On last night’s (Mon. July 17, 2017) episode of WWE Monday Night RAW, it was announced that the highly-anticipated secret that RAW General Manager Kurt Angle had been hiding for the past few weeks, was that Jason Jordan was his long-lost son.

The former SmackDown Live Tag Team Champ, who served as one half of American Alpha, Jason Jordan will now be part of RAW, while his now-former partner Chad Gable stays on SmackDown Live. While many fans were wondering what the announcement Angle was going to make could be, the WWE actually (intentionally or not) dropped a major hint as to what it was before the show even started.

As fans were packing into the arena just before the show, the American Alpha symbol could be seen on the jumbo-screen above the ring:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BWqgc3YFQju/

Jim Ross posted his latest blog earlier today and here are some highlights:

Kurt Angle and Jason Jordan storyline:

“Might just be me but after watching the Renee Young interview, nicely done BTW, with Kurt Angle and his ‘son’ Jason Jordan on the @WWENetwork after RAW, I can easily see where Jordan and  ‘Dad” could be terrific villains down the road.”

Mae Young Classic:

“Loved being a part of the Mae Young Classic that saw me in  Orlando for six days last week interviewing all 32 women representing 13 countries plus Lita and I called 30 bouts over two nights.  I’ve never been in a pro wresting environment where there was so much natural passion and motivation from the roster whose only agenda was to have great matches and take a giant step forward in building women’s wrestling.

I talk about ‘The Mae’ on this week’s podcast and will share that I never dreamed of how personally impactful this event would become to me until I became immersed in it throughout the interview process on Monday and Tuesday.  I enjoyed working with @AmyDumas and @Madusa_rocks very much. I fed off their passion without question and you will hear it if you listen to our broadcast.

As I understand it, the reason the broadcasts will begin airing August 28 instead of sooner is because the shows need through, post production/editing to add all the elements that are needed with the tournament format and personality profiles, etc. The finals will be live on the WWE Network on Tuesday night September 12 from Las Vegas following SD Live.

I’m guessing that several women will likely earn a WWE contract based on their performances in the tournament.”

Braun Strowman:

“Based on what I saw Monday night on Raw regarding Braun Strowman, I can easily see WWE going all the way with the giant athlete from North Carolina. A Lesnar-Strowman high level contest down the road is going to make a compelling main event and could elevate Strowman to the rarified air community.

Seems to me, simply by watching as  fan, that when Braun walked away from the ambulance crash of a few weeks ago, that he walked away as a ‘character ‘face’ or a least that’s  how I took it. Bottom line, it will be challenging for many fans to truly dislike this huge man. WWE has done a really nice job building Strowman to his current level.”

You can read JR’s entire blog by clicking here.

Pro Wrestling Sheet is reporting that the storyline with Jason Jordan and Kurt Angle is going to be a lengthy one that will play out over the next few months.  Last night on RAW, Kurt Angle finally revealed the secret he has been receiving text messages about for some time now on RAW. Angle came down to the ring and announced that a women he dated in college gave birth to a baby boy. That boy was put up for adoption and grew up to be WWE Superstar Jason Jordan.

Jordan is now set for a solid midcard level push and his relationship with RAW GM Kurt Angle will grow as Angle tries to be a father figure for Jordan. The storyline is set to be a central part of RAW going forward. Chad Gable posted this tweet following last night’s revelation:

Ummmmm….. what?

— Chad Gable (@WWEGable) July 18, 2017

It was mentioned last night during a WWE Network interview with Jordan and Angle that Jordan will officially be moving over to the RAW roster. The other half of American Alpha, Chad Gable, is staying on SmackDown and there are no plans for him to join Jordan on RAW. Gable posted the following on Instagram and stated that American Alpha has “done everything doable”:

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

"I don't want any preferential treatment. I'm very proud of who my dad is, but I got this on my own." – @JasonJordanJJ on joining #RAW… pic.twitter.com/ATpUc43HlX

— WWE Network (@WWENetwork) July 18, 2017

On this week’s episode of RAW, Kurt Angle revealed that he dated a woman in college that gave birth to a baby boy 9 months after their final date. The child was then put up for adoption and was raised by a family that taught him great American values. The boy grew up wanting to be a WWE Superstar and achieved that dream. Angle proceeded to announce that Jason Jordan was his son. Jason Jordan came down to the ring and shared a hug with his father Kurt Angle.

