Author: John Bass

AJ Styles Set To Return To Action Next Week

As seen on RAW this past Monday night, there was a backstage segment where it was teased that AJ Styles would be returning to action soon. Styles has not wrestled since losing to WWEUniversal Champion Seth Rollins at the WWE Money In The Bank pay-per-view on May 19th.

Styles will apparently be returning to the ring next week. While he is not advertised for this weekend’s live events, WWE is advertising Styles for next week’s tour in Asia, starting with next Thursday’s show in Singapore. He is also scheduled for the WWE shows from Sumo Hall in Tokyo, Japan next Friday and Saturday. As we previously reported, Styles is slated to team with Triple H, Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson to face Baron Corbin, Bobby Lashley, Drew McIntyre & Samoa Joe on the Friday show. He will be teaming with WWE Universal Champion Seth Rollins and Braun Strowman to face Drew McIntyre, Baron Corbin & Bobby Lashley at Saturday’s Tokyo show.

https://twitter.com/WWEJapan/status/1141284540465500163

Styles is also now advertised for RAW live events following the Asia tour.

WWE announced Styles’ injury on the May 27th episode of RAW, where he was pulled from a Fatal 4 Way Elimination match with Braun Strowman, The Miz and Bobby Lashley with the winner challenging Rollins for the Universal title at WWE Super ShowDown. Styles was replaced by Corbin, who ended up winning the match but losing to Rollins at Super ShowDown. Corbin will now face Rollins in a rematch this Sunday at WWE Stomping Grounds, with a special referee of his choosing that has yet to be announced.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Lars Sullivan Reportedly Could Be Out Of Action For The Rest Of The Year

Lars Sullivan could be out of action for the rest of the year.

As noted, Lars recently suffered a knee injury that has kept him out of the ring. The Wrestling Observer Newsletter report that the injury is worse than anticipated. Lars underwent an MRI this past week and the only word coming out of WWE is that he could be out for 6-9 months, which could mean he will be back in December or around WrestleMania 36 season.

There’s still no word yet on when Lars was injured, but he last wrestled The Lucha House Party on RAW following his win over them at WWE Super ShowDown in Saudi Arabia. Lars was set to face Matt Hardy on last week’s SmackDown, but the match was nixed due to the injury.

UPDATE:

Lars Sullivan reportedly underwent successful surgery earlier Thursday morning, according to Wrestling Observer Live.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Women’s Title To Be Unveiled At AEW All Out

On the latest Road to Fyter, Brand Rhodes announced at All Out on August 31 in Chicago the AEW Women’s World Championship will be unveiled. Also at All Out, Chris Jericho will take on Adam Page to determine the inaugural AEW World Champion.

No details were given on how the first women’s champion will be decided. The current women’s division includes: Allie, Awesome Kong, Bea Priestley, Brandi Rhodes, Britt Baker, Hikaru Shida, Kylie Rae, Leva Bates, Nyla Rose, Penelope Ford, Riho, Yuka Sakazaki, and Sadie Gibbs.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Bret Hart To Make Feature Film Debut In “Tales From The Dead Zone” Co-Starring Corey Feldman

WWE Hall of Famer Bret Hart will make his feature film debut in the horror movie, Tales From the Dead Zone, co-starring Corey Feldman (The Goonies, The Lost Boys, Stand By Me).

The movie is about a medical examiner conducting autopsies on victims of a horrible car crash, who imagines how they may have lived their lives. The anthology links four terrifying stories together.

“All four of the stories in the feature film have been shot,” says director Barry J. Gillis. “We are gearing up now, to shoot the wrap around story, in the fall.”

Gillis also discussed casting Hart and Feldman for the movie, noting that he’s “happy with their performances.”

“We get messages from people, who think it’s a disaster,” Gillis admitted. “It just boggles the mind. To me it’s been a great idea since day one. Both are true professionals, and great actors. I’m happy with their performances.”

Tales From The Dead Zone is slated to be released in 2020. You can check out the trailer in the video and the official movie poster below:

Source: Wrestling Inc.

WWE Superstars Nominated For 2019 Teen Choice Awards

WWE Superstars have been nominated for 2019 Teen Choice Awards. John Cena has been nominated for the Choice Action Movie Actor award for his role in Bumblebee, which is also nominated for Choice Action Movie.

The Bella Twins were nominated for the Choice Female Athlete award and AJ Styles was nominated for the Choice Male Athlete award.

Voting is now open at this link and it ends on Tuesday, June 25. The awards show airs on Sunday, August 11 at 8pm ET on Fox.

WWE And Netflix Officially Announce New Movie With Kofi Kingston And Other WWE Superstars

WWE and Netflix have officially announced their first movie together, The Main Event.

The film will star Seth Carr, Tichina Arnold, Ken Marino and Adam Pally. Several WWE Superstars will also be featured – WWE Champion Kofi Kingston, The Miz and Sheamus, among others.

Netflix noted that the logline for the movie reads, “After discovering a magical mask, an 11-year-old aspiring wrestler enters a competition to become the next WWE Superstar.”

Production on the movie begins this week in Vancouver. The movie is based on an original screenplay by Larry Postel. Jay Karas will be the director.

The Main Event is expected to premiere on Netflix in 2020 some time.

We noted before that this movie also features a reference to John Cena, who reportedly has a cameo role. WWE did not mention Cena being in the movie. It was also recently reported that Bray Wyatt is featured. There are also said to be several WWE NXT references in the script.

It was also noted that the original screenplay had the kid eating magically-powered John Cena breakfast cereal, but word now is that the most recent version of the screenplay has taken that part out, coming up with another way to give the lead character super powers. Cena was to have his cameo come late in the movie, but there’s no word yet on if that was nixed. It was speculated that Kofi may be replacing Wyatt in the updated screenplay, as Wyatt was mentioned in original reports but Kofi wasn’t. Today’s official announcement confirmed Kofi, but did not mention Wyatt.

