Category: WWE

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.

TKO Earnings Report Reveals Who Will Broadcast WWE Raw During Final Quarter Of 2024

For the first time in the show’s history, “WWE Raw” will air exclusively online from the beginning of 2025. WWE struck a deal with streaming giant Netflix at the beginning of 2024 worth $5 billion that will see “WWE Raw” air live each week on the platform from January 2025, with the rest of WWE’s programming following over time. However, there was one lingering question: WWE’s current deal with USA Network expires in October 2024, meaning that there was a possibility “Raw” might not have a home for three months.

Fortunately for WWE, that won’t be the case. In the TKO Earnings Report for the first quarter of 2024, it was revealed that WWE has agreed to a deal worth $25 million with NBCUniversal to continue airing “Raw” on USA Network until the end of 2024. This means that for the fourth quarter of the year, USA Network will have both “WWE Raw” and “WWE SmackDown” on their network, as “SmackDown” is set to join the network when the show’s current deal with Fox expires in October. Analysis by Brandon Thurston of Wrestlenomics suggests the deal represents something of a bargain for USA, as their current “Raw” contract amounts to about $66 million per quarter.

While the United States will only experience “WWE Raw” on Netflix, various other locations across the world will be able to experience virtually everything that WWE produces as places like the United Kingdom, Canada, and Latin America are set to get all of WWE’s weekly programming on Netflix, as well as the company’s Premium Live Events, and potentially the company’s extensive tape library which includes other promotions WWE has bought out like WCW and ECW, though that last has yet to be confirmed by WWE.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

WWE NXT Preview 5/7/2024

Tonight’s WWE NXT in Orlando, Florida at the Performance Center on the USA Network: 

  • WWE NXT Women’s Championship: Roxanne Perez (c) vs. Chelsea Green
  • Wes Lee vs. Josh Briggs
  • Supernova Sessions with NXT Champion Trick Williams
  • NXT Women’s Combine
  • Karmen Petrovic vs. Shayna Baszler
  • Michin vs. Arianna Grace

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

Another QR Code Airs On WWE RAW

We saw another QR code air on this week’s episode of WWE RAW.

On this week’s show, a QR code led fans to a new video and puzzle. The video had a crow at the bottom of it that led to a puzzle, which reads:

“YOU KNOW NOTHING
HELL IS ONLY A WORD
REALITY IS MUCH
MUCH WORSE”

Source: eWn

Dave Meltzer Explains Why WWE Finally Cut Gable Steveson

Olympic Gold Medallist Gable Steveson was one of many performers to be released by WWE in April 2024. Steveson signed a contract with WWE in 2021 following his successful run to Olympic Gold at the Tokyo games, and was immediately positioned as a potential successor to someone like Kurt Angle. He appeared at WrestleMania 38, was officially drafted to “WWE Raw,” and even had a brief run in “WWE NXT” in 2023. However, his career in WWE never reached the heights of his freestyle career.

According to Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio, Steveson was released by the company for a very simple reason; he wasn’t that good. “His contract was a very big money contract, and he wasn’t cutting it.” Steveson arrived in WWE already having allegations of sexual abuse to his name, something that WWE fans were not high on, but according to Meltzer, it was Steveson’s ability in the ring that cost him his spot, as the company had full knowledge of the allegations against him.

“He did have the sexual assault claim from his freshman year in college, WWE signed him with full knowledge of that and it was not an issue in amateur wrestling, wasn’t an issue in college wrestling, like once he was cleared, he was good to go … it was an issue with wrestling fans. However, it probably had to do in a great degree with him getting booed with Baron Corbin, in the one match that people saw that he had at that one ‘NXT’ show.” Meltzer went on to say that he watched a number of his dark matches, some of which were against recently released star Cameron Grimes, and said he wasn’t impressive, had no charisma, and got little to no reaction from the fans.

Source: Wrestling Inc. credit to Wrestling Observer Radio

WWE RAW Preview 5/6/2024

WWE Raw will air live tonight on the USA Network from the XL Center in Hartford, CT.

