Tonight’s WWE Mixed Match Challenge and WWE 205 Live shows will take place from the Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix.
WWE Mixed Match Challenge:
* Nia Jax & Apollo vs. Charlotte Flair & Bobby Roode
WWE 205 Live:
* Will Gentleman Jack Gallagher heed Drake Maverick’s advice?
* Who will advance to the second round? Buddy Murphy vs. Ariya Daivari and Jack Gallagher vs. Mustafa Ali.
Tonight’s WWE SmackDown Live will take place from the Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix.
* Charlotte Flair, Naomi & Becky Lynch to battle The Riott Squad
* How will WWE Champion AJ Styles deal with his upcoming Fatal 5-Way Match?
* The New Day to battle Shelton Benjamin & Chad Gable
* Is Bobby Roode’s U.S. Title reign in danger?
* Are The Bludgeon Brothers on the hunt for The Usos?
WWE confirmed this week that former Intercontinental Champion Jeff Jarrett will be the latest inductee into the Hall of Fame. During the video package, WWE aired his achievements while competing for the company, from popularizing himself by pompously spelling his name, to eventually becoming a crew-cut, hard-nosed competitor and smashing guitars over the heads of his foes.
Jarrett was interviewed by TMZ about WWE’s announcement, as seen in the video above. Jarrett stated that it is surreal to him, and WWE asked him back in January if he would like to go in the Hall of Fame and he did not think twice about it.
“Out of all the guys who’ve laced up their boots, there’s less that 200 of us in the Hall of Fame,” said Jarrett. “So, I’m very grateful, I’m very, very humbled, and… this is for my family. My family goes back three generations, so I’m the lucky one that got picked for my family being in the Hall of Fame.”
On the March 26, 2001 simulcast of Raw and Nitro, where Vince McMahon revealed that he bought his rival, he also publicly fired Jarrett as he was appearing on WCW Nitro. A year later, Jarrett and his father Jerry would launch TNA Wrestling.
TMZ asked Jarrett about that infamous moment. Jarrett stated, “that night in Panama city, who would’ve thunk (laughs), who would’ve thought these many years later, 17 years later or whatever it may be, that I’m standing here Monday, February the 19th and the announcement is made.”
Jarrett would then say “thank you” to WWE for their decision to induct him in the Hall of Fame, despite his ups and downs.
Source: WrestlingINC and H/T to TMZ
Jeff Jarrett and wife Karen Jarrett posted the following on Jeff’s 2018 WWE Hall of Fame induction:
Former WWE Superstar James Ellsworth has a new Intergender Title that he will be defending on the indies. You can see the title in his Instagram post below:
Source: WrestlingINC
Yesterday, Ring of Honor not only showed off a new look to their official website, but their streaming service, Honor Club, is up and running. Honor Club will be streaming not only PPVs, but ROH’s live events too. If fans sign-up at the monthly rate ($9.99), they will get live PPVs 50% off (digital platforms only, not cable/satellite), but if they sign up for the year under their VIP Membership ($119.99), all ROH PPVs will be free. Previously, ROH had a Ringside Membership for fans to get early access to tickets, which will now be rolled into this service. Also included: access to ROH’s video library, ROH weekly TV episodes, and receive discounts in the ROH Pro Shop.
Source: WrestlingINC
WWE changed Apollo Crews’ name to just Apollo on their roster section at WWE.com. His name on Twitter also reflects this change. WWE had recently aired an angle with Titus Worldwide creating the “Crews Can’t Lose” catchphrase for him
Daniel Wood of Sportskeeda is reporting that WWE confirmed in an email that the change was done due to the tragic high school shooting last Wednesday in Parkland, Florida. The gunman, 19 year-old Nikolas Cruz, killed 17 students and teachers with an AR-15 rifle. WWE apparently wanted to avoid any allusion to Cruz, despite the spelling being different, and the decision was made by Vince McMahon to drop Apollo’s last name.
Source: WrestlingINC
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PWInsider reports that a mystery promotion is holding free TV tapings from March 27 to March 29 in Nashville. Tickets are being given away at NashvilleAudience.com. Those who attend will have to sign a non-disclosure agreement and can’t reveal the results or details publicly. Those advertised include James Storm, Jeff Cobb, Joey Janela, Brian Pillman II, Shane Strickland, Corey Hollis, Aaron Solow and more.
Source: 411Mania
Titus O’Neil partnered with local athletes and others in the community to bring more than 2,000 kids to see the new Black Panther movie in Tampa on Thursday night. You can see videos and comments from Titus below:
Source: WrestlingINC
WWE announced yesterday that Rich Swann is done with the company.
WWE’s statement:
Rich Swann and WWE have mutually agreed to part ways as of today, February 15, 2018.
WWE wishes Swann the best in all of his future endeavors.
Swann was arrested and charged for false imprisonment/kidnapping and misdemeanor battery (touching or striking) after an incident with his wife Vannarah Riggs, who currently works for Impact Wrestling as Su Yung, in mid-December. Swann was driving a car with Riggs and apparently began to critique her performance at a wrestling show earlier in the night. Swann supposedly got angry and Riggs jumped out of the car because she was worried that the argument was going to escalate. Swann allegedly stopped the car in traffic and yelled for her to return before putting her in a headlock and dragging her back to the vehicle. The car was apparently not in park, and it crashed into a telephone pole. Swann denied physically touching Riggs and the couple reconciled shortly after. Swann was later cleared of all charges the incident.
