Backstage News On SummerSlam Returns, Name Change Note

During last night’s WWE SummerSlam event, Bayley, Dakota Kai, and Io Shirai made their returns after the WWE “Raw” Women’s Title match with champion Bianca Belair and Becky Lynch.

The three would come out to confront Belair, but Lynch would return to the ring to give her backup.

There are several backstage updates about the returns of Bayley, Kai, and Shirai.

Io Shirai will now be going by the ring name, Iyo Sky according to PWInsider. 

According to Fightful Select, Sky’s contract was set to expire soon and there had been no creative plans for her in NXT after her injury. WWE officials couldn’t confirm a new contract had been signed beyond saying, “it appears so.”  Shirai has not been in the WWE ring since WWE WrestleMania 38 weekend when she competed in a fatal four-way match against Mandy Rose, Cora Jade, and Kay Lee Ray (now known as Alba Fyre) at “NXT” Stand And Deliver.

Bayley had been training at the WWE Performance Center and Flatbacks for weeks in preparation for her return to the ring, according to Fightful Select. She had been sidelined since July 2021 with a torn ACL.

Fightful Select also reported that Kai was a name that several people in the company thought Triple H would make a priority to bring back since he is now that he is the head of creative. Before she was released in April, Kai had several main roster looks. AEW talks were said to never move past an introduction.

It was also noted by Fightful Select that this new stable with Bayley, Sky, and Kai was pitched quite a while ago and it was before Kai was first released in April. Vince McMahon had reportedly rejected the idea. There were other versions pitched that include Kay Lee Ray and Raquel Rodriguez.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

WWE SummerSlam Results 7/30/2022, Edge, Bayley, Dakota Kai And Io Shirai

“RAW” WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Bianca Belair (c) def. Becky Lynch

– After the match, Lynch offers her hand to Belair and the two of them shake and show their respect for each other. But, Belair doesn’t have to wait long to find out who her next challenger might be…because BAYLEY IS HERE! The Four Horsewomen star has made her return…but so has DAKOTA KAI!!! The two women appear to be on the same page…but they’re not alone. Io Shirai is here as well!!!

All three women then head to the ring, but then Lynch returns and squares off against them alongside Belair. Bayley decides to back off, and her teammates retreat with her.

Logan Paul def. The Miz

WWE UNITED STATES CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Bobby Lashley (c) def. Theory

NO DISQUALIFICATION MATCH
The Mysterios (Rey Mysterio & Dominik Mysterio) def. The Judgment Day (Damian Priest & Finn Balor)

The Mysterio’s work together to set their opponents up for a 619, but as they hit the ropes Rhea Ripley pulls their legs to stop it. Priest then connects with the Sound Of Heaven, but then the lights go out and Edge is here!!! He heads to the ring and drops Priest with a big boot before Spearing Balor, and then Spearing Priest as well!

Edge sets up Balor for the classic 619, which both Mysterios hit, and it is over.

Pat McAfee def. Happy Corbin

UNDISPUTED WWE TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH – SPECIAL GUEST REFEREE: JEFF JARRETT
The Usos (c) def. Street Profits

– Riddle then appears from the audience and gets into the ring, and he says he is not medically cleared to compete tonight as he tells the security to shut up. He says he doesn’t take crap from anybody, including Seth Rollins, and he calls him out right now. Despite the fact they have WWE authority figures trying to break them up, the two men start brawling and hit the ring to do battle. Seth takes advantage though and he lays out Riddle with a Stomp as the officials try to send him to the back.

– Riddle then appears from the audience and gets into the ring, and he says he is not medically cleared to compete tonight as he tells the security to shut up. He says he doesn’t take crap from anybody, including Seth Rollins, and he calls him out right now. Despite the fact they have WWE authority figures trying to break them up, the two men start brawling and hit the ring to do battle. Seth takes advantage though and he lays out Riddle with a Stomp as the officials try to send him to the back.

“SMACKDOWN” WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Liv Morgan (c) def. Ronda Rousey

Controversy finish.

Ronda puts on the Armbar yet again, but Morgan turns things around by pinning Rousey while she isn’t noticing, yet at the same time Morgan appears to tap out from the Armbar. Despite the fact that both of the women appeared to lose at the same time, the result is given in Morgan’s favor. Replays show that Morgan tapped out before the 3 count.

