SEScoops

Category: WWE

  • Bray Wyatt Says He Broke His Finger Thursday Night

    Bray Wyatt Says He Broke His Finger Thursday Night

    Bray Wyatt says he broke his finger at Thursday’s WWE live event from Miami, Florida, but he doesn’t seem to concerned about it.

    WWE’s holiday tour wraps up tonight with a Raw-brand house show from Toronto. It was a successful week, in terms of ticket sales. Unfortunately, a couple stars suffered injuries.

    We reported that AJ Styles suffered an ankle injury and now word has come out that Wyatt is dealing with his own health situation.

    The former WWE Champion defeated Jinder Mahal Thursday night from Miami’s FTX Arena. After the match, Wyatt spent some time at ringside taking photos with fans and signing autographs. As seen below, Wyatt told Justin from Vlog Warriors that he broke a finger on his right hand during the match with Mahal.

    Finger fractures take approximately three to four weeks recovery time. It sounds painful, but there’s a strong chance Wyatt will be able to avoid time away from the ring.

    Bray Wyatt wrestled Jinder Mahal four times this week on WWE’s holiday tour. The result was the same each time, with Mahal getting in some early offense but Wyatt making a comeback and finishing him off with Sister Abigail.

    Prior to this week, Wyatt had not competed since April 2021. After four consecutive wins over Mahal in NYC, Atlanta, Greensboro and Miami, Wyatt sets his sights back on LA Knight. The two have been feuding over the past several months since Wyatt’s return to WWE television.

  • Tyson Fury Refusing to Look Vulnerable in WWE (Report)

    Tyson Fury Refusing to Look Vulnerable in WWE (Report)

    Tyson Fury spent years establishing himself as a force to be reckoned with in professional, and don’t expect him to look any weaker in WWE.

    Fury debuted for WWE in 2019 and defeated Braun Strowman via count out at that year’s Crown Jewel event.

    Fury was in attendance at WWE Clash at the Castle in September of this year and prevented then Mr. Money in the Bank Austin Theory from cashing in.

    It was reported this month that WWE is eager to have Fury appear at next month’s Royal Rumble event and possibly work a match at WrestleMania 39.

    Banned

    WWE and Fury may be eager to work together, but that is easier said than done.

    It has been claimed that Fury is banned from entering the United States due to alleged ties with suspected Irish Mafia boss Daniel Kinahan.

    A “major WWE source” told Dave Meltzer that Fury’s alleged ban isn’t something being talked about backstage.

    The Wrestling Observer Newsletter adds that Fury could lose out on millions of dollars if he cannot make it to WWE’s event.

    The Kinahan allegation prevented Fury’s younger brother Tommy Fury from entering the U.S. for a fight with Jake Paul earlier this year.

    Tyson Fury has denied any involvement with Kinahan or his alleged activity.

    Putting Stars Over

    Tyson Fury in WWE may seem like a longshot at this time, but his working with the company would bring its own problems.

    The same strong source claimed that Fury would be unwilling to put other talents over, or even look vulnerable if he was to compete.

    The source questioned the sense of having Fury as a possible surprise name in the Men’s Rumble match, given the fortune WWE would pay him for mere minutes of in-ring action.

    Drew McIntyre Believes Tyson Fury is “Custom Fit” for WWE
  • WWE Discussing Plans for New Raw World Championship (Report)

    WWE Discussing Plans for New Raw World Championship (Report)

    Monday Night Raw could be seeing a brand new championship in the new year, according to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

    At WrestleMania 38 in April, Roman Reigns unified the WWE and Universal titles with a victory over Brock Lesnar.

    Reigns has dominated as Universal Champion for 852 days and has been Undisputed WWE Universal Champion for 271 days.

    New Championship

    Not long after the titles were unified, it was reported that the USA Network was unhappy with the decision.

    As a SmackDown-branded Superstar, Reigns makes far more appearances on SmackDown, often leaving Raw for weeks if not months without a World Champion.

    In the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer reports that there is still a lot of talk about introducing a new title next year.

    Meltzer added that the new title would be created for SmackDown if Reigns is drafted to te red brand.

    There are still no details as to the championship’s name, design or when it will be introduced in 2023.

    Inaugural Champion

    Details are still scarce regarding plans for a new Raw Championship, but we may already know who will hold it.

    Earlier this month, it was reported that the main event of WrestleMania 39: Saturday will see Seth Rollins defend against either Cody Rhodes or Drew McIntyre.

    The report stated that this match would be for the WWE Championship.

    The main event of WrestleMania 39: Sunday will see Reigns defend the Universal Championship against The Rock or Rhodes if the Brahma Bull is not available.

    Rollins is the only Superstar to have a PLE win over Reigns since 2020, defeating the Tribal Chief by DQ at the 2022 Royal Rumble.

    WWE Changing Up Several Championship Belts Soon
  • WWE SmackDown Preview (12/30): John Cena Returns

    WWE SmackDown Preview (12/30): John Cena Returns

    Bust out your trumpet and cleanest pair of ‘jorts’ because John Cena is back in action tonight on SmackDown.

    Wrestling fans around the world haven’t seen Cena compete since SummerSlam 2021, when he unsuccessfully challenged Roman Reigns for the Universal Championship.

    His most recent match took place on September 10, 2021, after that night’s SmackDown went off the air. The 16-time world champion teamed up with The Mysterios to defeat The Bloodline (Roman Reigns and The Usos) from Madison Square Garden in NYC.

