Category: NXT

Solo Sikoa Is Reportedly Moving Up To The main Roster

Solo Sikoa could be the latest member of the Anoa’i family to join WWE’s main roster full-time. PWInsider is reporting that the son of Rikishi, cousin of Roman Reigns, and brother of Jimmy and Jey Uso is expected to be promoted from “NXT 2.0” as soon as possible, and it could happen as early as this month if all goes according to plan.

If the report is accurate, Sikoa will also join the “SmackDown” brand alongside Reigns and the Usos. While no plans have been confirmed yet, the rumored brand coupled with Sikoa’s family heritage makes him a perfect fit for The Bloodline, but that’s all speculation for the time being. That said, Sikoa previously discussed creative plans that WWE had for him, noting that the company was eager to fast-track him to the main roster and pair him with his brothers before he’d even debuted on TV.

Sikoa has been absent from “NXT 2.0” recently while he recovers from a sprained PCL. WWE announced the setback on the episode that aired on August 9, just days after the rising star’s last in-ring encounter with Von Wagner. The good news, however, is that the 29-year-old is expected to be fully healed within four to six weeks. The Superstar took to social media after the announcement and claimed that he’d be back in action soon, stating that the “knee injury ain’t nothing!” The forecast for Sikoa’s comeback from injury aligns with the reported timing of his main roster debut, but WWE has been known to change its creative plans.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Multiple Main Roster Superstars Stop By NXT Ahead Of Worlds Collide

What might well be the busiest wrestling weekend of the year is almost upon us. WWE’s biggest UK show for three decades, an NXT vs. NXT UK supershow the next day, and then AEW All Out to close the weekend. NXT had just one more show to get all its ducks in a row for Worlds Collide on Tuesday, and it utilized plenty of main roster stars to get that done.

Some of the main rosters stars who made NXT cameos on Tuesday did so in an attempt to light fires under the various stars competing for multiple titles this weekend. Bron Breakker was warned not to underestimate Tyler Bate by Finn Balor, while Ciampa attempted to remind the champ just how much the NXT Title should mean to him.

Bate had a visitor of his own. Well, visitor via satellite, Rock-style. Finlay handed Bate a tablet on which his fellow Big Strong Boy Butch was waiting to chat. The man formerly known as Pete Dunne told Bate to unify the titles for NXT UK, a brand which will officially be laid to rest after Worlds Collide, paving the way for NXT Europe.

As for the women, Mandy Rose was paid a visit by Shayna Baszler. Baszler was less motivational and more threatening, labeling Rose a lesser champion than she was. Rhea Ripley also returned, backing Blair Davenport. None of the names mentioned so far will actually be competing at Worlds Collide. A few other stars from Raw and SmackDown will be, though.

After picking up a win on Tuesday night, NXT Tag Champions Kayden Carter and Katana Chance were confronted by Nikki ASH and Doudrop. It was confirmed later in the night that they will compete for the titles at Worlds Collide. Ricochet will also be on the show as he returned to NXT this week to challenge Carmelo Hayes for the North American Title. A championship Ricochet has held before, and is hoping to hold again come Sunday.

Source: TheSportster

WWE NXT 2.0 Preview 8/30/2022

WWE NXT 2.0 airing tonight on USA Network at 8/7C.

Worlds will collide this Sunday at 4 p.m. ET, when “NXT 2.0” and “NXT UK” do battle. The “Worlds Collide” event will be a highly charged occasion for the UK-based brand, who will officially close their doors following this weekend’s tussle, with an expansion and relaunch set to occur next year as “NXT Europe.” However, before the two brands mix it up in five days’ time, a huge “NXT 2.0” vs. “NXT UK” encounter will go down on tonight’s episode at the WWE Performance Center. 

Velveteen Dream Arrested Twice In The Space Of Six Days

The former WWE Superstar has been charged with trespassing, battery, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Patrick Clark, better known to wrestling fans as Velveteen Dream, has been out of the spotlight ever since he was released by WWE in May 2021. Well, actually, he’s been out of it for a little longer than as his last match in the company came five months prior. Dream is back in wrestling headlines this week, but for all the wrong reasons.

As reported by F4W Online, Dream has been arrested not once, but twice for two very different reasons this month. In fact, the two arrests were just six days apart. According to Orange County, Florida’s court records, Clark was arrested and charged with trespassing and battery on August 20. An arraignment for those charges was originally set to take place on September 28, but that has since been canceled.

