Curtis Axel is officially back in WWE after being seen on Monday’s episode of Raw.
Dave Meltzer reported in the latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that Axel is working as a producer for the company. He had been doing the job on a tryout basis but is now back full-time.
On Raw, he joined Shawn Daivari and Shane Helms in helping separate a brawl between Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins to further build their third match at this Sunday’s Hell in a Cell pay-per-view event.
He first returned to WWE in April as a producer as he worked with Tyson Kidd to put together a women’s match for an episode of SmackDown. Former WWE star Ariya Daivari also had a tryout match for a producing spot on this same show, but it’s unclear whether he was hired.
Axel was released by WWE in April 2020 alongside other talent, but at the time, his release was said to be separate from the others that were let go due to WWE cutting back on expenses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Prior to his release, Axel was used sparingly as he worked three matches over the previous five months with his last bout on February 28th where he lost to Daniel Bryan on SmackDown.
One ex-WWE star silently made their return to the company during the Monday Night RAW broadcast this week.
Many fans noticed during RAW last night that Curtis Axel was back on WWE TV. Axel was one of the WWE officials who came out to break up the brawl between Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins.
The angle was to help build up to Rollins and Rhodes’ Hell In A Cell match this weekend. Axel, real name Joe Hennig, hadn’t been on WWE TV since February of 2020 before yesterday. His last appearance resulted in a singles bout loss to Daniel Bryan on an episode of SmackDown.
He was soon released by the company thereafter in April. Last month it was reported by Fightful that Hennig had a tryout with WWE as a producer on SmackDown. Hennig worked with Tyson Kidd to produce a match between Liv Morgan and Sasha Banks.
The third generation talent also wasn’t the only one getting a producer tryout at the time. The report added that Ariya Daivari, the brother of Shawn Daivari, was also trying out for a producer position.
Interesting enough, the Daivari brothers were also part of the group of WWE officials trying to break up the Rollins/Rhodes brawl.
With that being said, it looks like Daivari and Hennig may have landed themselves new roles with WWE. “Curtis Axel” was streaming on Twitter shortly after Hennig’s appearance on RAW.
Former WWE Producer Pat Buck has confirmed that he’s working for All Elite Wrestling.
After almost three years with the company, Buck requested his release from WWE. He announced that he left the company right after Wrestlemania 38 on Apr 4. At the event, he helped produce the Ronda Rousey vs. Charlotte Flair and Roman Reigns vs. Brock Lesnar title matches.
In a Tweet, Buck shared that he felt that he accomplished all that he wanted to do in WWE and wanted to focus on outside ventures. PWInsider reported a week later that he was backstage at AEW Dynamite, and the company hired him. Buck has now confirmed on Apr. 26 in a Tweet that he is indeed an AEW Producer and has added that he is an AEW Coach in his Twitter Bio.
Since Buck’s departure, WWE has been looking for a new producer to help with matches. On Apr. 8, Fightful Select reported that the company has brought in former WWE talents Curtis Axel and Ariya Daivari to try out as WWE Producers. Fans may also know Axel as the son of WWE legend Mr. Perfect and Daivari, the brother of current WWE Producer Shawn Daivari.
Although they are receiving tryouts, it’s unclear if WWE will hire them as a full-time producer. Former talent Jimmy Wang Yang had a tryout opportunity as a WWE Producer, but the company ultimately decided that it wasn’t a good fit.
On the Apr. 22 episode of Friday Night Smackdown, Fightful Select shared that Axel and Daivari helped produce matches on the show as part of the tryout. Axel helped Adam Pearce with the Madcap Moss vs. Angel Garza match, while Daivari assisted Michael Hayes with the Riddle vs. Jey Uso match.
While Buck has found a new opportunity with AEW, WWE hopes to provide new opportunities to someone else.
Curtis Axel was one of the many WWE Superstars released from the company last month. Arn Anderson recently discussed how Axel was used in WWE and his release from the company on an edition of “the Arn Show.”
“Curtis Axel’s dad, for god’s sake, was ‘Mr. Perfect’ Curt Hennig who was as good a performer as ever graced/built this industry.”
Anderson then said he felt it hindered Axel not to play up his family’s lineage.