    A new chapter will soon be written in Cena’s longstanding beef with Roman Reigns and the Bloodline. It’s the final SmackDown of the year and WWE is saying goodbye to 2022 in a big way.

    Matches Confirmed for SmackDown

    WWE has announced the following lineup for tonight’s SmackDown from the Amalie Arena in Tampa, FL:

    • John Cena and Kevin Owens face The Bloodline’s Roman Reigns and Sami Zayn.
    • SmackDown Women’s Champion Ronda Rousey defends against Raquel Rodriguez.
    • Solo Sikoa vs. Sheamus. These two heavyweights fought on the October 21, with Sikoa picking up the win.
    • Lacey Evans returns to action. She last competed on November 11. WWE has been airing a series of military-themed vignettes building to her comeback.

    Here’s a look back at the revelation that Cena is lacing up the boots to battle Roman Reigns once again:

  • Winnipeg WWE Promoter Bob ‘Doc’ Holiday Dies Aged 80

    Winnipeg WWE Promoter Bob ‘Doc’ Holiday Dies Aged 80

    The wrestling world is in mourning after the passing of Bob ‘Doc’ Holliday, who spent years as a key promoter for WWE.

    Friends and family of Holliday, who died aged 80, confirmed his passing to CTV News, saying it was after a battle with cancer.

    Glenn Johnson, a friend of Holliday for 35 years, described him as an “amazing man.”

    Bob ‘Doc’ Holliday in Wrestling

    In an era where WWE relied on people in different towns to help promote and organize events, Holliday was a key player for the company.

    The man known to many as ‘Doc’ would organize events for the promotion in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, the hometown of former Superstar and current AEW star Chris Jericho.

    Holliday’s role would see him book arenas, organize publicity for shows in local newspapers and on TV, set up interviews and  

    In the November 2, 1986, Winnipeg Free Press, Holliday summed up his take on pro wrestling.

    “What wrestling is, is a good time. People have always had a good time at wrestling. They can come to a match and yell and scream and get all their frustrations out and you can’t always do that at a football or baseball game.”

    Bob ‘Doc’ Holliday.

    In 2003, Holliday spoke about WWE, calling it “one of the greatest indoor shows in the world.”

    Bob Holliday

    Holliday had success behind the scenes in wrestling, but he was accomplished outside of the industry.

    A reporter for the Winnipeg Sun for many years, Bob was tasked with the crime beat, and knew everyone from cops on homicide cases to the local division of the Hell’s Angels.

    Earlier this month, Holliday was presented with the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medal and is a member of the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame.

    We here at SEScoops would like to offer our condolences to Bob’s friends, family and those who knew him at this sad time.

  • WWE Planning on Signing More “Standout” Stars in 2023 (Report)

    WWE Planning on Signing More “Standout” Stars in 2023 (Report)

    WWE made waves this week by signing Dragon Lee, but the company has even bigger plans for the new year.

    Lee announced that he had signed with WWE this week, after he and Dralistico dethroned FTR as the AAA World Tag Team Champions.

    Vacating the titles not long after, there is no word yet on when Lee is expected to make his WWE TV debut.

    Standout

    Dragon Lee is the first big signing for Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque, who’s tenure as Head of Talent Relations has mainly seen him rehire former Superstars.

    Wrestle Votes reports that WWE is hopeful that the signing of Dragon Lee is just the start of “standout” talent agreeing to a deal with the promotion.

    It was also reported that Triple H and his team are expecting to land other high-quality names in early 2023.

    Who’s Next?

    There’s no shortage of standout talent that WWE could attempt to lock into a deal in the new year.

    It has been reported that WWE is extremely interested in bringing in KC Navarro, who was reported to be at a tryout for the company recently.

    Kylie Rae is another possibility, given that she competed at a WWE Main Event taping earlier this month under the name Briana Ray.

    For returns, Chelsea Green is expected to be back with the company soon, and her return could spark her husband Matt Cardona to also make a comeback.

    Perhaps the biggest possibility is CM Punk, given that the AEW star is reportedly seeking a buyout of his contract.

    Dragon Lee Signs with WWE, Triple H Comments
  • Steve Austin Most Likely Of Three Big Names To Appear At WrestleMania

    Steve Austin Most Likely Of Three Big Names To Appear At WrestleMania

    It sounds like WWE Hall Of Famer Stone Cold Steve Austin is the most likely of three big names that could be at WrestleMania 39 next year.

    Austin wrestled his first match in 19 years back in April. He competed against Kevin Owens in an impromptu No Disqualification singles bout to close out Night One of WrestleMania 38. Austin ultimately won the bout in his home state of Texas.

    It was his first match since his retirement match against The Rock at WrestleMania 19 in 2003. Austin lost that bout before walking off into a silent retirement. However, after his return match earlier this year, many have speculated if Austin could wrestle yet again as WrestleMania season approaches.

    Austin is one of three big names speculated for WrestleMania 39 this April, including The Rock and John Cena. According to a report from Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Radio, Austin is actually the surest of the three to appear at the event, with Cena and Rock listed as “probable.”

    Kevin Owens Stone Cold Steve Austin
    via WWE.com

    Meltzer noted that it’s ultimately a question of how Austin is feeling, and that “The Texas Rattlesnake” is going to do what he feels like doing. Since his return match against Owens, it was said that Austin was actually pleased with his performance in the matchup, likely leaving the door open for another return bout.

