Brie and Nikki Bella have released a behind the scenes video of RAW’s 25th anniversary episode.  The video highlights interactions between superstars past and present, as well as Brie talking to Maryse about her pregnancy.

https://youtu.be/JGos0kg_d40

Among those featured in the video are: Paige, Trish Stratus, The Miz, Jimmy Fallon, Natalya, Sheamus, John Cena, and Daniel Bryan.

The video appears to avoid the negative aspects of the night which took place at the Manhattan Center.

The Bella Twins praise the event and experience which saw so superstars from multiple generations coming together.  They described their gratitude and thanks towards those who “paved the way” to enable what is seen today in the women’s division of WWE.

Opinion:

From what I’ve heard and experienced, most fans seem upset that RAW 25 promised so much, but fell flat as superstars returned for a one of appearance and announcement, without saying or doing as much as expected.  Many have described it as “gimmicky” and also “cheap”.

– Below is video of new WWE Intercontinental Champion Roman Reigns talking to Mike Rome after the big win over The Miz on last night’s RAW. Reigns says he feels good about the win and was informed by Dean Ambrose that he’s now a Grand Slam Champion. Reigns says it’s no secret that he’s had a rough few months, he’s missed some time but this goes to show that if you’re passionate about something and you’re persistent about it, you can make it happen if you believe in it, no matter what gets in your way. Reigns thanks all of his supporters and says he wouldn’t have these opportunities if it weren’t for his team. Reigns indicates that he will be issuing Open Challenges soon.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Cr9k6AlD3c?rel=0&w=560&h=315]

– The Bella Twins turn 34 years old today while former WCW star Jerry Flynn turns 58, WWE Hall of Famer Afa The Wild Samoan turns 75 and ECW Original Shane Douglas turns 54.

– Below is a promo for this week’s WWE NXT with the fallout from “Takeover: WarGames” and Johnny Gargano vs. WWE UK Champion Pete Dunne:

The #BruiserWeight @PeteDunneYxB defends his #UKTitle against @JohnnyGargano THIS WEDNESDAY on @WWENXT at 8/7c on @WWENetwork! #RAW pic.twitter.com/02nbCrNdY7

— WWE (@WWE) November 21, 2017

Brie Bella joined Busted Open with Dave Lagreca yesterday to promote Season 7 of Total Divas. Two items of interest from that interview:

Brie is asked about Daniel Bryan’s potential return to wrestling. She says as long as he’s cleared by doctors, she would never hold him back from living his dream. She says he’s been working every day since he was told he can no longer wrestle to find a way back into that ring. She also comments on Kurt Angle’s return and how Bryan felt about that, as well as Bryan’s tweets about his return.

Brie @BellaTwins says as long as doctor's clear him, she's not going to hold back @WWEDanielBryan from his dreams. #SDLive @TotalDivas pic.twitter.com/8eKk0R8kGH

— SiriusXM Busted Open (@BustedOpenRadio) October 30, 2017

She also says the following about the potential of a Bella Twins return to the WWE.

“I miss it so much, and I miss it so much because I am filming Total Divas and I am around all these girls who are doing all these history making things. For me, I watch now as a fan at home and sometimes it’s actually hard on me. I’ll tell Bryan “now I know how you feel.” I do have the itch, and obviously Birdie’s (daughter) my number 1 priority, but the Bella Twins are going to come back at some point in 2018.

And granted we can’t come for a long time because of my baby, but we are coming back. I told Nikki “You and I have not been in the ring together for over 2 years.” The only way I’m making a comeback, and she said the same thing the only way she’s making a comeback, is together. I told Bryan, I told pretty much everyone, I am making a comeback before baby 2.”

Busted Open with Dave Lagreca & co-hosts Bully Ray & Larry Dallas can be heard weekdays from 2p-4p Eastern Time only on SiriusXM Rush Channel 93 and is available any time on demand on the SiriusXM App.

– WWE provided an update on the Vince McMahon’s condition after being assaulted by Kevin Owens last week on SmackDown Live. According to the storyline, Vince McMahon is that he suffered three fractured ribs in the attack.

– The Bella Twins’ new wine brand launched on Tuesday. Belle Radici, which means ‘Beautiful Roots’ in Italian, had a limited release and is mostly sold out already. For more information, visit BellaRadici.com.

Huge THANK U 2 everyone that tuned in 2 DWTS @DancingABC, buying @belleradiciwine (almost sold out!) & for our @Total_Bellas supporters!??N

— Nikki & Brie (@NikkiAndBrie) September 20, 2017

– After a disappointing and very quick loss to Randy Orton at SummerSlam, Rusev visited his home in Bulgaria to regroup and refocus himself. Rusev is now using a ‘Legend Killer’ gimmick and got revenge on Randy Orton last night on SmackDown. Orton picked up a win over Aiden English on SmackkDown, only to be confronted by Rusev afterwards. Rusev then defeated Orton in just a few seconds thanks to an assist from English.

– Tickets go on sale Friday, February 10 for the post-WrestleMania NXT TV tapings on Wednesday, April 5 from Full Sail University. Fans in Orlando for WrestleMania might want to stick around for NXT later in the week.

