Dakota Kai has opened up on how she found her way into the world of professional wrestling.
Recently, Kai spoke to WWE Deutschland to discuss a variety of professional wrestling topics. During the interview, Kai revealed that it was actually her younger brother who introduced her to the world of professional wrestling.
“He used to watch it way back in the day. I didn’t really give it the time of the day because I was ignorant, I guess. But one day he told me to sit down and watch it and we were right in the middle of a Rock and Austin feud, a promo was happening in the ring, and that was my first introduction into pro wrestling.”
Kai then revealed that her favorite wrestler is none other than WWE legend and former World Champion The Rock.
“He’s charismatic, athletic, but he’s also Samoan, which I’m Samoan too, so there’s a connection there.”
(via WWE)
Kai has been with WWE since 2015 when she joined its NXT brand. There, she was a two-time NXT Women’s Tag Team Champion alongside Raquel Gonzalez. The pair also won the Women’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic tournament.
Since coming up to the main roster, Kai’s success in the tag team division has continued. Aligning herself with Bayley and IYO SKY as Damage CTRL, Kai and SKY are also two-time WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions themselves.
Molly Holly has discussed potentially competing in the 2023 women’s Royal Rumble.
The 2023 Royal Rumble will go down from the Alamodome from San Antonio, Texas on January 28. Of course, one of the matches that will be taking place that night is the women’s Royal Rumble match, which will guarantee the winner a shot at a World Title of their choosing at WrestleMania.
One of the best parts of the rumble is the surprise returns that it offers. Molly Holly was one of the more notable special appearances in the rumble last year. Speaking to K&S Wrestlefest, Holly talked about potentially competing in this year’s Royal Rumble match as well.
Holly said that, if she does compete, she told WWE to give her a heads up well in advance so she could train for it. She hasn’t received that call so far, and the rumble is nearly right around the corner.
“I told the creative writing team that if I do have to be in it, I need some advance notice because it hurts to go from not doing it for a long time and then getting thrown in there. So they have not given me any notice as of yet, and it’s getting close to that time, so they better tell me soon if I am gonna have to be in it.”
Holly is certainly one of the more notable names the women’s division has seen in previous generations. She’s a two-time WWE Women’s Champion, a former Hardcore Champion, and was inducted into the WWE Hall Of Fame in 2021. Seeing a potential return from Holly in January would definitely be a treat for many fans.
The 2023 WWE Hall of Fame induction ceremony is right around the corner.
Each year, WWE honors some of the greatest performers in wrestling history with this prestigious recognition. Since its inception nearly thirty years ago, the WWE Hall of Fame has seen 234 inductions, 124 individual inductees and 46 ‘legacy’ inductees. There are 12 people in the ‘Celebrity Wing’ of the WWE Hall of Fame, and 8 people have received the questionably-named Warrior Award.
There is no physical Hall of Fame building as of this writing, but that does not diminish the magnitude of this honor. Countless inductees have spoken about how meaningful it was to join the ranks of Hulk Hogan, Bruno Sammartino, Stone Cold Steve Austin, Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels, “Rowdy” Roddy Piper and more.
1993 WWE Hall of Fame
The WWE Hall of Fame was introduced in 1993. The first inductee intro the WWE Hall of Fame was Andre the Giant. He was inducted posthumously shortly after his passing on January 27, 1993.WWE did not hold a formal Hall of Fame induction ceremony until the following year.
Andre’s induction was announced on the March 22, 1993 edition of Monday Night Raw. Here is rare footage of the Andre the Giant Hall of Fame video package:
WWE has provided this playlist of Andre the Giant’s greatest moments:
Top Names not in the WWE Hall of Fame
The WWE Hall of Fame includes some of the greatest performers in pro wrestling history. However, there are some glaring omissions to the list of legends have received this honor.
We recently wrote about 5 big names who are surprisingly not members of the WWE Hall of Fame. You can check out that feature here:
WWE Raw Superstar Matt Riddle is in more hot water after being accused of sexual abuse by his former girlfriend.
Earlier this month, Riddle was written off of WWE TV with an attack by Solo Sikoa, allegedly covering up his second violation of WWE’s Wellness Policy.
Riddle was recently spotted with adult film actress Misha Montana, but it is Jordan Maxx (another actress) who has said that Riddle has entered rehab.
Accusation
After his split with his now ex-wife Lisa, Riddle was seen with Daniella Petrow, and it was reported that they were in a relationship.
On Twitter, Petrow spoke about Riddle and claimed the former WWE United States Champion was abusive during their relationship.
Petrow called Montana Riddle’s “newest victim,” and said she thought Riddle would have changed after the “Candy Cartwright days.”
Cartwright, an indie wrestler, accused Riddle of sexual assault and blocking her from getting bookings, but her lawsuit was dropped in July 2021.