– After the match, Ronda Rousey complains to the official, and she takes down Morgan again with the armbar, and as the official tries to break it up, he gets put in the armbar as well.

UNDISPUTED WWE UNIVERSAL CHAMPIONSHIP “LAST MAN STANDING” MATCH
Roman Reigns (c) def. Brock Lesnar

Lesnar gets behind the tractor again, and he shoves the ring across the floor, and he then puts it underneath and lifts one corner of the ring all the way into the air, which leads to Reigns flying out of the ring! While he gets to his feet, The Usos then appear, which the Beast is able to deal with, launching them both across the ringside area.

Lesnar  F5’s Heyman through the announce table but that allows Reigns to nail a Spear as both men are down!

With both men down, Theory makes his way down to the ring with his Money In The Bank briefcase, he smashes Roman with it, but before he cashes in Brock F5’s him onto the briefcase, and then The Usos take Lesnar down with a double superkick. He gets up once again and then gets destroyed by another Spear, as the count begins once again, but he gets up again!

Roman then grabs the briefcase and starts beating down Lesnar with it repeatedly as he demands the count continues, yet he beats the count again. This time, Roman uses the title, smashing it into the head of Lesnar, with the Beast being taken down once again, and while he gets up, Roman hits him with the other title, and this time he starts covering him with different items such as the announce table and the steel stairs, and this time he cannot get up.

Credit to Wrestling Inc. for most of the transcript.

“Ric Flair’s Last Match” 7/31/2022

The “Jim Crockett Promotions Presents: Ric Flair’s Last Match” event will take place this Sunday, July 31 at 6:05pm EDT from the Municipal Auditorium in Nashville, TN, during Starrcast V weekend. The three-hour event will air live on FITE TV and various bundles are offered for the events of the weekend. Below is the updated card, along with the aforementioned clip, photos and posters:

Announce Team: Tony Schiavone and David Crockett, Ian Riccaboni representing ROH and NJPW, Tom Hannifan and Scott D’Amore representing Impact Wrestling, Joe Dombrowski and Dave Prazak representing MLW, Carlos Cabrera and Hugo Savinovich as the Spanish announce team.

CARD

Ric Flair’s Last Match
Ric Flair and Andrade El Idolo vs. Jeff Jarrett and Jay Lethal (with Karen Jarrett)
Commentary: Tony Schiavone and David Crockett.

Impact World Title Match
Jacob Fatu vs. Josh Alexander (c)
Commentary: Tom Hannifan.

Impact Knockouts World Title Triple Threat
Deonna Purrazzo vs. Rachael Ellering vs. Jordynne Grace (c)
Commentary: Tom Hannifan.

Impact Wrestling Match
The Wolves (Davey Richards, Eddie Edwards) vs. The Motor City Machine Guns (Chris Sabin, Alex Shelley)
Commentary: Scott D’Amore.

MLW Match
Killer Kross vs. Davey Boy Smith Jr.
Commentary: Joe Dombrowski.

AAA Fatal 4 Way
Bandido vs. Black Taurus vs. Laredo Kid vs. Rey Fenix
Commentary: Joe Dombrowski.

NJPW Match
Clark Connors vs. Ren Narita
Commentary: Ian Riccaboni.

Impact – MLW Interpromotional Match
The Briscoes vs. The Von Erichs
Commentary: Ian Riccaboni.

Legacy Match
Representing The Rock ‘n’ Roll Express – Ricky Morton and Kerry Morton (with Robert Gibson) vs. Representing The Four Horsemen – Brian Pillman, Jr. and Brock Anderson (with Arn Anderson)

Four Corners Independent Wrestling Dream Match
Jonathan Gresham vs. Alan “5” Angels vs. Konosuke Takeshita vs. Nick Wayne
Commentary: Ian Riccaboni.

Bunkhouse Battle Royal
Bully Ray (ECW), James Storm (Impact), Crimson (NWA), Rickey Shane Page (PROGRESS), Kommander (AAA), Sinn Bodhi (FSW), Big Damo (PROGRESS), Crowbar (Black Label Pro), Brian Myers (Impact), Adam Priest (Terminus), Gringo Loco (The Wrestling Revolver), Wolfie D (USWA), Kal Herro (OVW), other participants TBA
Winner receives bronze boot and belt buckle.
Commentary: Dave Prazak.