Fallout from Backlash

2024 Draft roster changes take effect

  • First-Round King of the Ring Tournament Matches:
  • Drew McIntyre vs. Finn Balor
  • Kofi Kingston vs. Rey Mysterio
  • Ricochet vs. Ilja Dragunov
  • Gunther vs. Sheamus
  • First-Round Queen of the Ring Tournament Matches:
  • Zoey Stark vs. Ivy Nile
  • Shayna Baszler vs. Zelina Vega
  • Lyra Valkyria vs. Asuka
  • IYO SKY vs. Natalya

Backstage Update On Potential Members Of WWE’s New Bray Wyatt-Themed Faction

Over the last few weeks, WWE has guided fans on a cryptic treasure hunt, with the final prize rumored to be a new faction led by Uncle Howdy (fka Bo Dallas), the real-life brother of the late Windham Rotunda (aka Bray Wyatt). WWE’s latest clue revealed a QR code at WWE Backlash that linked to a phone number and an audio file indicating that several “missing” people have come together to form a new family in WWE.

QR code hit the screen that sent viewers to the WWE-hosted landing page www.wwe.com/porte_ouverte. (That slug, “port ouverte,” is French for “open door.”)

On the page, an audio file is hosted, along with what appears to be a phone number, 888-280-3999 — the same number that, in 2022, revealed an audio clip of Bray Wyatt’s doctor revealing his (in character) mental health diagnosis, ending with a tease of his return. When playing the audio on the page, a distorted female voice says, “You think you’re so close to finding him but you don’t even know what you’re looking for. He’s not what you think. He just wants to help. That’s all he ever wanted. He opens up his arms and makes you feel like you matter; like you belong. He doesn’t change you. He, he reminds you. He wants to know, ‘Why did you forget about them?’ He says he opened the door and the time of secrets has come to an end.”

The familiar phone number now hosts a different message, mentioning “the ones that had gone missing,” and going on to say, in part, “None of you cared. Their families didn’t care. Their friends didn’t care, but I set them free. They are my family now and we will do anything to protect our family. I can’t wait for you to see what we’ve become. It’s beautiful.”

In the wake of this massive Easter egg, PWInsider is now reporting that this new group will soon present themselves on WWE television as a spinoff of sorts of the Wyatt Family. Moreover, this Bray Wyatt-themed faction will feature a few former associates of Wyatt’s, in addition to some new names, who have been subject to absences from WWE programming. The five names currently penciled into this reported group are Bo Dallas, Nikki Cross, Dexter Lumis, Joe Gacy, and Erick Rowan.

Like the aforementioned audio file alluded to, all members of this new faction have previous experience in other factions, or families, in WWE. Cross formerly served as a member of Sanity up until her stablemates Eric Young, Alexander Wolfe, and Killian Dain were called up to WWE’s main roster, while she remained in “WWE NXT” in 2018.   Similarly, Dexter Lumis was once a member of The Way alongside the likes of Johnny Gargano, Candice LeRae, and Indi Hartwell. While the latter three stayed in close proximity to each other on WWE’s main roster, Lumis abruptly disappeared from television last year, last wrestling on the June 1 episode of “WWE Main Event.” Erick Rowan, of course, was a member of the original Wyatt Family before the group disbanded in 2017.

For Gacy, his status as the leader of The Schism took a turn when Jagger Reid and Rip Fowler (Grizzled Young Veterans) departed from WWE in September 2023. As a result, Gacy later declared that Schism was “dead.”

As of now, there is no word on whether Alexa Bliss, who notably aligned with Wyatt’s alter-ego The Fiend from 2020 until 2021, will be part of this offshoot unit as well.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Jerry “The King” Lawler Offers Positive Health Update After 2023 Stroke, Lawler’s WWE Broadcast Contract Has Expired

Over the last year, WWE Hall of Famer Jerry “The King” Lawler has faced a few health concerns, most of which have been connected to a stroke he suffered in February 2023. While he continues to recover from his stroke, Lawler also notably underwent knee replacement surgery in March 2024. During a virtual signing with East Coast Autograph Auctions, Lawler provided a new update on his overall health following this recent knee operation.

