Tonight’s episode of WWE NXT in Orlando, Florida at the Capitol Wrestling Center on the USA Network:
Last night on RAW, Trish Stratus returned, helping Lita and Becky Lynch win the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship from Damage CTRL’s IYO Sky and Dakota Kai.
Stratus took out Bayley, preventing her from interfering in the title match. Lynch put SKY in an armbar while Lita nailed Kai with a top-rope moonsault to dethrone Damage CTRL on the Road To WrestleMania.
Lita and Lynch are both in their first reign as WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions, ending Damage CTRL’s second title run at 114 days. SKY and Kai won the titles from Alexa Bliss and Asuka at WWE Crown Jewel on November 5th, 2022.
WWE Raw will air live tonight on the USA Network and emanate from the Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Should fans be gearing up to see Matt Riddle on WWE television again soon?
According to Dave Meltzer on the latest “Wrestling Observer Radio,” Riddle’s suspension is up, meaning he is technically free to make a return to the ring at any point. However, he also pointed out that sometimes when a wrestler isn’t on the WWE WrestleMania card, they can be held back until after the show, meaning that a return for the former United States Champion might be held back until after the “Grandest Stage Of Them All.”
Of course, it is not confirmed that Riddle isn’t going to be part of WrestleMania this year, but he hasn’t been seen on television since the December 5 episode of “WWE Raw,” where he was written out of storylines following an attack from Solo Sikoa. With a lot of the bigger storylines now falling into place, it could be a case of WWE keeping him on ice until there are firm plans for Riddle, which goes along with recent reports that claim his name hadn’t been mentioned backstage recently.
Riddle was initially taken off television due to a reported suspension for a second drug test violation — which WWE never confirmed. However, the RK-Bro star did confirm that he spent time in rehab on social media during this period. Interestingly, Riddle took to Twitter and shared a video of him singing “Freedom isn’t Free” from “Team America: World Police,” which could be linked to the fact he is technically available to return but isn’t free to do so just yet by creative. However, Sikoa currently doesn’t have a confirmed match at WrestleMania, and a returning Riddle seeking revenge could potentially be an option.
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Source: Wrestling Inc.
WWE will be bringing back both the King and Queen of the Ring tournaments for an upcoming PLE in May, the location of the show has been revealed. WWE is also bringing back the Backlash event on May 6.
Pwinsider.com Elite reports the King and Queen of the Ring premium live event is scheduled to take place in Saudi Arabia on May 27th.
The last time WWE held these tournaments was in 2021 in Saudi Arabia at the Crown jewel event.
Xavier Woods was crowned King of the Ring while Zelina Vega became Queen of the Ring, then known as the Queen’s Crown.
Source: eWrestlingNews
– Gisele Shaw def. Deonna Purrazzo. Savannah Evans came down and slammed Deonna while the referee was distracted, aligning herself with Gisele.
– Jonathan Gresham def. Mike Bailey
– Frankie Kazarian def. Kon
Sami Callihan inadvertently nails Kon with a steel chair, allowing Kazarian to capitalize with the cutter for three.
– IMPACT Knockouts Tag Team Championship: The Death Dollz (Jessicka & Taya Valkyrie w/ Rosemary) (c) def. The Hex (Allysin Kay & Marti Belle)
– IMPACT Digital Media Championship – Dot Combat Match: Joe Hendry (c) def. Moose
– Dave LaGreca Hosts the First-Ever LIVE Busted Open With Bully Ray & Tommy Dreamer
Bully Ray and Tommy Dreamer will have 60 seconds to air their grievances. After winning Thursday night’s Beat the Clock Challenge, Bully has earned the right to speak first. Bully simply says “I’m sorry” but Dreamer doesn’t buy it. Bully admits that he has gone too far, especially what he said about Dreamer’s mother. Bully wants to make amends with Dreamer before he dies. Dreamer begins to accept his apology but then, Bully burns him with coffee and nails him in the head with the carafe.
– IMPACT World Championship #1 Contender 4-Way: Steve Maclin def. PCO, Brian Myers, and Heath
– After the match, X-Division Champion Trey Miguel complains that he’s not on the show. Miguel continues to run his mouth and PCO has had enough, chokeslamming him onto the hardest part of the ring.
– Bullet Club (KENTA & Ace Austin & Chris Bey) def. Time Machine (KUSHIDA & Chris Sabin & Alex Shelley)
– IMPACT Knockouts World Championship: Mickie James (c) def. Masha Slamovich
– IMPACT World Championship: Josh Alexander (c) def. Rich Swann
AEW Rampage tonight on TNT at 10/9C.
The post-Elimination Chamber episode of WWE SmackDown tonight from the Ford Center in Evansville, IN., airing live on FOX starting 8/7c.
IMPACT Wrestling No Surrender 2023 special event from Sam’s Town in Las Vegas, Nevada streaming on IMPACT Plus, YouTube for IMPACT Ultimate Insiders and FITE.
CARD
Impact World Title Match
Rich Swann vs. Josh Alexander (c)
Impact Knockouts World Title Match
Masha Slamovich vs. Mickie James (c)
Dot Combat Match for the Impact Digital Media Title
Moose vs. Joe Hendry (c)
Impact Knockouts World Tag Team Titles Match
The Hex (Allysin Kay, Marti Belle) vs. The Death Dollz (Taya Valkyrie, Jessicka) (c)
#1 Contenders Fatal 4 Way
Brian Myers vs. PCO vs. Steve Maclin vs. Eddie Edwards
Busted Open Radio Segment
Hosted by Dave LaGreca, Bully Ray and Tommy Dreamer
Six-Man Tag-Team Match
The Bullet Club (KENTA, Ace Austin, Chris Bey) vs. Time Machine (Kushida, Impact World Tag Team & NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Champions The Motor City Machine Guns)
Singles Match
Frankie Kazarian vs. Big Kon
Busted Open Live segment to hash out Bully Ray & Tommy Dreamer’s issues with Dave LaGreca
Countdown To No Surrender Pre-show Match
Deonna Purrazzo vs. Gisele Shaw
Countdown To No Surrender Pre-show Match
Jonathan Gresham vs. Mike Bailey
Busted Open Live segment to hash out Bully Ray & Tommy Dreamer’s issues with Dave LaGreca
Kenny Omega has been pushed as a top star since helping launch AEW in 2019.
His future with the company is unclear as his deal with AEW is going to be up in the near future and WWE is reportedly interested in signing him.
Dave Meltzer reported in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that Omega’s deal would’ve been up in January, but since AEW has decided to add time to it due to the time he missed in 2022 because of various injuries, Omega will remain with the promotion for most of 2023.
“Omega’s AEW contract date was to have expired at the end of January as he had a four-year deal with no option clause to add time that started on February 1, 2019. His contract does allow AEW to extend it for the time he was out injured, which has happened. He was out nine months so that would be a maximum of November but the extended time frame hasn’t been finalized as far as how long,” Meltzer wrote.
Source: eWrestlingNews
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