Month: April 2019

WWE To Reveal New Title Belt Designs At WrestleMania 35?

We could see WWE reveal new RAW Tag Team Titles and new SmackDown Tag Team Titles at WrestleMania 35.

Longtime pro wresting title belt source and creator @BeltFanDan noted on Twitter that the newly designed tag team belts are completed and are currently in the New York & New Jersey area for WrestleMania 35 weekend. There’s no word yet on if the new designs will debut this weekend.

Dan noted that the new titles, created by legendary belt maker “Ace of Belts” Dave Millican, have removable custom sideplates for the tag team that holds them. The red brand is set to receive new designs altogether, but the blue brand design will stay the same except for the removable side plate modification.

WrestleMania 35 will see RAW Tag Team Champions The Revival defend against Curt Hawkins and Zack Ryder while SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Usos defend in a Fatal 4 Way against The Bar, Rusev and Shinsuke Nakamura, Ricochet and Aleister Black.

It was also noted that another RAW brand belt design change may be in the works. Dan wrote, “Working on trying to confirm ANOTHER belt change for Raw…. One that would excite many fans, and upset collectors……”

You can see all of Dan’s related tweets below:

https://twitter.com/BeltFanDan/status/1114183990099968000

https://twitter.com/BeltFanDan/status/1114186575863218177

https://twitter.com/BeltFanDan/status/1114199517161762816

https://twitter.com/BeltFanDan/status/1114185379094122496

https://twitter.com/BeltFanDan/status/1114206495929974784

Triple H Announces New “Can’t Miss” WWE Studio Show For FS1 To Premiere Later This Year

Triple H appeared on Fox Sports this morning to announce that WWE will premiere a new studio show on FS1 this fall. The discussion show will air on Tuesday nights.

It was noted that more details on the studio show will be announced soon, including the premiere date and the weekly timeslot. It was noted that there will be familiar faces on the show, from the past and present.

WWE SmackDown will jump to Fox beginning Friday, October 4. It’s been rumored that more WWE programming could be included in the new deal with Fox and WWE has wanted to do a studio show for some time now.

Triple H said this studio show is something he’s wanted to do for a long time.

“This is something I’ve wanted to happen for a long time,” Triple H revealed. “I think this is the perfect opportunity for it. A studio show, for us, it kind of, because of the sports entertainment aspect of it, it’s an endless show where you’re talking about the athletic component of it, it’s also an entertainment… where you’re talking about where things are going, the storylines and the characters all of it. This is going to be one of those shows, that if you’re a WWE fan, across the board, this is the show that will be ‘can’t miss’ because it’s going to talk about everything you love, in a way you can’t get anywhere else.”

Triple H continued, “To take people deeper into the personal lives and the day-to-days of what goes on behind-the-scenes to being a WWE Superstar, and anything that goes with it. That success, that failure, that heartbreak, that sorrow, that elation of WrestleMania moments, all of it. To see that all take place here, but in a way that’s never been shown before. I can’t wait for this.”

Source: Wrestling Inc.

WWE Hall Of Fame Legacy Wing Inductees For This Year

It’s now confirmed that WWE will be inducting more names into the Legacy Wing of the WWE Hall of Fame on Saturday night.

The following names have been confirmed for this year’s Legacy Wing, according to PWInsider: Bruiser Brody, Wahoo McDaniel, Luna Vachon, SD Jones, Professor Toru Tanaka, Primo Carnera, Madison Square Garden Network creator Joseph Cohen, former WWF President Hisashi Shinma, “Playboy” Buddy Rose.

It was reported earlier in the week, via @Wrestlevotes, that Jim Barnett would also be going into the Legacy Wing, but he was not mentioned in PWInsider’s report. WWE should confirm the Legacy Wing inductees soon.

The Legacy Wing was launched in 2016 to honor wrestlers from the early years of professional wrestling. The inductees are usually honored posthumously with a video package at the annual induction ceremony.

The Legacy Wing currently includes Mildred Burke, Frank Gotch, George Hackenschmidt, Ed “Strangler” Lewis, Pat O’Connor, Lou Thesz, “Sailor” Art Thomas, Martin “Farmer” Burns, June Byers, Haystacks Calhoun, Judy Grable, Dr. Jerry Graham, Luther Lindsay, Toots Mondt, Rikid?zan, Bearcat Wright, Stan Stasiak, Lord Alfred Hayes, Dara Singh, Cora Combs, El Santo, Jim Londos, Rufus R. Jones, Sputnik Monroe, Boris Malenko and Hiro Matsuda.

