Former WWE Universal Champion Finn Balor has a certain dream match in mind.
Balor would love to step into the squared circle with Daniel Bryan at the biggest event of the year for the sports entertainment company, WrestleMania. He sent out the following photo on his official Instagram account:
WrestleMania 35 is scheduled to take place on Sunday, April 7, 2019 in East Rutherford, NJ at MetLife Stadium. This event airs on pay-per-view (PPV) and WWE Network and is the most successful and longest-running professional wrestling event in history. Both Raw and SmackDown rosters will be featured.
What are your thoughts on this possible match? Sound off in the comment section below.
Former WWE Universal Champion Finn Balor recently did an interview with What Culture to talk about several professional wrestling topics. Balor was first asked to name the three toughest wrestlers he has had the pleasure of sharing the squared circle with thus far:
“Let me think. Samoa Joe. Huge man but moves like a cruiserweight, hits like a heavyweight and has stamina for days. Bray Wyatt. He has size that just doesn’t translate on TV, like in person he’s much bigger than he looks. I had to use a lot of the lessons I learned from fighting Samoa Joe and apply them to Bray Wyatt.
“The third most toughest person I’ve ever faced in the ring would be Zack Sabre Jr, who despite his size and unique frame has deceptive toughness and uses your own movements against you. He’s someone who’s very economical with his movement and someone who can counteract someone’s strength with his technique.”
In regards to Bray Wyatt, he and Balor were initially supposed to wrestle at the Tables Ladders and Chairs (TLC) pay-per-view (PPV) last year. Unfortunately Wyatt fell victim to a viral illness backstage and was forced off the card. Balor explained what fans could’ve expected from his match against Wyatt at the event:
“I don’t know [laughs]. It’ll always be that great unknown question. I think that it could have really went either way. What were we going to see with Sister Abigail, I don’t even know what we were going to see but I think it worked out well for me in the end.
“Obviously Bray was struck down with illness, was it fate or not I don’t know – maybe it was Sister Abigail that stuck him down [laughs]. But obviously Bray had to step out, AJ (Styles) stepped in and I believe that was definitely a turning point in the year for me and helped me get a little bit of steam to where I am now. So, thank God we didn’t see that Sister Abigail!”
You can read Balor’s full interview with What Culture by clicking this link here.
On Monday’s RAW, Finn Balor qualified for Money in the Bank by defeating Roman Reigns and Sami Zayn in a triple threat match. In doing so, he got one step closer to challenging for the WWE Universal Championship.
Balor is no stranger to championship now held by Brock Lesnar. He was the inaugural Universal Champion, defeating Seth Rollins for that honor back at SummerSlam 2016. Due to a shoulder injury sustained during that match, Balor was forced to surrender the title just 24 hours later. Since that fateful night, Finn Balor has yet to make another run at the Universal title.
During an interview that took place backstage after RAW, Finn Balor acknowledged the talk that he is owed a rematch for the Universal Championship. Balor says he’s not looking for any handouts. He plans to take back what’s his and sees a clear path ahead for him to do just that.
“A year in a half ago, I lost the Universal Title by forfeit. Now a lot of people are talking about how Finn deserves a rematch, Finn is owed a rematch. Finn isn’t owed anything. Finn doesn’t want anything. I want to earn my rematch. That journey starts today.”
Balor said that he plans to win the Money in the Bank ladder match. When the time is right, he’ll cash in that MITB contract and will win back the Universal Championship “the hard way.”
During Finn Balor’s entrance last night on Monday Night Raw, Corey Graves inadvertently referred to “Bullet Club”. Michael Cole would quickly correct Graves, insinuating he meant to say “Balor Club”.
A few hours after Raw went off the air, Graves sent out the following reaction to his flub:
Finn Balor hasn’t been placed alongside his Balor Club teammates, Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson in a few weeks. After spending several weeks working as a trio together, Balor was placed in the Intercontinental Championship picture while Gallows and Anderson fell out of the Raw tag-team Championship hunt.
