Plenty has been planned for Bray Wyatt on tonight\’s WWE SmackDown on FOX, which will be Wyatt\’s first appearance on WWE TV in over a year.
Wyatt returned at the WWE Extreme Rules 2022 Premium Live Event, after weeks of \’White Rabbit\’ teasing his return.
Bray closed out the show, with several characters from the Firefly Fun House being portrayed by people at last weekend\’s event.
Wyatt on SmackDown
It was confirmed during this week\’s Monday Night Raw that Wyatt will be on tonight\’s episode of SmackDown. Fightful reports that the former Universal Champion will be a \”focal point\” of tonight\’s show. A mask will be used, which is referred to as the \’Uncle Howdy\’ mask within the company.
The Uncle Howdy term is also expected to be used on WWE TV, given that WWE trademarked the term this month, alongside \’Uncle Harper.\’ There are also plans to have the abandoned Firefly Funhouse set aesthetic be used.
Other Plans
Tonight\’s SmackDown will also see LA Knight face mån.sôör, in the former\’s first match back under the Knight name.
An intercontinental Championship contender\’s match between Sheamus, Ricochet, Solo Sikoa, and Karrion Kross will decide GUNTHER\’s next opponent.
The Bloodline\’s Sami Zayn will also be in action when he faces Kofi Kingston.
MVP, Xavier Woods, Shotzi are all scheduled to be in town for the show despite not being advertised for SmackDown.
Tonight\’s episode will be the second SmackDown of this current season and take place from the King Center Smoothie, in New Orleans, Louisiana.
WWE\’s NXT brand got away from what it was meant to do by becoming the third brand, according to the gold brand\’s own head Shawn Michaels.
When NXT launched as a developmental program in 2012, the goal was for the show to produce talent for Raw and SmackDown.
After moving to the USA Network in 2019, NXT became a third brand, akin to Raw and SmackDown, until the revamp into NXT 2.0 last year.
Getting Away
With stars like Finn Balor, Keith Lee and the Undisputed Era, WWE NXT as a brand focused more on stars long-established in NXT.
Speaking on the latest episode of After the Bell, Shawn Michaels explained why the show got away from its developmental roots.
\”There was a time that people felt like [we got away from developing talent] and maybe we did get away from that. But it wasn\’t really us getting away from that. You think about the pandemic and everything else. It was hard to recruit. It\’s hard to get younger talent.
\”Everything was locked down so we had to create a live television show with all the people we had. Thankfully we had a hell of a crew.\”
While NXT 2.0 has since morphed back into WWE NXT, the plan is for the show to continue being a developmental brand for the main roster.
The Next-in-Line Program
Part of the new-developmental era of NXT has been the Next in Line program, which focusses on collegiate athletes with little to no wrestling background.
The NIL program has been received with a mixed response by fans, who believe it makes no sense to focus on people who don\’t have experience.
Speaking about the NIL program, Michaels spoke about bringing a new side of the development to WWE.
\”You never stop developing in this job. I\’m a different form of developmental, so to speak.
Now we\’re finding raw, really raw, new talent. I think that really hasn\’t been done in NXT until now. We\’re talking about people who were in college last year.\”
The WWE Hall of Famer added that despite what some believe, WWE will continue to seek talent from the independent scene.
Triple H
Shawn Michaels is the head of WWE NXT, but that wasn\’t the case a year and a half ago.
In September 2021, NXT\’s original leader Triple H suffered a cardiac event which would ultimately lead to the game\’s in-ring retirement.
This, along with the launch of NXT 2.0, left Michaels in a difficult position as the sudden head of the brand.
\”It was a comfortable and easy transition when I came here and started doing live Television on USA [Network.] Running everything was a different kind of responsibility. It was abrupt, but at the same time, that\’s what I enjoy about the job. As you know, things can change on a dime and you have to learn to adjust to it.\”
Michaels began in NXT in 2016 as a coach before becoming a producer in 2018 and now head of the brand.
The wrestling world is mourning the death of former New Japan Pro Wrestling Young Lion Cup winner Katsuya Kitamura who died at the age of 36 this week.
Tokyo Sports reported Friday morning that Kitamura had passed away on October 12, with the cause of death currently unknown.
Their report adds that Kitamura had felt unwell on Tuesday, and
Kitamura had been active on social media, with a video from his YouTube channel uploaded three days before his passing.
The Wrestling Monster
Once considered for the Japanese wrestling team for the London 2012 Summer Olympic Games, Kitamura stepped foot inside New Japan\’s dojo for the first time in 2015.
A year later, Kitamura had his first official match, wrestling Tomoyuki Oka (Great-O-Khan) to a time-limit draw in September 2016.
The following year, Kitamura won the Young Lion Cup, defeating everyone in the block in an arguable career highlight.
In early 2018, Kitamura was put in a trial series against seven wrestlers in singles matches, but a concussion caused the final match against Manabu Nakaniashi to be called off.
Kitamura would leave New Japan in January 2019, and was often called the \’Wrestling Monster\’ due to his six-foot, 265-pound frame.
Out of the Ring
Following his departure from New Japan, Kitamura returned to his amateur wrestling roots, competing for the MMA promotion RIZIN.
