Category: WWE

Backstage News On Ric Flair’s Health Before His Final Match, Flair Set To Announce His Final Opponent Tonight

Ric Flair is reportedly hurt right now, and is dealing with a foot injury according to Dave Meltzer on the latest “Wrestling Observer Radio.”

The Nature Boy is just weeks away from competing in his final ever wrestling match at Starrcast V on July 31st, and his mystery opponent is set to be revealed later on today. While he is currently hurt, Flair is expected to still be able to compete in the match and put on the encounter that will be headlining the show.

From the moment it was announced that the 73-year-old would be returning to compete for the first time since 2011 when he competed against Sting for TNA there has been a concern. That was primarily over Flair’s general health, with the former WWE Superstar having a pacemaker fitted, but during the press conference for the show, he claimed he is able to work around his issues, admitting that his inner-ear and blood thinner medication concerns alongside his pacemaker.

“There are two things that could go wrong,” Flair said. “My heart’s pacemaker can come unplugged, but I can plug it back in.” When it comes to the issue surrounding his blood thinners, he simply stated he “just won’t take one that day.”

Flair has shared plenty of footage of himself training and getting into shape as he has been actively training inside the ring with AEW’s Jay Lethal. It is unclear whether it was during the training sessions that the Nature Boy picked up his injury, but the videos have shown him even taking a bump from the top turnbuckle.

Flair’s final match is not the only thing on the card on that night though, as The Briscoes will be in action against The Von Erichs, while Josh Alexander is set to compete against Jacob Fatu, amongst many other bouts. The two-time WWE Hall Of Famer is going to be busy throughout that weekend, as there will be a panel show featuring the Four Horsemen, and the “Roast of Ric Flair” that will celebrate the career of the HOF’er while allowing wrestlers and celebrities to poke fun at his career.

Ric Flair Set To Announce His Final Opponent Ahead Of WWE Raw:

The day has arrived. Ric Flair is finally ready to reveal who his opponent will be for his last match on July 31. And it will happen tonight.

A tease was first made by Conrad Thompson on Friday evening that the announcement would go down on Monday, but it was Flair who put out a message on Twitter Monday morning, giving fans more speculation as to who the adversary will be.

“On July 31, I’m coming after one of your own,” Flair tweeted. “And tonight At 6:05, the entire world will find out.” Flair also used hashtags for “WWE Raw” and “Ric Flair’s Last Match.”

https://twitter.com/HeyHeyItsConrad/status/1548102931336925184
https://twitter.com/RicFlairNatrBoy/status/1549017103256231936

The “one of your own” comment along with the “Raw” hashtag provides added intrigue, particularly as Flair was recently added back to the WWE signature show introduction. The question of who Flair’s opponent will be has become a hot topic in the wrestling world since Ricky Steamboat shut down reports of him tagging with the Rock & Roll Express to face Flair and FTR. The announcement will be made at 6:05 PM ET as an homage to Jim Crockett Promotions.

Flair announced back in May that he’d be coming back for one last match under the classic Jim Crockett Promotions banner during Starrcast V in Nashville. Starrcast V is highlighted by “Ric Flair’s Last Match,” which has a preliminary card full of dream matches that fans can look forward to, but the weekend will also play host to “The Roast Of Ric Flair” and a Four Horsemen reunion that will feature Flair, Arn Anderson, JJ Dillon, Tully Blanchard, Barry Windham, and Lex Luger. Most recently, it was reported by Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer that Flair is currently suffering from a foot injury, giving the Nature Boy just under two weeks to work through it and get ready for his match.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Jeff Jarrett Named Special Guest Referee For Usos vs. Street Profits At SummerSlam

WWE has announced that Jeff Jarrett will be the special guest official for the Usos vs. Street Profits match at SummerSlam.

On Friday night, fans learned the identity of the special guest official who will be enforcing the rules between The Street Profits and The Uso at SummerSlam. That special guest official, is none other than Hall of Famer and Sr. Vice President of Special Events for WWE, Jeff Jarrett.

It’s a fairly random choice considering all of the options WWE could have gone with. He’s got no real connection to either team, nor does he have any experience as a WWE official. The best guess as to why WWE chose him was because SummerSlam is taking place in Nashville and they wanted to connect a known Nashville hometown celebrity to the bout. WWE seems to have gone with someone they figure the live fans will cheer at the event. It probably doesn’t hurt that the company had easy access to him as he’s likely on the road and traveling with the roster on a close-to full-time basis.

What’s so intriguing about the decision was that when Adam Pearce made the announcement to close the show, Jarrett wasn’t even on-site. A video package of his greatest moments in WWE — most of which were of him smashing people with his guitar to show he doesn’t mess around — was played. When it ended, The Usos and Street Profits continued to brawl as the show went off the air. Four officials couldn’t break them up.

https://twitter.com/WWE/status/1548124988992995328

WWE Smackdown Preview 7/15/22

WWE SmackDown, tonight at 8/7 C on FOX.

