Month: August 2019

Ken Shamrock Returning To Impact Wrestling

UFC Hall of Famer Ken Shamrock is coming to Impact Wrestling next week for the September 5 and 6 Las Vegas tapings. He’s returning to Impact because of his social media feud with Impact star Moose. Shamrock hasn’t been in Impact (then TNA) since 2004.

Shamrock shared the news on Twitter, writing, “Moose #noballs huh? Well according to your #bosses I’ll see you in Vegas! @impactwrestling It’s #moose #hunting season and The Worlds Most Dangerous Man has his next #victim.”

The feud started after Impact World Champion Brian Cage and Ken Shamrock were talking about a match. Moose responded to their conversation, “SO YOU HAVE DEFENDED THE IMPACT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP ONCE IN THREE MONTHS AND YOU WANNA HAVE A PLAYFIGHT WITH SHAMROCK???? I GUESS YOU GUYS BOTH FIGHT ONCE EVERY FEW YEARS SO…….WHAT A PATHETIC JOKE YOU ARE BRIAN.”

At one point in their feud, Moose tweeted, “MMA is Trash……I’m more of a boxing guy….. Boxers are real Athletes.” Even Tommy Dreamer jumped in. Dreamer tweeted at Moose, “Social media in 2019. People trash talking. Don’t know if I would talk sh*t about @ShamrockKen great dude Amazing fight legend @TheMooseNation say u were hacked, put the phone down or just have some respect Plz.”

While in Impact, Ken Shamrock won the vacant NWA World Heavyweight Championship in a gauntlet match on June 19, 2002. Months later Shamrock lost the title and left the company, but in 2004, he briefly returned.

Ken Shamrock returned to pro wrestling in November 2018.

Below are tweets from their feud:

https://twitter.com/TheMooseNation/status/1163978521104068610

https://twitter.com/TheMooseNation/status/1164017247515566080

https://twitter.com/TheMooseNation/status/1164222493835636736

https://twitter.com/TheMooseNation/status/1164374347777224705

https://twitter.com/TheMooseNation/status/1164534056052240384

https://twitter.com/TheMooseNation/status/1164619380568842242

Source: Wrestling Inc.

MLW Fusion Preview 8/23/19

Tony Schiavone and Rich Bocchini host a night of top ranked wrestling.

Schiavone resumes his duties as the regular analyst moving forward as he joins play-by-play commentator Bocchini as MLW’s flagship broadcast team for a night of great action.

Can MJF complete the Dynasty’s sweep of the Hart Foundation? This week on FUSION will we finally get the answer in a big main event.

One-half of the new World Tag Team Champions MJF wants more gold and this week on FUSION the bigmouth New Yorker will look to become a double champion when he challenges for the title he never lost in the ring: the World Middleweight Championship.

The first-ever World Middleweight Champion MJF has never gotten over Teddy Hart walking around with “his” World Middleweight Championship. So much so, MJF has run his mouth calling Hart a “fraud” – and that’s one of the more polite terms used when the trust fund kid trolls Hart on social media and in the press.

Hart will be attempting a record-setting 5th title defense when the two clash in New York City on FUSION this week.

The Dynasty enter the title bout with significant momentum. In the last month, the Dynasty all have won championship gold in MLW: Alex Hammerstone winning the National Openweight Championship and MJF along with Holliday defeating the Hart Foundation in a ladder match in Chicago.

The last time MJF and Hart battled for the championship, Hart was the victor… only for Richard Holliday to crash Hart’s post-match interview and along with MJF pummel the champ.  Thus, began the era of the Dynasty.

Nearly a half year later, the landscape has changed. Dynasty has defeated the Hart Foundation for the World Tag Team Championships. Brian Pillman was defeated in the National Openweight Finals.  Now, MJF looks to clinch the elusive World Middleweight Title. Can he?

In middleweight action, Promociones Dorado’s Hijo de LA Park wrestles Zenshi for the first-time ever. With both jockeying in the rankings, this match has championship implications.

After a near Chainsaw Mancer Massacre, Salina de la Renta vows to return this week with a vengeance. How will the 22-year old empresaria stop the seemingly unstoppable Bucksnort hellraiser? Tune in to find out!

The road to the War Chamber continues as CONTRA Unit readies to take the battlefield in Dallas.

Plus MORE!

Tonight’s Impact Wrestling Airing As Pilot For Potential Studio-Style Series, Preview 8/23/19

Tonight’s episode of Impact Wrestling was designed to be a backdoor pilot for a potential studio-style TV show from the company, according to PWInsider.

The potential studio show has been talked about as a secondary series if and when the main Impact series finds a new home on cable.

Tonight’s show, titled Cali Combat, was filmed at the Championship Wrestling From Hollywood venue, the Oceanview Pavilion in Port Hueneme, CA.

The following matches have been announced for tonight’s Impact on Pursuit and Twitch:

* Michael Elgin vs. Rhino
* Sami Callihan vs. Tommy Dreamer in a No DQ match
* Reno Scum vs. Impact Tag Team Champions The North
* Rich Swann vs. X Division Champion Jake Crist

Vince McMahon Staying Hands-Off With WWE NXT On The USA Network?, NXT Contracts To Be Changed

It’s believed that WWE NXT Superstars will receive new contracts soon due to the move to the USA Network, according to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

There’s no word yet on details of the contracts but word is that they will see NXT talents receive pay that is closer to what main roster Superstars are making, at least the top tier talents from what they are making now. This has not been confirmed, but word going around is that all developmental deals will be changed over to main roster deals soon.