In his sole fight for the company, Kitamura lost to Bobby Ologun by rear naked choke at Rizin 32 on November 20, 2021
We at SEScoops would like to offer our condolences to Kitamura\’s family and those who knew him at this sad time.
WWE has had fans talking about their most recent trademark filings, which are believed to be connected to Bray Wyatt.
In the past, trademark filings have often been a sign of future plans for the company.
A recent example includes WWE trademarking the term \’Damage CTRL\’ which would go on to become the name of the stable of Bayley, Dakota Kai, and IYO SKY.
Trademarks
Fightful report that WWE filed trademarks for the term \’Uncle Harper\’ and \’Uncle Howdy\’ on October 8.
The listing for both terms gives the following description for their usage.
Trademark registration is intended to cover the categories of entertainment services, namely, wrestling exhibitions and performances by a professional wrestler and entertainer rendered live and through broadcast media including television and radio, and via the internet or commercial online service; providing wrestling news and information via a global computer network; providing information in the fields of sports and entertainment via an online community portal; providing a website in the field of sports entertainment information; fan club services, namely, organizing sporting events in the field of wrestling for wrestling fan club members; organizing social entertainment events for entertainment purposes for wrestling fan club members; providing online newsletters in the fields of sports entertainment; online journals, namely blogs, in the field of sports entertainment.
Horror fans may recognize the term \’Uncle Howdy\’ as the nickname for the demon Pazuzu who possesses the young girl Regan in The Exorcist.
Luke Harper
The Uncle Harper term is seemingly a nod to Luke Harper, who was part of the Wyatt family for years.
In late 2019, Harper would leave WWE, and would later join AEW as the leader of the Dark Order Brodie Lee.
In December 2020, Lee sadly died aged 41, and tributes to the former TNT Champion were paid by both WWE and AEW.
WWE has not confirmed what exact plans they have for the \’Uncle Harper\’ term, which some believe will be part of a new Wyatt family.
Stu Grayson may have parted ways with All Elite Wrestling, but that didn\’t stop him from making an appearance this week.
This week\’s AEW Rampage, which will air tonight, was filmed after this week\’s AEW Dynamite in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
According to sources who attended the taping, Grayson appeared during a backstage segment and earned a loud response from the fans at the Coca-Cola Coliseum.
Stu Grayson in AEW
Grayson spent the entirety of his AEW career as part of the Dark Order, teaming regularly with Evil Uno.
The pair made their debuts for AEW at the promotion\’s first pay-per-view Double or Nothing in May 2019.
In July 2020, Uno and Grayson had their one opportunity at the AEW World Tag Team Championships, losing to then-champs Kenny Omega and \’Hangman\’ Adam Page.
Stu Grayson may be best known for his time in AEW, but he has competed outside the promotion.
He has also wrestled for Pro Wrestling Guerilla, where he is a one-time World Tag Team Champion (with Uno.)
Grayson has also competed for Chikara, where he incorporated his love of video games into his character, using video game cartridges inserted into a slot on his tights to determine his wrestling style.
Since leaving AEW, Grayson has had just one match, teaming with Uno to unsuccessfully challenge HOG Tag Team Champions the Briscoes last month.
The legendary team the British Bulldogs are back for a new era of wrestling and are set to make their debut at MLW Fightland 2022.
The original Bulldogs consisted of real-life cousins Tom \’Dynamite Kid\’ Billington, and Davey Boy Smith, and competed in their native UK, Japan, and North America.
The duo held the WWF World Tag Team Championships on one occasion and the Stampede International Tag Team Titles twice.
The New Bulldogs
In a statement on their official website, MLW confirmed that a new era of Bulldogs will be debuting soon.
The group, now a trio, will consist of Davey Boy Smith Jr., and his cousins Tom and Mark Billington, the nephews of the Dynamite Kid.
The group will take on the Bomaye Fight Club, consisting of Alex Kane, Mr. Thomas, and Myron Reed.
MLW Fightland will take place on October 30, 2022 at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia, better known as the stomping ground of the original ECW.
MLW Fightland
The debut of the new British Bulldogs is just one part of what is shaping up to be a stacked card.
The show will also see Sam Adonis, who signed with MLW this month, face a mystery opponent, while Jacob Fatu takes on Lio Rush.
Reigning MLW World Middleweight Champion Shun Skywalker will put his title on the line against an opponent yet to be announced.
In the main event, reigning MLW World Heavyweight Champion Alex Hammerstone will defend against E.J. Nduka (Ezra Judge in WWE NXT) in a Last Man Standing match.
Hours before Dynamite, AEW President Tony Khan had confirmed Paquette\’s \’All-Elite\’ status with a tweet.
Commentary
Before coming to AEW, Paquette worked as an interviewer in WWE, before rising to the ranks of Raw commentator.
Paquette\’s arrival at the desk in September 2018 made her the first female full-time WWE commentator but faced criticism from some fans.
In her first appearance on \’The Sessions\’ since her AEW status was confirmed, Paquette was asked if she\’d commentate for AEW.