    Perhaps that could very well happen this April in Los Angeles. Of course, the question then becomes – who would his opponent be? Let us know who you’d like Steve Austin to face off against in the comments below!

  • Kurt Angle Praises Triple H’s Love For Pro Wrestling

    Kurt Angle Praises Triple H’s Love For Pro Wrestling

    WWE Hall Of Famer Kurt Angle has nothing but great things to say about Triple H’s love for professional wrestling.

    Angle recently took to his podcast, “The Kurt Angle Show,” and was asked who he believes has a good mind for the professional wrestling industry. He didn’t hesitate to name former in-ring foe and current head of WWE creative Triple H.

    “For me personally, Triple H. He’s always had it,” Kurt Angle said. “He’s not just from a wrestling standpoint, but from a creative standpoint, from a psychology standpoint, from a promo standpoint. Triple H is one guy that is so well-educated.

    “He loves pro-wrestling like it’s his wife. Okay? He cherishes it, and he’s really good at it. He has a great mind for it. In the past, I would say somebody like Hulk Hogan, who was able to bring the fans in at a time when wrestling was not so hot, but Hulkamania actually made wrestling so much bigger.

    “And he has a great mind for the business as well. I worked with Hulk Hogan, and he definitely is well educated with the wrestling aspect.”

    After Vince McMahon was forced to step down as WWE CEO, and later retire as head of creative for the company, Triple H stepped in to fill the void of creative head for the professional wrestling juggernaut.

    Since, “The Game” has made a multitude of changes that have been positively received for the most part. His love for the industry has certainly shined through on multiple occasions since assuming his new role.

    Quotes via WrestleZone

  • Kevin Owens on His WrestleMania Match With Steve Austin: ‘I Still Don’t Know How That Happened’

    Kevin Owens on His WrestleMania Match With Steve Austin: ‘I Still Don’t Know How That Happened’

    “Stone Cold” Steve Austin stepped back into the ring once more with Kevin Owens as the former Universal Champion’s guest on his KO Show at WWE WrestleMania 38 earlier this year. 

    After Owens cut a short promo about the pathetic state of Texas, Austin came out to exchange words with Owens, leading to an actual match. 

    Austin, one of the biggest stars in the history of the wrestling business, had not wrestled in 19 years as he decided to retire due to neck problems following a match with The Rock at WrestleMania 19 in 2003.  It was first reported in February that WWE had made a significant overture towards the Hall Of Famer for an in-ring return. 

    The Moment

    While speaking with The New York Post, Owens noted that he still doesn’t know how the match came to be. 

    “I still don’t have a full grasp on how that happened,” Owens said. “All I know is I was told by several people, from Steve to Vince McMahon to Bruce Prichard, it couldn’t have been anybody other than you — meaning me — with Steve. I’m not sure who suggested it, who asked for it or how it came about. One day I’ll find out. But the point is that it’s extremely flattering to me that those three all thought I was the best choice. There’s really no higher compliment than that for me. It doesn’t get any better than that,” Owens said. “I said it the day after the match: It’s all downhill from here.”

    Owens will team with John Cena to take on Roman Reigns and Sami Zayn in a tag team match on this Friday’s SmackDown. WWE is reportedly hoping to have Austin work another match at WrestleMania 39. 

  • Report: WWE Were Interested in Dragon Lee After Seeing Him in AEW

    Report: WWE Were Interested in Dragon Lee After Seeing Him in AEW

    WWE are celebrating the signing of Dragon Lee, and have AEW to thank for getting their attention.

    Lee announced his deal with WWE earlier this week, after he and Dralistico won the AAA World Tag Team Championships.

    Lee and Dralistico won the titles from AEW’s FTR, ending their reign at 438 days.

    Signing with WWE

    Lee is the first signing of a notable name (not to be a former Superstar) under WWE’s Head of Talent Relations Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque.

    During the latest Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer that people who may have spoke differently a year ago, advised Lee to join WWE.

    “He was asking several people, a lot of different people ‘what’s better for me…AEW or WWE?’ And it’s funny, because a year ago most of the people would have said AEW for sure, but in fact they said WWE. And I don’t know if they are wrong.”

    Speculating on what Lee would have done had he become ‘All-Elite’ Meltzer didn’t expect much success for the masked wrestler.

    “If he went to AEW, he probably would go in with more money, not appreciably more but more money. He would probably be used less [than he would have liked.] He’d probably get frustrated. I mean look at all the people on that roster, and they don’t have enough television time, they don’t do enough angles or angles on the streaming stuff.”

    Interest

    With his impressive in-ring ability, it is hardly surprising that WWE wanted to sign Dragon Lee.

    On his show, Meltzer confirmed that both WWE and AEW had interest in him.

    “He was working in Mexico. there is really not a lot money in Mexico… He had a tryout with WWe. But AEW wanted him as well.”

    Dave Meltzer.

    Meltzer added that WWE’s interest in Lee picked up once they learned that AEW had featured him without a deal to his name.

    “WWE’s interest in Dragon Lee came when they found out that AEW put this guy on television with no contract. So it was kind of like, ‘We can swoop in.’ They came after him after that deal. And right after that, he was signed, but he was signed a couple of weeks back. That was the catalyst of it. It was them finding out that AEW put a guy on television with no deal.”

    There is no word on when Dragon Lee is expected to make his debut for NXT.

    Dragon Lee Signs with WWE, Triple H Comments (stg.sescoops.com)

    For use of these quotes please give a h/t to SEScoops.

