Saturday night’s NXT Takeover: Philadelphia event saw the WWE return of EC3 and the on-screen debuts of Ricochet, War Machine and Candice LeRae.
With tonight’s Royal Rumble pay-per-view just hours away, another familiar face rumored to be WWE bound revealed on Twitter that he is in town today.
Former Impact Wrestling star Rockstar Spud posted the following photo of Ben Franklin bridge in Philadelphia, a not-so-sutble indication that he’s in Philadelphia, site of tonight’s Rumble pay-per-view.
Spud has been rumored to be joining 205 Live in the coming weeks. With Daniel Bryan’s announcement that a General Manager for 205 Live will be announced on Tuesday, there’s a good chance that Spud will be filling that role.
There’s really no reason to believe that Spud will be participating in the Royal Rumble match, but he could be making his WWE television debut as soon as this week.
Former IMPACT Wrestling star Rockstar Spud posted a rather telling image of himself and EC3 on Twitter with the words “there is an entire universe to conquer.”
The UK born performer had a lengthy run in IMPACT alongside Ethan Carter 3rd, their main event heel personas dominated IMPACT’s programming and provided some of the most entertaining segments available inside the (then) 6 sided ring.
It has been long rumored that Rockstar Spud will be signing for WWE to help boost the flagging 205 Live programme. EC3 himself lost a ‘Feast or Fired’ match during this week’s IMPACT tapings and he is heavily linked with a return to WWE, possibly even as early as the Royal Rumble.
Former Impact Wrestling star Rockstar Spud is backstage for tonight’s WWE SmackDown show from Newark, New Jersey. Spud was also backstage at last night’s RAW from Providence, Rhode Island.
Spud is rumored to be joining 205 Live and WWE’s cruiserweight division soon. With the announcement that 205 Live is holding several special live events in January, WWE is looking to enhance the division to give those events a good chance at being successful.
Monday’s RAW saw the main roster debut of former NXT star Hideo Itami, who will also be joining the division.
WWE also this week that “Woken” Matt Hardy vs. Bray Wyatt will be taking place on the 205 Live house shows.
Here’s a photo of Spud arriving at the Prudential Center in Newark this afternoon:
Former Impact Wrestling star Rockstar Spud is WWE bound and will be joining the cruiserweight division and 205 Live.
According to PWInsider, Spud is expected to make his WWE television debut next week. With the cruiserweight division part of the RAW brand, expect to see Spud on Monday’s RAW, where his debut will be seen by WWE’s biggest audience of the week.
Spud left Impact Wrestling in October TNA after working with the promotion since late 2012 when he appeared on the “British Boot Camp” series.
WWE’s Cruiserweight division lost Austin Aries and Neville this year and Rich Swann is now suspended indefinitely after his weekend arrest. With former NXT star Hideo Itami joining the division and the addition of Rockstar Spud, don’t be surprised to see WWE add even more talent to 205 Live when WWE sends the cruiserweights on tour for the first time in January.
announced that 205 Live will be holding its first-With Star Hideo Itami is now part of
Billy Corgan recently appeared on Sean Waltman’s podcast, X-Pac12360, to talk about various topics. Here are the highlights:
Owning the NWA:
“What I love about wrestling is that it really has an unlimited schedule creativity, and who you work with and the ideas that they have. I’m very excited about the future of wrestling and NWA because I have nobody standing in my way with my crazy ideas.”
Rockstar Spud’s departure from Impact Wrestling:
“First off, I can’t believe they let him go. He’s one of the most talented people, literally can do anything. Let’s set aside his size, he’s obviously not a big guy but beyond his size. There isn’t anything he can’t do, he’s a great talker, ring technician he can put together a great match. Any spot you put him in. He really is a super talented guy.”
His lawsuit against Anthem:
“It gets super complicated with the lawsuit that I had filed because at that point anthem was on some sort of side of the fence, representing the interest of their own at that time. They were a minority owner called this company air-lux who was doing production and then Dixie Carter. Not saying they lined up against me with the lawsuit to be made to go away but it was anthem who settled the suit since they were taking over the company.”
Following Rockstar Spud’s recent departure from Impact Wrestling, the former X-Division Champion is expected to be joining WWE as part of the cruiserweight division.
To update the situation, PWInsider reports that Spud will be signing with the company once his visa paperwork is finalized.
205 Live lost Neville and Austin Aries this year, but Spud and NXT star Hideo Itami are being brought in to bolster the show.
