Week 6 of the NFL had one WWE Hall of Famer stopping by the forthcoming WrestleMania 41 grounds in Las Vegas and an AEW star becoming the “Twelfth Man” for his homestate Seattle Seahawks. Plus there’s some “mojo” going down with Rob Gronkowski and the actor playing him. Let’s kick it off.
Rey Mysterio Rocks Raiders Silver & Black
While last week’s write-up showcased the Steelers heavily, this week we have Rey Mysterio to thank for the spotlight being shown on their opponent in the Las Vegas Raiders. WWE is revving up to crash the Las Vegas strip next year at WrestleMania 41, but before they do they teased the fans a little with a special appearance by Mysterio, Titus O’Neil and Samatha Irvin (who actually sang the national anthem before the game).
Mysterio took photos before kickoff with some of the players and later with the fans, but it wasn’t enough for them to thwart Pittsburgh, who made Aidan O’Connell and the Raider offense walk the plank 32-13.
Pro wrestling became a factor in the very first game of week six when the Seattle Seahawks battled NFC East rival San Francisco in a Thursday night game. Considering AEW was in the area for their upcoming WrestleDream PPV on Saturday, AEW pillar Darby Allin popped by complete with his signature pink jacket. However, it was the 49ers who put the Coffin Drop on Seattle by winning 36-24.
Mojo Rawley ‘Gets Hyped’ For Gronk Actor In ‘Aaron Hernandez: American Sports Story’
Mojo Rawley (Dean Muhtadi) may not be grappling it up in the ring at the moment, but the former WWE star keeps busy being a notable TMZ personality. Rawley had some fun news to talk about this week as family and friendship collided this week in a viral moment involving FX’s dark story behind deceased NFL tight end, Aaron Hernandez. The show has created a lot of buzz with the portrayals of notable NFL names like Bill Belicheck and Robert Kraft, but a shining star is the one actor playing Rob Gronkowski.
Gronk notoriously has a history with WWE and is a former teammate of the aformentioned Rawley at the University of Maryland. However, both have ties to the actor playing Gronk, Laith Wallschleger. Laith is a former D1 from the University of Delaware (alma mater of Joe Flacco – Blue Hens!) before spending some time in the NFL until making the trip to Hollywood. He now finds steady work as a stuntman, voice actor and now got eyes as Gronkowski. During an interview with Kay Adams, Gronkowski actually revealed that Wallschleger is his acting double for everything he does and the two are good friends. Rawley noted that Laith is actually his cousin!
The good vibes from Laith didn’t translate for the actual Patriots on the field this week as they got stampeded by the Houston Texans 41-21.
Trevor Lee Celebrates A Ravens Win
Trevor Lee is currently a free agent in the world of pro wrestling, but he was flying to the moon during the Baltimore Ravens game against in-state adversary the Washington Commanders. For many, the game may have been tighter than expected, but the Ravens rode the legs Derrick Henry who trounced the Commanders in an effort to win by just a touchdown. Lee had a video of himself celebrating at the game following the team’s fourth straight win.
Trevor Lee (formerly Cameron Grimes) has expressed his interest in every promotion after being released from WWE in April. However, he has specifically mentioned AEW as his possible future destination.
During K&S WrestleFest virtual signing, Lee discussed his exit from WWE. The former NXT North American Champion stated that it was all about the timing. While he believes it was unfortunate, he knows that pro wrestling never ceases. He highlighted the fact that wrestling shows take place all around the year. The former Cameron Grimes made it clear that he will be back on TV shortly.
A handful of WWE wrestlers have jumped ship to AEW in the past. There has been speculation that Lee might follow suit. He recognized how AEW has made an impact on the wrestling world since its inception in 2019 and wouldn’t rule out signing with the promotion. He said:
“I have interest in absolutely every company. But, I do have interest in AEW. Why wouldn’t I? It’s doing what they’re supposed to do and it’s shocking the culture and it’s stirring up a firestorm that is the new era of wrestling so, of course.”
What’s next for Trevor Lee?
