Author: John Bass

The British Bulldog Reportedly Set For The WWE Hall Of Fame, Bella Twins And Jushin Thunder Liger WWE HOF?

“The British Bulldog” Davey Boy Smith is set to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame during WrestleMania 36 Weekend in Tampa.

There’s no word yet on when WWE will announce the induction or who will posthumously induct The Bulldog, but Dave Meltzer noted on Wrestling Observer Radio that Bulldog’s induction has been confirmed.

Bulldog passed away at the age of 39 on May 18, 2002. He is a former WWE Intercontinental, European, Hardcore, and Tag Team Champion.

Bulldog’s family has pushed for his Hall of Fame induction for several years now, calling on other wrestlers to record video messages and make social media posts in support of the induction. It’s interesting to note that Bulldog’s son, David Hart Smith, recently returned to WWE programming for an appearance on The Bump, as Wrestling Inc. noted before at this link.

Regarding other 2020 inductions, it was noted that the reports of The Bella Twins and Jushin Thunder Liger going into the Hall this year are correct.

Image result for Bella Twins And Jushin Thunder Liger WWE HOF?

WWE has previously confirmed the headliners for this year – Batista and the nWo (Hulk Hogan, Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, Sean Waltman).

The 2020 WWE Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place on April 2 from the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida, during WrestleMania 36 Week.

Stay tuned for updates on the 2020 Class.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Former WWE RAW Commentator Vic Joseph Reveals New Gig, Update On His Status

WWE announcer Vic Joseph revealed on Instagram that he will be part of the Cleveland Cavaliers coverage for the second half of the season for the NBA Network. Joseph, whose real name is Victor Travagliante, is from Cleveland and worked in the Cleveland sports media prior to joining WWE.

Joseph was last seen on live WWE television calling Monday Night RAW on January 20th. He has since been replaced by Tom Phillips.

As of now, it has been confirmed that Joseph is still a WWE employee.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Charlotte Flair Attacks Rhea Ripley At NXT TakeOver: Portland And Accepts Challenge For WrestleMania 36

Charlotte Flair made a surprise appearance at NXT TakeOver: Portland, attacking Rhea Ripley aftyer she successfully defended her NXT Women’s championship against Bianca Belair. Flair said she thought about it and she will see Ripley at WrestleMania 36.

https://twitter.com/WWENetwork/status/1229223321549627392

https://twitter.com/WWE/status/1229225099150184448

 

Charlotte also attacked Bianca Belair as she exited the ring.

 

NXT TakeOver: Portland Results 2/16/20

NXT “Takeover: Portland” event from Moda Center in Portland, Oregon opened with a live performance by Poppy and her band.

https://twitter.com/WWENXT/status/1229194645781073920

https://twitter.com/WWE/status/1229213547751780352

 

NXT North American Championship: Keith Lee (c) vs. Dominik Dijakovic –

Winner: Keith Lee

 

Street Fight: Dakota Kai vs. Tegan Nox –

Raquel Gonzalez attacked Tegan and tossed her off the top rope and through a table to allow Dakota to get the win. After the match, Raquel raised Tegan’s hand.

https://twitter.com/WWE/status/1229207450873663490

Winner: Dakota Kai

 

https://twitter.com/TripleH/status/1229207926176247808

 

Finn Balor vs. Johnny Gargano –

Winner: Finn Balor

 

NXT Women’s Championship: Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Bianca Belair –

Winner: Rhea Ripley

After the match, Charlotte Flair attacked Rhea and accepted her challenge for WrestleMania 36. Charlotte tthen also attacked Bianca.

https://twitter.com/WWENetwork/status/1229223321549627392

https://twitter.com/WWE/status/1229225099150184448

 

NXT Tag Team Championship: Undisputed Era (Kyle O’Reilly and Bobby Fish) (c) vs. The BroserWeights (Pete Dunne and Matt Riddle) –

Winners and new NXT Tag Team Champions: The BroserWeights

 

NXT Championship: Adam Cole (c) vs. Tommaso Ciampa –

Winner: Adam Cole

What an incredible match. Undisputed Era got involved towards the end but it was a shot to the head with the title belt by Johnny Gargano that cost Ciampa from getting Goldie back.

https://twitter.com/WWENXT/status/1229240673469181954

https://twitter.com/WWE/status/1229241225561112577

The Rock Shares Footage Of Simone Johnson Wrestling At WWE Performance Center

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson shared a video on Sunday of a brief guest coaching session he did at the WWE Performance which shows the first in-ring footage of his daughter Simone.