Last week, former TNA President Dixie Carter posted a photo on Twitter with a group of Impact Wrestling wrestlers and staff members. This was a ‘farewell dinner’ held for Spud, who is heading back to the UK.
Former X Division Champion Rockstar Spud has reportedly been granted his release from Impact Wrestling. Both sides came to terms on a release about 2-3 weeks ago.
Spud joins the long list of recent departures from Impact that includes Taryn Terrell, Eddie Kingston, Robbie E, Jeff Jarrett and Reno Scum. He joined the company back in 2012 after winning the first season of their TV Reality Show British Bootcamp.
According to a report at PWInsider, WWE is interested in signing Spud and featuring him in the Cruiserweight division as part of 205 Live.
Spud last wrestled for Impact back in May this year when he competed in a street fight against Swoggle.
IMPACT/PROGRESS star Rockstar Spud has been popping up on more UK independent shows recently as his presence on GFW television has been somewhat diminished.
Spud has been using Twitter to push a new gimmick that materialised when he took a nasty bump to the head…Spud thinks that it is 2002 and he is just breaking in to the industry.
Check out some of the tweets below and tell us what you think of Spud’s new/old persona, brilliant or not?
PROGRESS will be making their way to the Orlando Live Events Center on March 31st as part of the WWNLive Experience 2017. As well as the planned PROGRESS vs EVOLVE super card the promotion will be hosting their own branded show at 12pm EST which will be available on iPPV: wwnlive.com/product/progress-wrestling-presents-progress-orlando-ippv-live-viewing-video-demand/
The full roster for PROGRESS’ first ever show in America has now been revealed:
PROGRESS Champion – Pete Dunne
Trent Seven
Zack Sabre Jr
PROGRESS Atlas Champion – Matt Riddle
Tyler Bate
Mark Andrews
Shane Strickland
Mark Haskins
South Pacific Power Trip (TK Cooper, Travis Banks and Dahlia Black
Toni Storm
Jinny
James Drake
Sami Callihan
Rockstar Spud
Jimmy Havoc
Tickets for the event are still available to purchase via morethanmania.com and if you’re in Orlando for Wrestlemania weekend then definitely try and make it to this event, you will not be disappointed.
Here are the results from PROGRESS Wrestling ‘Chapter 42: Life, The Universe & Wrestling‘ which took place at the O2 Academy in Birmingham, this was PROGRESS’ first ever show in the Midlands city.
Ringkampf (Axel Dieter Jr. & WALTER) b. The London Riots (James Davis & Rob Lynch) by Pinfall – wXw regulars Axel and Walter defeated the former PROGRESS tag team champs via pinfall
Jack Sexsmith b. Sebastian – Sexsmith defeated his longtime rival via pinfall
Jimmy Havoc b. Aleister Black (Tommy End) – Just hours before his official WWE debut Tommy End appeared in front of the PROGRESS crowd, he lost via pinfall to Havoc’s Acid Rainmaker
Natural Progression Series IV First Round Match – Alex Windsor b. Livvii Grace – Windsor won the match via pinfall to advance in the Natural Progression series to crown the first ever PROGRESS Women’s Champion.
The South Pacific Power Trip (TK Cooper & Travis Banks) b. The Origin (Dave Mastiff & El Ligero) – The ‘Banter Edition’ of the Origin lost to the SPPT via pinfall.
Spud b. Paul Robinson – TNA Star Rockstar Spud defeated Paul Robinson via pinfall, after the bout Robinson attacked Spud with a chair before being chased off by current rival Jimmy Havoc
PROGRESS Atlas Championship Match – Matt Riddle b. Rampage Brown – Riddle answered Rampage’s open challenge and won the bout to become only the second ATLAS champion in company history.
At this week’s Impact Wrestling tapings, Aron Rex and Rockstar Spud debuted new gimmicks. Spud appears to be playing the role as Rex’s valet. Spud was sporting a powder blue suite and cap. Rex’s new character is very flamboyant and he came down to the ring in a white fur coat.
– TNA has announced the company is returning to Universal Studios in Orlando July 12-14 for the next set of Impact Wrestling tapings. For information on VIP packages available, visit the link in the tweet below:
– Trevor Lee and Rockstar Spud have signed new deals with TNA. They join Abyss, Rosemary, Al Snow and DJ Zema Ion as talents who have recently signed new deals.
