Month: July 2016

Info On Tonight’s WWE Main Event & SmackDown Tapings

Source: WrestlingINC

Tonight’s WWE Main Event and SmackDown tapings will take place from the Huntington Center in Toledo, Ohio with the big announcement on Brock Lesnar’s SummerSlam opponent. Superstars advertised for tonight include WWE Champion Dean Ambrose, WWE Intercontinental Champion The Miz, AJ Styles, Chris Jericho, Sheamus, Sami Zayn, Alberto Del Rio, Cesaro and Kevin Owens. Tonight’s tapings should see the return of Jerry Lawler, who was suspended until his domestic charges from the incident with fiancee Lauryn McBride were dropped.

WWE Announcer Jerry “The King” Lawler’s Suspension Lifted

I didn’t post any news over the weekend or yesterday for Independence Day, so you may have heard already that it looks like WWE has lifted Jerry “The King” Lawler’s suspension. Below is what Pro Wrestling Sheet reported on July 1st:

Jerry Lawler‘s WWE suspension has been lifted … this according to a rep for the company.

WWE tells Pro Wrestling Sheet, “Jerry Lawler’s legal matter has been resolved and his suspension has been lifted, effective immediately.”

Lawler was suspended on June 17th after he and his fiancee were arrested, but all charges stemming from the incident were dropped Friday morning in court.

In his absence, David Otunga had been filling the color commentary spot … however, we’re told Jerry will immediately return to SmackDown starting next week to resume his role.

WWE Stars Reportedly Watch Tape Of TNA Match: Hardy vs Hardy

Source: WrestlingINC

Tonight’s TNA Impact Wrestling episode will feature Matt Hardy vs. Jeff Hardy in their “Final Deletion” match, taped from Matt’s “compound” in North Carolina. It was noted on Wrestling Observer Radio that most of the WWE talents on the recent tour of Japan saw a tape of the Hardy vs. Hardy match, causing speculation that someone in WWE may have used the TNA match for inspiration when booking the angle on RAW where The Wyatt Family invited WWE Tag Team Champions The New Day to their compound in the swamp.

Silas Young’s ROH Contract Expired

ROH star Silas Young noted on Twitter that his ROH contract expired yesterday:

Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson to Receive Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame

Source: Bleacher Report

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson will leave his handprints on the Hollywood Walk of Fame before he’s even inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.

The Central Intelligence star was one of 31 celebrities and three bands nominated to get their own segment on the famous sidewalk. Other nominees include Grammy-winning recording artist and noted national anthem specialist John Legend as well as N.W.A. frontman-turned-actor Ice Cube.

[WalkofFame.com, h/t ABC News]

Hideo Itami Returns From Injury At NXT House Show

Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet

Hideo Itami made his NXT return tonight … and it sounds like he unleashed a years worth of pent-up aggression in a 6-man tag match with TM-61.

According to reports, Hideo got a big-time ovation from the crowd as he walked to the ring to wrestle Tino Sabbatelli, Wesley Blake, and Samoa Joe — and ran wild with kicks before hitting the Busaiku Knee Kick to win the match for his team.

Itami has been out of action since May 2015 due to a shoulder injury. He underwent surgery and was originally expected to return in 6-8 months but suffered complications. His only WWE appearance since has been as a masked henchman in Triple H’s WrestleMania 32 entrance.

Having debuted in September 2014, Itami has had more time on the sidelines than he has inside the NXT ring. It will be interesting to see how he progresses now that he’s returned.

Welcome back Hideo!

Prince Puma Reportedly Turns Down New Lucha Underground Contract

Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet

Prince Puma, aka Ricochet, has reportedly turned down a new contract with Lucha Underground … but it’s still a mystery as to when he’d be allowed to work elsewhere.

According to The Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Puma was offered a “lucrative deal” to return to the series following Season 3 but recently made a decision to pass on the offer.

Pro Wrestling Sheet has confirmed the generous deal was for multiple years — not seasons — but Pro Wrestling Sheet sources were tight lipped on whether Ricochet had accepted the offer or not.

It’s presently not known if or when he is planning to sign with another promotion. It is believed, however, that standard Lucha Underground contracts prevent talents from appearing on TV with another promotion until six months after their last appearance in the Temple airs.

Puma’s final match will reportedly air in Summer 2017.

For now, Ricochet is expected to continue working for New Japan Pro Wrestling.

Prosecutors Drop Charges In Jerry Lawler Domestic Violence Case

Source: WrestlingNewsSource

The criminal charges against WWE legend Jerry “The King” Lawler in his domestic violence case against him and his fiancee have been dropped by prosecutors, according to TMZ report.

Lawler, 66 and his fiancee, Lauryn McBride, 27 were arrested in Memphis on June 17th accusing each other of domestic violence. It was also reported that a gun was pulled out.

A judge ordered the pair to remain away from each other while the case was on-going to determine who the aggressor was, although it now appears neither side wanted to testify against each other and the case was dropped.

Lawler’s attorney told the Memphis Commercial Appeal that the whole thing has been “a big understanding and won’t happen again. We are happy with the outcome.”

Lawler is currently indefinitely suspended by WWE.

 

Source: WrestlingINC

Lawler, 66, and McBride, 27, were arrested in Memphis on June 17 after they both accused each other of domestic violence.

In the incident at Lawler’s home, McBride claimed Lawler held her against a kitchen counter during a argument. She said he hit her in the front left side of her head and pushed her against a stove. Then he retrieved an unloaded pistol, placed it on the counter and said, “Go ahead and kill yourself.”

According to the affidavit, Lawler said they argued over McBride lying about where she had been. He said she was intoxicated and tried to prevent her from leaving in her car. She then scratched the right side of his face, threw a candle at him and kicked him the groin. Lawler alleged that she got the gun from the garage and threatened to kill herself.

Both were arrested when officers could not determine who was the primary aggressor. Lawler was suspended indefinitely by WWE following the arrest.