– Finn Balor continues to train and rehab his shoulder after undergoing surgery last year. Below is a new video of Balor working out at Champion Sports Medicine in Birmingham, Alabama. Balor is still hopeful for WrestleMania 33 but his return has not been confirmed.

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

– The Bella Twins discuss their new Birdiebee brand for women in this video from their Youtube channel:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PuhXPx80J9I

– This week’s WWE Main Event episode features Titus O’Neil and The Shining Stars vs. The New Day, plus Bo Dallas vs. Sin Cara. It’s available now on Hulu.

– RAW announcer Corey Graves will be replacing WWE Hall of Famer Jerry Lawler at the Big Event Convention in Queens on March 4th. If you’ve pre-ordered Lawler items to be signed at the convention, you can email newwrestling@yahoo.com for an exchange or refund. This will be Graves first convention appearance.

– According to WWE, 52,020 fans were in attendance at this year’s Royal Rumble pay-per-view from the Alamodome. In 1997, the Rumble played the same venue to 60,477 fans.

– Watch the Bella Twins open gifts from their fans and admirers in this new video from their YouTube channel:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzrD6SfV7ag

– WWE taped Epico vs. Darren Young and Dana Brooke vs. Alicia Fox for this week’s Main Event episode. As reported here, Young suffered an arm injury during the match.

– Singer Sophia Grace will premiere her new “Hollywood” music video on tonight’s SmackDown with appearances by Lana, Naomi, The Bella Twins and Sasha Banks. Here’s a behind the scenes look:

– Former WWE star Ted DiBiase, Jr. was backstage for Sunday’s WWE house show in Jackson, MO as he lives in the area. Natalya tweeted this photo with him:

Great seeing one of my very good friends tonight in Jackson, Mississippi! Love ya @TedDiBiase! pic.twitter.com/3vD57oX1Kb

— Nattie (@NatbyNature) January 16, 2017

– For the second consecutive week, there were no RAW or SmackDown Live pre-shows on the WWE Network. The shows were recently cut from 30 to 15 minutes, so WWE might have pulled the plug.

– Tonight’s NXT episode will be another two-hour episode with footage from the recent NXT house show in Melbourne, Australia. Matches confirmed to air include:

-Steel Cage: Samoa Joe vs. NXT Champion Shinsuke Nakamura
-TM-61 vs. NXT Tag Team Champions DIY
-Ember Moon vs. Billie Kay vs. Liv Morgan
-Murphy & Tye Dillinger vs. Elias Samson & Bobby Roode

– Below are previews for tonight’s Total Divas with The Bella Twins discussing the wine business and Nikki reconnecting with John Cena for date night:

– Today’s wrestling birthdays include WWE Hall of Famer Larry Zbyszko (65) and former WWE Tag Team Champion The Dynamite Kid (58).

– Former WWE Champion Batista appears as Drax the Destroyer in this new trailer for Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy 2, which hits theaters on May 7, 2017.

– According to correspondents at WWE TLC last night, AJ Styles may have suffered a right foot injury while retaining the WWE World Championship over Dean Ambrose in the main event. After the show went off the air, AJ fell to the mat and a trainer rushed down to the ring to check on him. AJ was seen clutching his right foot and trying to move it around. He left on his own but was limping. Ambrose was then rushed to the back by a few trainers.

WWE has not announced injuries to either Superstar, but Dave Meltzer of f4wonline.com says Styles did in fact suffer a “minor ankle injury.” He’s scheduled to face James Ellsworth on Tuesday’s SmackDown Live.

https://twitter.com/sloomzo/status/805626779520135168

https://twitter.com/reignssempire/status/805796352655499264

WWE Smackdown (11/29)

This week’s episode of Smackdown kicked off with Renee Young in the ring. Alexa Bliss and Becky Lynch joined her in the ring for a contract signing for their Smackdown Women’s Championship match this Sunday at WWE TLC. Alexa Bliss told Renee Young to get out of the ring. Bliss also scolded Renee for her fashion choices. Becky Lynch then compared Alexa to her four year old cousin. Bliss continued to insult Becky Lynch and they both signed the contract. After they both signed it, they brawled in the ring. Lynch hit the Becksplex on Alexa Bliss. Alexa then fought back and shoved Becky through a table off of the turnbuckle.

Reaction: I thought this promo was really good. Becky Lynch can be a bit of adventure on the microphone but tonight she did a good job. Alexa Bliss is excellent on the microphone and her facial expressions are hilarious. I find this feud to be much more interesting than the one between Charlotte and Sasha Banks on Raw.

.@AlexaBliss_WWE blocks @BeckyLynchWWE's #Bexploder, and sends the Champ crashing through the table! #SDLive pic.twitter.com/gbOh4XYeVU

— WWE (@WWE) November 30, 2016

Dolph Ziggler & Kalisto vs Baron Corbin & The Miz

Corbin dominated the match early and threw Ziggler out of the ring. The Miz was then tagged in and he immediately grabbed a ladder from under the ring. Ziggler got up and connected with a DDT on The Miz outside the ring. Ziggler then hit Corbin with a Superkick. Back in the ring, Ziggler tagged in Kalisto. The Miz hit Kalisto with a boot to the face and dove outside the ring onto Ziggler. Miz then launched Ziggler into the barricade surroinding the ring.