WWE will likely raise their offers to potential incoming talents from here on out.

Guggenheim Securities analyst Curry Baker estimates that the NXT – USA Network TV deal will bring $30 million per year for WWE for “one or two years,” based off conversations he’s had with the company.

Regarding potential changes to the NXT process now that the show is moving to the USA Network, word is that the brand will continue on its same path with Triple H in charge, and no Kevin Dunn or Vince McMahon.

It was noted that the WWE Chairman will likely stay hands-off for the most part, at least as long as the NXT ratings are good. Vince doesn’t have much free time as it is these days, and he will be even busier when his XFL football league launches in February 2020. Vince would likely get more involved if AEW ends up winning the Wednesday Night War ratings. A lot to do with NXT’s future is up in the air and open to change at this point, including a possible move out of Full Sail Live, the increased use of major main roster Superstars, and other ideas, suggestions or changes.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Seth Rollins And Becky Lynch Engaged

Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch are officially engaged to be married.

Becky made the announcement on Thursday via social media with a photo of her and Rollins on the beach showing a ring on her finger.

“Happiest day of my life. For the rest of my life,” she captioned the picture.

The relationship between Becky Lynch and Seth Rollins was first made public back in April when the two attended a concert together. It was then brought to TV recently and the two WWE stars wrestled in a mixed tag team match at Extreme Rules.

https://twitter.com/BeckyLynchWWE/status/1164684584870563840

WWE Launching Their Own Podcast Network

WWE is planning to launch their own podcast network, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The new network is expected to produce multiple podcast series with WWE Superstars. Full details on the podcast line-up will be announced at a later date.

WWE is partnering with Endeavor Audio for the new project. WWE currently works with Endeavor Streaming to power the WWE Network. Endeavor Audio already works with The Bella Twins on their Bellas Podcast.

“Storytelling is at WWE’s core and we are eager to add the audio genre to our portfolio,” said WWE Advanced Media Executive Vice President Jayar Donlan. “Partnering with Endeavor Audio, an expert in podcasting, will enable us to provide our fans with unique content and reach new audiences across the platform.”

Endeavor Audio Senior Vice President Moses Soyoola added, “We’re always looking to pair dynamic content with the best formats for listeners. Through our new partnership with WWE, we’re looking forward to tapping into their iconic event portfolio and talent base to create compelling audio content for their fans.”

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Jon Moxley Reportedly Dealing With Injury

Jon Moxley is currently dealing with some sort of elbow injury, according to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

There’s no word yet on injury specifics, but it may be an infection that Moxley picked up while working in Japan for New Japan Pro Wrestling this summer.

Moxley worked Northeast Wrestling indie events this past weekend and his singles matches were switched to tag matches, except for the match with Pentagon Jr. Moxley insisted on doing that singles match but was very careful not to bump on the elbow.

Moxley is scheduled to face Kenny Omega at AEW’s All Out pay-per-view next Saturday, August 31.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

CM Punk Agent Reportedly Reaches Out To Fox About WWE FS1 Hosting Gig

An agency representing both CM Punk and WWE recently reached out to Fox officials about Punk possibly doing work with WWE once again.

Creative Artists Agency (CAA), which represents WWE and Punk, recently had an agent reach out to Fox higher-ups about having Punk serve as one of the co-hosts of the upcoming WWE in-studio talk show on FS1, according to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

Punk would be working for Fox, not WWE, if a deal was to be reached. The Observer speculated that WWE would hate the idea. Word is that there have been zero negotiations regarding Punk possibly taking the gig. It was also noted by the Observer that this is only something Punk’s agent brought up, and not anything that Punk clearly wanted. Sources in WWE reportedly indicate that there’s nothing to the speculation.

The WWE FS1 in-studio show is set to air on Tuesday nights later this year. It’s been reported that Renee Young will be the main host, but plans may have changed since that was first reported earlier in the summer.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

AEW Signs eSports Host/Announcer Alex “Goldenboy” Mendez

It looks like eSports host/announcer Alex “Goldenboy” Mendez has signed with All Elite Wrestling.

Mendez took to Twitter this week and posted a GIF that said “it’s official” and included a contract. AEW’s Alex Marvez responded and wrote, “Welcome aboard!!!”

https://twitter.com/alexmarvez/status/1164333418945097728

Goldenboy did AEW Fyter Fest commentary with Excalibur and WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross back in July due to the partnership between AEW and CEO Gaming, who helped put the event on. Goldenboy made his name doing eSports commentary and also did commentary work for The Rock’s Titan Games on NBC.

Image result for AEW Signs eSports Host/Announcer Alex "Goldenboy" Mendez

Source: Wrestling Inc.

XFL Reveals Team Names And Logos

XFL revealed the team names and logos of their 8 teams. The announcement was simulcasted live on XFL.com, ESPN.com and various ESPN, FOX Sports and XFL social media platforms. XFL Commissioner Oliver Luck hosted the presentation along with ESPN host Laura Rutledge and FOX Sports host Colin Cowherd.

* St. Louis BattleHawks

* Tampa Bay Vipers

* New York Guardians

* Seattle Dragons

* Los Angeles Wildcats

* DC Defenders

* Houston Roughnecks

* Dallas Renegades