Kurt Angle reveals that Jason Jordan is his son on RAW 7/17. Photo Credit: WWE.com

After RAW went off the air, Renee Young sat down with Jason Jordan and Kurt Angle on WWE Network. Jordan stated that he hired a private investigator to find out who his real parents were. The investigator eventually found his birth mother, who then informed Jordan that his real father was WWE Hall of Famer and RAW GM Kurt Angle.

Jason said that he was very grateful for the support he has received in his quest to find his real parents. It was also announced that Jordan will be joining the RAW roster. Jordan claimed that he did not want any special treatment simply because his father is the GM of RAW.

How is @JasonJordanJJ feeling after connecting with his father @RealKurtAngle TONIGHT on #RAW? @WWENetwork @ReneeYoungWWE pic.twitter.com/p7rJ455cj2

— WWE (@WWE) July 18, 2017

"I don't want any preferential treatment. I'm very proud of who my dad is, but I got this on my own." – @JasonJordanJJ on joining #RAW… pic.twitter.com/ATpUc43HlX

— WWE Network (@WWENetwork) July 18, 2017

Kurt Angle said that he was nervous about telling the WWE Universe because he wasn’t sure how they would react. Angle stated that he hoped to be a good influence on his son moving forward. Angle brought up the mistakes he has made in his life and wants to make sure all of his children don’t go down the same path. The interview concluded with Angle saying that he was looking forward to getting to know his son.

Time for some more father-son bonding. @RealKurtAngle and @JasonJordanJJ are grateful for the support! #KurtAngle pic.twitter.com/JMWdFsSpYv

— WWE Network (@WWENetwork) July 18, 2017

We finally got to find out what Kurt Angle’s secret was tonight on RAW. Angle and Corey Graves have been receiving text messages backstage on recent episodes of RAW. Angle claimed that if this information got out, it would destroy his reputation. Last week on RAW, Angle announced that he would reveal the secret to the WWE Universe tonight. During the beginning of tonight’s episode, Angle was having second thoughts but Corey Graves convinced him that this was the best thing to do.

RAW GM Kurt Angle made his way to the ring to kick off the third hour of RAW. The crowd greeted him with the usual “you suck!” chants as Angle entered the ring. Angle revealed that he dated a woman in college and that the woman gave birth to a baby boy 9 months after their last date. He also stated that the boy was put up for adoption and was taken in by a family that raised him with strong American values.

That boy then grew up with the dream of becoming a WWE Superstar. Angle got emotional and then announced that WWE Superstar Jason Jordan is his son. Jason Jordan then came down to the ring and the two shared a hug.

#RAW General Manager @RealKurtAngle is proud to share with the @WWEUniverse that his son is none other than @JasonJordanJJ! pic.twitter.com/UU2ELoF7V3

— WWE (@WWE) July 18, 2017

One half of former WWE SmackDown Live Tag Team Champions American Alpha, Chad Gable, recently did an interview with Sports Illustrated to talk about a variety of professional wrestling topics. Gable discussed starting over on the main roster, getting the opportunity to work with Kurt Angle, and his goals for WrestleMania. You can check out what he had to say here:

Starting over on the WWE main roster:

“The process of re-establishing ourselves was new to us. We started in Orlando at the Performance Center, and the local crowd saw us even before we were on NXT. When we got to SmackDown Live, we had to assume that no one had ever seen us before. That’s what we did, and it’s very hard to start over, but Jason and I were ready for this. We told ourselves ahead of time that we were going to prepare extra hard because not everyone watches NXT, and we’re working to attain our goals.”

