Category: WWE

Backstage Talk On WWE Knowing They Have An Issue With The Age Of The Main Roster

WWE officials are reportedly looking at getting more younger talents ready for the main roster.

A new report from Wrestling Observer Radio noted that WWE officials are very much aware of the idea that they have a lot of 40 year old Superstars on the main roster.

This is said to be the reason for the recent WWE NXT 2.0 brand changes as the company absolutely realizes they have to get wrestlers in their 20s ready for the main roster.

While there might be a feeling among some fans that WWE is in denial over the shape of the main roster, especially when it comes to the age of current talents and the lack of younger stars for the future, that is reportedly not the case as officials are “more than aware” of the problem, and are making changes to fix it.

WWE currently has 22 main roster Superstars who are 40 or older – Asuka (40), Cesaro (40), Finn Balor (40), Kofi Kingston (40), RAW Tag Team Champion Randy Orton (41), WWE Intercontinental Champion Shinsuke Nakamura (41), Shayna Baszler (41), The Miz (41), Dolph Ziggler (41), John Morrison (42), Sheamus (43), Tamina Snuka (43), AJ Styles (44), Jeff Hardy (44), Titus O’Neil (44), Bobby Lashley (45), Robert Roode (45), Rey Mysterio (46), Shelton Benjamin (46), MVP (47), WWE Hall of Famer Edge (47), R-Truth (49). Furthermore, part-timers like Brock Lesnar (44), John Cena (44) and WWE Hall of Famer Bill Goldberg (54) are also used. There are also dozens of Superstars in their mid-30s and who are pushing 40, such as Natalya (39) and WWE United States Champion Damian Priest (39).

Source: Wrestling Inc.

WWE Won’t Run TLC Pay-Per-View In 2021?

WWE reportedly isn’t planning to hold the annual TLC pay-per-view in 2021. The company has performed the show every year since 2009.

The WWE TLC pay-per-view runs annually in the month of December, but it sounds like the show won’t be happening this year.

Previously, an unnamed pay-per-view was scheduled to run on Dec. 12 at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois. Several weeks ago, it was reported that TLC 2021 would actually run on Dec. 12.

However, Dave Meltzer reported on Wrestling Observer Radio (h/t WrestlingNews.co), that WWE isn’t actually running a pay-per-view in December. Meltzer added “the feeling is now” running 12 pay-per-views annually. Instead of a TLC December show, WWE will have the “Day 1” pay-per-view on Jan. 1 (a Saturday) at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia.

With that, there are only two WWE pay-per-views remaining for 2021. Crown Jewel will be held next Thursday at King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Barring a change of plans, Survivor Series will be the final PPV event of 2021 — at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York on Nov. 21.

Regarding other WWE pay-per-views that were held in 2020 but excluded this year include Payback (Aug. 30 of last year), and Clash of Champions (held in 2019 and 2020). Backlash was renamed “WrestleMania Backlash” this year, having featured several WrestleMania 37 rematches.

WWE performs two shows in Saudi Arabia annually, but they were only able to run the one in 2020 (Super ShowDown on Feb. 27) because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Crown Jewel 2021 will be the lone WWE pay-per-view in Saudi Arabia this year.

WWE performed TLC every year from 2009 to 2020, but it looks like they’re keen on changing things up this year. Instead of a December pay-per-view, there will be two PPVs in January — the aforementioned Day One event on Jan. 1 and the annual Royal Rumble. That show will be held on Jan. 29 inside The Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis, Missouri.

Source: TheSportster

Ted DiBiase And His Sons Ordered To Repay Millions By State Auditor

WWE Hall of Famer Ted DiBiase and his two sons are part of a group ordered to repay millions in misspent government funds

Ted DiBiase and his two sons are among a group of people ordered to repay large sums of misspent welfare money.

WWE Hall of Famer Ted DiBiase and his two sons Ted Jr. and Brett find themselves tangled up in an investigation that now sees the three of them having to repay almost $5 million to the state of Mississippi. The investigation, which has been making headlines since 2020 due to the involvement of former NFL star Brett Favre, revolves around misspent welfare money.

State auditor Shad White has concluded his investigation and issued orders to those he believes are on the hook for repayments that tally up to $77 million. The DiBiases are on the hook for more than $4.8 million of that total, with DiBiase Jr. being ordered to repay an eye-watering $3.9 million. His father has been ordered to repay $722,000.

