SEScoops

Author: Andrew Ravens

  • Former ROH Stars Attend Tuesday’s WWE NXT (Photo)

    ROH went on hiatus in 2021 after the Final Battle pay-per-view event, which opened the doors for many contracted wrestlers to sign up with promotions, including WWE, AEW, Impact Wrestling, NWA, and NJPW. AEW\’s Tony Khan purchased the company earlier this year but didn\’t bring everyone back. 

    Several former ROH stars are on WWE’s radar once again, as Vincent and Dutch were spotted in attendance at WWE NXT on Tuesday night. 

    It’s unclear why WWE brought the two stars to the show or whether they have signed with the promotion, but with them being in attendance, it would indicate that they’re close to signing if they haven’t done so already. 

    In October, it was reported that WWE had discussed having them part of Bray Wyatt\’s rumored Wyatt 6 faction. 

    In Attendance

    \"\"

    Former Impact Wrestling star KC Navarro was in attendance as well. As noted, Navarro attended the WWE tryouts earlier on Tuesday. Former Impact Wrestling star Kylie Rae attended the tryouts as well. 

    Vincent and Dutch are the former Ring of Honor World Six-Man Tag Team Champions, which they co-held alongside Matt Taven as part of The Kingdom. When the promotion went on hiatus, members of The Kingdom showed up in Impact Wrestling as part Honor No More.

    WWE typically announces a new group of signees at once, so an announcement will likely come in the next few weeks about who has signed with the company. 

  • ‘Iron Claw\’ Von Erich Biopic Casts Its Harley Race

    Kevin Anton has joined the cast of A24’s “The Iron Claw,\” a movie about the rise and fall of the Von Erich family. 

    He will portray legendary wrestler Harley Race. Anton recently appeared in Showtime’s seven-part limited series, “The Loudest Voice,” based on a bestselling book about Roger Ailes, the founder of Fox News.

    He will also be featured in the upcoming Amazon series, Dead Ringers, starring Rachel Weisz. Anton is represented by Stefanie Talent and Entertainment.

    Rest of The Cast

    \"Harley
    Harley Race

    Zac Efron (Kevin Von Erich), Jeremy Allen White (Kerry), Harris Dickinson (David), Holt McCallany (Fritz Von Erich), Maura Tierney (Doris Von Erich), Aaron Dean Eisenberg (Ric Flair), AEW‘s MJF (Lance Von Erich) and Lily James in an unknown role make up the rest of the cast.  

    The film is written and directed by award-winning filmmaker Sean Durkin. A24 and Access Industries are co-financing the film. Producing alongside A24 are Tessa Ross, Derrin Schlesinger, and Harrison Huffman. The Iron Claw began principal photography beginning in Louisiana in October. 

    Although no release date has been announced for the movie, production is currently underway, and the film will premiere sometime in 2023.

  • Update on Plans for WWE’s Return to India

    WWE is slated to return to India for the first time since 2017 next year. 

    It was previously reported that WWE has plans to run a show on a \”grand scale\” in Hyderabad, India, and would consist of \”a mix of superstars, both Indian and international.\”

    As part of WWE’s deal with Sony Pictures Networks India, WWE previously held an Indian show, Superstar Spectacle, on January 22, 2021, that aired five days later to coincide with India’s Republic Day.

    The Latest

    \"Triple

    Pwinsider.com provided an update on the show as the date of the show will be Wednesday, January 18, 2023, from the G.M.C. Balayogi Sports Complex, an indoor stadium in Hyderabad with a capacity of 5,000 people. 

    It’s expected to feature SmackDown talent mostly. It’s unclear whether WWE plans to air the show as a special on Peacock, tape it for the local market, or just have it as a house show. 

    The Superstar Spectacle special was billed as “a unique showcase of Indian-inspired action,” which also featured elements of Indian culture and was headlined by Drew McIntyre and The Indus Sher (Rinku and Saurav) defeating The Bollywood Boyz (Samir Singh and Sunil Singh) and Jinder Mahal.

  • MLW Star Richard Holliday Vows to Beat Cancer

    Richard Holliday has provided an update on his status as he is battling cancer. 

    While speaking to Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated, the MLW star revealed that he\’s battling Hodgkin’s lymphoma and is halfway through chemotherapy.

    “It’s been a whirlwind,” said Holliday. “You never expect this will happen to you. I took such pride in my health, so to get news like this was quite shocking.”