Backstage News On WWE Raw Moving To TV-14

“WWE Raw” potentially moving to a TV-14 rating is reportedly a USA Network decision, not a WWE call.

According to Dave Meltzer in the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter, WWE has yet to acknowledge the change in direction of the programming, but a source within the company confirmed that it is a USA Network decision. Furthermore, the fact that the memo for the change from TV-PG to TV-14 came from USA Network executives would also indicate the same.

Meltzer noted that it’s highly unlikely “WWE Raw” reverts to bloody matches and bra & panties-like content, but could incorporate more swearing and profanities when the change to TV-14 happens.

In particular, USA Network was said to be “accepting” of Brock Lesnar using the word “shitkicking” during the first hour of the 7/11 episode when they received the script. However, when Lesnar actually uttered the word, because they were aware in advance, USA Network producers did a sound edit of the cuss word. “We don’t know if this had to do with that or not but the timing is notable and a sound edit of something that was in the script and approved is also notable,” Meltzer wrote.

Earlier on Thursday, Fightful Select also reported that there have been conflicting messages internally at USA Network about the change to TV-14. The WWE sources Fightful reached out to “hadn’t heard of the change yet but were looking into the move.”

The report added that those expecting significant changes could be in for a disappointment. While “NXT 2.0” has racier content than “Raw” on a regular basis, it’s still rated TV-PG, and the content that airs is up to WWE, not USA Network. It was noted that unlike MPAA for movies or ESRB for video games, cable TV shows are not required to meet certain criteria to retain TV-PG status or move to a TV-14 rating. As an example, WWE could have self-rated as a TV-PG show during the Attitude Era without oversight ramifications. Although input from the network and sponsors is always taken into effect, the content that airs is still up to the creator, in this case, WWE.

Andrew Zarian retracted his earlier report that the internal memo sent by USA Network called for “WWE Raw” to shift to a TV-14 rating starting from the 7/18 episode. According to Zarian, the memo was sent out prematurely, and the day for the shift from TV-PG to TV-14 has yet to be finalized. The change “is still in consideration for a later date,” he added.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Big E Addresses Possibility Of Never Wrestling Again

Big E has been out of action since the March 11 episode of “WWE SmackDown,” and while his future remains unclear, the former WWE Champion is potentially staring down the idea of never wrestling again.

The New Day star broke his neck when taking a belly-to-belly suplex outside the ring from Ridge Holland and landing directly on his head, but admitted to TMZ that he’s “doing really well.” It is a good update from a man whose attitude has been relentlessly positive throughout the entire experience, and he has been able to remove his neck brace. But while Big E is obviously working towards competing in the ring again at some point, there is a chance that will not be a possibility for him. He recently revealed that his C1 is not ossifying (growing bone), and that it’s something that his doctors are going to look at around the one-year mark post-injury.

“I can live my life pretty normally,” Big E said. “But [my neck’s] not in a position where I should be ramming my head against other things, immovable objects. So wrestling doesn’t make sense right now. For me right now, March of next year is very far off. So, I don’t want to spend a lot of time worrying or stressing about that. I’m just kind of living my life.”

Doctors previously told Big E that the consequences from the injury could have been much worse. From that perspective, even if we have seen the last of him in a wrestling ring, he admitted that he’s okay with that, even if it’s not something fans want to hear.

“Honestly, my philosophy as a human being is learning to be content with whatever life brings you. I’m so grateful to not be in a wheelchair, but if I was, I would have to adjust to life in a wheelchair, that’s just how I am programmed,” he said. “If I spend hours or days or weeks kind of mourning where I’m at in life, and not being what I wanted to be, that doesn’t serve me.”

While Big E won’t be stepping back into the ring for the foreseeable future, he’s still available to be used in other ways by WWE, including at WWE SummerSlam weekend later this month. It was recently revealed that Big E will be working on July 27-29 in Nashville at a talent tryout for current and graduated college athletes, where he will be helping to assess the prospects involved.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

WWE Raw Preview 7/11/22

Brock Lesnar is back and set to return to WWE “Raw” tonight.

Backstage News On Talent Reaction To Vince McMahon Allegations

After the Wall Street Journal reported that Vince McMahon has paid over $12 million in ‘hush money,’ there have been mixed reactions backstage from the talent, according to Dave Meltzer on the latest “Wrestling Observer Radio.”

The allegation claimed that McMahon had paid off three other women whom he had supposedly been sexually involved with, one of which was a former wrestler that claimed to have been coerced into having oral sex, while another was sent unsolicited nudes from him.

Meltzer heard from several different wrestlers who were at “WWE SmackDown” and they provided a varying degrees of thoughts when it comes to the latest allegations surrounding McMahon. One believed that people know what they are getting themselves into when they enter the wrestling business.

