Tonight’s WWE Raw is the final show before this Saturday’s Night of Champions in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
After Liv Morgan suffered an injury last week, she and Raquel Rodriguez were unable to defend their WWE Tag Team Titles against Chelsea Green and Sonya Deville the following Monday on “Raw.” Unfortunately, the injury to Morgan is now said to be serious enough that the titles have been vacated. The announcement was made during Friday night’s “SmackDown.”
New champions will be crowned on “Raw” on May 29. Damage CTRL’s Bayley and IYO SKY; Green and Deville; Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler; and Rodriguez with whomever her partner ends up being will face off in a Fatal Four-Way Match to determine the new titleholders. But why will Bayley be teaming up with SKY instead of her partner last week, Dakota Kai? As it turns out, Kai was injured during the same match as Morgan, according to “The Role Model.” For what it’s worth, SKY didn’t look too thrilled to be thrown into the mix.
Nevertheless, Green and Deville will get their shot at the gold at the end of the month after having their initial opportunity postponed this past week. As for Rousey and Baszler, they made their return to WWE programming on Monday, brutally attacking Rodriguez after her victory over Green. Despite the return, though, it’s been reported that Rousey will be taking time off from WWE. That time off will likely come sooner than later, potentially putting their quest for the tag titles in doubt.
Regardless, in some way, shape, or form, new WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions will be crowned on May 29.
Source: Wrestling Inc.
UPDATE
Bryan Alvarez noted on Wrestling Observer Radio that Morgan has what is believed to be a shoulder injury that may need surgery.
WWE SmackDown will air live tonight on FOX and emanate from the Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, South Carolina.
WWE will soon begin talks about a new television deal for SmackDown.
WWE President Nick Khan is well aware of the fact that WWE could be leaving FOX if the negotiations regarding a new media rights deal can’t be agreed upon.
Speaking at MoffettNathanson’s Inaugural Technology, Media, and Telecom Conference on Tuesday, Khan revealed that SmackDown could wind up switching nights if it moves to another network.
Indie Wire executive editor Tony Maglio took to Twitter to reveal the news, writing:
“WWE’s Nick Khan just said #SmackDown could switch nights (again) if it goes somewhere else for its next deal. Was speaking pretty highly of Amazon…
Either way, Khan, being interviewed at the SVB MoffettNathanson Conference, foresees a U.S. rights increase of 1.5x or so. So, we’re talking about an opening figure of $1.5 billion for 5 years of #SmackDown, should length of term remain same.
Khan also laid out a case for Netflix to want WWE (It has a lot to do with India) and complimented their entry into live. (The Chris Rock special, not the #LoveIsBlind reunion disaster)”
Source: eWn
WWE Hall of Famer and former WWE Champion “Superstar” Billy Graham has passed away at the age of 79 following a series of serious health issues as of late and fighting for his life in the hospital.
The tragic news was originally announced by WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair and confirmed by TMZ.
Graham had recently been placed on life support after a year that saw the wrestling legend contract COVID-19, a life-threatening ear infection that spread to his skull, inflammation in his lungs, and even renal failure. Graham’s doctors nearly took him off life support two days ago but his wife had refused.
Graham, real name Wayne Coleman, was a colorful, outsized personality at a time when professional wrestling was still presented as a dry sport. With his bulging muscles, bleached-blonde hair, and tie-dye attire, Graham was seen by many as the first “sports entertainer,” as his garish persona was aped by wrestling legends like Jesse “The Body” Ventura and even Hulk Hogan. Graham was also known for being one of the first wrestlers to heavily use steroids, a practice that Graham later regretted as years of steroid abuse took a toll on his health and the health of other wrestlers. Graham has advocated for its responsible use by past WWE Champions. Graham was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2004.
Jerry “The King” Lawler is hanging in there.
On the latest episode of Jim Ross’ “Grilling J.R.” podcast, the fellow WWE Hall of Fame legend and former longtime on-air broadcast partner of the aforementioned Memphis Wrestling legend gave an update on the health issues that “The King” has been dealing with as of late.
As noted, Lawler suffered what was reported to be a stroke, and was hospitalized in February of 2023 as a result. He would go on to make a pre-recorded appearance at the WWE Hall of Fame induction ceremony during WrestleMania 39 Weekend a couple of months later, but has been relatively quiet since then.