\”No. I shouldn\’t say no, but I also feel like anyone who just heard you [co-host Emilio Sparks] ask, probably had the same reaction. \’No thanks, we don\’t need that. We don\’t want that.\’ And that\’s always how I felt about it… People had such a negative reaction to it, and it just wasn\’t the thing that I wanted it to be.\”
While Paquette isn\’t interested in the role, she still could not fully rule out the idea of commentating.
\”If the opportunity made sense and it was something that everyone was on the same page about, maybe, but I just don\’t see that being what I want to do.\”
Being All-Elite
Paquette\’s AEW arrival comes over two years after leaving WWE, where she worked as Renee Young.
Speaking about signing with AEW, Paquette said that it was more-so her husband [AEW World Champion Jon Moxley] who made the first step.
\”For as much as I\’d been around a lot, I\’d never really talked to Tony about coming into AEW. A lot of it, and this is probably going to sound bad, and I\’m sure people are going to take this out of context. Honestly, a lot of it was talking to Jon. Of being like \’man, I want to get back in the wrestling world. I miss being around it. I miss doing stuff.\’ So most of our conversations were internally between Jon and I.
\”Him [Moxley] and Tony are obviously very close. They spend tons of time talking about things, so I think it was more so them talking about it. I think a lot of people thought I was done with wrestling to a degree.\”
When asked later on, Paquette said that once the discussions about her joining AEW started, it did not take long for a deal to be struck.
\”It all happened really fast. It literally happened so fast. Jon and I had been talking about it, and then the next day, my manager is calling me being like \’oh yeah, they\’re reaching out. I\’m getting the contract through.\’\”
Feeling Displaced
Paquette made her on-screen AEW debut this week, but it was hardly the first time she had been at an event.
Being married to Moxley, Paquete is said to have been a regular behind the scenes before signing.
Early into the podcast, she explained how while she enjoyed her time as a guest of AEW, she never felt quite right.
\”It was always sort of an odd displaced sort of feeling anytime I went to shows with Jon. Because I\’m always used to being at shows, but working and being useful and contributing. So being there for the duration of Jon being at AEW and not doing that… It\’s just a different feeling going there as a guest as opposed to now.
Differences with WWE
Paquette is excited to work with AEW, and has done plenty over the past two years, but is well aware that her name was made as part of WWE.
AEW allows their talent more freedom in their work, something that Paquette is very excited for.
\”This is going to be a very different situation with AEW. Because my time with WWE was very much \’here\’s the interview, here\’s the script. This is what we\’re going to do.\’ That\’s now how AEW operates, so that is exciting for me.
\”Now I get to actually interview people, if that makes sense? I mean, I was reading scripts before and I enjoy doing that. But this is different, actually interviewing people about things.\”
Not Taking Shots
Paquette is the latest WWE alum to be welcomed with open arms by Tony Khan, who has never shied away from taking digs at WWE.
Much like the company President, AEW talent aren\’t opposed to jibes about the competition, something that Paquette wants no part of.
\”People become very territorial about WWE vs. AEW and all that. I want nothing to do with any of that. I love so many people at both companies.WWE was so great to me for years. Of course, I could have my gripes about things, but who couldn\’t about any job?\”
Paquette\’s first assignment took place on this week\’s AEW Dynamite, interviewing fellow WWE veteran Christian Cage.
Mandy Rose has thanked fans for their support in a statement confirming the death of her brother.
Rose, the reigning NXT Women\’s Champion, has been missing from the past two weeks of programming.
On this week\’s NXT, Rose\’s real-life best friend Sonya Deville filled in for her, aligning with Toxic Attractions Jacy Jayne and Gigi Dolin.
Her Statement
After Rose missed last week\’s WWE NXT, some suggested that she was facing a personal tragedy.
In an Instagram post, Rose spoke of losing someone, which was believed to be her brother Richard.
During her most recent Instagram Stories post, Rose confirmed reports of her brother\’s passing and thanked those who have sent their support.
\”I just wanted to thank everyone who paid their respects for my brother. The last few days weren’t easy but we’re so thankful for all of our family and friends who supported us in this tragic time & celebrated Richie’s life. I know Richie would even be surprised to see how many people cared about him and loved him. Still feels like a bad dream. RIP Richie.. we love you.“
Richard Saccomanno
Richard Saccomano is believed to have passed away on October 3, aged 40 and no cause of death has been made public knowledge.
Services for Saccommano will take place at the Joseph A. Scarano Pines Memorial Chapel, in Peekskill, New York.
We here at SEScoops would like to offer our deepest condolences to Mandy Rose and her family at this incredibly sad time.
Adam Cole\’s future with AEW is in serious doubt as he continues to recover from a particularly nasty concussion.
Cole debuted for AEW in September 2021 at that year\’s All Out, days after competing for WWE at their NXT TakeOver 36 event.
At AEWxNJPW Forbidden Door in June this year, Cole suffered a concussion during a four-way match for Jay White\’s IWGP World Heavyweight Championship.
Could be Never
After a short absence from TV, Cole returned on the August 3, episode of AEW Rampage, but confirmed that he was still not medically cleared.
Speaking on the latest Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer reported that there\’s still no sign of Cole\’s return to the ring.
\”It’s a concussion, it’s a bad concussion. Real bad concussion. He’ll be back when he’s cleared – it could be tomorrow, and it could be never, you know what I mean?”
Dave Meltzer on Adam Cole\’s ongoing concussion issues.
AEW Bay Bay!
Cole\’s arrival in AEW at All Out 2021 was a shocking moment, earning the Dynamite award for the Biggest Surprise of the year.
Cole has said that working with new talent, access to his Twitch stream, and being able to spend more time with his girlfriend Britt Baker as reasons for his \”fairly easy\” decision.
Earlier this year, Cole challenged twice for the AEW World Champion, held at the time by \’Hangman\’ Adam Page, but lost at Revolution and on the April 15, episode of AEW Rampage in a Texas Deathmatch.
At Double or Nothing 2022, Cole defeated Samoa Joe to become the first-ever Men\’s Owen Hart Cup winner.
For months, AEW has faced reports of talent being frustrated, with meetings being held to address these issues.
After last month\’s All Out Pay Per View, a fight backstage resulted in CM Punk, Kenny Omega, and the Young Bucks all being removed from programming.
Last week, Andrade El Idolo picked a fight with Sammy Guevara that resulted in the former NXT Champion being sent home.
Smiling Faces
Flair doesn\’t work for AEW, but the 16-time World Champion has seen the reports of talent wanting out.
Speaking on his \’To Be The Man\’ podcast, Flair claimed that things aren\’t as bad as some people believe.
\”It can\’t always be perfect. Tony\’s got his hands full. I don\’t know the thought prospect behind his decisions. But they have enjoyed a lot of success lately.
\”a lot of smiling faces.\”
Ric Flair on AEW behind the scenes.
\”Sofiya of course, my stepdaughter, works for them. She\’s having a great time. She does a lot of their social media so she\’s pretty much on top of what\’s going on there. She sees a lot of smiling faces. Hopefully, everything works out.\”
Flair and AEW
Flair left WWE in 2021, reportedly frustrated with the booking for both himself and his daughter Charlotte Flair.
The reported plan was for Flair to join AEW and manage his son-in-law Andrade El Idolo.
El Idolo had at the time, split with his then-manager Chavo Guerrero, who had replaced Vickie Guerrero.
Any plans for Flair in AEW ended after VICE\’s Dark Side of the Ring covered the Plane Ride from Hell, where Flair is alleged to have forced flight attendants to touch his genitals.
William Regal may be impressed by what MJF does in AEW, but that doesn\’t make the Salt of the Earth a true villain of wrestling.
MJF returned to AEW at the All Out Pay-Per-View, following a three-month hiatus, stemming from scathing comments made against AEW and Tony Khan.
At the event, MJF won the Casino Ladder match as the Joker entrant, earning an AEW World Championship match.
Fake Bad Guy
With his win at All Out, MJF has a championship title match, presumably with current AEW World Champion Jon Moxley.
Part of what has made MJF such a successful performer is his heel persona, which William Regal doesn\’t buy as he explained on the Gentleman Villain podcast.
\”I\’ve always seen the potential in him. Not sure I like the way he goes about doing stuff. If you want to be a real bad guy, there are things that you can do and things that you can\’t. I used this term on AEW the other week and it\’s only a few people know this term. O-D-V, which is an ordinary decent villain.\”
Regal explained that to be an ODV means knowing that those non-wrestlers are off limits, a lesson that MJF hasn\’t learned.
\”Anybody who signs up to be a pro wrestler, you\’re fair game for anything my wicked mind wants to do to you. But if they don\’t, you leave them alone.\”
Roddy Piper
With his heel work, many (including WWE Hall of Famer Jake \’The Snake\’ Roberts) have called MJF this generation\’s Roddy Piper.
Addressing the comparison, Regal said that MJF couldn\’t hang with the legendary talker.
\”Roddy Piper would have seen straight through him. He would have gone \’this is a lad who\’s not grown up the same as us.\’ He\’s not got the same mentality.\”
\”Roddy Piper would have seen straight through him.\”
William Regal.
\”You might think you\’re a bad guy, you might want to act like a bad guy. But there\’s a difference there\’s a big difference and very few people know that. A lot of people who got through this job by just acting like a bad guy.\”
Tough Enough
Years before arriving in AEW, MJF tried out for the 2015 season of Tough Enough.
Speaking about MJF\’s formative years, Regal discussed why the Salt of the Earth never made it in WWE NXT while Regal was in charge.
\”He was young. Far too young to get hired [by WWE.] And there was only so many places in NXT. If you\’ve got a full roster and somebody young [comes along] you go \’right now what you need to do is go out and do your thing.\’ Make people notice you, which he did.
MJF wouldn\’t make it on the show, but his audition tape (suspiciously) remains on WWE\’s YouTube channel.
The WWE Universe will be seeing Superstars on Raw, SmackDown and NXT make more appearances on other shows moving forward.
In 2016, WWE reintroduced its brand extension, splitting the WWE\’s main roster into distinct brands for Raw and SmackDown once more.
Crossover
WWE Superstars appearing on a show they\’re not rostered for does happen and is set to increase in the coming weeks.
Sources who spoke to Fightful Select said that fans can expect more crossover between brands.
No reason was given as to why there will be more crossover, though it is believed that using Superstars from other brands will help increase viewership.
This week\’s Raw saw appearances by The Bloodline, all of whom are SmackDown rostered Superstars.
Jade and Perez
This crossover will be felt next week in WWE NXT as part of the feud between former NXT Women\’s Tag Champions Cora Jade and Roxanne Perez.
On last night\’s episode, it was confirmed that Jade and Perez will choose members of the WWE main roster to face each other on next week\’s show.
Jade asked interviewer McKenzie Mitchell if she has the number of Ronda Rousey, while Perez will be on this Friday\’s WWE SmackDown on FOX.
WWE Main Event
One way NXT Superstars are getting exposure on the main roster is by appearances on WWE Main Event.
In their report, Fightful adds that more NXT Superstars are expected to be on the show, with WWE watching to see how ready they are for a full-time transition.
On last week\’s WWE Main Event, Fallon Henley made her main roster debut by taking on WWE 24/ Champion Dana Brooke.
Josh Briggs and Brooks Jensen, former NXT UK Tag Team Champions, also appeared on last week\’s show, facing Shelton Benjamin and R-Truth.
More NXT Superstars will appear on this week\’s episode of WWE Main Event.
Jim Ross isn\’t opposed to calling the action of a Football game, but not if it takes away from his responsibilities with AEW.
Ross joined Tony Khan\’s promotion in January 2019 and has been a staple of AEW for the company ever since.
Commentary
Ross is considered one of the greatest wrestling commentators to don a headset, but isn\’t just interested in the sport.
It\’s no secret that JR is an avid football fan, calling a season for the Atlanta Falcons in 1992, and would call another season for the team in 1994.
When asked during the latest Grilling JR whether he wants to return to football commentary, Ross said it would depend.
\”If it meant leaving AEW, the answer would be emphatically no. I like what I\’m doing. But would it be fun to be in a booth for a game? Sure. I\’m a football fan and I\’m a broadcaster, so I think it all goes hand in hand. But the bottom line is I have my perfect job right now.\”
Rampage
In June this year, JR was moved from being a full-time commentator for AEW Dynamite, to a full-time commentator for AEW Rampage.
While many have seen this as a demotion for the WWE Hall of Famer, Ross doesn\’t share this viewpoint.
\”I\’m excited. I appreciate the things people have been saying about Rampage. We\’re trying to build that brand. Friday nights are a daunting night for any TV programming. But we\’ve got work, and I thought our last two or three shows on Rampage have been solid as hell.\”
The new deal will see Moxley compete almost exclusively for AEW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, as the two promotions enjoy a working relationship.
Stabilizing
Moxley\’s re-signing is some much-needed good news for Khan, whose company has recently faced a series of scandals.
Injuries, fight backstage and reports of an unhappy roster have been just some of the problems AEW has had to deal with recently.
Speaking on the Grilling JR podcast, Ross spoke of the \’stabilizing\’ effect Moxley\’s re-signing will have.
\”I think it\’s very stabilizing for our roster. He\’s our top guy, he\’s the champ. So he\’s emotionally invested. To sign a five-year deal, at his age, you\’re invested. I\’m really happy to see that happen.\”
Jim Ross.
There\’s no word yet on how much Moxley will make per year on his new deal for the company.
Exclusivity
Moxley\’s new deal is good news for AEW, but bad news for Game Changer Wrestling.
Matt Taven may be the next wrestler to ink a contract with WWE, at least if the promotion gets its way.
Taven joined Impact Wrestling earlier this year, appearing at January\’s \’Hard to Kill\’ event as part of Honor No More.
Last weekend, it was reported that Taven, alongside Maria Bennett, Maria Kanellis-Bennett, and Vincent have left the promotion.
WWE\’s Interest
Speaking on Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer said that WWE has a great deal of interest in Taven.
\”I know WWE has [an] interest in Taven.\”
Dave Meltzer.
Meltzer added that while WWE is interested in Matt Taven, Stephanie McMahon\’s company isn\’t his only option.
\”I would think that also Taven, Bennett, and Maria could go to New Japan [Pro Wrestling] because they have history there. I don\’t know about AEW. If there\’s something going on at Ring of Honor they could go there, because they were Ring of Honor people.\”
Matt Taven
While Taven recently left Impact Wrestling, the majority of his success has come in Ring of Honor.
A former World Champion, Tag Champion and Television, Taven is the promotion\’s fifth Triple Crown winner.
Also being a former six-man Tag Team Champion, Taven is the company\’s second-ever ROH Grand Slam winner, behind Christopher Daniels.
Taven has also competed in CMLL, and New Japan, and he is the second person to hold gold in both those companies as well as Ring of Honor (behind Rocky Romero.)
Since 2016, he and Bennett have operated a wrestling school located in West Warwick, Rhode Island.
Bray Wyatt made his return to WWE at last weekend\’s Extreme Rules Premium Live Event, but only after some efforts from other promotions.
Wyatt\’s return came after weeks of \’White Rabbit\’ teases, and the former Universal Champion earned a thunderous response in Philadelphia.
Bray had been controversially released from WWE, which was reportedly over creative differences with then-WWE Chairman Vince McMahon.
Feelers
Wyatt\’s return is yet another victory for WWE\’s Head of Talent Relations Triple H, who has brought back several released talents since being appointed in July.
Sports Illustrated reports that while WWE was negotiating with Wyatt, AEW had sent \’feelers\’ to gauge Bray\’s interest in joining.
Impact Wrestling and AAA also sent feelers, trying to determine if Wyatt would consider signing with them instead.
It had been previously reported that Wyatt\’s asking price had left all but the biggest promotions unable to afford appearances from the former Universal Champion.
What\’s Next?
With Wyatt now back with WWE, the biggest question is what is next for him?
Some have suggested that Wyatt is set to start a new Wyatt family, with many pointing to the characters featured at Extreme Rules.
As part of his return, individuals dressed as Huskus the Pig, Ramblin\’ Rabbit, Abby the Witch, Mercy the Buzzard and The Fiend made appearances.
Grayson Waller, who many believe played Mercy the Buzzard, teased involvement in Wyatt, having a Bray Wyatt head lantern in the background of a recent tweet.
Wyatt\’s next appearance has been confirmed for this Friday\’s episode of SmackDown on FOX.
Did Bret screw Bret as Vince McMahon once infamously claimed? Certainly so, according to Jake \’The Snake Roberts.
In 1997, Hart was infamously \’screwed\’ out of the WWF Championship at the Survivor Series, after refusing to lose to real-life rival Shawn Michaels.
An agreement was made that Bret would retain at Survivor Series and vacate the title the next night on Raw, while not under contract with the WWF.
Instead, Hart and Michaels \’screwed\’ Bret of the title, giving Shawn a submission win without Bret tapping out.
You Deserve It
Bret being screwed is the most infamous example of a champion not losing the title, but hardly the only one.
When Rick Rude left the NWA to join the WWF, he did so as one-half of the NWA World Tag Champions.
Speaking on this week\’s DDP Snake Pit podcast about Rude made his thoughts clear on champions and on Montreal.
\”I don\’t agree with that [leaving as Champion] at all. You know, there\’s been so many guys who get away with it too. Holding up promoters because they don\’t want to lose the title in a certain area. Maybe Canada, has that ever happened? Oh wait, it did. Shawn and Bret. He didn\’t want to drop it in Canada, so they [Vince McMahon and others] screwed him.
\”You didn\’t get screwed a**hole! You got what you deserved. How do you have the right, not to drop that title? That title, that was given to you. You did not beat up anybody to get that.
\”You didn\’t get screwed a**hole! You got what you deserved.\”
Jake Roberts on Bret Hart.
\”The reason you have that title is because some other schmuck was a good enough guy to lose to you [The Undertaker at Summerslam 1997.] So you not dropping that title tells me you don\’t give a flying f*ck about anybody else but yourself, and that\’s very selfish. It\’s wrong and if you are contemplating doing it, that\’s for you.\”
Working with Rick
While Rude would be part of DX at the time of the Montreal Screwjob, the act left a deep impression on the Ravishing One.
Rude would leave for WCW immediately after the Screwjob, and would bash Shawn Michaels and DX.
Speaking about Rude, Roberts said it was great working with him.
\”It was very easy for me. I always play up to whatever they have. And Rick had a lot, so I could play up to a lot of things with him. So I was very comfortable with him and I was very fortunate that he listened to me.\”
Rude sadly passed in 1999 and would be posthumously inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2017.
For use of these quotes please give a h/t to SEScoops.
Plenty has been planned for tonight\’s WWE Monday Night Raw, which will serve as the season premiere of the red brand.
The show will mark the debut of WWE\’s newest Raw commentary team, Corey Graves and Kevin Patrick, as part of the changes to all commentary teams across Raw, SmackDown and NXT.
Plans
With tonight\’s show being the season premiere, it\’s no surprise WWE is going all out to put on a show.
Tonight\’s Raw will feature four members of D-Generation X appear, to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the group being formed.
Fightful Select reports that the return of DX will feature the expected glowsticks and t-shirts, and that there will be a \”rubber chicken prank for the Gorilla position.\”
The Miz will host a birthday celebration, with a special ring carpet, gift boxes, ice, sculptures, cakes, champagne, and tables.
Dexter Lumis, who has feuded with the A-Lister since returning, is set to appear through one of the tables.
Matt Riddle, MVP and Omos will also be on the show.
What\’s Been Announced?
WWE has already confirmed DX\’s 25th anniversary celebration and The Miz\’s birthday party, but that\’s not all that has been announced.
Seth Rollins will look to end a three-year championship drought when he faces United States Champion Bobby Lashley.
Johnny Gargano will face Mr. Money in the Bank Austin Theory, and WWE Undisputed Universal Champion Roman Reigns and the Bloodline will be in attendance.
Erick Rowan could be the next member of the Wyatt family to make his return to WWE, following Bray Wyatt\’s return at Extreme Rules this past weekend.
Wyatt had been released in July 2021, reportedly over his high-dollar contract and creative disputes with then-WWE Chairman Vince McMahon.Amid reports that a new Wyatt faction could be in the works, it was reported that his real-life brother Bo Dallas is heading back to WWE.
During a recent interview with Steve Fall for NBC Sports Boston, Rowan said he is not opposed to a return to WWE.
“There\’s always [an] opportunity and my story within wrestling, that character of Erick Rowan or Erick Redbeard, it has so much left to tell and talk about. I think when I stepped aside when Covid happened and people were let go, I wasn\’t ready for my story to stop.”
Erick Rowan
Rowan was released from WWE on April 15, 2020, in the first of what would be waves of mass releases over the next two years.
Feuding with Rollins
Mere weeks before his release from WWE, a storyline began that saw Rowan carry a covered cage around wherever he went.
Anyone who peered under the cover would be horrified by what they saw, but the eventual reveal was far less impressive. Rowan\’s monster turned out to be little more than a very fake-looking spider, which wasn\’t the original plan.
“Seth Rollins was the big babyface at the time and I was told it\’s going to be a pet rat. Which was great because it tied into my last feud where I tried to kill a man, this being Roman Reigns, with a vehicle. I was like ‘great, probably got a court-appointed therapist who told me to get a therapy pet.\’
“Seth backstage was going to curb-stomp it by accident. I was like this is a great idea to start a feud even though I’ve got to carry around the cage and not really tell a story for a couple of weeks. But he turned heel close to a few weeks after that and it just kept getting extended… you could picture it all you want along the ride but that\’s what it was and I\’m sorry people didn\’t like that.\”
Instead of a feud with the former Universal Champion, Rowan\’s rat became a spider, which was crushed by Drew McIntyre in March 2020.
The Dark Order
In December 2020, the wrestling world lost Brodie Lee, who had worked with Rowan in WWE as Luke Harper (later just Harper.)
In a tribute episode of AEW Dynamite, Rowan (working under the name Erick Redbeard) appeared alongside the Dark Order, Lee\’s stable.
Speaking about the group, which has carried on despite Lee\’s passing, Rowan said he did not share an interest in joining.
\”It was never a conversation. I was doing and pursuing my own things and I don\’t know, just it was it was never a thing. I didn\’t want to be that guy that distracts and always made you remind people of a loss especially that quickly and with the Dark Order. I wanted nothing to do with it and that\’s not to say that I\’m better or not. ]
\”What I\’m saying is I didn\’t want anything to do with it because that\’s his legacy. If it\’s going to fizzle out I want it to fizzle out but he made it and created that in such a quick amount of time. I want that to be the memory of him.\”
After appearing for the Brodie Lee memorial Dynamite, Rowan has competed twice for AEW, first in a losing effort at AEW Revolution 2022, where he teamed with PAC and Penta Oscura, and on an August 2022 Rampage, teaming with Danhausen.
Frustrated wrestlers, tired of not receiving adaqueate TV time and prominent booking, shouldn\’t bother turning to Eric Bischoff for a shoulder to cry on.
In recent months, there have been reports of talent being unhappy in AEW, with meetings beind held backstage to address concerns.
Last year, Brian Cage\’s wife Melissa commented publicly about her husband\’s lack of booking in AEW, and her criticism of the company drew him significant heat backstage.
Be Ready
With limited hours, it is impossible for everyone to be featured on AEW programming each week.
Tony Khan has amassed an impressively large roster, which he divides among Dynamite, Rampage, Dark and Dark: Elevation.
Speaking on his 83 Weeks Podcast, Bischoff advised those in AEW to be ready, even when they\’re not being used.
\”Be ready for your opportunity. Because let\’s face it, injuries are a thing. Contract issues are a thing. HR issues are a thing. Just because you\’re at the bottom of the card or you\’re not getting as much Television time as you think you deserve, keep your nose to the grindstone.
\”If you\’re getting paid and you\’re healthy and you get to spend time with your family, and you have more time to work out, maybe you have some time [to improve.] God forbid, take some classes. Take some improv classes. Learn how to be better as a character on Television. You\’re getting paid good money and you\’re not on the road 300 days a year.\”
Be Grateful
While many wrestlers do try and improve, there is no shortage of talent who have been unhappy with the lack of focus they receive.
AEW\’s Miro has liked tweets suggesting he would do better in WWE, while Andrade El Idolo retweeted a recent fan post, complaining that Andrade wasn\’t used more when multiple talent missed Dynamite due to Hurricane Ian.
Speaking about those who insist on being negative online, Bischoff had two simple words of advice: be grateful.
\”Focus on yourself. I don\’t have sympathy for talent who are frustrated. First of all, you made the decision. You made the choice to go work there. And because things aren\’t going exactly the way you want them to go, exactly when you want them to go, I don\’t think it gives you the right [to complain.] It certainly is not a good look to make as much noise and be as negative an influence as some people are. Man, be grateful! God almighty be grateful.
\”I don\’t have sympathy for talent who are frustrated.\”
Eric Bischoff
\”How many people in the world, or this country, would do anything to change places with you? And guess what? They wouldn\’t be b*tching about how much TV time they\’re not getting. Come on man, be grateful.\”
Bischoff added that several wrestlers fall into the trap of an echo-chamber on social media, reading comments from their fans that they should receive better booking.
For use of these quotes please give a h/t to SEScoops.
The win marks Rousey\’s third title in WWE, after winning the SmackDown Women\’s Championship at WrestleMania Backlash 2022, and winning the Raw Women\’s Title at Summerslam 2018.
