Author: John Bass

Taya Valkyrie Getting New Ring Name And Bringing Her Dog To WWE NXT Next Month?

It looks like Taya Valkyrie is set to make her WWE NXT debut on the first episode after next week’s two-night “Takeover: Stand and Deliver” event.

Last night’s Takeover go-home edition of NXT on the USA Network featured a series of vignettes where a Pomeranian dog was seen running through the Capitol Wrestling Center at the WWE Performance Center. The dog finally ran up to a woman in boots. The only part of the woman shown was her boots, but it said she would be coming on April 13, which is the first NXT episode to air in the new Tuesday night timeslot on the WWE Network. The final part of the vignette featured writing on the screen that said “Franky” will see us soon.

Earlier this month WWE filed to trademark the “Franky Monet” name for general pro wrestling and sports entertainment use. It looks like this will be the name of the “Franky” teased in tonight’s promo.

Fans online noticed that the dog used in the vignette is Presley, one of the pets owned by Valkyrie and her husband, WWE RAW Superstar John Morrison. They have an Instagram account for both of their dogs, Presley and Bowie, at @the_pee_boyz. Taya has carried Presley at various wrestling shows in the past, including for a few Impact Wrestling appearances.

There is some online speculation that Valkyrie will use another name, and that the dog will go by the “Franky” name but that has not been confirmed, and it’s more likely that Valkyrie’s new ring name in NXT will be Franky Monet.

As seen below, WWE tweeted a screenshot from the April 13 teaser and indicated that Franky could be the name of the dog. They wrote, “How are we gonna wait that long? Franky stole our heart. [dog emoji][growing heart emoji] #WWENXT”

Valkyrie has re-tweeted several of the dog tweets from tonight’s show, and she also re-tweeted a USA Network tweet that teased her as the new character.

“If that’s who we think it is… @WWENXT is gonna be loca in April 13th. #WWENXT,” USA tweeted.

Valkyrie is a former Impact Knockouts Champion and a former three-time AAA Reina de Reinas Champion. She debuted for Impact in September 2017 and left in January of this year, leaving the company as the longest-reigning Knockouts Champion in history. Valkyrie signed with WWE in mid-February and reported to the WWE Performance Center to begin training in late February.

There is no word yet on what WWE has planned for Valkyrie, Below are shots from the related vignettes on tonight’s show, along with recent photos of Taya and Presley:

https://twitter.com/WWENXT/status/1377422774470287361
https://twitter.com/WWENXT/status/1377425876803932160
https://twitter.com/WWE/status/1377428628481339394
https://twitter.com/WWENXT/status/1377434474552586240

Kris Statlander And Trent Return From Injury On AEW Dynamite

Kris Statlander and Trent returned from injury on tonight’s AEW Dynamite.

The main event of tonight’s show was an Arcade Anarchy Match featuring Miro and Kip Sabian vs. Orange Cassidy and Chuck Taylor. Part-way through the match, Penelope Ford got involved, but was quickly put down when Kris Statlander popped out of an arcade machine and attacked her.

Statlander has been out of action since last June with an ACL tear.

Near the end of the match, a familiar van approached Daily’s Place with Trent jumping out of it. After getting a kiss from his mom, Sue, Trent joined the fight and went right at Miro — the man who put him on the shelf. Trent has been away since December due to a partially torn pec.

Taylor powerslammed Sabian off the stage and through some tables to pick up the pinfall victory for his team.

After the match. Cassidy, Taylor, Trent and Statlander came together for a big hug.

MLW ‘Never Say Never’ Preview 3/31/21

MLW presents Never Say Never TONIGHT at 7pm ET featuring a World Heavyweight Championship bout on Youtube and other platforms. (Learn more about where to watch.)

  • World Heavyweight Championship: Jacob Fatu (champion) vs. Calvin Tankman (challenger)
  • Myron Reed vs. Daivari
  • Grudge Match: Simon Gotch vs. Jordan Oliver

The rampaging rookie Calvin Tankman challenges the 2-year reign of World Heavyweight Champion Jacob at Never Say Never, presented by newlawoffice.com.