With the WWE Superstar Shakeup in full swing, it’s possible any of the 3 Raw members of the Club could be moved to Smackdown. AJ Styles, another historical member of the faction, is currently the WWE Champion on the blue brand. Styles, Gallows, and Anderson also had a brief run as a trio under the name, “the Club” not long after signing with WWE.
Finn Balor was one of the four founding members of the faction in 2013, though it can be argued he was the most important member of the group at the time. Balor was the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion but was frustrated over a recent loss to Hiroshi Tanahashi. Then known as Prince Devitt, he brought out Bad Luck Fale as his new personal bouncer and the pair aligned with Karl Anderson and Tama Tonga as well. Not long after, Balor would go on to sweep the Best of the Super Juniors, winning every single match in the tournament.
Devitt would leave NJPW for NXT in 2014. Anderson, Gallows, and Styles would all follow suit in 2016. A later member of Bullet Club, Adam Cole, was signed to WWE in 2017 after having won the ROH World Championship on two occasions as a member of the faction.
Last night’s episode of RAW featured a tremendous match between Seth Rollins and Finn Balor. The pair will be challenging for The Miz’s Intercontinental Championship at WrestleMania 34 this weekend. Before that, however, The Architect and The Demon King went to-to-toe with Miz on commentary.
The pair tore the house down before Rollins was able to hit a Curb Stomp for the victory. In an interesting bit of backstage news, Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp reports that Tyson Kidd was actually the producer of the match:
Tyson Kidd produced the Seth Rollins vs. Finn Balor match that is about to happen.
— Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful.com (@SeanRossSapp) April 3, 2018
Several months ago WWE hired Kidd as a backstage producer. If Kidd is able to produce more matches like what Rollins and Balor performed last night, he has a very bright future ahead of him indeed.
– On last night’s episode of Monday Night RAW, Seth Rollins and Finn Balor went one-on-one in an amazing match, while Intercontinental Champion The Miz sat in on commentary. Miz will defend his title against both Balor and Rollins in a Triple Threat match at WrestleMania 34 this weekend.
After Rollins and Balor’s amazing match in Atlanta last night, 2018 WWE Hall Of Fame inductee Bubba Ray Dudley took to Twitter to comment on the bout:
The #RAW and #SDLive before ‘Mania are probably the most “nerve wracking” shows of the year because no-one wants to get hurt before the big one.
– PWInsider is reporting that former WWE Cruiserweight Champion Brian Kendrick was backstage at last night’s episode of RAW. Notable injured names that weren’t backstage include Jason Jordan and Big Cass.
– WWE Superstar Braun Strowman took to Twitter to thank 2018 WWE Hall Of Fame inductee Mark Henry for helping him break into the business of professional wrestling:
– As noted on last night’s episode of Monday Night RAW by General Manager Kurt Angle, RAW Women’ Champion Alexa Bliss will defend her title against Nia Jax at WrestleMania 34. The ex-best friends took to Twitter to hype their upcoming bout in New Orleans:
I made you something and I’m gonna take it all away from you. You think you can take the #Raw Women’s Championship from me? Ha! Rude. #GoddessAboveAll
— Lexi (Kaufman) Cabrera (@AlexaBliss_WWE) March 20, 2018
They’ll tell you… Not to try. Not to dream. Not to be yourself.
– WWE posted a video of Seth Rollins doing an interview with Mike Rome after saving Finn Balor from The Miztourage on RAW. Rollins will challenge Balor and Intercontinental Champion The Miz for the strap in a Triple Threat match at WrestleMania. Rollins says Balor owes him one and also said he wants a rematch with Balor before WrestleMania:
– WWE Intercontinental Champion The Miz used Finn Balor and Seth Rollins’ old indy names (Prince Devitt and Tyler Black) on Monday Night RAW last night during a promo. Miz mispronounced Balor’s indy name, however, calling him Prince “Nevitt” instead. Balor responded to Miz’s mispronunciation on Twitter:
Prince Nevitt?? ….. and Miz is talking about ‘no respect’ HA!