“My health is great,” Lawler said (h/t POST Wrestling for the transcription). “I just [went] over to the doctors to get back on the road from my knee replacement and then of course, still some minor difficulties from the stroke. But all of that stuff is coming around fast.”

As Lawler alluded to, his 2023 stroke resulted in a few short-term mental and physical difficulties. According to WWE alumni Dutch Mantel, “The King” was struggling to complete his sentences and create artwork with his right hand in the months following his stroke. After reaching out to Lawler over the phone, journalist Bill Apter also noted that he was experiencing some memory troubles. Despite that, Lawler was said to still be in great spirits at the time.

Six months after his initial hospitalization, Lawler returned to WWE for a surprise appearance in front of his hometown crowd in Memphis, Tennessee. This outing came in the midst of a commercial break segment during “WWE Raw,” in which Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn brought Lawler out onto the entrance stage to wave “hello” to the fans in attendance. Lawler later appeared on the November 28 episode of “WWE NXT” by announcing two of the qualifying matches for the 2023 “NXT” Iron Survivor Challenge.

Lawler’s WWE broadcast contract has expired.

PWInsider reports that WWE Hall of Famer Jerry Lawler is no longer with the WWE after his broadcast contract expired with the promotion “at the onset” of the year, with WWE choosing not to offer “The King” a new deal. WWE and Lawler’s association isn’t fully at an end, however, as Lawler is said to remain under a WWE Legend’s deal.

Lawler’s departure from WWE ends a 31-year relationship between him and the promotion, which began in December 1992. While he continued to wrestle sporadically for WWE over the years, “The King” became best known to WWE fans for his role as color commentator, most notably during the Attitude Era, where he called matches with fellow WWE Hall of Famer and long-time friend Jim Ross.

News of WWE declining to re-sign Lawler was slow to get out, largely due to Lawler’s retreat from the public eye following a stroke in February 2023. Due to his health issues, including a 2012 heart attack on “Raw” that nearly cost Lawler his life, some in WWE were surprised by his departure, with onne person going as far as to say that Lawler would’ve been kept around under the old regime of McMahon’s and that Lawler’s departure was a true sign that “the old company is dead.”

Source: Wrestling Inc.

WWE Reportedly Releases Controversial Olympic Gold Medalist Gable Steveson

2021 Olympic Gold Medalist and inaugural WWE NIL signee Gable Steveson has been released. Following news that there had been cuts made to the “WWE NXT” roster, including Drew Gulak, Dave Meltzer reported that Gable Steveson had been a part of them. When Steveson signed with WWE in 2021, declining to continue in freestyle wrestling or a potential move into MMA, he set the precedent for an influx of college athletes to be molded into professional wrestlers at the Performance Center. Meltzer’s report in particular makes mention that he’d signed his WWE deal in 2020 — going against all other reporting — with the caveat that he’d continue as an amateur wrestler to compete in the 2021 Olympics. WWE was supposed to be facing competition from its now sister promotion, UFC, but won out to eventually land him. 

Steveson continued in freestyle wrestling afterward, winning the 2022 NCAA Division I National Championship, and most recently the 2023 US Open Wrestling Championship. He would also defeat fellow NIL signee Mason Parris to qualify for the 2023 World Championship, but Meltzer notes that WWE forbade him from competing in the tournament. 

Despite being a hot commodity within the context of collegiate and national wrestling, Steveson had been unable to make such a mark in the world of professional wrestling. In 2019 it was alleged that he and a Minnesota wrestling teammate — Dylan Martinez — had sexually assaulted a woman and were arrested. In December that year, it was confirmed that no charges were being brought forward due to a lack of significant evidence. The county attorney also pointed to a lack of law in Minnesota which would allow them discretion in charging perpetrators of sexual assault of an inebriated victim. It’s worth noting that an overturned conviction in the case of the State vs. Francois Khalil in 2021 saw Minnesota law-makers update legislation regarding alcohol consumption and consent. 

Source: Wrestling Inc.