Petrow made her views clear on Riddle, saying that he has a history of targeting women with his alleged behavior.
“You have been conned into loving a man who uses your love to then take advantage of you, to then manipulate you, to sexually abuse you, to torment you.”
The Original Bro has reportedly entered rehab due to his violations of the Wellness Policy, which Petrow believes is not enough.
In a video, Petrow spoke about the “pedestal of fame” around Riddle and said that rehab won’t fix him.
“Rehab’s not gonna f*cking help him. He still has this f*cking job. He’s still gonna f*cking do what he’s doing.”
Daniela Petrow.
Petrow added that WWE needs to part ways with Riddle to send him a message.
“People, wake the f*ck up. WWE, you need to fire his ass. And 30 days in rehab is not enough time to fix what’s f*cking wrong with this man. Charges might.”
Daniel Petrow.
Riddle has not responded publicly to the allegations against him.
Jim Ross has shared his experiences of the now-infamous Brock Lesnar Vs. Goldberg match at WrestleMania 20 in 2004.
For the March 14, event, the two powerhouses faced off in the first singles match between the two, which had been one of the most hotly-anticipated matches on the show.
Days prior to WrestleMania, it was reported that both men were leaving WWE after the event, and fans turned on both men for the match.
Feeling Bad
The match is considered one of the worst bouts of both men’s careers, with Goldberg and Lesnar giving a deliberately underwhelming performance in response to the crowd.
Jim Ross had previously served as WWE’s Head of Talent Relations, and was tasked with called the disastrous match.
Speaking on the latest episode of Grilling JR, Ross said that it would have been impossible for the match to go well, given the opinion by fans before the bell was rung.
“They were dead. The jury had already declared their verdict before the trial had started. We’re done. I felt bad for those guys. I really did. I signed Brock. I helped sign Goldberg. I liked both guys for various reasons.
“They both had a lot of similar characteristics as far as physicality. I’ll tell you that for as good an athlete as Goldberg was, he wasn’t in Lesnar’s league in terms of being a pure athlete.”
“I love those guys, and I felt so bad for them.”
Jim Ross.
Lesnar and Goldberg would later return to WWE (in 2012 and 2016 respectively) and would have far better matches at Survivor Series 2016 and WrestleMania 33.
The Rattlesnake
To amp up the star power for this match, WWE brought in ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin to officiate the WrestleMania 20 bout.
Austin, realising that the crowd had turned, delivered both men stunners after the match, earning the only cheers from the audience inside Madison Square Garden.
On his show, Ross said it was a wise move on the Texas Rattlesnake’s behalf.
“Thank God Austin was there, because those two stunners at the end, one to each guy, was money. It finally gave the guys something to embrace and cheer for.”
Jim Ross.
When Ross’ co-host Conrad Thompson asked him about if he spoke to either Brock or Goldberg, JR questioned what exactly he could have said on the night.
“They were making a ton of money, and they didn’t want to be there. What more could I do? Pay them more money to rent their services? Not their heart, not their soul, not their passion, but to rent their services. It was not the time to do that.”
Goldberg would beat Lesnar in the match, considered to be one of the worst bouts in the 38-year history of WrestleMania.
Brock After WWE
Lesnar’s departure from WWE came less than two years after his main-roster debut, and because he had big plans for the gridiron.
Part of Brock’s decision to leave was because he wanted to compete in the NFL, and would later be signed to the Minnesota Vikings.
Ross said that while Lesnar was not picked for the official team, he was still impressive with how far he got.
“For Lesnar to get a chance to go try out for the [Minnesota] Vikings and almost make the team. I mean, he was the last cut and he hadn’t played football since high school. We’re talking about the National Football League here. He was an extraordinary athlete. And he still is.”
After his Football dreams did not pan out, Lesnar returned to wrestling, competing in NJPW before finding success in the UFC which he joined in 2007.
WWE Superstar Logan Paul may have won over fans with his in-ring work, but his participation with an online project is earning him serious scrutiny.
Paul made his in-ring debut for WWE at WrestleMania 38 in April, and would defeat The Miz at Summerslam 2022.
Last month, Paul suffered his first loss in WWE, coming up short against Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns.
CryptoZoo
On his Impaulsive podcast, the WWE Superstar shared great excitement for CryptoZoo, a “fun game” that allows players to earn money.
The game allows users to buy animal eggs, which then hatch into unique NFTs that can be traded and sold online.
Coin Edition reports that the game is little more than a scam, as users have been unable to cash out their earnings.
One user who goes by the name HelicopterBob, invested $7,000 into the game and has seen no return on his investment.
Paul has come under fire for using Adobe Stock images and photoshopping them into ‘art’ as part of CryptoZoo, despite claiming that each image is “hand made art.”