  • Dragon Lee Signs with WWE, Triple H Comments

    Dragon Lee Signs with WWE, Triple H Comments

    Wednesday was a big night for the highly sought-after lucha libre star, Dragon Lee. He and his brother, Dralistico, challenged FTR for the AAA tag team titles.

    Not only did they win championship gold, but the bigger news is Dragon Lee’s announcement that he’s signed with WWE.

    Lee will report to the Performance Center and WWE’s NXT developmental brand.

    WWE Was Always ‘The Dream’

    Lee teamed with his brother, RUSH, and Andrade El Idolo back in August against The Elite. The duo turned on him after the match, ripping off his mask. The son of La Bestia del Ring hasn’t been seen in the company since.

    In an exclusive interview with ESPN, Lee said signing with WWE was always the “dream.”

    “I think I can become the new Rey Mysterio in WWE. I just need the opportunity.”

    – Dragon Lee

    The opportunity came about when Finn Balor asked him if he’d like to join WWE. From there, he worked with Trent Wilfinger and James Kimball to join the promotion.

    “This signing is reflective of WWE’s renewed emphasis on globalizing our talent pipeline with Latin America positioned as a focal market,” Kimbal told ESPN.

    Lee, 27, is a former IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion, ROH Television Champion and Tag Team Champion, CMLL Welterweight and Lightweight Champion.

    Triple H on Dragon Lee Joining WWE

    Paul “Triple H” Levesque, WWE’s Chief Content Officer, welcomed Dragon Lee to the WWE family. He called Lee an unbelievable athlete who is just getting started.

    More on Dragon Lee Joining WWE

    Dave Meltzer discusses Dragon Lee signing with WWE on the latest episode of Wrestling Observer Radio:

  • Tommaso Ciampa’s Hip Had Been Bothering Him For Close to a Year Before Surgery

    Tommaso Ciampa’s Hip Had Been Bothering Him For Close to a Year Before Surgery

    Tommaso Ciampa is currently out of action after having hip surgery in October of this year, but had been dealing with the pain for close to a year.

    Ciampa was called up to WWE’s main roster in April 2022 and aligned with The Miz.

    The two-time former NXT Champion’s name was shortened to just ‘Ciampa’ not long after his call-up but was reverted back to Tommaso Ciampa in September.

    Hip Injury

    Ciampa has been out of action for months, but he has been dealing with the pain in his hip for much longer than first expected.

    When Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select asked about a possible recovery window, he was given no indication as to when Ciampa will return.

    Sapp was told that Ciampa’s hip had been bothering him for close to a year before he underwent surgery in October.

    Ciampa’s most recent match came at a Bakersfield, California WWE Live event on September 17, where he lost to then-United States Champion Bobby Lashley.

    His most recent televised match came on the August 22, Raw, where he and The Miz got a Q win over Lashley and AJ Styles.

    Dealing with the Pain

    Sharing details about his injury in September, the former NXT Champion said it had been causing him to experience glute and back joint pain.

    Ciampa said he had also been dealing with severe pain in his sacroiliac, where the lower spine and pelvis connect.

    According to Ciampa’s wife, his hip labrum resembled shredded cheese, and in an Instagram post, the Blackheart thanked the various medical staff that has been taking care of him.

    Ciampa Names ‘Craziest, Funniest’ Part Of Vince McMahon’s Retirement
  • Seth Rollins is Sports Illustrated’s #1 Wrestler of 2022 – Roman Reigns at #4

    Seth Rollins is Sports Illustrated’s #1 Wrestler of 2022 – Roman Reigns at #4

    Seth Rollins has added another accolade to his impressive wrestling career, being crowned the #1 wrestler of 2022 by Sports Illustrated.

    The list, published this week, commends Rollins as having “wrestled the most compelling, convincing, and effective matches” for the past 12 months.

    Rollins’ promos and character work have “brought him to a whole new level of greatness” according to the article.

    In his Instagram Story, Rollins reacted to the ranking, saying “Thanks for the love. An honor to be a part of this list.”

    Seth Rollins in 2022

    Seth’s year started off strong as he challenged Universal Champion Roman Reigns and got a DQ win over the Tribal Chief, the only person to get a PLE victory over Reigns since his 2020 heel turn.

    From there, Rollins would have an epic feud with the returning Cody Rhodes, and losing on three Premium Live Events did not damage Rollins’ stature at all.

    After failing to win Money in the Bank, Rollins would engage in a deeply personal rivalry with Matt Riddle, and their postponed match for Summerslam would take place at Clash at the Castle.

    Rollins defeated the Original Bro in Cardiff but would lose to Riddle by submission in the Fight Pit at WWE Extreme Rules.

    In October, Rollins became a two-time U.S. Champion, defeating Bobby Lashley, a title he would hold until Survivor Series: WarGames, where he would lose to Austin Theory.

    The Architect will challenge for the title on the first Raw of 2023.

    The Rankings

    Rollins may be number one, but Sports Illustrated had some difficult picks for the rest of the list.

    The full ranking is as follows.

