Author: John Bass

WWE Reportedly Has More Positive COVID-19 Tests Come Back

WWE reportedly had another round of positive COVID-19 tests last week.

There were issues at the WWE Performance Center TV tapings on Tuesday, August 4. WWE had plans to tape multiple episodes of SmackDown and 205 Live, but ended up taping just one episode of each show. It was noted then that the delays were due to problems with organization, and possibly with how late the RAW taping ran the night before. The delay led to WWE holding another taping yesterday, August 13, for tonight’s SmackDown and 205 Live episodes.

Last week’s delay was reportedly due to more people testing positive for the coronavirus.

It was reported by PWInsider, via three different sources, that the second SmackDown taping scheduled for last week was nixed at the last minute because more positive COVID-19 test results came back.

WWE implemented additional COVID-19 protocols and put significant effort into preventing the spread of the virus after the large outbreak in June. There is no word yet on who tested positive in this latest round of tests, or if more wrestlers tested positive than other employees. However, it was reported last week that some talents who were booked for the tapings had to be pulled at the last minute, which also contributed to the delay. Two of the wrestlers who were reportedly pulled from the SmackDown taping were Killian Dain and Danny Burch, but they both wrestled on this week’s WWE NXT episode. It’s possible that they were pulled due to creative reasons.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

WWE SmackDown Preview 8/14/2020

The Road to WWE SummerSlam will continue with tonight’s WWE SmackDown on FOX episode.

* Big E vs. John Morrison

* Braun Strowman promises a monstrous confrontation with “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt

* Alexa Bliss sit-down interview to discuss her recent interactions with The Fiend

* Tri-Brand Battle Royal to determine who will challenge WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion Bayley for her SmackDown Women’s Title at SummerSlam

WWE Expected To Announce Amway Center In Orlando As location Of SummerSlam, May Hold Other Events and TV Tapings At The Site, Virtual Fans

WWE is expected to announce the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida as the location for the SummerSlam pay-per-view on August 23. They’re also looking at the venue for other upcoming events and TV tapings.

It was reported on Thursday, via PWInsider, that WWE was considering the use of virtual fans for SummerSlam, something FOX has done for recent MLB broadcasts. Now @Wrestlevotes reports that WWE has a much bigger interactive experience planned for the Amway Center.

It was noted that WWE is about to begin a “new long term residency” at the Amway Center, indicating they have signed a lease with the venue, which has been “officially” closed until 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This residency includes a new interactive experience that will see fans appear live on the show via LED boards. The interactive experience will be hosted by WWE Superstars and Legends.

The interactive experience will be shown in the arena with more than 2,500 square foot of LED boards.

WWE should be announcing details on the interactive experience soon as it was noted that applications for people to appear on screen will open next week.

UPDATE

WWE production trucks have arrived at the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida.

Local reporter Jon Alba tweeted the following video of WWE loading their equipment into the building today.

WWE is set to tape upcoming pay-per-view and TV events from the Amway Center. You can click here to read our recent report on a very interesting new “interactive experience” WWE has planned for the venue, in which fans will be shown on large LED boards.

The Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports that the return to live TV will begin with next Friday’s SummerSlam go-home edition of SmackDown on FOX. If everything goes smooth with SummerSlam Weekend, the idea is to host as much live TV as possible from the Amway Center for the forseeable future.

The idea is that WWE really wants to get out of the Performance Center as far as filming goes. They are putting part of the blame for the drop in TV ratings on not being live and the darkness of the Performance Center, according to The Observer.

The return to live programming outside of the Performance Center will mean an increase in production costs that the company has saved on while filming at their own facility. It will also mean talent and staff will be traveling twice as much, assuming they stay with live programming, and effectively ignoring the 14-day quarantine mandates set by states like Connecticut and New York.

The WWE NXT brand will not be impacted by the main roster move to the Amway Center as the current plan for the black & yellow brand is to remain at the NXT Arena on the campus of Full Sail University in Winter Park, FL.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Shotzi Blackheart’s Car And Helmet Located By Police

NXT wrestler Shotzi Blackheart got her car and signature helmet stolen this week, but as seen in a new video officers reunited her with both last night.

As we previously reported, Blackheart’s ride was jacked outside of her apartment Tuesday morning with her gear and helmet (which had a lot of sentimental value) inside of the trunk.

Shotzi shared an update via YouTube on Thursday explaining that she received a call from police Wednesday evening about her car while brushing her teeth. Fellow NXT wrestler Jake Atlas then gave her a ride to meet with officers who were in the field with her vehicle.

When officers opened the trunk for Blackheart, who was in her wrestling gear, she was overjoyed seeing her helmet again and hugged it tightly after it was handed to her.

Watch the video below.

Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet

AEW Releases Jimmy Havoc, Bea Priestley and Sadie Gibbs

AEW has released Jimmy Havoc and Bea Priestley.

There had been speculation on AEW releasing Sadie Gibbs, Havoc and Priestley after their profiles were removed from the official AEW roster. Gibbs confirmed her departure on Twitter, F4Wonline.com has confirmed the other two departures.

Priestley signed with AEW in February 2019 after turning down a WWE offer. She debuted at Fight for the Fallen on July 13 of last year, teaming with Shoko Nakajima to defeat Riho and Britt Baker. Priestley last wrestled on the March 11 Dynamite episode, teaming with Nyla Rose to defeat Kris Statlander and current Women’s World Champion Hikaru Shida. It looked as if she was about to enter into a feud with Rose.