The investigation began when Brett DiBiase, along with five others, was arrested for embezzling welfare funds in Mississippi. Brett was a deputy administrator at the Mississippi Department of Human Services at the time and is one of only two people caught up in the scheme so far to have pleaded guilty. Ted Jr. was paid the money for his motivational speaking, while The Million Dollar Man received the money via his Christian ministry.

As touched upon above, Favre is the reason this case has been getting so much mainstream attention. Favre was originally accused of receiving $1.1 million of money for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. The retired footballer paid back $500,000 of that money. He has now been ordered to repay $828,000 which accounts for the remaining $600,000 plus interest.

DiBiase has actually been working with WWE while this investigation was being conducted. The Hall of Famer worked with Cameron Grimes and LA Knight in NXT, reintroducing the Million Dollar Championship for the two of them to feud over. If the DiBiases, Favre, and everyone else ordered to repay the misspent funds refuse to do so, then they will face civil lawsuits in the future.

Source: Mississippi Today via TheSportster

WWE NXT 2.0 Preview 10/12/21

Tonight’s WWE NXT 2.0 episode will feature a NXT North American Title match and the build for Halloween Havoc will continue.

* NXT North American Champion Isaiah “Swerve” Scott defends against Santos Escobar

* NXT Champion Tommaso Ciampa vs. Joe Gacy in a non-title match. If Gacy wins, he will be added to Bron Breakker vs. Ciampa for the NXT Title at Halloween Havoc

* Von Wagner and Kyle O’Reilly vs. Ridge Holland and Pete Dunne

* The second edition of “Lashing Out with Lash Legend”

Velvet Sky Says Jeff Hardy “Deserves Way More”

On Monday’s RAW, Jeff Hardy went up against Austin Theory after Theory took out Hardy the week prior. Near the end of the match, Hardy missed a swanton bomb and Theory rolled him up (while also grabbing his belt/pants) for the pinfall victory.

This loss was the latest in a string of losses Hardy has had over the past few weeks (WWE US Champion Damian Priest, 6-Man Tag Match, and a US Title Triple Threat at Extreme Rules) despite still receiving big cheers from the fans.

NWA Commentator Velvet Sky commented about Hardy and WWE’s usage of the veteran star.

“[In my honest opinion], Jeff Hardy deserves way more than how he’s being used,” Sky wrote.

https://twitter.com/VelVelHoller/status/1447736625346265089

A fan in the comments questioned if Hardy going over someone new, like Theory, was really the way to go, instead.

“No I didn’t say that at all,” Sky responded. “I don’t have a problem with vets putting over younger talent. But with Jeff he gets buried week after week.”

WWE RAW Preview 10/11/21

Tonight’s WWE RAW will take place from the Chase Center in San Francisco, California with the first red brand matches for the 2021 King of the Ring Tournament and the inaugural Queen’s Crown Tournament.

Stephanie McMahon Inducted Into International Sports Hall Of Fame

Stephanie McMahon was inducted yesterday into the International Sports Hall of Fame. She is the first female executive to be inducted. The ISHOF was established in 2012 to honor the world’s greatest athletes in all categories of sports.

“Humbled & honored to be the 1st female executive inducted into the International Sports Hall of Fame with such a prestigious class,” McMahon wrote. “The key messages from all were passion, love, hard work, intention, & believing in yourself – #wordstoliveby. #ISHOF”

Stephanie sent out a second tweet showing a photo of herself with this year’s class.

“Congratulations Jay Cutler, Peter Westbrook, Billy Blanks, @MarcusAllenHOF, & Ernie Reyes Sr.! Thank you @RobertGoldmanMD, Fairfax and all involved for this extraordinary award. #ISHOF”

Other notable WWE connections who are in the ISHOF: WWE Hall of Famers Arnold Schwarzenegger (2012), Mark Henry (2012), Bruno Sammartino (2013), and Kurt Angle (2016). Also, Triple H (2015) and Ronda Rousey (2018).

Last month, Stephanie also made Forbes’ 2021 list of the World’s Most Influential CMOs.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

WWE SmackDown Preview 10/8/21

Tonight’s WWE SmackDown on FOX will air live from the SAP Center in San Jose, CA, and will be the season premiere episode for the blue brand.

