The following is set for tonight’s 7/20 WWE Cruiserweight Classic on the WWE Network:
Tajiri vs. Damian Slater
TJ Perkins vs. Da Mack
Lince Dorado vs. Mustafa Ali
Akira Tozawa vs. Kenneth Johnson
Month: July 2016
NXT Preview: 7/20/16
The following is set for tonight’s 7/20 WWE NXT on the WWE Network:
NXT Champion Samoa Joe vs. Rhyno
Bayley vs. Nia Jax
American Alpha vs. The Authors of Pain
Lucha Underground Season 2 Finale Preview: Ultima Lucha Dos Part 3 – 7/20/16
THE FINAL CHAPTER OF SEASON TWO CLOSES WITH AN UNFORGETTABLE, TWO-HOUR SUPERSIZED EPISODE OF ‘LUCHA UNDERGROUND’ WEDNESDAY, JULY 20th AT 8:00 PM ET/PT ON EL REY NETWORK
Check out sneak peeks of “Ultima Lucha Dos – Part III” below.
In the conclusion of Lucha Underground’s electrifying second season, “Ultima Lucha Dos – Part III,” an explosive match pits Fenix, Drago and Aerostar against Worldwide Underground hits the temple, while Rey Mysterio clashes with Prince Puma. Plus, Pentagon battles the Monster Matanza Cueto, and Ivelisse goes head-to -head with Taya. Last but certainly not least, El Dragon Azteca Jr. challenges the Black Lotus in an intense match that shouldn’t be missed! The final chapter of ‘Lucha Underground’ is sure to go out with a bang on Wednesday, July 20th at 8:00pm ET/PT on El Rey Network.
Changes Made To WWE Announce Teams Following Draft
Source: WWE.com
It’s a New Era for the entire landscape of WWE, which continues to change and evolve with the WWE Brand Extension Draft. That includes the announce teams for WWE programming. The teams for Raw, SmackDown, “WWE Superstars” and WWE Main Event are all experiencing a major shakeup, including one major voice changing shows and several rising commentators being inserted into the lineup.
The new announce teams for WWE’s New Era will feature Michael Cole, Corey Graves and Byron Saxton Monday nights on Raw, while Mauro Ranallo, JBL and David Otunga handle the commentary for SmackDown Live every Tuesday night.
Also receiving a makeover will be the announce teams for WWE Superstars and WWE Main Event. Both shows will be led by Tom Phillips, and he will be joined each and every week by Graves on WWE Superstars and Otunga on WWE Main Event.
It’s interesting to note that Jerry Lawler is not included on either commentary team. Lawler did not provide any comments on his Twitter as of this posting.
Cody Rhodes To Make ROH Debut At Final Battle
Cody Rhodes will be making his Ring of Honor debut at Final Battle pay-per-view on Friday, December 2nd. His opponent hasn’t been named as of yet.
ROH issued the following:
CODY RHODES SIGNED TO COMPETE AT ROH’S FINAL BATTLE
(Baltimore, MD) The biggest event of 2016 for Ring of Honor Wrestling (ROH) will take place on Friday December 2nd at The Manhattan Center’s Hammerstein Ballroom as “Final Battle” returns to NYC. The culmination of twelve months of intense competition, heart-stopping excitement and the Best Pro Wrestling on the Planet, “Final Battle” provides the athletes of Ring of Honor one more opportunity to prove their domination.
ROH is pleased to announce that the first wrestler signed to compete for the 2016’s “Final Battle” is Cody Rhodes, a second-generation star who will be making his Ring of Honor debut on Friday December 2nd.
Cody made his ROH and “Final Battle” intentions known first on Twitter (@CodyRhodes) by tweeting out a “Final Battle” image, with Cody looming over the NYC skyline. ROH Matchmaker Nigel McGuinness confirmed the signing of Rhodes for what promises to be the biggest event of 2016 in Ring of Honor.
Tickets for “Final Battle Pay Per View” on Friday December 2nd at The Manhattan Center’s Hammerstein Ballroom and “Aftermath TV Taping” on Sunday, December 4th at the 2300 Arena go on sale Today (Wednesday, July 20th) for Ringside Members at 10am and this Friday (July 22nd) for the General Public. Ringside members will need a pre sale password which you can find by clicking here.
You can sign up now for a Ringside Membership by clicking here.