    In June, he started experiencing a vicious bout of night sweats. His last match happened on June 23 when he challenged Alex Hammerstone for the MLW World Heavyweight Title in Falls Count Anywhere match at the MLW Fusion tapings.

    The Details

    Holliday recalled the match and noted he was taking Dayquil to try to get through every day. He said that he felt off, and when he got home, he was freezing and pale white when he left after a month. 

    In July, he experienced severe dizzy spells and went to the emergency room, where his iron and hemoglobin were dangerously low to the point doctors thought he was anemic. He began taking iron pills to counter that, but his levels continued to check. 

    “They checked if I had internal bleeding, which I didn’t, and then they ran a litany of tests and a scan of my body for a possible case of lymphoma in September. Those tests confirmed it was Hodgkin’s lymphoma. It was earth-shattering, devastating. But I knew right then I needed to change my mindset. The mind powers the body, so I needed to stay positive. I was reassured by my doctor that I could beat this, and I believe I am going to beat this. My plan is not to lose to lymphoma; my plan is to inspire people. I’m going to come out of this stronger, and I’m going to let people know they can beat it, too.”

    Holliday stated that he doesn\’t know when he will return to the ring but is adamant that he will beat cancer as he can’t stop thinking about making a return to in-ring action. 

  • Female Bodybuilder Offered WWE Contract

    WWE is holding talent tryouts at the Performance Center this week in Orlando, Florida, as the company looks to sign new talent and hopes to find its next breakout star. 

    The company also held a two-day tryout in Tampa, Florida, recently. The company has a new recruitment strategy to find talent as they scout former college athletes and established independent wrestlers. 

    Among those in attendance was Melanie Brzezenski, a bodybuilder from the University of Tampa, and former USF football player Darrien Grant.

    Preparation 

    \"\"
    December 1, 2022, Bradenton, Florida, USA: Melanie Brzezinski, of Tampa, performs her group promo for judges during a WWE tryout event at the IMG Academy East Campus on Thursday, Dec. 1, 2022, in Bradenton. Bradenton USA – ZUMAs70_ 0195985803st Copyright: xJeffereexWoox

    “I got a personal trainer back in July, and I said to him that I have one goal and one goal only,” Brzezenski told ABC Action News. “That is to get into the WWE.”

    Brzezenski, who goes by “Rosie Ray,’’ applied six times to qualify for a tryout. She was offered a WWE developmental contract after trying out.  

    Former WWE Champion Big E helped evaluate the talent as he is still recovering from suffering a broken neck earlier this year. 

    “We’re putting them through the paces of rolling in the ring, hitting the ropes, doing the bumps, and see how they react, seeing how they learn day-to-day,” he said. “But also, we’re seeing them on the microphone, seeing how their promos are. That’s a huge part of it. That’s what we do is having these larger-than-life characters.”

    Former AEW/Impact star Kylie Rae and former MLW talent K.C. Navarro are taking part in the tryout this week in Orlando, Florida. 

  • WWE NXT is Returning to The Road for Future Premium Live Events

    When the COVID-19 pandemic happened in 2020, WWE held its events at the Performance Center as the world shut down. 

    WWE NXT has made the Performance Center its home since then, but it looks like the brand will be taken on the road for big events starting in February. 

    According to WrestleVotes, the \”Vengeance Day\” Premium Live Event will take place in Charlotte, NC. The Twitter account tweeted out the following: 

    Taking The Show on The Road

    \"Shawn
    (WWE)

    \”Hearing some great news out of the PC this afternoon, source states NXT is returning to the road for their future Premium Live Events. Starting with “Vengeance Day” on February 4th from Charlotte, NC.\”

    It’s unclear the venue that the brand will use for the show, although it’s likely to be booked at a smaller venue. In October, Shawn Michaels, who oversees creative for the brand, stated that WWE had no plans to book large buildings like they had been a few years ago for TakeOver shows. 

    WWE will present its Deadline special this Saturday with the main event of NXT Champion Bron Breakker defending the belt against Apollo Crews.

  • Watch: \’Woooooo! Becoming Ric Flair\’ Documentary Trailer

    The premiere date is set for the upcoming documentary on the life and career of Ric Flair. 

    Peacock announced that \”Becoming Ric Flair\” will premiere on December 26 on Peacock. The two-hour documentary is a partnership between WWE and Tom Rinaldi.

    “Many stories have been told about The Nature Boy over the past 50 years,” said Flair, “I’m thrilled to have partnered with WWE and Peacock to produce the most accurate depiction of my life to date and hope audiences enjoy the ride. Woooo!”