AEW issued a statement on Havoc back in June after a woman named Rebecca Crow, who bills herself on Twitter as an international stage performer and adult content creator, used the “#SpeakingOut” movement to accuse him of physical and mental abuse why they dated for several years. AEW noted then that they wished Havoc the best as he received treatment and counseling in an effort to overcome the mental health and substance abuse challenges in his life. Havoc signed with AEW in February 2019 and debuted in the 2019 Double Or Nothing Pre-show Battle Royal on May 25. He last wrestled on the June 17 Dynamite episode, teaming with Kip Sabian for a loss to The Young Bucks.

Havoc, Priestley and Gibbs are all from the UK.

The releases were finalized on Wednesday, according to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. This is when their profiles were removed from the official AEW roster page. All three wrestlers are from the UK and it was noted that AEW hasn’t been able to bring in talents from the UK due to the COVID-19 quarantine. The fact that AEW has added a lot of new wrestlers as of late also contributed to the decision to release these three.

AEW President & CEO Tony Khan noted a few months back that he did not want to release anyone during the coronavirus pandemic, but that there would come a time where they would have to make cuts if people couldn’t travel into the United States. It was also said that when you keep adding talent, at some point there has to be cuts.

The Observer added that Havoc likely would not be brought back due to allegations against him coming out of the “#SpeakingOut” movement, which is why he was suspended before undergoing treatment for some of his issues.

Gibbs and Priestley were released mainly due to their inability to get into the United States for TV tapings, and how it looks like that won’t be changing any time soon. Gibbs was reportedly brought in as a project, in the sense that she wasn’t ready but she was a great athlete with a good look.

There is no word yet on if there will be more AEW releases to come.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

AEW Dynamite Preview 8/12/20 – Tag Team Appreciation Night, Rock ‘N Roll Express

Tonight’s AEW Dynamite episode airs from Daily’s Place in Jacksonville, Florida.

* Cody (c) vs. Scorpio Sky (AEW TNT Championship)

* Chris Jericho vs. Orange Cassidy ($7,000 Obligation Match – Both Inner Circle and Best Friends are banned from ringside)

* Hangman Page and Kenny Omega (c) vs. Jungle Boy and Luchasaurus (AEW World Tag Team Championship)

* Grayson and Evil Uno vs. Young Bucks

* Appearances by Rock ‘N Roll Express, Tully Blanchard, and Arn Anderson for Tag Team Appreciation Night hosted by FTR

WWE NXT Preview 8/12/20

The road to WWE NXT “Takeover: XXX” will continue during tonight’s taped NXT episode on the WWE Network.

* Johnny Gargano and Candice LeRae let the NXT Universe into their home

* Adam Cole responds to last week’s attack by Pat McAfee

* NXT Cruiserweight Champion Santos Escobar vs. Tyler Breeze in a non-title match

* Karrion Kross vs. Danny Burch

* Bronson Reed vs. Damian Priest

* Kushida vs. Cameron Grimes vs. a mystery opponent in a Triple Threat qualifier for the “Takeover: XXX” Ladder Match for the vacant NXT North American Title

Former WWE Star Brian Myers (Curt Hawkins) Returned To Impact Wrestling

Impact World Champion Eddie Edwards’ open challenge continued  last night with Brian Myers (fka WWE’s Curt Hawkins) answering the call and making his return to Impact Wrestling. Myers took on the champion, but came up short when Edwards hit his finisher, Boston Knee Party, for the pinfall victory.

Over the past few weeks, Myers has teased coming back, calling himself the “most professional wrestler.”

Myers previously worked for TNA back in 2015. He was release from WWE in April due to the company wide cuts due to COVID-19.

https://twitter.com/IMPACTWRESTLING/status/1293362676429660160

https://twitter.com/IMPACTWRESTLING/status/1293364580622561280

https://twitter.com/IMPACTWRESTLING/status/1293365335576338432

https://twitter.com/IMPACTWRESTLING/status/1293366090509086720

https://twitter.com/IMPACTWRESTLING/status/1293366595432087552

 

Shotzi Blackheart Says Her Car Got Stolen With Gear Bag And Helmet Inside

NXT wrestler Shotzi Blackheart says she might be wrestling in street clothes this week, because her car got stolen Monday night with her gear and helmet inside.

Blackheart tweeted Tuesday morning saying, “My car was stolen outside my apartment last night in Orlando. 2015 WHITE HONDA CIVIC LYTP77 last tracked driving down chickasaw at 5am.”

“Also my gear bag with all my gear, boots, entrance jacket and helmet were in the trunk. If you are wondering why I’m wrestling in street clothes and dont have my helmet that is why,” she added.

“Im mostly sad about my helmet… my first day of training seven years ago I saw that helmet hung up on the wall next to the ring. I looked at it everyday I went to training. Finally when it was time for me to start having matches I asked my trainers if I could have it. RIP HELMET.”

If you have any information on the whereabouts of her car, please contact local authorities.

Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet

Impact Wrestling Preview 8/11/20

Tonight on a all-new IMPACT! 9/8c on AXS TV and Twitch.

* No DQ: Havok and Neveah vs. Kiera Hogan and Tasha Sleelz

* Jordynn Grace vs. Kimber Lee

* Eddie Edwards defends his Impact World Title – Who will accept his challenge?

* Wrestle House