Lee is scheduled to appear in Black Label Pro promotion for the first time. He will be making his debut for the Indiana-based promotion at BLP Old Habits Die Screaming at the Logan Square Auditorium in Chicago, Illinois on July 26. This will mark his first appearance for any promotion since his release from WWE.
Meanwhile, Elevation Pro Wrestling has also announced that Lee will appear at the promotion’s Homecoming event on July 27.
?SHOW ANNOUNCEMENT?
Elevation Pro Wrestling presents:
“HOMECOMING ”
Join us as we WELCOME HOME former WWE superstar TREVOR LEE!
??: Saturday JULY 27, 2024
?: Elevation Pro Wrestling Arena 599 S. Railroad St. Lexington, NC 27292
Cameron Grimes has said that diving nose-first into his popular ‘To the Moon’ character made him recognize that his chances in WWE weren’t promising.
Grimes was amongst those released from WWE as part of the first wave of cuts under the promotion’s new era. The former NXT North American Champion shared news of his release in an emotional video on social media.
The 30-year-old wrestler’s arguable peak in WWE came during his ‘To the Moon’ phase which saw Grimes become incredibly wealthy thanks to GameStop stock. On Busted Open Radio, however, Grimes revealed how learning more about business only made him realize his future wasn’t looking good.
“Starting the stock market gimmick, it made me see businesses in a different light. Following these companies and playing with stocks. I would see things in a different light. So I knew [after being called up] that I hadn’t worked in over a year and I’m making a decent salary. So I knew that if somebody was to look at the books, I’m going to be the first person who’s going to be cut.”
It’s currently unclear as to why Grimes was released, but it may indeed be a case of somebody looked at the books. Now, Grimes will continue to work as Trevor Lee but will have to wait until July before he can work elsewhere. The talented wrestler has a history with TNA, where he is a former X-Division champion, but it’s possible AEW could give him a call when the time is right. Whatever the future holds, Grimes will be able to appreciate the business machinations of what’s to come.
More on Cameron Grimes
Here are some recent articles about Cameron Grimes and how news of his release from WWE came as a shock to those still with the promotion:
For the use of quotes, please give an H/T to SE Scoops.
Several NXT wrestlers are now listed under different names on the WWE Performance Center website. Wrestlers Trevor Lee, Adrian Jaoude, Luke Menzies, Jessie Elaban, and Eric Bugenhagen are now listed by their new WWE ring names.
Trevor Lee is now Cameron Grimes
In St Petersburg FL for @WWENXT. Can’t explain the journey for both of us in a tweet but I’m so proud of @TLee910 for all that he has accomplished. pic.twitter.com/HMS1LcZqV7
Former X-Division champion Trevor Lee Caddell is now Cameron Grimes. It’s possible Grimes took his new first name from the city he’s from, Cameron, North Carolina.
Brazilian-Lebanese wrestler Adrian Jaoude is now known by the name Arturo Ruas. He often teams with Cezar Bonani at NXT live events.
Luke Menzies is now Ridge Holland
Former professional rugby league player Luke Menzies will no longer go by his real name in NXT. Assigned to the NXT UK brand, Menzies will now go by the name Ridge Holland.
Jessie Elaban is now Jessi Kamea
Jessi Kamea competed in the Mae Young Classic last year and most recently lost to Vanessa Borne on an episode of NXT last month.
Eric Bugenhagen is now Rik Bugez
Bugenhagen made a big splash in his NXT debut but will now go under a different name. Rik Bugez will now be the in-ring name for the Superstar. Bugez has wrestled just one match on NXT programming, a loss to Drew Gulak.
Former Impact Wrestling X-Division Champion Trevor Lee made his in-ring debut under the WWE NXT banner. He did so by taking on NXT UK star Luke Menzies in the opening match at the NXT live event on Friday in Dade City, FL at the Dade City Armory.
He lost to Menzies in a singles match. He was part of the recently announced Performance Center recruiting class and has been training at the facility since then in Orlando, Florida in order to get used to the WWE style that Triple H implements to all new talent.