WWE SummerSlam 7/30/2022

DATE: July 30, 2022 8:00 pm
LOCATION: Nissan Stadium, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
AVAILABLE ON: Peacock (U.S.), WWE Network (International)

CARD

UNDISPUTED WWE UNIVERSAL CHAMPIONSHIP “LAST MAN STANDING” MATCH
Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns (c)

“RAW” WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Becky Lynch vs. Bianca Belair (c)

“SMACKDOWN” WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Ronda Rousey vs. Liv Morgan (c)

WWE UNITED STATES CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Theory vs. Bobby Lashley (c)

UNDISPUTED WWE TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH – SPECIAL GUEST REFEREE: JEFF JARRETT
Street Profits vs. The Usos (c)

Logan Paul vs. The Miz

Happy Corbin vs. Pat McAfee

NO DISQUALIFICATION MATCH
The Mysterios (Rey Mysterio & Dominik Mysterio) vs. The Judgment Day (Damian Priest & Finn Balor)

AEW Rampage “Fight For The Fallen” Preview 7/29/22

A big weekend for Jay Lethal kicks off with a marquee match on tonight’s episode of “AEW Rampage” “Fight for the Fallen.

Lethal will team with the 7′ 2″ giant Satnam Singh and Sonjay Dutt for a six-man tag team match against Orange Cassidy and Best Friends.

An even higher profile match for Lethal is just days away. He will be part of the main event of Ric Flair’s Last Match event coming up on Sunday. Lethal will team with Jeff Jarrett to take on Flair and Andrade El Idolo.

The following lineup is announced for tonight’s “Rampage”:

  • Jay Lethal, Satnam Singh & Sonjay Dutt vs. Orange Cassidy & Best Friends (Chuck Taylor & Trent Beretta)
  • Lee Moriarty vs. Matt Sydal
  • Ethan Page vs. Leon Ruffin
  • The Acclaimed music video
  • We hear from Ring of Honor World Champion Claudio Castagnoli

WWE SmackDown Preview 7/29/22

WWE SmackDown, tonight at 8/7 C on FOX.

Also tonight, Maximum Male Models, along with their newly revealed Director of Talent Maxxine Dupri are set to unveil their 2022 beachwear collection. Maxxine (formerly known as Sofia Cromwell on “NXT”) made her main roster debut during a brief backstage segment on last Friday’s “SmackDown”. Her debut reportedly also served as a write-off for Maximum Male Models’ former frontman, and Maxxine’s storyline “brother”, Max Dupri.

NJPW And Stardom Announce IWGP Women’s Championship

It’s been a big week for new championships in wrestling promotions. In the United States, AEW has introduced the AEW Trios Championships, with the inaugural champions to be crowned at AEW All Out on Labor Day weekend. Now, in Japan, New Japan Pro-Wrestling and World Wonder Stardom Ring are getting in on the fun, announcing a historic new championship.

“Just announced in today’s Stardom 2022 Strategy Meeting: The IWGP Women’s Championship!” Stardom’s official account tweeted. “NJPW and Stardom are creating this title for defenses not only in Japan but also in the US on New Japan Pro Wrestling events, appealing to the world with the rich IWGP history!”

While the IWGP Women’s Championship is being announced now, the Stardom account went on to reveal that there will be a little bit of a wait before the first champion is crowned.

“The inaugural IWGP Women’s Champion will be crowned at the NJPWxStardom joint show on November 20th at the Ariake Arena,” the tweet read. “Please note, this belt does not usurp the Red and White Belts in any way. They are the main titles for Stardom events.”

The promotion also offered some more clarification regarding where fans will see this new IWGP Women’s Championship defended.

“The IWGP Women’s Championship is for the NJPW events,” Stardom tweeted. “It’s possible that it could be defended on big Stardom events though. Stardom’s main title remains the World of Stardom title (the Red Belt) along with the Wonder of Stardom title (the White Belt).”

For New Japan, the IWGP Women’s Championship marks the first time a belt exclusively for female talent will be featured in the promotion’s 50 years of operation. Women in NJPW have traditionally held the role of valet, though former WWE star Chyna did briefly wrestle for the promotion in 2002.

