Author: John Bass

Reason Why The Bloodline Segment Changed For WWE Raw Is XXX

It was announced last week that an acknowledgment ceremony for The Bloodline would be held on tonight’s historic “WWE Raw” 30th anniversary episode. However, plans changed over the weekend when WWE revealed that “Honorary Uce” Sami Zayn — whose actions have been failing to satisfy his “Tribal Chief” Roman Reigns in recent weeks — would face a trial in Tribal Court instead. More details have now emerged regarding why the initially planned segment was nixed. 

According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the alteration was made because Afa and Sika of the Wild Samoans and WWE Hall of Famer Rikishi could not be in Philadelphia for the show. The legendary tag team and popular Attitude Era star are part of The Bloodline (Anoaʻi) family tree. The report indicated that Afa, 80, and Sika, 77, were not ready for the trip. At the same time, Rikishi got sick this past week, ultimately ruling the trio out of the event and forcing WWE to go in a new direction. That deviation saw the promotion modify the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship contract signing on Friday’s “WWE SmackDown” to set up the Tribal Court segment penciled in for this evening’s episode of “Raw.”

It’s said that rumors suggesting Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson had pulled out or that Vince McMahon — who recently returned to WWE as Executive Chairman — had changed the acknowledgment ceremony are false. It was pointed out that Johnson was never booked for the original segment. Speculation has been rife for many months that Johnson could return to face Reigns at WrestleMania 39 in April. However, recent reports indicated “The Great One” would not have time to get in ring shape for the potential showdown.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Conrad Thompson: ‘Tony Khan Is Going To Take Care Of Jay Briscoe’s Family’

Tributes flooded in for Ring of Honor Hall of Famer Jay Briscoe (Jamin Pugh) following the news last week of his passing. AEW/ROH owner Tony Khan was the person to announce the news.

Speaking on What Happened When, Conrad Thompson explained that he’s heard that Khan will make sure Jay’s family is taken care of:

“I don’t mean to betray any confidences, but let me say this. There is lots of rumors and innuendo from really good sources that Tony Khan is who we thought he was and he’s going to do the right thing by that family as well.”

“I don’t think he would necessarily want anybody to know that information, and I know it’s not your [Tony Schiavone] place to talk about it, but I will say that for all the criticism that gets thrown around ‘Tony this, Tony that.’ When the chips are down, he’s a dude.”

Source: eWrestlingNews

AEW Rampage Preview 1/20/2023

Tonight’s AEW Rampage on TNT at 10/9c.

  • Ethan Page vs. Jungle Boy
  • Brian Cage vs. Willie Mack 
  • AEW TBS Champion Jade Cargill & Leila Gray vs. Jaina and Jordyn Vanity
  • Tony Schiavone to interview Eddie Kingston and Ortiz
  • Action Andretti vs. Daniel Garcia

WWE SmackDown Preview 1/20/2023

WWE SmackDown will air live tonight on FOX and emanate from Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan.

AEW Tried Several Times To Use The Briscoes

This past Tuesday, Jay Briscoe, real name Jamin Pugh, passed away following a car crash in Delaware at 38 years old.

Wednesday’s episode of AEW Dynamite opened with a graphic of Briscoe and multiple wrestlers having “Jay” armbands during their matches.

As previously reported, Warner Bros. Discovery did not allow AEW to do a full tribute show to Briscoe due to homophobic tweets Jay posted over a decade ago. WBD had blocked Briscoe’s involvement on AEW television in the past. Jay had apologized for the tweets multiple times over the years. 

Dave Meltzer reported in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that AEW President Tony Khan made a few attempts to get the Briscoes on AEW television in 2022. 

“This past year there were many attempts to get them on the show. They were actually flown in a few times to television, but they weren’t allowed to be used.There were plans for them on the 9/4 All Out show in Chicago, to be in a six-man tag with FTR & Wardlow vs. The Briscoes & Jay Lethal. But without being able to promote it on television and because the broadcast partners didn’t want them on AEW broadcasts, the decision was made to bring the Motor City Machine Guns in out of nowhere to team with Lethal.”

Source: eWrestlingNews

WWE Official ‘Confident’ About Naomi’s Return

Naomi and Mercedes Mone walked out of the May 16th, 2022 episode of Monday Night RAW over a creative dispute with Vince McMahon. Naomi and Mone were suspended indefinitely and WWE hasn’t advertised or mentioned them ever since.

According to a report from Fightful Select, a particular higher-up in WWE is of the opinion that there have been discussions between Naomi and WWE, and the company is “confident” about The Glow returning to WWE although no timetable has been listed as of yet.

Naomi’s WWE contract was on the verge of expiration at the time she walked out of RAW. Both parties were reportedly interested in extending the deal.

The report further suggests that Naomi was in line to receive the biggest money contract of her career before things went downhill. In September, Naomi was reported to have maintained positive contact with WWE.

Source: eWrestlingNews

Update On Injuries To Jay Briscoe’s Daughters

Josh Wharton, a family friend of the late Jay Briscoe, has provided an update on the health of Gracie and Jayleigh — Jay’s two daughters who suffered severe injuries in the auto accident that led to the wrestler’s death.

According to Wharton’s Facebook page, Gracie “could not feel anything from the waist down” post-accident when she was admitted to a local hospital, where she was diagnosed with an L2 dislocation, L3 and L4 fractures, and spinal cord compression. Once she was stabilized and transferred to a bigger hospital, Gracie got feeling back in her thighs but continued to feel nothing below her knee. She ultimately underwent surgery around 3 AM on Wednesday, the 18th of January. The doctors were able to relieve the compression in her spinal cord and the surgery went as well as possible.

