Tonight’s WWE SmackDown will air live on FOX from the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona.
- LWO (Rey Mysterio and Santos Escobar) vs. The Street Profits
- WWE Women’s Championship: IYO SKY (c) vs. Asuka
- John Cena to appear
Author: John Bass
Injury Updates On Adam Cole & Jon Moxley After AEW Dynamite: Grand Slam
Adam Cole and Jon Moxley are both believed to have suffered injuries on Wednesday’s episode of AEW Dynamite: Grand Slam.
Fightful Select is reporting that Cole was admitted to the hospital following the show and was last seen using crutches. He is said to have injured his ankle when jumping off the ramp during the main event of Dynamite.
Moxley, who is believed to have suffered a mild concussion, was deemed “okay” after his match.
Moxley was checked on by AEW President Tony Khan and others after leaving under his own accord.
The Wrestling Observer is reporting that Moxley wasn’t hurt during the finish of his AEW International Title defense against Rey Fenix, but actually in the opening minutes of the match.
AEW had originally planned for Moxley to retain the International Title, which Fenix eventually won.
As the match progressed, Moxley realized he wasn’t feeling well and informed Fenix mid-match that he was going to triumph.
While the former AEW World Champion had asked the referee to count him out, it didn’t immediately happen after the piledriver.
Moxley was reportedly doing better later in the night and was said to have been “fine” backstage.
Source: eWn
More WWE Releases From Yesterday
Yesterday WWE released several members of their roster, including Mustafa Ali, Emma, Rick Boogs, Aliyah, Riddick Moss, Top Dolla, Elias and Shelton Benjamin.
Update:
WWE also released the following:
- Dana Brooke
- Mansoor
- Mace
- Shanky
- Dabba Kato / Commander Azeez / Babatunde (NXT)
- Quincy Elliot (NXT)
- Bryson Montana (NXT)
- Yulisa Leon (NXT)
- Daniel McArthur (NIL)
- Kevin Ventura-Cortez (NIL)
- Alexis Gray (NIL)
- Brooklyn Barlow (NIL)
- Abule Abadi-Fitzgerald
The company was looking to cut back on $50 million to $100 million in expenses following the merger with UFC to form the TKO Holdings Group.
Dave Meltzer reported the following in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter:
“The key to the releases were talent making main roster money but not being used on the main roster and with the idea that they were not going to be used in the future,” Meltzer wrote.
“It’s time in vs. how much money you are paid vs. return on investment,” said one WWE official regarding the talent cuts.”
Dolph Ziggler Released From WWE
Dolph Ziggler’s lengthy time with WWE has come to an end with his release this week, Fightful has learned.
Ziggler signed with WWE in 2004 and would debut on the main roster the following year as the ‘caddy’ of Kerwin White/Chavo Guerrero.
Returning to the main roster the next year as ‘Nicky’ of the Spirit Squad, it wouldn’t be until 2008 that Ziggler began using the name he would stick with for the rest of his run.
Ziggler leaves WWE a two-time World Heavyweight Champion, as well as a multi-time Tag Team, Intercontinental, and United States Champion.
The Show-Off returned to NXT last year and briefly held the NXT Championship, dethroning Bronn Breakker.
Source: eWn
MLW Fusion Preview 9/21/2023
MLW FUSION streams 8pm tonight on MLW’s YouTube channel and FITE+, Friday on beIN XTRA and Saturday on Cable TV’s beIN SPORTS (find a provider).
Matt Cardona has grand plans for Major League Wrestling. What’ the embodiment of sports entertainment up to? One thing is for sure: “The Agent” is alwayz ready.
Don King, backer of the Bomaye Fight Club and promoter of the World Heavyweight Champion is putting in the work on a big match. What’s next for Alex Kane… and how many zeroes are in the check for the big title bout?
Mance Warner lobbies for one of the strangest matches ever. Yes, really, that strange.
Salina de la Renta demands the attention of MLW’s boss as the Empressaria of Lucha’s conquest continues.
The war between The Calling and Second Gear Crew rages on as the “Death Fighter” AKIRA goes one on one with Second Gear Crew’s highwayman Matthew Justice.
“The International Popstar” promises to spill the tea on “something scandalous” involving the World Featherweight Champion Delmi Exo? B3CCA joins St Laurent on the latest rendition of Sessions by Saint Laurent.
Microman is MISSING? Microman failed to show up at an autograph appearance. Since then, no one has seen or heard from the World’s Greatest Wonder.
Ichiban takes to the air against Nolo Kitano in a high octane middleweight clash with championship implications.
When the moonsault hits your eye like a big pizza pie, that’s amore… or Love, Doug when he wrestles Little Guido for the first-time ever.
Plus BET ONLINE presents the MLW Slaughterhouse FITE+ Control Center!
Impact Wrestling Preview 9/21/2023,1000 Episodes Celebration Continues
The celebration of IMPACT Wrestling’s 1000th episode continues this Thursday at 8/7c on AXS TV and 8:30pm ET on YouTube for IMPACT Insiders!
