Joining AAA in 1992, Mysterio spent much of his time in the promotion feuding with fellow cruiserweight Juventud Guerrera.
In March 2015, days after being released from WWE, Rey returned to AAA for the first time in nearly twenty years at the Rey de Reyes (King of Kings) event.
The match Rey competed in is infamous for the death of wrestler El Hijo del Perro Aguayo, who suffered a cardiac arrest during the match.
At that year’s TripleMania XXIII event, Mysterio defeated Myzteziz (WWE’s Sin Cara) in what was billed as a dream match.
In June 2018, Rey made another return to AAA, competing in a three-way match for the AAA Mega Championship against Jeff Jarrett and Rey Wegner, which Jarrett would win.
LA Knight has left Maximum Male Models behind and is focused on becoming the top guy in WWE.
He defeated Mansoor in a singles match last night on SmackDown. It was LA Knight’s debut match on the main roster, as he had been serving as a manager for the Maximum Male Models group. His storyline sister, Maxxine Dupri, is the new manager of the group featuring Mansoor and Mace.
After his victory, LA Knight immediately turned heel and insulted the crowd after the match. He claimed that SmackDown is his game now and warned the locker room to close the promo.
LA Knight Claims To Be The Only “Megastar” In WWE
Following his successful in-ring debut on the main roster, LA Knight was interviewed on The SmackDown LowDown. Megan Morant tried to ask LA about his former protege Mansoor but Knight cut her off. LA said that Maximum Male Models were getting flushed down the toilet at the moment and claimed to be the only megastar walking around in WWE.
We want to talk about Maximum Male Models? Mace and Mansoor, right? Wrong.
Because where are they? They are getting flushed down the toilet right about now. Why is that?
It is because Mace and Mansoor, both of them, dropped on their head for their troubles. And what does that mean?
Now moving forward, now I’m going only where I can go and that is to the top. Why is that?
Because there is one, and only one, megastar walking around WWE and you are looking at him.
Why is that? Because whose game is it? It’s LA Knight’s game. YEAH.
If you use any quotes from this article, please credit The SmackDown LowDown and give a H/T to SEScoops for the transcription.
Legado del Fantasma made their in-ring debut last night on WWE SmackDown against Hit Row. They debuted on the October 7th edition of SmackDown and attacked Hit Row during their entrance.
Santos Escobar, Zelina Vega, and B-Fab were ringside as Cruz Del Toro & Joaquin Wilde battled Top Dolla and Ashante Adonis.
Legado isolated Top Dolla in the ring and connected with the Sacrificio for the pinfall victory. Zelina also attacked B-Fab during the match.
Legado del Fantasma Boasts About Their Victory Over Hit Row
Following their successful debut, Legado del Fantasma was interviewed on The SmackDown LowDown. Joaquin Wilde said that first impressions are everything and they made a statement on SmackDown.
First impressions are everything. Tonight was Legado’s in-ring debut and it is safe to say we made a statement.
Cruz Del Toro claimed that Legado del Fantasma is on a different level than Hit Row before Zelina Vega stepped to the microphone. Vega
Since people want to do diss verses on Twitter, let me respond in a way that they can understand. Everything we do, you know it’s ill. We don’t ever do it for luck, and by the way Hit Row is wack as….
Santos Escobar stopped Zelina short and said “you get the point” to end the interview.
AJ “Top Dolla” Francis released a diss track about Legado del Fantasma yesterday before WWE SmackDown went on the air. Top Dolla rapped during the song “Legado I see y’all still want beef, that’s cool I’m gonna find y’all a** at SmackDown”. You can check out the full track in the video below.
Raquel Rodriguez, Shotzi, and NXT star Roxanne Perez lost to Damage CTRL (Bayley, IYO SKY, and Dakota Kai in a 6-woman tag team match last night on WWE SmackDown.
Former tag teammates Roxanne Perez and Cora Jade are currently in a feud in NXT. On Tuesday’s show, both Roxanne and Cora will be in action against opponents selected by the rivals. Roxanne selected Raquel Rodriguez as Cora Jade’s opponent for Tuesday during last night’s edition of the blue brand.
Raquel Rodriguez On Returning To NXT For A Match Against Cora Jade
Raquel Rodriguez and Shotzi were interviewed on The SmackDown Lowdown this week. Rodriguez said that she couldn’t be more excited to go back to NXT and teach Cora Jade a lesson.
I couldn’t be more excited to go back to NXT. I’ve been seeing what Cora has been doing around there lately and I’m really glad that Roxanne came to SmackDown and picked me to teach her a lesson.
Shotzi and Raquel were then asked about their shot at the Women’s Tag Team Championships next week when they battle IYO SKY and Dakota Kai of Damage CTRL. Shotzi stated
They (Damage CTRL) have been an absolute pain in our booties. We are sick of it.
Rodriguez claimed that they are going to take the titles from Damage CTRL next week on SmackDown.