Gracie, 12, continues to deal with swelling and trauma in her spinal cord, as doctors play “the waiting game” hoping for a full recovery. On a positive note, she experienced “tingling in her feet” on and off Thursday, and doctors expect her progress to occur on a day-to-day basis. 

As of Thursday night, Gracie does not have feeling back in her legs. However, fortunately, she is not diagnosed with any other injuries.

Meanwhile, Jayleigh, 9, was diagnosed with an open tibia and fibular fracture at a local hospital, where she underwent surgery. The doctors placed her in an external fixator and sent her to a bigger hospital, where she remains. 

Jayleigh, diagnosed with a C7 fracture, is expected to remain in a neck brace for another six weeks. She is also dealing with L3 and L4 fractures, which will keep her in a back brace for another 12 weeks. She also has a broken rib on the right side. Furthermore, she suffered from internal bleeding Thursday, but the doctors performed bowel resection surgery and corrected the issue. 

Wharton has also shared a text message he received from Ashley, the wife of Jay.

“Both girls are in a lot of pain,” read the text from Ashley. “We would like to express how thankful we are for the outpouring of support from our community and the wrestling community worldwide.”

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Triple H Reportedly Makes Decision On Future Of WWE Tag Titles

The Usos are currently the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the two pairs of belts they hold are inseparable. According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Triple H has a plan in place to make sure that there will be two different sets of tag titles for WWE’s men’s division.

The unification of the “WWE SmackDown” and “WWE Raw” Tag Team Championships was the idea initially, but Triple H recently made the decision to go back to treating them as separate entities. Doing this would allow The Usos to keep hold of one set of titles, even after losing the other. The reported hope is that separating the “Raw” and “SmackDown” titles makes it seem more likely that The Usos can lose when defending them.

It was back on the May 20, 2022 episode of “SmackDown” when The Usos defeated RK-Bro to unify the “Raw” and “SmackDown” tag titles together in a “Winner Take All” match. Jimmy and Jey have held the “SmackDown” Championship since July 18, 2021, defeating Dominik and Rey Mysterio at Money In The Bank. Their current reign is the longest WWE Tag Team Championship reign in the company’s history. Along with their “Tribal Chief” Roman Reigns, The Usos’ dominance has been a big help in solidifying The Bloodline as the preeminent faction in WWE, with wins over The New Day, The Street Profits, Hit Row and more during their history-making reign. Now the champs will soon be squaring off against The Judgement Day for the “Raw” straps.

Judgement Day vs. The Usos for the RAW Tag Team Titles is set for this Monday at RAW 30th Anniversary show, RAW Is XXX.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

The Rock Has Reportedly Told WWE He Won’t Be Ready In Time For WrestleMania

There are high hopes for this year’s WrestleMania. Especially if Triple H can hold onto his creative role long enough to be the one in charge of booking it. Top of many people’s WrestleMania wish lists is The Rock returning to reclaim his position at the head of the Samoan Dynasty’s table, but anyone with that WrestleMania dream may have just had it dashed.

Just hours after WWE dropped new Rock merch, making many believe his comeback was imminent, Wrestling Observer Newsletter has reported a WrestleMania match for The People’s Champ is off the table. According to the new report, The Rock has spoken to WWE and informed them he will not be able to be in the right shape for a match in time to face Reigns at WrestleMania.

Despite apparently shooting down plans to compete at WrestleMania, a match that would have been The Rock’s first for seven years, the movie star reportedly signed off by saying he would be open to other plans in the future. What’s a little confusing about all of this, if it is indeed accurate of course, is the insinuation that these plans have been sprung on The Rock all of a sudden.

While nothing official has been confirmed by WWE in terms of a Rock return, the belief among fans that he and Reigns would clash at WrestleMania has been alive and well for a very long time. So much so that you’d have to think Rock and WWE have at least discussed a potential matchup when WrestleMania goes Hollywood a little over two months from now.

On the bright side, if The Rock really isn’t going to be a part of WWE’s WrestleMania plans, the company can now move forward with whatever plan B is. Just in time for the Royal Rumble. It’s implied in the report that Rock is out that WWE was likely pressing for an answer from The Great One, needing to know what its road to WrestleMania is going to look like before solidifying a couple of main eventers through its Royal Rumble matches eight days from now.

Source: TheSportster

MLW Fusion Preview 1/19/2023

MLW FUSION tonight at 8pm ET streaming worldwide on Pro Wrestling TV and Saturday 8pm ET nationwide on cable television on beIN SPORTS. 

This week’s card:

  • Jacob Fatu vs. Ben-K 
  • Alex Price vs TJ Crawford
  • Trish Adora vs Gia Scott

DRAGON GATE’s Ben-K dives deep into the shark infested waters of the MLW heavyweight division as he makes his debut against 2022 Battle Riot winner Jacob Fatu!

Can the former Open The Freedom Gate champion slay the Samoan Werewolf and put the eyes of the sport on him, or will Fatu bulldoze through one of Japan’s top grapplers on he zones in on Hammerstone’s World Heavyweight title? Tune in and find out!

Plus, the wait is finally over! Alicia Atout drops the details and date for Hammerstone vs EJ Nduka: Last Man Standing for the World Heavyweight Championship.

Top Middleweight prospects put it all on the line as Alec Price takes to the skies against TJ Crawford!

Fast rising Featherweight and 8 year US army veteran Trish Adora goes one on one with Gia Scott.