Category: Wrestling News

Matt Hardy Hopes To Return to WWE, Says Jeff Hardy Wants To Prove He’s Changed

In an interview with Busted Open Radio (via Fightful), Matt Hardy spoke about he and his brother Jeff winding down their careers and noted that he hopes they end up back in WWE. Here are highlights:

On how he wants their careers to end: “I would like to do TNA and have a hell of a run there, and then I almost feel like now, just the destiny has revealed itself in many ways, I almost feel Jeff and I, we end up returning to WWE, do something small and then go onto the Hall of Fame. That’s a best case scenario.”

On Jeff Hardy wanting to prove himself: “That’s a great question. I think Jeff really wanted to come back to TNA to continue to build equity, and he knows that TNA and WWE are working together. I have friends in the WWE, I have spoken with people in WWE. So I think Jeff just wants to once again just show people how he is a different human being. The way to put equity into that is to go to TNA, have a kickass run, and show people he’s on his best behavior.”

Source: 411Mania

Rossy Ogawa’s Marigold Promotion Announces WWE Star Iyo Sky For Match At Summer Destiny Event

Rossy Ogawa’s new promotion Marigold has kicked off with a bang following the Fields Forever event at Korakuen Hall on May 20, and is currently embarking on its Grand Opening Wars Tour. However, the company’s next major event, Summer Destiny, on July 13 has just gotten a lot bigger, as a former WWE Women’s Champion has been announced for the card.

At the end of the company’s most recent show, Ogawa took to the microphone to inform Utami Hayashishita that he had finally found an opponent for her on July 13, before playing a video on the Korakuen Hall big screen that revealed IYO Sky. The WWE star told Hayashishita that she wants to write history in a Marigold ring, and that she can’t wait for her return to Japan, before the official match graphic was revealed.

The match has been given the title of “Queen of Queen” given that both Sky and Hayashishita are both former leaders of the Queen’s Quest faction in STARDOM. Sky, then known as Io Shirai, was the founding leader forming the group back in 2016 with HZK and Momo Watanabe. Once she left to join WWE in 2018, Watanabe led the group and brought Hayashishita in as an associate, before making her an official member towards the end of 2018. Hayashishita would take charge as leader in 2022, and would remain in that position until her departure from STARDOM in April 2024. July 13 will also be Sky’s first match in her home country in six years, as she has not performed in Japan since joining WWE in 2018. WWE last traveled to Japan in 2019 for a pair of live events in Ryogoku Sumo Hall in Tokyo, with Sky being part of the “NXT” roster at the time. 

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Half-Hour Wrestling Sitcom In The Works At FX

Between the seven hours of WWE programming, the five hours of AEW programming, and all of the other wrestling companies that have managed to get themselves television deals, there looks to be another TV show on the horizon based on the world of pro wrestling.

According to “Fightful Select,” a pitch was recently sold to the FX network of having a half-hour sitcom based on pro wrestling. The show, which has yet to be given a name, is said to be set in the Los Angeles independent scene, with the direction of the show being a cross between the 2008 drama “The Wrestler” and the 1993 stoner comedy “Dazed and Confused.”

Luke Hawx, who has balanced his life as a wrestler and actor over the last decade working as a consultant for the show “Heelz,” is reportedly set to be a part of the project. Aside from wrestling movies and shows, Hawx has also landed roles in “The Fast and The Furious” and “Logan.” He previously worked for the NWA as recently as 2022 and has wrestled several dark and squash matches in WWE. Many other wrestlers are set to be involved in the project with a strong incentive to use real wrestlers for the show as it will be set in the modern day.

“Fightful” also spoke to Adair Cole, who was involved in adapting the 2011 film “Warrior” into an upcoming series on Paramount+. As a lifelong wrestling fan, Cole is very excited about getting the project off the ground. Cole also revealed that he will be attending GCW’s Hit Em Up event in Los Angeles on June 15, where he will be happy to interact with anyone with questions about the project.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Sting’s Son Reportedly Training To Be A Professional Wrestler

WWE Hall of Famer and former AEW World Tag Team Champion Sting retired earlier this year, wrestling his last match not only alongside Darby Allin but also his sons Steven and Garrett. Sting’s sons dressed up as versions of their father’s past, with Garrett playing “Surfer Sting” and Steven playing “Wolfpac Sting,” and it seems getting in the ring has lit a fire for the business under at least one of them.