Outside of being an X-Division Champion, Lee was also an Impact World Tag Team Champion and OMEGA Heavyweight Champion and held titles in AAW, and PWG.
WWE has officially announced the new class of Performance Center recruits. On Monday afternoon, the company confirmed that several new talents are now training at the facility located in Orlando, Florida.
Those talents have some notable names including former Impact Wrestling stars Trevor Lee and Samuel Shaw, as well as ex-ROH (Ring of Honor) stars, ACH and Karen Q.
Also listed as athletes who signed with WWE are Australian wrestlers Jonah Rock and Elliot Sexton, second-generation star Rachael Ellering, former CHIKARA stars tag team 3.0, former Syracuse football player Omari Palmer, Nick Comoroto, and Ricardo Miller.
WWE made the announcement by sharing this photo on their official Twitter account:
Today at the @WWEPC, we welcomed the newest class of recruits. @karenmeee, @RachaelEllering, @TLee910, @GoGoACH, @TheSamuelShaw, @Jagged3point0, @BigMagic3point0, @ElliotSextonAUS, @Jonah_Rock, Nick Comoroto, Omari Palmer and Ricardo Miller. pic.twitter.com/Ensviqw3bI
Lee was under contract with Impact from 2015 – 2019 where he found success that saw him become an X-Division Champion three times and a Tag Team Champion once. On the flip side, Shaw was under contract with TNA (now known as Impact Wrestling) from 2010 – 2015 where he won the Gut Check competition.
The WWE is expected to make a formal announce via a press release shortly.
It’s that time of year when WWE welcomes a new class of NXT recruits to the performance center in Orlando, Florida. In recent weeks, we’ve been hearing about some familiar names from ROH, New Japan, Impact and the independent scene will be participating. An exclusive report from Raj Giri at WrestlingINC confirms several members of the new class.
We recently reported on Trevor Lee not only leaving Impact Wrestling but announcing he had officially signed with WWE. The former X-Division champion begins his new journey at the WWE Performance Center in February. He won’t be alone, however, as he will be joined a number of other notable names.
Rachael Ellering, daughter to Paul Ellering, will also be starting. Rachael has actually had experience performing for NXT and was a part of the 2017 and 2018 Mae Young Classic.
Karen Q, who has been making strides for herself as a part of ROH’s Women Of Honor, is another member of this new rookie group. She also competed in the 2018 Mae Young Classic.
Perhaps one the most notable names to be joining them come February is ACH. ACH has experience performing all around the world, most notably for both ROH and NJPW. He has performed in both New Japan’s ‘Best of the Super Juniors’ tournament as well as the Super Jr. Tag Tournament.
Rounding out the group of NXT’s newest signees are former TNA Gut Check winner, Sam Shaw, Scott Parker and Shane Matthews, Jonah Rock, Elliot Sexton, and Nick Comoroto.
Who do you think WWE has their eyes on? Who’s going to be the stand out amongst this stacked group?
Former Impact Wrestling star Trevor Lee has bid his farewell from PWG (Pro Wrestling Guerrilla) following their Hand Of Doom event at the Globe Theatre in Los Angeles, California on Friday night.
Earlier this week, Lee revealed during a CWF Mid-Atlantic show that he would be headed to the WWE where he’ll likely sign and be featured in the company’s developmental system, NXT.
At the PWG show, he took on PWG Champion Jeff Cobb in the main event, which saw Cobb win and retain his title. After the match, Lee grabbed the microphone to cut a farewell speech that led to an ovation by the fans in attendance.
After months of rumors, Trevor Lee says he ha officially signed with WWE. The former Impact Wrestling X-Division Champion dropped the news on Saturday night at the CWF Mid-Atlantic event in Gibsonville, North Carolina.
Trevor Lee was trained by Matt and Jeff Hardy. He wrestled for various independent promotions including OMEGA Championship Wrestling and Pro Wrestling Guerrilla (PWG) before joining Impact Wrestling in 2015, where he was a 3-time X-Division Champion.
