Category: Wrestling News

Former WWE Superstar Brian Knobbs Hospitalized

Former WWE and WCW Tag Team Champion Brian Knobbs — best known as one half of The Nasty Boys — was rushed to a hospital earlier this week due to multiple medical issues.

On Wednesday, Knobbs’ friend Fred Jung set up a GoFundMe page to help the pro wrestling veteran with his medical expenses. According to Jung, Knobbs is dealing with “major stomach issues” and is presently undergoing tests to determine the severity of his illnesses.

Jung also informed that Knobbs’ “good knee has finally given out” and requires surgery. In 2019, Knobbs underwent a total knee replacement on his other knee.

Jung wrote, “Just yesterday, Brian was rushed by ambulance to the emergency ward where he is going through a battery of tests to determine the severity of his major stomach issues. His doctors have expressed extreme concern and told Brian that he will probably remain in the hospital for at least the next couple of months. Coupled with his stomach issues, Brian’s good knee has finally given out and requires a surgery if he hopes to walk again. Brian is a proud man who has tirelessly worked his entire life to be self-sufficient.”

As of this writing, the GoFundMe page has raised more than $7,500 out of the goal of $20,000.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Renee Paquette Teases Return To Wrestling Broadcasting, Says AEW Is An Option

Former WWE broadcaster Renee Paquette (Renee Young) has revealed that her lengthy non-compete clause is due to expire soon.

Former WWE broadcaster Renee Paquette (known in WWE as Renee Young) has hinted that she may soon be returning to the world of professional wrestling broadcasting due to the imminent expiration of the lengthy non-compete clause in her WWE contract.

Renee addressed her current career situation in a recent interview with WrestlingINC.

“My non-compete with WWE is nearly up,” Paquette said. “I don’t ever want to separate myself from professional wrestling. I know that’s where my fanbase comes from; I know that’s essentially going to always be my bread and butter — and I love that. I love professional wrestling, so I’m not looking to get away from it by any stretch,” she continued.

Despite being unable to immediately return to broadcasting Renee made the most of her time. After leaving WWE, she launched a new podcast called Oral Sessions, published a cookbook, and became a parent for the first time with her husband, AEW star Jon Moxley.

In the aforementioned WrestlingINC interview, Renee commented on the possibility of her once again merging her family and professional lives by linking up with Mox in AEW.

“Looking at AEW, I think there are endless opportunities of other things I could be doing over there if that was to be something that came up down the line,” she said. “I’ve honestly not put much thought into it. That’s interesting to be like, ‘Oh, wait! I can do wrestling things again!’”

Renee Paquette would be an asset for whichever company she decided to work for, as she proved during her eight years with WWE.

Source: TheSportster

Jim Cornette Remembering “Beautiful” Bobby Eaton

This week on the Experience, Jim pays tribute to the life and career of his friend, legendary Midnight Express member, “Beautiful” Bobby Eaton.



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Bobby Eaton Has Passed Away At The Age Of 62

Bobby Eaton, one half of the iconic tag team The Midnight Express, has sadly passed away at the age of just 62.

Bobby Eaton, famed for his time as one half of The Midnight Express, has passed away at the age of 62.

The wrestling world is waking up to the loss of another legend this morning. Bobby Eaton, one half of the iconic tag team The Midnight Express, has passed away at the age of just 62. Eaton’s sister confirmed the news on Facebook in the early hours of Thursday morning. What caused Eaton’s death is currently unknown.

“My Little Brother Beautiful Bobby Eaton passed away last night,” Eaton’s sister Debbie revealed on Facebook. Debbie posted a tribute to her late brother, also revealing Eaton’s daughter Taryn was the one who found him. A particularly tough time for the family as Taryn’s mom, Eaton’s wife Donna, only passed away a month ago, also aged 62.

While Eaton was also an incredibly talented singles wrestler, his most famous run in the business was as one half of The Midnight Express. Commonly referred to as one of the greatest tag teams in wrestling history, Eaton was the tandem’s mainstay throughout the team’s run. First alongside Dennis Condrey, and then partnered with Stan Lane after Eaton’s first partner departed JCP.

