Month: February 2023

Jerry ‘The King” Lawler Suffered A Stroke 

Action News 5 in Memphis, Tennessee is reporting that Lawler suffered a stroke at his home in Fort Meyers, Florida. He later underwent surgery and is said to be recovering at a Florida hospital.

 Dutch Mantell took to Twitter to provide an update on “The King,” noting that he spoke with Lawler’s son Kevin who said that the WWE Hall of Famer was improving. He wrote,

“Just talked to Kevin…he said that he talked to the Dr. who said that Jerry is improving. He suffered some paralysis on his left side that he is now regaining use of. The Dr. said that Jerry should recover from this episode. Good luck Jerry.”

https://twitter.com/DirtyDMantell/status/1623048354098806790

Dave Brown, a longtime friend of Lawler, provided an update to commercialappeal.com by noting that Lawler could move his legs and arms. 

Lawler’s longtime commentary partner Jim Ross gave an update on Lawler’s condition by writing the following: 

“I spoke very briefly with ⁦Jerry Lawler tonight. He’s obviously weak but I could understand his affected speech. Jerry’s prognosis is positive but he needs all our thoughts and prayers. #LoveYaKing”

https://twitter.com/JRsBBQ/status/1623193574606262277
https://twitter.com/DirtyDMantell/status/1623060730734866437

Lawler previously suffered a stroke back in 2018, and had a heart attack during a live broadcast of WWE Raw back in 2012.

Backstage News On Scrapped WrestleMania 39 Plans For Cody Rhodes

Cody Rhodes may have promised to take the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship from Roman Reigns during his promo exchange with Paul Heyman last night on “WWE Raw,” but at one point in time WWE had other plans for him in regard to WrestleMania 39, according to Dave Meltzer on “Wrestling Observer Radio.”

This plan would have seen a brand new title created by the company that would have been defended on NIght One of WrestleMania, while Reigns would defend his titles on Night Two. It was noted that Rhodes, Drew McIntyre, and Seth Rollins were the names discussed to walk away with the mysterious new title, with WWE hoping to have two top titles once again. 

This idea only would have happened if The Rock had been involved at WrestleMania 39. There had been a “pie-in-the-sky” idea for the WWE legend to win the Royal Rumble match earlier this month and go on to face Reigns at WrestleMania. Of course, Rhodes won the Rumble match instead, and The Rock is not scheduled to be in a WrestleMania match this year due to the Hollywood star not having enough time to get into ring shape.

Rhodes is now set to collide against Reigns at WrestleMania in the main event. However, there could be another twist yet due to the fact that the “Tribal Chief” is defending his titles against Sami Zayn at the upcoming Elimination Chamber event first. 

Source: Wrestling Inc.

WWE NXT Preview 2/7/2023

Tonight’s WWE NXT in Orlando, Florida at the Capitol Wrestling Center on the USA Network.

  • Fallout from Vengeance Day
  • Bayley will appear for a Ding Dong Hello segment with Jacy Jayne and Gigi Dolin
  • Valentina Feroz vs. Lyra Valkyria
  • What’s next for NXT Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez
  • I’m sure well see more on Carmelo Hayes wanting a shot at NXT Champion Bron Breakker

Lita Makes Surprise Return To WWE Monday Night RAW – Aids Becky Lynch Against Damage CTRL

WWE Hall of Famer Lita made her return to WWE during this week’s episode of RAW and has her sights set on Damage CTRL.

In the main event of RAW, Bayley faced Becky Lynch in a Steel Cage match, the same match the pair were meant to have at RAW’s 30th-anniversary show.

During the closing moments of the match, Lita made her return and took out IYO SKY and Dakota Kai who were at ringside.

Lita’s most recent match in WWE was at last year’s Elimination Chamber pay-per-view event, where she lost to then-Champion Becky Lynch in a RAW Women’s Title match.

During an episode of the Broken Skull Sessions, Bayley named Lita as her dream opponent from any era.

It is WrestleMania season, and Lita’s new pattern seems to suggest she likes showing up around the Elimination Chamber. Did she just appear for a one-off last night? Or is there more involvement planned for her in the coming months?

https://twitter.com/WWE/status/1622807855345831937

Sources: eWrestlingNews and Wrestling Inc.

Backstage News On When ROH TV Tapings Will Begin

Back in December, following Final Battle, Tony Khan announced plans for a weekly TV show for Ring of Honor that would air as part of a revamped Honor Club sometime in 2023. It’s been radio silence since. However, with ROH’s Supercard of Honor pay-per-view rapidly approaching at the end of March, it appears developments may be picking up on the start of that ROH television show. 

Fightful Select reports that ROH tapings are lined up for the end of February in Orlando, Florida. While a venue hasn’t been 100% confirmed, talent is presuming that tapings will occur at the soundstages of Universal Studios, where AEW has regularly taped “AEW Dark” in the past. Voices of Wrestling had previously reported ROH would hold tapings on February 25 and 26.

