Samoa Joe is apparently ready to return to action imminently, as he has been added to the WWE RAW taping a week from this Monday on April 16th from the XL Center in Hartford, CT. Joe has been out of action since suffering a right foot injury during a match with Rhyno on the January 8th episode of RAW.
Source: WrestlingINC
In the video below, Rusev is talking to Dasha Fuentes after this week’s WWE SmackDown Live win over Jinder Mahal. Regarding Sunday’s WWE United States Title Fatal 4 Way at WrestleMania 34 with champion Randy Orton, Jinder and Bobby Roode, Rusev says it’s now time to take back what is his. He also teases that he may dust off the old tank he used for his entrance at WrestleMania 31.
Triple H unveiled the new NXT North American Championship in a video hyping the upcoming ladder match at NXT TakeOver: New Orleans this Saturday night to determine its first title holder.
WWE is planning to create “augmented reality experiences” and virtual reality content for those who are unable to attend WrestleMania weekend in New Orleans.
WWE Exec VP/Digital and Social Content Jayar Donlan told Sports Business Daily:
We are going to have some augmented reality experiences with WWE superstars. We are going to be having a lot of live look-ins with one of our popular shows, “WWE Now.” We’ll have original content like video diaries. We’ve even had an alligator predict WrestleMania matches. One of the bigger things we’re doing is our new partnership with NextVR — we are going to be creating WrestleMania virtual reality content, which will be sponsored by Snickers, at the WrestleMania Axxess fan festival.
No further details were given on their VR plans this weekend, but it’s safe to assume they’ll be rolling out all the information ASAP.
Read the full interview for more on WWE’s social media philosophy, working on social media presence with Superstars and the experience of making Mixed Match Challenge for Facebook.
Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet
Tonight’s WWE SmackDown Live will take place from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, TN with the final show before Sunday’s WrestleMania 34 pay-per-view.
* AJ Styles & Shinsuke Nakamura to face Chad Gable & Shelton Benjamin
* Rusev battles Jinder Mahal days before U.S. Title Fatal 4-Way
* Charlotte Flair faces Natalya in a rematch from two weeks ago
* Shane McMahon to return ahead of WrestleMania
Tonight’s WWE Mixed Match Challenge and WWE 205 Live will take place from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, TN.
WWE Mixed Match Challenge final:
* Asuka & The Miz vs. Charlotte Flair & Bobby Roode
WWE 205 Live:
* Can Cedric Alexander and Mustafa Ali’s friendship survive WrestleMania?
* Is Drew Gulak too aggressive for Mark Andrews?
Last night on WWE RAW The Undertaker did not appear and give John Cena an answer to his challenge for WrestleMamia 34.
WWE did post the following match preview for the unconfirmed match after RAW ended:
Will The Undertaker return to battle John Cena at WrestleMania?After coming up short in several attempts to secure a WrestleMania bout, including the Royal Rumble Match, a career-altering contest inside Elimination Chamber and a WWE Championship Six-Pack Challenge Match at WWE Fastlane, John Cena has seen his Road to WrestleMania hit a dead end.
However, before accepting his fate and preparing to go to The Showcase of the Immortals as a member of the WWE Universe, The Leader of the Cenation decided to exhaust one more option and challenged The Undertaker to a one-on-one match on The Grandest Stage of Them All.
Unfortunately for the 16-time World Champion, no response came one way or the other, prompting the frustrated Superstar to employ drastic measures and actually call The Deadman a coward! Though this resulted in Cena being assaulted by Kane before defeating him in a No Disqualification Match the following week, there was still no word from The Demon of Death Valley.
Finally, on the final Monday Night Raw before WrestleMania, Cena seemingly lost hope that the epic contest would take place, delivering a somber and, at times acidic, final message to The Deadman before walking up the ramp.
So, what now for Cena? With The Undertaker offering no answer to his challenge, perhaps the showdown between the two iconic Superstars is simply not meant to be. Is Cena destined to experience this year’s Showcase of The Immortals as a spectator? Will he aid another Superstar to victory or perhaps offer his expert knowledge of The Grandest Stage of Them All as a guest commentator? Or, is there still a chance that a match between John Cena and The Undertaker may take place? Find out this Sunday at WrestleMania, streaming live on WWE Network at a special start time of 7 ET/4 PT!
Tonight’s WWE RAW will take place from the Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia with the final red brand hype for Sunday’s WrestleMania 34 pay-per-view.
* Ronda Rousey & Kurt Angle to meet Triple H & Stephanie McMahon face-to-face
* Will Roman Reigns be ready for WrestleMania?
* Seth Rollins and Finn Bálor collide in battle for WrestleMania momentum
* Will The Undertaker respond to John Cena’s WrestleMania challenge?
* Can Alexa Bliss evade Nia Jax until WrestleMania?
* Who is Braun Strowman’s partner?
WWE has announced Daniel Bryan, Big Show, Kane, Braun Strowman and Bray Wyatt for the 50-man Royal Rumble match that will headline the Greatest Royal Rumble event on Friday, April 27th in Saudi Arabia.
Below is the updated card for the event:
50-Man Royal Rumble Match
Daniel Bryan, Kane, Big Show, Braun Strowman, Bray Wyatt, TBA
RAW Tag Team Title Match
The Hardys vs. The Bar
Ladder Match for the WWE Intercontinental Title
Samoa Joe vs. Finn Balor vs. Seth Rollins vs. The Miz
John Cena vs. Triple H
Source: WrestlingINC
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WWE announced Jimmy Hart will be inducting Hillbilly Jim into this year’s WWE Hall of Fame. Below is WWE’s full announcement:
“Hillbilly Jim often found himself standing across the ring from nefarious Superstars managed by Jimmy Hart, but in the years since their heyday, the relationship between the two men changed. Their new dynamic will be on display when Hart inducts Hillbilly Jim into the WWE Hall of Fame during the 2018 Induction Ceremony, streaming live on WWE NetworkFriday, April 6, at 8 ET/5 PT.Hillbilly Jim arrived on the scene in WWE in late 1984 as the protégé of Hulk Hogan, which made him a prime target for Hart and his collection of evildoers. The man from Mudlick, Ky., did battle with the likes of The Honky Tonk Man, Greg “The Hammer” Valentine and Earthquake, all as “The Mouth of The South” lurked at ringside, ready to help his charges gain victory by any means necessary.
But after the two men stepped away from the ring, they grew to become close friends. Hart and Hillbilly Jim even lived under the same roof on the hit WWE Network reality show “Legends House.”
What stories will Hart regale the WWE Universe with when he inducts Hillbilly Jim into sports-entertainment’s most hallowed hall? Find out during the 2018 WWE Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, streaming live on WWE Network Friday, April 6, at 8 ET/5 PT!”
