not think Vince is doing backflips over the fact that NXT ‘lost’ to AEW on Wednesday nights. That is a perception thing and if there is one thing that I learned from Vince McMahon one-on-one, is that perception is reality, Bubba. Nobody gives a damn about the truth in wrestling, it’s all about the perception.”

    “NXT almost became an ECW for Vince, another thorn in his side. Do you really think that Vince McMahon wants NXT to be a better product or a more liked product than RAW or Smackdown?”

    Bully’s comments can be heard on the Busted Open Radio podcast below:

  • Update On USA Network’s Response To Recent NXT Releases

    Update On USA Network’s Response To Recent NXT Releases

    Over the last few days, several stories regarding the future of NXT have broken. These include the 13 names released from the brand on Friday night, rumors of sweeping changes to the look and format of the show, and news that Adam Cole could be headed to the main roster shortly.

    According to comments from Andrew Zarian of the Mat Men Podcast, sources from within the USA Network are disappointed with the recent news.

    “Personally I’m disappointed with how this is going,” is what a source from the USA Network reportedly said to Zarian.

    NXT Releases and Rumored Changes

    According to reports from PW Insider and the Wrestling Observer, sweeping changes are expected to take place in NXT. These will include a returned emphasis on producing talent destined for the main roster. Reports are the company wants to focus on larger and younger talent that could “one-day main event WrestleMania.”

    “The wording is ‘no more midgets, no one starting in their 30s, they want people who can be box office attractions and main characters’ so that’s what they are looking for now,” Meltzer said. 

    “This is the aftermath and this is the new direction. And the new direction is younger guys and bigger guys,” Meltzer continued. 

    “What happened happened and now they want to get it back to what it was.”

  • Several NXT Stars Backstage At Monday’s WWE Raw

    Several NXT Stars Backstage At Monday’s WWE Raw

    Several wrestlers from WWE’s NXT brand are currently backstage at the Amway Center for tonight’s Raw from Orlando, FL. The following names are in attendance, according to Mike Johnson:

    • Odyssey Jones
    • Austin Theory
    • Dakota Kai
    • Xia Li
    • Aliyah

    WWE has brought NXT talent to TV tapings several times over the past several weeks. NXT wrestlers who have competed in dark matches prior to Raw and SmackDown tapings include Karrion Kross, Bronson Reed, Shotzi Blackheart, Indi Hartwell, Toni Storm, Odyssey Jones and Austin Theory.

    NXT Champion Karrion Kross was saddled with a losing streak storyline and has been pinned twice on Raw in the past month. Bronson Reed was among the 13 released from WWE this past Friday night.

    WWE is advertising talking segments from Randy Orton, Charlotte Flair and WWE Champion Bobby Lashley for tonight’s broadcast.

    Update On Expected Changes To NXT (Report)
  • Pete Dunne: When His WWE Contract Finishes Revealed

    Pete Dunne: When His WWE Contract Finishes Revealed

    It was recently reported by Fightful Select that WWE NXT Superstar Pete Dunne is extremely close to the end of his WWE contract and that he has not as of yet signed an extension to remain with the company.

    This week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter noted that Pete Dunne’s WWE NXT contract is up at the end of August.

    Prior to this report, there were no reports as to when Dunne’s contract was up, only that he is in a situation similar to Adam Cole, whose own contract ended around NXT Great American Bash and he signed a extension up to WWE SummerSlam 2021.

    “Pete Dunne’s deal is also coming due on either 8/31 or 9/1. He’s another super worker who has been in the system for years and should have been a main roster star, even if he started as part of a tag team, long ago.”

    WRESTLING OBSERVER NEWSLETTER

    Pete Dunne Moving To AEW

    Pete Dunne began on the WWE NXT UK roster, holding on to the WWE United Kingdom Championship for 685 days. Dunne was then moved to NXT in the United States ‘officially’, where he then won the NXT Tag Team Championships with Matt Riddle in early 2020.

    Dunne is considered a hot commodity, with WWE eager to keep the 27-year-old performer and stop him moving over to AEW. The former PROGRESS World Champion could be a major player if he were to make the move to All Elite, with a wealth of experience but youth meaning that he’s got at least another potential 15 years left in his career, should he wish to wrestle for that long.

  • Update On How Adam Cole’s Meeting With Vince McMahon Went (Report)

    Update On How Adam Cole’s Meeting With Vince McMahon Went (Report)

    Recently, reports surfaced that Adam Cole’s contract with WWE had expired and he’d agreed to an extension to run through SummerSlam. Cole met with Vince McMahon at Smackdown on Friday night. How the meeting went was addressed on Wrestling Observer Radio.