Kalisto then dove onto Corbin outside the ring. Ziggler hit a Superkick on The Miz as he was lying on the ring apron. Maryse shoved the ladder into Ziggler’s face. Kalisto landed the Salida del Sol on The Miz in the ring. Before the referee could count to three, Baron Corbin nailed Kalisto in the back with a chair. The referee then disqualified The Miz and Baron Corbin.

Winners via DQ: Dolph Ziggler & Kalisto

Reaction: This was a quick match but it served a purpose. Ziggler will be facing The Miz in a ladder match for the IC Title on Sunday. Corbin will be squaring off with Kalisto in a chairs match at TLC. Both the ladder and a chair came into play during this match. I like it when things make sense, don’t you?

.@BaronCorbinWWE, you can't do that until Sunday at #WWETLC! @HEELZiggler & @KalistoWWE win by DQ! #SDLive pic.twitter.com/IDPvwvv19j

— WWE (@WWE) November 30, 2016

American Alpha were interviewed backstage about their match tonight versus Bray Wyatt and Randy Orton. Gable and Jordan stated that they will prove again tonight why they are the best team in the WWE.

Bray Wyatt, Randy Orton and Luke Harper were then shown backstage. Orton interrupted Wyatt and questioned Luke Harper. Orton asked Harper if he was going to do what needs to be done tonight against Kane. Harper looked aggravated and Wyatt instructed Harper to go send Kane back to hell. There is obviously some friction between Harper and Orton. I do not believe that Harper is completely sold on Orton joining the Wyatt Family.

"Harper … go send @KaneWWE back to HELL!" – @WWEBrayWyatt #SDLive #WyattFamily pic.twitter.com/GLnJn5MvrR

— WWE (@WWE) November 30, 2016

Carmella came down to the ring for a match but that never happened. Carmella gave a special message to John Cena. Carmella apologized for what she will do to his girlfriend, Nikki Bella at TLC. Carmella claimed that she was going to rearranged Nikki’s “Bella twins” and her face as well. Nikki Bella came sprinting from backstage and attacked Carmella. The referee seperated them and that allowed Carmella to haul off and slap Nikki in the face. Nikki then got up and continued the assault on Carmella.

"@JohnCena, I want to publicly apologize for what I'm going to do to your girlfriend [at #WWETLC]." – @CarmellaWWE #SDLive pic.twitter.com/lNqKBBw8PB

— WWE (@WWE) November 30, 2016

Ambrose Asylum w/ Dean Ambrose

Dean Ambrose introduced James Ellsworth as his first guest on the Ambrose Asylum. An “Ellsworth!” chant broke out amongst the crowd. Ambrose poked fun at Ellsworth’s old wrestling boots. Ellsworth thanked Ambrose for helping him become an official WWE Superstar. Ellsworth stated that if Ambrose ever needed anything he would do it. Ambrose asked Ellsworth to wash his car, do his laundry and pick him up a six-pack and some candy for later.

Ambrose asked Ellsworth who he will be rooting for this Sunday at TLC. Ellsworth stated that it would be an honor to wrestle Dean Ambrose for the WWE World Championship. AJ Styles interrupted the party and stood on the announce table. Styles poked fun at Ellsworth and called him a dummy. Ambrose stated that Styles had then lost to a dummy three times.

Styles got in the ring and claimed that he was tired of Ambrose making him out to be a joke. Styles demanded respect and claimed that he was going to beat the hell out of Ambrose at TLC. Styles dared Ellsworth to show up during his match againt Ambrose at TLC. Ambrose claimed that Styles was weak mentally. Ambrose stated that this Sunday the fun and games were over. Ambrose went on to state that he will recapture the WWE World Championship at TLC.

Styles pushed Ellsworth into Ambrose who fell into a ladder. AJ then whipped Ellsworth into a table and smashed Dean Ambrose with the steel steps. Styles returned to the ring and beatdown Ellsworth. Styles hit Ellsworth with a ladder and then tossed him out of the ring. Ellsworth’s feet got caught up in the bottom rope and Styles hit him with a steel chair. AJ then hit the Styles Clash on Ellsworth off of the steps onto the floor outside the ring.

Reaction: Finally, Styles got the upper hand on Ellsworth and Ambrose. I find Ellsworth to be very entertaining but I’m not really interested in seeing him in the WWE World Championship picture. Having said that, this was a very good promo. There has only been one match in the first hour and fifteen minutes of tonight’s Smackdown. Usually that would annoy me but tonight’s promos have all ended in brawls.

"@AJStylesOrg has just delivered the MOTHER OF ALL #StylesClashes to @RealEllsworth!" – @MauroRanallo#SDLive #WWETLC pic.twitter.com/KKihIY7zO4

— WWE (@WWE) November 30, 2016

Luke Harper vs Kane

Kane and Harper tied up to begin the match. Kane shoved Harper down and Harper got back up and they locked up again. Harper bounced off of the ropes and hit a couple of shoulder blocks but Kane was not phased. Kane then leveled Harper. Luke Harper got back up and hit Kane with a series of uppercuts. Kane once again shrugged them off and came right back at Harper. Smackdown went to a commercial break with Luke Harper outside the ring with a shocked look on his face.

