Month: July 2019

Shawn Michaels Returning To WWE SmackDown Next Week For Commentary

WWE Hall of Famer Shawn Michaels will make his return to SmackDown on next Tuesday’s episode from the American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida.

Michaels took to Twitter today to reveal that he will be doing commentary on Tuesday’s SmackDown.

He wrote, “I’ve had a lot of …ahem.. fun times on Monday Night #Raw, but I’m not just coming to #RawReunion to see some friends, ol’ HBK is going to be joining commentary THIS Tuesday on #SDLive! #IveBeenPracticing”

Michaels, who turns 54 on Monday, will also make an appearance on Monday’s RAW Reunion special from Tampa.

https://twitter.com/WWE/status/1151863117355409411

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Eric Bischoff Not Involved With The WWE SmackDown Creative Process?, More On His New WWE Role

New WWE SmackDown Executive Director Eric Bischoff is not expected to be involved with the blue brand creative process, according to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. It was noted in the latest issue that right now, those in WWE creative were told that Bischoff will most likely not be involved with the creative process.

With that said, it looks like Bischoff’s job will be to interface with the various departments in the company, and Fox. Bischoff is still to be the leader of the SmackDown side of things. The Observer noted that the brand currently has no leadership and runs off Ryan Ward and other writers pitching ideas off Vince McMahon.

Bischoff had no influence on this week’s SmackDown episode.

Bischoff appeared on the latest edition of the “After 83 Weeks with Christy Olson” podcast, recorded on Tuesday night, and said he had arrived in Stamford, and was watching the show that he will be taking over.

“I’m actually watching SmackDown as we speak, I’m boning up, I’m doing my research and getting familiar,” he said.

Bischoff visited WWE HQ on Wednesday, but said he will really get started next Monday and Tuesday.

“I’m kinda getting oriented [on Wednesday] and starting the process and getting familiar. I’m kicking it off on Monday and Tuesday next week,” he added.

Bischoff also admitted, during another recent “After 83 Weeks” podcast, that he has a lot to learn.

“The honest answer is, I’ve got a lot to learn between now and the time I actually am fully integrated into the process, because the audience has changed. Television has changed. So much has changed over the last five or seven years that I’ve got some catching up to do. I’m not going to sugarcoat it,” he said when discussing what’s different about producing wrestling for TV these days.

Bischoff is scheduled to appear on TV for the RAW Reunion special from Tampa on Monday.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Braun Strowman Signs New Multi-Year WWE Contract

“The Monster Among Men” Braun Strowman has signed a new WWE contract.

Strowman made the announcement via Instagram, writing:

Well I’m sure more than a few of you will like this announcement!!!!!!!! Here’s to 4 more years of being the hardest working and best big man in the whole damn industry and working for the Greatest promotion in the world the WWE.

The larger than life performer first signed with WWE in 2013 and made his main roster debut two years later as part of the Wyatt Family.

Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet

News On FOX Meeting About WWE – SmackDown Live, NXT On FS1

Fox officials hosted a summit meeting on Wednesday to talk with their affiliates about the fall schedule, according to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. WWE was included in this summit.

Since SmackDown will be part of the Fox sports block every Thursday to Sunday in the fall, the network reportedly wants WWE to be promoted as a legitimate sport that is a choreographed sports presentation, although the outcomes of the matches are predetermined. SmackDown will air 51 weeks per year on Fox, and will be preempted for the World Series. It’s possible that SmackDown airs on FS1 for that one week.

Fox will also air a one-hour launch show in late September to build to the live Friday night debut on October 4 from the Staples Center in Los Angeles. The idea is that the one-hour special will introduce WWE and the Superstars to the Fox audience. WWE and Fox are planning a major promotion that will see WWE Superstars take a moving truck to various sized markets to promote the network change. A digital primer is also being planned, which will allow viewers to get a behind-the-scenes look at the WWE product. This primer will teach viewers some of the insider terms, according to the Observer.

Fox is also in talks to bring the WWE NXT brand to TV. There’s been speculation on NXT airing on FS1, head-to-head with AEW’s weekly TNT show, but that has not been confirmed. As previously reported, FS1 will also air a weekly WWE studio show on Tuesdays with Renee Young as the host.

It’s believed that the SmackDown 20th Anniversary special will air as the premiere episode on Fox, on October 4. WWE will begin promoting that special in mid-September. It was noted at the summit that there will be a lot of surprises on that show.

Sources: Wrestling Observer Newsletter and Wrestling Inc.

WWE NXT Preview 7/17/19

NXT, streaming tonight at 8 ET on WWE Network.

* NXT Champion Adam Cole gets to work

* Apollo landing: Crews next to take on the Kushida challenge

* First-round finale: Bronson Reed collides with Dexter Lumis

* Original Bro squares off with Arturo Ruas

* What’s next for The Sultans of Swag?

