Author: John Bass

Former WWE Announcer Jonathan Coachman Leaves ESPN

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Former WWE announcer, Jonathan Coachman, confirmed on Twitter that he parted ways with ESPN after working for them since 2008. Previous to that, “Coach” worked for WWE from 1999 until 2008.

In regards to his exit, he said it was “just time to leave ESPN” for both “professional and personal reasons” after a fan asked if he would be coming back to TV.

Coachman was a big part of WWE getting more coverage on ESPN, doing a weekly “Off the Top Rope” segment, among other coverage. As for his future, he said several projects are in the works and will talk about them when the time is right.

Source: WrestlingINC

James Storm Departs Impact Wrestling, Gives Goodbye Speech At TV Taping (Video)

After fifteen years with the company, James Storm is saying goodbye to Impact Wrestling — and the wrestler thanked Dixie Carter during his farewell speech at last night’s TV taping.

Sources with direct knowledge tell Pro Wrestling Sheet that Storm’s exit is legit. We’re told he recently made the decision to depart when his next contract option came around for multiple reasons.

During his goodbye speech at the TV taping in Ottawa on Thursday, The Cowboy thanked the fans for their support. He also thanked Dixie Carter, Jeff Jarrett and Bob Ryder — but not Anthem Sports.

Sources tell PWS that Storm is free to negotiate elsewhere starting today, but right now there’s no current word on his plans for the future.

Watch the video of his farewell below:

Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet

Impact Wrestling Preview 11/9/17

* Fallout from Sunday’s Bound For Glory pay-per-view.

* The feud between Moose & Stephan Bonnar vs. American Top Team will continue this week after the Six Sides of Steel match at Bound For Glory, which saw Bobby Lashley and King Mo defeat Moose and Bonnar.

* Johnny Impact to call out Alberto El Patron

Big Show Update

Below is the latest video from The Big Show, who noted that he’s back in the gym. The Big Show has been training to return to action after undergoing right hip surgery in late September.

Source: WrestlingINC

Rockstar Spud To WWE Update

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Rockstar Spud is confirmed to be signing with WWE, PWInsider reported yesterday. As expected, he is pegged to be a part of the Cruiserweight division on 205 Live. Spud had been rumored to be joining 205 Live following his Impact Wrestling release. New details recently emerged on the former X Division Champion’s departure from Impact Wrestling.

In the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer stated that Spud’s release was not due to budget cuts within Impact Wrestling, but rather because Spud asked for it. Apparently there was a problem with his work visa, and with the current policies that are being enforced under the Trump administration it became difficult for Spud to get into the country.

Meltzer noted that Impact spent nearly $20,000 in legal fees straighten out any issues with the immigration offices in the U.K. so Spud can return to the U.S. Two weeks after he returned to the country, Spud asked for his release from Impact and was granted it in September.

Spud joins a list of superstars that includes Taryn Terrell, Eddie Kingston, Robbie E, Jeff Jarrett, Bram and Reno Scum, all of whom have parted ways with the company in recent weeks.

Source: WrestlingINC

Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn Sent Home From UK Tour (Details)

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Pro Wrestling Sheet has learned Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn went against a creative directive given to them before SmackDown Tuesday night and was told it contributed to them being sent home.

Multiple sources tell PWS that Sami and Kevin were supposed to “feed” for New Day following Zayn vs. Kofi Kingston yesterday, but for some reason they didn’t follow directions and left the ring.

The PWTorch glossary of insider wrestling terms defines “feeding” as: “The heel’s role during a babyface comeback where he runs at the babyface only to be repeatedly fended off, with the hope that the series of bumps by the heel will generate positive fan heat for the babyface.”

Owens hit the ring as soon as the match ended and attacked Kofi as planned. However, he and Sami quickly bailed from the ring. New Day then stood waiting, same for the sound crew who didn’t play anyone’s music, and the segment ended awkwardly when the two wrestlers seemingly went off script by not taking their planned beating afterward.

Multiple sources reached out to PWS, saying the duo have been slightly difficult to work with lately and seem unhappy backstage.

It’s worth noting that they were both close with recently fired writer Jimmy Jacobs and Neville (who hasn’t been heard from since walking out).

Stay tuned for more updates.

Source: WrestlingINC

 

Update:

Sami and Owens were told to leave the arena, go back to the hotel and fly home. They are off the current tour but everything else is up in the air. They could be back for Tuesday’s SmackDown but nothing is official other than their status for the current tour.

There’s no word yet on what was planned for Sami and Owens at the November 19th Survivor Series pay-per-view but it’s believed that The New Day will be facing The Shield’s Roman Reigns, Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins. Stay tuned for updates on their status.

Source: WrestlingINC

John Cena Confirmed For Team SmackDown At WWE Survivor Series

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WWE confirmed today that John Cena will be the fifth and final member of Team SmackDown at The Survivor Series:

It is Cena’s first match since losing to Roman Reigns at WWE No Mercy in late September. Cena had been rumored to be the special referee for the Jinder Mahal vs. Brock Lesnar match at the pay-per-view, but those plans apparently changed after WWE had Mahal drop the WWE Championship to AJ Styles on Tuesday’s episode of SmackDown Live.

Source: WrestlingINC

Bram Granted Release From Impact Wrestling

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Another Impact Wrestling talent has left the company, as Bram announced on Tuesday that he’s been granted his release.

Bram tweeted, “I’ve been granted my release from . Thank you to everyone from top to bottom and to you the fans for your support.”

The wrestler — whose real name is Thomas Latimer — joined Impact in 2014. His most recent push came with the faction known as DCC, but things fell apart with it when the regime change happened.

Sources say Latimer and the team had been unhappy in the company since the breakup went down. Fellow DCC alum Eddie Kingston departed Impact last month and it’s rumored that this will be James Storm’s final week with the company as well.

No word on Bram’s current plans for the future.

Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet

Former WWE & TNA Star (Matt Morgan) Elected To Public Office

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Congratulations to former WWE and TNA star (and current Wrestling Inc. Podcast co-host) Matt Morgan, who won the Longwood District 4 Commissioner race in Florida with 58.5 percent of the vote. Morgan defeated opponent Mark Weller by a 58.5% to 41.5% margin. WrestlingINC will discuss the victory with Morgan on this Monday’s edition of the Wrestling Inc. podcast, right after WWE Monday Night RAW.

Source: WrestlingINC