Author: John Bass

AEW Rampage Preview 9/30/2022

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

  • The Acclaimed (c) vs. Private Party vs. The Butcher & The Blade – AEW World Tag Team Championships
  • Rush vs. John Silver
  • Lee Moriarty vs. Fuego Del Sol
  • Jamie Hayter vs. Willow Nightingale
  • HOOK appearance

WWE SmackDown Preview 9/30/2022

Tonight’s WWE SmackDown comes from the Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg, MB, Canada on FOX at 8/7c.

Major Concern In WWE Over Randy Orton’s Current Injury

WWE is said to be very concerned over Randy Orton’s condition due to the injury that has kept him out of action for months.

Randy Orton has been out with a back injury since May, with his most recent match being RK-Bro’s loss to The Usos in the WWE Tag Title unification match.

In the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, it is reported that there is concern over the severity of the injury, despite the months of time off.

WWE has previously announced that Orton is consulting with neurosurgeons and orthopedic spine surgeons to determine the extent of the damage to his back.

Despite hope that the former WWE World Champion would be back by now, there is no word on when Randy Orton is scheduled to return to the ring.

This year marks the 20th anniversary or Orton’s debut on WWE’s main roster.

Source: EWrestlingNews

WWE’s White Rabbit Reveal Expected To Happen At Extreme Rules

WWE’s White Rabbit teasers have been a pretty big success. Wrestling fans have been hypothesizing who exactly the clues are pointing to, and while it seems likely they are pointing to Bray Wyatt, there are a few other names out in the ether. Even a clue hinting it might be Malakai Black has been discovered, although that seems very unlikely considering his current status.

The clues have taken the form of videos, QR codes, and even flyers on fans’ cars outside WWE shows. What fans want to know is when exactly these teasers are going to amount to something. The initial implication was that whoever the White Rabbit is would be revealed on the September 23 episode of SmackDown. That didn’t happen, and now all eyes are on Extreme Rules.

That’s following a new report from Fightful Select (via WrestlingHeadlines). Apparently the idea was met with doubt from some backstage at first, but now everyone is on board due to its popularity and execution. The internal belief is the reveal will happen at Extreme Rules, but how exactly that will happen and whether they will actually be there remains unclear.

There’s also the potential for plans to change as well, of course. Even without Vince McMahon running the show, there’s always a chance that things might change whether it be due to an injury, or simply a change in the direction of the booking. Extreme Rules does seem like the most likely place for a reveal though, especially after fireflies and a lantern were spotted in some of the event’s artwork.

More indicators that the White Rabbit is Wyatt, and it has almost reached a point where the former WWE Champion is so expected that there might be backlash if it isn’t him. Wyatt left WWE during the summer of 2021 and hasn’t popped up anywhere else since. Perhaps he just needed some time off and we’re now a little more than a week away from what will be a pretty big return.

Source: TheSportster

Ricky Morton Details Plans For His And Rock ‘n’ Roll Express’s Final Matches

Ricky Morton is in the midst of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Express farewell tour, and he has detailed when he and his longtime tag team partner, Robert Gibson, plan to hang up their wrestling boots for good. The legendary team began their tour earlier this year. Morton appeared on the “Insiders Edge Podcast” and revealed whether or not the final match has been finalized.

“No we haven’t,” Morton said. “There’s so many places that you’d think we’re having our farewell tour, and I guess it’s gonna turn into like Kiss’ farewell tour, it’s gonna go on for 14 years because there’s so many places that we hadn’t been that we need to go back. Here in the United States, it’s a lot of towns that you want to go, but we’re talking about it. Our last match has to be at NWA.”

With that said, Morton did confirm that he and Gibson have at least discussed final match plans with NWA owner Billy Corgan. He then revealed the potential timeframe for the final Rock ‘n’ Roll Express match.

“Probably June, July of next year because Robert and I still have a few towns that we still got to hit,” Morton said.

Morton admitted that he and Gibson were going to wrap up the farewell tour this year, but the team is trying to reach as many towns as possible. Morton said that once his in-ring career comes to a close, he hopes to teach today’s talent that there’s more to the wrestling business than doing high spots.

Source: Wrestling Inc. with credit to the “Insiders Edge Podcast”

IMPACT Preview 9/29/2022

Tonight’s episode of Impact Wrestling on AXS TV at 8/7C and 8:30pm ET on YouTube for IMPACT Insiders. is all-new. Here are the matches that have been announced for the show:

  • The aftermath of Victory Road 2022
  • Monster’s Ball: Impact Wrestling Knockouts Champion Jordynne Grace vs. Allie Katch
  • Impact Wrestling Digital Media Champion Brian Myers vs. Crazzy Steve
  • Bullet Club (Ace Austin & Chris Bey) vs. Trey Miguel & Laredo Kid
  • Delirious vs. Black Taurus
  • Heath Miller & Rich Swann vs. Vincent & PCO

The action begins Before the IMPACT, streaming this Thursday at 7:30pm ET exclusively on IMPACT Plus, YouTube and Facebook. New Japan Pro-Wrestling’s Yuya Uemura continues his excursion in IMPACT Wrestling as he goes one-on-one with Gut Check winner Jason Hotch.