“For Joe to not be able to go out on TV his first time and say ‘hey, I’m not my dad. I’m Joe but my dad was Curt Hennig. (I’m) very proud of that fact and I’m going to try to do everything I can to make him proud of me and excel in this business.'”
“His lineage was huge in this industry. Why he wasn’t able to take advantage of that?”
Anderson continued to talk about how WWE is hesitant to let wrestlers play into their family’s lineage.
“Guys would come up and they wouldn’t get to be who they were. Or who their dad was or who their uncle was. Well, that just makes the business bigger that you have 2nd and 3rd generation wrestlers that are doing well.”
“For Curtis Axel to not be who he was and then try to name him 2 or 3 different times and the kid could perform, he could work,” Anderson continued.
Curtis Axel is the latest WWE talent to be released from the company. WWE has been making a ton of cuts in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic and the detrimental effect its had on the economy.
Today, WWE announced on their official website that Axel, the son of WWE Hall Of Famer Mr. Perfect, has officially been released. Axel had spent 13 years with WWE. During that time, he had an Intercontinental Championship run and won the WWE Raw Tag Team Titles twice. Once with David Otunga, and another with Bo Dallas. Now, Axel, real name Joseph Hennig, is gone from WWE for the first time since 2007.
Prior to his release, Axel hadn’t wrestled on WWE TV since the February 28 episode of SmackDown Live. He suffered a loss to Daniel Bryan inside the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. Axel joins a long list of talents who have already been let go from WWE amidst the COVID-19 outbreak. A list of other notable talents who were let go can be found below.
In a video posted on Instagram this afternoon, Raw General Manager Kurt Angle announced two more matches for Raw tomorrow night in Jacksonville, Florida.
https://instagram.com/p/BmGnKyrAvj1/
In a rematch from last week, Sasha Banks and Bayley will take on The Riott Squad (Liv Morgan and Sarah Logan). Banks and Bayley scored the win after putting Morgan down with a combination of a Backstabber into a Bayley-to-Belly.
After picking up a win over “Woken” Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt on Raw last week, Scott Dawson and Dash Wilder said they’re the best team on the planet. The Revival will take on Raw Tag Team Champions The B-Team tomorrow night on Raw.
Two other matches have already been announced for Raw tomorrow night. Ronda Rousey will go one-on-one with Alicia Fox as she competes on Raw for the first time ever, and Bobby Roode takes on Mojo Rawley.
Ronda Rousey is set to challenge for her first title in WWE, when she takes on Nia Jax for the RAW Women’s Title at the Money In The Bank (MITB) pay-per-view (PPV) later next month. Last night on RAW, Commissioner Stephanie McMahon hosted the contract signing between the two.
McMahon was able to manipulate Jax and Rousey into turning on each other and getting a bit hostile. Both women exchanged some heated words before shaking hands and starring down.
On Instagram earlier today, The Rowdy One had some strong words for the RAW Women’s Champ ahead of their match:
The B-Team has been causing quite the stir on Monday Night RAW. They seem to have caught the attention of one-half of the Monday Night RAW Tag Team Champions, Matt Hardy. They got into the following exchange on Twitter last night:
[EXCLUSIVE VIDEO] B-Team, be careful what you wish for..
The B in B-Team will ultimately stand for DELETE, you PUSILLANIMOUS PHARISEES. Myself & @WWEBrayWyatt are holding plots for both of you at The Hardy Compound’s Land of OBSOLETE Men. https://t.co/2mfUezBDY2pic.twitter.com/Rl8v7VZggY
A recent social media post by Bray Wyatt has some wondering if Bo Dallas & Curtis Axel will join the “Woken” world of Matt Hardy’s. Dallas and Axel had previously been working as the Miz-tourage but their mentor was sent to Smackdown during the Superstar Shakeup.
Since that time, Axel and Dallas have approached both Seth Rollins and Finn Balor in the hopes of becoming their entourage. Now, Dallas’ real-life brother is reaching out to the pair with an offer to help.
Bray Wyatt & Matt Hardy and Raw’s Tag-Team Division
Bray Wyatt and Matt Hardy will have a chance to win the Raw tag-team championships on Friday in Saudi Arabia. The “Woken Warriors” will meet former champions, the Bar, for the vacant titles. The titles were vacated when Braun Strowman’s tag-team partner, Nicholas, had to return to school.