RING OF HONOR WRESTLING PRESENTS
FINAL BATTLE LIVE ON PAY PER VIEW
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2ND
THE MANHATTAN CENTER’S HAMMERSTEIN BALLROOM
NEW YORK CITY
7:30PM DOORS OPEN / 8:45PM PRE SHOW / 9PM BELL TIME
Event info – tinyurl.com/ROHFinalBattle16TICKETS ON SALE
RINGSIDE MEMBERS – WED, JULY 20TH @ 10AM EST
GENERAL PUBLIC – FRI, JULY 22ND @ 10AM ESTRING OF HONOR WRESTLING PRESENTS
FINAL BATTLE AFTERMATH TV TAPING
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4TH
2300 ARENA – PHILADELPHIA, PA
4:30PM DOORS OPEN / 5:45PM PRE SHOW / 6PM BELL TIME
EVENT INFO – rohwrestling.com/live/events/2016/dec/4/12416-final-battle-aftermath-philadelphia-paTICKETS ON SALE
RINGSIDE MEMBERS – WED, JULY 20TH @ 10AM EST
GENERAL PUBLIC – FRI, JULY 22ND @ 10AM EST
WWE Draft Results
Round No. 1
1. Seth Rollins – Raw
2. WWE Champion Dean Ambrose – SmackDown Live
3. WWE Women’s Champion Charlotte – Raw
4. AJ Styles – SmackDown Live
5. Finn Bálor – Raw from NXT
Round No. 2
6. Roman Reigns – Raw
7. John Cena – SmackDown Live
8. Brock Lesnar – Raw
9. Randy Orton – SmackDown Live
10. WWE Tag Team Champions The New Day – Raw
Round No. 3
11. Sami Zayn – Raw
12. Bray Wyatt – SmackDown Live
13. Sasha Banks – Raw
14. Becky Lynch – SmackDown Live
15. Chris Jericho – Raw
Round No. 4
16. United States Champion Rusev (with Lana) – Raw
17. Intercontinental Champion The Miz (with Maryse) – SmackDown Live
18. Kevin Owens – Raw
19. Baron Corbin – SmackDown Live
20. Enzo & Big Cass – Raw
Round No. 5
21. Gallows and Anderson – Raw
22. American Alpha – SmackDown Live from NXT
23. Big Show – Raw
24. Dolph Ziggler – SmackDown Live
25. Nia Jax – Raw from NXT
Round No. 6
26. Neville – Raw
27. Natalya – SmackDown Live
28. Cesaro – Raw
29. Alberto Del Rio – SmackDown Live
30. Sheamus – Raw
Round No. 7 (announced during WWE Draft Center Live on WWE Network)
31. Golden Truth – Raw
32. The Usos – SmackDown Live
33. Titus O’Neil – Raw
34. Demon Kane – SmackDown Live
35. Paige – Raw
Round No. 8 (announced during WWE Draft Center Live on WWE Network)
36. Darren Young (with Bob Backlund) – Raw
37. Kalisto – SmackDown Live
38. Sin Cara – Raw
39. Naomi – SmackDown Live
40. Jack Swagger – Raw
41. The Ascension – SmackDown Live
Round No. 9 (announced during WWE Draft Center Live on WWE Network)
42. The Dudley Boyz – Raw
43. Zack Ryder – SmackDown Live
44. Summer Rae – Raw
45. Apollo Crews – SmackDown Live
46. Mark Henry – Raw
47. Alexa Bliss – SmackDown Live from NXT
Round No. 10 Picks (announced during WWE Draft Center Live on WWE Network)
48. Braun Strowman – Raw
49. Breezango – SmackDown Live
50. Bo Dallas – Raw
51. Eva Marie – SmackDown Live
52. Shining Stars – Raw
53. The Vaudevillains – SmackDown Live
Round No. 11 (announced during WWE Draft Center Live on WWE Network)
54. Alicia Fox – Raw
55. Erick Rowan – SmackDown Live
56. Dana Brooke – Raw
57. Mojo Rawley – SmackDown Live from NXT
58. Curtis Axel – Raw
59. Carmella – SmackDown Live from NXT
Undrafted
Heath Slater
WWE Draft Extended To 3 Hours
Source: WrestlingINC
Tonight’s WWE superstar draft on SmackDown is one of the biggest events of the year and it deserves some extra time. WWE has now confirmed that the first live SmackDown is going to be extended to three hours instead of the typical two.
