Category: WWE

Internal WWE Reactions To The WSJ Article, Vince Wanting To Come Back

Vince McMahon wants to come back to the WWE, but it doesn’t seem like that feeling is mutual.

Today’s article from the Wall Street Journal has been covered on this site elsewhere, but to recap: Vince McMahon has told those close to him that he’s considered making a WWE comeback, and got poor advice to retire. There is also the revelation of two more lawsuits regarding sexual misconduct and assault – one new, and one from Rita Chatterton, a former WWE referee.

A new report details the internal reaction at WWE to the ongoing legal issues surrounding Vince.

Fightful immediately heard from numerous staff and talent within WWE. One WWE talent called the news “exhausting,” and was hopeful that Vince McMahon’s WWE tenure was in the rear view, despite them having a positive relationship prior to McMahon leaving. Another said that they were concerned for the talent that got re-hired in the event that Vince McMahon were to return.

A higher-up in WWE wasn’t nearly as concerned. They mentioned that the stock price increased, viewership was boosted, and general morale recovered after Vince McMahon left. Said the source: “It would be a really selfish move for Vince to come back under any circumstances. The reason he left, how business has done since then — it’d be really selfish. But selfish activities are what led to him leaving in the first place.” That source said that they did not believe that Vince would return, despite having voting power within the company.

One longtime staffer said that morale has increased tenfold since McMahon left, and they don’t believe he’ll be back, whether he wants to be or not. An employee of over a decade says they also believe that McMahon’s family will actively encourage him to remain retired. That same source says they think that McMahon returning would do irreparable damage to the WWE brand, and said that the few doubters that thought WWE would collapse internally have been proven wrong, with one notable name even admitting as much.

The timing of the article’s release was interesting to one official that came to power in recent years. With McMahon speaking to those close to him about a potential return, that source did not believe the timing of the information of additional legal issues being released was an accident, and also coincides with the release of a Vince McMahon VICE TV documentary.

Source: EWrestlingNews

WWE NXT Preview 12/13/2022

WWE NXT’s post-Deadline edition will air live tonight on the USA Network

WWE will then tape the final two episodes of NXT for 2022 tomorrow and return to live weekly broadcasts on January 6, 2023.

Tonight’s show features the fallout of last Saturday’s NXT Deadline premium live event. Here’s the announced lineup:

* Toxic Attraction vs. Tatum Paxley & Ivy Nile
* Damon Kemp vs. Duke Hudson
* Lyra Valkyria debuts
* Von Wagner with Robert Stone vs. Odyssey Jones
* What’s next for the new NXT Tag Team Champions The New Day?
* The first-ever Iron Survivors (Grayson Waller and Roxanne Perez) take aim at the NXT Champions
* Fallout from NXT Deadline

Former AEW and NWA Star Kylie Rae (Briana Ray) Debuts At WWE Main Event Tapings

Former AEW and NWA star Kylie Rae made her WWE debut in match at Monday’s WWE Main Event taping that took place before Raw.

Rae appeared under the name of Briana Ray, and lost to Dana Brooke. WrestleView reported last Tuesday that Rae had taken part in a tryout at the WWE Performance Center along with MLW star KC Navarro and former ROH stars Vincent and Dutch. Vincent was also part of the Honor No More faction in IMPACT Wrestling.

Rae made a brief appearance for AEW back in 2019. She was scheduled to wrestle Deonna Purrazzo at the 2020 IMPACT Bound for Glory pay-per-view. However, Rae did not appear at the show and later announced she was retiring from professional wrestling. Rae then made her debut for the NWA on the June 29 episode of NWA Powerrr, defeating Melina Perez.

Source: WrestleView

Bobby Lashley ‘Fired’ From WWE On RAW, What Happened After WWE RAW Went Off The Air?

Bobby Lashley has been “fired” from WWE.

During Monday night’s episode of RAW, WWE ran a storyline angle where Adam Pearce fired the ‘Almighty One.’ In the main event of the show, Lashley faced off against Seth Rollins for a shot at Austin Theory and the WWE United States Championship.

The finish of the match came when the referee rolled out of the ring and appeared to injure his ankle. This resulted in Lashley locking in the Hurt Lock on Rollins. The referee wasn’t able to call the match (storyline-related), which resulted in Lashley hitting a spear on Rollins and then arguing with the ref. While this was happening, Rollins was able to recover and hit a Pedigree on Lashley to get the pinfall.