Lee announced his free agency earlier this month. He is the reigning CWF Mid-Atlantic Champion. His next title defense will be a 6-pack-challenge at CWF Mid-Atlantic’s February 2nd show.
Back in November, Lee told Sports Illustrated that he’d love to land with either WWE or New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW):
“I would love to go to WWE or New Japan,” Lee said. “I’ve done a lot in the United States in terms of big independent companies, I’ve wrestled in Mexico, Canada, England, and India, but I’d love to go to Japan. …
“I’m not chasing my father’s dreams, but I do want to do something for him. And it’s for me, as well. Ultimately, I would like to go to WWE. That’s the dream. It’s always something my father really wanted for me.”
Trevor Lee is expected to begin training at the WWE Performance Center in the coming weeks and will be a strong addition to the NXT brand.
Rumors have been circling Trevor Lee, especially in relation to his interest in WWE. It is speculated that he is a part of their new batch of signees. This new group are expected to be announced this month.
The wrestling industry is on a fascinating precipice at this point in time. With promotions attempting to step up their game to compete with WWE and their growing disillusioned fanbase, independent wrestling has been going from strength to strength over the past few years.
With genuine alternatives such as New Japan Pro Wrestling, Ring Of Honor, and the newly announced All Elite Wrestling, there are an undeniable amount of options available for not only wrestling fans but the wrestlers themselves.
Trevor Lee says that he would love to work for the WWE and it has been his dream to do so.
Speaking to Sports Illustrated, the former Impact X Division Champion said that he is keen on signing with the WWE or New Japan Pro Wrestling after he becomes a free agent in January.
“I would love to go to WWE or New Japan,” Lee told SI. “I’ve done a lot in the United States in terms of big independent companies, I’ve wrestled in Mexico, Canada, England, and India, but I’d love to go to Japan.”
The 25 year-old has worked with Pro Wrestling Guerilla since 2014 and has been in the ring with names such as the Young Bucks, Kevin Owens, and Cody Rhodes. He believes the best work that he’s done yet hasn’t been on TV and he wants his fans to see the real Trevor Lee.
“The best work that I’ve ever done in my life has never been on TV. My TV work has been to help the product, but outside of that is where you see the real Trevor Lee.”
Lee’s says he wants to do something for his father the late Tracy Caddell, who was the co-founder of the OMEGA Championship Wrestling promotion.
“I’m not chasing my father’s dreams, but I do want to do something for him,” said Lee. “And it’s for me, as well. Ultimately, I would like to go to WWE.
“That’s the dream. It’s always something my father really wanted for me. He was actually an extra the first time the Hardy Boyz won the tag team titles in Fayetteville. He was an extra in the segment before that, the one with the APA. My father was very much in love with the business.”
He also revealed that he is willing to try anything and wouldn’t mind giving 205 Live a shot too.
“I’m willing to try anything,” said Lee. “I wouldn’t mind wrestling in the 205 Live scene. It’s a good spot with great talent, I like those matches. I feel like I can compete in the top guy scene, too. Guys like Rollins and Balor aren’t that big, and I feel like I could be right there with them.
3x former Impact X-Division Champion, Trevor Lee, has departed Impact Wrestling. According to a report from PW Insider, there is interested from WWE in bringing him in as well.
“Former Impact Wrestling X-Division and Tag Team Champion Trevor Lee, 25 years old, has departed the promotion,” reported PW Insider. “Lee gave notice to the promotion that he was finishing up. We have confirmed with several sources there is WWE interest in bringing Lee into the WWE NXT system.”
Trevor Lee WWE Bound?
25-year-old Trevor Lee is from Cameron, North Carolina. He was trained by two famous brothers from the area, Matt & Jeff Hardy when he was still only a teenager.
After wrestling on the independents, Lee would align with another North Carolina wrestling name, Gregory Helms, as part of “the Helms Dynasty” in 2016. In the summer of 2017, he then formed “the Cult of Lee” in Impact Wrestling. He served as a mentor of sorts for Caleb Konley.