WWE NXT UK Preview 7/17/19

NXT UK, streaming today at 3 ET/8 GMT on WWE Network

Mark Andrews to go one-on-one with Kassius Ohno

After Kassius Ohno called out Mark Andrews, claiming he doesn’t deserve to be in NXT UK, the battling Welshman is on a mission to prove the contrary by going right through his outspoken adversary.

Plus, Marcel Barthel & Fabian Aichner of Imperium will enter their “sacred” ring in order to take on the team of Saxon Huxley & Tyson T-Bone, and Jinny will take on Xia Brookside with  Jazzy Gabert surely lurking in the shadows.

Will Ospreay Gives Status Update For NJPW G1 Climax 29

Two days ago, IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion Will Ospreay announced he had a neck injury that was going to keep him out of action on night four of the G1 Climax. Ospreay was scheduled to team up with Yota Tsuji and Yuya Uemura to face Kota Ibushi, Shota Umino and Jushin Thunder Liger. The match ended up being Ibushi and Liger versus Shota Umino and Tsuji.

“Sorry I couldn’t make it out there guys,” Ospreay wrote on Twitter. “I’m in a huge amount of pain right now but New Japan is giving me all the best treatment and taking great care of my health. I’ll do my best to continue the G1.”

Yesterday, Ospreay provided an update on his status for the tournament and it looks like things are now good to go for his A Block match against Kota Ibushi.

“Death can kiss me all it wants, it never nails me,” Ospreay wrote. “Translation: I got the green light. See you tomorrow Korakuen.”

The tournament continues tomorrow with the following matches.

* KENTA vs. Lance Archer
* EVIL vs. SANADA
* Kazuchika Okada vs. Bad Luck Fale
* Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
* Kota Ibushi vs. Will Ospreay

Here are the current standings.

A Block

* Lance Archer (4 pts)
* KENTA (4 pts)
* Kazuchika Okada (4 pts)
* Bad Luck Fale (2 pts)
* SANADA (2 pts)
* EVIL (2 pts)
* Will Ospreay (2 pts)
* Kota Ibushi (0 pts)
* Zack Sabre Jr. (0 pts)
* Hiroshi Tanahashi (0 pts)

B Block

* Tomohiro Ishii (4 pts)
* Jon Moxley (4 pts)
* Juice Robinson (4 pts)
* Hirooki Goto (2 pts)
* Toru Yano (2 pts)
* Taichi (2 pts)
* Shingo Takagi (2 pts)
* Jeff Cobb (0 pts)
* Tetsuya Naito (0 pts)
* Jay White (0 pts)

Source: Wrestling Inc.

WWE To Another Big Reunion Special Later This Year On FOX?

Next week’s WWE RAW episode will be a RAW Reunion special with a few dozen Legends and Hall of Famers making special appearances. Dave Meltzer noted on Wrestling Observer Radio that the original plan for the next reunion special was to hold it on the first SmackDown on Fox episode, which will take place on Friday, October 4.

There’s no word yet on if they still plan on doing a Legends-themed show for the first SmackDown on Fox.

It will be interesting to see if the SmackDown 20th Anniversary special will air on the USA Network or on Fox. The very first episode of SmackDown aired on April 29, 1999, which was a special on UPN. It became a weekly show on UPN on August 26, 1999, so the 20th anniversary of the weekly series would be next month.

There’s no word yet on when that show will air, however WWE could have the very first SmackDown on Fox also be the 20th Anniversary special since the SmackDown anniversary specials are usually held in late September or early October. The 5th Anniversary special took place on September 23, 2004, while the Decade of SmackDown special took place on October 2, 2009, and SmackDown 15 took place on October 10, 2014.

There’s no word yet on plans for the SmackDown 20th Anniversary special and while they might not hold another full-blown Legends reunion show just months after the RAW Reunion, it’s still likely that they will bring back at least some Hall of Famers and Legends for the SmackDown 20 special.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Mickie James Undergoes Successful Knee Surgery

Following an ACL injury that took her out of action last month, Mickie James has successfully undergone surgery to repair her knee.

Mickie’s husband Nick Aldis shared an update on Tuesday saying: “Surgery was a complete success. I’m sure when she’s feeling up to it she’ll share more. Thank you all!”

James was injured during a match against Carmella. She’s unsure of how long she’ll be out of action … but expects it to be “awhile.”

Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet

WWE SmackDown Live Preview 7/16/19

Tonight’s WWE SmackDown Live will take place from the DCU Center in Worcester, Massachusetts with the fallout from WWE Extreme Rules.

* Shane McMahon to host a town hall meeting

* Daniel Bryan to make a career-altering announcement

* The Kabuki Warriors to challenge WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions The IIconics

* Ember Moon and a mystery partner to face Rose & Deville