Regarding the NXT references, PWInsider reports that the movie will feature at least one NXTevent over the course of the story. NXT Superstar Keith Lee has a role in the movie, as well as two of the NXT announcers – Mauro Ranallo and WWE Hall of Famer Beth Phoenix. It was noted that more WWE talents may be added to the movie as they get closer to filming some of the wrestling-centric scenes.

This is the first collaboration between WWE Studios and Netflix. The two companies have been working to develop new, original feature films. The projects will be directed towards family audiences.

Netflix issued the following blurb on the movie:

“The Main Event joins a growing slate of live action movies featuring kids and teens and made for families, which includes the upcoming comedy Tall Girl, A Babysitter’s Guide to Monster Hunting, and Hello, Universe, based on Erin Entrada Kelly’s Newbery Award-winning, New York Times bestselling novel.

WWE Studios is WWE’s multi-platform content division that develops and produces scripted and non-scripted series, documentaries and feature films. Recent projects include Andre the Giant, the Emmy-nominated documentary in partnership with HBO, as well as hit shows Total Divas and Total Bellas on E! and Miz & Mrs. on USA. WWE Studios also recently produced the feature film Fighting with My Family in association with MGM and Seven Bucks Productions.”

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Konnan Says Impact Wrestling’s New TV Home Will Be “Substantially Better” Than Pursuit

It’s no secret that things haven’t gone well between Impact and Pursuit which was highlighted by the network airing a re-run of Impact instead of a new episode recently. That has sparked more conversation about Impact needing to find a new home and Konnan addressed why Pursuit isn’t the best option when he spoke to Wrestling Inc. on the recent edition of their WINCLY podcast.

“First of all no one can get the channel and second of all it’s a hunting channel,” said Konnan. “It doesn’t matter how good you are if no one is watching you. And that’s a problem because we’re real good right now. …No one can really see it unless you get it on Twitch and a lot of people don’t wanna go on Twitch.

“So, I think them looking for a better platform, which I think they will find, will help image-wise, morale-wise and people will be watching a really good product.”

Konnan was asked which specific channel would be better, but he wouldn’t say it because he doesn’t want to give it away before Impact announces it.

“Just about anything…you could be on MTV3 and that would be better than being there,” Konnan said of Pursuit. “The place they are going is substantially better.”

While Impact doesn’t appear to be a fan of Pursuit, they do seem to be fans of The Rascalz. Konnan talked about Impact embracing stoner humor with the group.

“I think wrestling, sports and politicians have been behind the curve,” Konnan stated. “Let’s get real: [marijuana] is classified as a Schedule 1 narcotic like heroin. Really? Like cocaine, really?”

Konnan then gave the history of marijuana in the United States and how it was made illegal for racial reasons, particularly to keep down Mexicans and other minorities. He then mentioned the medical uses for marijuana and brought up that many NFL players prefer cannabis over opioids.

“I’m a cannabis smoker myself. Not only that, I was a big fan of Cheech and Chong’s Up In Smoke and Half Baked. Those movies were great and they’re stoner-centric,” Konnan said of his love for that culture.

Konnan is 55 now and has gone through numerous health issues, but he seems to be holding up and enjoys working as much as he’s able to.

“[Working] is better than the other option: being unemployed. I just enjoy everything, especially at my age. I’m not an active wrestler but I’m still able to work in what I love to do,” said Konnan.

Konnan can be seen every Friday night, 10 pm EST, on Impact Wrestling via Pursuit and Twitch.

Wrestling Inc’s full interview with Konnan was included in yesterday’s episode of their WINCLY podcast. It can be listened to HERE at this link. During the interview Konnan discusses what’s next for LAX, LAX’s “beautiful” feud with the Lucha Bros, why he told Michael Elgin not to work for Triple A, Impact looking for a new TV home, The Rascalz pushing stoner humor and more.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

WWE NXT Preview 6/19/19

NXT, streaming tonight at 8 ET on WWE Network.

* Undisputed Champion – After dethroning Johnny Gargano at TakeOver: XXV, newly crowned NXT Champion Adam Cole prepares an Undisputed celebration at Full Sail Live.

* Damian Priest arrives

* Xia Li battles it out with Taynara Conti

WWE NXT UK Preview 6/19/19

NXT UK, streaming today at 3 ET/8 GMT on WWE Network.

Historic Battle Royal to determine NXT UK Women’s Champion Toni Storm’s next opponent today

Today’s NXT UK will feature its first-ever Women’s Battle Royal. Who will emerge victorious and capture an NXT UK Women’s Championship opportunity at a date of their choosing?

Plus, after suffering a brutal sneak attack at the hands of Gallus two weeks ago, The Hunt will look to unleash their wrath on Mark Coffey & Wolfgang in what is sure to be a knockdown, drag-out showdown.

Matt Hardy Announces Latest Addition To House Hardy

Matt Hardy and Reby Hardy are expecting their third child together.

Matt took to Twitter today and made the announcement. He wrote, “Super excited to announce that a brand new Hardy debutng soon to join #HouseHardy. Will it be another Hardy Boy? Or will it be a Hardy Girl? What I do know is that it shall be absolutely WONDERFUL!”

Matt and Reby currently have two sons together – Maxel, born in June 2015, and Wolfgang Xander, born in June 2017.

Matt is currently on the WWE SmackDown roster and has been involved in some of the recent WWE 24/7 Title chase segments. His status has been up in the air after brother Jeff Hardysuffered a knee injury in April, and will be out for several more months.

You can see Matt’s full tweet below:

Source: Wrestling Inc.