The video begins with The Rock saying he had about 4-5 hours to visit the PC and see his daughter Simone Johnson train. Dwayne also says there’s only one place he’d trust his daughter learning to wrestle, and that’s with family aka The McMahons.

As we previously reported, the 18-year-old fourth generation wrestler recently signed with WWE.

In the footage, Simone is seen trading moves in the ring with Deonna Purrazzo as The Rock and most of NXT’s female roster watch on. He then asks to show them something and offers advice to his daughter in regards to what he had just seen.

Simone explains in an interview that is shown how it’s been great having her dad advise her and that he lets her find her own path, while also giving guidance when he can.

Dwayne Johnson is also shown taking questions from the PC trainees.

The video ends with The Rock and Simone preparing to lock up in the ring together, as well as Dwayne lifting her up for a vertical suplex.

Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet

WWE Announces Matt Hardy Vs. Randy Orton No Holds Barred Match For RAW

WWE has announced a No Holds Barred match for Monday’s WWE RAW from the Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett, Washington.

The match will see two WWE veterans clash as Matt Hardy take on Randy Orton.

This match was made after Orton took out Matt with a steel chair shot to the head on this week’s RAW. Matt had just confronted Orton over his recent attack to WWE Hall of Famer Edge.

It had appeared that the angle on this week’s RAW was done to write Matt off WWE TV as his contract expires on March 1 and he’s reportedly on his way out of the company. There’s no word yet on if he has re-signed, or if WWE is just using him until March 1.

Below is the announcement on Monday’s No Holds Barred match:

Matt Hardy to battle Randy Orton in No Holds Barred MatchThis past Monday on Raw, Randy Orton subjected Matt Hardy to the same brutal Con-Chair-To that sent Edge out of Raw on a stretcher. Now, Hardy is coming for payback.

In the wake of Orton’s heinous attack, the former Raw Tag Team Champion is now slated to battle The Apex Predator in a No Holds Barred Match, placing Orton directly on a collision course with his most recent victim — to say nothing of a Superstar who refuses to take the abuse lying down. After all, Hardy is as much a trailblazer as Edge, and his history is almost completely entwined with that of The Rated-R Superstar. Then again, Randy Orton seems to take a particular delight in destroying legends these days. He’ll be more than happy to do it again.

Tune in to Raw this Monday, live at 8/7 C on USA Network.

NXT TakeOver: Portland 2/16/20

February 16, 2020 at 7:00 PM ET (Preshow at 6:30 PM ET) – Moda Center, Portland, Oregon

NXT Championship: Adam Cole (c) vs. Tommaso Ciampa

NXT Women’s Championship: Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Bianca Belair

Finn Balor vs. Johnny Gargano

NXT Tag Team Championship: Undisputed Era (Kyle O’Reilly and Bobby Fish) (c) vs. The BroserWeights (Pete Dunne and Matt Riddle)

Street Fight: Dakota Kai vs. Tegan Nox

NXT North American Championship: Keith Lee (c) vs. Dominik Dijakovic

MLW Fusion Preview 2/15/20

The following description of this week’s FUSION has been provided by its executive producers: Richard Holliday, MJF, Alex Hammerstone and Gino Medina – collectively known as The Dynasty.

For 60 minutes your unspectacular, unattractive and financially underwhelming lives will sample the rarified air of excellence as the greatest athletes of any era invite you to their vision of Major League Wrestling.

It will be a dynastic night in Dallas as the Dynasty presents TWO title matches where we guarantee all the gold is coming home to the Dynasty.

In the main event Dallas will finally experience a championship team that brings dignity, honor and affluence to a city long in need of it.  After being screwed by a crooked referee at SuperFight, the World Tag Team Titles are coming home to Richard Holliday and MJF when they finally catch those cowardly Texas born Hawaiian hillbillies the Von Erichs.