While Eaton’s stellar tag team work will always overshadow what he did as a part of The Midnight Express, it cannot be ignored. He may have never been a World Champion, but he did defeat Arn Anderson for the WCW TV Title in the early ’90s. Eaton even had the chance to be the one to break Goldberg’s legendary undefeated streak in WCW. Goldberg revealed that he pitched the idea to higher-ups, suggesting it happen off TV in Eaton’s hometown. They didn’t like the idea so it never happened.

While it is unclear what caused Eaton to pass away at this time, the former Tag Team Champion has reportedly been in poor health as of late. The wrestler suffered a bad fall last month which resulted in him being hospitalized. He was also hospitalized with heart issues back in 2019. Our thoughts go out to his family and friends at this time.

WWE issued a statement on Eaton’s passing:

WWE is saddened to learn that Bobby Eaton passed away at the age of 62.

A Huntsville, Alabama native, Eaton built a reputation as one of the greatest tag team wrestlers of all time during his nearly 40-year career. Eaton broke in at the age of 17 with NWA Mid-America and in just two years captured his first championship by teaming with Leapin’ Lanny Poffo to claim the NWA Mid-America Tag Team Titles.

After a stint with the Continental Wrestling Association, Eaton joined forces with Dennis Condrey to carry the torch for the memorable Midnight Express. “Beautiful” Bobby & “Lover Boy” Dennis quickly rose to prominence in Jim Crockett Promotions and won the NWA World Tag Team Titles from The Rock ‘n’ Roll Express. Following Condrey’s departure, Midnight Express carried on with “Sweet” Stan Lane teaming with Eaton for memorable rivalries against The Samoan S.W.A.T. Team, The Fabulous Freebirds, The Steiner Brothers and more on their way to a United States Tag Team Title reign.

Eaton would make a strong singles run following the departure of Lane and defeated Arn Anderson to win the World Television Championship at SuperBrawl I. An ensuing run with Rick Rude, Larry Zbyszko, Steve Austin and Anderson of The Dangerous Alliance culminated with a legendary double-ring War Games Match at WrestleWar 1992 against Sting’s Squadron. After stops with Smoky Mountain Wrestling and New Japan Pro-Wrestling, Eaton would return to WCW before competing on the independent circuit up until 2015.

Eaton amassed countless accolades during his career but perhaps none more meaningful than the impact he left on his peers with Mick Foley, Steve Austin and others having praised Eaton as one of the most underrated and nicest Superstars in the business.

WWE extends its condolences to Eaton’s family, friends and fans.

Networks Aren’t Happy About WWE Releasing Bray Wyatt [Report]

According to a report, WWE’s television partners aren’t pleased with the company’s decision to release veteran superstar Bray Wyatt.

Bray Wyatt’s unexpected release from the WWE on Saturday has caused plenty of confusion across the wrestling world.

On Saturday, WWE announced that they had let go of the two-time Universal Champion. It has since been reported that several within WWE, including multiple superstars, were frustrated and surprised by Wyatt’s release. Apparently, WWE’s television partners aren’t pleased with the move either.

According to Andrew Zarian of the Mat Men Pro Wrestling Podcast, there’s plenty of frustration from WWE’s networks regarding the company’s decision to let him go.

“Bray’s released is really disappointing and a little scary that top stars are being let go,” a network source told Zarian.

Wyatt was among the company’s top merchandise sellers, as well as one one of the longest-tenured WWE superstars on the roster. He had been with the company since 2009. Wyatt was renowned for the ability to reinvent his character time and time again. On top of that, it appeared as though Wyatt was about to return, making his release all the more perplexing.

Wyatt’s final WWE appearance came on the Apr. 12 episode of Monday Night Raw. Following his loss to Randy Orton at WrestleMania 37, Wyatt announced that he was seeking a fresh start.

Source: The Sportster

NXT Champion Karrion Kross Debuts On Raw, Loses To Jeff Hardy

NXT Champion Karrion Kross lost his debut match on Monday Night Raw thanks to wily WWE veteran Jeff Hardy.