Development
Paul has previously claimed that the problems stem from CryptoZoo’s developer, who created a code and then ran off with it to Switzerland.
The developer allegedly would not do any more work on the project unless they were paid $1 million by Paul.
When YouTuber Coffeezilla spoke to developers, they claimed they were not paid by Paul so stopped working on the game.
Paul’s agent Jeffrey Levin refused to give a comment when asked, and Coffezilla has claimed that Logan Paul has blocked him on social media.
Coffeezilla’s full video on Paul’s game can be found by clicking the link here.
Sources within WWE are said to be excited that there is a ton of buzz among fans whenever any NXT Superstars compete on WWE Main Event.
Since Triple H took over as Head of Creative and Head of Talent Relations in July, fans have seen NXT Superstars being given a taste of the main roster on WWE Main Event.
People in WWE are thrilled that these appearances are getting fans talking about possible call-ups, Fightful Select reports.
This week’s WWE Main Event taping saw Axion face off against Mustafa Ali in a losing effort.
Andre Chase would have better luck on the show, defeating former WWE Cruiserweight and Raw Tag Team Champion Cedric Alexander.
In addition to WWE Main Event, Chase had a brief cameo on Raw, being the victim of a beatdown by The Bloodline.
Both matches were produced by Shane ‘Hurricane’ Helms.
WWE Main Event
Premiering in October 2012, WWE Main Event celebrated its 500th episode earlier this year.
The show features mid-card and lower talent, in addition to NXT Superstars being given a shot on the main roster.
Last month saw Kiana James lose to Asuka on the November 20, 2022 WWE Main Event, while JD McDonagh lost to Cedric Alexander.
Grayson Waller has also competed on WWE Main Event, facing Akira Tozawa on the show last month.
For the November 27, 2022 taping of the show, Waller lost to Tozawa, but Alba Fyre defeated Tamina Snuka in the former NXT UK Women’s Champion’s main roster debut.
Dwyane “The Rock” Johnson has confirmed that Black Adam will not be featured going forward, at least in “the first chapter” of a new direction for DC’s storytelling under new Studio Heads James Gunn and Peter Safran, now in control of all of DC Studios.
They control the comic book company’s film, TV, animated, and gaming storylines and direction going forward. This character was a passion project for him for years as the original plan in September 2014 was for him to introduce him as the villain in the Shazam! film series.
The former WWE Champion lobbied for Black Adam to be introduced in his own film, allowing for two separate franchises to be launched instead.
The Rock got his wish for a standalone “Black Adam” movie a few months ago when the film was released in theaters and now streaming on HBO Max, but there have been a lot of changes at DC Studios.
The Rock’s Statement
“My passionate friends, I wanted to give you a long-awaited Black Adam update regarding the character’s future in the new DC Universe.
James Gunn and I connected, and Black Adam will not be in their first chapter of storytelling. However, DC and Seven Bucks have agreed to continue exploring the most valuable ways Black Adam can be utilized in future DC multiverse chapters.
James and I have known each other for years and have always rooted for each other to succeed. It’s no different now, and I will always root for DC (and Marvel) to win and WIN BIG.
You guys know me, and I have very thick skin – and you can always count on me to be direct with my words. There had been rumors that The Rock’s movie wasn’t as profitable as it appeared on the surface, something he later dismissed. These decisions made by James and DC leadership represent their vision of DCU through their creative lens.
After 15 years of relentless hard work to finally make Black Adam, I’m very proud of the film we delivered for fans worldwide. I will always look back on the fan reaction to Black Adam with tremendous gratitude, humility and love.
We did great. To my very passionate and vocal Black Adam/Super Hero genre fans – I love you, THANK YOU, and I will ALWAYS LISTEN TO YOU and do my best to deliver and entertain you. What a helluva month – now we all need some Teremana! Have a productive week and HAPPY HOLIDAYS to you and your families! “
There had been rumors that The Rock’s movie wasn’t as profitable as it appeared on the surface, something he later dismissed.
The latest star brought back by Triple H was Bronson Reed, formerly known as JONAH, who made his return to the company on Monday’s episode of Raw.
This is over a year after Reed was let go by the company when Vince McMahon was still in charge. There had been rumblings that Triple H wanted to bring him back.
His return happened when the former NXT North American Champion got involved in The Miz and Dexter Lumis’ ladder match. Reed helped Miz go over and got the money that was part of the stipulation for the match.
Triple H Got His Man
Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select reported that “Bronson Reed was a priority hire for Triple H when he gained power within WWE.” It was said that NJPW wanted to retain Reed and was hopeful he would stay.
The report noted that Reed is done with NJPW and has signed a contract with WWE.
After Jonah first joined WWE in January 2019, he made his televised in-ring debut as a competitor in the NXT Breakout Tournament. In May 2021, he won the NXT North American Championship.
