Month: February 2021

Will WWE Use Fan Cutouts For WrestleMania 37?

WWE is reportedly open to using the fan cutouts that were used at Raymond James Stadium for the NFL’s Super Bowl LV on Sunday.

It was reported on Sunday that WWE officials had been against the idea of filling empty WrestleMania 37 seats with fan cutouts that the NFL was using. Now WWE officials are reportedly open to using the cutouts for The Grandest Stage of Them All.

It was reported today by @Wrestlevotes that WWE officials “will 100% discuss” the use of the cutouts for WrestleMania 37. A source reportedly said that it’s “beyond dumb to not” discuss the use of the cutouts because Raymond James Stadium “looked wonderful for what it was” last night at the big game.

The NFL reportedly sold the cutouts used at Super Bowl LV for $100 each.

It’s been reported that WWE will have some real fans at Raymond James Stadium for WrestleMania 37, but there obviously will not be 100% capacity. WWE is expected to announce full details on WrestleMania tickets shortly.

WrestleMania 37 is scheduled for Saturday, April 10 and Sunday, April 11 from Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Dustin Rhodes Asks Fans To Pray For Terry Funk

AEW star Dustin Rhodes took to Twitter to ask fans to pray for WWE Hall of Famer Terry Funk.

Rhodes revealed that he talked to the 76-year-old today and that he is in a lot of pain.

He tweeted, “Just got off the phone with Terry Funk. He is in a lot of pain and could use some prayers. One of the greatest #TrueLegends to ever be in the ting. Appreciate y’all”

https://twitter.com/dustinrhodes/status/1358502857851473930

Last Thursday, Funk sent out a video on Twitter asking fans to please stop sending fan mail to his home.

https://twitter.com/TheDirtyFunker/status/1357089707214188548

Source: Wrestling Inc.

WWE SmackDown Preview 2/5/2021

Tonight’s WWE SmackDown on FOX will feature fallout from Sunday’s Royal Rumble pay-per-view.

WWE has not announced any matches for tonight’s show as of this writing.

WWE Hall of Famer Edge is scheduled to make his return to SmackDown tonight. It’s rumored that he will challenge WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns for WrestleMania 37, but that has not been confirmed.

Women’s Royal Rumble winner Bianca Belair will also be on tonight’s show to celebrate her big win from Sunday’s pay-per-view.

Wrestling Legend Butch Reed Passes Away

Wrestling legend Butch Reed has passed away at the age of 66.

Reed’s official Instagram account announced this morning that the former WCW World Tag Team Champion passed away today due to heart complications.

“To everyone who reached out god bless you. Today we lost a great man. Due to heart complications Bruce ‘Butch’ Reed passed away. Butch is in heaven now with the wrestling god’s. I am sure he is already booked for a Heavyweight Championship match. Once again thank you for all the prayers. We will keep this page going in his memory. For funeral arrangements send me a dm for information if you would like to attend. God bless everyone and god bless in heaven ‘Hacksaw Butch Reed’,” they wrote on Reed’s account.

Reed had significant runs with Mid-South Wrestling, WCW/NWA, and WWE, among other promotions. He is most known for his role in the Doom tag team with WWE Hall of Famer Ron Simmons.

Reed’s Instagram account revealed just earlier this week that he had suffered two massive heart attacks in 202.

Below is the full post from Reed’s Instagram account:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CK6sUPCpnKp/?utm_source=ig_embed

Source: Wrestling Inc

Backstage News On Steve Cutler’s WWE Release

There was heat on Steve Cutler after he was sidelined from WWE television after contracting COVID-19 in January. It was noted that the heat was specifically from Vince McMahon, and the belief by some people backstage is that it was the reason for the release.

Cutler was actually in attendance at the WWE Performance Center as he offered to bump for the “big man” class that has been taking place there. It was noted that Cutler was a welcome familiar face at the facility and was well liked.

According to the report, WWE has indicated that the “door was open” for Cutler to return down the line.

