Scott Hall Teases NWO Reunion

Recently reinstated WWE Hall Of Famer Hulk Hogan took to Twitter today to celebrate Flashback Friday. Hogan Tweeted an old photo of himself with fellow NWO members Scott Hall and Kevin Nash.

Scott Hall retweeted Hogan’s photo, and added in an interesting comment. Hall asked if the trio should reunite soon. Not only did he ask, but he actually dared “The Third Man”:

https://twitter.com/SCOTTHALLNWO/status/1022961448979456000?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1022961448979456000&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mandatory.com%2Fwrestlezone%2Fnews%2F980579-scott-hall-teases-possible-nwo-reunion-with-hulk-hogan

Tommaso Ciampa Rips Candice LeRae’s Niece

NXT Champion Tommaso Ciampa is absolutely relentless – inside and out of the ring.

Ciampa’s rival and former tag team partner, Johnny Gargano, recently Tweeted out a photo of a sign his wife Candice LeRae’s niece made. The sign also contained the following poem:

“Roses are red, your eyes are blue. We have five fingers. One is for you.”

Ciampa ran across this on his timeline and let LeRae’s little niece have it:

https://twitter.com/ProjectCiampa/status/1022961771986833408?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1022961771986833408&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mandatory.com%2Fwrestlezone%2Fnews%2F980575-tommaso-ciampa-lashes-out-at-candice-leraes-niece-claims-to-be-sole-reason-for-nxts-recent-success

Earlier in the day “Blackheart” also put himself over in a big way. He noted that NXT TakeOver: New Orleans and NXT TakeOver: Chicago were the two he two highest grossing and most viewed TakeOvers in NXT history.

He also pointed out that Wednesday’s episode of NXT, which featured Ciampa’s NXT Title win, was the most viewed episode in NXT history. What do they all have in common? Tommaso Ciampa:

https://twitter.com/ProjectCiampa/status/1022897695327846400?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1022897695327846400&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mandatory.com%2Fwrestlezone%2Fnews%2F980575-tommaso-ciampa-lashes-out-at-candice-leraes-niece-claims-to-be-sole-reason-for-nxts-recent-success

NXT will present a taped show from Full Sail University tonight. The main event is scheduled to be a triple-threat match to determine a new #1 contender to Shayna Baszler’s NXT Women’s Championship.

Another important match in the women’s division will take place as well. Additionally, Kassius Ohno will return to single’s action on tonight’s show.

NXT 7/18

Candice LeRae vs Nikki Cross vs Kairi Sane

• Bianca Belair was originally scheduled to take part in this match as well. A back injury forced her eventual removal from the match, however.
• Cross dropped a match to the champion at Takeover: Chicago II.
• Sane defeated Baszler in the finals of last year’s Mae Young Classic but lost to Baszler on an episode of NXT from February of this year.
• LeRae also lost to Shayna Baszler in the quarter-finals of the Mae Young Classic last year.

Dakota Kai vs Lacey Evans

• This is another important match in the Women’s division.
• Dakota Kai dropped a title match to Baszler on an episode of NXT from May.
• In her most revent match, Kai defeated Santana Garrett, however. She also defeated Lacey Evans back in February.
• The First Lady of NXT has won some and lost some since debuting with the brand last year. She’ll be looking to avenge her loss to Dakota from February.
• Evans was likely pushed out of title contention due to her loss to Candice LeRae in June.

Kassius Ohno Returns To Single’s Action

Ohno has dropped 4 straight single’s matches on NXT programming. He’s lost to EC3, Tommaso Ciampa, Adam Cole, and the Velveteen Dream. If Ohno wants to avoid falling to the very bottom of the single’s rankings in NXT, he’ll have to put together some wins soon.

No opponent has been officially named for Ohno tonight. Whoever his opponent is, however, Ohno will be looking to break out of his current losing streak.

Candice LeRae has opened up about her time thus far in the WWE.

The newly signed star recently spoke with WWE.com to discuss various topics including what it means to her to be a WWE star. LeRae noted that it’s her childhood dream come true as she always wanted to be a WWE Superstar and now she is living that dream.

She noted that she has discovered that there is a whole new world of opportunity here in NXT and that she has pushed herself to do things in the ring and in the gym that she used to be afraid to do or be uncomfortable with.

“I want to seize every opportunity NXT has to offer me, and when I do, I want to be ready for them. Being here has sparked something special in me to push me to the next level.”

WWE has already announced that LeRae, Kairi Sane, Nikki Cross and Bianca Belair collide in a Fatal 4-Way Match with a future opportunity to challenge Shayna Baszler for the NXT Women’s Title on next week’s episode of NXT.

When asked about her issues with Baszler, LeRae noted that she hasn’t forgotten about wrestling the NXT Women’s Champion in last year’s Mae Young Classic and how disrespectful Shayna was towards her. It should be noted that LeRae was staying in kayfabe during this interview.

LeRae continued by saying, “Earning an NXT Women’s Championship opportunity is a reward, but to face Shayna, knowing that I could potentially be the one to dethrone her? it would be the cherry and sprinkles on top!”

What are your thoughts on LeRae’s comments? Sound off in the comment section.

Following a lengthy absence from the ring, Billie Kay and Peyton Royce returned to action at last night’s NXT live event in Citrus Springs, Florida.

The Iconic Duo teamed up against Candice LeRae and Kairi Sane but came up short in their return bout. Sane picked up the win for her team after nailing Royce with the Insane Elbow.