Fall and pray! Or don’t, because NXT Champion Karrion Kross lost his debut match on Raw to WWE veteran Jeff Hardy.

It all went down on the latest edition of Monday Night Raw on USA Network which emanated live from the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. Kross’ imminent debut was announced earlier in the night without too much fanfare. Prior to his match, a brief hype package aired, and Kross then made his way to the ring — without Scarlett, his real-life partner who serves as his valet in NXT and plays a big part in his extravagant entrance.

The NXT Champion went one-on-one with Jeff Hardy, but the match didn’t last very long as the wily veteran Hardy pulled off a shock victory over the usually unstoppable Kross. The finish came when Kross dodged a Swanton Bomb and attempted to capitalize by hitting the presumably discombobulated Hardy in the back of the head with his trademark elbow blow. However, Jeff Hardy has missed hundreds of Swantons and it takes a lot more than that to mess him up. Hardy dodged the elbow and rolled Kross up. He used the ropes as leverage but the ref didn’t see, and so the dominant NXT Champion Karrion Kross lost his debut match on WWE’s flagship brand.

After the match, Kross was interviewed in the ring and put Jeff Hardy on notice, telling the former WWE Champion that he had just made the biggest mistake of his life.

Source: The Sportster

WWE Hall Of Famer Paul Orndorff Has Passed Away

WWE Hall of Famer Paul Orndorff has passed away at the age of 71. His son Travis revealed the news on Monday afternoon.

WWE Hall of Famer Paul Orndorff has passed away at the age of 71. His son Travis revealed the news on Instagram Monday.

Paul Orndorff, better known to some wrestling fans as Mr. Wonderful has passed away at the age of 71. His son Travis Orndorff revealed the news on Instagram early on Monday afternoon. While it remains unclear what caused the WWE Hall of Famer’s death at this time, Travis had let fans know his father was in poor health prior to his passing.

“It is with great sadness that I announce the passing of my father, Paul Parlette Orndorff Jr,” Travis wrote on Instagram. “Most of you will remember him for his physique. Many will remember his intensity. But if I could only get you to understand and see his heart.” You can check out Travis’s touching tribute to his father in full below.

Orndorff made a name for himself in the AWA before making the jump to WWE in the early 1980s. He battled and teamed with Hulk Hogan on a number of occasions during that time. However, the most notable of their battles came in the first-ever WrestleMania main event. Orndorff would team with fellow Hall of Famer Roddy Piper that night to take on Hogan and Mr. T. His time in WWE came to an end a few years after that, at which point Orndorff would sign for WCW.

Orndorff would eventually and deservedly return to the WWE fold so that he could be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Bobby Heenan, who Orndorff spent a lot of his time with both off and on-screen, was the man to induct him that night. That would be his final appearance in WWE until WrestleMania XXX where he appeared on-screen with the rest of the stars from WrestleMania’s first-ever main event.

Orndorff was a heel for much of his career, and a darn good one at that. As his son Travis puts it in the post above, “as much as many of you hated him as a wrestler, he absolutely loved you for it.” The mark of a true heel, and a huge loss to the wrestling business. Our thoughts go out to Travis and the rest of the Orndorff family at this time.

Several groups have paid tribute to the legendary Hall of Famer “Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndorff on Twitter this afternoon.

Mr. Wonderful never worked for TNA or Impact Wrestling but they remembered him on Twitter today.

They wrote, “We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of pro wrestling legend ‘Mr. Wonderful’ Paul Orndorff. We offer our sincere condolences to his friends and family.”

Orndorff also never worked for AEW but they remembered him in another tweet this afternoon.

“AEW joins the wrestling world in mourning the passing of a true legend, ‘Mr. Wonderful’ Paul Orndorff. Our thoughts are with his family, his friends and his fans,” AEW wrote.

The Cauliflower Alley Club paid tribute to Orndorff with two tweets.