Lee is also the son of Tracey Caddell, a wrestler/promoter who helped form OMEGA with Matt Hardy. Unfortunately, Caddell passed away earlier this year.
Update: Trevor Lee tweeted the following on Friday afternoon in response to reports that he is leaving Impact Wrestling.
Here are the results from PWG’s latest event Nice Boys (Don’t Play Rock N’ Roll) from the world famous American Legion Post 335 in Reseda, California:
Brian Cage b. Keith Lee & Sami Callihan – Cage won the bout after hitting a Falcon Arrow on Keith Lee
Chosen Bros (Jeff Cobb and Matt Riddle) b. Jake and Dave Crist – Riddle took the win for his team after making Crist tap out to the Bromission
Lio Rush b. Trevor Lee – Rush won the match with a small package counter
Shane Strickland b. Dezmond Xavier – Strickland won the match after hitting a Cuerno Killer
Best Friends (Chuck Taylor & Trent?) b. PWG World Champion Zack Sabre Jr. and Marty Scurll – Trent? Won the match for his team after hitting Sabre Jr with a Cradle Piledriver. After the match Sabre and Scurll powerbombed Chuck into chairs
PWG Tag Team Title Match – Rey Fenix and Penta El Zero M b. The Young Bucks and Ricochet & Matt Sydal – Fenix and Penta are the new PWG Tag Team Champions after hitting a Cradle Piledriver in to a Destroyer on Ricochet.
Here are the results from Revolution Pro Wrestling’s first York Hall show of the year. The promotion has been growing rapidly in popularity over the past year and with this absolutely stacked card that trend looks set to continue:
RPW Interim British Cruiserweight Championship Match:Josh Bodom b. Ryan Smile – Bodom took the win via pinfall to become the Interim Crusierweight Champion. The Interim title has been introduced as current champion Will Ospreay is tied up with New Japan & Ring of Honor commitments
RPW Undisputed British Tag Team Championship Match: Joel Redman & Charlie Sterling b. War Machine – Redman and Sterling took the win to retain their titles after hitting a spinning tombstone on Rowe
YOSHI-HASHI b. Pete Dunne – YOSHI-HASHI took the win after hitting the Karma
Zack Sabre Jr. b. Marty Scurll – Sabre took the win after avoiding a Crossface Chickenwing attempt and rolling Scurll up for the three count
Trent Seven b. Trevor Lee – Seven took the win after hitting his second Snap Piledriver of the match to take the pinfall
Jay White b. Martin Stone – NJPW Young Lion Jay White took the upset win after making Stone tap with a Boston Crab
RPW Undisputed British Heavyweight Championship Match: Katsuyori Shibata b. Matt Riddle – In what was easily the MOTN Shibata retained his title using a rear naked choke. Shibata will now defend his belt against Will Ospreay at the NJPW New Beginning show in February
Rev Pro have announced more matches for their January show in the world famous York Hall in Bethnal Green, London. Having already announced two huge bouts in Riddle/Shibata and Scurll/Sabre Jr the mid card for the event is also starting to shape up nicely:
Here are the results from the third and final night of PWG’s annual BOLA Tournament:
BOLA Tournament Quarter Final Matches
Trevor Lee b. Dalton Castle – Trevor Lee took the win via pinfall after hitting a Canadian Destroyer
Ricochet b. John Bennigan – Ricochet hit the 630 splash to advance in the tournament
Marty Scurll b. Cody Rhodes – Scurll hit a low blow and followed with a quick roll up to secure the pinfall victory
Mark Andrews b. Chris Hero – Andrews reversed a cradle attempt to take the victory in a rematch from PROGRESS’ Super Strong Style 16 tournament
Mark Haskins b. Kyle O’Reilly – Haskins took the win via submission
Will Ospreay b. Zack Sabre Jr – Ospreay took the win after reversing a European Clutch into a pinfall
PWG Tag Team Title Match:The Young Bucks (c) b. Pentagon Jr & Fenix
BOLA Tournament Semi-Final Matches
Trevor Lee b. Mark Andrews – Lee took the win after hitting a small package driver
Marty Scurll b. Mark Haskins – Scurll took the submission win after applying the Crossface Chickenwing
Will Ospreay b. Ricochet – Ospreay hit the OsCutter to win via pinfall in this Best of the Super Juniors rematch
10 Man Tag:Jushin Thunder Liger, Chuck Taylor, Jeff Cobb, Tommy End & Cedric Alexander b. Tommaso Ciampa, Sami Callihan, Matt Riddle, Pete Dunne & Brian Kendrick – Liger hit the Brainbuster on Pete Dunne to secure the pinfall win for his team
Marty Scurll b. Will Ospreay & Trevor Lee – Ospreay is the first to be eliminated after a Chickenwing/Stomp combination from both Scurll and Lee. Scurll wins the tournament by making Lee tap to the Chickenwing.