Things get a little murkier beyond those tapings as far as any more in the future, but it’s expected that what’s on the calendar for the end of February should take ROH all the way up to Supercard of Honor. Tony Khan has yet to specify an airdate for ROH’s first weekly show on Honor Club, but given the timetable, it is logical to believe it’d be at the start of March, with several episodes properly building in the weeks to the event during WrestleMania weekend.

Several AEW contracted talents — who had been signed as far back as last year — were noted as likely to appear, having inked deals with the intent to be used for ROH. ROH Champions Claudio Castagnoli, Athena, The Embassy, Samoa Joe, and Wheeler Yuta should be heavily featured.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Danhausen Forms Tag Team With Chris Jericho On Jericho’s “Rock ‘N’ Wrestling Rager At Sea” Cruise

There might be a very nice, very evil, and very new tag team entering the AEW tag team picture.

Over the weekend as part of Chris Jericho’s “Rock ‘N’ Wrestling Rager at Sea” cruise, AEW’s resident ghoul Danhausen teamed up to become a unit for a pair of matches on the voyage. “Danhausen and Jerichohausen… the most hausen tag team of all hausen!!” one traveler tweeted, posting a photo of Danhausen and Jericho in matching facepaint and red capes. Another attendee shared a look at Danhausen and Jericho both using “The Walls of Jericho” against Austin and Colten Gunn.

Jericho’s annual cruise event typically features wrestlers — mostly from AEW’s roster at this point — in addition to a few other stars from ROH, GCW, and NJPW. Musical artists like Jericho’s rock group Fozzy, Quiet Riot, and “Platinum Max” (AEW World Tag Team Champion Max Caster) performed this year as well. Danhausen was advertised as the cruise’s “guest host” for the weekend. 

Even before his AEW debut in early 2022, Danhausen had grown into a beloved figure among wrestling fans, making a name for himself on the independent scene and on social media. Known for casting “spells” on his adversaries, he has racked up an 8-5 record in his first year with AEW. Although with the recent attention he’s been garnering, it’s not out of the question to see bigger things on the horizon for him in his second year with the promotion — especially considering his association with the All-Atlantic Champion Orange Cassidy and the Best Friends.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

WWE RAW Preview 2/6/2023

WWE Raw will air live tonight on the USA Network and emanate from the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida.

AEW Dark: Elevation Preview 2/6/2023

The latest episode of AEW’s latest weekly show, Dark: Elevation, is slated to air tonight at 7pm ET via the official AEW YouTube channel.

  • ROH Champion Claudio Castagnoli & ROH Pure Wrestling Champion Wheeler Yuta vs. Tony Nese & Ari Daivari with Smart Mark Sterling
  • Nyla Rose & Emi Sakura & Diamante & Marina Shafir with Vickie Guerrero vs. Sky Blue & Madison Rayne & Queen Aminata & Heidi
  • Orange Cassidy & The Best Friends vs. Zack Clayton & Serpentico & Luther
  • Top Flight vs. The Butcher & The Blade with The Bunny.
  • Yuka Sakazaki vs. Billie Starkz
  • Powerhouse Hobbs vs. Corey Calhoun
  • Matt Menard & Angelo Parker vs. The Boys, Brendan & Brett Tate

WWE NXT Vengeance Day 2/4/2023 (Results)

NXT NORTH AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH:
Wes Lee (c) def. Dijak

NXT WOMEN’S TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH:
Fallon Henley and Kiana James def. Katana Chance and Kayden Carter (c) to become new NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions

2-OUT-OF-3 FALLS MATCH:
Carmelo Hayes def. Apollo Crews with a 2-0 sweep

NXT TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP FATAL 4-WAY MATCH:
Gallus def. The New Day, Chase University and Pretty Deadly to become new NXT Tag Team Champions

NXT WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP TRIPLE THREAT MATCH:
Roxanne Perez (c) def. Gigi Dolin and Jacy Jayne

NXT CHAMPIONSHIP STEEL CAGE MATCH:
Bron Breakker (c) def. Grayson Waller

After the match Carmelo Hayes come out to suggest he is next in line for Breakker’s NXT Title.

AEW Rampage Preview 2/3/2023

Tonight’s AEW Rampage on TNT at 10/9C. Taped on Wednesday at Wright State University – Nutter Center in Dayton, OH

  • AEW World Trios Championship: The Elite (Kenny Omega & The Young Bucks) (c) vs. Ethan Page, Matt Hardy, & Isiah Kassidy
  • RUSH vs. Christopher Daniels
  • Swerve Strickland vs. Brian Pillman Jr.
  • Toni Storm & Saraya in tag team action