– RAW opened up yesterday with Roman Reigns being handcuffed by US Marshals before taking a savage beating from Universal Champion Brock Lesnar. When Reigns was put up on the stretcher and escorted out of the arena, WWE snapped a photo that caught “The Big Dog’s” wrists bruised and scarred after the segment. Check it out:
– A new episode of WWE 24 airs this Monday after Raw on the WWE Network and it gives viewers a behind-the-scenes look at the first-ever Women’s Royal Rumble Match. Here is the synopsis:
“Female Superstars are redefining sports entertainment with groundbreaking matches and the addition of Ronda Rousey to a star-studded roster.”
WWE has released a teaser clip of Dana Brooke honoring her late bodybuilder boyfriend, Dallas McCarver, who died suddenly on August 22, 2017.
Last March, Brooke and McCarver both competed in the 2017 Arnold Classic. To honor McCarver, she incorporated a small piece of McCarver’s posing trunks from the event by having it stitched onto her ring gear for the Women’s Royal Rumble Match. She had WWE seamstress Terry Anderson make the piece look like a dumbbell and have it placed over her heart.
On her tribute, she tweeted the following:
???? I am forever grateful 4 my angel @DallasMcCarver my heart aches daily but reminding myself he is always w/ me makes me stronger! PLEASE TUNE IN! @WWENetwork@WWE I thank u for allowing me to share this! I am forever thankful https://t.co/CJDRcFtlGa
According to Medium.com, an autopsy determined that McCarver died after an unwitnessed cardiac event contributed to by of combination of coronary atherosclerosis (a buildup of plaque in the arteries) and an enlarged left ventricle (a thickening of the heart muscle that causes it to work harder). McCarver had a family history of cardiovascular disease including both hypertension and atherosclerosis.
– New York Knicks player Enes Kanter attended Friday’s WWE live event at Madison Square Garden in New York City and posed for photos with WWE stars backstage, including Universal Champion Brock Lesnar, Braun Strowman, The New Day, and John Cena.
– WWE Hall Of Famer Jerry “The King” Lawler held a wrestling event in the parking lot of his Hall Of Fame Bar & Grille restaurant in Memphis, Tennessee to celebrate one year of being open for business. Lawler wrestled Moondog in the rain for the event and posted the following pictures on Twitter:
Packed house today at my barbecue restaurant on Germantown Parkway in Memphis! Thanks to everyone who came out. pic.twitter.com/NGWhJKrNo3
– WWE Superstar Finn Balor has launched his own clothing brand, PE&K. The website https://smileitspeak.com/ launched this week and only features t-shirts for sale at the moment. Here’s PE&K’s self-description of their company:
“Smile it’s PE&K!
“Our goal at PE&K is to provide clothes that will make you smile, whilst having the least amount of impact on our lovely planet as possible.
– All our shirts are made in USA , and printed in UK,
– We don’t use plastic, but if there is, biodegradable YAY!
– And the only paper we use will be the sticker for shipping & international custom sheets (We are trying to source recyclable paper)
– No stickers
– No wasted cardboard
– Nothing that is going to hurt our planet
– We like to say. We are friends of the environment”
Balor and the PE&K Twitter account sent out the following Tweets to hype the line’s debut:
– Former WWE Superstar Darren Young, now going by his real name Fred Rosser on the indies, returned to in-ring action at a WrestlePro event last week in Uniondale, New Jersey. Rosser picked up a win over IMPACT Wrestling star Fallah Bahh. He posted the following highlights video from the match on Twitter:
– It looks like WrestleMania 34’s card will feature two Triple Threat matches for WWE titles. We’ve already seen that Monday Night RAW General Manager Kurt Angle has announced The Miz will be defending his Intercontinental Title in one against Seth Rollins and Finn Balor. Wrestling Observer Newsletter’s Dave Meltzer reports that SmackDown Live will have a Triple Threat Title match of their own.
United States Champion Randy Orton is expected to defend his strap against both Bobby Roode and Jinder Mahal in New Orleans. Roode announced his intentions to use his rematch clause at WrestleMania against Orton, after losing the strap this past weekend at Fastlane to “The Viper.” Mahal recently picked up a singles win over Bobby Roode, however, so it’s possible he’s added to the match on SmackDown Live next week.