    Here\’s the official trailer for Woooooo! Becoming Ric Flair:

    What to Expect

    Flair has previously said the documentary would be better than his ESPN 30 For 30 documentary and that the \”bullsh*t\” from Dark Side of the Ring would be addressed. 

    Flair came under fire after the Dark Side of the Ring episode aired because of Flair’s alleged behavior towards a flight attendant Heidi Doyle on the trip. Flair was accused of taking his clothes off and forcing himself on her. 

    “16-time World Champion and 2-time WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair is one of the most prolific and controversial superstars in professional wrestling history. Flair is a true American icon: from his famous “Woooo” that is still heard in stadiums and arenas throughout the US, to his influence on hip hop music.

    At 73 years-old Flair remains a constant in American pop culture, but who is the real man behind the outrageous persona? Finally, Flair reveals all, opening up about his storied career, inside and outside of the ring, over the last 50 years.

    Hulk Hogan, Mike Tyson, Post Malone, Stephen A. Smith, and Charlotte Flair are among those who join Flair in telling the tale of the man behind ‘The Man.’”

    Flair and WWE parted ways in August 2021 after he requested his release.

  • Sasha Banks\’ Latest Trademark Covers \’Performances by an Actor or Musician\’

    Sasha Banks (Mercedes Varnado) has secured some interesting trademarks that provide some insight into her future plans. The trademarks were registered on behalf of her company, Soulnado, Inc., which was formed in August 2022.

    According to the United States Patent and Trademark Office database, Soulnado, Inc. filed to trademark the following names on November 10:

    • Mercedes Mone\’
    • Mone\’ Talks
    • Bank Mone\’
    • Statement Maker 

    The filings are clearly not WWE-related. The trademarks are listed for categories such as jewelry, decals, clothing, action figures, and entertainment services.

    Performances by an Actor or Musician

    Last week (December 1), she applied to trademark her real name, Mercedes Varnado.

    The \’Goods and Services\’ usage description provides some interesting clues about what she\’s planning for her professional career. There are some references to wrestling, but most of the description covers \’live performances by an actor or musician.\’

    • Entertainment services in the nature of live audio performances by an actor or musician;
    • Entertainment services in the nature of live visual and audio performances by an actor;
    • Entertainment services in the nature of live visual and audio performances by an actor or musician;
    • Entertainment in the nature of wrestling contests;
    • Entertainment services, namely, wrestling exhibits and performances by a professional wrestler and entertainer;
    • Entertainment services, namely, live appearances by a professional wrestler, actor, and musician;
    • Entertainment services, namely, personal appearances by a professional wrestler, actor, and musician; Entertainment services, namely, providing music tours in the nature of live musical performances;

    Last month, Banks posted a cryptic video that teased, \”there\’s going to be something so f***ing crazy coming\” in the very near future.

    She recently completed work on her first feature film.

  • Cain Velasquez Working Additional Dates With AAA (Report)

    Cain Velasquez’s run with Lucha Libre AAA is set to continue after wrestling this past weekend at AAA’s live event in Arizona while out of jail on a $1 million bail.

    Velasquez requested permission for him to wrestle at the show because the event was held at his alma mater, Arizona State University. He had to take and pay for a law enforcement officer with him on the trip to make it happen.

    In a trios bout, he teamed with Blue Demon Jr. and Pagano to defeat Gringo Loco, Sam Adonis & Taurus.

    More Dates

    \"Cain
    Cain Velasquez

    Wrestling Inc reports that the two sides are set to work together for further dates as Velasquez has reached a verbal agreement with the promotion where he is slated to do five shows with the option of wrestling at more beyond that. 

    It is a per-appearance agreement with no full-time deal yet agreed to, and Velasquez is “in the mix” to work their upcoming show in Carson, California, on WrestleMania weekend.

    The former UFC Heavyweight Champion/former WWE star is facing attempted murder charges stemming from a February incident. He allegedly chased down a man and fired a weapon into a truck that contained several people. In the vehicle was a man who allegedly sexually assaulted both his child and one of his relatives.

  • The Usos Wins PWI Tag Team 100 for the First Time

    Pro Wrestling Illustrated officially announced that its PWI Tag Team 100 list has been finalized, and The Usos have been named the No. 1 tag team in the professional wrestling world for the year.

    The list was expanded from 50 to 100 teams for 2022. This marks the first time The Usos earned the honor and the first time a WWE team was honored.  