Getting to work with WWE Hall Of Famer Kurt Angle:

“I saw Kurt at the hotel during WrestleMania weekend, and he still trains really hard. I figure there will be sometime when he is going to stop, but after watching him train, it doesn’t look like it. Jason and I are both very excited to sit and chat with him, and hopefully pick his brain. He carved the path that we’re following, he set the example for what we want to do, and he’s the best in the world at it.”

His goals for WrestleMania:

“In amateur wrestling, my goal was always to get to the Olympics. My goal in WWE is to make it to WrestleMania 34 with my partner and win the tag team titles. I’d love to be in a spot where we are defending the titles at next year’s ‘Mania, and hopefully that is in a marquee match in a prime place on the card. We can show people that tag team wrestling is, in my opinion, the greatest form of pro wrestling.”

You can read Gable’s full interview with Sports Illustrated by clicking this link here.

WWE Superstar and former SmackDown Live Tag Team Champion Jason Jordan recently did an interview with the Miami Herald to talk about a crazy dentist gimmick he almost had in WWE, Dusty Rhodes’ influence on his career, the current SmackDown Live tag team division, and more. You can check out the highlights below:

Almost having a dentist gimmick while in WWE Developmental, seeing as he was pursuing a career in the field before professional wrestling: 

“[Chuckle] The thought actually crossed my mind, when I was in FCW [WWE’s developmental]. We threw out a lot of different character ideas, and for me, being there for so long, you have to throw a lot of things against the wall. That was something that definitely ran through my mind at some point.”

Late-great WWE Hall Of Famer Dusty Rhodes’ influence on his career:

“[Dusty] definitely helped me get me to the point where I am now. He’s somebody who’s always believed in me, and he’s had a huge influence on my career. Also, he’s the whole reason why Chad and I were put together. It was his idea, and we definitely owe Dusty Rhodes a huge thank you, because if it wasn’t for him, there might not be an American Alpha.”

The current SmackDown Live tag team division:

“I think the SmackDown tag division is really getting some steam going. I think there were some trades that switched things up, with the superstar shake-up [in April], and I think we’re really getting some steam going. It’s been a really competitive division, and hopefully there are more things to come as far as the tag division on SmackDown.”

Check out the full interview at this link.

Former SmackDown Live Tag Team Champion Jason Jordan recently did an interview with NBC Elmira to speak on a variety of professional wrestling topics. You can check out the highlights here:

American Alpha separating themselves from tag teams similar to them and potentially working with Kurt Angle:

“We realized everybody was going to make the correlation between World’s Greatest Tag Team or Team Kurt Angle, and us. We still want to be our own individuals. We still want to be American Alpha and not Team Angle 2.0. But if the opportunity came and Kurt would put his stamp on us, then we could essentially be Team Angle, but we would like to be Team Alpha with the tutelage of Team Angle. We want the separation between the two, we’re our own tag team.”

What are some of the biggest challenges he has faced since working on the main roster:

“Physically, the only thing that I’m getting adjusted to is not getting an off-season. You have to really be cautious and be aware of fine tuning with your body, because something small – when never given the time to actually rest and heal – can grow [into] something big. …Overall, the hardest thing to do is constantly being able to be fresh with the crowd. Be what it is that they come to the show [to see] and never disappoint, but it’s hard sometimes to really figure out what it is that connects with crowds. What it is that makes the crowd love you or want to get behind you. For me, I think that’s the most difficult part, something that’s out of your control, but trying to figure out where you can find some control.”