Jim Ross Says He Assumes Saraya Will Wrestle In AEW

AEW commentator Jim Ross has joined the growing number of people who believe Saraya will compete as part of Tony Khan’s promotion.

Saraya hasn’t wrestled since Boxing Day 2017 when she suffered an injury at a WWE Live event.

The former WWE Divas Champion retired in April 2018 but remained hopeful of an in-ring return, before her departure from WWE this July.

Speaking on his Grilling JR podcast, Ross said he is hopeful that she will wrestle again.

“Saraya, I am assuming she’s going to be healthy enough to wrestle, I don’t know, I am assuming that she is.

“We will see, she’s a positive addition if so. It’s good, helps our women’s division I think, she was a good hand, and still is a good hand … so we will see.”

Neither Saraya nor AEW President Tony Khan have confirmed or denied claims that she will wrestle in AEW.

A recent report has suggested that she will wrestle given the amount she is being paid by AEW.

Source: EWrestlingNews

Tony D’Angelo Suffers Apparent Injury On WWE NXT – Update

Rising WWE Superstar Tony D’Angelo apparently suffered a knee injury during the 9/27 episode of NXT.

The injury occurred during the D’Angelo vs. Wes Lee qualifier match for a spot in the NXT North American Championship Ladder Match at Halloween Havoc. At a crucial juncture in the bout, D’Angelo seemed to seize control after nailing a huge tilt-a-whirl side slam off the ropes, before grounding Lee to the mat with a sleeper hold. Thereafter, D’Angelo charged toward his opponent in the corner, but Lee countered with a drop toehold. After falling face-first into the turnbuckles, D’Angelo immediately clutched his right knee and struggled to get back up on his feet. The referee threw the ‘X’ sign before calling for the bell, awarding the win to Lee by forfeit. D’Angelo was helped to the back by trainers and WWE officials.

Soon after the show was taped on September 14, there were murmurs of D’Angelo suffering a knee injury at the tapings. However, there was no confirmation of the same from WWE or D’Angelo himself. It was believed that WWE might not air the match at all and just give Lee a bye to qualify for the tournament. With WWE airing footage of D’Angelo’s injury, it’s possible they will use the injury as part of a storyline for D’Angelo’s eventual return to action. 

By virtue of the victory, Lee joined Carmelo Hayes and Oro Mensah in the five-man NXT North American Championship Ladder Match at the upcoming Halloween Havoc premium live event. The final two competitors will be decided in the coming weeks. 

As of this writing, WWE has yet to provide an update on the severity of D’Angelo’s injury.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

https://twitter.com/WWE/status/1574922477179895808

UPDATE

Tony D’Angelo is said to be better than expected after suffering an injury on this week’s episode.

On Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer reports that the issue is not as bad as first feared and he is not expected to undergo major surgery.

The report adds that D’Angelo could be back sooner than people would think.

AEW Dynamite Preview 9/28/2022

AEW Dynamite will air live tonight on TBS at 8/7C, and emanate from the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia, PA.

Saraya to speak

AEW World Champion Jon Moxley vs. Juice Robinson in a World Title Eliminator Match

Chris Jericho’s Championship Celebration

Chris Jericho to defend ROH World Heavyweight Title against Bandido

AEW Interim Women’s Champion Toni Storm defends against Serena Deeb

MJF to speak

Tony Khan Reportedly Refusing to Release Any AEW Talent

After an AEW wrestler informed the company that a WWE representative had contacted them about the possibility of returning to WWE, the company reportedly sent an email to WWE co-CEOs Nick Khan and Stephanie McMahon warning them “not to tamper” with their talent.

Malakai Black has now denied the claims that he wanted to be released from his contract after it was later revealed that he had made a request. After Triple H took over creative duties from Vince McMahon a number of months ago, WWE reached out to numerous members of AEW, including Black, FTR, and Swerve Strickland, to inquire about the possibility of returning to the company.

Dave Meltzer revealed the news that AEW President Tony Khan will not be releasing anyone during his appearance on today’s episode of Wrestling Observer Radio.

“Nobody’s getting released, that’s the doctrine. [AEW President] Tony Khan made that very clear I guess in the last couple of days. So now it’s just, [Malakai Black’s] not being released, Buddy Matthews isn’t being released. Now they may be back sooner than before. They were wanting to go and trying to get a way out.

It’s not to say it’s hard and fast, and there’d be no way they’d never give anybody a release. But I think it’s pretty much the deal that if this happened in any other company, would those people get releases, and the answer is no. They signed the contract, so basically now their option is to sit at home – and [Tony Khan] can extend the contract if they sit at home – or wrestle. So now they’re gonna wrestle. He [Malakai Black] waved goodbye and now he’s coming back and he’s gonna blame me.”

“They really came after [Tony Khan], it’s pretty blatant that [WWE] came after so many of the guys. Basically everyone who had worked there, there might be an exception, every name that you would think of that had a previous relationship with Triple H was contacted and told to ‘try and get your release and come in.’ Several went to Tony and said, ‘they’re contacting us we have no intention of going’ and several said ‘we want the release’ and have been told no.”

You can listen to the audio below:

Source: PWMania