When Smackdown returned, Harper was in control of the match and had a Chinlock applied to Kane in the center of the ring. Kane battled out of the Chinlock and hit a Jawbreaker. Kane went for a Chokeslam but Harper blocked it and kicked Kane in the head. Harper went for a pinfall but Kane kicked out at two. Kane fought back and connected with a DDT on Harper. Kane followed it up with a Sidewalk Slam and went for a pin but Harper kicked out. Harper battled back and hit Kane with a Dropkick to the ribs. Kane was affected and hunched over in the corner. Harper leaped on him twice and connected with a couple of shots to the ribs. Harper then then climbed to the second turnbuckle and hit Kane with a couple of punches.

Kane fought out of the corner by hitting a Powerbomb on Harper. Kane once again went for the Chokeslam but Harper grabbed the rope. Harper connected with a Sidewalk Slam of his own but Kane kicked out once again. Kane slammed Harper to the mat and climbed to the top rope. Kane went for a Clothesline off of the top rope but Harper ducked it and drilled Kane with a Superkick. Kane once again powered out of the pinfall at two. Harper then climbed to the top rope but Kane got up and punched him in the face. Kane then joined Harper on the turnbuckle and connected with a massive Superplex to Harper.

Both men slowly got back to their feet and began to trade punches. Kane blocked a punch by Harper and grabbed his throat. Kane then connected with a Chokeslam and picked up the victory.

Winner: Kane

Reaction: When you think of Kane versus Luke Harper it doesn’t sound like it would be a good match. This match was actually quite good. The announcers made a comment after the match that Bray Wyatt will not be happy with Luke Harper following this loss to Kane. I’m intrigued with the Wyatt Family storyline right now. It appears that Harper may be on his way out and Orton will be replacing him. I’m curious if this will wind up with Orton turning his back on Bray after he has already destroyed the Wyatt Family from the inside. I do not really know where they are going with this and that is a good thing. Luke Harper has always been one of the more underrated Superstars on the roster. I wouldn’t mind seeing him in the Intercontinental Championship picture and having a single’s run of his own. Harper can work well with almost any male Superstar on the Smackdown roster. I think if you put him up against someone like Baron Corbin they would put on some very physical and entertaining matches.

#CHOKESLAM by @KaneWWE!!! ONE TWO THREE!! #SDLive @LukeHarperWWE pic.twitter.com/46nPuNNTqZ

— WWE (@WWE) November 30, 2016

Smackdown Tag Team #1 Contenders Match: Randy Orton & Bray Wyatt vs American Alpha

Randy Orton and Jason Jordan started out the match. Jordan went on the offensive to start things off. The WWE cut to Slater and Rhyno watching the match from backstage. This was humorous because the television screen they were watching was black for a second and essentially Slater and Rhyno were staring at nothing.

Bray Wyatt entered the match and Jordan went to jump onto him but Wyatt ducked and Jordan went flying into the ropes. Bray tagged in Orton and he continued the assault on Jordan. Gable tagged himself in and immediately connected with a Crossbody off the top rope on Orton. Gable climbed to the top rope again but Wyatt knocked him to the outside of the ring and Smackdown went to a commercial break.

When Smackdown returned, Wyatt and Gable were in the ring. Wyatt hit Gable with a DDT on the ring apron. Wyatt then went for a pin but Gable kicked out at two. Orton then entered the match and applied a Chinlock to Gable. Orton hit a Powerslam on Gable and once again went for a pinfall but it was unsuccessful. Orton tagged in Wyatt and Gable connected with a Dropkick then sent Bray to the mat. Gable tried to tag in Jordan but Bray got up and punched Jordan off of the ring apron.

Bray mounted Gable on the mat and punched him in the face several times. Orton was tagged back in and propped Gable up on the top rope. Orton connected with a Superplex on Gable. Jason Jordan and Bray Wyatt were then tagged in. Jordan leveled Wyatt with an overhead Belly to Belly Suplex. Chad Gable hit Orton with a Cannonball off of the ring apron. Back in the ring, Jordan hit a German Suplex on Bray Wyatt.

The lights then went out and Luke Harper was ringside. Bray went for the Sister Abigail but Gable prevented it. American Alpha then went for the Grand Amplitude but Orton hit Gable with an RKO out of nowhere. Jordan went to hit Bray with a Spear but Harper pulled Bray out of the way. Wyatt then hit the Sister Abigail on Jordan for the victory. Wyatt and Orton will now face Slater and Rhyno at TLC this Sunday. Slater and Rhyno were interviewed backstage but AJ Styles interrupted. Styles stated that nobody cared about the Tag Team titles. Ambrose then appeared out of nowhere and attacked Styles and Smackdown went off the air.

Reaction: This was a very solid match to close out a good episode of Smackdown. It appears that Harper and Orton are back to getting along for now. Tonight’s episode was promo-heavy but they all were effective. TLC is shaping up to be an exciting show and I cannot wait to watch it on Sunday.