Diving elbow by @KairiSaneWWE on @WWEPeytonRoyce ! 😁✌🏻 pic.twitter.com/1LwcI7twXr

— Sammy Sizemore (@Sammystalksyou) March 10, 2018

Here are photos of Kay and Royce’s return to action.

https://instagram.com/p/BgICzpjBBMw/

https://twitter.com/gravenbabies/status/972530609498271744

https://twitter.com/gravenbabies/status/972532872711147521

https://twitter.com/gravenbabies/status/972355795991097344

@WWEPeytonRoyce clearly enjoying herself at #NXTCitrusSprings pic.twitter.com/jY2HV5k0SM

— Wayne (@BrokenZen333) March 10, 2018

https://twitter.com/gravenbabies/status/972356212560932864

https://twitter.com/gravenbabies/status/972357206908817408

https://twitter.com/gravenbabies/status/972349781094928384

https://twitter.com/gravenbabies/status/972348018648285185

https://twitter.com/gravenbabies/status/972347328802770944

Prior to their return, The Iconic Duo’s last appearance came on November 29, 2017, at an NXT television taping, with Kay accompanying Royce for a match against NXT Women’s Champion Ember Moon. Royce lost the match, which aired on December 13, 2017, on the WWE Network. Kay’s last match in 2017 took place on November 16 at a live event.

This naturally led to speculation on their sudden disappearance. As it turns out, both Royce and Kay got a boob job back in December. The recovery time from a breast augmentation can take several weeks, which is why the two were out for awhile.

• Paige responds to internet troll making fun of her weight

In addition to Ricochet and War Machine both joining the WWE Performance Center today, WWE has also announced the signing of Mae Young Classic competitor Candice LeRae.

One of the top female wrestlers on the independent wrestling scene, LeRae competed in the #1 contender’s Women’s battle royal in NT last October and is married to NXT star Johnny Gargano.

She's one of the best in the world and got here on her own merit. Blood, sweat and tears.. She's sacrificed and worked incredibly hard for a very long time.

I'm proud of my Wife; Candice.. But even prouder of my favorite wrestler, the toughest person I know; Candice LeRae. https://t.co/1y7PRGSGo1

— Johnny Gargano (@JohnnyGargano) January 16, 2018

WWE.com writes, “Standing at just 5-foot-2, LeRae is known for not backing down from anyone, no matter how much bigger they may be. The spunky Superstar has even battled heavyweights like Kevin Owens and Cesaro. LeRae’s tenacity and ability to endure punishment was on full display in the Mae Young Classic and will make her a competitor to watch at the WWE Performance Center.”

For more on Candice LeRae signing with WWE, check out the .com article below:

Welcome to @WWE, @CandiceLeRae! https://t.co/aMbYkhEGOi

— WWE (@WWE) January 16, 2018

Candice LeRae has signed a developmental deal with the WWE, according to a recent report by Squared Circle Sirens. She is set to start training at the Performance Center in the next few weeks as she has passed her medical testing.

WWE announced the signings of names like former Ring of Honor World Champion Adam Cole, Kyle O’Reilly, Bobby Fish, Donovan Dijak, Lio Rush and Shayna Baszler last year.

She has worked for various promotions such as Pro Wrestling Guerrilla and Combat Zone Wrestling. She is a former one-time PWG World Tag Team Champion with Joey Ryan as The World’s Cutest Tag Team.

LeRae made her debut in WWE’s developmental brand by competing in a battle royal to determine the new #1 contender for Asuka’s NXT Women’s Championship last April.

She also participated in a battle royal which was won by Nikki Cross to determine one of the contenders for the vacant NXT Women’s Championship at NXT TakeOver: WarGames last October.

Last July, it was announced LeRae would participate in the Mae Young Classic tournament. Although she won her first and second round matches, she ended up being eliminated in the quarterfinals by Shayna Baszler.

Just four days into the new year and rumors have already begun to circulate regarding independent talents that WWE could go out and get their hands on. Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports that WWE has their eyes on adding another female talent to the mix – Candice LeRae.

Meltzer didn’t confirm that the signing is official quite yet but did say that LaRae is “going through the process” of inking a WWE deal. LaRae competed in the Mae Young Classic last year and was eliminated during her quarterfinals match with Shayna Baszler. LaRae also has a connection with WWE as she is the wife of NXT star Johnny Gargano.

Several weeks ago PWInsider reported that WWE was working on signing “a very prominent female independent talent.” It’s very possible LaRae is who the report was referencing. We’ll keep you updated…

WWE Mae Young Classic participant Candice LeRae recently appeared on Ring Rust Radio to talk about various topics. Here are the highlights.

Participating in the Mae Young Classic:

“It’s still really insane to me that it even happened. I kind of feel like I did after I got married where I was seeing my name, like this new last name and I realize that I’m married and thinking did this really happen and even though I had all the pictures and stuff. Same thing with the Mae Young Classic. I got all the WWE.com accounts tweeting at me and all this stuff and I just don’t even believe this is actually happening. My husband came home from work the one day and said, “Alright, you ready to watch it? It’s airing tonight.” I said no way this is actually all real. Still to this day it’s insane to me because it is something that I’ve wanted since I was a six-year-old little kid. It’s super cool and I felt like I’ve been preparing my entire career for that. That’s what everything was for so I could have that opportunity. I used to think I got into wrestling at the wrong time and it was never going to happen for me because I was a little different than some of the other girls that I was around when I first started wrestling. I’m starting to realize everything happened as it was supposed to and I got into it at exactly the right time so I am very thankful.”

Possibly signing with WWE on a full-time basis:

“I would love to end up there. I’ve turned down other opportunities just in hopes of the opportunity to come to the WWE someday. Obviously, my dream has always been to wrestle for WWE and have a full-time contract there so I kind of felt if I was going to go anywhere else or do anything else I was cheating myself out of my lifelong dream. It is still to this day my ultimate goal so I’m being very hopeful and taking it day by day and crossing my fingers.”