“Everyone here at CAC is truly saddened at the news that the legendary Mr Wonderful Paul Orndorff has passed away at 71 years old. We send out our sincerest condolences to his family, friends and fans around the world. Rest in Peace Mr Wonderful and thank you for the memories,” they wrote, also posting a photo collage in a follow-up tweet.

WWE issued a lengthy statement on their website, as seen below:

“Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndorff passes away

WWE is saddened to learn that WWE Hall of Famer Paul Orndorff, known to fans as “Mr. Wonderful,” passed away at the age of 71.

Orndorff was a standout running back at the University of Tampa and joined Mid-Southern Wrestling after a brief stint in the World Football League. Early rivalries with Jerry Lawler, Ted Dibiase and Jake “The Snake” Roberts gave way to NWA North American Heavyweight and National Heavyweight Championship reigns.

Orndorff joined WWE in 1983 and was tabbed with the “Mr. Wonderful” nickname by his then-manager “Rowdy” Roddy Piper. With his awe-insipring in-ring style and umatched swagger, “Mr. Wonderful” turned his talent into a prototype for the modern-day Superstar. He made a memorable debut on January 23, 1984, with a win over Salvatore Bellomo at Madison Square Garden and launched right into the main event picture with matches against World Heavyweight Champion Hulk Hogan. Mr. Wonderful achieved sports-entertainment immortality by competing alongside Piper to face Hogan and Mr. T in the main event of WrestleMania I.

In the early 1990s, Mr. Wonderful began competing for WCW. It was here that Orndorff captured his first major championship when he defeated Erik Watts in a tournament final on March 2, 1993, to become Television Champion. Orndorff’s championship reigns did not stop there, however, as he was also a two-time WCW Tag Team Champion with Paul Roma in 1994.

When Orndorff’s in-ring days came to an end, the former master of the piledriver became a trainer for WCW’s Power Plant. As a trainer, Orndorff molded a generation of promising stars, including Mark Jindrak, Stacy Keibler and Goldberg.

WWE extends its condolences to Orndorff’s family and friends.

Mr. Wonderful began his pro wrestling career back in 1976. He had stints with WWE, WCW, SMW, Mid-South, the NWA, NJPW, and many other promotions. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005, the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2017, the NWA Hall of Fame in 2009, and the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2009. He was also an inductee into the University of Tampa’s Football Hall of Fame, Class of 1986.

A GoFundMe campaign was launched a few days ago to help prepare for Orndorff’s farewell. The campaign can be found here.

Sources: The Sportster and Wrestling Inc.

Terry Funk Reportedly Suffering From Dementia

WWE Hall of Famer Terry Funk is reportedly suffering from dementia.

It was noted on the latest edition of WWE Hall of Famer Don Muraco’s “Magnificent” podcast that Funk is in an assisted living home and is dealing with dementia. Muraco said Funk is still living in Amarillo, Texas, but is in an assisted living facility.

The health update on Funk was confirmed by PWInsider. Funk has been dealing with health issues for some time, which have gotten progressively worse over the last year following the passing of his wife Vickie in 2019.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Former WWE Star ‘The Patriot’ Del Wilkes Passes Away At

Former WWE star ‘The Patriot ‘ Del Wilkes — most famous for his 1997 feud with Bret Hart — has tragically passed away at the age of 59.

Former WWE Superstar ‘The Patriot’ Del Wilkes has tragically passed away a the age of 59 according to a report from Mike Mooneyham in the Charleston Post & Courier.

Wilkes was born and raised in South Carolina and has a successful college football career in his home state as one of USC’s Gamecocks. When his football career came to an end, he pursued professional wrestling and went on to work for WCW and WWE, and All Japan Pro Wrestling.

To wrestling fans, Wilkes is best known for his two stints in WWE. Wilkes first began working with WWE in 1991 but parted ways with the company the following year. He rejoined WWE in 1997 but left again in 1998.

Wilkes often performed as his patriotic alter ego ‘The Patriot’ who wore a mask emblazoned with the stars and stripes and carried the American flag. Wilkes also used a rousing entrance theme that would later be repurposed for another American hero, Kurt Angle.