– As for the finals of the 205 Live Cruiserweight Championship Tournament, Meltzer reports the plan has always been for Cedric Alexander vs. Mustafa Ali to take place in the finals. After Alexander already solidified his place in the finals, Mustafa Ali vs. Drew Gulak will take place on next week’s 205 Live to determine Alexander’s opponent. It was also added that Alexander vs. Ali was the idea for the finals once the idea was developed to have the match take place at WrestleMania.
Finn Balor has just released a new line of clothing he says is designed, imagined, worn, and loved by him. The clothing line is also said to be ethically and ecologically sourced.
Balor even serves as the clothing line’s model (complete with plank pose) on the website: SmileItsPeak.com
– WWE Intercontinental Champion The Miz recently spoke to WTMJ-TV Milwaukeeto promote last night’s episode of Monday Night RAW. During the interview Miz was asked about two-time WWE Hall Of Famer Ric Flair calling him the best heel in the business today. Here’s how Miz responded (quotes via Wrestling Inc.):
“Ha! Is that what he said? Coming from him that’s an honor,” Miz said. “Ric Flair – in my opinion – is the greatest of all-time. I mean he is absolutely incredible, I mean, he gave me his figure-four, how can I say a bad thing about him?
“You know what I mean? He’s just an incredible human being and incredible in-ring performer. And still, his legend lives on, no matter if he’s in the ring or outside the ring people still do ‘The Strut,’ give the ‘Woo!’ It’s amazing.”
– Speaking of The Miz, it was announced by RAW General Manager Kurt Angle that he would be defending his Intercontinental Title at WrestleMania 34 in a Triple Threat match against Seth Rollins and Finn Balor. “The Demon King” took to Twitter to react to the news that he’d be getting a crack at the title on “The Grandest Stage Of Them All”:
– Finn Balor, who was advertised for last night’s WWE live event in Kalamazoo, Michigan at the Wings Event Center, ended up missing the show due to travel issues.
Balor sent out a tweet apologizing for missing the show as his flight was canceled due to weather. He sent out the tweet at 1:53 p.m. while on a plane to tonight’s show in Chicago, Illinois.
– After signing her Raw contract last Sunday at WWE Elimination Chamber, Ronda Rousey has been added to the Raw Superstars page on WWE.com. In the profile, WWE bills Rousey at 5’7″ and says her signature maneuver is the armbar.
– Courtesy of the WWE Network, here is a clip from WWE Countdown on Hawk and Animal, The Legion of Doom.
It looks like the Intercontinental Title picture heading into WrestleMania 34 has changed from WWE’s original plans. Originally WWE planned on having The Miz feud with Braun Strowman heading into “The Show Of Shows” for the Intercontinental strap. It was expected that the feud would begin at Elimination Chamber this past weekend or on last night’s episode of Monday Night RAW.
Per a report from Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Radio, WWE seems to have nixed those plans and are going in a different direction. Now the company wants to have The Miz vs. Seth Rollins for the Intercontinental Title, and possibly adding Finn Balor to make it a Triple Threat match. Here’s what Meltzer had to say about the plans:
“It’s pretty clear that they will be doing The Miz and Seth Rollins and probably Finn Balor in a three way, which takes Strowman out and Strowman is obviously the backup plan in case something happens.”
As for Strowman, it looks like he could be getting set for a feud with Elias heading into WrestleMania. Several weeks ago Strowman attacked Elias with a large bass and also had a segment with him on last night’s episode of RAW as well.
It should also be noted that WWE is currently keeping Strowman’s WrestleMania schedule open due to the recent allegations against Roman Reigns in relation to an illegal steroid ring. So there’s still a slight chance he could be involved in the Universal Title match at WrestleMania 34.
Last night (Feb. 25), seven men entered the Elimination Chamber structure. Only one man walked out as the winner and his name is Roman Reigns. He will go on to WrestleMania to challenge Brock Lesnar for the WWE Universal championship.