If tonight was just a taste, just know that I am hungry now. I am so pumped for next week because those titles are coming back with us.
Raquel Rodriguez and Aliyah won the tournament to crown the new Women’s Tag Team Championships but dropped the titles to Damage CTRL a couple of weeks later on the September 12th edition of RAW.
Rey Mysterio almost quit WWE last night on SmackDown but thankfully Triple H talked him out of it. The 47-year-old has been involved in a bitter rivalry with The Judgment Day on RAW. His son, Dominik Mysterio, betrayed him and joined the group recently.
At the beginning of last night’s edition of the blue brand, Drew McIntyre attacked Karrion Kross in the parking lot. Kross defeated McIntyre this past weekend at Extreme Rules due to interference by Scarlett.
Karrion was scheduled to be in a Fatal 4-Way to determine the number one contender for the Intercontinental Championship. Rey was announced as Karrion’s replacement in the match and struck a deal with Triple H to join the SmackDown roster.
Rey went on to defeat Ricochet, Sheamus, and Solo Sikoa in the match to earn a match against Gunther for the Intercontinental Championship. Mysterio revealed that coming to SmackDown represents a new beginning for him in an interview following the show.
The Judgment Day had their fun poking fun at Rey last night for leaving the RAW roster. Rhea Ripley sent out a tweet shortly after Rey’s conversation with The Game and mocked the former WWE Champion.
Dominik Mysterio will be doing a meet & greet for Cricket Wireless on October 17th. His father was originally supposed to be the WWE Superstar at the event. Dominik took to Twitter to boast about running Rey off of RAW and said that they will need a “real man” at the event. He quote tweeted his father promoting the meet & greet the week prior.
Now that I’ve run my dad off of RAW, looks like you’ll need a real man to show up. I’ll see you there.
Fans of Raw Superstar Angelo Dawkins can expect to see more of him as he is impressing the right people backstage.
Dawkins signed with WWE in 2016 and is one of a handful of people to hold the Raw, SmackDown, and NXT Tag Team Championships as part of the Street Profits with Montez Ford.
Impressing Backstage
Despite being primarily a tag team wrestler, Dawkins has competed in several singles matches in recent weeks.
Fightful Select reports that Dawkins has been impressing behind the scenes with his recent string of singles matches.
One source within WWE said that Dawkins has improved all-round, including in his fitness, in-ring work, and the style that he works.
Another source said that it is no coincidence that Dawkins has been working more and more singles matches as of late.
Dawkins has competed in more singles matches since June 2022 as he did between Wrestlemania 37 to Wrestlemania 38.
Fightful was told to expect Dawkins to keep getting put into singles matches at a rate that exceeded what we saw before the Summer.
A wrestler for AEW told Fightful that Dawkins has always had the potential to be the bigger star of the Street Profits if given the chance.
An Illegitimate Injury?
Dawkins’ singles push has come at a time when Montez Ford has been ‘injured.’
Naomi’s return to WWE TV may still be a long way away as talks between herself and the promotion have reportedly stalled.
In May, Naomi and Sasha Banks walked out of a Raw taping over a creative dispute.
In response, WWE stripped the pair of the WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions, suspended both women, and branded them “unprofessional.”
Stalled
While fans of Naomi will want her back soon, that is unlikely to happen.
In the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, it is said that certain “deal points” in a new contract haven’t been finalized.
Naomi’s most recent contract with WWE was close to expiring at the time of the walk-out, and it is believed that the promotion may have frozen her deal.
If so, it means the former SmackDown Women’s Champion will not be able to negotiate with any other promotions until the deal expires.
While talks between WWE and Naomi have slowed down, the two sides are reported to still be in communication.
Sasha Banks
While Naomi walked out of WWE during the May 16, 2022 Raw, she didn’t go alone, as Sasha Banks left with her.
For a time, it was believed that both women were finished with WWE, though that isn’t believed to be the case anymore.
At Extreme Rules 2022, Banks’ name was uttered on commentary during the Raw Women’s Championship match between Bianca Belair and Bayley.
This marked the first time Banks had been mentioned since the walk-out and a sign to some that her return is getting closer.
Ronda Rousey is the reigning, defending SmackDown Women’s Champion, but would rather be called simply the SmackDown Champion moving forward.
At Extreme Rules, Rousey captured the SmackDown Women’s Championship from Liv Morgan, making the woman who dethroned her at Money in the Bank pass out.
Rousey is a two-time SmackDown Women’s Champion and held the Raw Women’s Championship from August 2018 to April 2019.
What’s in a Name?
Rousey is arguably the biggest name in WWE’s women’s division but believes that the women’s term is redundant.
Speaking during her most recent vlog, Rousey made her feelings clear about calling titles for females the ‘Women’s’ championship (via WrestlingNews.)
“I don’t want to say ‘women’ in title anymore. And I think they are kind of resistant to taking it out. So then I was like, ‘Can I just not have to say it?’ So then that’s kind of where it’s at.”
