On Monday Night Raw, the GM is Mick Foley and the Commissioner is Stephanie McMahon. Foley has played a big role in the Sami Zayn and Braun Strowman storyline so far. He even got involved in their match at Roadblock by coming out with a white towel and Zayn had to beg him to not stop the match. Foley is also hated by Chris Jericho and Kevin Owens. Last week on Raw, Foley locked Jericho in a shark cage and had him suspended above the ring.
Foley was on this week’s episode of Monday Night Raw, thus Stephanie McMahon ran the show. She opened up Raw on Monday by taunting the Chicago audience. Throughout the episode, Stephanie was a part of several backstage segments and even asked Braun Strowman to destroy Seth Rollins in their match later on the show. Stephanie McMahon and Mick Foley will clearly have a power struggle in time and they have already teased that since the brand split.
On Smackdown, Shane McMahon is the Commissioner and Daniel Bryan serves as the GM. Daniel Bryan has stayed out of most storylines but has certainly called out his fair share of Superstars. Daniel Bryan called out Alexa Bliss in a backstage segment and claimed that she was faking an injury to avoid competing. However, most of Daniel Bryan’s interactions with Superstars on the Smackdown roster take place on Talking Smack. The Miz and Daniel Bryan hate each other on Smackdown. The Miz often mocks Bryan during his matches by performing his moves and doing the “yes!” chant. Even though Daniel Bryan was a guest on Miz TV on Smackdown, most of their confrontations have happened on Talking Smack. The same can be said about Baron Corbin. Corbin has been on Talking Smack a few times and has complained to Daniel Bryan about how he is being used on the show.
Shane McMahon may not have as much screen time as Daniel Bryan, but he certainly has been involved in the show. He joined Team Smackdown for Survivor Series and wrestled in the men’s 5 vs 5 match. As of late, Shane McMahon hasn’t come down to the ring too many times. He has been in a bunch of quick backstage segments interacting with Superstars on the roster. Most of the time, Daniel Bryan and Shane McMahon are only in brief backstage segments throughout the night.
Discussion: On Raw, the authority figures are a major part of the show. Stephanie McMahon opened up Raw this week and was in several more backstage segments. Triple H may wind up returning soon and that will make things even more crowded. Neither Daniel Bryan or Shane McMahon were on Smackdown last night. Do you find the show more compelling if the Superstars are constantly battling management or have you grown tired of that storyline? Do you enjoy the way management is presented on Raw or Smackdown? Share your thoughts below.
USA Today named Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson their 2016 Movie Person of the Year. The Rock has become the highest paid actor in Hollywood. He certainly has come a long way since Doom. The Rock responded to being selected by USA Today on Twitter.
Dolph Ziggler has a new advertisement with Cricket Wireless. In the ad, Ziggler takes a bunch of selfies and explains how Cricket Wireless helps him keep in touch with his family and friends.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDyg9bPfR3Y
Daniel Bryan and Brie Bella have a baby on the way and took some time to discuss what to name their baby girl. They have gotten the list down to five names and you can watch them discuss it in the video below.
Rhyno was dressed as Santa Claus last night for the entire episode of Talking Smack. He creepily hit on Renee Young the entire show and it was glorious.
Natalya was also a guest on Talking Smack and she continued to take shots at Nikki Bella. Natalya stated that she is wrestling royalty and Nikki Bella was handed everything because she was pretty. Daniel Bryan took exception to this given the fact that he is married to Brie Bella. Natalya claimed that the Bella twins were not in her class because she is a member of the Hart family.
Becky Lynch appeared on Talking Smack and she was still dressed as La Luchadore. Becky stated that she was ashamed that the Women’s division was represented by Alexa Bliss on Smackdown. Rhyno Claus started acting naughty again and rubbed a chocolate chip cookie on his chest in an effort to impress Becky Lynch.
Baron Corbin went on Talking Smack and claimed that he was the biggest threat in the Triple Threat match for the WWE Championship next week on Smackdown. Corbin went on to say that Styles would pay for the four chair shots he gave to Corbin last night on Smackdown. Corbin didn’t seem to worried about Dolph Ziggler or AJ Styles. Corbin was also frustrated that Daniel Bryan made a match to determine the #1 contender to the WWE Championship while Corbin was away accepting his award for Most Metal Athlete of 2016.