    1. Seth Rollins
    2. Jon Moxley
    3. WWE Raw Women’s Champion Bianca Belair
    4. Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns
    5. IWGP United States Heavyweight Champion Will Ospreay
    6. AEW Women’s World Champion Jamie Hayter
    7. AAA Mega Champion El Hijo del Vikingo
    8. IWGP World Tag Team Champion Dax Harwood
    9. IWGP World Tag Team Champion Cash Wheeler
    10. Masha Slamovich
    Seth Rollins Paid Tribute to Brodie Lee at WWE Show from Rochester, NY
  • Becky Lynch’s Ex Claims Charlotte Flair Couldn’t Handle The Man’s Success

    Becky Lynch’s Ex Claims Charlotte Flair Couldn’t Handle The Man’s Success

    Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair were once closer than sisters, but that was a very long time ago.

    The two highly decorated female Superstars have had real-life problems for years now, and are often kept on separate shows.

    In 2021, Lynch and Flair were both drafted to each other’s brands to keep them apart.

    Success

    Plenty has been said about the fallout between the two, and now a new perspective has been given by Lynch’s ex-boyfriend Jeff Dye.

    On the Wrestling with Freddie podcast, Dye spoke about how things in 2018 became too personal when Flair and Lynch feuded over the SmackDown Women’s Championship.

    “They would take it really personal. Like when she and Charlotte were feuding, I would listen to her be like, ‘I can’t believe Charlotte’s actually getting mad at me.’ I was like, ‘You guys do know this is a storyline, right? You guys don’t have to actually be upset with each other for this to work.’”

    “I would listen to her be like, ‘I can’t believe Charlotte’s actually getting mad at me.’”

    Jeff Dye.

    “I think it’s like comedy or show business or maybe even if you work at a warehouse or you work at Target or you work at Best Buy, you get competitive. You want the promotion or you want the raise or you want some position, and so that’s just part of it for them.”

    Due added that Charlotte struggled to accept that Lynch was becoming the new face of women’s wrestling after her transformation into ‘The Man’ in late 2018.

    On-Screen

    Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair have had issues for years, which have often played out on WWE Television.

    Flair was reportedly deeply hurt by a promo Lynch made in which she referred to her former friend as “plastic.”

    When Lynch and Flair were drafted last year, the two were set to exchange the Raw and SmackDown Women’s Championships, in a segment that did not go to plan.

    Flair reportedly went off-script by dropping her title, forcing Lynch to pick it up off the mat, and earned considerable heat backstage.

    Charlotte Flair on Becky Lynch Feud: “Two Alphas Who Don’t See Eye-To-Eye”

    h/t – Bodyslam

  • Ricky Steamboat Addresses Why he Backed Out of Ric Flair’s Last Match

    Ricky Steamboat Addresses Why he Backed Out of Ric Flair’s Last Match

    This past July, Ric Flair wrestled in his advertised last match by teaming with Andrade El Idolo to defeat Jay Lethal and Jeff Jarrett, but that wasn’t the original plan. 

    Fellow WWE Hall Of Famer Ricky Steamboat was originally planned to be part of the match, but didn’t end up not doing it. Steamboat is considered one of Flair’s greatest rivals dating back to their matches in the 80s and 90s.

    While speaking to Bill Apter of Sportskeeda, Steamboat explained why he decided against being part of Flair’s last match.

    The Real Reason

    “Initially, when Conrad, who is the promoter, when we talked, I drove to Nashville and we had a sitdown. I was still training pretty good and feeling pretty good, and I said ‘okay.’ We hadn’t signed or sealed the deal on the money part of it, but what put the nail in the coffin is, about a week after that, I found out that Flair was wearing a pacemaker. All these years and I never knew. I immediately said, ‘I don’t think I want to do this.’ I don’t want my legacy to be that I was in the ring if he happened to pass away or something went wrong. I didn’t want that.”

    Steamboat noted that he initially publicly stated that he turned down the match due to not having any interest in wrestling again, but it was due to him not wanting to throw Conrad Thompson or Flair under the bus. 

    Steamboat had his own last match when he teamed with FTR (Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler) to defeat Brock Anderson, Jay Lethal and Nick Aldis on November 27, 2022 at Big Time Wrestling.

    H/T to Fightful for the transcription

  • Cain Velasquez Was ‘A Little Uncomfortable’ Working With Brock Lesnar In WWE

    Cain Velasquez Was ‘A Little Uncomfortable’ Working With Brock Lesnar In WWE

    Cain Velasquez apparently wasn’t too comfortable with working with former UFC opponent Brock Lesnar for their WWE match.

    Velasquez recently took part in an interview on Konnan’s podcast where he discussed what it was like working alongside “The Beast” back in 2019 during their feud. The pair faced off for the WWE Title at the 2019 Crown Jewel event in Saudi Arabia.

    The match lasted just over a minute, with Lesnar winning via submission. Velasquez admitted he was “a little uncomfortable” working with Lesnar to plan the match.

    “Yeah, professional and I would say it was a little uncomfortable [planning the match with Brock Lesnar]. I’m just so new to the wrestling world but everyone that I’ve worked with has been amazing as far as, you take care of everybody.

    “We really do try to put in some good things in there where everyone gets what they want out of it and making it just for the fans. Working with Brock was interesting man, that’s all I’m gonna say. It was very different.

    “You kind of just learn from your life and okay, this is what this was. I know for next time if something else ever happens for next time but… [Velasquez laughed] With Brock, that’s kind of what it was and again, the best thing about what I do now with wrestling is I can bring my family in and they’re true fans of it, you know? And that is the best.”