Winners & #1 Contenders For The Smackdown Tag Team Championships: Randy Orton & Bray Wyatt

#SisterAbigail!! The #WyattFamily is going to #WWETLC to face @HeathSlaterOMRB and @Rhyno313!! #1Contender pic.twitter.com/telCi0c0T9

— WWE (@WWE) November 30, 2016

205 Live (11/29)

Austin Aries and Corey Graves joined Mauro Ranallo on commentary. All of the Superstars on 205 Live were on the entrance ramp and they were introduced to the WWE Universe. A vignette for the Bollywood Boyz was then shown.

https://twitter.com/WWE205Live/status/803797913251917824

Bollywood Boyz vs Drew Gulak & Tony Nese

Harv and Gurv Sihra started out the match on the offensive. Tony Nese was laid out by both of them but was able battle back and tag in Gulak. For the next few minutes, Gulak dominated the match. Nese was tagged back in and he continued the assault on the Bollywood Boyz. Gulak got back into the match and maintained control of the match.

Nese got back in the match and he applied a Chinlock to one of the Bollywood Boyz. Harv battled out of the Chinlock and connected with a Neckbreaker. Harv tagged in Gurv and he hut Gulak with several chops and a kick to the face. The Bollywood Boyz hit a double Superkick on Drew Gulak for the pinfall victory.

Winners: The Bollywood Boyz

Reaction: Not the best way to start off the debut episode of 205 Live. There were some cool spots in this match but overall it was very clunky.

https://twitter.com/WWE205Live/status/803800282756878338

TJ Perkins and Brian Kendrick had a confrontation. Perkins stated that he is still owed a rematch and that he wants Kendrick to retain the Cruiserweight Championship tonight. Perkins wants Kendrick to keep the belt so he can get his rematch and take the title away from him.

https://twitter.com/WWE205Live/status/803801771600580608

Ariya Daivari vs Jack Gallagher

Gallagher started out this match extremely cocky and applied a few submission holds to Daivari while posing for the crowd. Daivari battled back and but Gallagher escaped his Headlock. Gallagher did a handstand on the top turnbuckle and then took Daivari down. Gallagher then tied Daivari up in a knot in the center of the ring and taunted him from the corner. Gallagher then hit him with a running kick and Daivari escaped the knot.

Daivari connected with a Neckbreaker on Gallagher and slapped him in the face a couple of times. Daivari applied a Chinlock but Gallagher fought out of it and connected with a couple of Dropkicks. Gallagher then headbutted Daivari and hit him with a Dropkick in the corner for the victory.

Winner: Jack Gallagher

Reaction: This match was bizarre and entertaining. Jack Gallagher may look ridiculous but he is fun to watch. The main positive to take from this match is that Gallagher was able to get the crowd into it. That is something that has escaped the Cruiserweight division when it is featured on Monday Night Raw.

https://twitter.com/WWE205Live/status/803803266274369537

Cruiserweight Championship Match: Brian Kendrick (c) vs Rich Swann

Kendrick started off the match in control. Swann battled back and hit a Dropkick. Kendrick kicked out of a pinfall and Swann applied a Chinlock. Kendrick reversed the Chinlock into a German Suplex. Kendrick attacked Swann in the corner but Swann fought back and connected with several chops to the chest of Kendrick.

Swann landed a Tiger Bomb on Kendrick and Kendrick rolled out of the ring. Swann followed him out of the ring and hit a Summersault Clothesline off of the barricade. The action returned to the ring and Kendrick connected with another German Suplex. Kendrick then hit a Neckbreaker and Swann’s head hit the top turnbuckle. Swann then fell out of the ring and to the floor.

Swann was able to get back in the ring before the referee counted him out. Kendrick immediately hit him with a Suplex. Kendrick went for the Captain’s Hook but Swann blocked it. Swann then connected with a Michinoku Driver on Kendrick. Swann followed it up with a kick to the face of Kendrick. Swann went for the Standing 450 but Kendrick got his knees up and then locked in the Captain’s Hook.

Swann was able to reach the bottom rope and the crowd cheered him on. Both men were on the top turnbuckle and Kendrick bit Swann’s wrist and hit Sliced Bread. Swann kicked out and the crowd started to chant “this is awesome!”. Swannt connected with three spinning heel kicks in a row and pinned Kendrick for the victory.

After the match, Swann thanked his mother that has passed away and dedicated the match to her. Kendrick was also interviewed on the entrance ramp. Kendrick blamed the loss on TJ Perkins for playing mind games with him earlier in the night. Kendrick also stated that the WWE Universe should not get used to Swann as the Cruiserweight Champion. Kendrick vowed to get his title back and walked away.

Winner & New Cruiserweight Champion: Rich Swann

https://twitter.com/WWE205Live/status/803809979639558144

Reaction: 205 Live started off slow but picked up momentum and wound up being a pretty decent show. I thought the match between Kendrick and Swann was very good. I hope that the Cruiserweight division gets some more time on Monday Night Raw as a result of this show but I doubt that will be the case. Overall, both Smackdown and 205 Live were good shows tonight.

What did you think of this week’s episodes of Smackdown and 205 Live? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Z_vLabdBqU

On Tuesday, to celebrate WWE’s official Bella Twins YouTube channel quickly reaching the 100,000 subscriber milestone, a glowing Brie Bella (well, Brianna Danielson, since we’re talking about the real person) posted a the above new video. Wearing a kimono, she thanks her fans before stripping to a bikini and revealing her newly minted baby bump, which had “THANK YOU” written on it for good measure.

Brianna and husband Bryan “Daniel Bryan” Danielson are expecting their baby some time in the spring. They announced the pregnancy on October 6th, so if you go with the logic that they waited three months (as many couples do), the baby is likely due around WrestleMania 33.