It would be shocking if Baron Corbin won the WWE Championship next week but there is no denying that he will be in the main event picture in 2017. Corbin has been on Talking Smack several times and he has done well every time he has appeared on the show. On Smackdown, Corbin’s promos sometimes feel forced. I’m not sure if it is because the promos are scripted or if Corbin simply tries too hard during Smackdown. Either way, Corbin has the potential to be great once he puts everything together. He is well on his way to becoming WWE Champion and one of the biggest stars on Smackdown.
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 is encouraging fans to donate to Connor’s Cure, Dosomething.org, First Book, GLAAD, Hire Heroes USA, Make-A-Wish, Special Olympics, Susan G. Komen and USO Metro today as a part of the worldwide “Giving Tuesday” campaign.
– Instagram Undertaker fan page @TheUndertakerFans got a hold of this recent photo of the dead man. Prior to Survivor Series, Undertaker declared WrestleMania will no longer define him, an indication we’ll be seeing him compete prior to April. He’s not yet medically cleared to wrestle after recent hip surgery.
– Last week’s Total Divas viewership is in after being delayed due to the Thanksgiving holiday. The show drew 461,000 viewers, down from the season six premiere that drew 632,000 viewers. Total Divas ranked #46 on the Cable Top 150 last Wednesday night, down from the previous week’s #22 ranking.
– WWE officials are moving forward with plans for the early-2017 all-women’s tournament on the WWE Network, according to PWInsider. No word yet on exactly when the tourney will be taped but there is interest in Heidi Lovelace, Nixon Newell, Evie and Kimber Lee, among other indy wrestlers. There’s also talk of using NXT enhancement talents Rachael Ellering and Deonna Purrazzo.
– SmackDown GM General Manager is not letting up as he tries to bring RAW Superstars Cesaro and Sami Zayn to Tuesday nights. After Sami’s heated segment with RAW GM Mick Foley last night, Bryan tweeted the following to Zayn:
– Shelton Benjamin still plans on returning to WWE in 2017 when he fully recovers from shoulder surgery. Benjamin was scheduled to return to SmackDown live shortly after the brand split, but his WWE medical exams revealed a torn rotator cuff.
For the record. I will make moves to return to @WWE when I am back to 110% physically. Anywhere from 4 to 6 months by my doc calculation.
– SmackDown General Manager Daniel Bryan continues to send the message to Cesaro that he’d be welcomed on the blue brand. In response to Cesaro tweeting, “I’m tired of it” on Monday night, Bryan wrote:
WWE has announced a State of the WWE Universe Address for next week on the WWE Network. It will air after the Survivor Series go-home edition of RAW goes off the air.
The special will include SmackDown GM Daniel Bryan and SmackDown Commissioner Shane McMahon along with RAW GM Mick Foley and RAW Commissioner Stephanie McMahon.
– The Total Bellas preview clip above features an understandably emotional Daniel Bryan, discussing the end of his career with his wife Brie Bella. Daniel insists that he could conceivably return to wrestling, but Brie asks him to step back and look at the bigger picture. Brie knows it’s hard for Bryan to retire, but notes that his health is important to her. Bryan becomes frantic and paces about, before losing all composure.
– WWE claimed on RAW last night that Paul Heyman suffered an injury at the hands of Goldberg, and was taken to a local medical facility. WWE announced a storyline update earlier this afternoon and said Heyman was released from the hospital with bruised ribs. Heyman had the following to say regarding Brock Lesnar and Goldberg:
– WWE Shop has released Carmella’s first official t-shirt.
– WWE taped the following on Monday in Hartford for this week’s episode of WWE Superstars:
– Jinder Mahal vs. Curtis Axel
– Alicia Fox vs. Dana Brooke
– Goldust and R-Truth will be Jonathan Coachman’s guests for Wednesday’s Off The Top Rope segment on ESPN SportsCenter.
– WWE is teasing the return of James Ellsworth for tonight’s episode of Smackdown Live. Smackdown General Manager Daniel Bryan is scheduled to appear on Miz TV to unveil new names set to compete at the Survivor Series. Below is a preview:
– Randy Orton’s episode of “Shooter” on the USA Network will air on Sunday, November 11.
– The Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic continues on tonight’s NXT episode with TJ Perkins & Kota Ibushi vs. Lince Dorado & Mustafa Ali, plus HoHo Lun and Tian Bing vs. Ciampa and Gargano. Other matches scheduled for the show include Asuka vs. Thea Trinidad, Aliyah vs. Billie Kay and Noah Potjes vs. Tye Dillinger.