His dream matches in the WWE:

“It would be really nice to wrestle The Hardy Boyz or Cesaro and Sheamus. …But also, this is further in advance after American Alpha has run its course, at some point I would love to get in there and wrestle a singles match with AJ Styles. I know that he’s hot right now and he’s clearly one of the best in the WWE, period. ”

H/T Wrestling Inc. for the transcriptions 

SmackDown tag team champion Jason Jordan of American Alpha got married this past Friday. Here are some photos from the big day.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BRwho9fhKOJ/?taken-by=x0april0x

https://www.instagram.com/p/BRzUMMShufE/?taken-by=x0april0x

Congrats to @JasonJordanJJ and his wife on their wedding yesterday. pic.twitter.com/vj2SbNlHEp

— Ringside News: WWE & AEW Wrestling News (@ringsidenews_) March 18, 2017

American Alpha are your new SmackDown Tag Team Champions after winning a Four Corners Elimination Match on the final SmackDown of 2016 from Chicago. After The Usos and Heath Slater & Rhyno were eliminated, Gable and Jordan went on to pin Randy Orton and Luke Harper for the win. Harper and Orton were defending under Freebird Rules.

This is the first championship reign on the main roster for Gable and Jordan.

Below are some photos from the match:

The ORTON ONSLAUGHT is in FULL EFFECT, as @RandyOrton RAMS @WWEGable's back into the barricade! #SDLive #TagTeamTitles pic.twitter.com/IlJ32NSEvy

— WWE (@WWE) December 28, 2016

Cannonball off the apron by @WWEGable!! #AmericanAlpha is willing to do WHATEVER IT TAKES to get the #SDLive #TagTeamTitles! pic.twitter.com/lmOK1IQRS0

— WWE (@WWE) December 28, 2016

CONGRATULATIONS to the NEW #SDLive Tag Team Champions…. @WWEGable and @JasonJordanJJ!!!! #TagTeamTitles pic.twitter.com/eR8XWjCWhM

— WWE (@WWE) December 28, 2016

An ALPHA tag team indeed…. #AndNew#TagTeamTitles #SDLive @WWEGable @JasonJordanJJ pic.twitter.com/KhbSAvPzGy

— WWE (@WWE) December 28, 2016

Is there dissension brewing between The #WyattFamily's @RandyOrton and @LukeHarperWWE? #SDLive #WildCardFinals @WWEBrayWyatt pic.twitter.com/E5f9waWBsZ

— WWE (@WWE) December 28, 2016

.@WWEBrayWyatt is clearly not happy about @WWEGable and @JasonJordanJJ's win… #SDLive pic.twitter.com/SZSqt6cAgg

— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) December 28, 2016

– WWE has announced Tajiri is in fact returning to the company soon. He’ll be joining the Cruiserweight division and will compete on 205 Live.

https://twitter.com/WWE205Live/status/808873425389223936

– WWE presents Tribute To The Troops tonight on USA, but first, here you can see Jason Jordan “Tased By The Troops” –

https://www.instagram.com/p/BN-GM3ijvQ7/

– Radio host Sam Roberts will be part of the WWE Roadblock kickoff show this Sunday. Roberts hosts the popular Sam Roberts Wrestling Podcast. WWE brought in Peter Rosenberg earlier this month for a guest spot on the TLC pre-show. Congrats to Sam Roberts.

Couldn't be happier to announce that I'll be part of the @WWE #Roadblock pre show this Sunday… https://t.co/LbdYnicck5 pic.twitter.com/K6EtKWveLT

— Sam Roberts (@notsam) December 14, 2016

https://twitter.com/catherinekelley/status/809099392074522625

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.

“American Alpha” Chad Gable and Jason Jordan made main roster debuts on this week’s SmackDown Live from Nashville. They defeated “The Vaudevillains” Simon Gotch and Aiden English in an impressive showing.

After the match, the former NXT tag team champions said they’ve come to SmackDown to set the tag team scene on fire and look to be strong contenders for the [not yet announced] SmackDown tag team titles.

– Prior to WWE’s brand split announcement, there were plans in place to bring NXT Tag Team Champions American Alpha to the main roster this fall. A lot of creative plans were upended once the decision was made to have exclusive rosters on RAW and SmackDown, but Jordan and Gable are considered “ready” for the call up. Especially with a need to round out those rosters this summer, few acts have more upside than these two.

– The Brooklyn Brawler reportedly got backstage heat prior to his WWE release after calling into Taz’s live Internet radio show (it’s not a podcast). There were reports going around that “an incident” led to him departing the company after 30+ years. The Taz radio show appearance is not the official reason he was let go, but it was one of the final straws.