“Good Ole’ J.R.” noted on his “Grilling J.R. The Dark Side of Mid-South” podcast this week that he spoke with his longtime friend and shared the update on Jerry Lawler’s health.
“I talked to Lawler just the other day,” Ross said during the show. “He’s still struggling with his health. He’s got good doctors, and they think they have identified many of the issues, but he’s not out of the woods yet in terms of achieving a good level of health.”
Ross continued, “As always when we talk, his voice starts off a little bit weak and then it gets stronger as he talks and we laugh and we tell stories with each other.”
Check out the complete episode of the “Grilling J.R. The Dark Side of Mid-South” podcast by visiting Spotify.com.
Source: Rajah.com
WWE Raw will air live tonight on the USA Network and emanate from the Greensboro Coliseum Complex in Greensboro, NC.
It’s been a while since Randy Orton was last seen in a WWE ring, but his injury troubles might be more serious than originally presumed. In an interview with WrestleBinge with Sportskeeda, his father, Bob Orton Jr., revealed that medical professionals may have encouraged “The Viper” to retire from the squared circle, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that Orton plans on listening to them.
“He’s training, so we’ll see what happens; I don’t know. If he feels like going back or he feels like he’s ready to go back, I think he might. Then again, he’s pretty well taken care of. I don’t think he needs to. And I think the doctors have told him not to. But Randy will do what Randy wants to do.”
Orton has been sidelined with a back injury since November of last year. It’s been reported that he underwent surgery to fuse his lower back, but the procedure in question means that he’ll be out for a long period of time. A recent health update revealed that Orton is nowhere close to returning to WWE, though his father’s revelation has created doubts on if he’ll ever step into the squared circle again.
That being said, Orton Jr. said that his son’s determination to return reflects the mindset of many wrestlers who find it difficult to call it quits before they feel their time is up. “Wrestling, you know when you get in there and you got some people going crazy, you just love it. So it’s hard to leave,” he said.
However, while his son’s in-ring career appears to be in the balance for now, Orton’s old man said that he has a good family life. “He’s got two beautiful daughters and his wife’s a lovely lady.”
Source: Wrestling Inc. with credit to Sportskeeda WrestleBinge
WWE Hall of Famer Superstar Billy Graham is on life support after months of health issues while in the hospital.
The infection in his ears has caused him to be deaf.
Valerie Coleman, the wife of the WWE Hall of Famer Superstar stated he is on life support after undergoing a recent surgery. The following was posted on his Facebook page:
“From Billy’s wife Valerie: Please urgent prayers needed for my husband. The doctors wanted to remove him from life support tonight, I refused. He’s a fighter and his will is strong even if his body isn’t. God is our hope.”
Source: eWrestlingNews
It was announced this past Friday night on “WWE SmackDown” that Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens would defend the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship against Roman Reigns and Solo Sikoa of The Bloodline at Night of Champions on May 27 in Saudi Arabia. According to Dave Meltzer on “Wrestling Observer Radio,” Zayn, who is of Syrian descent, decided to travel to the Kingdom with WWE for the first time since 2014 following the resumption of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Syria; relations were suspended in November 2011. Additionally, the report indicated that Owens opted to go to Saudi Arabia after Zayn decided he would travel for Night of Champions.
Zayn’s most recent visit to Saudi Arabia came in 2014 when he participated in a three-night house tour in Riyadh. On the opening night, which was Zayn’s debut match in the country, the former WWE Intercontinental Champion defeated Damian Sandow in a singles match. The following evening, Zayn was defeated by Cesaro – now ROH World Champion Claudio Castagnoli. The final night of the tour saw Zayn defeat Heath Slater.
Meanwhile, Owens will be heading to Saudi Arabia with WWE for the first time later this month. In the past, the former WWE Universal Champion had decided against performing on a major WWE event in the Kingdom, seemingly as a result of his longtime friend Zayn not being able to participate because of strained relations between Saudi Arabia and Syria. It was reported in 2019 that Owens’ family did not want him to travel to the Middle Eastern country.
Source: Wrestling Inc.