– This year’s Destination X edition of Impact Wrestling will air live (on a slight tape delay) July 12th from Universal Studios. The main event will see TNA World Champion Lashley defending against whoever theX Division Champion is at that time. Both titles will be on the line. To find out who Lashley’s opponent will be, check out the most recent tapings results:
– The following matches are scheduled for tonight’s edition of TNA Impact Wrestling:
* Matt Hardy vs. Bobby Roode (Tables Match)
* Magnus vs. Bram (Street Fight)
* Eric Young vs. Rockstar Spud (Chain Match)
* Dixie Carter announcing the next TNA Hall Of Fame inductee
– Likely due to the buzz surrounding Sting’s rumored WWE return, TNA has posted the following video looking at the TNA Hall Of Famer.
https://youtu.be/4bJntVI0LfA
– TNA also posted this video, which looks at Jeff Hardy’s paintings from the new “Humanomoly” DVD.
Rockstar Spud recently sat down for an interview with Tom Feaheny. Below are some of the highlights.
On his feud with EC3 and their fight in London: “We didn’t want to go in their and give a good match. What’s wrong with the pro wrestling business now a days is everyone wants to deliver a great match, five star wrestling match, with me that doesn’t draw money. What got me is the emotional connection between two characters to that moment there, the biggest moment in their Impact Wrestling careers. There I was bleeding and the crowd are going mad, that’s wrestling if not with your eyes, it’s love and hate, good vs. evil.”
On Billy Corgan: “He’s a good guy, he’s offering an opinion out of the wrestling bubble. I’ve had several chats with him and he’s a pro-wrestling fan, that’s what we all are. We could talk each other’s ear off and back in the day. He is a wonderful addition to the team, I’m looking forward to working more with him.”
On wrestling in 2016 in Birmingham during the UK tour: “I used to work by the arena in Birmingham, I used to stare out the window, dreaming of wrestling in it, EC3 V Rockstar Spud has not had it’s conclusion yet, if we go to Birmingham and he’s still champion I want EC3 V Rockstar Spud, I want to be the first Birmingham World Heavyweight Champion, the history we have is money, I’m throwing out the challenge now.”
On his next goal and who he would like to wrestle next: “For me the X-Division championship was a goal I have achieved, now it is time for a new goal. I want to be the World Heavyweight Champion, names I’d like to face Bram, Eric Young, Kurt Angle, Bobby Roode, guys we have on our roster are superior to anywhere else in the world.”
On plans for a British PPV: “It would be amazing if TNA got a PPV a Slammiversary, a Bound For Glory, Lockdown maybe, I know some things are in the pipeline, there are things in the works, we’ve already had a live PPV on British TV that was aired in the U.S., eventually there will be some great news.”
– Tonight’s edition of TNA Impact Wrestling on Destination America will feature the reveal of the new TNA authority figure. Also on tonight’s show are title defenses from TNA World Heavyweight Champion Ethan Carter III, TNA Knockouts Champion Taryn Terrell and TNA Tag-Team Champions The Wolves.
– TNA has a new article up on their official website, ImpactWrestling.com, focusing on Rockstar Spud granting a wish to a six-year old boy in the U.K. named Reegon. Reegon has been diagnosed with a life-threatening heart condition. The wish came through TNA’s partnership with the U.K.’s “Starlight Foundation.”
“I can honestly say that not one thing I’ve accomplished in wrestling or in any other aspect of my life will stand out above this day,” said Spud of the day he spent with Reegon.
– There has been speculation for a while now that Austin Aries will be leaving TNA when his contract expires. The news can now be confirmed, as Aries finished up with the promotion at the television tapings tonight, losing to Rockstar Spud in a “Loser Leaves Town” match. The match will be airing on either the July 29th or August 5th edition of Impact Wrestling.
– As reported earlier today, TNA inducted Jeff Jarrett into the TNA Hall Of Fame at the Impact Wrestling television taping on Friday night. Below is a photo from the ceremony held at the tapings.
TNA wrestler Rockstar Spud recently spoke with Marc Madison of The News Hub about his feud with Ethan Carter III, working alongside TNA President Dixie Carter and the evolution of the Rockstar Spud character. Below are some of the highlights from the interview.
On winning British Boot Camp: You can see that when they announced that I was the winner and I collapsed to the ground on my knees crying my eyes out that you know what it meant to me. You know, you know what it meant to me. It meant everything to me. It meant all my years of telling my friends that I’m not going out on a Saturday because I have to roll around in a wrestling ring. In their eyes, so you’re missing out family and for rolling around in a ring with a dude? Or oil and micro? Dude, you fight and perform man and nothing is going to happen. That’s all, I used to hear every day. I have friends go, hey man, why don’t you get a jacket on and come traveling with us? And do this and do that? I’m like guys, I don’t know why I know I just know there is a purpose for me I just got to stay. I’m going to stay the course. I really believe in this. I believe in myself. Even when my mom and dad say, you know you should really pack it in. I believed in myself. I didn’t feel like I was stupid anymore. It meant so much to me. So much.”