Fightful Select is reporting that Steven Borden is currently training with Allin for a possible career in professional wrestling. Allin revealed the information in an interview set to be released on Thursday. Allin has a ring in his backyard, and the appearance at AEW Revolution inspired Sting’s scion to pursue wrestling training — Steven is said to be sleeping in Darby’s front yard in a tent while he trains. Steven, a college football player, had previously said he was hesitant about joining pro wrestling, calling his future in the business “murky,” but had noted the emotional high”he got from performing for fans.

Sting and Allin were ultimately successful at Revolution thanks to the help from the Bordens, defeating Matt and Nick Jackson in Sting’s final match. Sting and Allin then relinquished their World Tag Team Championship, which ended up back in the hands of The Jacksons at AEW Dynasty after they defeated FTR in a ladder match for the vacant titles, thanks to an assist by the returning Jack Perry.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

The Tonga Twins Announce Free Agency – ‘F**k WOW’

The Tonga Twins (Kaoz and Kona) recently announced on Twitter that they are no longer associated with WOW – Women of Wrestling.

However, the duo has refrained from disclosing the exact reasons for their departure.

In their Twitter post, the Tonga Twins referred to the promotion as “evil” and alleged that they have interfered with their family matters. The twins wrote,

“We will be speaking out soon
But for now will leave it here,

To all the woman who are scared to speak up we stand for you ! You will no longer see us on WOW because we spoke up !

You cant do this to GOOD PEOPLE WHO SACRIFICE THEIR FAMILY !!! So Evil

Mess with us you mess with our KIDS and family and that’s PERSONAL
Wait on it ….he Tong

Tonga Twins are now free agents !!!!!

The marathon continues

-Tonga Twins
Is us

#f**kWOW”

You can also check out the preview clip and lineup for this weekend’s WOW Season 2 Episode 35 below:

* Adriana Gambino vs. Princess Aussie* Goldie Collins and Katarina Jinx vs. The Mother Truckers* Penelope Pink vs. Americana* Coach Campanelli vs. Sasha Sparks

Source: eWn

Ric Flair Comments On Restaurant Incident, Says He Should Have Left Before He Got Mad

It’s only Wednesday, but the saga of Ric Flair and his not-so-excellent adventure at a Gainesville, Florida Piesanos Stove Oven Pizza restaurant has continued to generate headlines. The story first came to light on Monday when Flair took to social media to complain about the establishment throwing him out. This was followed by accusations from a neighboring Piesanos manager that Flair was “drunk and disorderly,” and the release of video footage on Tuesday showing Flair angrily confronting Piesanos staff.

@bussines11.11

@Ric Flair® #viral #ricflair ric flair at paisanos drunk and high on coca cola.

♬ original sound – bussines11.11

The story continued to evolve on Wednesday, when Flair gave his account to “The Gainesville Sun,” and even suggested he could pursue legal action against Piesanos. Flair’s tone was a little softer later on Wednesday, however, when he was contacted by the “MJ Morning Show” for his account of the situation. Flair provided additional details he hadn’t included earlier, claiming his stepdaughter left the place due to feeling “scared,” because of how strong the Piesanons staff came across. He again confirmed that an altercation with a kitchen worker escalated his behavior.

“When I’m put in an area where I’m uncomfortable…I got upset,” Flair said. “It caught me off guard because we were having a wonderful time.”

Despite that, Flair did admit that he should’ve departed from the restaurant before losing his cool. Flair also noted that, even after everything that happened, he would later order food from Piesanos that night, which he said was delivered to him by Uber Eats at around 6 p.m. In a stark contrast from his tone earlier in the day, Flair praised the restaurant, noting that they have “great food.”

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Ric Flair Was Reportedly Drunk In Restaurant Incident – ‘Woo’d Directly Into A Blind Grandmother’s Face’

WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair recently took to Twitter to claim that he was asked to leave Piesonas, a major restaurant chain in Florida, after spending $1500 on a meal.

The WWE Hall of Famer explained that he had an issue with the kitchen manager taking too long in the bathroom, which led to the incident.

In response to the claim, Piesonas co-owner Jerry Roberts provided a statement to The Gainesville Sun, clarifying the circumstances that led to the Flair’s unceremonious departure from the restaurant. He noted that he reviewed the security footage and was proud of the way his staff handled the situation.

Word often spreads quickly among restaurant chains that are in close prominently to each other, and the manager of a sister location of the Piesanos Stone Fired Pizza a few miles down the road has taken to Twitter to provide additional context on why Flair was kicked out of the restaurant.

According to the manager, Flair was “being drunk and disorderly” and at one point “woo’d directly into a blind grandmothers face.”

