WWE NXT Superstar Nikki Cross made her SmackDown TV debut on tonight’s episode from Manchester, England.
SmackDown Women’s Champion Becky Lynch issued a open challenge and SAnitY came out with Nikki. She went on to lose to the champ tapping out to the Dis-Arm-Her.
Tonight’s WWE SmackDown Live will take place from the Manchester Arena in Manchester, England with fallout from WWE Crown Jewel.
* How will Shane McMahon & Paige respond to Raw’s Survivor Series bombshells?
* Will Becky Lynch respond to Ronda Rousey?
* How will Shane McMahon’s WWE World Cup victory effect Team Blue?
* Is AJ Styles ready for Brock Lesnar?
Tonight’s WWE Mixed Match Challenge will take place from the Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia
It’s week 8 of the WWE Mixed Match Challenge series.
The MMC season two continues this evening on Facebook Watch at 10pm EST., immediately following WWE SmackDown Live on the USA Network.
* Naomi and Jimmy Uso vs. Carmella and R-Truth
* Bobby Lashley and Mickie James vs. Finn Balor and Bayley
We noted earlier in the week how WWE recently filed to trademark the Tough Enough name for merchandise use. It sounds like WWE could be planning a revival of the reality TV competition.
There has been an idea pitched that would see a new version of Tough Enough with the competitors being placed on the road with the WWE roster as they all travel together on a tour bus, according to PWInsider. The idea is that there would be weekly competitions with eliminations, leading up to one winner being crowned. That winner would earn a WWE contract. The new series would likely combine elements of Tough Enough, the Diva Search and the reality era of WWE NXT as the company looks for a new female Superstar. WWE has wanted to revive the Diva Search for a while now.
There’s no word yet on if WWE will go with the Tough Enough name or if they will use another name if they decide to produce a new reality competition series but we will keep you updated.
Source: WrestlingINC
Triple H revealed on social media that he will undergo surgery today.
Triple sustained a torn pectoral muscle during the DX vs. Brothers of Destruction match Friday at WWE Crown Jewel. The injury seems to have occurred during a spot in the match where Triple H tumbled out of the ring.
Earlier this year, WWE reached out to Tetsuya Naito sometime after NJPW Dominion (June), but Naito turned down the offer, according to Tokyo Sports. At Dominion, Chris Jericho defeated Naito for the IWGP Intercontinental Championship.
As translated by NJPW Announcer Chris Charlton, Naito didn’t have to think long about the prospect of going to WWE.
“I didn’t even give it a thought,” Naito said. “This New Japan ring is already the world’s number one stage. The fans know this. That’s why I think we should focus on our home crowd before looking international.”
https://twitter.com/reasonjp/status/1059715666079412225
Naito, a one-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion, is arguably the most popular wrestler in Japan as the leader of Los Ingobernables de Japon. Naito has also won MVP two years in a row in the Tokyo Awards, being only the fifth to achieve this along with Antonio Inoki, Jumbo Tsuruta, Genichiro Tenryu, and Kazuchika Okada.
https://twitter.com/reasonjp/status/953854354200526848
At Wrestle Kingdom 13 on January 4, Naito will face Chris Jericho for the IWGP Intercontinental Championship and has made it clear he’s not interested in Jericho for his time in WWE, it’s about what Jericho has done in NJPW with multiple sneak attacks on members of LIJ.
“You should understand that I have no interest in ‘WWE Superstar’ Chris Jericho,” Naito said. “What I want to do is get revenge for what happened in a New Japan ring.”
https://twitter.com/reasonjp/status/1059716138559406082
Source: WrestlingINC
Tonight’s WWE RAW will take place from the Manchester Arena in Manchester, England with fallout from WWE Crown Jewel.
* The Monster Among Men on the warpath
* Team Red heads toward Survivor Series
* Ronda Rousey to respond to Becky Lynch’s Survivor Series promise to rip her arm off
* Natalya, Sasha Banks & Bayley to battle The Riott Squad in an WWE Evolution rematch
* Rollins and Ambrose are still Raw Tag Team Champions
* Will Nia Jax and Tamina cross paths once more?
