Author: John Bass

Steve Austin To Host Event In Texas During WrestleMania Week

Stone Cold’ Steve Austin will be at an event in Fort Worth, Texas two days before WrestleMania 38.

Amid rumors that he will return for a match at WrestleMania 38, we at least know that “Stone Cold” Steve Austin will be in his home state two days before The Show of Shows.

WWE is reportedly trying to bring The Texas Rattlesnake back for a match at WrestleMania 38. The event will be held on the Apr. 2-3 weekend at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas — Austin’s home state.

On his Instagram page, the WWE Hall of Famer announced that he’ll be appearing at Billy Bob’s Texas in Fort Worth on Thursday, Mar. 31 to debut the new Broken Skull American Lager beer. Austin noted that people who are attending WrestleMania 38 weekend should come to the Broken Skull Beer Bash.

Kevin Owens has hinted at a match with Austin several times over the last two weeks. WWE reportedly reached out to Austin over the possibility of a WrestleMania match several weeks ago, but it’s unclear at this time if Austin will actually do so.

Austin’s last WWE match took place at WrestleMania 19 back in 2003, where he fell to The Rock. Austin retired from in-ring competition soon after. He has made occasional appearances on WWE programming over the last few years, including the “Raw 25” anniversary special, the Raw Reunion special on July 22, 2019, the Sept. 9 edition of Raw two months later and the Mar. 16, 2020 episode of Raw.

Even if Austin doesn’t wrestle at WrestleMania 38, an appearance of any kind would make the event far more exciting. Fans always pop when the Hall of Famer shows up. A Stone Cold Stunner to a heel Owens would be more than enough to electrify the crowd.

WWE has used Austin at several WrestleMania events in recent years, too. He opened the show with The Rock and Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania 30. Two years later, Austin, Shawn Michaels and Mick Foley attacked Sheamus, Alberto Del Rio, King Barrett and Rusev at WrestleMania 32 following their win over The New Day. So we really shouldn’t be surprised if Austin is involved at WrestleMania 38, one way or another.

Source: TheSportster

Bobby Lashley Trying To Get Medically Cleared For WrestleMania

Bobby Lashley could still have a match at WrestleMania 38 despite very serious injury.

Former WWE Champion Bobby Lashley is reportedly racing to get fit and medically cleared for WrestleMania 38.

Lashley suffered a very real shoulder injury during his match vs. Brock Lesnar at last month’s Royal Rumble that might require an operation and would keep him out for at least four months. However, WWE kept advertising him for their Elimination Chamber match that took place in Saudi Arabia on February 19 before he was eventually removed.

He was also being advertised for the live event set for next Saturday at Madison Square Garden and references to him were only pulled a few days ago.

Per the Wrestling Observer Newsletter: “WWE Live: Road to WrestleMania is set for Madison Square Garden on Saturday, March 5, a show that was originally advertised as being headlined by Brock Lesnar defending the WWE Championship against Lashley. The advertising has been changed to simply state that Lesnar will defend the WWE title on the show, with all references to Lashley removed.”

According to Ringside News (H/T WrestleTalk), the All Mighty is trying to get medically cleared for both the house show and WrestleMania.

Lashley is understood to have received consultation on the shoulder from WWE doctors in Birmingham, Alabama and WrestleVotes has reported that things are still very fluid as it pertains to the plans for WM38.

WWE could be keeping the door open should the superstar get cleared in time. Whether he is able to get clearance to perform sooner rather than later remains to be seen. It would take quite an effort.

Source: TheSportster

AEW Rampage Preview 2/25/22

Tonight’s AEW Rampage episode was taped earlier this week at the Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, CT.

* QT Marshall calls out Hook

* AEW TNT Champion Sammy Guevara defends against Andrade El Idolo

* Wardlow vs. Nick Comoroto

* Serena Deeb hosts the latest Professor’s 5 Minute Rookie Challenge

* Thunder Rosa and AEW Women’s World Champion Britt Baker sign their contract for Revolution

* Face of The Revolution Ladder Match Qualifier: Orange Cassidy vs. Anthony Bowens with the winner joining Keith Lee, Wardlow, Powerhouse Hobbs, and FTW Champion Ricky Starks as confirmed entrants in the 6-man match

* Appearances by Matt Hardy, Sting, Darby Allin, Mercedes Martinez, Aaron Solo, Shawn Spears, and others

WWE NXT Level Up Preview 

WWE NXT Level Up will air tonight at 10pm ET on Peacock and the WWE Network, taped earlier this week at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, FL.