Since his debut Calvin Tankman has crushed the competition en route to an impressive undefeated streak in the league. Now, the ground will shake as Tankman looks to make history and topple CONTRA’s kingpin Jacob Fatu. 

What happens when the unstoppable momentum of “The Heavyweight Hustle” meets the unmatched force of the “Samoan Smashing Machine”, with the World Heavyweight title on the line? Tune in and find out!

The war between CONTRA and Injustice reaches its final battle as “The Young GOAT” Myron Reed steps into the ring with CONTRA’s Iranian super soldier Daivari. 

Daivari staked his claim as a dangerous force in the Middleweight division when he blindsided Reed at Kings Of Colosseum. Now, revenge lingers in the air as Reed finally gets his chance to step up and face off with CONTRA’s top ranked Middleweight.

The National Openweight Champion Alex Hammerstone has requested interview time ahead of his gigantic title fight against Azteca Underground’s monster Mil Muertes!

Jordan Oliver gets one more shot at CONTRA’s elite ring general Simon Gotch and it is a GRUDGE MATCH! Can Injustice’s young heavyweight make the most of this opportunity at redemption and walk back the challenge from CONTRA’s devious grappler?

Former “Dynastic Bros” turned rivals Richard Holliday and Gino Medina go head-to-head in an exclusive interview with Alicia Atout! 

Join Ray Flores, fight analyst St. Laurent and backstage correspondent Alicia Atout for a night of top ranked fights headlined by top ranked, undefeated Calvin Tankman challenging Jacob Fatu for the World Heavyweight Championship.

Fans can also watch nationwide on cable and dish via beIN SPORTS on Saturday nights at 10pm ET and on demand anytime, anywhere on DAZN. MLW airs on Fubo Sports Network and the Roku Channel on Friday nights 7pm / 10pm ET. Learn more about where to watch.

AEW Dynamite Preview 3/31/21

Tonight’s AEW Dynamite episode airs on TNT at Daily’s Place in Jacksonville, Florida.

* Jon Moxley vs. Cezar Bononi

* Christian Cage makes his AEW in-ring debut vs. Frankie Kazarian

* Cody Rhodes vs. QT Marshall in an Exhibition Match (Arn Anderson is guest referee)

* AEW Women’s World Champion Hikaru Shida and Tay Conti vs. Nyla Rose and The Bunny

* Miro and Kip Sabian vs. Chuck Taylor and Orange Cassidy in the Arcade Anarchy match

* MJF’s gift to The Pinnacle

WWE NXT Preview 3/31/21

Tonight’s WWE NXT episode on the USA Network will be the go-home show for next week’s “Takeover: Stand and Deliver” event. This will also be the last regular Wednesday night episode before NXT moves to Tuesday nights on April 13.

Impact Wrestling Moving To Thursday Nights

Impact Wrestling announced that they are moving back to Thursday nights on AXS TV 8/7 c on April 8th.

The April 8 show will be headlined by a big six-man match with AEW World Champion Kenny Omega and The Good Brothers vs. Impact World Champion Rich Swann, Eddie Edwards and Willie Mack.

Impact noted that they are moving back to their traditional timeslot of 8pm ET on Thursday nights. There’s no word yet on if the move has anything to do with WWE NXT reportedly moving to Tuesday nights beginning on April 13, which would have put NXT and Impact head-to-head each week.

“IMPACT Wrestling has years of history airing on Thursdays, which was the night for high-energy, action-packed matches, starring some of the most high-profile stars in pro wrestling history,” Impact Executive Vice-President Scott D’Amore said in a press release sent to Wrestling Inc. “Nothing is changing from that front when IMPACT! jumps back to Thursday nights.”

Impact’s “Before The Impact” show will also move to Thursdays, airing as the lead-in at 7pm ET.

News On WWE Hall Of Fame 2020 And 2021 Induction Ceremony Tapings

As seen in the tweet below, a new photo from the 2020 WWE Hall of Fame induction ceremony has surfaced online.

The 2020 induction ceremony was taped yesterday from the ThunderDome at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. The 2021 induction ceremony will be taped on Thursday.

The photo confirms the report on Titus O’Neil receiving the Warrior Award. This shows that he won the Warrior Award for the 2020 Class

William Shatner was not present to accept his 2020 induction for the Celebrity Wing, but it’s likely that WWE aired some sort of pre-taped video for Shatner.