The manager went on to add that Flair “picked up furniture and swung it menacingly” after being confronted by the staff. He wrote,

“I’m the manager of @PiesanosSFP sister location off Archer. Mr Flair was being drunk and disorderly. He woo’d directly into a blind grandmothers face. After being confronted he picked up furniture and swung it menacingly. We love Ric. But he was booger’d”

Source: eWn

Nic Nemeth Captures Vacant AAA Mega Title At Triplemania XXXII

Nic Nemeth’s post-WWE career has found him uniting two unlikely promotions: NJPW and AAA. Already the IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion in New Japan Pro-Wrestling, Nemeth competed against Alberto El Patron for the vacant AAA Mega Championship at AAA Triplemania XXXII: Monterrey on Saturday.

Nemeth was successful in his challenge, capturing the title, despite being a champion in NJPW, who has a partnership with AAA’s rival promotion CMLL. The animosity between the two promotions has caused trouble with AEW in North America, as AEW has a partnership with NJPW, but has AAA contracted talent like Rey Fenix and Penta El Ciero Miedo on the roster, leading to those talents not being able to work cross promotional shows like AEWxNJPW Forbidden Door. The AAA Mega Championship was vacant because former champion El Hijo Del Vikingo underwent surgery for a knee injury in March, after holding the title for over 800 days. There is no word on when Vikingo will return.

Nemeth was released from WWE in September 2023, after WWE and UFC finalized the merger to become TKO Group Holdings. After his non-compete clause was expired, Nemeth appeared in NJPW and TNA before finding his way to AAA. The former World Heavyweight Champion dethroned IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion David Finlay earlier this year after debuting at Wrestle Kingdom 18, the second champion in the belt’s young lineage. The title was created to replace the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship, which had been dubbed the IWGP United Kingdom Heavyweight Champion by Will Ospreay before the belt was retired in favor of the Global Title.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Freddie Prinze Jr. Provides An Update On His Planned Wrestling Promotion

Actor Freddie Prinze Jr. is more than just a wrestling fan, having previously worked in WWE as a writer. The “I Know What You Did Last Summer” star is also in the process of starting his own wrestling promotion, and Prinze offered an update on the project’s status on a recent episode of “Wrestling With Freddie.”

“I’m at the point now where we’re out pitching,” Prinze said. “I pitched to one place [and] it’s still actively out there. They haven’t said yes, they haven’t said no. The fact that they’re still talking about it is a good thing.”

Prinze said he was unable to reveal the companies he’s talked to about airing the promotion but promised to keep his listeners updated with both good and bad news as it comes. The actor has discussed the proposed wrestling promotion with at least two media companies, and he has four more meetings on the books.

There is footage shot to serve as a proof of concept, with Prinze stating that one company he’s met with had reached out to him for a meeting based on what they had seen. It was said to be a long and productive meeting, with the media company asking many relevant questions, and Prinze feels confident regarding their interest in the promotion.

As far as what would set his promotion apart from AEW and WWE, Prinze said that the lineup of wrestlers will be the main factor, stating he wants to offer a platform for performers to “get over.” However, there will be other noticeable differences, only some of which he can tease before the show becomes a reality.

“The look of it will be much different than AEW and WWE,” Prinze continued. “I would say I’m somewhere in-between what WWE and AEW are doing.”

Prinze also cited the defunct wrestling series “Lucha Underground” as an inspiration. Specifically, Prinze stated that he enjoyed how the performers interacted with the space around them, which is something he hopes to bring to his promotion.

In the past, the aspiring promoter revealed that his promotion would differ from WWE by offering death matches. Additionally, before the late Bray Wyatt’s return to WWE in 2022, Prinze had made an offer to Wyatt to join the promotion. At the time, Prinze acknowledged that he would be unable to match WWE financially and it was an unlikely prospect for him to land Wyatt for the fledgling idea.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

New QR Code Teaser Shown On WWE SmackDown

During the 4/19 edition of WWE SmackDown, a QR code appeared on screen as Triple H was making his way to the ring.

When scanned, the code links to a secret page on the WWE website, with an image that appears to contain a hidden link to another page entirely.

I SET THEM FREE

OUT OF THE MIRY CLAY

OPENED THEIR EYES

WHILE YOU DID NOTHING.

There is plenty of speculation that this is another tease for the return of Uncle Howdy, following a similar tease on RAW.

The end of the Bray Wyatt: Becoming Immortal documentary on Peacock showed a glimpse of Wyatt’s lantern, along with the figure of Howdy standing behind it.

Uncle Howdy, who was portrayed by Bo Dallas in late 2022 and early 2023, debuted in the company alongside Bray Wyatt following a series of similar teases, in what would be Wyatt’s final appearances before his tragic passing last October.

Source: WrestleView