    The award was first introduced in 2020, and over the past two years, it was won by AEW\’s FTR and The Young Bucks. The Young Bucks (Matt & Nick Jackson) were ranked #1 in 2021, while The Usos were #4.

    FTR had a strong argument to win the award again this year as they’re the current ROH, IWGP, and AAA Tag Team Champions. However, it’s hard to argue that the accomplishments Jimmy and Jey didn’t make them the best tag team in the world. 

    The Usos\’ Run

    They unified the Raw and SmackDown Tag Team Championships and broke The New Day\’s record for the longest tag title reign in WWE history as they surpassed 500 consecutive days last week.

    The Usos competed against the likes of RK-Bro (Matt Riddle & Randy Orton), The Street Profits (Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins), The New Day (Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods), and more while being part of The Bloodline alongside Roman Reigns during the evaluation period.

    They defended the titles on Monday Night Raw against Matt Riddle and Kevin Owens. 

  • Drew McIntyre Pulled From Title Match on Friday’s WWE SmackDown

    Drew McIntyre has revealed that he is not medically qualified to compete at this week’s WWE SmackDown.

    The former WWE Champion was slated to team with Sheamus to challenge the winners of the Undisputed Tag Team Championship match on tonight’s Raw between The Usos and Matt Riddle & Elias this Friday night on SmackDown. 

    The Announcement

    \"Drew

    He promised to return soon because he doesn’t like missing shows. However, he didn’t provide any specifics as to what the exact issue is. McIntyre wrote the following: 

    “Unfortunately I am medically disqualified to compete this Friday on #Smackdown. I don’t like to miss any shows as everybody knows but I promise I’ll be back soon.”

    His last televised match was at Survivor Series in the Men\’s WarGames match when the Bloodline (Jey Uso, Jimmy Uso, Roman Reigns, Sami Zayn & Solo Sikoa) defeated McIntyre, Kevin Owens & The Brawling Brutes (Butch, Ridge Holland & Sheamus). His last match happened on November 27 in a six-man tag team match at a house show. 

    Shayna Baszler (w/Ronda Rousey) vs. Shotzi (w/Raquel Rodriguez) and Kurt Angle’s birthday celebration is still advertised for this week’s SmackDown from the PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA.

    We wish the best to McIntyre and hope to see him back in the ring soon. 

  • AEW Entering New Markets in 2023

    AEW has been criticized for running the same markets every few months, but that will be changing next year. The reason for AEW having this past strategy was to save money on production cost for its weekly shows.

    Except for the Dynamite show on January 11 from The Forum in Los Angeles, CA, AEW has announced new market dates for its 2023 touring schedule thus far. 

    The list of shows in new markets includes Seattle, Portland, Fresno, Lexington, Dayton, El Paso, Phoenix, and San Francisco.

    For their remaining 2022 shows, the markets they are heading to haven’t had shows there since earlier this year. The last time they went to Cedar Park and San Antonio was in March while they last ran Garland in April 2022. They haven’t held a show in Broomfield since March 2020. 

    AEW Touring Schedule

    \"AEW
    (via AEW)

    Here\’s an updated look at AEW\’s touring schedule through March 2023. Head over to AEWTix.com if you\’re located in any of these markets and interested in attending

    • AEW Dynamite and Rampage: December 7 – H-E-B Center in Cedar Park, TX
    • AEW Dynamite and Rampage (Winter is Coming): December 14 – Curtis Culwell Center in Garland, Texas
    • AEW Dynamite and Rampage (Holiday Bash): December 21 – Freeman Coliseum in San Antonio, Texas
    • AEW Dynamite and Rampage: December 28 – 1STBANK Arena in Broomfield, CO
    • AEW Dynamite: January 4 – Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, WA
    • AEW Rampage and Battle of the Belts: January 6 – Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Portland, OR
    • AEW Dynamite and Rampage: January 11 – The Forum in Los Angeles, CA
    • AEW Dynamite and Rampage: January 18 – Save Mart Center in Fresno, CA
    • AEW Dynamite and Rampage: January 25 – Rupp Arena in Lexington, KY
    • AEW Dynamite and Rampage: February 1 – Nutter Center in Dayton, OH
    • AEW Dynamite and Rampage: February 8 – El Paso County Coliseum in El Paso, TX
    • AEW Dynamite and Rampage: February 15 – TBA
    • AEW Dynamite and Rampage: February 22 – Footprint Center in Phoenix, AZ
    • AEW Dynamite: March 1 – Cow Palace in San Francisco, CA
    • AEW Rampage: March 3 – Cow Palace in San Francisco, CA
    • AEW Revolution: March 5 – Chase Center in San Francisco, CA

  • Claudio Castagnoli Addresses William Regal\’s Future with AEW

    Claudio Castagnoli has spoken about the reports regarding William Regal’s wrestling status as he is expected to leave AEW to make a return to WWE. 