The 2019 WWE Hall of Fame induction ceremony takes place on Saturday night from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn during WrestleMania 35 Weekend. The 2019 class will feature headliners DX (Triple H, Shawn Michaels, Chyna, Billy Gunn, “Road Dogg” BG James, Sean “X-Pac” Waltman), Torrie Wilson, Harlem Heat, The Honky Tonk Man, The Hart Foundation (Bret Hart, Jim Neidhart) and Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake, who will be inducted by WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan. Veteran WWE employee Sue Aitchison will receive The Warrior Award from WWE Ambassador Dana Warrior.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

The Undertaker – WWE WrestleMania 35 Weekend Update

The Undertaker is scheduled to be in New Jersey for WrestleMania 35 this weekend, according to PWInsider.

There’s no word yet on what Taker is coming to town for, but it sounds like he is being brought in by WWE. It remains to be seen if Taker will have any kind of role in front of the crowd at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, but it’s worth noting that he is in town for the biggest show of the year.

It’s been reported that Taker has agreed to work WWE’s return to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on Friday, May 3, but we’ve heard nothing in regards to a return to the ring for The Dead Man at WrestleMania 35. We also know that Taker and wife Michelle McCool were teaching at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando during late March.

As noted last Friday, Taker took to Instagram and said the reports of his demise have been greatly exaggerated. He also revealed that he has dropped 25 pounds after making some lifestyle changes in an attempt to offset the years of physical abuse his body has endured while wrestling for WWE.

Taker wrote, “The reports of my demise have been greatly exaggerated!! I’ve made some serious lifestyle changes in an attempt to offset the years of physical abuse my body has endured. One of the major changes was losing 25lbs. Goal reached! I wanted to thank @nutritionsolutions for the meal prep! I really appreciate the help getting my diet dialed in. #iaintdoneyet #neverstopworking #rentsdue #restinpeace #goals #wwe #deathvalley #makeithappen #goodfood”

For those who missed it, you can see Taker’s full post below:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BvmMC6qgFYL/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=embed_locale_test

Source: Wrestling Inc.

WWE Unveils Roddy Piper Hall Of Fame Statue At Axxess (VIDEO)

Yesterday at WrestleMania Axxess, WWE unveiled a brand new Hall of Fame statue dedicated to the late Roddy Piper!

WWE Hall of Famers Sting, Ricky Steamboat and Jimmy Hart were joined by soon-to-be Hall of Famer Brutus Beefcake in the ring at Axxess for the big reveal. Members of Roddy’s family were also present.

WWE has previously made Hall of Fame statues for the likes of Andre The Giant, Ric Flair, Bruno Sammartino, Ultimate Warrior, and Dusty Rhodes.

Check out a video of the unveiling below.

https://twitter.com/WWE/status/1113943849766879233

Impact Wrestling ‘United We Stand’ Results

Ultimate X Match: Johnny Impact vs. Jake Crist vs. Ace Austin vs. Jake Evans vs. Dante Fox vs. Pat Buck – Winner: Johnny Impact 

Team Impact vs. Team Lucha Underground: Impact (Brian Cage, Eddie Edward, Moose & Tommy Dreamer) vs. Lucha Underground (Aerostar, Drago, Daga & Marty the Moth) – Winners: Team Lucha Underground (Aerostar, Drago, Daga & Marty the Moth)

Impact Knockouts Championship: (C) Taya Valkyrie vs. Rosemary vs. Jordynne Grace vs. Katie Forbes – Winner: Taya Valkyrie 

Impact vs. MLW: LAX (Santana & Ortiz) vs. Promociones Dorado (Low-Ki & Ricky Martinez) – Winners: LAX 

Intergender Match: Tessa Blanchard vs. Joey Ryan – Winner: Tessa Blanchard 

Impact X-Division Championship: (C) Rich Swann vs. Flamita – Winner: Rich Swann

Monsters Ball: Sami Callihan vs. Jimmy Havoc – Winner: Sami Callihan

Extreme Death Match: Rob Van Dam & Sabu vs. Lucha Bros (Pentagon Jr. & Fenix) – Winners: Pentagon Jr. and Fenix 

WWE Announces Hulk Hogan As Brutus Beefcake’s WWE Hall Of Fame Inductor

WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan will induct his good friend Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake into the WWE Hall of Fame on Saturday from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

WWE made the announcement on Hogan and Beefcake today, ending speculation on inductors being done away with this year.

