NXT, tonight at 8 ET on WWE Network
* NXT Champion Johnny Gargano vs. Roderick Strong
* NXT Tag Team Champions The Viking Raiders vs. The Street Profits (Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins)
* Aliyah & Vanessa Borne vs. Candice LeRae & A Mystery Partner
* Jaxson Ryker vs. Humberto Carrillo
WWE has officially confirmed the signings of Shane Strickland and Garza Jr.
The company made the announcement via social media and on their website.
Strickland — who performed for Lucha Underground under the name Killshot and for MLW — announced last month that his time on the independent wrestling scene was coming to an end. His final indie match went down at WrestleCon’s Pancakes and Piledrivers event on April 6.
Strickland and Garza will report for duty at the Performance Center in Orlando.
KUSHIDA, whose signing was already announced, has also begun training at the WWE PC.
Check out NXT’s announcement below.
Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet
NXT, streaming tonight at 8pm ET on WWE Network
* All or nothing for Kairi Sane – NXT Women’s Championship: (C) Shayna Baszler vs. Kairi Sane
* NXT North American Championship: (C) The Velveteen Dream vs. Buddy Murphy
* New NXT Champion Johnny Gargano will be in the house
WWE NXT Superstar Punishment Martinez is being given a new name and character – Damien Priest.
The “even darker character” change for the former ROH TV Champion was revealed in the new WWE developmental profile from Sports Business Journal. It was noted that he will receive new outfits, new entrance music and a new persona.
Martinez told SBJ that the new gimmick is a perfect fit for him.
“I’ve always been into the weird, the odd, the dark, so that’s the character I’ve always represented,” he said.
The new name for Punishment has not been reflected on the WWE roster or social media. There’s no word yet on when he will start using the new gimmick at NXT live events. Punishment signed with WWE in October 28 and later made his debut as a heel. He has received rave reviews since arriving.
Source: Wrestling Inc.
New WWE NXT Superstar KUSHIDA made his in-ring TV debut at this week’s NXT tapings from Full Sail University. He wrestled Kassius Ohno in a match that could air on May 1 or May 8.
As noted, WWE announced that Triple H and NXT General Manager William Regal had signed the 35 year old former IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion during WrestleMania 35 Weekend in New York City. He was shown at ringside for Friday’s “Takeover: New York” event.
Below are a few photos from KUSHIDA’s debut at Full Sail:
https://twitter.com/JJWilliamsWON/status/1116147353248063488
https://twitter.com/JJWilliamsWON/status/1116147458042675200
https://twitter.com/JJWilliamsWON/status/1116152222511980545
Source: Wrestling Inc.
NXT, tonight at 8pm ET on WWE Network.
* Street Profits prepare to bring the smoke to Marcel Barthel & Fabian Aichner
* Candice LeRae looks to make an example out of Aliyah
* Danny Burch aims for retribution against Jaxson Ryker
* What will be the fallout from NXT TakeOver: New York?
Wrestling News Blog Podcast Episode 6 – WrestleMania 35 Podcast Special
Wrestling News Blog Podcast is available on all major podcast apps such as Apple Podcast, Google Podcasts and Stitcher.
Segment One – WrestleMania 35
Segment Two – 2019 WWE Hall of Fame
Segment Three – NXT TakeOver: New York
Segment Four – RAW After Mania
Segment Five – Length of Mania
Segment Six – Final Thoughts on Mania
NXT Tag Team Championship: (C) War Raiders vs. Aleister Black & Ricochet – Winners: War Raiders
After the match, War Raiders showed respect to Black and Ricochet, hugged them and bowed to them. Black and Ricochet say goodbye to NXT. Black and Ricochet got very emotional as they took their bows as fans chanted “you deserve it.”