    Rey Mysterio with Cain Velasquez
    Rey Mysterio with Cain Velasquez

    This isn’t the first time Lesnar and Velasquez met in competitive fashion. Their first interaction came back in 2010 when the duo headlined UFC 121 in a heavyweight title fight. Lesnar was defending his then-UFC heavyweight title against the young up-and-comer Velasquez.

    The fight ended in the first round with Velasquez getting the TKO victory and earning his first UFC heavyweight title. Of course, years later in WWE, Lesnar would get his revenge inside the WWE ring.

    Quotes via PostWrestling.com

  • Kevin Owens Praises Sami Zayn For Getting Over With The Bloodline

    Kevin Owens Praises Sami Zayn For Getting Over With The Bloodline

    Kevin Owens has nothing but praise for Sami Zayn amidst how much he’s gotten over with the current Bloodline storyline.

    For the past several weeks, Sami Zayn has received quite a bit of praise for his involvement in his current storyline alongside The Bloodline on WWE TV. The angle has seen his longtime friend, Kevin Owens, now enter the fold as an opposing force.

    Speaking on the Cheap Heat with Peter Rosenberg this week, Owens offered his thoughts on the angle. Owens had nothing but positive things to say about Zayn and how much he’s taken off with the current storyline. He also praised Zayn for how consistently entertaining he’s been even before the storyline began.

    “He’s always been unbelievable, definitely one of the best in the world, to me, in the last decade at least if not longer, but for some reason, he was never really — again, talk about the people who don’t get the credit they deserve, he was one of those guys.

    “And now, people are really like taking notice. But to me, even if you go back a few months before this stuff with Bloodline, you go back to his match with Johnny Knoxville, the match he had at Wrestlemania with those guys, that was all him, all him. And that was pretty incredible.

    “I think several members of our roster could’ve done a pretty good job at it. I don’t think anybody, anybody, could’ve done it like he did. It is great to see him get the credit he deserves and the respect from our audience, and the respect from the people in charge. It’s been a great thing to see for sure.”

    Zayn has been with WWE for nearly a decade now. Over the course of that time he has racked up an NXT Title run and three Intercontinental Title wins. Currently, as an “Honorary Uce” with The Bloodline, many are expecting Zayn to eventually be kicked out of the faction, leading to a reunion with Owens.

    It remains to be seen if that’s the way WWE will decide to take things.

    Quotes via 411Mania

  • Former WWE Champion Returns at Holiday Tour Live Event

    Former WWE Champion Returns at Holiday Tour Live Event

    Bobby Lashley returned to action at Tuesday night’s WWE holiday tour live event from Atlanta, GA at the State Farm Arena.

    The Almighty has been off television for the past few weeks. WWE is running a storyline that saw Adam Pearce ‘fire’ Lashley. WWE moved Lashley’s Superstar profile page to the Alumni section of the company website an in effort to convince fans this was a serious situation.

    Pierce later released a video message, apologized to Lashley and stated that he will instead serve a suspension instead of outright losing his job.

    Bobby Lashley Returns

    At Tuesday’s WWE event from Atlanta, Omos came down to the ring for the second match on the card. As seen below, fans in attendance were surprised to see Lashley announced as his opponent.

    The former WWE Champion got a huge pop from the Atlanta crowd and picked up a win over the Nigerian Giant. The company has yet to formally announce the end of his suspension, but expect to see him back on Raw as early as next week.

    WWE Atlanta Results (12/27/22)

    Bobby Lashley Returns

    Here’s a quick rundown of the results from Tuesday night’s show:

    • Becky Lynch vs. RAW Women’s Champion Bianca Belair ended in a No Contest when Bayley attacked them both. Lynch and Belair then joined forces to attack Bayley run her off.
    • Bobby Lashley defeated Omos
    • The New Day (Kofi Kingston, Xavier Woods) and Madcap Moss defeated Imperium (GUNTHER, Ludwig Kaiser, Giovanni Vinci)
    • Karrion Kross defeated Drew Gulak
    • Ricochet and Braun Strowman defeated The Usos via DQ after Sami Zayn interfered. Kevin Owens came out to confront Zayn, which led ot the match turning into a 6-man tag.
    • Owens, Ricochet and Strowman defeated The Usos and Zayn after Owens hit a stunner on Zayn.
    • Legado del Fantasma (Joaquin Wilde, Cruz Del Toro) defeated The Brawling Brutes (Sheamus, Ridge Holland)
    • Bray Wyatt defeated Jinder Mahal
    • Austin Theory retained the United States Championship against Seth Rollins in a Steel Cage match. Theory hit Rollins with a low blow to get the win.
  • Erick Rowan: WWE Gave Me One Day Off After Suffering Torn Bicep

    Erick Rowan: WWE Gave Me One Day Off After Suffering Torn Bicep

    Injuries in wrestling can happen at any time, and in the case of Erick Rowan, WWE gave him small amount of time to heal up.

    Rowan was part of the Wyatt Family in WWE and later worked with Luke Harper/Brodie Lee as the Bludgeon Brothers before his release in April 2020.

    Since departing WWE, Rowan, working as Erick Redbeard, has made a handful of appearances for AEW, the most recent of which coming on the August 10, 2022, episode of Rampage.

    One Day

    Like any wrestler, Rowan isn’t immune from being injured, and that’s exactly what happened at Summerslam 2018.

    On the show, the Bludgeon Brothers defended their SmackDown Tag Team Championships against the New Day and Rowan suffered a torn biceps during the match.

    Speaking to Wrestling News, Rowan recalled being given very little time off before being asked to next appear.

