Author: John Bass

WWE 205 Live Preview 8/20/19

Tonight’s WWE 205 Live will take place from the Denny Sanford Premier Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Team Lorcan vs. Team Gulak

After their brutal SummerSlam title rematch last week on WWE 205 Live, WWE Cruiserweight Champion Drew Gulak and Oney Lorcan had a heated altercation and had to be separated by WWE officials and fellow Cruiserweights.

As a result of the chaos after the bout, WWE 205 Live General Manager Drake Maverick took to Twitter to announce that Gulak and Lorcan would each pick a team of five Superstars, including themselves, and compete in a Captain’s Challenge Match tonight on WWE 205 Live.

Over the next five days, Gulak chose Ariya Daivari, Mike Kanellis, Angel Garza and his friend-turned-rival Tony Nese. Lorcan put together a squad consisting of Gentleman Jack Gallagher, Akira Tozawa, Humberto Carrillo and Isaiah “Swerve” Scott.

Who will reign supreme? Don’t miss this highly anticipated battle. WWE 205 Live, streaming live tonight at 10/9 C on the award-winning WWE Network.

XFL To Reveal Team Names And Logos This Wednesday

The relaunch of the XFL is upon us, and there is some idea of the direction the league will be going in. We know the coaching staff, a few of the players and the cities the league will be presented in. What we didn’t know were the names and logos of the team.

This Wednesday at 12:30 p.m. ET, the XFL will reveal the identities of the eight teams along with the logos. In a press release, it was announced that the announcement will be simulcasted live on XFL.com, ESPN.com and various ESPN, FOX Sports and XFL social media platforms. XFL Commissioner Oliver Luck will host the presentation along with ESPN host Laura Rutledge and FOX Sports host Colin Cowherd.

Over the past few days, the XFL’s social media accounts have been teasing what the logos may look like for each team. Now, we will get a true answer to what the eight teams will be called.

The relaunched XFL season is expected to start in February of 2020, the weekend after the Super Bowl.

https://twitter.com/xfl2020/status/1163599876581728257

Source: Wrestling Inc.

TNT To Air AEW Special Later This Month

TNT is scheduled to air an AEW special on Friday, August 30 at 10pm ET.

The one-hour special will give viewers an introduction to the AEW product to prepare them for the weekly TNT series premiere, which airs from 8-10pm ET on Wednesday, October 2.

The special will also promote the AEW All Out pay-per-view, which takes place the next night, August 31.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Jerry “The King” Lawler Reveals Why He’s Not Thrilled With The WWE King Of The Ring Tournament, Lawler Attacked By The Fiend

After yet the latest hiatus of the event, the King of the Ring has been revived yet again by WWE. The tournament returned for the first time since 2015 last night on RAW.

Some of the greatest Superstars in WWE history have won past editions including Triple H, Stone Cold Steve Austin, Booker T and the recently deceased Harley Race. Many of the past winners have even adopted king gimmicks after winning such as Booker T becoming King Booker and Randy Savage becoming the Macho King.

But someone who has had “King” in his name throughout essentially his entire career is Jerry “The King” Lawler. The King isn’t thrilled with the idea of The King of the Ring returning as it, in part, infringes upon his gimmick as he told Wrestling Inc’s Andy Malnoske.

“When they had the very first King of the Ring tournament, that’s what made me show up in the WWE because I was a little PO’d about it, and I still am to be honest with you. It’s so easy to win a couple of matches and slide a crown on yourself and call yourself the King of the Ring. I’ve been doing this 49 years to earn this crown right here [shows off his crown],” said Lawler.

“For them to have a one-night or two-night tournament to crown a king, I’m not too crazy about it. But they use it as an opportunity to promote somebody and put somebody in the spotlight which, in that respect, I understand so I can’t be too upset about it.

“I promised them that I wouldn’t go in the ring and spoil the coronation of the new king.”