Cutler, along with Wesley Blake and Jaxson Ryker, were called up to the SmackDown brand last April. The group was pulled from television last June after a controversial tweet from Ryker praising Donald Trump shortly after the killing of George Floyd. Cutler posted a tweet seemingly distancing himself from Ryker, writing, “Although I am part of a tag team while I wrestle, I am my own person with my own thoughts and beliefs. It pains me to see what’s going on in the world. I fought for the freedom of our country and ALL of the people who live here. It shouldn’t matter your race or however you identify, we are ALL human beings and ALL deserve to be equal. #JusticeForGeorgeFloyd”

Cutler and Blake briefly returned to television last December as part of a faction with Baron Corbin, but the group was quickly dropped.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

NJPW Announces Partnership With The Roku Channel

New Japan Pro Wrestling announced a deal to bring NJPW content to The Roku Channel in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. A one-hour series of programming will premiere on February 11.

Episodes are scheduled to air every Thursday beginning at 5 p.m. on The Roku Channel. Replays will be available on-demand thereafter. NJPW also announced that The Roku Channel will host a block of library content featuring the best matches from 2020. There is also potential for the introduction of more historical content in the future.

“Expanding the breadth and quality of our programming has fueled The Roku Channel to one of the largest and fastest growing channels on our platform,” Ashley Hovey, Director of AVOD Growth, Roku said. “Sports programming continues to be an important category for our users, and we are very excited to partner with NJPW to put the world of professional wrestling at the fingertips of millions of engaged users on The Roku Channel.”

President of NJPW Takami Ohbari also spoke on the deal. He noted that fans in the U.S., Canada and The UK have wanted NJPW content available and is looking forward to NJPW’s partnership with The Roku Channel.

“Our fans in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom are among our most loyal, and they have been very clear that they want NJPW’s content made available to them,” said Takami Ohbari, President of NJPW. “NJPW is unlike any other pro-wrestling in the world.

“It is the most athletic, sports-oriented pro-wrestling on the planet, and we are excited to bring our athletes and matches to these markets in such a major way. Thank you to The Roku Channel, and we look forward to a successful partnership that brings NJPW to millions of new fans around the world.”

Wrestling Inc. reported that NJPW had been in talks with Pluto TV as well about airing their content on the streaming platform. NJPW’s new partnership with The Roku Channel comes after their contract with AXS TV ended in late 2019.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Details On AEW – NJPW Working Relationship

The wrestling world was stunned when KENTA attacked Jon Moxley on AEW Dynamite following the end of the main event. The two are set to face off for Moxley’s IWGP United States Championship at NJPW Strong and follows Moxley’s attack on KENTA at the last NJPW Strong show.

On the latest edition of Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer confirmed that AEW and NJPW are in a working relationship. He said that a deal needed to be made for NJPW to have Moxley on their shows to defend the U.S. Title and in return, KENTA would show up on Dynamite.

Post-Dynamite, AEW World Champion Kenny Omega met up with KENTA backstage. Things did not go smoothly between them with KENTA telling Omega to “shut the f**k up.” However, Omega challenged Moxley and Lance Archer to a Lights Out, Falls Count Anywhere Match where he would team up with KENTA.

The future of AEW and NJPW’s relationship is unclear going forward due to the pandemic, travel restrictions and quarantine preventing talents from both companies traveling to and from the U.S. and Japan. Meltzer noted that KENTA could easily crossover because he lives in Orlando, and it is possible for other NJPW talent that live in the U.S. to possibly crossover as well.

Meltzer also noted that there are people in AEW that cannot wait to go back to Japan. He followed up by saying that once travel restrictions and quarantine regulations are cleared up, anything is possible including IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental Champion Kota Ibushi and AEW World Champion Omega facing off, something that the two want to happen someday.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

KENTA Appeared At AEW ‘Beach Break’

Former WWE Superstar and current New Japan Pro Wrestling roster member KENTA has appeared on AEW programming for the first time.

KENTA showed up at the end of this week’s special Dynamite episode, which was titled “Beach Break.”