Six days later on August 26, Clark was arrested again, this time for possession of drug paraphernalia. Clark’s photo showed up on a website called Orlando Mugshots, revealing the charges made against him. The former WWE Superstar has since paid bond for his release and has also pleaded not guilty to the battery and trespassing charges brought against him.

Clark showed a lot of promise as Velveteen Dream when performing under the NXT banner. His age combined with his talent made it seem likely he would be a huge star on the main roster for years to come. That trajectory was derailed when some serious allegations were made against Clark. The wrestler was alleged to have sent explicit photos to underage fans.

WWE claims to have conducted an investigation into the allegation, reporting back that it discovered no wrongdoing by Clark. His time with the company had already been irreparably damaged by that point, and Clark’s last outing as Dream was a losing effort against Adam Cole in December of 2020. News of the above arrests comes just days after Clark restarted his campaign to be rehired by WWE.

Source: TheSportster

WWE NXT 2.0 Preview 8/23/22

WWE NXT 2.0 airs live tonight on USA Network at 8/7C.

Toxic Attraction Removed From Tag Title Tournament Due To Gigi Dolin Concussion

Fans had been waiting months for WWE to announce what it had planned for the Women’s Tag Titles after Sasha Banks and Naomi handed them over and walked out. It took Vince McMahon retiring for those plans to be put in place. A tournament to decide who the new champions will be. However, as that tournament nears its end, it has been wrought with issues.

Last Friday, as Nikkita Lyons and Zoey Stark prepared to make their main roster debuts, WWE revealed the NXT duo would not be competing in the tournament. Stark is legitimately injured, and Lyons is too apparently though whether that’s the case or not remains up in the air. Toxic Attraction replaced the pair and defeated Natalya and Sonya Deville to progress.

Three days later, the high Gigi Dolin and Jacy Jayne were likely riding after debuting on SmackDown and winning their first match has come crashing down. Right before Raw went live on Monday, WWE revealed that Toxic Attraction, who were replacements themselves, will now need to be replaced. WWE reported Dolin suffered an injury on SmackDown, and it has since been revealed (via Wrestling Observer Radio) that injury was a concussion.

It was a little unclear how exactly WWE would fill a tournament for the Tag Titles when there aren’t that many women’s teams to begin with. That reality has really hit home with yet another replacement needed. Instead of finding another team, the four duos who lost their first round bouts will get a second chance match. The Four-Way tag team bout will take place this Friday on SmackDown.

Elsewhere in the bracket, Iyo Sky and Dakota Kai booked their spot in the final on Raw last night. Raquel Gonzalez and Aliyah are the other team left in, and they will face the winner of the 4-way match. When exactly that second semifinal, and then the final, will take place is unclear. Probably not at Clash at the Castle since Sky and Kai are already booked in a different match that night.

Source: TheSportster

Shawn Michaels promoted to WWE Vice President of Talent Development Creative

Shawn Michaels has been given a promotion in WWE.

Following his retirement in 2010 after losing to The Undertaker at WrestleMania 26, “HBK” took time away from wrestling to be with his family and do other things while occasionally making appearances on WWE television.

Michaels started helping at the Performance Center in late 2016 before becoming a trainer for the finishing class alongside Terry Taylor the following year. In 2018, he started working as a writer and producer for the NXT brand alongside Triple H, who oversaw the creative of the brand.

Michaels stepped up in September 2021 when his good friend was sidelined due to health issues and started running the day-to-day operations of NXT and being in charge of creative.

As previously reported, WWE announced that NXT UK will be rebranded as NXT Europe starting in 2023. NXT UK will go on hiatus before the relaunch. NXT UK will be part of the premium live event, Worlds Collide, with NXT next month. 

Brandon Thurston of WrestleNomics pointed out that Michaels has been given a new title of WWE Vice President of Talent Development Creative.

Source: WrestlingNews.co

WWE NXT ‘Heatwave’ Preview

WWE NXT 2.0 presents its special “Heatwave” episode tonight at 8/7C on USA Network.

  • Bron Breakker vs. JD McDonagh for the NXT Championship
  • Mandy Rose vs. Zoey Stark for the NXT Women’s Championship
  • Roxanne Perez vs. Cora Jade
  • Giovanni Vinci vs. Carmelo Hayes for the NXT North American Championship
  • Santos Escobar vs. Tony D’Angelo in a Street Fight

WWE NXT Preview 8/9/22

Tonight on WWE NXT 2.0 at 8 pm ET on USA Network:

WWE NXT Preview 7/26/22

Tonight on WWE NXT 2.0 at 8 pm ET on USA Network: