Month: February 2016

ECW Original Axl Rotten Passed Away At Age 44

ECW Original Axl Rotten (Brian Knighton )passed away at the age of 44 yesterday.  PWInsider reports that Rotten was found by authorities in a local motel, which was in a bad part of Baltimore.

Knighton burst onto the pro-wrestling scene in 1993, performing in the ECW with his fictional brother Ian Rotten. The duo’s acrimonious split became one of the network’s the most famous rivalries.

As Axl Rotten, Knighton was known for dramatic matches that incorporated barbed wire, flaming tables and broken glass.

He went on to form a tag team partnership with Jonathan Rechner — known as Balls Mahoney in ECW — where he competed until 1999.

In 2005, Knighton made a brief appearance in WWE, when his and others’ old ECW characters were resurrected for a “one night only” event.

Here is Rotten’s last tweet:

 

WWE issued this statement on Axl Rotten:

WWE is saddened to learn of reports that Brian Knighton, best known for competing in ECW as Axl Rotten from 1993 to 1999, has passed away. WWE extends its condolences to Knighton’s family, friends and fans.

 

SmackDown Preview: 2/4/16

AJ Styles vs. The Miz

Roman Reigns vs. Rusev

Ryback vs. Erick Rowan

The New Day vs. The Social Outcasts

Charlotte VS Alicia Fox

Kalisto VS Kevin Owens

 

Update on Plans For Undertaker VS Braun Strowman At WrestleMania 32

Source: F4WOnline via WrestlingINC

As noted earlier this week, multiple sources reported The Undertaker vs. Braun Strowman and Brock Lesnar vs. Bray Wyatt matches currently penciled in for WrestleMania 32. Vince McMahon is high on Strowman and really wants to do the match with Taker.

Bryan Alvarez noted on Wrestling Observer Live today that it’s still unknown if The Undertaker has been asked to do the match and it’s assumed by some that Taker may say no.

It sounds like those two singles matches are currently the plan but other ideas are still being bounced around. It was noted by Alvarez that there’s also been talk of having Strowman in an Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal or having a multi-person match, possibly with The Undertaker, Kane and Big Show vs. Strowman, Erick Rowan and Luke Harper or some other combination.

Top WWE Officials Reportedly Meet With Lucha Underground Officials, Lucha Turns Down TNA Idea

Source:   Wrestling Observer Newsletter via WrestlingINC

WWE officials met with Lucha Underground back in December but nothing came of the meeting, according to The Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

WWE was represented by Triple H and Senior Director of Talent Development Canyon Cemen. There was some discussion about talent but the talks went nowhere.

On a related note, TNA recently reached out to Lucha Underground. The company floated the idea of doing a joint show in Dallas during WrestleMania 32 weekend but Lucha Underground turned the offer down. The feeling was that it would be a bad mix.

Ronda Rousey Slated To Return In November 

UFC President Dana White recently had an interview with BigboyTv where he discussed the future of former Bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey.

He said Rousey will probably  be making her return to the octagon in November of this year. If Rousey does indeed return in November it’ll be one year after her devastating loss to Holly Holm at UFC 193

White also went on to say that whoever wins at UFC 196 their next title defense will be against a returning Rousey. Whether that’ll be Holly Holm or Miesha Tate remains to be unseen.

Regardless who wins at UFC 196 it’ll be a rematch for Rousey and that alone is the making of an anticipated fight.

Plans For The WWE Divas Title Heading Into WrestleMania 32

  Source: Wrestlinginc.com

It is being reported that WWE Divas Champion Charlotte is scheduled to hold on to the Divas Title at least until WrestleMania 32. Her current feud with Brie Bella is set to rap up at the FastLane PPV.

Many fans believe that a Sasha Banks vs Charlotte match for the title at WM32 is what we’ll see but according to PWinsider it looks like we may be getting a triple threat involving Chatlotte, Sasha Banks and Becky Lynch.

There is no word yet on how this may all come about. Like they say only time will tell. It makes you wonder though what about the 4th woman in the WWE’s version of the 4Horsewomen? Can all of this mean we may have a Bayley main roster debut on the horizon? Possibly the night after Mania? I guess we’ll have to wait and see.

Lucha Underground Preview: 2/3/16

It’s only been a week since the Luchadors returned to the temple for season two of “Lucha Underground” and the events are nothing but fierce and blood-pumping. This Wednesday, February 3rd at 8:00PM ET/PT on El Rey Network, get ready to see Prince Puma team up with an unlikely partner, while Johnny Mundo makes his return to the temple with his sights on the Lucha Underground Championship! New one-hour episodes premiere every Wednesday at 8:00PM ET/PT.

NXT Preview: 2/3/16

The following is scheduled for tonight’s 2/3 WWE NXT on the WWE Network:

* NXT Champion Finn Balor vs. Apollo Crews

* Carmella vs. Emma w/Dana Brooke

* The Vaudevillains vs. The Hype Bros.

* Asuka vs. Santana Garrett

* Enzo Amore & Colin Cassady in action.

Reby Sky/Hardy Under Contract With TNA, More On Her Altercation With Awesome Kong

Source: WrestlingINC

Fans can expect to see Matt Hardy’s wife Reby (a/k/a Reby Sky and Reby Hardy) on Impact Wrestling on a regular basis going forward as she has signed a contract with TNA Wrestling, Mike Johnson of PWInsider reports.

As has been reported, there was an incident between Reby and Awesome Kong on Friday prior to an Impact Wrestling taping at the Manchester Arena in Manchester, United Kingdom. To add to the multiple versions of the story going around, Johnson says Kong did indeed get physical with Reby. Various TNA performers at the show told Johnson you could see marks around her throat and around the back of her neck if she lifted her hair.

Reby alluded to the incident Friday night on Twitter, stating, “No time for high school drama. I REFUSE to play this bullying game. FOH…”

Possible WrestleMania 32 Plans For The Undertaker & Brock Lesnar

Source: WrestlingINC

PWInsider reports that the plan as of Monday was to do Braun Strowman vs. The Undertaker and Bray Wyatt vs. Brock Lesnar singles matches at WrestleMania 32. Bryan Alvarez noted on Wrestling Observer Live yesterday that Vince McMahon really wants to do the Braun vs. Taker match and loves the idea of the two going at it. Vince previously wanted to do Braun vs. Brock, and pushed for the match to happen, but it appears he was talked out of it.