Considering the Bar have been drafted to Smackdown, it’s not clear what will happen to the Raw tag-team titles if they are won by a team from another brand.
The last 3 weeks on Raw, Wyatt & Hardy have defeated Titus Worldwide, the Revival, and the Ascension. Other teams in the division now also include the Authors of Pain and Breezeango.
Bo Dallas turns 28 next month and has been signed to WWE since he was a teenager. He wrestled his first match in WWE’s developmental system as an 18-year-old. During his time on the main roster, he has worked a motivational speaker gimmick, been a part of the Social Outcasts, and most recently as a member of the Miz’s Miz-tourage.
38-year-old Curtis Axel first signed with WWE in 2007. He’s worked several gimmicks during his time on the main roster. Axel had a run as a “Paul Heyman Guy” and won the Intercontinental Championship. He also teamed with Ryback and imitated Hulk Hogan for awhile as well. Most recently, Axel has been a part of the Social Outcasts and the Miz-tourage.
WWE Elimination Chamber 2018 now has two tag team matches and one of them has gold on the line.
The Bar (Sheamus & Cesaro) will defend their Raw Tag Team Championships against Titus Worldwide (Titus O’Neil & Apollo) on the main card. It’s an interesting match-up as Apollo teased a split from Titus on a recent edition of WWE’s Mixed Match Challenge. Could the full turn come to fruition on Sunday night?
“Since solidifying themselves as an elite tandem, Raw Tag Team Champions Cesaro & Sheamus have claimed, “We don’t set the bar; WE ARE THE BAR!” At WWE Elimination Chamber, however, that bar may very well be cleared when the reigning titleholders go to war against Titus Worldwide.”
That’s Not All
As far as the pre-show match goes, that slot belongs to The Good Brothers (Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson) vs. The Miztourage (Bo Dallas & Curtis Axel). This of course will be part of the WWE Elimination Chamber Kickoff show. That announcement can also be seen below:
“Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson have never called someone a nerd and not wanted to beat them up, and the former Raw Tag Team Champions will get just such a chance when they face the two most meddlesome enforcers on the Raw roster — The Miztourage — at WWE Elimination Chamber Kickoff.”
– It was on this date 15 years ago when WWE Hall of Famer “Mr. Perfect” Curt Hennig passed away at the age of 44 years old. Curtis Axel sent out this tweet today remembering his father.
On February 10, 2003, Hennig was found dead in a hotel room in Tampa, Florida. The Hillsborough County Medical Examiner’s Office declared acute cocaine intoxication as his cause of death. His father, former wrestler Larry “The Axe” Hennig, said that steroids and painkillers also contributed to his death.
– WWE posted this video clip from the series finale of the WWE Network show Swerved of The Boogeyman and Papa Shango pranking unsuspecting mall patrons. The Boogeyman is also shown eating worm pizza in front of customers at a pizza restaurant.
– According to a report from PWInsider, Mojo Rawley was forced to team up with Erick Rowan at a WWE Live Event in Mexico after Luke Harper flew back home to the U.S. Harper did appear at the WWE’s Live Event in Lima, Peru, however, there’s no reason on why he left yet.
– In round two of the UpUpDownDown Madden 18 Tournament, The Miz (using the Cleveland Browns) took on Curtis Axel (using the Minnesota Viking). Miz teased Axel by saying that if he enjoyed being in the Miztourage then he’d let him win. That didn’t work, however, as Axel took home the 17-0 win. He will now face Jason Jordan to determine the RAW Madden 18 Champion:
The Great Khali posted a photo of Vince McMahon and himself at this past Sunday’s WWE Battleground PPV. The Great Khali made his WWE return at Battleground during the Punjabi Prison match. Randy Orton had the match won and was about to escape the prison, but Khali came down to the ring and grabbed Orton by the throat. WWE Champion Jinder Mahal was then able to escape the Punjabi Prison and retain his WWE Championship while Randy Orton was stuck in Khali’s grasp.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BXDMqgMl5TG/
The Great Khali’s return at WWE Battleground was uploaded to YouTube and is closing in on 4 million views.