Another talent revealed that McMahon is not selling anything right now, and nobody backstage is talking about the situation as they believe that if you are heard doing that there is a chance of getting in trouble, which nobody needs right now. Then a third person gave a very different take, as they were said to be very concerned about the situation.

They believe that it is one thing for him to pay money in order to cover up an affair, which was the first allegation that was made against him, but it is something else when it becomes coercion, as they are viewing that as a concerning situation.

McMahon was backstage at “WWE SmackDown” this week, although unlike when the first allegation was made against him, he did not appear on television this time. Despite that, it was being viewed as ‘business as usual behind the scenes when it came to running the show and what was happening.

The original report against McMahon took place on June 12, which claimed he had paid off a former paralegal regarding an affair that they had. Since that point, WWE’s board of directors have been investigating him, while he also stepped down as the WWE CEO, with Stephanie McMahon taking over on an interim basis.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

The Rock’s Daughter, Ava Raine, Debuts Nickname In First WWE NXT Promo At NXT House Show

WWE NXT held another live event last night in Orlando, Florida, headlined by Bron Breakker successfully defending his NXT Championship against Tony D’Angelo. Elsewhere on the card, the leader of Toxic Attraction, Mandy Rose, defeated Ivy Nile to retain her NXT Women’s Title, and The Creed Brothers defeated Joe Gacy and a member of the DYAD to retain their Tag Team Titles.

But one of the biggest stories coming out of the show isn’t about the in-ring action at all. Fresh WWE NXT talent Ava Raine, the real-life daughter of The Rock that signed with WWE in February 2020, cut her first promo at last night’s event. She was presented as a heel to the audience as she talked down to Cora Jade and the rest of the NXT women’s locker room.

Raine also revealed what her nickname will be going forward and it’s possibly a nod to a recent horror film. Raine, a fan of cinema influenced by the supernatural, apparent by the many references to “The Craft” (1996) on her social media, was referring to herself as “The Final Girl” during her in-ring promo. The film, “The Final Girls” was a horror/comedy film released in 2015 that first debuted at the SXSW Film Festival before receiving a wider release in the United States later that Fall. The premise of the movie sees the protagonist, Max, along with her group of friends, getting trapped inside a B-horror film where they must use the tropes they’ve learned from watching horror movies to survive. There’s no certainty this film influenced the new description Raine is giving herself in NXT, but the connection is possible.

“The Final Girl” is also a common trope in horror cinema as a whole. She is recognized as the last girl or woman surviving in the film as the story becomes centrally focused on her.

As seen in the photos below, Raine was trending after she dropped the promo last night, signifying that we might be approaching a televised debut for the 20-year-old. She has been teasing her debut for several weeks until last night when she finally revealed her persona to a live crowd.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

WWE SmackDown Preview 7/8/22

WWE SmackDown, tonight at 8/7 C on FOX.

As of Friday morning, here is the lineup announced for tonight’s show:

  • Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns returns
  • How will Ronda Rousey respond to the new “SmackDown” Women’s Champion Liv Morgan?
  • Maximum Male Models to unveil their 2022 Tennis Collection

Vince McMahon Allegedly Paid Four Women $12 Million To Silence Sexual Misconduct Allegations

A new report has revealed Vince McMahon may have paid off multiple former employees to stay quiet.

Last month, allegations that Vince McMahon paid a former WWE paralegal $3 million in hush money after the two had an affair surfaced via the Wall Street Journal. That report led to McMahon stepping down as WWE’s CEO pending the result of an investigation by the company’s board. Today, those allegations have become far more serious as new reports that McMahon has paid off multiple women have emerged.

The report once again comes from the Wall Street Journal which has now revealed McMahon allegedly paid off as many as four women going back 16 years. Those payments apparently total $12 million, with one of the four unnamed women included in the report being paid $7.5 million by McMahon. The report claims that amount was paid to a former wrestler who McMahon allegedly coerced into oral sex before demoting her and then eventually neglecting to renew her contract in 2005.

The wrestler wasn’t paid off at the time, but reportedly met with McMahon and negotiated a deal for her silence along with her attorney. The second of the two women mentioned in the report apparently approached the company with unsolicited nude photos of their boss, presumably threatening to leak them should she not get paid. WSJ reports the former WWE contractor was paid $1 million in return for not sharing the photos online.

The third person mentioned in the new report doesn’t include as many details as the previous two. Just that a former manager with the company was paid $1 million in 2006 in return for their silence regarding an alleged sexual relationship between her and McMahon. The three new instances combined with the previous reports of a $3 million payment mean McMahon is now being accused of paying more than $12 million across almost two decades in return for the silence of former employees with who he has allegedly had sexual encounters.

WWE’s next move in all this remains unclear. The first report resulted in McMahon stepping back as CEO, but then appearing on SmackDown that week seemingly just to prove that he could. The new report also includes a $1.5 million payout to someone for allegations made against John Laurinaitis. The head of talent relations has been absent since the first report, replaced by Bruce Prichard pending the results of the investigation.

Source: TheSportster