AJ Lee Announces Her Return To Wrestling For Relaunch Of WOW Women of Wrestling As Executive Producer And Color Commentator

AJ Lee has been revealed as an executive producer and color commentator for the returning Women of Wrestling.

AJ Lee is returning to the wrestling business, six years after she wrestled her final match with WWE and retired due to injuries.

AJ Lee is returning to the wrestling business, six years after she wrestled her final match with WWE and retired due to injuries.

The last few years in wrestling have been peppered with return matches from people fans thought were done with the business. Wrestlers like Daniel Bryan, Edge, and even CM Punk. Speaking of Punk, shortly after he signed with AEW he began fielding questions about his wife’s potential return. Punk is married to former WWE Divas’ Champion, AJ Lee.

Punk gave off mixed messages when asked, saying that she was done in one interview but saying “you never know” in another. An announcement made by Women of Wrestling on Wednesday may explain why Punk danced around the question. Turns out Lee is returning to wrestling, it just won’t be to compete between the ropes, nor will she be following Punk to AEW.

Lee spoke at a press conference during which a number of major details about WOW were revealed, including its pretty impressive TV deal. An accompanying press release (H/T Cageside Seats) reveals that Lee will be an executive producer for the show alongside WoW owner Jeanie Buss. Lee will also provide color commentary for the show when it debuts roughly a year from now.

The other notable name mentioned in WoW’s press release is Tessa Blanchard. It was revealed earlier this week that Blanchard had signed a deal with the returning WoW. Blanchard hasn’t been attached to a promotion ever since she left Impact more than a year ago under controversial circumstances. Blanchard was Impact Champion at the time and allegedly refused to return and wrestle when she was supposed to. She has been linked with AEW and WWE multiple times since.

Lee wrestled her final match for WWE more than six years ago. A six-person tag match the night after WrestleMania 31. Neck injuries likely mean she can never wrestle again. However, as the names mentioned above highlight, you really can never say never nowadays. Lee teamed with Paige in her final match, someone else who has had to retire earlier than she would have wanted. However, Paige has recently been teasing that she also might be prepping for a return.

Source: TheSportster

Jeff Hardy Possibly Bringing Willow To WWE?

Jeff Hardy recently appeared on The Culture State Podcast from WRAL Sports in North Carolina, and teased that his masked Willow The Wisp character may be returning in the near future.

One of the hosts recalled seeing Hardy as Willow on an indie event in Greensboro, North Carolina years ago. Hardy said he’s having a new Willow mask being made, and has talked about bringing the character back before his career is over.

“Speaking of Willow, I was just talking with the guy that makes these masks, who made it back then,” Hardy said. “He’s such an awesome mask maker and that’s now making this new Willow mask, and we were talking about the possibility of Willow entering the scene once again before my career is over.”

The hosts commented on how exciting that would be and Hardy added, “Yeah, there we go. It’s gonna happen.”

Hardy was sent to SmackDown from RAW in the WWE Draft this past week. He lost to WWE United States Champion Damian Priest on this week’s RAW, and was then interviewed by Sarah Schreiber in the ring. During that interview, the WWE Legend said going to SmackDown might be the perfect time to see a different side of Jeff Hardy, or a different ego.

The promo on RAW and Hardy’s recent interview comments have led to speculation that we may see a version of Willow on SmackDown.

Hardy will remain on RAW for the next few weeks until the WWE Draft changes officially go into effect on Friday, October 22. He was attacked by new RAW Superstar Austin Theory on Monday’s show, which may set up a future match between the two.

Hardy wrestled as Willow years ago before signing with WWE, when he and brother Matt Hardy formed their own indie promotion in North Carolina, OMEGA. He later wrestled as Willow at ROH’s 2003 Death Before Dishonor event, defeating Joey Matthews and Krazy K in a Three-Way Dance. Hardy then brought the Willow character to TNA from February – June 2014, losing to Nick Aldis at Slammiversary XII. He also briefly appeared as Willow during the “Wolf Creek Match” in October 2016 when the Broken Hardy program was going on in Impact Wrestling.

Below are a few clips of Willow in TNA/Impact:

Source: Wrestling Inc.