While WWE refers to titles from that division as the women’s Championship, no male champions have their sex referenced in their titles.
Changing the Term
Rousey hopes for a day when WWE no longer uses the term ‘Women’ for their championships, but this has happened before.
In January 2020, WWE drop the ‘Women’ term from the NXT Women’s Championship, which at the time was held by Rhea Ripley.
Instead, Ripley was referred to as the NXT Champion, the same term used for NXT Champion Adam Cole.
Not long after though, the idea was scrapped, and by WrestleMania 36, Ripley defended the NXT Women’s Championship against Charlotte Flair.
Roxanne Perez appeared on this week’s WWE SmackDown on FOX, in her first appearance on the blue brand.
During the show, Perez hand-picked Raquel Rodriguez to face Cora Jade on next week’s WWE NXT.
Next Tuesday’s show (which will go head-to-head with AEW Dynamite) will see Perez and Jade face opponents the other has chosen.
Backstage Reaction
In addition to choosing Rodriguez as Jade’s opponent, Pere also competed in a six-woman tag, teaming with Rodriguez and Shotzi in a losing effort to Damage CTRL.
PW Insider reports that WWE was “really happy” with Perez’s work on SmackDown, and believes she fit right in with the roster.
There have already been discussions about Perez being used on SmackDown again.
These talks come days after reports that WWE is planning on more crossover between Raw, SmackDown, and Perez’s home brand WWE NXT.
Jade Vs. Perez
In July, Cora Jade and Roxanne Perez captured the NXT Women’s Tag Team Championships, though their reign was short-lived.
Mere weeks later, Jade would turn on Perez, accusing her tag partner of costing her a shot at the NXT Women’s Championship.
After Jade threw her championship title in the trash, Perez was forced to vacate her title, which was later won by Kayden Carter and Katana Chance.
The former friends will face off at the upcoming NXT Halloween Havoc 2022 event in a ‘Spin the Wheel, Make the Deal: Weapons Wild Match.’
WWE NXT Halloween Havoc 2022 will take place at the Performance Center on October 22.
LA Knight was a popular character in WWE NXT but debuted on the main roster under a different name.
Max Dupri was the manager of Maxiumum Male Models. He recruited Mansoor and Mace to the group and they would often pose on the entrance ramp as if it were a runway. Following Vince McMahon’s resignation and Triple H assuming creative responsibility for the company, Max started to hint that Maximum Male Models wasn’t for him. He attacked Mansoor last week and it led to a singles match on this past Friday’s SmackDown.
LA Knight wrestled his first match on the main roster this week against Mansoor and picked up the pinfall victory after connecting with the BFT. After the match, LA Knight immediately insulted the crowd to turn heel. He warned the locker room that SmackDown was his game now.
Paul London On LA Knight & WWE Name Changes
Speaking on the Cafe de Rene podcast, former WWE Superstar Paul London discussed LA Knight and WWE’s name changes. Before his time in WWE, LA Knight wrestled in Impact as Eli Drake and captured the Impact Championship.
I think he’s extremely talented. He’s a great personality, great on the microphone. He doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel.
He doesn’t try to do anything crazy that is beyond his persona or beyond his limits.
I’m not saying he’s limited by any means. I mean, he’s a physical specimen. He looks great, and he works, I really enjoy his work.
I haven’t seen anything, since he’s been in WWE, I haven’t seen anything of that. I know that they’ve flipped his name around a couple of times.
Paul London then discussed WWE changing the names of wrestlers and noted how most of the names are not very believable.
I mean, these names. It is something you would have thought that they would have improved on over the years.
I’m under the belief that the writers would watch the CW Network or read the teen magazines or something and just mishmash these names together or something.
Because these names are not good. They’re not very believable. I guess they eventually saturate into the mind and stick for whatever reason.
I think they realize that. They’re like ‘well Max Dupri, let’s just go back to LA Knight, let’s go back to him sounding like a shoe brand’.
Please credit Cafe de Rene and give a H/T to SEScoops for the transcription if you use any quotes from this article.
Rey Mysterio approached Triple H tonight during WWE SmackDown and tried to quit the company. Thankfully, The Game had other plans and it wound up being a huge night for the 47-year-old.
Mysterio has been involved in a long rivalry with The Judgment Day faction on RAW. His son, Dominik Mysterio, has betrayed him and joined the group. During the conversation with Triple H, Rey stated that he will never fight his son and said that he wanted to quit the company. The Game talked Rey out of it and the two entered his office.
Rey later replaced Karrion Kross in the Fatal 4-Way to determine the #1 contender for the Intercontinental Championship. Michael Cole announced during the match that Rey and Triple H had struck a deal and Mysterio was now a part of the blue brand.
Kross was coming off a victory over Drew McIntyre at WWE Extreme Rules this past Saturday night. Scarlett interfered in the match and Drew got his revenge tonight. Drew crashed into Karrion’s car and attacked him to begin SmackDown. Kross was ruled out of the match due to the attack.