On training in Ohio Valley Wrestling: “Danny and Rip, if I did something wrong, I’d be going to Danny’s office and the only time I did something wrong the next day I had to choke down a lot of red wine. I got my punishment, I got my licks and off we go. Rip, was an interesting cat himself but was a pro wrestling genius an absolute genius and you can see it in his tweets he cares still to this day so much about pro wrestling. Anyone that want’s to learn what this business is about go and train there because it’s worth every penny. It was worth all the 10 months of waiting and hearing people’s frustration all the 10 months of just learning was so worth it. It was an amazing time.”
WWE performers Rusev and Lana attended the NHL playoff game between the Nashville Predators and the Chicago Blackhawks. The Predators went on to win the game 5-2. Rusev and Lana, who are a couple in real life, recently purchased a home in the Nashville area.
Lana tweeted the following photos of the couple at the game.
As it turns out, Rusev and Lana weren’t the only pro wrestlers in attendance at the game. In addition to the two WWE performers, several other notable names attended the game, including Jeff Jarrett, Eric Young, Rockstar Spud and Hacksaw Jim Duggan. Below are some photos of them at the game as well.
Following the TNA Tag-Team Championships being vacated by The Wolves due to an injury sustained by one-half of the former champions — Eddie Edwards — the belts will be up for grabs, as eight teams will compete in “Tag-Team Gold” to determine who advances to an Ultimate-X match to crown the new champions.
The “Tag-Team Gold” themed edition of Impact Wrestling airs tonight on Destination America with the following matches taking part on the show:
– The Hardy Boys (Matt Hardy & Jeff Hardy) vs The Revolution (James Storm & Koya)
– Dirty Heels (Austin Aries & Bobby Roode) vs. The Bro-Mans
– Mr. Anderson & Rockstar Spud vs. The BDC (Low Ki & Kenny King)
– Ethan Carter III & Bram vs. Tigre Uno & Jay Rios
With that in mind, Jeff and Matt, The Hardy Boys, have released a new video promo (which you can watch at the top of this page) regarding tonight’s “Tag-Team Gold” edition of Impact Wrestling.
Make sure to check back here at SEScoops.com later this evening for a complete Impact Wrestling report.
– After making their in-ring debuts on last night’s edition of TNA Impact Wrestling, Eli Drake (aka Shaun Ricker) and Micah (aka Camacho) have been added to TNA’s roster. The two, along with Drew Galloway, make up “The Rising” stable in TNA.
– The TNA Tag-Team titles have officially been vacated by The Wolves. On next Friday’s edition of Impact Wrestling, eight teams will battle for a spot in Ultimate X to crown the new champions. The teams involved will be The Hardys, James Storm & Khoya, Ethan Carter III & Bram, Rockstar Spud & Mr. Anderson, Austin Aries & Bobby Roode, Micah & Drew Galloway, Kenny King & Low Ki and BroMans.
– Below is a video preview for next week’s edition of Impact Wrestling on Destination America:
https://youtu.be/DusrUInc2w8
– TNA recently posted the following vignette for the upcoming debuts of Jade (aka Mia Yim) and Marti Belle.
The son of Eric Bischoff has not appeared for TNA since November 2013. His character was written off television after Mr. Anderson attacked Bischoff with a pile-driver in a measure of revenge on the Aces & Eights.
The latest episode of I’m With Spud is now online, titled “The Trial of Rockstar Spud vs. Robbie E Begins.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVc75I3rWYY
Gunner appears for Fusion Wrestling on Saturday, May 2 at Rappahannock High School 6914 Richmond Rd. Warsaw, Virginia. Click here for event details.
King, who is now a two-time X-Division Champion, defeated Rockstar Spud, Tigre Uno and Mark Andrews in a fatal-four-way ladder match to become the champion. Homicide interfered in the match, helping King pick up the win.
The match will air on Destination America at some point in late April.
TNA executive John Gaburick revealed on social media that both Rockstar Spud and Tyrus (the former “Brodus Clay”) have also re-signed with the company.
Below are Gaburick’s tweets making the announcements.