– WWE Universal Champion Kevin Owens ripped SmackDown announcer David Otunga on Twitter today, following Otunga’s fat joke during the WWE Survivor Series pay-per-view on Sunday. You can see Owens’ Twitter assault below:

https://twitter.com/FightOwensFight/status/801159051900055553

– Below are Total Divas previews for tomorrow with Jim Neidhart teaching Lana to shot put, Naomi visiting the PULSE Night Club in Orlando with her uncle and The Bella Twins shooting the cover for Latina Magazine:

WWE has launched a new Youtube channel for The Bella Twins, who are celebrating their 33rd birthday today. The channel will feature daily fashion, travel, fitness, relationships and health content created by the twins themselves.

According to a press release sent out by WWE, the Bella Twins Youtube channel will feature the following content:

• BELLA VLOGS: Daily videos that capture the most personal moments from the girls’ everyday lives, including their relationships with WWE Superstars John Cena and Daniel Bryan.
• ON THE ROAD: In a weekly video, Nikki Bella chronicles her life on the road as, for the first time in her career, she travels apart from her sister, Brie.
• BELLA BABY WATCH: Every week, Brie Bella and her husband Daniel Bryan chronicle their preparation for the birth of their daughter, from picking out nursery colors to asking fans for suggestions for baby names.
• FAN INTERACTION: Weekly YouTube live streams and Q&A’s with Nikki and Brie.
• BEHIND THE SCENES AND ALL-ACCESS: Exclusive behind-the-scenes peeks into the Nikki and Brie’s personal lives with never-before-granted access during media tours, red carpet events and personal family moments.
• CHILDHOOD: Through Bella family home videos and personal photos, Nikki and Brie tell the real story of their upbringing.

Here are the first few videos from the channel:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAsvm3SW33k

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyZ5YJhUPyY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HoHv1BuYjxU

– The final rating for Monday’s RAW in Denver was a 2.17, up from last week’s 1.93 rating and the recent string of under-2.0 ratings in the new era. As reported, Monday’s show with Bill Goldberg’s return drew 3.130 million viewers, up from last week’s 2.758 million.

– James Ellsworth has nothing but love for the WWE Universe following last night’s DQ win over WWE World Champion AJ Styles on SmackDown. No word yet on Ellsworth’s future but he tweeted the following to fans:

I would never be anywhere without the #WWEUniverse Thank you all for the love and support, without you there's no @WWE title match for me

— James Ellsworth (@realellsworth) October 19, 2016

– Daniel Bryan defends The Bella Twins in this Talking Smack clip from last night. Responding to Carmella accusing Nikki Bella of using boyfriend John Cena to get her spot in the company, Bryan talks about how The Bella Twins both took the work that no one else in the company wanted, to get where they are. Bryan says newcomers like Carmella go after The Bellas for the same reason people go after John Cena, calling them the biggest female stars WWE has produced in a long time. Bryan also said Cena has never gone to bat for Nikki and that she has worked hard for everything she has.

The Bella Twins, John Cena and Daniel Bryan are in New York City this week doing the media rounds to promote the premiere of Total Bellas. During an interview with AOL’s BUILD series, Brie spoke about husband Daniel Bryan and her retirements from the ring.

“It was hard as a wife to see that, especially because I had two months left at WWE and I was trying so hard to enjoy the ending. It was hard for me because of what he was going through and I didn’t really want to retire. It’s kind of bittersweet for me because we want to be parents, and I can’t take back bumps and have a baby bump, unfortunately.”

Nikki commented on Bryan’s mentality during that challenging time, noting that she didn’t know the full extent of what Bryan was dealing with. She was focused on protecting her sister. Nikki felt like Bryan wasn’t supporting Brie in her last few months before Brie’s retirement and the two got in “a massive fight.”

“He [Bryan] cussed at me, and Bryan does not ever say a cuss word,” Nikki said. “But I drove him to get that angry.”

Total Bellas premieres next Wednesday, October 5th at 8pm on the E! Network.

– Ticket sales for last week’s WWE live event from Shanghai, China were disappointing, according to Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio. The Manila, Philippines show drew well. You can see video and results from the WWE Shanghai show here.

– WWE officials have high expectations for Cruiserweight Classic competitor Jack Gallagher, who has been signed for the new RAW cruiserweight division.

– Renee Young wasn’t thrilled with the outcome of last night’s Backlash main event. It’s not secret that she’s in a relationship with Dean Ambrose. She had this to say about AJ Styles’ WWE World Championship win:

https://twitter.com/ReneeYoungWWE/status/775161357071216640

– The Bella Twins recently launched their Birdiebee lingerie brand. Birdbiee’s Instagram bio @BirdeeBrand describes itself as, “A pay it forward brand that represents feminine health & women’s empowerment. We make panties with a purpose.” Nikki and Brie took part in the company’s first video shoot last week.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BKFJXInBF3f/

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

https://www.instagram.com/p/BKFIJuuBdl3/

https://www.instagram.com/p/BKFLxfjh9GR/

– The Rock’s latest line of gear from Under Armour was officially released in stores yesterday. Rock revealed on Twitter that they will have gear for women coming in early 2017. He tweeted the following for the new line:

Our new @UnderArmour #BloodSweatAndRespect collection drops today! Let's EARN it. Enjoy 💪🏾https://t.co/vYtBQVsMjX pic.twitter.com/ZTQfmE0P3x

— Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) August 10, 2016

– The Bella Twins will be on the cover of an upcoming issue of Muscle & Fitness magazine. Nikki Bella posted a photo from this week’s photo shoot, noting that she and Brie are the first female athletes to grace the cover of M&F in 20 years.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BI_dp7vBL63/

Roman Reigns got busted open during his match at Thursday night’s WWE live event from Melbourne, Australia.