Solo Sikoa and Sheamus battled out of the ring and The Bloodline interfered while the referee was distracted. The Brawling Brutes (Butch & Ridge Holland) made the save and the two teams battled ringside as Rey and Ricochet were in the ring. Mysterio connected with the 619 and a Frog Splash for the pinfall victory. Mysterio is now next in line for a match against Gunther for the Intercontinental Championship.
Rey Mysterio Has A “New Beginning” On WWE SmackDown
After WWE SmackDown went off the air, Rey spoke with Kayla Braxton in a Digital Exclusive. Kayla asked if Rey’s conversation with Triple H had to do with his big night and Rey admitted that it did. Mysterio explained that he refuses to fight his son and it is nice to be on SmackDown and not have to look over his shoulder for The Judgment Day.
That had a lot to do with it. I came here with my mind set on literally just stepping away from the game.
And like you said, it hurts me to see my son (Dominik Mysterio) go through what he is going through right now. And I just will never fight him.
I just won’t. But this opened up my eyes in a different way. You know? This is like a new beginning for Rey Mysterio.
And the fact that I was given an opportunity, and I took advantage of it, man it makes me feel like I’m on another level right now. Now I have a shot for the Intercontinental Championship.
There’s a lot of history with Rey Mysterio and SmackDown, you know? From day one, 2002, when I kicked off my career with WWE.
But to be back now, and to be back alone. To not feel haunted, to not feel there’s a shadow pushing me and wanting to fight me constantly.
That feels good. You don’t know the amount of weight I just took off my back.
A Brock Lesnar appearance and a United States Title match have been announced for Monday’s episode of WWE Raw.
WWE announced during Friday’s SmackDown that Lesnar would be appearing on the show, which will be held in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Another announcement made was newly crowned United States Champion Seth Rollins will be defending the title against Matt Riddle.
Lesnar’s WWE TV Return
(via WWE)
Lesnar made his return on this week’s episode of Raw, his first appearance since SummerSlam, where he attacked Bobby Lashley with two F5’s and a kimura. Lashley went forward with defending the United States Title against Rollins right after the attack. Lashley stated in a backstage interview that he wanted Lesnar and challenged him to return next Monday.
Riddle and Rollins have been feuding for the last few weeks as Rollins defeated Riddle at Clash at the Castle last month. However, Riddle got his revenge by defeating Rollins at Extreme Rules in a Fight Pit match, with Daniel Cormier serving as the special guest referee this past Saturday night.
Here is the lineup so far for Monday’s Raw:
United States Championship Match: Seth Rollins vs. Matt Riddle
The Miz vs. Dexter Lumis – if Lumis wins, he earns a WWE contract
The only title change to happen at last Saturday’s WWE Extreme Rules event from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, saw Liv Morgan drop the SmackDown Women’s Title.
Up and down the card were grudge matches, and one other title match – Bianca Belair put the Raw Women’s Title on the line in a Ladder Match against Bayley.
Morgan defended the SmackDown Women’s Championship against Ronda Rousey in an Extreme Rules Match, but Rousey walked away with the title, ending Morgan’s reign after 98 days.
The Reason
(WWE)
Following the event, it was reported that Rousey was officially listed as a heel within WWE. Dave Meltzer reported in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that the long-planned heel turn was the reason why Rousey won back the title at Extreme Rules.
This heel turn could be linked to WWE’s plans for next year, as when Vince McMahon was still in charge, he wanted to have The Baddest Woman on the Planet face Becky Lynch at WrestleMania 39 in Los Angeles.
With Triple H in charge, the match could still be on the cards. Lynch is now a babyface, meaning Rousey would likely have to be a heel for the match or they could do a babyface vs. babyface match.
The UFC is connected to pro wrestling as it has elements of the drama that wrestling uses for its storylines. In wrestling, the storylines are scripted, while in MMA, the promotion uses storylines from real life to promote its fights.
Since 2020 when WWE began releasing wrestlers, on-air talent, employees, and production staff, rumors of WWE potentially selling the company ramped up.
Many fans have speculated that Vince McMahon made Nick Khan the President & Chief Revenue Officer of WWE after he helped negotiate its US television rights deal with NBCUniversal and FOX, to prepare the company for a sale. Key figures, including Khan, Vince McMahon, and Stephanie McMahon, have publicly stated that they’re open to hearing an offer regarding a sale.
Endeavor President Speaks
On Thursday, Endeavor President Mark Shapiro appeared on Matthew Belloni’s The Town podcast and expressed interest in buying WWE. He also spoke highly of Endeavor CEO Ari Emanuel’s relationship with WWE, Khan, Vince, Stephanie, and others.
“That would be something that would be interesting and worth exploring,” said Shaprio. “Would we buy it? Who knows? Last I checked, it wasn’t for sale. “We’re interested in anything in the owned sports properties segment.”