Source: Wrestling Observer

It looks like Shinsuke Nakamura will just be known as Nakamura to the WWE/NXT universe. The King Of Strong Style is listed by his last name only in the Wrestlemania 32 program being sold at the WWE Superstore and considering Chad Gable, Jason Jordan and Apollo Crews are on the same page with their full names — it seems like the name drop will happen.

It’s interesting to note that Nakamura is listed with NXT talent in the program, leading many to think he will spend more time than most believed on NXT programming. There is not much known about Nakamura’s direction with NXT/WWE, but this could be a good indication. Or it simply could just be they have him in the NXT section because he is debuting with NXT.

Nakamura is set to debut at NXT TakeOver: Dallas in a match against Sami Zayn . It has been one of the most talked about and highly anticipated matches on both NXT and WWE’s weekend events. The event is live on the WWE Network, Friday April 1.

NXT tag team specialists Jason Jordan and Chad Gable will be appearing at the upcoming EVOLVE live event from Orlando, FL on Saturday, January 23rd. They’ll be joined by NXT General Manager William Regal.

https://twitter.com/BookItGabe/status/686713615236395009

WWN Alerts shows that Jordan & Gable will be doing a special autograph signing before the show. Regal is advertised as making a Special Appearance.

For ticket information, visit DGUSA.com.

– Although he noted on social media that he checked out fine and suffered no fractures, WWE kept Stardust out of the ring again this week. As noted last week, Stardust appeared to suffer an injury during his match against Jack Swagger on the December 7th edition of RAW, and was taken to a local hospital immediately after the show to be evaluated.

– A fan hit the ring at the NXT live event in Sheffield, England as part of the NXT U.K. Tour this past Sunday, December 13th. One of the NXT crew members, possibly Ryan Katz, stopped the fan before anything serious happened. The fan run-in spot took place during a tag-team match that featured The Mechanics vs. Jason Jordan and Chad Gable.

• Rousey-Holm II CANCELED?, McGregor’s Pay For UFC 194 + CM Punk’s UFC Opponent!

(Credit: Wrestling Observer Newsletter)

This ovation went on for over ten minutes in #NXTBlackpool #NXTUKTour @JasonJordanJJ @WWEGable pic.twitter.com/hTPzr8hBLs

— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) December 13, 2015

As the NXT U.K. Tour continues, it’s becoming quite apparent that the NXT brand is a hit with the English audience. Look no further than the above video for proof.

WWE posted the clip featured above on the official NXT Twitter page on Sunday afternoon that features a 30-second look at a chant that fans were doing that they claimed “went on for over ten minutes” during a Jordan and Gable vs. Blake and Murphy tag-team match at the sold out Empress Ballroom in Blackpool, England.

The chant is apparently a remix to the song “No Limits” that is often done at sporting events in the country, with the words simply changed to the names “Jordan” and “Gable.”

Triple H also took to social media to address the hot crowd at the NXT Blackpool event on Sunday.

“A sold out venue, a loud audience, and a great show,” Triple H wrote. “Thank you.”

A sold out venue, a loud audience, and a great show. Thank you #NXTBlackpool… #WeAreNXT #NXTUKTour @WWENXT pic.twitter.com/NGPbzPzNPX

— Triple H (@TripleH) December 13, 2015

The NXT U.K. Tour continues to sweep across England with events in Nottingham on Monday, Cardiff, Wales on Tuesday and finally the NXT TakeOver: London live WWE Network special from the SSE Arena on Wednesday.

• Video: Drunk Conor McGregor Raps DMX Song At UFC 194 Afterparty!

NXT Champion Finn Balor recently appeared as a guest on The Taz Show: Bodyslams & Beyond to discuss all things NXT. Below are some of the highlights from the interview.