Reigns and Finn Balor teamed up to defeat Seth Rollins and Chris Jericho. Reigns suffered a cut above his eye that required two stitches to close.

Here’s footage of the match finish and the aftermath of Reigns’ injury:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BI-5-_dDvWA/?tagged=wwemelbourne

https://www.instagram.com/p/BI92yjcDzAf/?tagged=wwemelbourne

Full Results:

• Apollo Crews def. Sheamus
• Braun Strowman def. Jey Uso
• US Champion Rusev def. Titus O’Neil
• WWE Tag Team Champions The New Day def. Karl Anderson & Luke Gallows
• Roman Reigns & Finn Balor def. Chris Jericho & Seth Rollins
• WWE Women’s Champion Sasha Banks def. Charlotte
• Sami Zayn def. Kevin Owens
• John Cena def. AJ Styles

https://youtu.be/37efTb0cIto

John Cena showed off his comedic chops on Sunday night as the co-host for the 2016 Teen Choice Awards on FOX.

Midway through the awards show, Cena and co-host Victoria Justice came out dressed as Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump to encourage young people to ‘Rock The Vote.’ Cena rocked a blonde wig and pink pantsuit in a pretty entertaining portrayal of the Democratic party’s nominee.

WWE broadcaster Cathy Kelley also attended and walked the green carpet like nobody’s business:

https://twitter.com/catherinekelley/status/759926762629271552

Meanwhile, the Bella Twins took home the award for Choice Female Athlete. The other nominees included Ronda Rousey, Serena Williams, Danica Patrick, Simone Biles and Alex Morgan.

So incredibly happy & honored to win with Brie #ChoiceFemaleAthlete Our surfboards are dedicated 2 you #BellaArmy !! So much LOVE 4 u all! N

— Nikki & Brie (@NikkiAndBrie) August 1, 2016

Congrats to @BellaTwins on being named Choice Female Athlete at the @TeenChoiceFOX Awards! https://t.co/0T2l3Vhban pic.twitter.com/wODRx8NJP1

— WWE (@WWE) August 1, 2016

E! issued the following this week:

E! SETS PREMIERE DATE FOR NEW SERIES “TOTAL BELLAS”

WWE Superstars The Bella Twins(TM), John Cena(R) and Daniel Bryan(R) Move In Under One Roof in New Spin-Off Series Premiering Wednesday, October 5 at 8:00pm ET/PT

LOS ANGELES, CA – June 27, 2016 – Two’s company, three’s a crowd, and these four – are just too much to handle. E! Entertainment exposes the Raw and real lives of WWE(R) Superstars Nikki and Brie Bella when “Total Bellas,” spin-off of E!’s mega-hit series “Total Divas,” premieres Wednesday, October 5 at 8:00pm ET/PT. The six, one-hour episodes will give viewers an exclusive, intimate look into the VIP lives of the Bellas and their fellas, John Cena and Daniel Bryan, as the four distinctly unique and comical personalities coexist under one roof for the first time.

Although these twins share the same genes, they will never share the same jeans as living together was more tolerable when they just shared a womb. The free-spirited, vegan-loving, live-and-let-live lifestyle of Brie and Bryan has always clashed with the fancy panache of the designer handbag-loving Nikki and the meticulously organized tendencies of John. However, when the four world-renowned WWE Superstars move in under one roof, the comical clash of titans rings all throughout the suburbs of Tampa, FL.

The series kicks-off with Nikki and John being sidelined by injuries and Daniel’s recent retirement from the ring. This docu-series will follow the odd-couple relationships of these eccentric WWE Superstars as Brie does her best to nurse, not only Nikki, but John and Daniel back to health, all while trying to retain their sanity. With Nikki’s recent neck surgery, Brie’s retirement at WrestleMania(R), Daniel’s untimely retirement from WWE, and John’s rising profile in Hollywood, fans will get an exclusive beyond-the-ropes glimpse into how these dynamic individuals juggle their reality and prepare for their uncertain futures.

“Total Bellas” is produced by WWE and Bunim/Murray Productions. Gil Goldschein, Jeff Jenkins and Russell Jay are Executive Producers for Bunim/Murray Productions. Kevin Dunn is Executive Producer for WWE. Nikki Bella and Brie Bella also serve as Executive Producers.

A house divided cannot stand… in stilettos. “Total Bellas” premieres Wednesday, October 5 at 8:00pm ET/PT only on E!

– John Cena has commented on the buzz that Seth Rollins will be returning to WWE television in the coming weeks. Cena, who has also been rehabbing a major injury and returns to RAW on May 30th, tweeted:

I have done my best to return to @WWE as fast as I can, but I hope people understand just how amazing @WWERollins recovery is #Respect #GG

— John Cena (@JohnCena) May 16, 2016

– The Bella Twins and John Cena will represent WWE at the NBC Upfront presentation at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on Monday. The WWE performers will be alongside NBC Universal executives as they pitch their television portfolio to advertisers.