In 1997 while performing as his patriotic alter ego, Wilkes challenged the anti-American Bret Hart for the WWF World Heavyweight Championship at Ground Zero: In Your House where Hart forced him to submit with the Sharpshooter.

In a 2019 episode of his Something To Wrestle With podcast, WWE executive Bruce Prichard spoke about how Wilkes’ relationship with WWE came about.

“I called Del,” Prichard revealed. “His deal in Japan was coming to an end, and he was getting ready to renegotiate. I said, ‘Before you do that, come up and talk to us.’ So, Del came up, and Vince really liked him and thought, ‘With this Patriot gimmick, with everything we have going, this may be one of those situations where we can bring a guy in, slide him right in on top,” he added. “He had the look. He could work. And let’s try it out. And that’s how Del came in at the time, and Jim Cornette was a big proponent for Del. Jim also was a Del Wilkes fan and thought The Patriot coming in would also be a good opponent for Bret. So, that’s how all that happened.”

WWE Comments:

Del Wilkes, known to WWE fans as The Patriot, passes away

WWE is saddened to learn that Del Wilkes, known to WWE fans as The Patriot, has passed away at the age of 59.

Before making a name for himself in the squared circle, Wilkes was a standout on the football field for the University of South Carolina, where he earned the distinction of being voted a consensus All-American. After making the switch to sports-entertainment, Wilkes competed all over the world before arriving in WWE in 1997 as The Patriot.

A Superstar quickly on the rise, The Patriot proudly donned the red, white and blue of America in the midst of a rivalry with The Hart Foundation, leading to a memorable match against Bret Hart for the WWE Championship at In Your House: Ground Zero just two months after his WWE debut.

WWE extends its condolences to Wilkes’ family and friends.

Wilkes began wrestling in 1988, and had runs with WWE, WCW, AWA, promotions in Japan, and more. He is a former two-time WCW World Tag Team Champion, and a former AWA World Tag Team Champion. Wilkes last wrestled for WWE in October 1997, losing to WWE Hall of Famer Jim Neidhart on Shotgun Saturday Night. He was released in early 1998.

Wilkes leaves behind a wife of more than 40 years, named Cathy. He retired from pro wrestling due to a triceps injury, shortly after leaving WWE. Wilkes had worked for the past 16 years as a car salesman in Columbia, South Carolina, but still made the occasional wrestling-related signing or appearance.

Sources: The Sportster and Wrestling Inc.

Renee Paquette Announces The Birth Of Her And Jon Moxley’s First Child

Renee Paquette has revealed she has given birth. Congratulations to her and Jon Moxley on the arrival of their first child.

Shortly after Renee Paquette, better known to many fans as Renee Young, parted ways with WWE, she announced that she was pregnant. Paquette is married to former AEW Champion Jon Moxley and this marks the first child the two of them have had together. In fact, the arrival of the little girl will be both Paquette and Moxley’s first child, together or otherwise.

Paquette has launched her own podcast since leaving WWE named Oral Sessions. In recent weeks, Paquette has shared just how pregnant she is right now, hoping that the baby will come any day now. She even posted evidence on Instagram recently. Well, Paquette wasn’t wrong, as she and Moxley are now officially parents.

Paquette took to Twitter on Tuesday morning to reveal that her daughter has finally arrived. “Baby girl is officially here, so I’m checking out and becoming a mom,” the former announcer tweeted. Paquette added “she’s absolutely incredible” implying all went well with the birth and that the new addition is doing okay. Interestingly, despite previously claiming to have revealed her daughter’s name on the podcast, Paquette refers to her as baby girl, implying she and Moxley are yet to decide on a name.

https://twitter.com/ReneePaquette/status/1404808281655332874

Other than to let the world know Baby Paquette/Moxley is here, Renee also wanted to let fans know what will be happening to Oral Sessions in the immediate future. Knowing that she would be missing a period of time while she looks after her new arrival, Paquette reveals that she has pre-recorded a bunch of shows with guest hosts. The first is Moxley whose Ask Mox episode is available right now.

Source: The Sportster