– 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.
Nashville-based model and branding specialist McKenszie Mitchell is now handling the weekly Impact Breakview segment, looking back on this week’s episode.
Following Impact, here’s the final card for Sunday’s Slammiversary PPV:
TNA Champion Drew Galloway vs. Bobby Lashley (Submission or KO only)
Jeff Hardy vs. Matt Hardy (Full Metal Mayhem)
Knockouts Champion Jade vs. Sienna
Tag Team Champions The Decay vs. The Bromans
X-Division Champion Trevor Lee vs. Eddie Edwards vs. DJ Zema vs. Andrew Everett
King of the Mountain champion Eli Drake vs. Bram
Mike Bennett vs. EC3
Maria Kanellis vs. Gail Kim
Grado & Mahabali Shera vs. The Tribunal (with Al Snow)
Trevor Lee defeated Tigre Uno on last night’s Impact Wrestling to become the new X Division Champion. Lee previously held the TNA Tag Team Titles with Brian Myers (Curt Hawkins), but this is his first singles run with the company. Lee had former WWE and WCW star Shane Helms in his corner.
Helms, who also works backstage for TNA, tweeted the following after last night’s win and says he’s here to fire up the X Division:
And just like that … People are talking about the X-Division again!! @TLee910 is gonna dominate!
TNA switched another title during their television tapings in Bethlehem this weekend, as Trevor Lee defeated Tigre Uno to become the new TNA X-Division Champion in a match that is expected to air on the February 2nd edition of Impact Wrestling on POP TV.
Lee has held the TNA Tag-Team titles with Curt Hawkins in the past, however this is the first time he has had a run with a singles title in TNA.
The angle in this one saw Shane Helms come out to challenge Uno for the X-Division title after weeks of teasing that he was coming for it, only to introduce Uno’s real opponent — Trevor Lee.
– Trevor Lee turned down an opportunity to work at the TNA Wrestling live event in Salem, Virginia on October 3rd. Lee turned down the show so that he would be able to appear instead for CWF, an independent show that took place in Gibsonville, North Carolina. That is apparently where Lee got his start in the business. Lee did end up working the Bound For Glory event later in the weekend in the same state.
– Sony SIX is financing the upcoming TNA tour of India, which will feature some taped episodes of Impact Wrestling, as part of a deal with the promotion to push Mahabali Shera, an Indian talent.
– The following are some recent TNA attendance figures:
* October 2nd in Beckley, West Virginia drew around 250 people
* October 3rd in Salem, Virginia drew 450 fans
* October 4th in Charlotte for Bound For Glory drew 1,800 fans with heavy papering
– There were two title changes on last night’s episode of Impact Wrestling. Global force Wrestling stars Trevor Lee and Brian Myers defeated The Wolves to become the new TNA Tag Team Champions. The Wolves will get their title rematch next week.
Bobby Roode also defeated GFW’s PJ Black to become the new TNA King of the Mountain Champion.
– TNA announcer Josh Mathews and TNA Knockout Madison Rayne were married in Nashville last week.