Endeavor closed a deal to obtain a controlling interest in the UFC back in 2016 for just over $4 billion. WWE’s current market cap is estimated to be $5.63 billion.
With WWE’s US TV rights renewal coming up in approximately mid-2023, a potential buyer might think the time is right to buy the company as WWE has been able to get higher increases each deal for its rights.
Currently, FOX has the broadcasting rights to Friday Night SmackDown, while NBCUniversal hosts Monday Night Raw. Both television deals will be up at the end of 2024.
Plenty has been planned for Bray Wyatt on tonight’s WWE SmackDown on FOX, which will be Wyatt’s first appearance on WWE TV in over a year.
Wyatt returned at the WWE Extreme Rules 2022 Premium Live Event, after weeks of ‘White Rabbit’ teasing his return.
Bray closed out the show, with several characters from the Firefly Fun House being portrayed by people at last weekend’s event.
Wyatt on SmackDown
It was confirmed during this week’s Monday Night Raw that Wyatt will be on tonight’s episode of SmackDown. Fightful reports that the former Universal Champion will be a “focal point” of tonight’s show. A mask will be used, which is referred to as the ‘Uncle Howdy’ mask within the company.
The Uncle Howdy term is also expected to be used on WWE TV, given that WWE trademarked the term this month, alongside ‘Uncle Harper.’ There are also plans to have the abandoned Firefly Funhouse set aesthetic be used.
Other Plans
Tonight’s SmackDown will also see LA Knight face mån.sôör, in the former’s first match back under the Knight name.
An intercontinental Championship contender’s match between Sheamus, Ricochet, Solo Sikoa, and Karrion Kross will decide GUNTHER’s next opponent.
The Bloodline’s Sami Zayn will also be in action when he faces Kofi Kingston.
MVP, Xavier Woods, Shotzi are all scheduled to be in town for the show despite not being advertised for SmackDown.
Tonight’s episode will be the second SmackDown of this current season and take place from the King Center Smoothie, in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Liv Morgan is going to have an extra special Halloween this year. The former SmackDown Women’s Champion is a big fan of horror movies, including the Child’s Play franchise about Chucky, a murderous ‘Good Guy’ doll come to life. Chucky has his own show on the Syfy cable network, now in its second season.
Morgan recently did an interview where she revealed her dream of getting killed by Chucky on screen. She explained that she’s not looking for a starring role in the show, she doesn’t need to be a recurring character, she just wants to be one of Chucky’s victims.
“I want Chucky to kill me! It’s a dream. I don’t want a starring role, I don’t want a lead, I just want to be brutally murdered by Chucky.”
– Liv Morgan
Liv Morgan’s dream comes true in just over a week. She guest stars on Chucky next Wednesday, October 26th.
The Chucky series serves as a sequel to Cult of Chucky, the seventh film in the franchise. Actor Brad Dourif reprised his role as the voice of the titular character. The show’s synopsis reads, “After a vintage Chucky doll turns up at a suburban yard sale, an idyllic American town is thrown into chaos as a series of horrifying murders begin to expose the town’s hypocrisies and secrets.”
Liv Morgan has been expressing her excitement about the role on social media. She’s been writing things like, “HONORED” and “I’M SO EXCITED.” We won’t have to wait long to see how Morgan and Chucky get along.
Fans can expect to see Charlotte Flair back on WWE television soon.
The daughter of WWE Hall Of Famer Ric Flair has been used as a top star since her main roster debut in 2015, where she has gone on to hold multiple championships. Now, it is time for The Queen to return to her kingdom.
Flair last wrestled at WrestleMania Backlash on May 8 in an I Quit match against Ronda Rousey. She lost the match, and WWE did an injury angle where they announced that she broke her left arm based on the finish. This was done to write her off television as she was getting married to AEW star Andrade this past summer.
Flair Returning Soon
(via WWE)
According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Flair may be on her way to return soon as Dave Meltzer wrote, “Charlotte Flair is scheduled to return soon.”
Flair is one of the biggest names in the business right now and a draw for the company. Andrade mentioned in an interview before his AEW suspension due to a brawl with Sammy Guevara that Flair was away from WWE due to personal reasons.
Almost a week after returning to WWE at Extreme Rules, Bray Wyatt will kick off his WWE return storyline tonight on Friday Night SmackDown. There is a lot of speculation about who will be revealed as part of his Wyatt 6 stable.
Dave Meltzer reported in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that there are long-term plans for the group that leads up to WrestleMania. No other details are available, but there has been a lot of speculation that Joe Gacy is Huskus, Grayson Waller is Mercy the Buzzard, and Alexa Bliss is Sister Abigail. That’s not confirmed.
The Members
The speculation about Joe Gacy was fueled by him posting rabbits on social media, while speculation about Bliss is due to her being presented as someone who has lost her edge since Wyatt has been gone.
The Sister Abigail character had a pair of WWE Women’s Titles shown next to her at Extreme Rules, while The Mercy character is the same height and build as Waller. He also wore a shirt that Waller had previously worn on television.