    “I was under the impression that they promised him a main roster spot,” said Dave Meltzer. “And they told the writers that they want storylines for Adam Cole on the main roster, on RAW or Smackdown. So, I think that was part of the meeting that happened yesterday.”

    Adam Cole Is The “Exception To The Rule”

    Cole’s status with WWE was determined “the exception to the rule” regarding WWE’s recent objective to focus on bigger talents.

    “There’s always exceptions to the rule and Adam Cole is an exception to the rule,” Meltzer said.

    “He’s an exception to the rule that they are not looking to cut a guy like that they are looking to keep a guy like that. And they are looking to feature a guy like that.”

    Meltzer continued to say that he has not heard the same regarding other smaller talents on the NXT roster.

    “I haven’t heard that for KUSHIDA, or Kyle O’Reilly, or Ciampa or Gargano or anyone like that,” Meltzer continued.

    The 32-year-old has been with the company since 2017. His 396-day reign as NXT Champion is the longest single reign in the title’s lineage.

  • Update On Expected Changes To NXT (Report)

    Update On Expected Changes To NXT (Report)

    The look, format, and wrestlers pushed in NXT are all expected to change. The focus of the show is expected to fully move back to being a developmental brand with an objective to produce main roster talent in WWE. The expected changes to NXT were addressed recently on Wrestling Observer Radio.

    “Paul Levesque and Shawn Michaels didn’t have anything to do with the cuts,” said Dave Meltzer. “It was done by Vince McMahon, Bruce Prichard, and John Laurinaitis. And the basic gist is NXT is going to change in some ways. They think that a lot of the competitors are too small and too old.”

    He continued to say that the basic feeling is that NXT lost the war and now it is returning to its previous goal of developing talent for the main roster.

    “This is the aftermath and this is the new direction. And the new direction is younger guys and bigger guys,” Meltzer continued.

    “What happened happened and now they want to get it back to what it was.”

    He would continue to say that WWE doesn’t want older or smaller wrestlers. The focus will return on developing talent that “could one day main event WrestleMania”.

    “The wording is ‘no more midgets, no one starting in their 30s, they want people who can be box office attractions and main characters’ so that’s what they are looking for now,” Meltzer continued.

  • Major Changes To NXT Expected (Report)

    Major Changes To NXT Expected (Report)

    Last night during WWE’s broadcast of Smackdown, it was reported that several members of the NXT roster have been released. According to a report from PW Insider, sweeping changes are expected to take place for the brand as well.

    Among the changes expected to take place are a new logo, lighting, and a different look and feel. Additionally, it is being reported that the show will undergo some type of format change. An increased focus on younger and developing talents is also expected to be part of the changes.

    The changes expected to occur further the debate as to if NXT is a developmental territory or a 3rd media rights brand.

    Moving NXT to the USA Network on Wednesday nights did not derail AEW Dynamite as may have been the goal.

    Is NXT WWE’s Developmental Brand (Again)?

    In its quarterly filings recently, WWE has returned to referring to NXT as a “developmental” brand.

    “Metrics exclude the events for our domestic and United Kingdom NXT brands. These are our developmental brands that typically conduct their events in smaller venues with lower ticket prices. We did not conduct any ticketed NXT events in the periods presented,” reads page 33 of WWE’s report.

    In an interview with Newsweek when NXT moved to the USA Network, Adam Cole stated that NXT is no longer a developmental brand.

    “We’ve called it this for a while, but we look at NXT as the third brand. And now I feel this move to USA just solidifies it. Instead of calling it “moved up” it’ll just be “moving.” Some guys may move to RAW or SmackDown. Some guys on RAW or SmackDown can move to NXT. To me, this move to the USA totally solidifies NXT as the third brand. I’m sure you’ll see lots of guys moving to different brands as time goes on.”

    Adam Cole’s future with NXT continues to be up in the air. Reports recently stated Cole was backstage at Smackdown for a meeting with Vince McMahon.

  • Another NXT Superstar Contract Close to Expiring Soon

    NXT has another superstar contract set to expire.

    Wrestling Inc’s Raj Giri reported that NXT superstar Adam Cole’s contract would expire after Summerslam. Fightful Select reports today that NXT superstar Pete Dunne’s contract is expiring soon, saying, “Fightful Select has learned that Pete Dunne’s NXT contract is also up soon, with one source also pointing to “after Summerslam weekend,” though we haven’t confirmed that date with Dunne or WWE as of yet.”