On NXT talents that have ‘blown him away’:

“The growth that a lot of the boys have shown in the last year since I got here is just unbelievable. The likes of like Jason Jordan [and] Chad Gable, they’re two guys that, in the last year, have blown me away with their growth.”

On his demon body paint:

“Honestly, I’m just a fan of art. I’m a fan of expressionism. I’m a fan of changing things on the fly. I’m a fan of just going with the flow and being in the moment and that’s really what the demon is for me. It just kind of helps me channel, kind of, maybe an inner, darker side. People accuse me of being kind of too nonchalant or too laid back and too introverted and I feel like the demon definitely helps me bring a different side of my personality out.”

• Video: Emotional Footage Of Ronda Rousey’s Family Watching Her Get KO’d

– In the video featured above, Chad Gable and Jason Jordan talk about defeating The Ascension on this week’s edition of NXT.

– Announced for next week’s NXT is a contract signing between NXT Champion Finn Balor and Samoa Joe for their match at the upcoming NXT TakeOver: London special, which takes place on Wednesday, December 16th at SSE Wembley Arena in London, England. As noted, the special will air live on the WWE Network at 3pm EST. / Noon PST. on 12/16.

– In addition to the contract signing, the following matches were announced for next week’s NXT, which will be taped on Thursday night, November 19th from Full Sail University in Winter Park, Florida.

* Bayley vs. Eva Marie
* Asuka vs. Dana Brooke
* The Mechanics vs. The Vaudevillains

• Ronda Rousey Makes First Statement Since Losing: How Is She? What’s Her Plans?

Welcome to the first installment of the rebooted SEScoops Mailbag. We got a ton of questions sent in the first day – keep ’em coming! Email SEScoops@gmail.com with the subject line “Mailbag” and you might see your question answered here next week. Here we go:

Jon E asks… Who do you consider to be the most successful British wrestler of all time? I have always considered it to be Davey Boy Smith for his impact yet others (such as Regal and Barrett) have arguably won more titles and held them for longer.

David Bixenspan: It’s hard to say, even if you’re going by international stardom. Davey Boy Smith was probably the biggest British star in an international promotion, yes. He was a huge part of WWE packing Wembley Stadium for SummerSlam ’92, was a legitimate draw as tag champ in the mid-‘80s, and had been a big star in Japan. That’s not even factoring in his ’93-’97 work.

Billy Robinson was very successful as a headliner in Japan, Canada, and the United States. He was a big enough deal in Japan to be in demand to switch promotions when it was rare, and he was, at times, the top full-time (Verne Gagne and Da Crusher were part-time) babyface in the AWA during its ‘70s heyday.

It’s probably between the two of them. William Regal is/was a magnificent performer in every facet and was on his way to a big run on top in Japan…when his addictions got the better of him. He never really had that big run, though he also found himself a nice gig as a trainer and talent scout in WWE. Wade Barrett just doesn’t have the success yet. Someone like Dynamite Kid has an argument, but he was never a headline level star in Japan and his best North American singles runs were in smaller territories. If you want to factor in Brits who mostly stuck to Europe and countries where British talent was booked, like India and South Africa, it’s tricky due to lack of records.

Everett W asks… Do you guys ever see an African American as a wwe champion in this lifetime? And who

Brad Davis: I will take it that you’re wondering if we will see ANOTHER African American WWE Champion in this lifetime, since The Rock already accomplished that feat back in 1998. Yes, I certainly do think we will see an African American WWE Champion ‘in this lifetime.’ I venture to say that NXT star Apollo Crews will hold the WWE Championship in the next 5 years. He has the look, he’s incredibly athletic and he’s been getting rave reviews for his work in NXT.

Another African American talent that could very well be WWE Champion one day is Jason Jordan. He and Chad Gable have been burning up the tag team scene in NXT and the idea of them going their separate ways any time soon is something I want to stop thinking about immediately. However, he’s proving month after month that he could be a ‘total package.’ If he can stay healthy and continue to improve at the rate we’ve seen from him so far, its only a matter of time before he’s making a name for himself on the main roster.