NXT North American Championship: (C) The Velveteen Dream vs. Matt Riddle – Winner: The Velveteen Dream
WWE UK Championship: (C) Pete Dunne vs. WALTER – Winner and new WWE UK Champion: WALTER
NXT Women’s Championship: (C) Shayna Baszler vs. Bianca Belair vs. Io Shirai vs. Kairi Sane – Winner: Shayna Baszler
NXT Championship (2-Out-3 Falls Match): Johnny Gargano vs. Adam Cole – Winner and new NXT Champion: Johnny Gargano
WWE NXT TakeOver: New York – Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York 7 PM ET
NXT Championship (2-Out-3 Falls Match): Johnny Gargano vs. Adam Cole
NXT Women’s Championship: (C) Shayna Baszler vs. Bianca Belair vs. Io Shirai vs. Kairi Sane
NXT North American Championship: (C) The Velveteen Dream vs. Matt Riddle
NXT Tag Team Championship: (C) War Raiders vs. Aleister Black & Ricochet
WWE UK Championship: (C) Pete Dunne vs. WALTER
WrestleMania Weekend Events:
WrestleMania Axxess
NXT vs. NXT Alumni
Thursday, April 4 (6-10 p.m.)
The past meets the present as former NXT Superstars battle current Superstars from the black-and-gold brand. The matches will include Roderick Strong vs. Tyler Breeze, Dominik Dijkaovic vs. Harper, SAnitY vs. Undisputed ERA, and Kassius Ohno vs. Aiden English.Cruiserweights Collide
Friday, April 5 – Sessions 1 and 2
Cruiserweights from 205 Live, NXT UK and NXT will soar to new heights in inter-brand bouts on Friday’s Axxess sessions. Featured matches will include Tyler Bate vs. The Brian Kendrick, Akira Tozawa vs. Jordan Devlin, Flash Morgan Webster & Mark Andrews vs. Ariya Daivari & Mike Kanellis, and Albert Hardie Jr. vs. Gran Metalik. Session 1 runs 1-5 p.m., and Session 2 runs 6-10 p.m.NXT UK Tapings
Saturday, April 6 – Sessions 1, 2 and 3
Each of Saturday’s three Axxess sessions will feature an NXT UK TV taping for future airing on the award-winning WWE Network. Don’t miss the rare opportunity to watch the United Kingdom’s best and brightest Superstars competing stateside. Session 1 runs 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., Session 2 runs 1-5 p.m. and Session 3 runs 6-10 p.m.Brands Battle
Sunday, April 7 (8 a.m. to 12 p.m.)
Two 20-Superstar Battle Royals — one for male Superstars and one for female Superstars — will take place the morning of WrestleMania. Both Battle Royals will feature Superstars from NXT and NXT UK, and the Men’s Battle Royal will additionally feature Superstars from 205 Live.Women Collide
Monday, April 8 (12-4 p.m.)
One day after female Superstars main-event WrestleMania for the first time in history, the WWE Women’s Evolution continues to take center stage at Axxess. Watch top female Superstars from NXT, NXT UK, Raw and SmackDown LIVE collide, with matches including Io Shirai vs. Sonya Deville, Toni Storm vs. Nikki Cross vs. Bianca Belair, Piper Niven vs. Zelina Vega, Candice LeRae vs. Kay Lee Ray and more!*Talent listed and depicted above are subject to change.
MLW -Rise of the Renegades (Fusion TV Tapings) April 4 – New York City, Melrose Ballroom
Impact Wrestling – United We Stand – April 4 – Rahway Rec Center in Rahway, New Jersey – Steaming on Fite TV
MLW – Battle Riot II (Fusion TV Tapings) April 5 – New York City, Melrose Ballroom -2 Hour Special airing on beIN SPORTS
ROH – NJPW G1 Supercard “Festival of Honor” April 5 – Hulu Theatre at MSG (Pro wrestling fans from all around the globe have an opportunity to get up close and personal with the biggest stars in Ring of Honor and New Japan Pro-Wrestling with Meet & Greet experiences)
NXT TakeOver: New York – April 5 – Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
WrestleCon – April 5 & 6 – New York City Hilton Midtown
ROH – NJPW G1 Supercard – April 6 – MSG – PPV, Fite.tv, ROH HonorClub or NJPW World
WWE Hall of Fame – April 6
WrestleMania 35 – April 7
Wrestling News Blog 