Jonah worked his last match on WWE television in July 2021 when he lost to Adam Cole on an episode of NXT.
Tickets for the December 30, episode of WWE SmackDown on FOX are getting increasingly more difficult to come by, and it is all thanks to John Cena.
On last week’s SmackDown, Cena appeared on the titantron to announce that he will team with Kevin Owens on the final SmackDown of the year.
The former opponents will face off against the Bloodline’s Sami Zayn and Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns.
Cena Still Drives Business
Often considered by many to be arguably the last drawing name in wrestling, it should come as no surprise that Cena is moving tickets.
During the latest Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer reported that Cena’s involvement in the show is proving to be a draw.
“We always say, and it’s true, ‘It’s the brand and not the guy’, but John Cena is the exception. They’ve sold 4,000 tickets in Tampa since he was announced on that show, which is amazing. You know, he is the exception to the rule. If you’re wondering, ‘Is anyone a draw?’ It’s like, well, he is.”
Dave Meltzer.
The December 30, SmackDown will mark Cena’s first televised match for WWE since Summerslam 2021, where he lost to Roman Reigns.
SmackDown
John Cena will keep his streak going on the final SmackDown of this year, by having a WWE match every year since 2002.
Other names promoted to appear for the show include SmackDown Women’s Champion Ronda Rousey, Bray Wyatt, and Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions The Usos.
Solo Sikoa Vs. Sheamus will also take place on the show, in the second singles collision between the two.
Sikoa defeated the former WWE Champion on the October 21, episode of SmackDown.
Kurt Angle was one of the top stars of TNA. He got to wrestle with some of the best in-ring talent there. This list includes none other than AJ Styles, who Angle credits for making him a better wrestler.
The Olympic Gold Medallist talked about his time in TNA on the latest episode of his podcast. He specifically discussed the Aces & Eights storyline and the problems with it.
Angle was involved in a story with AJ Styles at the time where the two formed a team. Commenting on his experience of sharing the ring with AJ, Kurt said that everyone who gets in the ring with him becomes better:
“Whether I was alongside him as a tag team or working with him, he made me better. Every time I wrestled with him or against him, he made me better.
That’s the kind of guy AJ is, that’s the kind of athlete he is. Everybody he gets in the ring with, he makes the match better and the other person better.”
-Kurt Angle
The former world champion was involved in a storyline with AJ Styles in mid-2012. They faced each other on a couple of occasions before forming a tag team.
The team of Angle and Styles even held the TNA World Tag Team Championship for a brief period. The two stars then went their separate ways after being unsuccessful in recapturing the titles.
You can check out the full episode of The Kurt Angle Show below:
Sports Business Journal predicted in a recent article that NBCUniversal will purchase WWE in the near future. This would come around next year as WWE is set to begin negotiations for new TV deals in April, as its current deals are set to expire at the end of 2024.
According to the prediction by SBJ journalist John Ourand, WWE will reach a deal with NBCUniversal that will keep Raw and NXT on the USA Network and move SmackDown from Fox to one of NBC’s channels. While this deal may seem significant in and of itself, the “real significance” comes in two years when the two companies negotiate their Peacock deal. The deals for the red and blue brands “will lay the foundation for NBCUniversal to eventually purchase WWE outright.”
As a well-known and successful entity in the realm of professional wrestling, WWE has garnered a fervent global following and hosts highly regarded events such as WrestleMania, Royal Rumble, Survivor Series, and SummerSlam. The organization has also diversified into various other industries, including film, video gaming, and merchandising.
In October, a report suggested that NBCUniversal’s attitude towards NXT was “very positive.” Read more of that about here.
The acquisition of WWE by NBCUniversal would be a momentous development for both corporations. For WWE, it would grant a reliable financial foundation and access to the resources of a major media conglomerate, enabling further growth and expansion of the brand.
On the other hand, NBCUniversal would acquire a valuable asset in the form of WWE, complete with a devoted and faithful fan base, as well as the chance to generate new content and exploit cross-promotional opportunities.
It remains to be seen if such an acquisition could unfold in the coming years. If it really does, it would be worth seeing what effect it could have on the future of WWE and professional wrestling as a whole.
Mandy Rose’s agent says the former NXT Women’s Champion has made a whopping $500,000 on the subscription-based platform FanTime in just one week after WWE released her.
Rose’s agent, Malki Kawa, tells TMZ Sports that the 32-year-old is on track to become a self-made millionaire by Christmas, thanks to her successful content on FanTime. They expect Rose’s income on the platform will only continue to grow in the coming months.
Prior to her release, Rose had a successful career on NXT’s roster, holding the Women’s Championship for over 400 days. She lost the title to Roxanne Perez on December 13 and WWE released her from her contract the next day.