- Feast or Fired Match case reveals
- Ultimate X Match: Zachary Wentz vs. Rich Swann vs. “Speedball” Mike Bailey vs. Alan Angels vs. Samuray del Sol vs. Ace Austin
- Trinity, Jordynne Grace, Gail Kim, Awesome Kong, & Mickie James vs. Angelina Love, Deonna Purrazzo, Savannah Evans, Gisele Shaw, & Tasha Steelz
- Eric Young vs. Kenny King
- Jake Something vs. Dirty Dango
- Josh Alexander vs. Trey Miguel
WWE Releases Multiple Wrestlers
WWE has released at least several members of their roster, including Mustafa Ali, Emma, Rick Boogs, Aliyah, Riddick Moss, Top Dolla, Elias and Shelton Benjamin
Emma initially reacted to the announcement that WWE was headed to Perth, Australia for Elimination Chamber next year, calling it a “dream”. However, then she found out about her release.
She wrote: “Oops nevermind. I just got released… I am no longer with WWE.”
Source: 411Mania
Mustafa Ali Says He’s No Longer Working With WWE
It looks as if Mustafa Ali‘s time with WWE has come to an end.
“I am [no] longer working with WWE. I look forward to the future,” Ali wrote on Twitter.
There was some confusion about Ali’s initial statement, as it said, “I am longer working with WWE.” Ali replied and confirmed his departure before apologizing for the confusion.
Mustafa Ali was scheduled to face Dominik Mysterio for the NXT North American Championship at NXT No Mercy on September 30.
Mustafa Ali first appeared in WWE when he entered the Cruiserweight Classic in 2016. He signed a full-time contract with the company shortly after the tournament aired.
Ali spent time on 205 Live and SmackDown before he moved to RAW. He was part of the Retribution stable on the RAW brand, and went back to SmackDown after the stable disbanded.
He publicly requested his release in 2022, but it was not granted at that time. Once he returned to WWE after his request was denied, Ali challenged Gunther for the Intercontinental Championship and he was in the current program with Dominik for the North American title.
It is unclear for the reason for Ali’s departure this time.
Source: WrestleZone
Jon Moxley Believed To Have Suffered Concussion On AEW Dynamite Grand Slam
During the “AEW Dynamite: Grand Slam” special, Jon Moxley lost the AEW International Championship to Rey Fenix, though that’s not what caught the attention of the fans. After Fenix hit his Black Fire Driver, Moxley did not kick out of the move. It appeared something was wrong as referee Rick Knox only counted to two even though Moxley’s shoulders were still on the mat. Fenix quickly hit the move again, and this time around, Knox counted to three and Fenix won the title.
According to “PWInsider,” the reason behind the awkward finish was Moxley reportedly suffering a concussion. After being checked over by doctors for some time, Moxley walked out of the arena by himself. It’s also believed that Fenix winning the title was not the original plan and only happened because of Moxley’s injury.
On social media, both Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp and Wrestling Observer’s Bryan Alvarez provided updates on the situation. Sapp noted that those he spoke with were “optimistic” that Moxley was fine, and that right after the incident AEW CEO Tony Khan and the other members of the Blackpool Combat Club went to check on him. Alvarez acknowledged that Moxley was hurt during the match, but said that “he is okay.”
Jon Moxley became the AEW International Champion on September 3 after he defeated Orange Cassidy at All Out in Chicago. He defended the title thrice before losing it to Fenix, with his previous defense coming against Big Bill on the September 13 episode of “Dynamite.”
Source: Wrestling Inc.
Details On Confirmed Deal For WWE SmackDown To Leave Fox, Return To USA Network
It’s official — “WWE SmackDown” will leave Fox next year (as previously predicted by Wells Fargo) and return to the USA Network. The company announced the move this morning, with a new five-year deal bringing “SmackDown” back to cable starting in October 2024. Included with the announcement was the news that “SmackDown” will remain on Friday nights, and there will also be four WWE specials aired on NBC’s broadcast channel each year.
“NBCUniversal has been a tremendous partner of WWE for decades,” WWE President Nick Khan said. “We are excited to extend this longstanding relationship by bringing SmackDown to USA Network on Friday nights and look forward to debuting multiple WWE special events annually on NBC.”
Despite the new agreement, a report from the Sports Business Journal, which broke the “SmackDown” news ahead of WWE’s press release, states that WWE and USA Network parent company NBCU have yet to reach an agreement for “WWE Raw.” With “SmackDown” returning to the network, however, NBCU reportedly remains a favorite to retain the rights to the company’s longest-running show, though corporations such as Disney and Amazon are reportedly still interested in WWE rights.
The report does note that it’s possible “Raw” moves away from Monday nights, which would obviously be a major shift, as the series has been a staple of Mondays since its inception in January 1993. While WWE will maintain some kind of partnership with NBCU through at least 2028, it’s not yet certain that their catalog will remain available on the company’s streaming app, Peacock, for the long haul. The streaming deal between WWE and NBCU, which saw the dissolution of the WWE Network in the United States in favor of Peacock, lasts until 2026.
Source: Wrestling Inc.