Jushin Thunder Liger was also not present for the induction as he’s likely in Japan. There’s no word on if he appeared via video.

The photo also shows that Davey Boy Smith Jr., Georgia Smith and Diana Hart-Smith were present to accept the honor for “The British Bulldog” Davey Boy Smith.

WWE Chairman & CEO Vince McMahon and WWE Executive Vice President of Global Talent Strategy & Development Triple H were present to honor the inductees, as they have in recent years. The 2020 Class includes the nWo (Hulk Hogan, Scott Hall, Kevin Nash, Sean Waltman), The Bella Twins, JBL, Liger, Bulldog, and Titus.

The 2021 Class includes Rob Van Dam, Eric Bischoff, Kane, The Great Khali and Molly Holly. There is no word yet on who will receive the Warrior Award and the Celebrity Wing honor for 2021.

There is also no word on if WWE will be announcing Legacy Wing inductees for 2020 and 2021, but we will keep you updated.

WWE Hall of Famer Jerry Lawler revealed that he hosted the 2020 induction ceremony.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CNDnUGosOQ9/?utm_source=ig_embed

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Impact Wrestling Preview 3/30/2021, James Storm’s 1000th Match

IMPACT! tonight at 8/7c on AXS TV

  • Eric Young vs. James Storm (Storms 1000th Match  in IMPACT Wrestling 
  • Knockouts Tag Team Champions Fire ‘N Flava vs. Havok and Nevaeh (If Havok and Nevaeh win the y get a title shot)
  • Ace Austin and Madman Fulton vs. Josh Alexander and TJP
  • AEW World Champion Kenny Omega and Don Callis will be in the Impact Zone

Eric Young Out Of Action For Several Months

Impact Wrestling star Eric Young is currently out of action with a torn ACL.

Young recently appeared on The Wrestling Perspective podcast and said he suffered a torn ACL at the recent set of Impact TV tapings. He then revealed that he will be on the shelf for 6-9 months.

Young noted that this is the first time he’s been injured in his lengthy career. He is scheduled to undergo surgery soon, and is hoping to be back in the ring in 6 months.

“At the last tapings I tore my ACL,” Young said. “It’s the first time I’ve ever been injured. I missed my first wrestling show this Friday that I was booked on in 24 years of doing it. So, it’s frustrating, man. I’ve never been injured. I’ve been hurt lots, but I’ve never been injured. I have to have surgery in like a week and a half. And it’s going to be a long, long road. So, we’ll see, man. It’s going to get real interesting for me.”

Young revealed that he suffered the injury during a match against James Storm. He continued to work the tapings, wrestling in a Hardcore War eight-man tag team match the next day, and then a singles match against Eddie Edwards. The match with Storm will air on this week’s Impact as the main event because it is Storm’s 1,000th career bout.

“My ACL is completely torn, which I didn’t know,” Young said. “That happened on Monday during the match with Storm. I finished it like nothing happened. I wrestled a hardcore war eight-man tag the following day, then I wrestled Eddie Edwards on Tuesday in a singles match. It was like 20 minutes — on one leg. And I would put that match against anything that airs anytime, for any wrestling company, anywhere in the world, and I did it on one leg. And I’m very proud of it.”

Young couldn’t say for sure if he will remain on Impact TV while injured, but he said he imagines he will. He is the current Violent By Design leader, a stable that also features Joe Doering, Rhino and Cody Deaner.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

WWE RAW Preview 3/29/21

Tonight’s WWE RAW will feature more on the Road to WrestleMania 37 as we get closer to the big event, going into next week’s go-home show.

WWE has announced just one match for tonight’s RAW and that’s Sheamus vs. WWE United States Champion Riddle in a non-title bout.

Tonight’s RAW will also feature a WrestleMania 37 contract signing with Rhea Ripley and RAW Women’s Champion Asuka.

WWE is also teasing that WWE Champion Bobby Lashley will find someone to take out Drew McIntyre before WrestleMania 37. Lashley recently told the locker room that he will grant someone a WWE Title match if they can take McIntyre out before their match at WrestleMania.