Author: John Bass

Former WWE/TNA Veteran Referee Earl Hebner Joins AEW, Former NXT And ROH Referees Also Signed

All Elite Wrestling announced that Earl Hebner, Paul Turner and Aubrey Edwards have signed with the promotion as referees.

Hebner is a veteran referee who is best known for his run with WWE from 1988 through 2005. He made his debut as the evil twin of his real-life brother Dave Hebner on the February 5, 1988 edition of The Main Event, where he was paid off by Ted Dibiase to secretly replace Dave and steal the WWE Championship away from Hulk Hogan. He is probably best remembered for his role as the referee in the Montreal Screwjob, where he called for the bell when Shawn Michaels had then-WWE Champion Bret Hart in a Sharpshooter, despite Hart never submitting. Both Dave and Earl were fired from WWE in 2005 for selling unauthorized WWE merchandise without the company’s knowledge. Earl worked for TNA from 2006 through 2017, and was inducted into their Hall of Fame in 2015.

Edwards has been a referee on the independent scene, and also worked briefly in NXT last year as their second-ever female referee.

Turner is a veteran ROH referee who had been with the company since its inception. His profile is still listed on ROH’s website as of this writing.

You can check out the announcements for all three referees below:

https://twitter.com/AEWrestling/status/1128472548537192448

https://twitter.com/AEWrestling/status/1128492883303129088

Source: Wrestling Inc.

WWE SmackDown Preview 5/14/19

Tonight’s WWE SmackDown will be taped from the O2 Arena in London, England today with the final hype for WWE Money In the Bank.

* SmackDown LIVE’s Men’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match participants to throw down in pivotal Fatal 4-Way Match

* Will Kofi Kingston accept KO’s invitation to come on The Kevin Owens Show?

* Can Fire & Desire scorch Asuka & Kairi Sane on Tuesday night?

WWE 205 Live Preview 5/14/19

Tonight’s WWE 205 Live will be taped from the O2 Arena in London, England today.

* WWE 205 Live vs. NXT U.K.

* Fatal 4-Way Match: Humberto Carrillo vs. Gentleman Jack Gallagher vs. Mark Andrews vs. NXT UK Tag Team Champion James Drake

* WWE Cruiserweight Champion Tony Nese vs. Ligero

WWE Announces DJZ’s Signing, Reports To WWE Performance Center

WWE has announced that former Impact X Division Champion DJZ reported to the WWE Performance Center in Orlando this week to begin working for the company.

It was reported back in mid-March that DJZ had signed with WWE. The 32 year old left Impact Wrestling on December 31 after his contract expired. He first debuted for Impact back in 2011 and worked there off & on, becoming a two-time X Division Champion and a one-time Tag Team Champion with Andrew Everett.

Below is WWE’s full announcement on signing DJZ:

“DJZ” Michael Paris reports to WWE Performance CenterOne of the world’s top high-flying Superstars has come to the WWE Performance Center.

Michael Paris, better known to sports-entertainment fans as “DJZ,” reported for training this week at WWE’s facility in Orlando, Fla.

A professional grappler for nearly 15 years, Paris specializes in dynamic, top-rope offense, and has put many competitors away with moves like the 450 Splash and the 630 Splash. He has experience wrestling internationally, including in Mexico, Japan and the United Kingdom. Paris has also captured dozens of championships on his journey to WWE, such as the International Wrestling Cartel’s Super Indy Championship, a title formerly held by the likes of AJ Styles, Johnny Gargano, Adam Cole and Corey Graves.

Paris’ signing comes on the heels of several other high-profile acquisitions. In January, the WWE Performance Center welcomed a new class of 12 athletes, while international wrestlers Kushida, Shane Strickland and Humberto Garza all reported for training last month.

Braun Strowman Reportedly Injured, Backstage News On Why He Was Pulled From WWE Money In The Bank

Sami Zayn defeated Braun Strowman in the Falls Count Anywhere main event of last night’s RAW to earn Braun’s spot in the men’s Money In the Bank Ladder Match at the May 19 WWE Money In the Bank pay-per-view.

Strowman is currently dealing with an injury, according to Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Radio, but that is not why he was pulled from the match. There’s no word yet on injury details, but Strowman could be working through some sort of biceps or triceps injury.

Regarding Strowman losing his Money In the Bank spot to Zayn, Meltzer reported that the removal was a part of a longer storyline that will play out over the next month or so. Strowman is working hurt, but the injury is not bad enough that he needs to take any time off right now.