Jason Jordan on Miz TV preview
It was announced oh Monday’s episode of RAW that Jason Jordan will be on Miz TV next week. Jordan defeated Curt Hawkins in his RAW debut on Monday. WWE posted the following preview for Jordan’s appearance on Miz TV next week:
Jason Jordan has done his fair share of interviews since Raw General Manager Kurt Angle revealed that the former SmackDown Tag Team Champion is his son, but now the “gold-blooded” Superstar is set to be grilled by The Miz on “Miz TV,” live in Angle’s home city of Pittsburgh.
What questions might The A-Lister have in store for Jordan? Will we learn of his true aspirations now that he has joined Team Red? One thing’s for sure, even though Jordan’s the son of the Raw GM, The Miz won’t be pulling any punches.
WWE Superstar Curtis Axel recently joined the Miztourage along with Bo Dallas and The Miz. The Miztourage lost in a Handicap match against Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins on Monday’s episode of RAW. Despite the loss, Axel boasted on Twitter about being in the main-event of the show. Axel hasn’t been featured on RAW at all until recently joining the Miztourage.
Big Cass thinks he can defeat Brock Lesnar and become the next Universal Champion
Big Cass was a guest on RAW Talk after WWE Great Balls Of Fire went off the air. Cass defeated Enzo Amore in convincing fashion earlier in the night. Cass was asked about facing Lesnar and here was his response:
“It would be a tough task to go up against The Beast but if there is anybody out there that can do it, I think it is me. I think I can handle The Beast, I think I can go toe-to-toe with The Beast and I think I can beat The Beast. I think I can be the Universal Champion, in fact I think I am the next Universal Champion.”
Tye Dillinger invites The Miz to SmackDown
The Miz defended his Intercontinental Championship at Great Balls Of Fire against Dean Ambrose. The Miz was able to retain his title thanks to constant distractions and interference from Maryse, Bo Dallas and Curtis Axel. Tye Dillinger sent out the following tweet after The Miz retained his Intercontinental Championship and invited him to SmackDown:
The Miz and Maryse were also guests on RAW Talk last night. The Miz claimed that WWE was doing nothing with Curtis Axel and Bo Dallas, but he saw something in them while filming The Marine 5. Bo Dallas revealed that it had been two years that he has been involved in a WWE PPV in two years and that The Miz has given him an opportunity. You can check out a clip of the interview in the video below.
Don’t expect to see Curtis Axel rocking a Big Baller Brand t-shirt anytime soon.
The Axe Man appeared on Minneapolis’ 93X Half-Assed Morning Show on Tuesday to discuss the Ball family appearing on Monday’s RAW.
Axel says he was embarrassed and disgusted with the conduct of 15-year-old LaMelo Ball, whose racial slurs resulted in WWE issuing a statement condemning the colorful language. Axel said, “They don’t need to be on TV. Get them off. It was embarrassing … The kids watch this show. It’s a kid’s program, we took it down to PG-13 and made everything kid-friendly, right? And for someone to come on there and grab the microphone and go off and do something outlandish like this and you were told… I guarantee they were told not to do it – it’s embarrassing.”
Especially in light of his family’s contribution’s to the industry, Axel can’t believe the Ball’s went into business for themselves and crossed the line with actions that required WWE to publicly distance themselves from what transpired.
“Growing up in the family business like this and seeing some guy… the whole family to me. Granted, you know the kid’s gonna be a superstar or whatever but the dad and the other guy, they do this on a program where my family’s busted their ass – it embarrasses me and it pisses me off. It sucks. They went off on their own and did whatever they did to hype themselves up, so I was disgusted with the whole thing.”
On Monday’s WWE RAW from Los Angeles, Lakers first round draft pick Lono Ball, father LaVar and brother LaMelo Ball appeared on the show as guests on Miz TV. LaVar and Miz went at it on the mic, LaVar ripped off his shirt to challenge The Miz, and LaMelo was caught using a racial slur on the mic.