    “Every time I was off TV for a period of time it was because I was having a surgery. You never saw cameras around me. No. I was by myself at the hospitals, getting the surgery, flying back home, miserable, and doing the rehab every day.”

    “They gave me one day off so I could hopefully deal with the pain.”

    Erick Rowan.

    “At SummerSlam, I tore my bicep. They gave me one day off so I could hopefully deal with the pain, and then we did a SmackDown versus The New Day where we used ladders and all sorts of stuff. In the meantime, I don’t have a right bicep that’s attached to my arm.”

    The match on SmackDown would see the New Day’s Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods win the titles from the Bludgeon Brothers.

    After Rowan’s pain got worse, WWE allowed him more time off and the former Superstar would not wrestle again until February 2019.

    Erick Rowan: There’s Always An Opportunity for WWE Return
  • Jim Ross Shares the Reason for Chyna’s WWE Departure in 2001

    Jim Ross Shares the Reason for Chyna’s WWE Departure in 2001

    Chyna was once one of the biggest names in the World Wrestling Federation, but she and WWE had very different ideas as to how much she was worth.

    Chyna (real name Joan Marie Laurer) joined the WWF in 1997 as the bodyguard for the newly-formed stable D-Generation X.

    In April 2016, Laurer would die of an overdose of alcohol and pain medication. She was 46.

    Guarantee

    By 2001, Chyna had won the Intercontinental Championship twice (the only woman to date to win the title) and would win the Women’s Championship at WrestleMania X-Seven.

    Chyna’s time with the company would come to abrupt end after the Judgment Day 2001 Pay-Per-View, where she’d retain her title against Lita.

    Speaking on the latest episode of his Grilling JR podcast, Jim Ross addressed Chyna’s departure after she requested a $1 million guarantee on a new contract.

    “She wanted a million dollars because she felt like she was worth more being a female, being more unique, than Stone Cold, some of the other guys. There was only a handful of guys making a million dollars per year.

    “She wanted a million dollars…There was only a handful of guys making a million dollars per year.”

    Jim Ross.

    “I said, ‘Vince, if I can’t get a decent number, we may have to pass on it. He said, ‘Well, that’s your call.’ I couldn’t give her a million dollars a year. Could she have earned over a million dollars per year? She probably did a couple of times, if I remember correctly, but that guarantee was just too big.”

    After her departure, the WWF Women’s title was vacated before being won by Trish Stratus at that November’s Survivor Series.

    Hall of Fame

    Chyna would never return to the WWE before her tragic passing in 2016 and was posthumously inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2019.

    Her induction would not be as a solo act but as part of D-Generation X, which has caused a backlash among fans who believe Chyna deserves an induction as a singles wrestler.

    Last month, Mick Foley (a 2013 Hall of Fame inductee) advocated for Chyna to receive a solo induction.

    Road Dogg Says he has “Survivors Guilt” Over Chyna

    h/t – eWrestlingNews

  • Ex-WWE World Champions Set Their Sights On GUNTHER’s Intercontinental Title

    Ex-WWE World Champions Set Their Sights On GUNTHER’s Intercontinental Title

    WWE Intercontinental Champion GUNTHER has dominated since winning the title, but 2023 is shaping up to be one very difficult year.

    After debuting on the main roster in April, GUNTHER captured the Intercontinental title in June of this year, dethroning Ricochet.

    Since then, GUNTHER has retained against Ricochet, Shinsuke Nakamura, and Rey Mysterio, and had an acclaimed match with Sheamus at WWE Clash at the Castle.

    Sheamus

    Sheamus Vs. GUNTHER earned five stars from Dave Meltzer, but their Welsh war saw the leader of Imperium keep the gold.

    On Twitter, Sheamus responded to a clip of the Clash at the Castle match, claiming that he will become Intercontinental Champion in 2023.

    Sheamus is a former WWE, World Heavyweight, U.S., Raw, SmackDown, and WWE Tag Champion, but needs the Intercontinental Gold to complete both the Triple Crown and the Grand Slam.

    Drew McIntyre

    Sheamus is fixated on dethroning GUNTHER, but Drew McIntyre also has his sights on the Austrian and his title.

    During this week’s ‘Absolute Best of 2022’ edition of Monday Night Raw, McIntyre declared his interest in the gold.

    “I’ve got my eyes on GUNTHER with the Intercontinental Championship. I see the chatter on social media, I see what happened with himself and Sheamus, I saw the battles. I love competition, I’m a former Intercontinental Champion and I would love to tangle with that man.”

    Drew McIntyre.

    McIntyre’s one and only Intercontinental title reign saw him dethrone John Morrison at WWE: TLC in December 2009 and would hold the title for 161 days before losing to Kofi Kingston.

    It has been reported that GUNTHER Vs. Brock Lesnar is also in the works for WrestleMania 39.

    Vince McMahon Had Plans to Bury Gunther, Send Him Back to WWE NXT
  • WWE’s Plans for Tyson Fury at Royal Rumble & WrestleMania in Doubt Due to Visa Issues

    WWE’s Plans for Tyson Fury at Royal Rumble & WrestleMania in Doubt Due to Visa Issues

    Via issues may derail WWE’s plans for Tyson Fury at the Royal Rumble next month and WrestleMania 39 in April. 

    The US Sun reports that WWE was planning to have Fury make a Royal Rumble appearance and work a match at WrestleMania, but that Fury’s issues entering the country are in the way. Those hopes are looking “slim and complicated.” 