Brave asks… Which wrestlers do you guys think aren’t used to their full potential? And you’d like to see used more or in a better way?

A Realist: Well, aside from the obvious candidates such as Bray Wyatt, Stardust/Cody Rhodes, Damien Sandow, and Cesaro, I have three. Three acts that WWE tragically underutilizes:

1) Adam Rose: This is a big one for me. He has proven time and time again that he can make a turd into gold. He is a great hand, who is a proven remarkable actor. Look at the stark differences between Leo Kruger and Adam Rose, and this new “Party Pooper” Rose. Night and day. And the fact that they blew a giant opportunity with the Leo Kruger character confounds me.

2) The Lucha Dragons: The WWE is always looking for their next big Hispanic star. Their next Rey Mysterio. As much as I appreciate Albert The River (props if you get it) and his work, it’s not him. It rests on the shoulders of these two remarkable high-flyers. Specifically, Kallisto. The guy has “megastar” written all over him–if booked and built up properly. Not to mention the matches that these two can have with one another in the inevitable break up…

3) The Ascension: I know I’m going to catch flack for this one, but with their original Raven’s Flock Goth gimmick, they could have been something special. Lie to me and tell me that you didn’t get hyped with their original entrance. Not to mention, they really do remind me of an old school Demolition or LOD type team. They just needn’t be so blatant in their gimmick infringement.

NATEOB asks… Say between the years of 1999-2001 who do you think WWF dropped the ball with making a mid carder into a main eventer? Guys like Shamrock? Val Venis? X-pac. Guys like that.

A Realist: Easily, hands down D’Lo Brown. The guy carried himself like a superstar, had that amazing in ring prowess, the swagger to back up his mouth–guy had it all. He even made it a point to cut weight, and get into better shape. That shows dedication and commitment to the craft. So to reward him, WWE put a turban on his head, and gave him a horrible Middle Eastern gimmick with a former Headbanger.

Shawn J asks… Do you think Seth would work better as a Face? He’s too much of a coward and he doesn’t look strong going into his PPV matches as of late. He puts on the best matches on PPV but I rather him look strong so he can look more believable. He said he’s the best WWE champion ever but  he gets pinned/submitted/DQ almost every week.

Brad Davis: Seth Rollins is going to make one hell of a babyface when the time comes and will be a bigger star as a babyface than he has been as a heel. Even though he plays the part well, WWE has taken the cowardly aspect of his character entirely too far and he does lose way too many matches. The Authority are sadly the true top heels in WWE, but Rollins has gotten himself over as a main eventer since WrestleMania is showing all the tell-tale signs of a Hall of Fame career.

Rollins is so good in the ring and his high-flying move set is better suited for a babyface. I know I wasn’t the only one who thought WWE was foreshadowing a babyface turn from Rollins when he started rocking his white ring gear at SummerSlam. Now that Rollins has been sidelined with a knee injury until mid 2016, he’s going to get a hero’s welcome return pop that will rival Triple H at MSG after his torn quad back in the day.

Ken B asks… If WWE could bring back Wargames, do you think they could pull it off?

David Bixenspan: They could, as it was WCW’s intellectual property and they own WCW’s intellectual property. it’s just that Vince McMahon is resistant to using a “WCW”/Dusty Rhodes idea. I have no doubt that WWE could put on an amazing Wargames with the talent they have, but that’s the big hurdle. Perhaps the best question is if those who have tried pitching it, like Triple H, have tried to feel out if he actually knows how the rules to the match work and if they could pitch a similar alternative. For example, if Triple H or whoever want pushed for a six man tag team Elimination Chamber match that was effectively War-games rules, could they get it past Vince? I honestly don’t know. Vince very rarely watched the opposition’s shows and it’s been a long time (18 years) since WCW’s last proper/original rules Wargames, so it’s entirely possible that it could get snuck past him.

Got a question you want answered here in the SEScoops Mailbag? Send it over to SEScoops@gmail.com.