Seth Rollins, Braun Strowman, The Miz, Elias, John Cena, and Finn Balor will have to wait until next year for a chance to headline the “Showcase of Immortals.” WWE posted an interview where Balor admitted to being disappointed after having a ton of fan support:
“Yeah obviously it adds to the disappointment. Huge opportunity at stake tonight, (I) lost. The chance to go to WrestleMania to challenge Brock Lesnar for the title I never lost, goes away. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve been chasing that title since I had to relinquish it the day after Summerslam over a year ago. The chase will continue. You can’t wipe the smile off this face with just one loss.”
Darren Young Says CM Punk Embraced Him After Coming Out
Former WWE superstar Darren Young recently appeared on Cerrito Live. When asked about CM Punk mentoring him, Young revealed that Punk embraced him after revealing he is gay:
“One great story I have about CM Punk is when I came out publicly and it was around Summerslam. I remember he had a match with Brock Lesnar. And right after his match with Brock Lesnar in catering, he was all iced up from head to toe. He approached me in catering in front of everybody and he told me to stand up. And I stood up and he gave me a hug. And he said ‘I’m very proud of you for coming out. If you have a problem with anyone because of this, you tell me and I’ll take care of it.'”
WWE Hall Of Famer and Monday Night RAW General Manager Kurt Angle recently participated in a live Q&A session on his official Facebook page. “The Olympic Hero” was asked about who was his most natural opponent to work with between Brock Lesnar, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, and Triple H:
“All three were different but they were all exceptional. Brock was the best chemistry. Austin was the most intense. HHH had impeccable psychology. I enjoyed all of our matches. But Brock was easier to work with because of our backgrounds.”
Angle also revealed his pick for tomorrow’s Men’s Elimination Chamber match. The winner will go on to WrestleMania 34 to challenge Brock Lesnar for the Universal Championship. Angle is picking Finn Balor to walk out of the Chamber victorious:
“They’re all good enough for a title run. That’s tough. Cena needs it the least. I think Roman has proven to be the new face of WWE so I’m not sure he needs it. Braun is unbeatable so he seems to be in a good spot and doesn’t need title. Miz is the top heel and very established, so he doesn’t need title. Finn would be a good surprise.
“Elias is off to a great start, but most likely not ready for main event at WM…probably will be by next year. Seth could very well be the best on the roster. I’m a big fan of Seth. Another long title run is coming soon for him. So I’d say Finn Balor could very well rise out if this with a much NEEDED shot at the Universal Championship. My opinion only!”
He was then asked what his dream pay-per-view (PPV) would look like, and Angle said he’d like to see all Iron Man Matches:
“All Iron Man matches. 5 of them. Women’s. 205. Tag Team Championship. Intercontinental Championship. Universal Championship. All wrestling. No gimmicks. It would be long/boring after 2 or 3 matches, but if you really love wrestling, it would be incredible!”
It can be argued that Seth Rollins was the MVP of the 7-man Gauntlet match on this week’s episode of Monday Night RAW. Rollins put in a record breaking performance which lasted over an hour and saw him defeat both John Cena and Roman Reigns.
With Jason Jordan now seemingly out potentially beyond WrestleMania question marks have been raised over the match that Rollins will have come the ‘show of shows.’ Here are 3 names that we feel could realistically have a bout with Seth:
John Cena
John Cena (Photo credit: Instagram @WWE)
A potential bout with John Cena could be ideal for Rollins, although this would absolutely be determined by the potential return of The Undertaker…and whilst WWE have managed to keep any plans for the Deadman under wraps there is always the possibility that last year really was his last ride.
Following this week’s Gauntlet match there is an inbuilt story, Cena could not defeat Rollins even after a gruelling match with Reigns. It would be the man who arguably built modern day WWE versus the man who calls himself The Architect, both men are former World Champions and have carried the company at different times…does this mean that it should be a marquee match at WrestleMania? If Undertaker is definitely retired then Rollins then it absolutely could be.
Roman Reigns
Roman Reigns (photo: WWE.com)
Again, this is a bout that is ultimately determined on how WWE decides to book the Chamber match this Sunday. Whilst the general consensus has been steered towards a Lesnar/Reigns main event at WrestleMania the company could decide to throw a curve ball and put Braun Strowman in the main event slot.