The controversy surrounding Rose’s firing comes from WWE’s policies regarding third-party platforms. In 2020, Vince McMahon, then-CEO and chairman of WWE sent a letter to all wrestlers stating they must stop using any platforms that could potentially harm the company’s image.
Rose’s firing has sparked debate among wrestling fans. Some believe that WWE made the right decision in upholding its strict policies, while others argue that wrestlers should have the freedom to pursue income outside the company.
Her success on FanTime has proven that she has a dedicated fan base and the talent to attract new followers. It’s possible that her time with WWE may have helped her build a strong foundation for her personal brand, and now she can take that success and run with it on her terms.
Regardless of where one stands on the issue, it’s undeniable that Rose’s earning power has not diminished since her departure from WWE. In fact, it appears that her firing has only served to boost her income and visibility.
Despite her release, Mandy Rose has received support from fans and fellow wrestlers, including AEW star Saraya. Rose’s success on FanTime suggests she has a bright future ahead of her, even without a WWE paycheck.
The Bloodline and Judgment Day are two of the strongest forces in WWE. What would happen if those forces collided?
The Bloodline is comprised of Roman Reigns, The Usos, Solo Sikoa and Paul Heyman (plus Sami Zayn, the honorary Uce). Reigns and The Usos hold the top singles and tag team championships in WWE. Meanwhile, Judgement Day includes Finn Balor, Rhea Ripley, Damian Priest and Dominick Mysterio.
It’s inevitable that these two groups will cross paths. If you ask Priest about who would win, he feels pretty good about his group’s chances. The Archer of Infamy discussed this topic and more on The Five Count, a podcast hosted by Dustin Wilmes & Juston “Ton” Cline.
Judgement Day vs. The Bloodline
Priest was asked about a Judgement Day vs. Bloodline feud, he took a moment to appreciate the vast amount of talent on WWE’s roster. That depth ebbs and flows over the years, but Priest thinks it’s a golden era for wrestling fans.
“There are a crazy amount of names when you think about the WWE,” he began. “It’s the best of the best, you have the best talent in the world and all these larger than life names and characters. It’s hard to pick one over the other, but it’d be a lie if I didn’t say at some point, we need the Judgment Day and the Bloodline to get in there and mix it up.”
Priest wants his name to live forever. He wants the fame, fortune and stardom that come with being a main event player. If you want to be the top dog, you need to test yourself against the best. Right now, that’s Roman Reigns.
“I have to do that, I have to run through Roman Reigns,” Priest continued. “That has to happen. At some point, I’m sure it will, we’ll cross paths down the line.”
Priest says working with Reigns is “always a thought in my head” and the two of them need to handle some business together.
When will these showdowns happen? When will Priest feel ready to challenge Reigns, and for Judgement Day to challenge the Bloodline? Surprisingly, he doesn’t think Judgement Day is ready just yet. “I know that’ll be great when it does happen.. We need to get the Judgment Day up to that level first.”
What does former WWE Superstar Maven regret about his career? Apparently not using enough steroids.
The former high school teacher became a WWE Superstar after winning the first season of MTV’s Tough Enough in 2001 alongside female winner Nidia.
Maven would remain with the promotion until 2005, and would leave a former three-time WWE Hardcore Champion, a title he would win off The Undertaker in early 2002.
Steroids
At the time that Maven was wrestling, WWE had not introduced the Wellness Policy fans know today.
During a recent appearance on the Monte and Pharaoh Show, Maven addressed his use of steroids during his WWE tenure.
“I loved everything about it. The good, the bad, the ups, the downs. I’m not going to lie, the money. I’m the one wrestler, I’m going to be perfectly honest, whether you like or dislike my answer. I hate it when guys talk about, ‘Did you take steroids?’ and they beat around it. I did them. I did. I’m not sorry for it. I wish I would have taken more! I would have done everything the same. At this point in my life, at 46, there is no one I’m trying to get the approval of. Why lie?“
Maven.
WWE would introduce its Wellness Policy in 2005 following the shocking death of Eddie Guerrero.
After WWE
After his departure from WWE, Maven would work on the independent scene before joining TNA in 2006.
After a couple of house shows, Maven would bow out of wrestling, but would make a return in 2015 as part of Brian Myers’ Create A Pro Wrestling Academy.
The Hurt Business was a fan-favorite group that mostly got over when there were no fans in attendance during the COVID-19 pandemic era.
First, MVP was the manager of Bobby Lashley before recruiting Shelton Benjamin and Cedric Alexander. Vince McMahon dissolved Hurt Business without a logical explanation, which upset those in the group and fans alike.
On Monday’s episode of Raw, Corey Graves and Kevin Patrick brought up the Bobby Lashley incident, where he was fired at one point in storyline. The announcers noted that WWE official Adam Pearce was waiting on Lashley to respond to him. WWE cut to the backstage era, where Pearce was seen delivering a voicemail to Lashley to set up a meeting with him.