There’s been a lot of speculation on Strowman’s WWE future as of late. He reportedly received heat from WWE officials after winning the 6th Annual Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal at WrestleMania 35. The end of the match was said to be a mess as Strowman forgot some of his spots. It was reported in late April that the botched spots are why Strowman hasn’t had much of a push since winning the Battle Royal.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Killer Kross Reportedly Requests His Release From Impact Wrestling

Killer Kross reportedly requested his release from Impact Wrestling, according to Mike Johnson of PWInsider.

According to the report, Kross had signed a multi-year deal with the company last year that pays him per date. Kross was reportedly unhappy with the financial aspects of the deal, and tried to renegotiate a guaranteed contract worth six-figures per year based on what he feels his value is outside of the company. Kross apparently also has some issues with creative, but the main concern was financial.

Impact reportedly felt that Kross was offered the deal when he wasn’t very well known and he became a star on their platform. They apparently countered with a new restructured three-year deal, however it was “well below” the six-figures that Kross was requesting. Kross turned down the deal and requested his release last week. It was noted that the release was not granted, and Impact has no plans to let him go. Johnson added that the relationship between Kross and Impact remains professional.

During an interview with Interactive Wrestling Radio earlier this year, Kross discussed signing with Impact over WWE.

“Everything happens for a reason,” Kross said. “I don’t say this in a negative way but I don’t think people in WWE internally or the fan base would have had any idea how to receive this character if I had went there first with it. That has a lot to do with their general platform and their presentation. I don’t think they would have known how to implement this character.

“…Maybe one day there will be a time and a place for this guy on that stage. But, [Impact] is the perfect place to be doing this.”

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Bray Wyatt Reveals His Dark Secret On WWE RAW (Video)

Bray Wyatt revealed his dark secret during last night’s “Firefly Fun House” segment on WWE RAW.

The segment featured Mercy The Buzzard, Abby The Witch and Ramblin’ Rabbit, despite the apparent demise of Rabbit on last week’s show.

Wyatt noted that fireflies helping him is what warms his soul, but he still has some darkness in his head. Wyatt added that he knows how to harness that darkness and control it. That’s when he revealed the bizarre new look, which you can see in the video.

The Undertaker Vs. Goldberg And More Announced For WWE Super ShowDown In Saudi Arabia

WWE has announced The Undertaker vs. WWE Hall of Famer Bill Goldberg for the first-time ever at the upcoming WWE Super ShowDown event.

Super ShowDown, which is the same name that WWE used for the big event from Australia last year, will take place on Friday, June 7 from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

WWE has also announced a 50-man Battle Royal and Triple H vs. Randy Orton for their return to the Kingdom.

Below is the full announcement on the event:

Undertaker, Goldberg to clash for first time ever at WWE Super ShowDown

JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA — The Saudi General Sports Authority will host WWE Super ShowDown at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Friday, June 7, at 9 p.m. AST, and feature the first-ever match between WWE Hall of Famer Goldberg and Undertaker. In addition, the event will include Triple H vs. Randy Orton, as they create another chapter of their storied rivalry, and a 50-Man Battle Royal — the largest in WWE history.

WWE Champion Kofi Kingston, WWE Universal Champion Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns, Braun Strowman, AJ Styles and Brock Lesnar are also scheduled to compete at WWE Super ShowDown, which will stream live on WWE Network and be available on pay-per-view outside of the Middle East.

Additional details on the event’s matches and regional broadcast information will be announced in the coming weeks.

WWE RAW Preview 5/13/19

Tonight’s WWE RAW will take place from the 02 Arena in London, England with the final hype for WWE Money In the Bank. Since the show is in London it will be taped today to air tonight.

* Double contract signing for Becky Two Belts

Roman Reigns returns for “Miz TV”

* Women’s Fatal 4-Way Match for “Money” momentum

* Ricochet takes flight against Baron Corbin

* Braun Strowman locks up with Drew McIntyre

* Seth Rollins and AJ Styles brace for monumental title collision

* Rambling Rabbit rambles no more

Seth Rollins And Becky Lynch Dating

WWE RAW and SmackDown Women’s Champion Becky Lynch confirmed this weekend that she is dating Seth Rollins during a Twitter exchange with Beth Phoenix. Lynch had involved Edge in the Twitter spat, which prompted Phoenix to ask, “Wait wait…are we involving our men now…”

Lynch replied, “I’ll ask him…@WWERollins?”

In a tweet that has since been deleted, Phoenix responded to Lynch confirming her relationship with Rollins, writing, “Aw! Relationship confirmed! Congrats @BeckyLynchWWE @WWERollins ! Maybe one day we can double date and reminisce on old times…”

On Monday morning, Rollins also confirmed their relationship. Rollins posted the photo below of the two kissing and wrote, “I guess I’m allowed to post this now…. @beckylynchwwe ?”

Source: Wrestling Inc.