    Castagnoli became a member of the Blackpool Combat Club at AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door when he replaced Bryan Danielson against Zack Sabre Jr and made his promotional debut. Regal founded BCC alongside Jon Moxley and Danielson.

    Regal is reportedly leaving AEW and returning to WWE as his AEW contract reportedly expired in December, where he will be working in a backstage role again. 

    In an interview with Joey Hayden of Dallas Morning News, Castagnoli was asked about the current status of the BCC and Regal.

    Claudio Castagnoli On William Regal

    \"Claudio

    \”I mean, I guess we have to … we have to wait and see. You know, we’re still talking, I think we have to have a little group meeting to figure out what’s next, or if there’s a next. So yeah, I’ll leave it at that,\” he said.

    Claudio also talked about what it means to him to work with Regal since he arrived in AEW. He said he never stopped learning from Regal and he was the reason he got into WWE in the first place. He was also the man to end Regal’s in-ring career. 

    Claudio is set to challenge Chris Jericho for the ROH World Title at ROH Final Battle this Saturday.

  • Kurt Angle Reveals Brock Lesnar Was Interested in Joining TNA Wrestling

    Brock Lesnar was once interested in crossing the line to work for TNA Wrestling. This is according to Kurt Angle, who has been friends with him for years due to their amateur wrestling backgrounds and pro wrestling careers. 

    Throughout 2003, they had some classic matches over the WWE Title, including Lesnar winning the championship from Angle at WrestleMania 19. 

    In 2007, Angle wrestled Lesnar for one final time in a match for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. That could’ve been different if Lesnar got the money he wanted from TNA Wrestling. 

    The Talk

    \"Kurt

    While speaking on the latest episode of his Kurt Angle Show podcast, Angle revealed that Lesnar reached out to him about potentially joining TNA Wrestling in 2007.

    \”Okay, Brock calls me. He\’s not in WWE,\” Kurt Angle recalls. \”He says, \’Listen, man, can you get me in TNA? —\’ I probably shouldn\’t even be saying this, but you know what, Brock doesn\’t care. So he said, \’Hey, what are you making?\’ I told him what I was making and he said, \’If you can get me that, I\’ll come. I approached TNA, and they said, ‘No, we’re not going to give him that kind of money.”

    Angle said that he thinks TNA was at the top of their budget and couldn’t give any more money out at the time. He stated the Carter Family funded the venture for a long time and when TNA started making their own money,  it wasn’t enough for them to be able to afford Lesnar. 

    Angle added that \”TNA would have lit up\” if a deal could have been reached to bring in Lesnar.

    Lesnar would not return to professional wrestling until 2012 when he returned to WWE on the WWE Raw after WrestleMania 28 as he focused on his MMA career.

    H/T to Fightful for the transcription

  • Former WWE Writer Shares Wild Ideas Discussed: Vince McMahon Having Midlife Crisis, Undertaker’s Son

    Discussions happen all the time in WWE, but some make it to television, and others do not. When Vince McMahon was in charge of creative, some wild pitches were made, with some being approved by the former CEO and Chairman while others were not. 

    On Friday, it was reported that The Rock appearing in the WWE Royal Rumble \”has been discussed within WWE. 

    Former WWE writer Brian Gewirtz, who worked for the company for over a decade in the early 2000s before going to work for The Rock at Seven Bucks Productions, commented on \”discussions\” about ideas he had during his time in the company. He shared them with the following post: 

    The Ideas

    \"Vince

    “Things “discussed” in my time at wwe: Vince having midlife crisis, growing beard, wearing Hawaiian shirts and singing Black Eyed Peas songs. Kaval being Undertakers secret long lost son. [John] Cena losing to Bray Wyatt via singing possessed child… wait, that one actually happened.”

    Kaval is best known as Low Ki, who was in WWE from the end of 2008 to December 2010. He also found success in ROH and TNA Wrestling. 

    Wyatt defeated Cena thanks to singing children at WWE Extreme Rules 2014. Wyatt gave the following response:

    As of this writing, The Rock coming back at the Royal Rumble and working a match with Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 39 has not been confirmed. 