The Moment
MVP appeared and asked Pearce about Lashley, teasing a Hurt Business reunion in the process., but Pearce was unable to answer the question as he was approached by a referee who told him about an attack by The Bloodline.
MVP Confronting Adam Pearce about Bobby Lashley and some shit went down backstage. YOOOOO WE MIGHT ACTUALLY GET THE HURT BUSINESS BACK.???? #WWERAWpic.twitter.com/Tw72FFoFHl
Lashley has made it publicly known that he wants the group to get back together. While speaking to Ryan Satin on the Out of Character podcast in August, Lashley shared his vision about how they could reunite:
WWE NXT talent Edris Enofe is dedicated to WWE and wanted to show off his desire to be in WWE for the long haul as he got some new ink.
There have been many people who plan on staying with the company for many years and while sometimes that happens, there are some who don’t fit in the company and need to go somewhere else when their run is up.
Enofe is seemingly one person who has no plans to ever leave WWE because he is showing his dedication with this new tattoo. He got the ink done on his chest and it’s a large WWE logo.
The Ink
Enofe shared the tattoo, which is on the right side of his chest, in a new video that he posted on Twitter. It will be hard to miss when he wrestles. You can watch the clip below to check out the tattoo.
After training at the WWE Performance Center in 2021, he started being used on NXT television in November 2021 where he beat Malik Blade on an episode of 205 before he was paired with Malik Blade.
Throughout the heaviest parts of a global pandemic, WWE regularly released many Superstars under the guise of “budget cuts.” Since Vince McMahon retired and HHH was named Head of Talent Relations, he has been bringing back some Superstars. Another former Superstar returned on Monday’s WWE Raw: Bronson Reed.
Reed made a surprise appearance during the ladder match between The Miz and Dexter Lumis.He attacked Lumis, helping Miz secure the win. News that Reed was returning to WWE was first reported by Fightful on Monday.
JONAH has been wrestling for NJPW and NJPW STRONG. He reformed TMDK with Shane Haste and Mikey Nicholls. They later added Bad Dude Tito.
JONAH competed in his first G1 this year. One year to the day of his WWE release, he pinned Kazuchika Okada. He just missed out on making it to the semi-finals of the prestigious tournament. It appeared that JONAH was well on his way to being a huge contender in New Japan.
Roman Reigns has addressed John Cena’s upcoming return. The Tribal Chief says Cena’s support will do nothing for Kevin Owens, who will pay dearly for being a thorn in The Bloodline’s side.
Cena is lacing up his boots again next Friday, December 30 for a special edition of WWE Smackdown on Fox. Cena and Owens will team up against Roman Reigns and Sami Zayn.
Reigns and Cena have clashed before, with Reigns grabbing the proverbial torch right on both occasions. In their two high-profile matches, Reigns was victorious both times (SummerSlam 2021 and No Mercy 2017).
These two generational ‘Faces of WWE’ will collide one more time in just a matter of days. Reigns is dismissive of Cena and says he won’t help Owens overcome The Bloodline.
Not Worried About Cena
Roman Reigns served up some trash talk for Cena and Owens on the December 19 edition of WWE Raw.
In a backstage segment that opened the show, Reigns told Owens he’s going to need a lot more than John Cena to stand a chance against him. He’s going to need the entire Raw locker room to have his back. Otherwise, the Bloodline will “torture” him and make his life a living hell – and there’s nothing Cena can do about it.
The final SmackDown of 2022 will mark Cena’s first match of the year. As he mentioned last week during his surprise appearance on SmackDown, this will keep his 20-year strike alive of not missing a year without wrestling.
This may be the final time Reign sand Cena trade blows inside a WWE ring, making this a can’t miss event. Cena is no longer an active member of the WWE roster, but Reigns may be underestimating the legend from West Newbury, MA.
Matt Riddle has had his personal business aired on not only WWE television, but also social media.
WWE used Riddle’s personal struggles and family life in his storyline with Seth Rollins while recreating a split interview segment from years ago in the UFC between Daniel Cormier and Jon Jones.
Riddle was written off WWE television on the December 5 episode of Raw after the Bloodline’s Solo Sikoa viciously attacked him.
The attack angle was reportedly done because Riddle failed a second drug test this year with the expectation that he would be going to rehab. Riddle previously violated the company’s wellness policy over the summer, although a source close to him denied this report and stated he wanted time off.
This time it was not part of a storyline as adult actress Jordan Maxx tweeted about Riddle’s situation in response to a user’s joke about Riddle being with another adult actress known as Misha Montana.
The Tweets
Matt Riddle
“Does it make you feel better about yourself to kick people when they’re down? Try to imagine for one second, the man you’ve spent the last 6 months with, who said ‘I love you’ for the first time 2 months ago, is all of a sudden making out with someone else WHO IS IN YOUR INDUSTRY, and then, rather than keeping plans for Christmas and NYE, he’s going to rehab? Do you have any idea how confusing and hurtful that is?”