At Wednesday’s NXT Takeover: Respect special on the WWE Network, the first-ever “Dusty Rhodes Tag-Team Classic” tournament winners were crowned.

The teams of Finn Balor & Samoe Joe, The Mechanics, Baron Corbin & Rhyno and Chad Gable & Jason Jordan advanced to tonight’s WWE Network special, with Balor and Joe eliminating The Mechanics in the opener, and the team of Corbin and Rhyno taking out the team of Gable and Jordan to advance to the finals.

In the finals, which were held in the co-main event spot of the NXT special, Balor and Joe ended up defeating Corbin and Rhyno, who put up a good effort.

Cody Rhodes came out to do the Dusty Rhodes Tag-Team Classic Cup presentation to Balor and Joe. He mentioned that tonight everyone is a “Rhodes” member as “The American Dream” theme music played and the fans echo’d chants of “Thank You Dusty! Thank You Dusty!” to close out the first ever Dusty Classic Tournament and move on to the 30-minute “Ironwoman Match” for the NXT Women’s Champion.

Congratulations @wwebalor and @SamoaJoe… #TheDustyClassic #NXTTakeOver: Respect @WWENXT @WWE pic.twitter.com/JuOvbKW2ly

— Triple H (@TripleH) October 8, 2015

For complete NXT Takeover: Respect results, click here.

• Video: Jon Jones Back To Old Games, Reacts To Cormier’s Tough Win At UFC 192

– The following matches are scheduled for tonight’s NXT television tapings, which are scheduled to take place immediately before the NXT Takeover: Brooklyn event.

* Eva Marie vs. Carmella
* Enzo Amore, Big Cass, Zack Ryder and Mojo Rawley vs. Jason Jordan, Chad Gable, Dash Wilder and Scott Dawson
* Charlotte vs. Emma vs. Becky Lynch vs. Dana Brooke
* Bull Dempsey vs. Elias Samson

– The final episode of the WWE Tough Enough post-show “Tough Talk” on the WWE Network airs next Tuesday night with host Byron Saxton. The official description for the show reads as follows:

“Join Byron Saxton as he recaps the TOUGH ENOUGH highlights and sits down with the eliminated competitor whose WWE journey came to an end.”

– The latest edition of “Culture Shock with Corey Graves” airs on the WWE Network on Wednesday at 4pm EST. The official description for that one reads:

“Corey Graves heads to Baltimore, Maryland to experience BronyCon, the fan convention dedicated to all things ‘My Little Pony.'”

• BROCK LESNAR Says Vince McMahon Is BETTER Than Dana White, Explains Why …

– As seen on this week’s episode of NXT, Chad Gable revealed that Jason Jordan is finally taking him up on his offer to be a tag team. Next week, they’ll be in action against Elias Samson and Steve Cutler.

It appears @JasonJordanJJ is FINALLY #ReadyWillingAndGable…starting NEXT WEEK! #WWENXT @WWEGable http://t.co/PY0C41KCrd

— WWE (@WWE) July 9, 2015

– WWE has released the following video of The Vaudevillians celebrating after becoming the #1 contenders to Blake and Murphy’s WWE NXT Tag Team Titles:

– Former WWE Diva Torrie Wilson is Jim Ross’ guest on this week’s edition of the “Ross Report” podcast, which is available now. You can download the show at PodcastOne.com.

– The following matches are confirmed for tonight’s edition of NXT on the WWE Network:

– Enzo Amore and Colin Cassady vs. Jason Jordan and Sylvester Lefort

– Dana Brooke vs. Cassie

– The Hype Bros (Zack Ryder and Mojo Rawley) vs. Sawyer Fulton and Angelo Dawkins

– Finn Balor vs. Rhyno

– Plus, Hideo Itami will address his injury

– WWE posted the following “unseen footage” of Triple H’s special “Terminator: Genisys” ring entrance at WrestleMania 31 earlier this year.

https://youtu.be/uxCykS6JHBk

• BOBBY LASHLEY On CM PUNK’s UFC Debut: “EVERYBODY’s Going To Be Mad!”