New Japan began featuring Stardom talent at Wrestle Kingdom 14, the first Wrestle Kingdom to feature a women’s match, shortly after Bushiroad, NJPW’s parent company, purchased Stardom in late 2019. The promotion has continued to feature talent from their sister promotion at various shows ever since. Earlier this month, Bushiroad announced Stardom talent would also be featured on NJPW shows in the US going forward.

As noted, NJPWxStardom will take place on November 20. As of this writing, it is unknown which talent will be competing for the IWGP Women’s Championship or what format will be used to crown the inaugural champion.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Johnny Gargano Appears On Impact To Praise Alex Shelley (Via Video)

During last night’s episode of “Impact on AXS TV,” former NXT Champion  Johnny Gargano appeared on the show.

Gargano appeared via video, along with others, to praise Alex Shelley. Below is the clip:

In a recent report from Fightful Select, Gargano is not in talks with Impact Wrestling and his appearance in the video was more of a favor for a friend.

Gargano left WWE last December after deciding not to re-sign with the company. His last match with the promotion was at “NXT” Takeover WarGames 2021.

In June, while on Good Karma Wrestling, the former “NXT” Champion explained why he didn’t re-sign with the company.

“I had this guaranteed contract with WWE I could take for a lot of money, and I could come back and I could keep doing what I’m doing,” Gargano said. “I just knew that with the baby on the way, I didn’t want to have anyone else being in control of my time, because I’m really only getting one shot at this. Me and Candice only plan on having one kid, so I want to be there and try to experience everything I can with Quill for his first year before I do anything else.”

Gargano is set to be at this weekend’s Starrcast V event at the Nashville Fairgrounds. He has his own panel, “What’s NeXT,” where he will be revealing his future in pro wrestling.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

WWE Is Reportedly Trying To “Reconcile” With Sasha Banks & Naomi

It’s been more than two months since Sasha Banks and Naomi walked out of WWE. The company is reportedly trying to make amends with both stars.

With Vince McMahon now retired and out of the WWE picture, company officials are reportedly trying to convince Sasha Banks and Naomi to come back for another run.

Last Friday, McMahon announced his retirement via social media. WWE also announced that Stephanie McMahon and Nick Khan would serve as the co-CEOs, and that Triple H (Paul Levesque), would take over as the new Head of Talent Relations (replacing John Laurinaitis) as well as the leader of creative team.

Banks and Naomi, who were the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship holders at the time, walked out of the 5/16 Raw show due to apparent unhappiness with the creative plans that night. Many naturally assumed that the two would never return to the company, but McMahon’s retirement could change everything.

Speaking on the Sports Illustrated Media Podcast (via Ian Carey of F4WOnline.com), the Wrestling Observer’s Dave Meltzer reported that the WWE statuses of Banks and Naomi are “up in the air”, and that WWE is trying “to reconcile” with the former SmackDown Women’s Champions.

“It’s kind of up in the air. I mean, they’re gone. The last I heard was that there would be attempts to be made to reconcile, especially with Vince gone,” Meltzer said. “So, it’s up in the air. I don’t think there’s anything definite just yet.”

Needless to say, McMahon’s sudden retirement may go a long way in recruiting plenty more stars. For what it’s worth, former WWE star Maria Kanellis, who worked two tenures in the company, told a fan on Twitter that she would be open to a WWE return now that Vince is no longer leading the way. Kanellis added that her working relationship with Triple H was “great.”

Not only that, but more AEW stars are reportedly viewing WWE as an option now that the leadership at the top has changed. Will the new leadership lead to Naomi and Banks coming back? Only time will tell.

No Update On The Women’s Tag Team Championships

Fast forward two months later, and WWE still hasn’t given a timeline on when they will crown new Women’s Tag Team Champions. The titles haven’t been held by any talent since Banks and Naomi walked out.

Source: TheSportster

IMPACT Preview 7/28/22, KUSHIDA’s IMPACT In-Ring Debut

KUSHIDA is set to make his Impact Wrestling in-ring debut on tonight’s episode of “Impact on AXS TV”.

The following line-up is announced for tonight’s episode:

  • Kushida vs. Rich Swann
  • Impact World Champion Josh Alexander vs. Shera
  • Ace Austin vs. Eddie Edwards
  • Laredo Kid & Trey Miguel vs. Johnny Swinger & Zicky Dice