– Tonight’s Total Bellas episode will highlight more tension between Daniel Bryan and Nikki Bella. In the preview below, The Bellas argue about how they would raise their kids and things get heated after Bryan chimes in. Bryan says Nikki believes she deserves everything she has but Nikki disagrees.
SmackDown General Manager Daniel Bryan and wife Brie Bella will be having a baby girl next spring. The couple just revealed the news to WWE.com on Thursday.
“I’m so excited we’re having a little girl,” Bryan said. “I’m sure that, just like her mother, she’s going to steal my heart.”
Brie also expressed her excitement. “When I found out it was a girl, I actually got really emotional. I have such an amazing relationship with my mom and I think, wow, I’m going to have that with my daughter. Also, as a woman, I now have my own blood to follow my legacy. It’s such a special feeling — my mini me!”
– James Ellsworth’s new t-shirt is the top selling “New Arrival” at WWEShop, out-selling all the new shirts from Roman Reigns, Goldberg and Seth Rollins.
– Former WWE Superstar Batista had the following to say about his greatest achievement in sports entertainment:
– After SmackDown General Manager Daniel Bryan tweeted about his wife Nikki Bella taking him to “tea time” on the latest episode of Total Bellas, Bray Wyatt pulled his punk card and threw some shade at his former Wyatt Family underling:
– 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
– 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 main event of next week’s WWE SmackDown from Green Bay will see WWE World Champion AJ Styles take on Dean Ambrose in a non-title match. If Ambrose wins, he will be the new #1 contender.
The match was made below on tonight’s Talking Smack after Styles demanded that SmackDown GM Daniel Bryan book him in a match against Ambrose next week.
While trying to make a return to the ring, Daniel Bryan developed a unique wrestling style that would have allowed him to take less bumps. Bryan shows off some of the moves to Sami Zayn in this new Total Bellas preview clip and demonstrates how he believes a single leg takedown would have been cool again.
Bryan spoke about possibly wrestling Brock Lesnar in several media interviews while he was out of action and in the video above, he mentions that he specifically had this new style in mind for a Lesnar match.
Bryan also talks about not being interested in a WWE coaching job and how he still has fun talking about wrestling ideas but that doesn’t change the fact that he can’t wrestle anymore, and that doesn’t leave him with the same satisfaction as before. Bryan also comments on getting depressed and as we noted before, Bryan’s battle with depression and anxiety is revealed by Brie in this same episode.
Daniel Bryan’s battle with depression will be covered on this week’s episode of Total Bellas on E!, as seen in the preview clip above.
Brie brings up Bryan battling depression and anxiety while at the spa with her sister Nikki. Brie says in the clip:
“What a lot of people don’t know about my husband is he’s been battling depression since he was 25. And really our whole relationship I’ve been used to his depression, but definitely in the last two years I know, OK it comes, it hits hard, but it only lasts for two days.
I’ve always told him, ‘Go to therapy or see someone.’ And I’ve always left it for him to decide who he wants to tell, how he wants to tell people.”
SmackDown GM Daniel Bryan announced on tonight’s “Talking Smack” post-show that James Ellsworth will get a shot against WWE World Champion AJ Styles on next week’s SmackDown in Denver.
The match was made after Ellsworth defeated Styles in a non-title match tonight, thanks to an assist from special referee Dean Ambrose.
WWE couple Daniel Bryan and Brie Bella are expecting their first child together in the spring of 2017, according to E! News. They do not know the sex of the child yet.
Bryan commented to E!, “The day we found out, I just couldn’t stop smiling. We are so excited to be parents. Every time I look at Brie’s stomach, I’m amazed that there is a little life in there.”
Brie said, “It has always been a dream of mine to become a mother. Now that it is finally real, it fills me up with so much happiness. I can’t wait to see my husband, Bryan, be a father to our child. I am so excited for this new chapter in our lives.”
– WWE Universal Champion Kevin Owens will be Jonathan Coachman’s guest for the ESPN SportsCenter Off The Top Rope segment tomorrow night.