    The boxing superstar cannot enter the US because of links to alleged Irish mob boss Daniel Kinahan, who co-founded MTK Global, which represented Fury. It was shut down in April when Kinahan was hit with sanctions regarding his alleged crimes. 

    Fury is among over 600 people with connections to Kinahan who are believed to be banned from entering the country.

    Originally, Fury was set to face Jake Paul in a fight in New York City, but that had to be pushed back because Fury could not get into the country for the match, having appeared in a picture with Kinahan in February. Fury has said he has nothing to do with Kinahan.

    “Because I had my picture taken with a man, it doesn’t make me a criminal. I’m just a boxer. There could be a criminal in this building.”

    Fury-WWE Connection

    An insider told the outlet, “Tyson is well loved at the WWE, and him popping up in any match, and a run to Wrestlemania would generate huge headlines and fan interest. However, his immigration status is proving tricky to deal with. Tyson and the legal team or getting this whole grey and tricky area resolved. But non-entry, quite simply put, means non-payment.”

    The source continued, “And people may not believe this but turning up for a match or being part of the shows, not even fighting, earns him several million dollars. So this issue with his working visa in the States is costing him a large amount of cash. The WWE works with foreign athletes all the time in aiding their visa processing for appearances. The legal team are on the sidelines offering support in this matter, but ultimately getting approval is on Tyson’s head and how US immigration assesses his case.”

    This source noted that Fury working matches in Saudi Arabia is always possible. Fury faced Braun Strowman at WWE Crown Jewel in 2019, which marked his pro wrestling in-ring debut and his only match to date in addition to appearing at Clash of the Castle in September.

  • WWE Looking to Prevent Travel-Related Issues at SmackDown

    WWE Looking to Prevent Travel-Related Issues at SmackDown

    WWE is putting in extra effort to try and avoid more travel woes for talent and crew that could impact Friday’s SmackDown on FOX episode, which is one of the biggest shows in recent SmackDown history. 

    As previously reported, those working Monday’s house show in Columbus, OH, dealt with significant travel-related issues that caused changes to the lineup. Talent working the SmackDown event at MSG that same night dealt with their flights being delayed.

    Some people working the house show in Columbus couldn’t even appear, including Alexa Bliss, Bobby Lashley, Seth Rollins, and Becky Lynch.

    The Warning

    On today’s Wrestling Observer Live, Bryan Alvarez noted that some WWE talents and crew members were told to leave Tuesday to make it to Tampa, FL, for Friday’s SmackDown because of travel issues. 

    It’s believed that there should be limited issues as many of the wrestlers are already in Florida as they live there. WWE’s post-Christmas tour runs through Thursday in Miami. Top wrestlers booked for the final SmackDown of 2022 will likely go to Tampa in advance.

    The show will have a stacked lineup that includes Raquel Rodriguez vs. SmackDown Women’s Champion Ronda Rousey, Sheamus vs. Solo Sikoa, Kevin Owen & John Cena vs. Sami Zayn & Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns.

  • Vince McMahon Reportedly Opposed No-Cut Clauses in WWE Contracts

    Vince McMahon Reportedly Opposed No-Cut Clauses in WWE Contracts

    More details regarding the contract negotiation process of WWE deals have come out as part of the overall changes that have happened in WWE following the resignation of Vince McMahon and the influx of new management. 

    It was reported last year that no-cut clauses had not been a part of any of the negotiations. In an update, Fightful Select reports Vince “specifically was not in favor of adding a no cut-clause, but that others in the front office were.”

    Against The Idea

    Many in the front office of WWE have heard that WWE President and Chief Revenue Officer Nick Khan had sounded open to the idea, but Vince had the final say and was “vehemently against the idea of a no-cut clause.” 

    The edict didn’t prevent top free agents from signing with the company, but some people had inquired about it. One person thought it was Vince McMahon being stuck in his ways. This person added that it put in perspective how much talent had been released said “Vince McMahon liked me but…” when he ultimately had the say-so over who was cut.

    Most of the talent that spoke with the media outlet had positive things to say about Khan and his method of management, “specifically thinking outside of the box as compared to WWE traditions.” 

  • Charlotte Flair Reacts to Jade Cargill Wanting to Face Her

    Charlotte Flair Reacts to Jade Cargill Wanting to Face Her

    WWE star Charlotte Flair has responded to AEW TBS Champion Jade Cargill showing respect to her on Twitter. 

    Cargill and Flair are two of the most dominant female wrestlers in their respective companies and in the entire wrestling business. Flair has been pushed as a top star in the sports entertainment company for years, while Jade has stayed undefeated in the rival wrestling promotion. 

    The Exchange

    The AEW star recently noted on Twitter that she’d love the opportunity to face off against The Queen. This was after she was asked by a fan about which non-AEW wrestler she’d choose to defend her TBS Championship against. 

    Cargill tweeted: “@MsCharlotteWWE – because she can GO.”

    Flair replied with her own praise, tweeting: “Keep killing it, queen. #undefeated.”

    Flair hasn’t wrestled since WrestleMania Backlash in May, when she lost her SmackDown Women’s Championship to Ronda Rousey. She recently teased her return on social media by revealing that she has been training for her eventual comeback.

    Her husband and AEW star Andrade El Idolo previously revealed that she has been out of action due to ‘personal reasons‘ that she will one day discuss herself. WWE has reportedly been working on plans for her return.