Jacket Time to take on Gacy and Harland on NXT Level Up

* James Drake vs. Xyon Quinn

* Elektra Lopez vs. Sarray

WWE SmackDown Preview 2/25/22

The post-Elimination Chamber edition of WWE SmackDown on FOX will air live tonight from the GIANT Center in Hershey, PA.

Ronda Rousey is also scheduled to appear tonight. WWE has not announced Rousey for a match or segment, but the arena and the WWE Events website has her listed for the show, along with SmackDown Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair, SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Usos, Shinsuke Nakamura, Sasha Banks, Kofi Kingston and Big E, and more.

Cesaro Parts Ways With WWE Following Contract Expiration

Swiss Superstar Cesaro (Claudio Castagnoli) is officially a free agent.

For the fist time in 11 years, Cesaro is a free agent.

According to Mike Johnson at PW Insider, Cesaro (real name Claudio Castagnoli) has officially parted ways with WWE after the two parties failed ot come to terms on a new deal. Cesaro’s existing WWE contract has now expired, meaning he is free to work elsewhere for the first time since 2011. Per Johnson, as Cesaro’s deal expired, the 90-day non-compete clause doesn’t apply.

The 41-year-old Swiss wrestler made his pro-wrestling debut in December of the year 2000 for German promotion wXw. Castagnoli became a permanent resident of the United States after obtaining a green card in a green card lottery which enabled him to begin performing in the US for popular indie promotions including CHIKARA, Ring Of Honor, CZW, and PWG. On the indies, Castagnoli regular tagged with fellow-former WWE Superstar Chris Hero as The Kings Of Wrestling … could a reunion be on the cards?

Castagnoli signed for WWE in September 2011 and reported for duty at Florida Championship Wrestling, the company’s feeder promotion and NXT precursor. He made his main roster WWE debut in April 2012. Initially, Castagnoli was billed as a rugby player, but that gimmick was soon dropped.

As Cesaro. Castagnoli was constantly and consistently underutilized by WWE. He’s an imposing physical specimen and one of the most gifted in-ring performers to ever set foot in a WWE ring. But sadly, the powers that be were unable to see his potential and his main event opportunities were few and far between.

What The Swiss Superman does next remains to be seen, but he is now one of the hottest free agents in the industry, and it surely won’t be long until he shows up somewhere else. There are still two open spots in AEW’s Face Of The Revolution Ladder Match …

Source: TheSportster

MLW Fusion Preview 2/24/22

Major League Wrestling FUSION tonight at 8pm ET features the CONTRA civil war, streaming worldwide for free on MLW’s YouTube channel and Saturday nationwide on cable and dish on beIN SPORTS. 

  • Mads Krugger vs. Jacob Fatu 
  • Aramis, El Dragon and ??? vs. Arez, Gino Medina, and Mini Abismo Negro

CONTRA collides as Mads Krugger goes to war with Jacob Fatu for the first time ever on MLW Fusion!

A showdown 3 months in the making following their cataclysmic post-match brawl at War Chamber, CONTRA’s two greatests go one on one.

Can Fatu walk back the undefeated masked mercernary and move towards a rematch with the World Champ? Will Krugger send The Samoan Werewolf home in a bodybag? Tune in and find out!

World Heavyweight Champion Alex Hammerstone and Davey Richards give a behind the scenes look at their fight preparations ahead of SuperFight.

Cesar Duran presents Richard Holliday and Alicia Atout with a devious proposal.

Mister Saint Laurent vows to unveil the greatest wonder in the history of the sport. After weeks of speculation, the mystifying athlete debuts and teams with Aramis and El Dragon to take on the rudo trio of Arez, Gino Medina and Mini Abismo Negro! 

Alex Kane and Calvin Tankman dish on their bad blood and fight strategy as they prepare for their National Openweight Championship bout in Dallas next week.

Join Rich Bocchini and Joe Dombrowski as MLW presents Fusion!

IMPACT Preview 2/24/22

Days removed from an earth-shattering No Surrender and just nine nights away from Sacrifice, IMPACT! is can’t-miss this Thursday at 8/7c on AXS TV and 8:30pm ET on YouTube for IMPACT Insiders!