    Fightful Selects also reports, “The situation was similar to that of Adam Cole’s but haven’t been given any additional details.”

    While Dunne’s contract may be expiring soon, Fightful Select didn’t say if WWE will re-sign Dunne or if he wants to leave.

    Dunne’s Current Storyline in NXT

    On last week’s NXT, Dunne teamed with Oney Lorcan to defeat Tommaso Ciampa and Timothy Thatcher. After the match, Dunne and Lorcan reunited with the returning Ridge Holland. On Tuesday, Dunne officially formed a stable with Lorcan and Holland and said, “We’re the most dangerous men in NXT.”

    For now, Dunne seems to be in NXT’s plans along with his group. However, as Fightful Select reports, WWE will have to figure out Dunne’s contract situation.

  • Dakota Kai On Why She Betrayed Raquel Gonzalez

    Dakota Kai On Why She Betrayed Raquel Gonzalez

    Dakota Kai turned on her friend Raquel Gonzalez in a shocking twist last week on NXT. She threw away the friendship and attacked Gonzalez with a kick to her face while she was celebrating, and took her NXT Women’s Championship and raised it. This clearly signified that we’re going to see a rivalry between the two now-ex-best friends, and on this week’s episode of NXT Kai explained her actions in a video package aired during the episode.

    Dakota Kai explained that 18 months ago she needed someone that she could trust in the beginning, and that’s when she found Raquel Gonzalez. Kai said that if she hadn’t picked Gonzalez, she would have stayed stuck in the shadows. Describing her early partnership, Kai said that Gonzalez’s task was simple, it was to stand behind her and protect her whenever she needed. When Gonzalez became a star on her own, Kai was okay with it as long as it was clear who the leader was.

    Kai, however, started to get envious when Io Shirai chose Gonzalez for the title match instead of her. She felt it was disrespectful but she still chose to help Gonzalez with the title, still adding that she should have been the one standing in the ring with Bianca Belair and Rhea Ripley. She wanted a title of her own so that’s why she seeked help from Gonzalez in winning the NXT Women’s Tag Team Championships, however, she accused Gonzalez of not giving her 100% ever since she became the NXT Women’s Champion. They went on to lose to Shotzi Blackheart and Ember Moon, sealing the deal for Kai’s friendship with Gonzalez.

    Kai said that Gonzalez was so caught up in her own world that she didn’t even see the betrayal coming. Kai clarified that she doesn’t want to be anyone’s sidekick and will take Gonzalez down.

  • WWE Executives Frustrated with Adam Cole’s Contract Situation

    WWE Executives Frustrated with Adam Cole’s Contract Situation

    WWE Executives are not happy with NXT Superstar Adam Cole’s contract situation going public.

    The news broke yesterday by Wrestling Inc’s Raj Giri that Cole will be a free agent after Summerslam. Giri also reported that Cole already has options, including “companies who are not even in the current wrestling space.”

    PWInsider’s Mike Johnson has also followed up on Giri’s report and confirmed the news while adding that WWE executives are unhappy. “Multiple sources within WWE confirmed the story, admitting frustration that it had become public,” said Johnson.

    Cole’s Contract Situation

    The news of Cole’s contract expiring has caught fans by surprise. Giri reports that Cole’s contract actually expired after the Great American Bash on July 6th. However, Cole decided to extend the contract to this upcoming Summerslam.

    Johnson also reports that WWE executives believed Cole was under contract to at least January 2022.

    The timing of Cole’s contract issue could also be connected to the release of former Senior Vice President of Talent Development Canyon Ceman. Johnson reported Ceman release on July 23rd and noted he was very involved with the hiring process in NXT.

    Wrestling Inc’s Marc Middleton reports that the timing of Cole’s contract issue “Very much lines up with the timing of Ceman’s departure.”

    The WWE has yet to release a statement on Cole’s contract situation.

    Cole’s WWE Career

    Cole signed with the WWE on August 14, 2017, after leaving Ring of Honor. Five days later, he made his NXT debut at NXT Takeover: Brooklyn 3 on August 19, 2017, at the Barclay Center in Brooklyn, New York. Cole has been an NXT tag team champion, North American champion, and World Champion. He also still holds the record for longest-reigning NXT World Champion.

    He’s currently in a feud with a long-time ally/rival Kyle O’Riley. Since February, the feud has been ongoing, with both Cole and Riley getting a win over the other. It is unclear if Cole will finish his feud with Riley at the upcoming NXT Takeover 36 on August 22nd.