  • Robert Roode Undergoes Neck Fusion Surgery

    WWE’s Robert Roode is on the road to recovery after undergoing neck fusion surgery

    The former WWE NXT Champion posted photos after his surgery on Instagram, which he indicated was for fusion to his C-5 and C-6 vertebrae that was done in Birmingham, Alabama. He wrote the following on the surgery: 

    Roode’s Statement

    \"Robert

    “Big thank you to Dr. Andy Cordover and his amazing staff at @andrews_sports_medicine and St Vincent’s Hospital in Birmingham, Alabama. C5/6 fusion is complete. Now the work begins. Recovery and Rehabilitation. Looking forward to the challenge. Thanks @deneane__17. You’re the best.”

    In September, the veteran wrestler shared a picture of Southlake Orthopaedics in Birmingham, Alabama, and mentioned going home after what he believed was a successful trip. He also mentioned that he was suffering from an injury.

    Roode expressed his thanks to Southlake and Andrew Sports Medicine, which typically performs surgery on injured WWE stars. He posted a picture in the post that indicated he had surgery, but he didn\’t explain why he was going to the facility.

    Since the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal on the April 1st episode of Friday Night SmackDown in Dallas, Texas, Roode has not competed and has not made an appearance on television. Before he left, Dolph Ziggler was paired with Roode on WWE television.

  • Details on Becky Lynch Filming a Role for Marvel

    Becky Lynch made a great impression portraying Cyndi Lauper on NBC’s Young Rock, a series about the life of The Rock. She’s also done voice acting for the Rumble movie after making her movie debut in The Marine 6. 

    Lynch’s appearance on the comedy series wasn’t t the only on-screen role she\’s had of late. In 2021, Fightful Select learned Lynch was cast for a Marvel movie. Rumors then came out that Lynch would appear in a Marvel movie, but details were far and between until late 2021 when the media outlet confirmed Lynch had a role., However, nobody connected to Marvel would confirm it on the record. 

    Didn’t Make The Cut

    \"Becky
    (WWE)

    After speaking with Marvel sources, it was revealed that her scenes had been left on the cutting room floor, which is something writer Kris Tapley had recently tweeted about. 

    Per the report, the role was for Marvel Eternals in a post-credit scene to set up something for a future installment. It’s unclear what the role specifically was. One person who knew about the situation noted that the post-credits scene was \”too depressing,\” although no further context was given.

    Although the post-credits scene ended up being nixed, the possibility of using Lynch in future films is not out of the question. Lynch previously confirmed earlier this year about having conversations with Marvel, but not that she\’d filmed for the movie. Sources at Marvel said that they were happy with the portrayal.

    The future of Marvel Eternals is in doubt due to mixed reviews and an underwhelming box office performance. The release date was pushed back multiple times due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • WWE Has Yet to Decide on Raw Plans for Post-Christmas Episode

    WWE usually puts on a special edition of Monday Night Raw around Christmas, where fans typically get a Christmas-themed street fight that is just fun to watch.

    The status of this year’s edition of Raw after Christmas is unknown. In the latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer reported that plans are still up in the air regarding the December 26th edition of Raw. 

    WWE is planning two shows that night in Columbus, OH, and the other in Madison Square Garden, but there isn’t much information available regarding these shows as Meltzer explained. 

    Where Things Stand

    \"WWE
    (via WWE)

    “For whatever reason, the decision was made not to tape that night. The two ideas looked at right now were either taping two shows on 12/19, which you can do with Smackdown but I don’t know how you do that with a three-hour draw or doing a Best of 2022 show. An announcement is expected to be made any day now. But both shows are advertised as house shows.”

    This year’s RAW after Christmas will be the first one under Triple H’s regime. Here is what the WWE schedule during the holidays looks like: 

    • Monday, December 19: Raw – Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, IA
    • Monday, December 26: WWE Live Holiday Tour – Nationwide Arena in Columbus, OH
    • Wednesday, December 28: WWE Live Holiday Tour – Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland
    • Wednesday, December 28: WWE Live Holiday Tour – Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, N.C.
    • Thursday, December 29: WWE Live Holiday Tour – FTX Arena in Miami
    • Friday, December 30: WWE Live Holiday Tour – Coca Cola Coliseum in Toronto, Ontario
    • Friday, December 30: SmackDown – Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla.

  • Kota Ibushi Training Again as his NJPW Contract is Set to Expire

    Despite the issues, Kota Ibushi has remained with New Japan Pro Wrestling, but that will change soon. 