– NXT Newcomer Nikki Storm wrestled her first singles match for NXT at Saturday’s live event in Jacksonville, Florida. Competing under her real name, Nicola Glencross, she lost to Adrienne Reese (a/k/a Athena). Storm made her in-ring debut in late April at a live event, where she and Mandy Rose lost to Liv Morgan and Aliyah in a tag team match.

https://twitter.com/NikkiStorm1/status/731715875716354049

Earlier this month on WWE filed for a new trademark – Total Bellas. The comes just days after WWE retired the Divas Championship, rebranded the women’s division and Brie Bella confirmed her retirement from active competition.

According to the US Patent & Trademark Office website, the primary purpose of the trademark is for, “Entertainment services, namely, an ongoing reality-based program and its participants; entertainment services, namely, an ongoing show about professional wrestlers and professional wrestling.”

Based on that description, it appears that WWE’s hit show Total Divas is being rebranded – or the Bella Twins are getting their own spinoff show.

There are also dozens of other uses for the trademark in the multiple filings, for everything from live wrestling shows to body lotion, cleaning agents, mouthwash, Christmas tree decorations and toy guitars.

You can search the USPTO database here: USPTO.gov.

The Bella Twins were Jonathan Coachman’s guest this week on ESPN Sports Center.

Coach asked how their lives have changed since starring in the hit show Total Divas. Nikki says the show has changed their lives dramatically, raising their profile amongst people who weren’t already WWE fans. The show empowers women & girls and they enjoy being role models. Coach discussed their romantic relationships coming into play on the show and asked if it’s hard to maintain those relationships in the wrestling business. Brie says working in WWE with their significant others has been a positive since everybody can relate tot he same lifestyle. Brie said her husband Daniel Bryan has helped her improve in the ring and Nikki said the same about John Cena.

Coach asks them about being in Paris during the terror attacks back in November. Nikki says they were there for their grandmother’s 83rd birthday and while they were paying the bill at dinner, their driver came and told them he had to rush them to the hospital because of a shooting. They were placed on lockdown and later realized it was a terror attack. Nikki says Cena came to their rescue and got them out of Paris the next day. Brie says it felt like 9/11 for Paris. They also talk about being role models to girls and that’s the biggest honor to them.

Coach brought up the Divas Revolution. Nikki says they are a part of history and it’s been an amazing ride. Nikki is proud of all the women in WWE and believes they have come a long way. They credited Total Divas for helping jumpstart the Divas Revolution. They plugged next week’s season premiere of Total Divas and they teased that Nikki and John Cena could be getting engaged this season.

The @BellaTwins of the @WWE join SC to discuss what life is like as a Diva. https://t.co/cmXRq79Urb

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 13, 2016

The Bella Twins recently spoke with the UK’s Reveal Magazine to promote last week’s European tour. Here are some highlights..

How Nikki felt when Dolph Ziggler told her he still had feelings for her and how John Cena reacted:

“It wasn’t that I was tempted by Nick [Dolph]. It was the thought that there are others out there that want to give you marriage and kids. With Nick it’s hard to go back once you’re over it, but it did cross my mind that someone does want to make me a wife and someone does want to make me a mother.

“Poor John was like, ‘Is there anything I should be worried about?’, I was like ‘Umm I don’t think so…’ But no, I adore John and I couldn’t imagine my life without him.”

Brie says she and Daniel Bryan are ready to start having children:

“I am so ready for motherhood. The hardest thing in our business is that, unfortunately, you can’t wrestle and be pregnant,” she said. “It’s this ongoing tug of war inside if I’m ready to hang up my boots and start trying.

“Bryan and I have this crazy baby fever. We are so ready for it in our lives – especially considering how we are with our dog Josie – we’re so ready for a kid. You’re going to see me battle with it next series… It’s definitely around the corner, though!”

Head on over to Reveal.co.uk to check out both interviews.

WWE Hall of Famer Trish Stratus is once again teasing that she wants to get back in the ring and team with fellow Hall of Famer Lita in a match against the Bella Twins.

Later this year, Topps will release “WWE Undisputed”, a high-end product that that will include one autograph per package of cards. Among the prototype images Topps released was a “booklet” card (a double wide card) containing the signatures of Trish Stratus and Lita on one side, and Nikki and Brie Bella on the other.

Trish Stratus commented about the booklet and teased a possible match between the two teams.

“You know, I gotta hand it to Topps. For months, during the Team Bestie Tour, Amy and I heard so many questions about ‘Besties vs. Bellas. This preview of what it would look like if we squared off in a tag team match certainly has me thinking…”

This isn’t the first time that Stratus has hinted that Team Bestie could be reuniting against the Bellas. Earlier this year, Trish told The Miami Herald:

“I don’t mind an easy win. I think the idea is interesting. ‘Team Bestie’ is up for anything. If the fans want it, who knows? When Amy [Lita] and I were working against each other, we were having fantastic matches because we knew each other’s motions and body movements. I think as a team we could utilize that same chemistry, but channel it in a different way.”