* Will Roderick Strong or Tyler Bate earn a showdown with WWE U.K. Champion Pete Dunne?
* TM61 return to action for the first time in more than a year
* Does payback await The Lady of NXT? Lacey Evans vs. Nikki Cross
Author: John Bass
Drake Maverick (Rockstar Spud) Named New WWE 205 Live GM, WWE Cruiserweight Title Tournament Announced
It was announced on last night’s WWE 205 Live episode that the new General Manager for the brand will be former Impact Wrestling star Rockstar Spud. His new name in WWE will be Drake Maverick, which was booed by fans during the on-stage reveal with SmackDown General Manager Daniel Bryan.
Maverick announced a 16-man tournament that will begin this week and end at WrestleMania 34 with the winner capturing the vacant WWE Cruiserweight Title. First round matches announced for tonight’s show were TJP vs. Tyler Bate and Cedric Alexander vs. Gran Metalik. We will keep you updated on the tournament.
WWE NXT Superstar Roderick Strong has been announced for the WWE Cruiserweight Title tournament. Strong vs. Hideo Itami and Lince Dorado vs. Kalisto have been announced for next Tuesday’s WWE 205 Live episode as the first round of the 16-man tournament continues.
There is no word yet on when Drake may begin wrestling for WWE.
Source: WrestlingINC
Backstage News On WWE Signing Jeremy Borash, What He Will Be Working On, Big Change To Impact Plans
As noted, WWE has signed veteran Impact Wrestling employee Jeremy Borash to a deal. PWInsider reports that the hire was a Triple H decision and that Borash will be working with WWE NXT and the WWE Performance Center.
There’s no word yet on when Borash will start with WWE but it could be at Thursday’s NXT TV tapings from Center Stage in Atlanta. There had been some speculation on Borash being hired for the Matt Hardy storyline as he played a big part in the original “Broken” storyline in TNA but it does not appear that he was brought in for that, but he could always be put to work on the storyline down the road.
We noted before that Borash did voiceover commentary for Impact last week and filmed Impact content at the House of Hardcore show in Philadelphia, which appeared to be his final duties for the company. Borash’s departure will be changing Impact plans in a major way as there had been plans to move Josh Mathews into more of a character role in the storylines as the “spiritual advisor” of Matt Sydal, which started at the recent TV tapings. Officials then planned for Borash and Don Callis to be the new Impact announce team but the departure changes all of that. There’s no word yet on who might call Impact action with Callis or what Impact will do with any in-ring content that Borash had not already did voiceovers for. As we noted earlier, Borash’s departure is seen as a major loss for Impact as he could always be counted on when the company needed something done.
Source: WrestlingINC
WWE 205 Live Preview 1/30/18
Tonight’s WWE 205 Live will take place from the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia as the road to WrestleMania has begun.
* Who will be the new WWE 205 Live General Manager?
* Tonight the new WWE 205 Live GM will address the WWE Cruiserweight Championship and the future of the division
* How can TJP change his luck?
SmackDown Live Preview 1/30/18
Tonight’s WWE SmackDown Live will take place from the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia with more Royal Rumble Fallout as the road to WrestleMania has begun.
* The Road to WrestleMania kicks off for Styles & Nakamura
* Who will be next in line for a United States Championship opportunity?
* What’s next for The Usos?
* How will Ronda Rousey’s arrival affect the women of Team Blue?
WWE Announces First-Ever Women’s Elimination Chamber Match
Last night on RAW, RAW Commissioner Stephanie McMahon announced that the first-ever women’s Elimination Chamber match will take place at the Chamber pay-per-view next month.
The only Chamber participants we know as of now is RAW Women’s Champion Alexa Bliss with her title on the line.
Jeremy Borash Done With Impact Wrestling, Signs With WWE
WWE has hired longtime Impact Wrestling employee Jeremy Borash, according to PWInsider. Borash has given his notice to Impact and is done with the company.
Borash was backstage at WWE events in Philadelphia over the weekend but was telling people that he was just visiting friends. Word going around at RAW last night was that Borash has signed but there’s no word yet on what he will be doing with the company.
Borash did voiceover commentary work for upcoming Impact episodes this past Thursday and filmed Impact content at the House of Hardcore event in Philadelphia on Friday, apparently his final duties with Impact.
Borash has been with Impact since 2002, most recently working as the lead announcer. He has also worked as a producer, creative writer and backstage interviewer, among other jobs. Borash was seen as a MVP for the company as he could always be counted on and was described by PWI as the glue that held things together behind-the-scenes at times. Borash leaving is a major loss for the company.
Source: WrestlingINC
Backstage Updates On Rey Mysterio’s WWE Future And What’s Preventing A Deal
Rey Mysterio returned to WWE TV in the men’s Royal Rumble match on Sunday under a one-time deal. It was noted on Wrestling Observer Radio that the appearance could definitely end up being more dates but Rey is not going to work a full schedule. WWE and Rey have had on and off talks for the past year but the main issue has been WWE wanting Rey back under a full-time schedule.
The loud pops that Rey received did catch the attention of WWE officials, according to PWInsider. This is also helping the chances of WWE bringing him back for more dates.
WWE and Mysterio both went to great lengths to keep Sunday’s appearance a secret, as WWE did with Ronda Rousey and some of the other special appearances.
Rey remains a free agent as his Lucha Underground deal expired and his recent talks with Impact Wrestling ended without a deal. The talks with Impact, led by Konnan, were so close to coming to a deal that travel arrangements were made. There was talk of Impact getting Rey to debut at the recent TV tapings but officials wanted Rey to debut at their April tapings with the idea of his in-ring debut coming at the April 22nd Redemption pay-per-view.
It will be interesting to see if Rey’s future with WWE or Impact depends on a potential deal for his 21 year old son Dominick, who has appeared on WWE TV a few times over the years, as Rey has been training his son for a pro wrestling run as of late.
Source: WrestlingINC
Kenny Omega Explains Why He Refused To Sign With WWE
In an interview with Tokyo Sports (via SportsKeeda), Kenny Omega spoke about reuniting with Kota Ibushi as the Golden Lovers and why he didn’t sign with WWE. He also implied that he’s no longer part of the Bullet Club. Cody Rhodes turned on Omega at NJPW: New Beginning Day 2, following Omega’s loss to Jay White for the IWGP US Heavyweight title. Ibushi came out for the save, which led to the reunion.
Omega said: “The real Kenny is always at Kota’s side. If we aren’t together, there’s no point. I want us to change the world together. I took belts with Bullet Club, did a lot, but that was all the job. Golden Lovers transcends wrestling. This is real life. As long as there was a chance for this to happen, I wasn’t going to say goodbye to NJPW.”
Source: 411Mania
RAW Preview 1/29/18
Tonight’s WWE RAW will take place from the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia with the fallout from Sunday’s Royal Rumble pay-per-view as the road to WrestleMania has begun.
* Will Raw get “Rowdy”?
* Can The Miz carry the Intercontinental Title all the way to WrestleMania?
* How will Seth Rollins respond to last night’s defeat?
* What havoc will Braun Strowman wreak?