Finally, the Ramblin Rabbit is rumored to be Erick Rowan, who was part of The Wyatt Family, and The Fiend is Taylor Rotunda (Bo Dallas), Wyatt’s brother.
Meltzer added, “Others internally have said some of those are believed to be accurate but said things are up in the air, mentioning others could be part of it, mentioning The Dyad, in particular, are possible, and other names listed are not sure things. While obviously, this won’t happen, there was talk of Aleister Black for this group.”
Black is instead expected back in AEW at some point.
WWE’s NXT brand got away from what it was meant to do by becoming the third brand, according to the gold brand’s own head Shawn Michaels.
When NXT launched as a developmental program in 2012, the goal was for the show to produce talent for Raw and SmackDown.
After moving to the USA Network in 2019, NXT became a third brand, akin to Raw and SmackDown, until the revamp into NXT 2.0 last year.
Getting Away
With stars like Finn Balor, Keith Lee and the Undisputed Era, WWE NXT as a brand focused more on stars long-established in NXT.
Speaking on the latest episode of After the Bell, Shawn Michaels explained why the show got away from its developmental roots.
“There was a time that people felt like [we got away from developing talent] and maybe we did get away from that. But it wasn’t really us getting away from that. You think about the pandemic and everything else. It was hard to recruit. It’s hard to get younger talent.
“Everything was locked down so we had to create a live television show with all the people we had. Thankfully we had a hell of a crew.”
While NXT 2.0 has since morphed back into WWE NXT, the plan is for the show to continue being a developmental brand for the main roster.
The Next-in-Line Program
Part of the new-developmental era of NXT has been the Next in Line program, which focusses on collegiate athletes with little to no wrestling background.
The NIL program has been received with a mixed response by fans, who believe it makes no sense to focus on people who don’t have experience.
Speaking about the NIL program, Michaels spoke about bringing a new side of the development to WWE.
“You never stop developing in this job. I’m a different form of developmental, so to speak.
Now we’re finding raw, really raw, new talent. I think that really hasn’t been done in NXT until now. We’re talking about people who were in college last year.”
The WWE Hall of Famer added that despite what some believe, WWE will continue to seek talent from the independent scene.
Triple H
Shawn Michaels is the head of WWE NXT, but that wasn’t the case a year and a half ago.
In September 2021, NXT’s original leader Triple H suffered a cardiac event which would ultimately lead to the game’s in-ring retirement.
This, along with the launch of NXT 2.0, left Michaels in a difficult position as the sudden head of the brand.
“It was a comfortable and easy transition when I came here and started doing live Television on USA [Network.] Running everything was a different kind of responsibility. It was abrupt, but at the same time, that’s what I enjoy about the job. As you know, things can change on a dime and you have to learn to adjust to it.”
Michaels began in NXT in 2016 as a coach before becoming a producer in 2018 and now head of the brand.
Saraya is opening up about injuries forcing her into retirement in her mid 20’s, feeling “completely useless” when WWE wouldn’t use her for three years and refusing to give the company a cut of the revenue from her lucrative Twitch channel.
She discussed these topics and more on the latest episode of Chris Jericho’s Talk is Jericho podcast. Saraya signed a WWE contract in September 2011 when she was just 19 years old. She accomplished a lot during her time in NXT and WWE, but was forced to retire in 2018 due to serious injuries to her neck.
Jericho asked how it felt to know her in-ring career was cut short at such a young age.
“Awful,” she said. “The only thing is that I was in a better mindset, because if it was a couple years before, I would have spiraled 100%, but at that point, I was just like, ‘You know what, I can’t hit rock bottom again, I can only continue and try to do other things.’
But then, I got to be GM and I loved it, but that kind of got cut short as well, and I never really understood why, because it was a great gig. I feel like everyone liked it, I never got anything negative from it, it was just shocking.
Road Dogg called me the day before I was supposed to fly out, and then he was just like, ‘So, we’re probably not going to do the GM thing anymore, so you won’t have to come to work tomorrow.’ Then, he decided that I was going to come and do a goodbye speech as GM, which I thought was really sweet. So, I end up flying in, doing that first segment of the show and flying back and then I was sitting on my ass for years. Still under contract, doing absolutely nothing.”
Feeling Useless When WWE Wouldn’t Let Her Work
“I ended up sitting in my house for like 3 or 4 years. That’s the most depressing thing. You just feel like you’re completely useless.”
– Saraya
Saraya was devastated when WWE relieved her as General Manager. The role gave her something to do on camera outside of the ring. When that fell through, she wanted to contribute in other ways. She pitched many ideas, including being a brand ambassador or a manager, but the company gave her the runaround.