Twitter user @IAmRockReigns replied with, “Wait.. you would rather have him be with you at Christmas than to let him get the help he needs? He dodged a bullet with you, that’s for sure.”
Maxx responded to the user by writing: “Can you even read? That’s not what I’m saying at all. He told me that he quit drugs, and then to find out he’s a) with another girl b) doing those drugs with her and c) failing drug tests so he has to go to rehab for it is disappointing.”
Does it make you feel better about yourself to kick people when they’re down?
Try to imagine for one second, the man you’ve spent the last 6 months with, who said “I love you” for the first time 2 months ago, is all of a sudden making out with someone else WHO IS IN YOUR (1/2) https://t.co/sd2RGAbH2s
— Jordan Maxx // LAS VEGAS 1/20-1/27 (@TheJordanMaxx) December 19, 2022
Can you even read? That’s not what I’m saying at all. He told me that he quit drugs, and then to find out he’s a) with another girl b) doing those drugs with her and c) failing drug tests so he has to go to rehab for it is disappointing https://t.co/6ECTpiom9H
— Jordan Maxx // LAS VEGAS 1/20-1/27 (@TheJordanMaxx) December 19, 2022
Real1 (Enzo Amore in WWE) doesn’t want to hear comparisons to MJF because he thinks he is on another level with promos than the AEW World Heavyweight Champion.
Real1 got over in WWE as a babyface alongside Big Cass (Big Bill in AEW) for his microphone skills. Many fans consider MJF one of, if not the best, on the microphone and one of the best talkers in the business.
While speaking on Busted Open Radio, Real1 was asked about MJF’s mic skills.
“Don’t ever compare apples to oranges. You can’t compare a career heel to a career babyface.”
The Showdown?
Rearl1 was asked whether he’d be willing to go toe-to-toe with MJF in a promo battle, and Real1 replied.
“It’s not even a question. We don’t have to ask those questions because if that’s the truth of the matter, my phone is on. People know where to call me. People know where to find me. If you want to give the people that shit tomorrow, you’d be wasting a lot of time, money, and investment because that’s a build that deserves to be built. I’m not taking anything away from other people who do great work on the microphone, I want to see other people eat. Generational talent? I had ten years in this business. My first generation, my decade is done. What I did is undeniable. You can’t ever discredit it. I’m called a babyface because I got over. I don’t have to shit on the people and bury the people. I can make people love me. I can make people listen, cheer, chant. You can’t do that. Until you make people chant your catchphrases, love you, and book you as babyface, it’s easy to be a heel. It’s easy to shit on these people. It’s real easy. “
Real1 brought up how he created the word, Sawft, and mentioned that he didn’t curse for seven years in WWE to get a cheap pop. Rearl1 thinks he would destroy MJF on the mic in a five-minute promo battle.
“Don’t ever compare apples to oranges. Don’t ever disrespect me. Five minutes? Brutalize him. You give me five minutes on a live microphone, I’m trending number one in the world. When is the time you drew a two? When CM Punk got there is when they drew a two? If I show up on that screen, you’re getting the number one trend in the world, guaranteed, with or without MJF on the screen. I didn’t have to be there when Cass showed up, and he trended, and I trended number five on my fucking couch. It wasn’t Wardlow trending, it wasn’t Cass, it was Enzo trending.”
Real1 said that no three letters could hold him, including WWE, AEW, and MJF, before reiterating that he didn’t need to take cheap shots on the microphone to get over.
WWE released Real1 in January 2018 due to sexual assault allegations before the Phoenix Police Department ceased their investigation due to insufficient evidence a few months later.
WWE pulled D-Von Dudley from making a scheduled appearance at an ECW tribute event over the weekend.
The WWE Hall Of Famer was slated to appear at the Battleground Championship Wrestling’s “A Tribute to the Extreme” show at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia on Saturday night.
The promotion stated they had received a legal letter from WWE, according to Pwinsider.com.
The Report
D-Von Dudley. Image Credit: WWE.com
The report noted that “D-Von was then pulled from the show, despite, according to the promotion, personally reaching out to WWE Chief Content Officer Paul Levesque to get the edict reversed, which was not successful.”
Dudley, who works for WWE as an NXT coach and producer, was also removed from the Icons of Wrestling convention that was being held in conjunction with the show.