The family’s appearance drew a ton of headlines across the sport media newswire, however, it wasn’t too well received by the WWE Universe and WWE Superstars themselves. Monday Night RAW Superstar Curtis Axel took to Twitter to comment on the ‘dumba**’ LaVall Ball’s appearance and told him to ‘stay off our stage’:
Mr. Money In The Bank, Baron Corbin, commented on the WWE’s Instagram post of The Ball Family backstage and commented on the fact that LaVar cost his son millions of dollars in sponsorship deals:
WWE brought back the Axelmania gimmick for Curtis Axel at Tuesday’s RAW house show in St. Louis, MO. Axel teamed with Golden Truth, Sin Cara and Darren Young to defeat The Shining Stars, Bo Dallas, Titus O’Neil and Jinder Mahal.
WWE previously dropped the gimmick for Axel when the company distanced itself from Hulk Hogan when the racist comments scandal first hit. Now that Hogan’s case with Gawker has been settled, there’s been talk of he and WWE getting back to a working relationship once again. This is another sign of the two getting back to good terms.
Below is a photo of Axel working the gimmick last night:
Fans of Curtis Axel are claiming WWE confiscated signs supporting him last night at RAW and the Axe Man wants answers. The Minneapolis native finds the situation”bizarre” and wants to know why WWE would object to Curtis Axel signs being visible at ringside. He tweeted late Monday night:
– WWE has reportedly applied to trademark the name “Demon King,” for use in clothing, toy production, and performance.
– WWE has officially announced 15,671 as the attendance for last night’s second annual NXT Brooklyn Takeover.
– Curtis Axel has since deleted the tweet, but at one point last night, the third generation star had this to say to new NXT Champion Shinsuke Nakamura:
“Congrats to the New @WWENXT Champion @ShinsukeN. I’d still whoop ur dumb ass and take that title from you!”
Below is a screenshot:
– The latest Canvas 2 Canvas featurette starring WWE artist Rob Schamberger is a tribute to WWE Hall of Famers Ric Flair and Sting:
– Cody Rhodes said back in his post-WWE statement that he would not be appearing on any podcasts but was just announced for the new “Ric Flair Show” podcast on MLW Radio this week. Cody was asked about this on Twitter and replied with the following explanation:
Avoiding "tell all" podcasts, yes. Not avoiding the chance to chat with Ric about my Father and the future. https://t.co/cjhmqWvVww
– Curtis Axel says he deserves to get the Brock Lesnar match at WWE SummerSlam this year. Axel previously trained with Lesnar and The Rock for their WWE ring returns. He tweeted the following today:
– Below is an “alternate angle” look at the 4th of July food fight from Monday’s RAW, revealing that Breezango started the whole thing:
– WWE posted this video of the reaction NXT Women’s Champion Asuka received at the live event in Tokyo, Japan at Sumo Hall last weekend. She defeated Becky Lynch and Natalya on Friday and Saturday night.
– The status of Eric Young has been unclear since the former TNA World Heavyweight Champion appeared at two NXT events in late April. Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, however, revealed over the weekend that the 36-year-old will continue to appear for WWE’s developmental branch.
Meltzer responded with the following after being asked about Young’s status with NXT.
– Filming for WWE Studios’ The Marine 5: Battleground, which stars The Miz, Maryse, Naomi and The Social Outcasts, wraps up this week in Vancouver. Director James Nunn tweeted the following on Monday.
The Miz will be back in action next week as the official WWE website has him listed for Tuesday’s SmackDown taping in Miami, Florida. He has an autograph signing scheduled that same day at the Cricket Wireless Store at 12530A Pines Blvd, Pembroke Pines, Florida.
– Former WWE ring announcer Eden is celebrating her birthday today as she turns 33-years-old. She was granted her release from WWE on May 24, just days after her husband, Cody Rhodes, also requested his release.
Former WWE Intercontinental champion Curtis Axel recently spoke with SI’s Extra Mustard blog about his father “Mr. Perfect” Curt Hennig’s legacy.
“My father’s legacy will forever be sketched in history as one of the greatest performers in not only the WWE, but also the whole world. He is in the WWE Hall of Fame. He could not only talk the talk, but he could walk the walk through his look, athletic ability, and attitude. He had more love for this business than anyone,” Axel said.
Axel added that even though his father is gone, his legacy lives on through him, Curt’s friends and fans. His father was his best friend and hero and he’s determined to make him proud no matter what.