It certainly isn’t out of the realms of possibility for Braun to take what would be considered a minor ‘shock’ win and for Reigns to then be left matchless for the Grandest Stage of Them All. Here is where Rollins slots in, again you have an inbuilt story, these two men have dominated WWE since their debut as The Shield and are both on fairly equal footing in terms of Championships won.
This isn’t a likely match for Rollins to have come WrestleMania but it would certainly gain a huge positive reaction for Seth going up against the most divisive character in WWE.
Finn Balor
Photo Credit: WWE.com
In an ideal world this final spot would be given to Dean Ambrose, however the ‘Lunatic Fringe’ is still out of action due to an injury sustained in December of last year, he is expected to be out for at least another 7 months with rehab.
The re-invention of Finn Balor as the leader of the Balor Club has reinvigorated the character and given somewhat of a purpose to Gallows and Anderson. The story here is also inbuilt in that Seth cost Balor an extended period of time back when he injured the former Universal Champion during the bout to crown the inaugural champion…something that you have to believe WWE has had sitting on the back burner (they should do).
Finn Balor really needs a big WrestleMania win if he is to begin moving forward with his career on the WWE main roster and a victory against Rollins would give him a healthy dose of momentum.
Who would you like to see Seth Rollins face at WrestleMania? Let us know in the comments.
– WWE Hall Of Famer Diamond Dallas Page was backstage for last night’s episode of Monday Night RAW from Phoenix, Arizona. He arrived to the RAW arena around the time Main Event tapings began. PWInsider is reporting that the former WCW World Heavyweight Champion was filming material for upcoming WWE projects. This includes filming for the upcoming “Unreleased Matches” DVD on “The Macho Man” Randy Savage which comes out later this year.
– Following last night’s Seven-Man Gauntlet match on Monday Night RAW, Finn Balor took to Twitter to heap some praise on Seth Rollins and take shots at WWE Intercontinental Champion The Miz:
Forget about any controversial moments over the last 2 years, I’ve nothing but respect for @WWERollins & his performance tonight. ? As for the @mikethemiz & his goons …. this is chess, not checkers .. see you Sunday, locked IN the #wwechamber ? https://t.co/ACF2oSKUmB
– This weekend’s Elimination Chamber match competitors; The Miz, Finn Balor, John Cena, Roman Reigns, Braun Strowman, Seth Rollins and Elias will all compete in a Gauntlet match on RAW tongiht. WWE Intercontinental Champion The Miz took to Twitter to slam Balor specifically ahead of the match:
– Triple H has reached 7 million followers on Twitter and has become the third-most followed professional wrestling personality on the social media platform, right behind The Rock and John Cena. Here’s the full top ten list:
1. The Rock (12.6 million)
2. John Cena (10.9 million)
3. Triple H (7.1 million)
4. Randy Orton (5.8 million)
5. Sheamus 4.8 (million)
6. Steve Austin (4.4 million)
7. Daniel Bryan (4.3 million)
8. Shawn Michaels (3.9 million)
9. Nikki Bella (3.4 million)
10. Chris Jericho (3.4 million)
– WWE has announced the following:
WWE® (NYSE: WWE) today announced that tickets to Survivor Series will be available on Friday, March 16 starting at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT. Survivor Series will take place Sunday, November 18, 2018 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles and will be streamed live around the world on WWE Network.
Ticket prices for Survivor Series range from $25-$500. All fans who purchase a $450 or $500 ticket will take home a commemorative Survivor Series chair. Tickets can be purchased at the STAPLES Center box office, www.AXS.com or by calling 888-9-AXS-TIX (888.929.7849) / 925-357-4228 (outside U.S. & Canada). All tickets are subject to service charges and facility fees.
In addition, Survivor Series Travel Packages will be available Monday, March 5 starting at noon ET at www.survivorseriestravel.com, allowing fans the opportunity to purchase NXT® TakeOver®, Monday Night Raw®, and SmackDown®Live tickets ahead of the general public.
– WWE announced Saturday that the seven Superstars who will compete in the Men’s Elimination Chamber Match at WWE Elimination Chamber will face off in a Gauntlet Match this Monday night on Raw. Ahead of the Gauntlet Match, Finn Balor proclaimed in this video below that he’s not the underdog. Rather, he’s “over, dawg.”