– Cesaro is fueling speculating that he could be jumping to SmackDown. After SmackDown GM Daniel Bryan tweeted that he’d love to see Cesaro on SmackDown, the Swiss Superman has since responded:
– Nia Jax is tired of squash matches and is ready to move on to the WWE RAW Women’s Championship. She tweeted the following during last night’s RAW segment with Charlotte and Sasha Banks:
Looks like a bunch of little GIRLS yelling about the #WomensTitle… maybe it's time for a new WOMAN to have an opportunity at it. #RAW
– WWE has announced that this year’s Tables, Ladders and Chairs will be a SmackDown-exclusive PPV. The show is scheduled for Sunday, December 4th from Dallas, Texas at the American Airlines Center. Tickets for TLC 2016 go on sale this Saturday morning at Ticketmaster.com. Here’s an updated look at WWE’s PPV calendar for the remainder of 2016:
10/9: No Mercy from Sacramento, CA (SmackDown)
10/30: Hel in a Cell from Boston, MA (RAW)
11/19: NXT Takeover: Toronto
11/20: Survivor Series from Toronto (RAW/SmackDown)
12/4: TLC from Dallas, TX (SmackDown)
12/18: Roadblock from Pittsburgh, PA (RAW)
– SmackDown General Manager Daniel Bryan is making it clear he wants Cesaro on SmackDown.
– WWE Smackdown General Manager Daniel Bryan noted on Talking Smack that WWE is withholding the footage shot for a WrestleMania 32 comeback documentary. He gets the fans to chant “Release the Bear,” as he rallies their support:
– The final NXT tapings of 2016 will take place on 11/30 at Full Sail University. Tickets go on sale Monday. Triple H also revealed the Takeover: Toronto pre-sale this week:
– It looks as though production is getting ready to begin once again on WWE Studios’ “The Fall Guy.” The film, which will be the first WWE Studios project to star Dwayne Johnson, was originally optioned in July 2010 and went through continuous revisions for four years. The Rock signed on to star in the film in September of 2013. The film features a Hollywood Stuntman by the name of Colt Seavers, who moonlights as a bounty hunter using his unordinary abilities. According to IMDB, Ashley Miller and Zack Stentz—of X-Men: First Class—are writing the script and the director will be McG, who’s directed blockbuster films like Charlie’s Angels and Terminator Salvation.
– To celebrate 700,000 subscribers on his “UpUpDownDown” YouTube channel, WWE Tag Team Champion Xavier Woods plays Destiny with Big Show:
– The newest WWE Top 10 features Cruiserweight Classic exclusive maneuvers, seen here:
– Below are photos of Daniel Bryan and Brie Bella from Sunday night’s 68th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards. As noted, Bryan and Brie worked the E! Entertainment Television pre-show before the ceremony:
WWE Intercontinental Champion The Miz says his ongoing contract negotiations with SmackDown General Manager Daniel Bryan have broken down and he intends to wrestle for Stephanie McMahon and Mick Foley on RAW. Bryan wants to keep the IC title on SmackDown, but Miz says he’s undervalued and under-appreciated on SmackDown. Bryan says The Miz’s demands are delusional and The Miz is ready to walk away from SmackDown in hopes of landing a better deal with RAW.
In a backstage Facebook Live interview with Greg Hamilton, Miz says he’s done negotiating and it’s time to take his talents elsewhere. Stephanie McMahon and Mick Foley will appreciate his value and compenste him fiarly. If Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan won’t meet his demands, it’s time to let him go.
RAW General Manager Mick Foley is not happy that Daniel Bryan booked James Ellsworth for a match on this week’s SmackDown. Ellsworth gained some popularity as somewhat of a cult figure amongst the WWE Universe after getting squashed by Braun Strowman on RAW back in July. Bryan named Ellsworth as WWE Champion AJ Styles’ tag team partner against John Cena and Dean Ambrose. Ellsworth was attacked before he could make it to the ring, but Foley says Bryan set a dangerous precedent by ‘raiding’ the RAW roster.
Foley has a pretty amazing idea regarding how Bryan can rectify the situation. Here’s Mick Foley’s open to SmackDown General Manager Daniel Bryan, via Foley’s Facebook page:
“Dear Daniel,
I am a James Ellsworth guy. But James Ellsworth is a #Raw guy – and now YOU have messed with the wrong guy! By raiding Monday Night Raw for Superstars like James Ellsworth, you are setting a dangerous precedent, my friend. More seriously, you risk confusing the #WWEUniverse, especially the little Ellsters out there, who have been waiting for me to sign #EllmoreVsStrohman2 for an upcoming #Raw PPV. Shame on you, Daniel…shame on you!
There is, however a way out of this situation. How about if you and Mauro Ranallo come to Raw on Monday to call our #Cruiserweight matches on Raw? We’ll call it even and hope the Little Ellsters out there understand.
Sincerely,
Mick Foley”
Last night during the Cruiserweight Classic, Foley gushed over Daniel Bryan and Mauro Ranallo’s commentary, publicly questioning if they’d be interested in doing commentary for the new Cruiserweight division on RAW.