The man formerly known as Hideo Itami invaded the ring with his face covered and attacked Jon Moxley following the main event. He then pulled down his face mask to reveal himself before hitting Mox with a G2S.

The New Japan star — who was wearing a “G2Sleep” Bullet Club t-shirt — also stared down former Bullet Club member Kenny Omega.

Check out KENTA’s AEW debut in the clip below.

https://twitter.com/AEW/status/1357162388861177857

Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet

MLW Fusion Preview 2/3/2021

MLW returns TONIGHT at 7pm ET with Fusion, featuring the first-ever Baklei Brawl and a World Tag Team title bout on Fubo Sports, Roku Channel, DAZN and YouTube.  Learn more about where to watch.

  • Baklei Brawl: Alex Hammerstone vs. Mads Krügger
  • World Tag Team Championship: Los Parks (c) vs. TJP & Bu Ku Dao
  • Gino Medina vs. Gringo Loco
  • Jordan Oliver vs. Sentai Death Squad

Stream on YouTube: https://youtu.be/VwRTX239LPw

Alex Hammerstone collides with Mads Krügger in the first-ever MLW sanctioned Baklei Brawl presented by by newlawoffice.com.

The CONTRA hunter becomes the hunted as the mighty Hammerstone ventures deep into CONTRA territory.

Hammerstone has demanded another fight with the CONTRA commander and now he finally gets his wish… albeit on CONTRA’s terms! The Baklei Brawl, an extremely dangerous bare knuckle fight, was made famous in the South African underworld. It’s also a fight the masked mercenary of CONTRA has a lot of experience with.

Can Hammer finally bring down CONTRA’s seemingly indestructable 7 footer? Or will the mighty Hammerstone be added to CONTRA’s growing body count? Tune in to find out

Los Parks put their newly won World Tag Team Championship on the line against the high flying and technical assault of 5 feet of fury in Bu Ku Dao and his mentor TJP! 

With speculation swirling around Promociones Dorado being sold to a mysterious new owner & proprietor, what does the empresaria have up her sleeve to impress her new boss and ensure Los Parks remain champions?

The sports world is buzzing following the shocking revelation that ex-NBA referee Tim Donaghy was the assigned official for last week’s Caribbean Strap Match between Savio Vega and Richard Holliday. With rumors of corruption swirling, Alicia Atout provides an update from the league regarding a potential investigation into these allegations.

Prize fights in paradise or Fire Festival 2.0? Amid rumors of major financial woes, Team Filthy presents the first Filthy Island Control Center. Will Ross and Marshall Von Erich get invited? Tune in to find out!

Myron Reed and Jordan Oliver are out for some justice but what happens when the 20-year old Oliver squares off with a member of the Sentai Death Squad?

Gino is back! “El Intocable” Gino Medina makes his return to competition as he takes on Lucha Libre veteran Gringo Loco.

Join Rich Bocchini, fight analyst Jared St. Laurent, and backstage correspondent Alicia Atout for a night of top ranked competition headlined by the first ever MLW sanctioned Baklei Brawl and a marquee world tag title fight.

Fans can also watch nationwide on cable and dish via beIN SPORTS on Saturday nights at 10pm ET and on demand anytime, anywhere on DAZN. Learn more about where to watch.

AEW Dynamite ‘Beach Break’ Preview 2/3/2021

Tonight’s AEW Dynamite: Beach Break episode airs on TNT at Daily’s Place in Jacksonville, Florida.

* Lance Archer vs. Eddie Kingston in a Lumberjack Match

* The wedding of Kip Sabian and Penelope Ford

* Dr. Britt Baker vs. Thunder Rosa

* Tag Team Battle Royal to determine the new #1 contenders to AEW World Tag Team Champions The Young Bucks for a title shot at Revolution

* AEW World Champion Kenny Omega and Impact World Tag Team Champions The Good Brothers vs. Jon Moxley, PAC and Rey Fenix

* Matt Hardy and Hangman Page vs. Chaos Project