Bates faced Deonna Purrazzo, Christi Jaynes, and Ryder’s girlfriend, Chelsea Green, in a Fatal 4-Way Match. During the match, Bates kicked Jaynes with the Broski Boot.
– After having both Dean Ambrose and Jason Jordan go down with injuries, Seth Rollins has received a new Tag Team partner for upcoming WWE live events. Finn Balor will tag with “The Architect” at upcoming live events against The Bar (Sheamus and Cesaro), however, it’s only the events Roman Reigns is unable to tag with his former Shield stablemate. Rollins will tag with Reigns at Friday and Saturday’s live events.
When John Cena joins the RAW live tour on Sunday he will participate in a Triple Threat match against Reigns and The Miz for the Intercontinental Title. On that night Rollins will team with “The Demon King” against The Bar.
– With the hype around HBO Sports’ documentary on Andre The Giant, WWE really wants to push this year’s Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal at WrestleMania even harder. The documentary is set to premiere the Tuesday after WrestleMania 34, which will feature the fifth annual Andre Battle Royal.
The first-ever Battle Royal took place at WrestleMania 30 back in 2014 with Cesaro winning. Past winners since then include The Big Show, Baron Corbin, and Mojo Rawley. PWInsider reports that WWE officials understand if the HBO documentary draws good numbers then it could lead to more projects with the network.
– On last night’s episode of RAW WWE Intercontinental Champion The Miz qualified for the Elimination Chamber match by defeating Apollo Crews. The winner of the Chamber match will go on to face Brock Lesnar for the WWE Universal Championship at WrestleMania 34. Miz took to Twitter to ask his doubters over the years if they ‘feel stupid yet’:
– Speaking of the Elimination Chamber match, next week’s episode of RAW from San Jose will feature a Fatal Four-Way match between Finn Balor, Matt Hardy, Bray Wyatt, and Apollo Crews. All of these men lost their initial qualifying match for the Elimination Chamber.
This “Second Chance Fatal Four-Way” will determine the sixth and final competitor in the Elimination Chamber match. WWE recently posted an interview with Finn Balor; who vows to win the Fatal Four-Way, go on to win the Chamber match, and topple Lesnar at WrestleMania to regain the Universal Crown:
– Nia Jax was left out of the first-ever Women’s Elimination Chamber match, however, RAW General Manager did but her in a match that gives her quite the opportunity. Jax will instead take on Women’s Royal Rumble winner Asuka in a Singles match. If she’s successful she’ll be thrown into the RAW Women’s Title match at WrestleMania, making it a Triple Threat match. She took to Twitter to react:
A place in the first women’s #WWEChamber match was what I wanted…
…but I’ll settle for breaking @WWEAsuka’s streak and a championship match at #WrestleMania. That’ll be just fine. #Raw
– Former WWE Universal Champion Finn Balor took to Twitter to post some pictures from he and The Club’s encounter with DX at RAW 25, and also said he’s coming for ‘everything they said I couldn’t have’:
– The Undisputed Era’s Adam Cole also took to Twitter and noted that he’s focused on capturing the NXT Title this year. Zelina Vega responded to this Tweet and said that current NXT Champion Andrade “Cien” Almas, who she manages, may have something to say about that:
– Below is video of WWE Hall of Famer Trish Stratus talking to Charly Caruso after her brief appearance at RAW 25 on Monday night. Trish talks about how it always feels familiar when she returns, no matter how long she’s been gone, and how the fans still pop for her after all this time.
– As noted, Chris Jericho returned to WWE TV for RAW 25 and did a backstage segment with Elias, adding him to The List. Below is Fallout video with Jericho adding more names to The List – Tom Phillips, Mike Rome, Cathy Kelley and others working backstage.
– Below are videos of The Balor Club reflecting on their big RAW 25 moment with DX, Triple H discussing what RAW 25 meant to DX and a rare photo-op with DX, The Balor Club and WWE Hall of Famer Scott Hall. Also below is footage of Triple H speaking to the Manhattan Center Grand Ballroom after RAW ended.
