The following is scheduled for tonight’s 3/29 episode of NXT, the last episode before NXT TakeOver: Orlando.
* Loser Leaves NXT: Kassius Ohno vs. Elias Samson
* Dash Wilder vs. Johnny Gargano vs. Akam
* Heavy Machinery (Tucker Knight and Otis Dozovic) vs. Mike Marshall and Johnathan Ortagun
The following is scheduled for tonight’s 3/22 episode of WWE NXT:
Loser Leaves NXT: Elias Samson vs. Kassius Ohno
SAnitY vs. Roderick Strong, Tye Dillinger & No Way Jose
Andrade “Cien” Almas vs. Oney Lorcan
The Authors of Pain have ran roughshod through the NXT tag team division since their debut at NXT: The End last June. Since then, they dominated American Alpha, won the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, and defeated DIY for the NXT Tag Team Championship.
However, there is one person who does not believe that this resume is very impressive.
When Chris Featherstone spoke to Road Warrior Animal at an independent wrestling event recently, he did not have the fondest words to say about the Authors of Pain. In fact, he said that he felt sorry for his former manager Paul Ellering.
“I talk to Paul all the time,” Animal said. “I feel bad for him because of that team he’s managing. They’re green. You gotta start somewhere, but [man]. The only problem is, when you start managing two big guys, everybody’s gonna compare them to Hawk and I. It’s an unfair comparison. It’s like trying to compare a singles guy to Bruno Sammartino. You can’t. Bruno is Bruno. The Rock’s the Rock. They’ll never be another Rock. They’ll never be another Road Warriors ever. That’s the problem [WWE] is having now in the company. They [also] have the Ascension coming out, and the Ascension are [trying to be like the Road Warriors].”
Animal finds Ellering managing the Authors of Pain to be a negative comparison to managing the Road Warriors. In his eyes, the WWE is trying to recapture the moment of a dominant big man tag team, and using Ellering as the conduit to make it happen again. Thankfully, for the Authors of Pain, they do not look anything like the Road Warriors. The Ascension, however, is a much stronger comparison.
You can hear the full interview on the Pancakes and Powerslams podcast by clicking here.
Source: WrestlingINC
Rusev underwent shoulder surgery on March 9th. Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports that he is scheduled to be out of action for around two months, which means he will miss WrestleMania 33 in Orlando.
It appears Rusev was injured before his March 5th WWE Fastlane loss to Big Show as he’s needed the surgery for some time. The surgery is why he lost to Big Show and why the team with Jinder Mahal was quickly ended. Rusev’s absence may lead to more ring time for Lana as his injury is why she was sent back to WWE NXT and the WWE Performance Center last week.
Source: WrestlingINC
The “Loser Leaves WWE NXT” match between Elias Samson and Kassius Ohno appears to be on for next Wednesday’s episode. Below is video of Dasha Fuentes interviewing Ohno after his loss to NXT Champion Bobby Roode tonight. Ohno is talking about how he didn’t anticipate starting out his return with a disappointing loss when Samson appears singing a song to taunt Ohno. Ohno says Samson needs an ass kicking but Samson doesn’t believe Ohno belongs in NXT. This leads to Ohno challenging Samson to the match for next week.
Source: WrestlingINC
NXT Championship: (C) Bobby Roode vs. Kassius Ohno
Tye Dillinger, No Way Jose and Roderick Strong vs. SAnitY
The Authors of Pain vs. The Ealy Twins
According to The Wrestling Observer Newsletter, STARDOM’s Kairi Hojo (age 28) has signed a three-year deal with WWE. She will head to Orlando in April to start with NXT (Nakamura has been pushing for her to come to NXT for several months). Hojo was one of STARDOM’s top acts, winning the Artist of Stardom Championship three times, Goddess of Stardom Championship three times, Wonder of Stardom Championship one time, World of Stardom Championship one time, and won the 5★Star GP tournament in 2015 as well as the Goddesses of Stardom Tag League in 2016.
She had told Stardom officials that she had turned down the WWE offer months ago, and told them that she was staying with them. She has two titles and Stardom wants to her drop the titles before she leaves. The company felt that they were misled by Hojo through all this.
Source: 411Mania
The following is scheduled for tonight’s 3/8 episode of WWE NXT on WWE Network:
Shinsuke Nakamura vs. TJ Perkins
Will the WWE Performance Center confrontation between Peyton Royce, Billie Kay and Amber Moon lead to further drama?
Ember Moon vs. Billie Kay
NXT Tag Team Championship: (C) The Authors of Pain vs. DIY
NXT Women’s Championship: (C) Asuka vs Peyton Royce
The Patrick Clark Experience come to NXT
The following is scheduled for tonight’s 2/22 NXT on the WWE Network:
#1 Contender’s Match: Peyton Royce vs. Ember Moon vs. Liv Morgan
WWE UK Tournament rematch: Pete Dunne vs. Mark Andrews
Non-Title Match: NXT Champion Bobby Roode vs. No Way Jose
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