* Finn Bálor will once again battle Bobby Lashley tonight
WWE COO Stephanie McMahon won the first-ever Wish Spirit Award from Make-A-Wish of Connecticut last night. She posted the following on being honored:
So humbled to receive the first Wish Spirit Award tonight from @MakeAWishCT. This award truly goes to all the Wish kids and their families. Kids should not get sick, period, and we take for granted their ability to swim, go trick or treating, or even walk up stairs. Thank you to everyone who helps grant their wishes and make dreams come true. #CTWishNight ?
Source: WrestlingINC
* Christopher Daniels defeated Beer City Bruiser (SOTF First Round Match)
* Adam Page defeated Colin Delaney and Dalton Castle (SOTF First Round Match)
* Jonathan Gresham defeated Tracy Williams (SOTF First Round Match)
* Guerrero Maya Jr. defeated Flip Gordon and Andrew Everett (SOTF First Round Match)
* PJ Black defeated Luchasaurus (SOTF First Round Match)
* Marty Scurll defeated Silas Young and Stuka Jr. (SOTF First Round Match)
* Madison Rayne defeated Britt Baker (Qualifier for Four Corner Survival WOH Title Match at Final Battle PPV)
The Kingdom defeated Cody and The Young Bucks (c) (ROH World Six-Man Tag Championship)
* Jay Lethal and Jeff Cobb defeated Scorpio Sky and Frankie Kazarian
* Marty Scurll defeated Christopher Daniels, Adam Page, PJ Black, Jonathan Gresham, and Guerrero Maya Jr. in an elimination match to win the Survival of the Fittest tournament and receive a future ROH World Title shot.
Source: WrestlingINC
Soberano Jr., Volador Jr., Tiger Mask, and Jushin Thunder Liger vs. Toa Henare, ACH, Chris Sabin, and Ryusuke Taguchi – Winners: Toa Henare, ACH, Chris Sabin, and Ryusuke Taguchi via Pinfall
KUSHIDA, Tomoaki Honma, and Togi Makabe vs. Robbie Eagles, Tanga Loa, and Tama Tonga – Winners: Robbie Eagles, Tanga Loa, and Tama Tonga
Kazuchika Okada and Beretta vs. Jay White and Bad Luck Fale – Winners: Okada and Beretta via Pinfall
Hiroshi Tanahashi and David Finlay vs. Kenny Omega and Kota Ibushi – Winners: Kenny Omega and Kota Ibushi via Pinfall
Super Jr. Tag League Finals: Yoshinobu Kanemaru and El Desperado vs. BUSHI and Shingo Takagi vs. Sho and Yoh – Winners: Sho and Yoh via Pinfall to win the Super Jr. Tag League
NEVER Openweight Championship: (C) Taichi vs. Hirooki Goto – Winner: Hirooki Goto via Pinfall to become the new NEVER Openweight Champion
RevPro British Heavyweight Championship: (C) Tomohiro Ishii vs. Minoru Suzuki – Winner: Tomohiro Ishii
Tetsuya Naito vs. Zack Sabre Jr. – Winner: Tetsuya Naito via Pinfall
IWGP Intercontinental Championship: (C) Chris Jericho vs. EVIL – Winner: Chris Jericho via Submission
Post-match, Jericho puts in the walls of jericho again. Out from the back comes Tetsuya Naito and he hammers away on Jericho. Jericho is able to bail out of the ring and head up the ramp to the back. Jericho questions if Naito wants the title and Naito holds the ropes open, inviting him back in the ring. Jericho walks to the back holding his title up. Naito gets on the mic and says he’ll be the next to challenge for Jericho’s title. Backstage, Jericho calls EVIL a tough s.o.b. and says he’s already beat Naito and there won’t be a rematch anywhere. Jericho said that was EVIL’s first classic match, but for him it was just another classic in a long list of classics. Notes he’s still undefeated in NJPW. (from WrestlingINC)