“I remember contacting them and being like, ‘If you want me to do media, I can do that, if you want me to do this, I can do that, if you want me to do managerial work, I think Ronda needed a mouthpiece at the time, I was constantly pitching these different ideas. I was like, ‘I can do these things, I’m available, just let me know.’ But I ended up sitting in my house for like 3 or 4 years. That’s the most depressing thing. You just feel like you’re completely useless and then you can’t go and do anything else, because you’re under a contract where, even though you’re an independent contractor, you still need permission to do stuff, and then it would get turned down.”
Twitch
Absolutely not. You can get Vince to call me if you want, but I’m not giving you my Twitch, there’s no f*cking way.
– Saraya
Saraya was not content just sitting at home and doing nothing. WWE wasn’t giving her anything to do, so she decided to take matters into her own hands. She joined the Twitch streaming platform. Saraya’s Twitch account took off and she made a lot of money interacting with her fans online from the comfort of her home.
That sounds like a great setup, until she got a call from Vince McMahon’s assistant who said WWE wants a cut of her Twitch earnings.
“It used to really get to me a lot, I never used to be vocal about it until they tried to take my Twitch away. I was just like, ‘There’s absolutely no way you’re going to take my Twitch away from me.’ Vince’s assistant at the time called me, he only did one phone call, and he was just like, ‘Well, you need to give us a percentage of this.’ If I had spoken to Vince, he would have been way more chill about it, I believe, but his assistant just had a fucking stick up his ass.”
I was frustrated. I was like, no way. Not only did I break my neck for you guys twice, for this company, but you don’t let me do anything. So I’m not earning this extra money that I would get if I was on the road doing media and all that kind of stuff. So I was like, this is what I’m doing. It’s keeping me sane. In the end, I just said, ‘Absolutely not. You can get Vince to call me if you want, but I’m not giving you my Twitch, there’s no f*cking way. ‘
Listen to Saraya’s appearance on the Talk is Jericho podcast:
Cody Rhodes triumphantly returned to WWE back at WrestleMania 38 earlier this year, where the American Nightmare was quickly featured as one of the company’s biggest stars and top babyfaces. He went on a miraculous win streak in that time, including victories over Kevin Owens and an insane trilogy with new United States champion, Seth Rollins.
Unfortunately for Rhodes he would hit a roadblock. Prior to his Hell in a Cell showdown with Rollins at the beginning of June he tore his pectoral muscle while weight training, leaving him with a bruise that the entire WWE Universe would see as he still competed at Hell in a Cell in a critically acclaimed matchup. Once the injury occurred several reports surfaced stating that he would be on the shelf anywhere from 6-8 months.
Ahead of Schedule
Rhodes is recovering from his injury well, and is even slightly ahead of schedule from his original timetable, according to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. It is mentioned in the report that he has been working alongside WWE Hall of Famer Diamond Dallas Page during this time, and has been taking it easy with upper body weights.
As for a return…the Royal Rumble is said to be “looking good,” but there is also some speculation on him returning in time for Day 1 as that event is in his childhood hometown of Atlanta. Either way WWE will be attempting to keep it a secret so there can be a surprise pop whenever it does happen.
Rhodes told the WWE Universe when he returned that his goal is to do what his father, the great Dusty Rhodes couldn’t do in WWE, which was hold a world title.
WWE has had fans talking about their most recent trademark filings, which are believed to be connected to Bray Wyatt.
In the past, trademark filings have often been a sign of future plans for the company.
A recent example includes WWE trademarking the term ‘Damage CTRL’ which would go on to become the name of the stable of Bayley, Dakota Kai, and IYO SKY.
Trademarks
Fightful report that WWE filed trademarks for the term ‘Uncle Harper’ and ‘Uncle Howdy’ on October 8.
The listing for both terms gives the following description for their usage.
Trademark registration is intended to cover the categories of entertainment services, namely, wrestling exhibitions and performances by a professional wrestler and entertainer rendered live and through broadcast media including television and radio, and via the internet or commercial online service; providing wrestling news and information via a global computer network; providing information in the fields of sports and entertainment via an online community portal; providing a website in the field of sports entertainment information; fan club services, namely, organizing sporting events in the field of wrestling for wrestling fan club members; organizing social entertainment events for entertainment purposes for wrestling fan club members; providing online newsletters in the fields of sports entertainment; online journals, namely blogs, in the field of sports entertainment.
Horror fans may recognize the term ‘Uncle Howdy’ as the nickname for the demon Pazuzu who possesses the young girl Regan in The Exorcist.
Luke Harper
The Uncle Harper term is seemingly a nod to Luke Harper, who was part of the Wyatt family for years.
In late 2019, Harper would leave WWE, and would later join AEW as the leader of the Dark Order Brodie Lee.
In December 2020, Lee sadly died aged 41, and tributes to the former TNT Champion were paid by both WWE and AEW.
WWE has not confirmed what exact plans they have for the ‘Uncle Harper’ term, which some believe will be part of a new Wyatt family.
Liv Morgan recently piqued people’s interest when she posted a photo with none other than the fastest-rising star in pro wrestling history – MJF.