Witness history and watch children cry as the goofy Von Erich boys are dethroned and women line-up to kiss and party with the most dynastic force in tag team wrestling: Richard Holliday and MJF.

Viewers will be awe as they take a ride on Muscle Mountain when Alexander Hammerstone defends the National Openweight Championship against Aerostar.  Experience the newest ride with the longest line as Muscle Mountain dominates the competition with a tan that radiates excellence.

Oh… and we also are allowing Konnan to briefly appear on our show. Konnan? You know, the guy who calls himself “the Hulk Hogan of Mexico” despite having NO tan and looking like the stroked out old guy in Breaking Bad.

Anyway, the Narcos villain of the week wannabe will offer up a luchador for Gino Medina to destroy and prove he is what he is (unlike Konnan): truly untouchable.  Then again, who would want to touch Konnan? Gross.

Plus, our lumbering giant Grogan will flex his muscle (and valet our Bugattis)!

Apparently Mance Warner was booked by MLW before we locked in running this week’s FUSION. His presence? TBD…

Join a man allergic to sunlight Rich Bocchini, AJ Kirsch and that eclectic Canadian dialect of Alicia Toot-Toot for a dynastic night in Dallas.

Matches:
•World Tag Team Title Match: The Von Erichs (Champion) vs. MJF & Richard Holliday
•National Openweight Title Match Alexander Hammerstone vs. Aerostar
•Septimo Dragon vs. Gino Medina

Source: MLW.com

WWE SmackDown Preview 2/14/20

Tonight’s WWE SmackDown on FOX will take place from Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia as the Road to WWE Super ShowDown and WrestleMania 36 continues.

  • Carmella set for SmackDown Women’s Title clash against Bayley
  • The Miz & John Morrison come calling for Roman Reigns – (Roman Reigns and a mystery partner will face The Miz and John Morrison)
  • Otis looks to capture Mandy Rose’s heart on their Valentine’s Day date.

XFL Championship Game To Be Held In Houston

Week one has ended for the XFL and week two is about to begin. In just a short while the playoffs will begin as well. It was previously announced that the League Championship game will be on Sunday, April 26 at 3 p.m. ET. The Eastern Championship Final will be on Saturday, April 18 on FOX while the Western Championship Final will be on Sunday, April 19 on ESPN. Now we know the details of where the finals will take place.

According to the XFL, Houston will host the 2020 XFL Championship game. The game will take place inside TDECU Stadium, home of the Houston Roughnecks. The initial training facility of the XFL was inside TDECU Stadium.

“We’re tremendously excited to have been selected as the site for the XFL’s championship game,” said Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo. “This league has animated football fans from across our region, and we look forward to continuing to showcase Harris County as one of the greatest sports towns in America. We want to thank the league for choosing Houston and we look forward to welcoming football fans from across the nation to what is sure to be a memorable championship game.”

“Houston is a great all-around sports town with top-notch facilities, an amazing community of football fans and a solid infrastructure,” said XFL Commissioner and CEO Oliver Luck. “We are grateful to the city and the Sports Authority for opening its doors once again to the XFL and we look forward to welcoming fans from across Texas, as well as the entire country, to join us in celebrating this special moment in XFL history.”

The Roughnecks beat the Los Angeles Wildcats 37-17 last Saturday on FOX. It was the second game of the XFL’s relaunch. TDECU Stadium can fit over 40,000 people and has held a number of special games, including the Bayou Bucket and an American Championship. The stadium also hosts the University of Houston Cougars football team.

The last XFL Championship was during its initial run in 2001. Dubbed the “Million Dollar Game”, the Los Angeles Xtreme beat the San Franciso Demons 38-6 inside Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Attendance was 24,153 and the MVP of the game was placekicker Jose Cortez.

“It’s fitting that the XFL’s first season will start and end in football-loving Houston and we’re honored to play a pivotal role in the launch of this new league,” Burke said. “Houston is known for hosting major sporting events and the XFL Championship will only strengthen our reputation. We’re thrilled to give football fans in this city the opportunity to experience the excitement of XFL football on the league’s biggest stage.”

Tickets for the XFL Championship will be available to the general public in March. Ticket prices will be released next month, with priority status given to founding XFL season ticket members. You can get your tickets at XFL.com/tickets.

Source: Wrestling Inc.