Below is WWE’s full announcement on The Hulkster inducting The Barber:

Hulk Hogan to induct Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake into the WWE Hall of FameHulk Hogan and Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake had each other’s back through thick and thin in WWE. This Saturday, The Hulkster will have the honor of presenting his close friend when he receives sports-entertainment’s highest honor, as he will induct Beefcake into the WWE Hall of Fame during the 2019 Induction Ceremony this Saturday, the eve of WrestleMania 35.

Hogan and Beefcake first joined forces in 1989, headlining that year’s SummerSlam against “Macho King” Randy Savage and the monstrous Zeus and later stepping into a Steel Cage to battle the ruthless duo. When Beefcake returned to the ring after a parasailing accident that nearly ended his life, Hogan was literally in “The Barber’s” corner, joining forces with him to form The Mega Maniacs, a duo that battled then-World Tag Team Champions Money Inc. at WrestleMania IX.

What stories will Hogan share about his friend as Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake enters the WWE Hall of Fame? Find out during the 2019 WWE Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, streaming live this Saturday at 7 ET/4 PT on WWE Network.

Tickets for the 2019 WWE Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. are available now.

Impact Wrestling United We Stand 4/4/19

Impact United We Stand will take place from the Rahway Reaction Center in Rahway, New Jersey at 11 pm ET!

The event will air live on FITE for $19.99.

The Pre Pre-Show for United We Stand starts at 9PM ET with the Pre-Show starting at 10:30PM ET and will be broadcast on Twitch.

(Pre-Show)  KM & Fallah Bahh in a WrestlePro Showcase

Extreme Death Match: Rob Van Dam & Sabu vs. Lucha Bros (Pentagon Jr. & Fenix)

Impact Knockouts Championship: (C) Taya Valkyrie vs. Rosemary vs. Jordynne Grace vs. Katie Forbes

Ultimate X Match: Johnny Impact vs. Jake Crist vs. Kotto Brazil vs. Jake Evans vs. Dante Fox vs. Pat Buck

Monsters Ball: Sami Callihan vs. Jimmy Havoc

Team Impact (Brian Cage, Eddie Edward, Moose & TBD) vs. Team Lucha Underground (Aerostar, Drago, Daga & Marty the Moth)

Intergender Match: Tessa Blanchard vs. Joey Ryan

Impact X-Division Championship: (C) Rich Swann vs. Flamita

Impact vs. MLW: LAX (Santana & Ortiz) vs. Promociones Dorado (Low-Ki & Ricky Martinez)

 

 

Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide Announces Madison Square Garden Show

Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide announced today at a press conference that their debut show at Madison Square Garden will be on Sunday, September 15. At the moment the event is being called AAA Invading NY.

AAA has a partnerships with Impact Wrestling and MLW. Also, back in February, AAA announced a partnership with AEW where the two companies are expected to lend talent out at each other’s events.

Cody and The Young Bucks showed up at last months’ AAA Rey de Reyes, Nick and Matt Jackson won the AAA World Tag Titles by defeating Pentagon Jr. and Fenix. It’s likely AEW talent will be involved with the upcoming MSG show.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Backstage News On The WWE RAW Arrest Angle With Ronda Rousey, Becky Lynch And Charlotte Flair

The final WWE RAW episode before WrestleMania 35 was mainly used to promote the Triple Threat “Winner Takes All” main event with Becky Lynch, RAW Women’s Champion Ronda Rousey and SmackDown Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair.

The segment that ended with Lynch, Flair and Rousey getting arrested by Washington, DC police was a collaborative effort with many different people giving creative input, according to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

Vince McMahon obviously had ideas for the angle, as did all three of the women involved. Others who helped book the segment were Paul Heyman, Kevin Dunn and Marty Miller. It’s no secret that Heyman has been working closely behind-the-scenes with Rousey and the creative for her Road to WrestleMania 35 storyline. Miller is a longtime WWE camera operator and director, who also worked for the XFL. His Twitter bio says he is the director of TV for WWE NXT, RAW, SmackDown and Tough Enough.

The backstage part of the segment with the police cars was taped before RAW hit the air and edited. The Observer noted that you could see some of the camera cuts if you looked closely. Above is a SmackDown video package that recapped the arrest angle.

On a related note, the unmarked and DC police cars were brought to Baltimore, MD for SmackDown the next day on a flatbed truck. The one car was used for the quick scene that saw Lynch get dropped off at the arena, sirens blaring, but that’s all they were used for.

Source: Wrestling Inc.