The AEW star has been teasing a bidding war over him when his current contract with AEW expires in 2024. Many believe that the 26-year-old might actually end up jumping ships when the time comes.
Morgan was asked about the photo with the AEW talent during a recent interview with Metro. She revealed that it was taken during a birthday party:
“Aha! So, I went to my friend Skylar’s birthday party and he was just there! I had never met him before that. We had great, great, great, great banter. We have a lot in common actually!”
Speaking about the possibility of MJF joining WWE in 2024, Liv Morgan claimed that only the Wrestling Devil can decide what’s best for him:
“When 2024 comes, I think only he can know or decide what is best. I think whatever he wants to do is gonna be the best decision for him. Wherever he goes, I’m just he’ll be a star.”
Morgan also continued teasing a major acting project. She didn’t provide much detail but said that there is some news coming out soon that is a ‘literal dream come true.’
United States Champion Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch attended tonight’s football game in Chicago.
Seth Rollins captured the United States Championship from Bobby Lashley this past Monday night on RAW.
The Visionary had attacked Bobby Lashley on the RAW before WWE Extreme Rules. Lashley had just successfully defended the United States Championship against Mustafa Ali. Seth attacked after the bell and planted the champion with a Stomp.
On this past Monday’s episode of RAW, Bobby Lashley was ready to defend his title when The Beast Brock Lesnar’s music hit. Brock attacked Lashley and hit him with a couple of F5s. Seth then goaded Lashley into still having the match by questioning his courage. Rollins capitalized on a wounded Lashey and defeated The All Mighty to capture the title.
Seth Rollins & Becky Lynch Attend Chicago Bears Game
The Chicago Bears are currently playing the Washington Commanders on Thursday night football. Ahead of kickoff, the Bears’ official Twitter account sent out a photo of Seth and Becky at the game. Seth had the United States Championship around his shoulder in the photograph.
The post had the caption “we love football” above the image. Rollins often tweets out “I love football” or “I hate football” depending on whether the Bears won the game or not.
Becky Lynch last wrestled at this year’s SummerSlam PLE. Big Time Becks battled for the RAW Women’s Championship but lost to Bianca Belair. After the match, Damage CTRL (Bayley, IYO SKY, Dakota Kai) arrived and surrounded the champion. Becky turned babyface and stood by The EST’s side and Damage CTRL retreated.
The following night on RAW, Damage CTRL attacked Becky to write her off of television as she recovers from a separated shoulder suffered at SummerSlam. Lynch posted about attending tonight’s football game and you can check that out below.
Bray Wyatt made his triumphant return to WWE last Saturday at Extreme Rules. Matt Hardy reacted to his friend’s return on the latest episode of The Extreme Life of Matt Hardy.
Hardy and Wyatt were paired together during Hardy’s last WWE run when he was “Woken Matt”. They were rivals that had a feud culminating in “The Ultimate Deletion”. They eventually became a tag team, “The Deleters of Worlds”, and became RAW Tag Team Champions.
Many fans have had concerns about how Wyatt will be handled upon his return to the ring. On RAW, his return was aired again. A new vignette of Bray in his current mask was also shown between Seth Rollins and Matt Riddle’s matches (his return followed their match at Extreme Rules). Fans took to Twitter to voice their displeasure that Wyatt himself was not on RAW.
“First and foremost, I’m so happy for him. He loves wrestling, but it’s one of those things, towards the end, he was burned out in many ways. He was very frustrated with a lot of Vince’s decisions, I think. And to see him back and doing what he does best and doing it passionately, I love it. I thought the re-introduction was so amazing. I love how you have all these characters from the Firefly Funhouse and now they’re real. They’re showing up in different parts of the arena. It was done in such a cinematic way, such a theatrical way. I love the presentation, I love the reaction it got. And the fact that he came out with the lantern –a nice callback to old school Bray– and blew it out. I loved that. And the concept behind the ‘Wyatt 6’; six individuals that are kind of like all within his mind and they’re all somehow real now. I like the possibilities behind this.”
WWE has to follow through with Bray Wyatt
Hardy shares in the concern about how Wyatt will be handled. “They have to capitalize. Once again, it was Philadelphia and Philadelphia fans they won’t come for you unless you give them some shit that they want and that they like. They’re very passionate about how they react to things and their reaction was off the charts. So, that really speaks volumes about much wrestling fans in general care about Bray and his return. So yeah, I think they have to capitalize on it and make the most of it and they have to really be smart with how they progress forward.”
“He’s such a unique character too. There’s so many idiosyncrasies with everything he does. So you really have to–the devil’s in the details. You really have to pay attention to the details. Bray’s good at that. Hopefully with Triple H behind the helm now, he’s going to stay on top of it too.”
On the QR codes and viral marketing, Hardy said he loves “that type of stuff where fans have to work a little bit and where they figure it out, they get a payoff.” He thinks today’s fans are smarter and appreciate stuff like that.