The King of the Ring preliminary matches will take place on both RAW and SmackDown with the finals being held at Clash of Champions.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

 

 

Last night on RAW Jerry Lawler was attacked by “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt after he talked up the King of the Ring Tournament and before he was able to interview Sasha Banks.

WWE Confirms NXT Moving To The USA Network

The announcement didn’t come last night as it was previously reported to be announced, but WWE confirmed today that NXT will begin airing on the USA Network starting on September 18th. In a press release sent to Wrestling Inc., it was noted that WWE and the USA Network reached an agreement “in principle”, and that the show will be live for two hours every week.

“The move to USA Network provides an opportunity to deepen our relationship with NBCUniversal and further build the NXT brand,” said WWE CEO Vince McMahon. “Over the long term, our goal is to develop a following that can be monetized to the same level as our flagship programs, Raw and SmackDown.”

WWE also confirmed that the show will take place each week from Full Sail University.

Below is the full press release:

NXT® MOVES TO USA NETWORKNEW YORK and STAMFORD, Conn., August 20, 2019 –WWE® (NYSE: WWE) and USA Network today announced an agreement in principle to air WWE’s weekly Wednesday night show, NXT, live on USA Network at 8/7c starting September 18.

Following NXT’s growth in popularity, the new two-hour weekly show will expand its reach on USA Network, the leader in cable entertainment, while staying in its Wednesday night timeslot that it has held since 2015.

“The move to USA Network provides an opportunity to deepen our relationship with NBCUniversal and further build the NXTbrand,” said Vince McMahon, WWE Chairman & CEO. “Over the long term our goal is to develop a following that can be monetized to the same level as our flagship programs, Raw®and SmackDown®.”

“USA Network and WWE have one of the longest and most successful partnerships in television history,” said Chris McCumber, President, Entertainment Networks – USA and SYFY. “As the #1 cable entertainment network, we’re excited to add NXT to our weekly lineup alongside powerhouse flagship Raw, and to bring a new generation of Superstars to a wide audience.”

NXT launched in 2010 and has risen to become WWE’s third global brand alongside Raw and SmackDown, hosting nearly 200 live events around the world each year. Airing on Wednesday nights at 8 pm, NXT has been WWE Network’s #1 weekly series.

NXT offers a unique blend of authentic in-ring action with exciting and entertaining storylines that feature WWE’s hottest up-and-coming Superstars including Adam Cole™, Velveteen Dream™, Shayna Baszler™, Johnny Gargano®, Matt Riddle™, Bianca Belair™, Io Shirai™, Candice LeRae™, Tommaso Ciampa™, Kyle O’Reilly™ and Bobby Fish™. The brand’s diverse roster consists of elite athletes from the NFL, collegiate and amateur sports, MMA and international sports such as rugby, kushti and kabaddi. It is also the birthplace to 80 percent of the current Raw and SmackDownrosters including Becky Lynch®, Seth Rollins®, Roman Reigns®, Charlotte Flair®, Bayley®, Sasha Banks®, Alexa Bliss®, Bray Wyatt® and Baron Corbin®.

The series will continue to emanate from Full Sail University in Orlando as part of WWE’s production partnership with the preeminent entertainment, media, arts and technology institution.

NXT will be available on demand on the WWE Network every Thursday beginning at 8/7C. The current format of NXT has been airing on Wednesday nights on the WWE Network since 2015.

WWE RAW Preview 8/19/19 – King Of The Ring Tournament Returns

Tonight’s WWE RAW will take place from the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota with the return of the King of the Ring tournament.

* 2019 King of the Ring tournament returns

* Braun Strowman to face AJ Styles for the United States Title on Raw

* Sasha Banks’ brutal return sparks questions – Sasha to explain her actions on  “The King’s Court” with Jerry “The King” Lawler

* Cedric Alexander squares off with Sami Zayn as the King of the Ring kicks off

* Cesaro and Samoa Joe to throw down with their eyes on the throne

* Walking with (and running after) Elias

Tony Schiavone Signs With AEW, Update On His Status With MLW

One of the signature voices of the Monday Night Wars is on his way to All Elite Wrestling. PWInsider is reporting that Tony Schiavone has become a member of the AEW brand. This is after speculation that WWE had interest in the former voice of WCW.