Following the match, Lashley took out his frustrations on the referee. When a second ref came in, Lashley “accidentally” elbowed him. At that point, Adam Pearce came out and fired Lashley as the show faded to black.

https://twitter.com/WWE/status/1602514247514193921

Immediately after the show ended, Byron Saxton attempted to get a word in with Adam Pearce, who was enraged over what had transpired just moments before. Pearce stated that it would be “very premature” of him to comment on the situation so soon.

Saxton then approached Lashley and asked for his comments on what had just taken place. The former WWE Champion didn’t say a word and went inside his locker-room. Lashley came out moments later with his luggage and hurriedly left the arena.

https://twitter.com/WWE/status/1602532789001359365

Source: EWrestlingNews

WWE RAW Preview 12/12/2022

Tonight’s WWE RAW live from Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, WI on USA Network at 8/7C

  • Raw Women’s Championship number one contender’s match: Alexa Bliss vs. Bayley
  • United States Championship number one contender’s match: Seth Rollins vs. Bobby Lashley
  • Candice LeRae vs. IYO SKY

WWE NXT Deadline 12/10/2022 (Results)

WOMEN’S IRON SURVIVOR CHALLENGE MATCH:
Roxanne Perez def. Cora Jade, Kiana James, Zoey Stark and Indi Hartwell

Isla Dawn def. Alba Fyre

NXT TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH:
The New Day def. Pretty Deadly (c) to become new NXT Tag Team Champions

MEN’S IRON SURVIVOR CHALLENGE MATCH:
Grayson Waller def. Carmelo Hayes, JD McDonagh, Joe Gacy and Axiom

NXT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH:
Bron Breakker (c) def. Apollo Crews

Once the match wraps up, we see Grayson Waller, winner of the Men’s Iron Survivor Challenge, hit the ring and he lays out Bron Breakker.

WWE NXT Deadline 12/10/2022 (Card)

WWE NXT Deadline Premium Live Event from the WWE Capitol Wrestling Center in Orlando, Florida on Saturday December 10, 2022 – 8pm ET/5pm PT on Peacock in the US and on WWE Network elsewhere.

CARD

NXT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH:
Bron Breakker (c) vs. Apollo Crews

MEN’S IRON SURVIVOR CHALLENGE MATCH:
Carmelo Hayes vs. Grayson Waller vs. JD McDonagh vs. Joe Gacy vs. Axiom

WOMEN’S IRON SURVIVOR CHALLENGE MATCH:
Cora Jade vs. Kiana James vs. Roxanne Perez vs. Zoey Stark vs. Indi Hartwell

NXT TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH:
Pretty Deadly (c) vs. The New Day

Alba Fyre vs. Isla Dawn

WWE SmackDown Preview 12/9/2022

WWE SmackDown will air live tonight on FOX, and emanate from the PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA.

Barry Windham Out of ICU

After suffering a heart attack at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport last week, Barry Windham is now out of ICU, according to his niece Mika Rotunda.

Rotunda wrote:

“Thank you to all who have reached out, prayed, contributed and sent well wishes to my Uncle Barry this week.

I wanted to give an update! I’m grateful to say he is stabilized & out of ICU. Talking & able to stand.

Thanks again everyone! There absolutely is power in prayer.”

A GoFundMe to help Windham with medical expenses has raised nearly $30,000 as of this writing. Windham doesn’t have health insurance.

https://twitter.com/MikaRotunda/status/1601201642941997056

Source: EWrestlingNews

Mercedes Varnado (Sasha Banks) Will Reportedly Be At NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 17

Mercedes Varnado (also known as Sasha Banks in WWE) is expected to be at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 17, according to a report from Pwinsider.

It’s unclear whether she will just be in attendance for the show or appearing on the broadcast, but she’s being brought in. This comes after she expressed interest in wrestling former WWE Superstar KAIRI in STARDOM, a sister company to NJPW.

Due to creative differences, Banks walked out of WWE at a Monday Night RAW TV taping back in May. She and Naomi were later indefinitely suspended. Both women have made several public appearances since the walkout.

This past August, it was reported that Banks and Naomi had reached an agreement to return to WWE. However, their return has yet to happen as there have been hang-ups in negotiations for a new deal with Banks due to money.

Source: EWrestlingNews