He also spoke about what it was like to be the son of such a revered legend. Curt Hennig is as bonafide a Hall of Famer as they come and there must be pressure associated with having to fill those shoes.
“It’s a cursed blessing,” Axel said. “It isn’t easy trying to live up to what my father accomplished–for Christ’s sake, my dad’s name was ‘Mr. Perfect.’ We’re constantly compared, and I couldn’t be prouder to be his son, but I’m not trying to be my father. It’s a common misconception, because my father is a Hall of Famer and a major star in this business, that the path was paved for me. But that’s the furthest thing from the truth. Some generational guys start their training on the WWE payroll, but I didn’t.”
WWE Studios and Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions partner for ‘The Marine 5: Battleground’
WWE Studios and Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions (SPWA) today announced that the two studios will partner on the upcoming action film, “The Marine 5: Battleground.” Directed by James Nunn (“Eliminators”), the film will feature WWE Superstars The Miz, Maryse, Heath Slater, Bo Dallas, Curtis Axel and Naomi. The film will begin production this Tuesday, May 31, in Vancouver, BC, Canada.
The Miz returns as Jake Carter, an ex-Marine who served in the Middle East and is now saving civilian lives stateside as an EMT. After responding to an emergency call in an abandoned parking lot, Carter finds himself protecting an injured man from a ruthless biker gang. With the odds stacked against him, Carter utilizes his unique Marine skills to stop the bikers’ rampage before any more innocent blood is shed.
“The ‘Marine’ series is a true fan-favorite and we are thrilled to join with Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions and director James Nunn to launch this next installment,” said Michael Luisi, President of WWE Studios. “For the first time ever, we will have six WWE Superstars in one live action film to ramp up the excitement and thrill audiences worldwide.”
The film is written by Ed McHenry and Rory McHenry.
– WWE announced this weekend that Curtis Axel has declared his entry into the 30-man over-the-top-rope Royal Rumble match, joining Big Show as the only two WWE Superstars to officially enter the annual match, which takes place on pay-per-view on Sunday, January 24, 2016 at the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida.
WWE.com wrote the following about Axel, who is still claiming he was never eliminated from the 2015 Royal Rumble match, in their RAW Five-Point Preview:
“With the 2016 Royal Rumble Match less than three weeks away, the entire WWE Universe is buzzing about which Superstars will declare their entry in WWE’s iconic over-the-top-rope tradition. Big Show emerged on Raw to become the first competitor in this year’s 30-man melee, and we’ve since learned that Curtis Axel — who claims he was never eliminated from last year’s Royal Rumble Match — will also enter the fray (even though he evidently never left it). Which other Superstars will announce their participation in the weeks ahead? Expect more Royal Rumble news on Raw.”
– Also featured in the official WWE.com RAW preview for the first 2016 episode of RAW this coming Monday night is what appears to be a tease for another John Cena vs. Alberto Del Rio match for the WWE United States Championship. Cena made his WWE television return at last week’s RAW after taking several weeks off to film and promote some television and film work. He went one-on-one against Del Rio for the U.S. title he coincidentally lost to Del Rio in his last match with WWE before taking the hiatus, and if the following blurb from the RAW preview for Monday is any indication, we could be seeing it again.
The official WWE website wrote the following about a potential Cena-Del Rio U.S. Title rematch from last week’s RAW:
“John Cena made his anticipated return to WWE last Monday night, goading United States Champion Alberto Del Rio into a title bout and coming incredibly close to recapturing his star-spangled prize. Were it not for The League of Nations, we’d all be eagerly anticipating one of the Cenation leader’s exciting U.S. Open Challenges this coming Monday night.
“With his last encounter with The Essence of Excellence ending in a disqualification, might Cena make another attempt at Old Glory early in the New Year? Even better, will Cena head to SmackDown on USA Network next Thursday night with the U.S. Title slung around his shoulder?”
Headlined by a WWE World Heavyweight Championship match between Roman Reigns and Sheamus, with Vince McMahon serving as the special guest referee, the first WWE RAW show of 2016 takes place this coming Monday evening, January 4th, at AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas.
Join us here at SEScoops.com this coming Monday night for live WWE RAW results coverage!