The report went on to say that Schiavone will be able to continue his color commentary duties with Major League Wrestling, where he signed a two-year deal. It was previously reported that Schiavone’s current contract with MLW would not allow him to work with another company like AEW or WWE. In fact, Court Bauer did not know that Schiavone was going to be involved in AEW’s “Road to All Out” online series, which was shot this past May.

“Unless AEW elects to reach out, Tony Schiavone cannot proceed with AEW or any other company doing anything. I was unaware of him doing the digital stuff until I read it in this week’s Observer,” Bauer said.

At the time, Schiavone was just helping out Cody Rhodes. It is unknown what specific role he will have with the organization. AEW’s current broadcast team is comprised of Jim Ross, Excalibur and Alex Marvez. They also have Chris Van Vliet and Alicia Atout as backstage interviewers.

Whatever his role may be with AEW, Schiavone will return to TNT for the first time since WCW’s run when the brand ended in 2001.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Jeff Jarrett Posts Tribute To His Grandfather Eddie Marlin

Memphis wrestling legend Eddie Marlin died at age 89 this past week. Marlin was the grandfather of WWE Hall of Famer Jeff Jarrett and father-in-law of Jerry Jarrett.

Jeff Jarrett shared a touching tribute to his late grandfather on Saturday evening by posting a photo of the pair in a match together. At the time of the photo, Jarrett was 19 and Marlin was 56.

Along with the photo, Jarrett wrote, “Today we laid to rest my grandfather, Eddie Marlin. Grandfathers n grandsons often work together; but, in professional wrestling, it’s rare to actually have a match where your partner is your grandfather. I was 19 and Pops was 56 when we tagged at the Fairgrounds! Love ya Pops!”

Below is the tribute:

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Major League Wrestling Teases Women’s Division

Major League Wrestling took to social media to announce that an MLW Women’s Division could be on the horizon!

Their full tweet was, “The much anticipated MLW Women’s Division could be on the horizon!! Who would YOU want to see in an MLW Women’s Division?”

Several replies named Impact star Tessa Blanchard as someone they would like to see in the division. Thunder Rosa, Savannah Evans, Allysin Kay, Scarlett Bordeaux, Taeler Hendrix, Priscilla Kelly, Meiko Satomura, Big Swole, Mercedes Martinez, La Hiedra, and Tenille Dashwood were also named as women that fans would like to see in MLW.

WWE NXT To USA Network Announcement Reportedly Coming Tonight

WWE NXT’s new home is looking more and more like the USA Network, after initial reports had FS1 as the new landing spot for the brand. The plan is to make it a two-hour, live show that would fill in the 8 pm ET – 10 pm ET time slot on Wednesday, much like the upcoming AEW weekly show that starts on October 2.

The USA Network got much more involved in negotiations over the last several weeks and the feeling for some within WWE was it is a “done deal.”

Yesterday, the @WrestleVotes Twitter account said WWE would be making an official announcement on Monday about NXT – USA.

On the latest Wrestling Observer Radio, it was also confirmed that would be the case, and it would happen during RAW. Dave Meltzer reported, Triple H was talking to people and dropping hints, while saying, “I want to tell you, but I can’t tell you. But watch TV on Monday.” Meltzer also said it would be the USA Network, and not FS1 as the new destination, which makes sense if the announcement comes during RAW (also on USA).

As noted previously, the plan still sounds like NXT wants to get a jump on the new competition before AEW goes live on TNT on October 2 with NXT episodes starting a few week prior.

In regards to Vince McMahon, Meltzer noted it’s likely he’ll still be very much involved since it’s on the USA Network and because this is a “war,” as opposed to just putting NXT on the station to give it more attention.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

UPDATE:

WWE NXT is set to premiere on the USA network on Wednesday, September 18, according to a new report from Dave Meltzer of F4Wonline.com.