    Kota went public about his issues with the promotion via social media as Ibushi stated that he was going to expose the “cheaters-gun and sexually harassing bosses.” He also shared conversations between himself and New Japan higher-up Yusuke Kikuchi where he alleged Kikuchi threatened to terminate Ibushi\’s contract for making an appearance accompanying wrestlers to the ring at TAKA Michinoku\’s Just Tap Out promotion.

    In the latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer gave an update on the status of Kota Ibushi as it was noted that Ibushi\’s NJPW contract is scheduled to expire at the end of January 2023. 

    Kota’s Upcoming Free Agency

    \"Kota
    (via NJPW)

    Meltzer wrote: “Kota Ibushi has been in light training in the ring of late and thus far the shoulder has held up well so that’s a good sign. His New Japan contract expires at the end of January and he made a tweet hinting at that. There was a lot of bad feelings over the past year but nothing is definite regarding staying or leaving at that point past he brought it up in a cryptic way about being a free agent in two months.”

    Ibushi hasn\’t wrestled since his match with Kazuchika Okada in the 2021 G1 Climax finals which ended in a stoppage when Ibushi injured his shoulder.

    In June, NJPW announced Ibushi, Kikuchi, and NJPW president Takami Ohbari were being penalized by having their pay reduced by 10 percent for three months. Also, Kikuchi was also transferred to a different position within the company.

  • Former Olympian Receives New WWE Ring Name

    25-year-old G\’Angelo Hancock is slated to make his WWE debut on NXT Level Up. 

    Hancock competed in the Men\’s Greco-Roman 97 kilograms competition at the 2020 Olympics, where he defeated Mikheil Kajaia of Serbia in his first match before being eliminated in his next contest after a loss to Tadeusz Michalik of Poland. At the 2020 Pan American Championships, he won the Gold medal after winning the bronze medal at the 2019 Pan American Games and bronze at the 2021 World Championships in the same category.  

    The Name

    \"\"

    WWE has announced that he will wrestle under the name Tavion Heights and take on Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo on NXT Level Up this week. 

    The match was taped on Tuesday from the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida, and will air tonight on Peacock before SmackDown. 

    Hancock took part in WWE\’s tryouts in Dallas over WrestleMania week earlier this year and later confirmed as one of 17 recruits to sign with the company and begin training at the Performance Center in August. 

    The announcement read like this, \”Heights, a former Olympian will make his WWE debut and bring his Greco-Roman style to the squared circle against the hard-hitting Lorenzo,\” reads WWE.com. 

    Also announced for the show is Thea Hail vs. Sol Ruca in a singles match.

  • Top WWE Star Training for in-Ring Return (Photo)

    Charlotte Flair is currently training for her WWE return.

    Flair’s most recent match happened at WrestleMania Backlash in May, which saw her drop the SmackDown Women’s Title to Ronda Rousey. WWE did an injury angle to write her off television. 

    While away from the company, The Queen has teased her comeback several times on social media, most recently sharing a photo of her wrestling boots in late November.

    The Photo

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    On Friday, Flair shared a photo to her Instagram story of herself with NXT’s Zoey Stark and Alba Fyre in a wrestling ring. She tagged the two stars and thanked them for the training session.

    Although the reason for Flair\’s extended absence is unknown, her husband and AEW star Andrade El Idolo previously noted that she has been off TV for ‘personal reasons‘ that she’ll explain one day.

    Flair and Andrade notably tied the knot during Flair’s WWE hiatus, getting married over the summer. 

    Once Rousey became the SmackDown Women’s Champion, she had a notable reign before losing it to Liv Morgan in July before winning the gold back at Extreme Rules in October.

    WWE has reportedly decided on Rousey’s opponent for Royal Rumble next month: 

    Spoiler on WWE Plans for Ronda Rousey at Royal Rumble

  • Celebrity Match Rumored for WWE WrestleMania

    One big match for WWE WrestleMania 39 may have been revealed as the company is looking to load up the card for the show. 

    On the latest episode of The Ringer’s Masked Man Show, former WWE creative writer Kazeem Famuyide said that he has heard about a big show that WWE is planning between the Royal Rumble in late January and WrestleMania 39 in April. 

    The main event of the show is rumored to be Damian Priest and Dominik Mysterio teaming up against Rey Mysterio and Bad Bunny. This match would lead to Bad Bunny vs. Dominik at WrestleMania 39. 