The End of Morgan\’s Push?
Morgan\’s title win was a long-time coming for fans of hers, but this loss may mark the end of her run on top of the women\’s division.
According to reports, the plan for WrestleMania 39 is for Rousey to finally have her one-on-one match with Becky Lynch, a bout that was originally planned for Survivor Series 2018.
With the likelihood that this match will be for a championship, it is likely that Rousey will hold the SmackDown Women\’s Championship until April of next year.
If so, Morgan won\’t have another title reign until after WrestleMania 39, and may have to wait even longer if Lynch wins the gold next year.
Saraya has hit back at claims that AEW is acting \”unethically\” by clearing her for in-ring competition.
The former WWE Divas Champion was recently cleared to wrestle nearly five years after her last match. On last week\’s AEW Dynamite, Saraya got physical for the first time in years, confronting Dr. Britt Baker. Some \’medical experts\’ on social media have accused AEW of negligence and acting without Saraya\’s best interests in mind.
On Twitter, one user claimed that Saraya was not cleared by 15 doctors during her time with WWE. They added that Dr. Sampson, AEW\’s resident physician, has been accused of \”numerous unethical decisions.
The Twitter user, who calls themselves a \”reality check\” for wrestling, provided no names of doctors nor any of these alleged unethical decisions.
In response, Saraya said that the claim of 15 doctors is \”straight up lying for clicks.\”
She added that Dr. Sampson says lives, and shared a tweet from Jerry Lawler. It was Dr. Sampson who saved the WWE Hall of Famer\’s life in 2012 after he suffered a cardiac event during an episode of WWE Monday Night Raw.
I’ll bite on this because… Bro. You just straight up lying for clicks. Tf. 15 drs?!?! I learn something new about myself everyday on here. Insane. Hahahaha also you’re getting your Drs mixed up because Dr Sampson saves lives. https://t.co/ZiTTo3hHGgpic.twitter.com/8vwhokdJQp
Saraya\’s last match took place at the December 26, 2017, WWE Live event inside Madison Square Garden.
During a six-woman tag-team match, Paige took a stiff kick from Sasha Banks which resulted in the match being stopped, the latest in a long list of injuries the former Divas Champion had been dealing with.
On the WWE Raw after WrestleMania 34 in April 2018, Saraya (then Paige) announced her retirement and became the General Manager of SmackDown later that week.
Bray Wyatt has made his long-awaited return to WWE, and his real-life brother Bo Dallas is reportedly not far behind.
Wyatt, a former Universal Champion, returned at last night\’s Extreme Rules Premium Live Event, ending the show to a thunderous ovation from the live crowd.
Bo Dallas
Bryan Alverez, through the \’superfollowers\’ function on his Twitter account, reports that Wyatt is expected back \”very soon,\” according to multiple sources within WWE.
Dallas was released by WWE in April 2021, over a year and a half after what would become his last match for the company.
Dallas signed with WWE in 2008, and would have an impressive run in NXT, including becoming the third-ever NXT Champion.
Joining the main roster in 2014, Dallas would hold the Raw Tag Team Championships (with Curtis Axel) and briefly be 24/7 Champion, before his release.
Outside of the ring, Dallas is in a relationship with current WWE Superstar Liv Morgan, who lost the SmackDown Women\’s Championship at Extreme Rules.
Future Plans
It is unclear what WWE has planned for Dallas, but this report coming so soon after his brother\’s comeback is interesting.
Some have suggested that Dallas could join forces with his brother as part of a new Wyatt family stable, the first time the pair would be aligned on WWE\’s main roster.
It is also possible that Bo\’s return will not be connected to his brother at all, and that he will be a singles Superstar in his own storyline.
Impact Wrestling\’s roster has shrunk after the most recent tapings, as four stars have reportedly finished with the company.
Impact held its eighteenth annual Bound for Glory this week, and has confirmed the date and location for their next pay-per-view Hard to Kill 2023.
Departures
PW Insider reports that Mike Bennett, Maria Kanellis-Bennett, Vincent, and Matt Taven are believed to have finished with the company.
Bennett, like his wife, returned to Impact this past January at the Hard to Kill pay per view, after being released from WWE in 2020.
Bennett\’s departure, as well as Taven\’s, is unusual as the pair are in their first reigns as Impact World Tag Team Champions.
Vincent also joined Impact Wrestling at Hard to Kill 2022, alongside Bennett, Kanellis and Taven.
Honor No More
The four departing wrestlers all debuted at the same time, and as part of a group, later dubbed by Kanellis-Bennett as \’Honor no More\’ in January 2022
The group, which included PCO, came about during Ring of Honor\’s hiatus (which ended in April 2022,) and consisted of prominent former ROH talent.
Later that month, Kenny King, a former ROH and Impact Wrestling star, returned to the latter promotion and joined Honor No More.
The following month, Eddie Edwards would be revealed as the group\’s leader.
The recent Bound for Glory event saw a mixed result for Honor No More, as Bennett and Taven retained their tag titles on the show against the Motor City Machine Guns.
On the other side of things, PCO would fail to win the Call Your Shot Gauntlet and Edwards would be unsuccessful against Impact World Champion Josh Alexander.