Dudley was supposed to appear during a match between Bully Ray and Matt Cardona at the show. Last Friday, Icons of Wrestling wrote about the situation:
“Here we go: Due to circumstances beyond my control D-Von will no longer be at Icons & Battleground. D-von is beyond devastated by this and I want everyone to know that this turn of events had absolutely NOTHING to due with D-von. Currently I’m hesitant to put the reasoning in writing but I will have zero hesitation telling the entire wrestling world why this happened inside the ring. To those who made this decision you will not deter us. You will not stop us. You may think you have control but rest assured you do not. All Dudley boy presales will be refunded first thing Monday Morning. The Dudleys platinum VIP will be replaced by 3 guests of your choosing. One final message to those responsible, I’ll see you in the ring and we shall let the people be the judge & jury.”
The Dudley Boyz were inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2018.
Sasha Banks, real name Mercedes Varnado, will go to Japan earlier than expected.
It was originally reported that the former WWE Women’s Champion is expected to appear at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 17. It has since been revealed that Varnado has verbally agreed to a deal with NJPW after negotiating her release from WWE months ago with the stipulation that she couldn’t do anything wrestling related until 2023.
Hiroaki Sawa confirmed that Varnado would be back in Japan in the middle of this week. Sawa tweeted (Translated from Japanese):
The Announcement
“Sasha Banks, a female top wrestler who has surpassed 5.6 million Instagram followers and is active in the American professional wrestling organization WWE, will be staying in Japan from the middle of this week. Hope to collaborate with Japanese brands. If you are interested in brands or agencies, how about MTG including her on the night of 12/21 (Wednesday) or 12/23 (Friday)? I’ll be waiting.”
Although not confirmed, the belief is Banks will appear at Wrestle Kingdom 17 on January 4 to confront KAIRI, who will be defending her IWGP Women’s Championship on the show.
Contract talks between Banks and WWE fell through due to money, as Banks wanted to be paid on the level of Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch. They also thought she had peaked as a top star.
The modern generation of wrestlers have gotten smarter with their career choices. Unlike the older generation, many of the current-era wrestlers have started thinking about their future after retirement. They have started branching out to other professions they can work in after hanging their boots. Dolph Ziggler is one such star who has found an unlikely career in stand-up comedy.
The former world champion originally started it off as a hobby but he has slowly been creeping it up. It has gotten to a point where Ziggler has taken extended periods off from WWE to headline comedy tours.
During a recent appearance on The Archive of B-Sox podcast, the 42-year-old was asked if he plans to transition to a full-time comedy career in the coming time. Ziggler explained that he doesn’t want to leave the wrestling space but slow it down with time:
You Don’t Get To Wrestle Forever: Dolph Ziggler
“It’s really fun for me to devote half of my week to that kind of stuff. You don’t get to wrestle forever. I’ve been very lucky so far. I may be here for 10 nonstop years in a row. who knows?” said Dolph Ziggler, “But I like being able to branch out and do some other things. Whether go talk politics somewhere, do an interview, do a one man show do an improv show. Do an audition for something on Broadway.
Everything that gets you on stage, get that presence and just gets the rap going and gets you smoother and comfortable. That helps you as a stand up, but it also helps you in the ring, so [it] makes me a better wrestler. So either way, it’s a win-win. But I would love in 15 years from now, I’m showing up at WWE four times a year to wrestle somebody in a big match, and the rest of the year, I’m bouncing around. Me and Mick Foley are doing a comedy show or something.”
Liv Morgan is having the most successful year of her WWE career, but she’s already planning ahead for life after pro wrestling.
At 28 years old, she could be an active competitor for many years to come. Advancements in nutrition and training allow for wrestlers to compete well into their late 30’s, even early-to-mid 40’s. That said, it’s never too early to start planning ahead.
Not everybody wants to wrestle until they are physically unable to. Many people view WWE as a chance to gain financial security, become famous and branch out into other fields. Back in October, Morgan fulfilled a lifelong dream by getting killed on screen by Chucky of the popular Child’s Play horror series.
During their discussion, Morgan revealed that she’s already studying to become a real estate broker. She still has a long road ahead, but she hopes to one day open her own brokerage.
She revealed that she recently had “kind of a quarter-life crisis.” Despite her accomplishments, she felt that she was not doing enough with her life. She’s a successful public figure, but highly-motivated people are rarely satisfied with their accomplishments.
Morgan says a real estate brokerage license is just one of the new interests she’s decided to pursue. She also opened up a soap business and began taking acting classes.
Between real estate, her soap business and acting, she’s most looking forward to getting into movies when her days in the ring are over. She reiterated that getting killed by Chucky was a dream. She was starstruck by the killer doll and “melted” when she saw him in person for the first time.
Morgan also has a movie in the works titled, “The Kill Room” with Uma Thurman and Samuel L. Jackson. She acknowledged that movie roles like this are available to her due to the popularity of WWE’s platform.
She has a lot going on outside of WWE, but has no plans to retire any time soon. While discussing real estate, her soap business and acting, Morgan said, “One day, if I ever part ways, I mean I will wrestle forever…”
