Category: WWE

Multiple MMA, Wrestling Companies Expressing Interest In Matt Riddle

Matt Riddle is a hot commodity following his WWE release.

As noted, “The Original BRO” was among the 25 WWE and NXT Superstars released by the company following the merger with UFC under the new TKO banner.

Dave Meltzer noted in the latest issue of his Wrestling Observer Newsletter that the former WWE Superstar has received interest from multiple MMA and pro wrestling promotions following his release from the company.

According to the report, Bare Knuckle Fighting Championships (BKFC) and PFL have expressed interest in acquiring the services of Riddle, as have many pro wrestling promotions.

AEW was not specifically mentioned, however Meltzer did note that Tony Khan could very well be interested in bringing him into the company.

Source: Rajah.com

WWE SmackDown Preview 9/29/2023

Tonight’s WWE SmackDown live on FOX from the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, CA.

  • WWE United States Championship: Rey Mysterio (c) vs. Santos Escobar
  • Charlotte Flair vs. Bayley
  • Grayson Waller Effect featuring Bobby Lashley

WWE NXT Preview 9/26/2023

Tonight’s WWE NXT live from Orlando, Florida at the Capitol Wrestling Center on the USA Network: 

  • NXT Global Heritage Invitational Final: Butch vs. Joe Coffey
  • Carmelo Hayes and Ilja Dragunov to sign their No Mercy NXT Title Match contract
  • Strap Match: Eddy Thorpe v. Dijak
  • Gigi Dolin v. Blair Davenport

Heels Canceled By Starz

“Heels,” the pro wrestling TV show starring actor Stephen Amell, has reportedly been canceled.

As per “The Wrap,” the show has been canceled due to not having enough audience for it to be renewed for a third season. “Heels” has aired 16 episodes in its two seasons, with the second and final season ending earlier this month.

The cancelation of “Heels” may come as a surprise to many as it seemed to have garnered a good response from critics as well as the audience. As of writing, the show has a high 93% rating by critics and fans on Rotten Tomatoes, while IMDB has given it an 8 out of 10 rating.

Amell, who portrays Jack Spade, is the main protagonist of the show, taking over the Duffy Wrestling League promotion after his father’s passing, while his younger brother Ace Spade, played by Alexander Ludwig, finds his footing in the world of pro wrestling. The show also featured CM Punk as Ricky Rabies, and his appearance on the show may have played a part in his return to pro wrestling with AEW. AJ Mendez (formerly known as AJ Lee in WWE), former WWE wrestler and Punk’s wife, also appeared in three episodes in the second season of “Heels.”

Source: Wrestling Inc.

WWE Announces Former AEW Star Jade Cargill Has Signed Multi-Year Contract

WWE has today announced the signing of Jade Cargill. According to the Stamford, Connecticut-based promotion, the former All Elite Wrestling star has inked a multi-year deal. Cargill will begin training today at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida. 

ESPN, the outlet that initially broke the news of Cargill’s signing, said that it remains unclear if the 31-year-old will be heading straight to the main roster or if she will begin her WWE journey on the “WWE NXT” brand.

It was recently reported that Cargill was WWE-bound after departing AEW. Cargill’s final match with Tony Khan’s promotion was broadcast on the September 15 episode of “AEW Rampage,” where she unsuccessfully challenged Kris Statlander for the AEW TBS Championship. Cargill, who first appeared for AEW in November 2020, is the longest-reigning AEW TBS Champion in history after holding the gold for 508 days.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

WWE RAW Preview 9/25/2023

WWE RAW will air live tonight on the USA Network from the Toyota Center in Ontario, California.

  • Cody Rhodes to kick off RAW
  • Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship: The Judgment Day (Finn Balor and Damian Priest) (c) vs. Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens
  • NXT North American Championship: Dominik Mysterio (c) vs. Dragon Lee
  • Bronson Reed vs. Otis
  • Shinsuke Nakamura will respond to Seth Rollins’ challenge
  • Drew McInytre on MizTV

Updated List Of WWE Talent Releases (2023)

Due to the Endeavor merger, WWE has began releasing several wrestlers from their deals as of September 21, 2023 to save on costs. WWE released a few more names on September 22 and 23.