There is a bit of a catch though and the third hour will take place on the WWE Network beginning at 10 p.m. ET.
This is not going to be a weekly occurrence and SmackDown will go back to the two-hour format after this week. That is the main reason that Monday Night Raw is getting three picks for every two that SmackDown gets, and that is due to it being a longer show.
Tonight’s extended episode will begin at 8 p.m. ET with the first two hours airing on USA Network.
– WWE is making sure that both shows are represented well at tonight’s draft and the announce team has now been revealed.
The Wrestling Observer has revealed that Mauro Ranallo will be joined by Jerry Lawler, Michael Cole, and Byron Saxton for a four-man team. Cole is going to remain exclusive for Monday Night Raw from this point forward.
SmackDown Live Preview: WWE Draft 7/19/16
Source: WWE.com
WWE Draft
WWE SmackDown Commissioner Shane McMahon has announced the main event for tonight’s live SmackDown on the USA Network – Seth Rollins vs. Dean Ambrose for the WWE Title in a rematch from RAW.
As noted, their RAW main event ended with Rollins apparently winning the title. After RAW went off the air, the referee ruled that the match ended in a draw as both men had their shoulders down.
Can Cena get on the same page with Enzo & Big Cass?
Who will possibly want to team with Sasha Banks?
Will Ryder use United States Champion Rusev’s anger against him?
Lawsuit Filed Against WWE By Jimmy Snuka & Others Over Neurological Injuries, WWE Issues Statement
Source: WrestleView.com
Bloomberg News is featuring an article about a new lawsuit being filed against WWE by Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka and a host of other veteran talent claiming the company “hid the long-term effects of neurological injuries” after lengthy wrestling careers.
The lawsuit accuses WWE of failing to care for head injuries suffered by former talent “in any medically competent or meaningful manner” and for concealing the nature of long-term neurological injuries that were suffered as a result of wrestling.
WWE issued the following statement feeling confident it will be dismissed.
“This is another ridiculous attempt by the same attorney who has previously filed class action lawsuits against WWE, both of which have been dismissed. A federal judge has already found that this lawyer made patently false allegations about WWE, and this is more of the same.”
Chris Harrington provided the following list of plaintiffs named in the lawsuit to The Wrestling Observer/Figure Four Online in addition to Snuka.
* Road Warrior Animal
* Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka
* Paul Orndorff
* Chavo Guerrero, Jr.
* Chavo Guerrero, Sr.
* Adam Bomb
* Ahmed Johnson
* Kamala
* Dave Hebner
* Earl Hebner
* King Kong Bundy
* Ken Patera
* Sabu
* Barry Darsow
* Bill Eadie
* John Nord
* Johnny The Bull
* Henry Godwin
* Princess Victoria
* Judy Martin
* Mark Jindrak
* Axl Rotten’s Estate
* Marty Jannetty
* Jon Heidenreich
* The Warlord
* The Barbarian
* “The Crippler” Larry Oliver
* Bobbi Billiard
* Rex King
* Tracy Smothers
* Black Bart
* Slick
* One Man Gang
* Jesse Barr
* Butch Reed
* Jazz
* Sylvain Grenier
* Omar Atlas
* Don Leo Jonathan
* Shane Douglas
* Muhammad Hassan
* James Brunzell
* Susan Green
* King Kong Mosca
* Jim Powers
* Mike Enos
* Lou Marconi
* Rod Price
* Donald Driggers
* Rodney Mack
* Outlaw Ron Bass
Who Is WWE Champion? WWE Make Final Ruling
Last night on RAW, the main event WWE Championship match between Champion Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins, ended in controversy.The referee made a 3 count but it appeared both competitors shoulders was down. As Raw went off the air Stephanie announced Seth Rollins as the winner and new WWE Champion.
After RAW went off the air, the situation continued live on the WWE Network involving the Dean Ambrose vs. Seth Rollins main event for the WWE Championship. It was ruled that the main event match between Ambrose and Rollins ended in a draw.
The referee ruled that both shoulders were down on the mat during the pinfall. Lilian Garcia announced that Ambrose is still the WWE Champion heading into WWE Battleground.
You can check out a video clip of what went down on the WWE Network below.
Wrestling News Blog 