    Backstory

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    Dominik turned on Edge and Rey at Clash at the Castle by joining The Judgment Day. Rey was moved to SmackDown to get away from his son in storyline. On Thanksgiving, WWE shot an angle where Dom and Rhea Ripley attacked Rey at his home during dinner. 

    Fans praised Bad Bunny for his tag team match at WrestleMania 37 – Night 1 in 2021 when he teamed up with Damian Priest against The Miz and John Morrison. Bunny then worked at this year’s Men’s Royal Rumble Match in January.

    During the WWE Clash at the Castle post-show press conference, Triple H was asked about the possibility of Bad Buddy returning to do more with the company. This is where Triple H noted he and Bunny were going to have a conversation soon. Perhaps that discussion was about this idea. 

    Details on WWE Plans for WrestleMania Week Special Events

  • Spoiler on WWE Plans for Ronda Rousey at Royal Rumble

    Ronda Rousey is in the middle of another reign as the WWE SmackDown Women’s Champion. 

    Rousey made her most recent title defense against Shotzi at Survivor Series, where she was a heavy favorite to win the match, and that’s exactly what happened. The company is looking ahead to its next premium live event, Royal Rumble, next month. 

    When Vince McMahon decided to call up Raquel Rodriguez from NXT to the main roster, the idea was that she would become one of the top stars in the company as the former CEO and Chairman saw big things in her. She was also booked strongly in NXT under Triple H, and “The Game” has continued to be a supporter of hers on the main roster. 

    Royal Rumble Plans

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    (WWE)

    Rodriguez is set for her biggest match to date at the Royal Rumble as WrestleNews.co reports the plan is for her to challenge Rousey for the SmackDown Women\’s Championship.

    Rodriguez has been selling her left arm after being attacked by Rousey as last week on SmackDown, Rousey forced Rodriguez to tap out to the armbar submission. It’s unclear what WWE has planned for Rodriguez after this show.

    Still, Rousey is scheduled to go into WrestleMania as the champion, indicating she will retain the title at the Royal Rumble.

  • WWE NXT Star Fires Shot at Kenny Omega

    WWE NXT star Edris Enofe threw shade at AEW star Kenny Omega on Twitter while celebrating Mandy Rose’s NXT Women’s Championship reign.

    Rose has been on an incredible run as she’s held the title for over 400 days and has been pushed as one of the top stars of the NXT brand. Omega, one of AEW’s top stars, has won championships all over the world utilizing his signature ‘V-Trigger’ knee strike.

    In a post on Twitter, Enofe argued that Omega couldn\’t perform the move as well as Rose can. He shared a GIF of Rose dropping Katana Chance on the November 30 edition of NXT. 

    The Shot

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    Enofe captioned the post: “Congrats to @WWE_MandyRose on 400 days as champ! Reminder that she hits this move better than Kenny, and I’m dead serious.”

    This isn’t the first time that Enofe has taken shots at an AEW star, as he and Malik Blade notably shared a video in September poking fun at CM Punk’s post-All Out media scrum rant about Colt Cabana, Hangman Page, and The Young Bucks. 

    At last month’s Full Gear pay-per-view, Omega and the Young Bucks returned to the ring following their suspensions after the All Out backstage fight.

    Enofe\’s most recent televised match saw him team up with Blade and Odyssey Jones during the November 8 NXT Level Up taping.

  • CM Punk Seemingly Confirms Report About his Dog Being Hurt in AEW All Out Brawl

    CM Punk has greatly reduced how much he posts on social media since the incident at AEW All Out, where he ripped Hangman Page, The Young Bucks, Kenny Omega, and Colt Cabana at the post-event press conference and then got into a brawl with The Elite. 

    Wrestling Inc previously reported that members of Punk\’s camp alleged that Larry\’s teeth were knocked loose accidentally when the door to the wrestler\’s locker room was kicked open. The report stated the teeth had to be pulled days later by a vet. 

    The Photo

    Punk recently shared a photograph of his dog, Larry, to his Instagram story that shows Larry missing several teeth, seemingly confirming the report. 

    https://twitter.com/eesy_o/status/1598119579271966720

    This photo is only a few things he has shared as of late in addition to occasional promotion for his wife AJ Mendez\’s Netflix movie \”Blade of the 47 Ronin.\” 

    Punk had undergone surgery for a torn left triceps shortly after All Out during his AEW Championship match against Jon Moxley. The injury will likely keep him out of action for at least eight months. 

    As previously reported, there have been talks between Punk and AEW about a contract buyout. However, there’s been a hang-up on the non-compete clause period.