* Eddie Edwards to explain his actions at No Surrender

* Matt Taven, Mike Bennett and Kenny King will battle Chris Sabin, Rich Swann and Willie Mack in a heated six-man tag team match.

* Impact World Champion Moose is set to kick off This Thursday’s all-new IMPACT

* Deonna Purrazzo Champ Champ Challenge

* Digital Media Championship: Matt Cardona (C) vs. Jordynne Grace (Dotcombat Match where there are no disqualifications, no count outs and anything goes)

* Jonah vs. Zicky Dice

* Bhupinder Gujjar, steps into the ring as he battles John Skyler 

* Kick off your night Before the IMPACT, streaming this Thursday at 7:30pm ET exclusively on IMPACT Plus, YouTube and Facebook. Champion and challenger in the upcoming X-Division Title clash at Sacrifice team up as Trey Miguel and Jake Something battle the unlikely duo of Ace Austin and Mike Bailey. Plus, Gia Miller, Josh Mathews and George Iceman get you ready for what promises to be a wild post-No Surrender edition of IMPACT! and more.

Jeff Hardy Says That He’s “Going To AEW”

Since his WWE release in December, Jeff Hardy has been heavily rumored to be joining his brother Matt in AEW. Jeff is currently under a non-compete with WWE until March 9th.

With Jeff’s non-compete coming to an end soon, the Charismatic Enigma announced that he and his brother Matt would be bringing back the Hardy Boyz to wrestle a reunion tour starting March 12 at Big Time Wrestling in Webster, MA. With the news of him teaming with his brother again hitting the wrestling world, a deal with a major promotion seems inevitable.

While speaking with Jared Myers backstage at his own concert, Hardy flat out revealed that he is “going to AEW” and shared excitement about becoming All Elite.

“I’m going to AEW,” Jeff said. “I’m so excited, until this morning I didn’t really know. I’m so nervous and excited.”

It’s unclear when Jeff Hardy will make his AEW debut. Matt Hardy recently confirmed that his brother turned down an offer to go back to WWE following his release, with the company offering him a spot in the WWE Hall of Fame this year.

https://twitter.com/Machobeard4life/status/1496665014698221571

Source: Wrestling Inc. with credit to Jared Myers

Buddy Matthews Debuts On AEW Dynamite, Joins House Of Black

Former WWE Superstar Buddy Matthews (Buddy Murphy) has signed with AEW and debuted last night on Dynamite.

Buddy Matthews is officially ALL ELITE!

After months of speculation, the former WWE Superstar finally made his All Elite Wrestling debut on this week’s edition of AEW Dynamite on TBS. It all went do wn at the Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, Connecticut on Wednesday, February 23. The Kings Of The Black Throne (Brody King & Malakai Black) had just suffered a shocking defeat at the hands of Death Triangle (PAC & Penta Oscuro) when all hell broke loose. After the bell, the irate losers delivered a beat down to PAC and Penta … until the lights went out. When the lights came back on, one of Malakai Black’s former foes was standing in the ring. It was Buddy Matthews.

https://twitter.com/AEW/status/1496666168295309312

At first, it seemed like Matthews would assist Death Triangle due to his history with Black, but after staring daggers at Black for a few moments, he sided with The Kings Of The Black Throne and attacked PAC and Penta. At one point, Malakai Black embraced the Aussie in what looked like an indoctrination tactic. It would appear that Buddy is now a resident of the House Of Black.

https://twitter.com/AEW/status/1496666796245630980

Shortly after the segment ended, AEW boss Tony Khan took to social media to confirm Buddy’s signing.

Shortly after being released by WWE last year, Malakai Black released a vignette in anticipation of his imminent return to professional wrestling. The video depicted Black as an inmate at an institution. At one point, Black tells a doctor that his eye was injured when he was pushed into some stairs by “Matthew” — Buddy’s real name. As you might recall, Matthews slammed Black’s eye into the steel steps on an episode of Raw back in July 2020.

Matthews is a former NXT Tag Team Champion, a former WWE Raw Tag Team Champion, and a former NXT Cruiserweight Champion. He was released by WWE on June 2 following an eight-year stint with the company.

Source: TheSportster