We will be updating this page with the latest names. This does not currently include names of upper management who were let go earlier in the week:

9/21

  • Dolph Ziggler
  • Elias
  • Aliyah
  • Rick Boogs
  • Riddick Moss
  • Emma
  • Top Dolla
  • Shelton Benjamin
  • Dana Brooke
  • Mustafa Ali
  • Mansoor
  • Mace
  • Shanky
  • Dabba Kato / Commander Azeez / Babatunde (NXT)
  • Quincy Elliot (NXT)
  • Bryson Montana (NXT)
  • Yulisa Leon (NXT)
  • Daniel McArthur (NIL)
  • Kevin Ventura-Cortez (NIL)
  • Alexis Gray (NIL)
  • Brooklyn Barlow (NIL)

9/22

  • Matt Riddle
  • Ikeman Jiro (NXT)
  • Abule Abadi-Fitzgerald (NIL)

9/23

  • Melanie Brzezinski (NIL)

Sheamus Reportedly Suffering From A Really Bad Injury

Sheamus hasn’t competed in a WWE ring since he was defeated by Edge in what could be the “Rated-R Superstar’s” final-ever match for the company. While his absence hasn’t been addressed by the company, Dave Meltzer has revealed on the latest “Wrestling Observer Radio” that Sheamus is currently out of action due to a really bad shoulder injury.

While there are no details as to when the “Celtic Warrior” sustained the issue or how long he is going to be on the shelf for, this is the reason he hasn’t been shown on television, nor has he been part of WWE live events throughout the past month. Neither Sheamus nor WWE has made an official comment on the situation, and it remains to be seen what the long-term plan is.  

Sheamus’ future has been a big talking point as of late anyway due to the fact his contract with the company is set to expire in 2024, but that is something that could end up being extended now if he’s out for a while as WWE could tag that time on. 

This is not the first injury that the Irishman has sustained throughout his tenure with WWE, which began back in 2006. While he’s had several smaller issues over the years he did deal with a major neck injury back in 2019 which took him out of action for nine months and sparked retirement rumors, but it remains to be seen if his current problem will be as severe.

WWE has been continuing to use his fellow Brawling Brutes as a tag team as Butch and Ridge Holland have been getting opportunities to shine together as a duo, which could open the door for Sheamus to rejoin the group when he is able to return. 

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Matt Riddle Released By WWE

Matt Riddle is gone from WWE.

In a statement released on Twitter, Riddle announced his departure and thanked his fans for all the years of memories. The move follows mass talent cuts by WWE on Thursday, when the promotion released at least 22 stars or prospective stars in the way of its acquisition by Endeavor and merger with Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Riddle, himself a former UFC fighter, began training as a professional wrestler almost a decade ago and signed with WWE in 2018. Over the course of his career, he won the “NXT” Tag Team Championship with Pete Dunne (now known as Butch), the “Raw” Tag Team Championship with Randy Orton, and the WWE United States Championship. His WWE run was also characterized by prominent accusations against him during the #SpeakingOut movement, his real-life feud with Seth Rollins, and his multiple drug suspensions, the most recent of which came in 2022 and resulting in him being removed from television. Riddle returned on the “WWE Raw” after WrestleMania 39, but with a somewhat diminished role in the absence of his injured partner, Orton.

Riddle made headlines earlier this month for an incident at JFK airport and hadn’t been seen on television since. Despite reports that his absence was not related to the airport altercation and that he was making his return to “WWE Raw” this week, Fightful Select is now reporting that Riddle hasn’t been backstage or on the road with WWE since he was pulled from weekend events and the September 11 episode of “Raw.” Fightful claims Riddle was not planned for a return and not part of WWE’s creative plans following the incident, despite the fact that he was in the middle of a storyline that had seen him teaming up with Drew McIntyre, and says one source cited Riddle as having “burned through too many chances while in WWE.”

Source: Wrestling Inc.

More WWE Releases From Yesterday

Yesterday WWE released several members of their roster, including Mustafa Ali, Emma, Rick Boogs, Aliyah, Riddick Moss, Top Dolla, Elias and Shelton Benjamin.

Update:

WWE also released the following:

  • Dana Brooke
  • Mansoor
  • Mace
  • Shanky
  • Dabba Kato / Commander Azeez / Babatunde (NXT)
  • Quincy Elliot (NXT)
  • Bryson Montana (NXT)
  • Yulisa Leon (NXT)
  • Daniel McArthur (NIL)
  • Kevin Ventura-Cortez (NIL)
  • Alexis Gray (NIL)
  • Brooklyn Barlow (NIL)
  • Abule Abadi-Fitzgerald

The company was looking to cut back on $50 million to $100 million in expenses following the merger with UFC to form the TKO Holdings Group.

Dave Meltzer reported the following in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter:

“The key to the releases were talent making main roster money but not being used on the main roster and with the idea that they were not going to be used in the future,” Meltzer wrote.

“It’s time in vs. how much money you are paid vs. return on investment,” said one WWE official regarding the talent cuts.”