Category: WWE

Backstage News On The Status Of WWE 205 Live

The new era of WWE 205 Live is officially underway, according to PWInsider.

The show debuted at the Capitol Wrestling Center last Friday and will continue to air from that facility, the former WWE Performance Center arena, each week. 205 Live episodes are now being taped on Wednesdays as a part of the weekly WWE NXT TV tapings.

Dewey Foley is still the head writer of the 205 Live brand, but the show is now officially, more than ever, under the NXT production umbrella. It was also noted that the NXT staff and creative team are now directing all aspects of the weekly cruiserweight series.

It will be interesting to see if WWE changes the look of the ring for tonight’s 205 Live episode on the WWE Network. Last week’s show, the first from the CWC, used the regular yellow ring ropes and turnbuckle pads with the NXT logo.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Backstage News On The Status Of Raw Underground

WWE is reportedly set to discontinue Raw Underground, the “shoot-style fights” that were introduced by Shane McMahon in August during an episode of Monday Night Raw.

According to Dave Meltzer on the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Raw Underground “is considered done” for right now.

The report noted that the segment was initially dropped for a few weeks due to the COVID-19 breakout, and fear that extras in the crowd may have been exposed to the virus. However, that is no longer the case. Even with almost everyone involved in the Raw Underground team back to work, the word is that WWE will no longer produce the shoot-style fights.

Meltzer also noted that due to the recent WWE Draft, Raw Underground segments “wouldn’t have fit as easily” into the show. He also mentioned how WWE was trying to keep NXT talent–who served as the extras on Raw Underground–away from Raw and SmackDown talent as much as possible, due to the fear of another COVID-19 outbreak.

Raw Underground took place for eight straight weeks on Raw, starting from the August 3 episode until September 21. However, it hasn’t been featured since then. The last big Raw Underground match pitted Braun Strowman against Dabba-Kato.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

WWE NXT Preview 10/14/20

Tonight’s WWE NXT episode from the Capitol Wrestling Center will be headlined by a NXT North American Title match, with more focus on returning Superstars like Ember Moon, Toni Storm and Dexter Lumis.

WWE has announced that Lumis will challenge NXT North American Champion Damian Priest in tonight’s main event. There will also be new #1 contenders to NXT Tag Team Champions Breezango crowned as Roderick Strong and Bobby Fish take on Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch.

A new promo for tonight’s show teased more from Moon, Storm and Lumis, who have made their returns since the “Takeover: 31” event.

2020 WWE Draft Results

ROUND 1 (ON SMACKDOWN)
* WWE Champion Drew McIntyre stays on RAW
* RAW Women’s Champion Asuka stays on RAW
* The Hurt Business (MVP, Cedric Alexander, Shelton Benjamin, WWE United States Champion Bobby Lashley) stays on RAW
* WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns stays on SmackDown
* Seth Rollins goes from RAW to SmackDown

ROUND 2 (ON SMACKDOWN)
* AJ Styles goes from SmackDown to RAW
* Sasha Banks stays on SmackDown
* Naomi goes from SmackDown to RAW
* Bianca Belair goes from RAW to SmackDown
* WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Shayna Baszler and Nia Jax stay on RAW

ROUND 3 (ON SMACKDOWN)
* Ricochet stays on RAW
* Jey Uso stays on SmackDown
* Mandy Rose stays on RAW
* Rey Mysterio and Dominik Mysterio go from RAW to SmackDown
* The Miz and John Morrison go from SmackDown to RAW

ROUND 4 (ON SMACKDOWN)
* SmackDown Tag Team Champions Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods go from SmackDown to RAW
* Big E stays on SmackDown
* Dana Brooke stays on RAW
* Otis stays on SmackDown
* Angel Garza stays on RAW

FREE AGENTS AND SUPPLEMENTAL DRAFT PICKS FROM TALKING SMACK
* Humberto Carrillo stays on RAW
* Tucker goes from SmackDown to RAW
* Drew Gulak goes from SmackDown to RAW
* Kalisto stays on SmackDown
* Shorty G stays on SmackDown
* Murphy goes from RAW to SmackDown
* Mickie James TBA

ROUND 1 (ON RAW)
* “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt goes from SmackDown to RAW
* Randy Orton stays on RAW
* SmackDown Women’s Champion Bayley stays on SmackDown
* RAW Tag Team Champions (Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins) go to SmackDown from RAW
* Charlotte Flair stays on RAW

ROUND 2 (ON RAW)
* Braun Strowman goes to RAW from SmackDown
* Daniel Bryan stays on SmackDown
* Matt Riddle goes to RAW from SmackDown
* Kevin Owens goes to SmackDown from RAW
* Jeff Hardy goes to RAW from SmackDown

ROUND 3 (ON RAW)
* RETRIBUTION stays on RAW
* Lars Sullivan stays on SmackDown
* Keith Lee stays on RAW
* King Baron Corbin stays on SmackDown
* Alexa Bliss goes from SmackDown to RAW

ROUND 4 (ON RAW)
* Elias goes to RAW from SmackDown
* WWE Intercontinental Champion Sami Zayn stays on SmackDown
* Lacey Evans goes to RAW from SmackDown
* Cesaro and Shinsuke Nakamura stay on SmackDown
* Sheamus goes to RAW from SmackDown

ROUND 5 (ON RAW)
* Nikki Cross goes to RAW from SmackDown
* Robert Roode and Dolph Ziggler go to SmackDown from RAW
* WWE 24/7 Champion R-Truth stays on RAW
* Apollo Crews goes to SmackDown from RAW
* Dabba-Kato stays on RAW

ROUND 6 (ON RAW)
* Titus O’Neil stays on RAW
* Carmella stays on SmackDown
* Peyton Royce stays on RAW
* Aleister Black goes to SmackDown from RAW
* Akira Tozawa stays on RAW

ROUND 7 (ON RAW TALK)
* Lana stays on RAW
* Riddick Moss stays on RAW
* Arturo Ruas stays on RAW
* Natalya goes to SmackDown from RAW
* Ruby Riott and Liv Morgan go to SmackDown from RAW

ROUND 8 (ON TWITTER)
* Erik stays on RAW
* Billie Kay goes to SmackDown from RAW
* Tamina Snuka stays on SmackDown
* Zelina Vega goes to SmackDown from RAW
* Gran Metalik and Lince Dorado go to RAW from SmackDown

The remaining free agents from the pools as of this writing are Andrade and Mickie James.

WWE RAW Preview 10/12/20, WWE Draft

Tonight’s WWE RAW from the Amway Center in Orlando will feature the continuation of the 2020 Draft, plus more build for the upcoming Hell In a Cell pay-per-view.

* Kevin Owens to face Aleister Black in a No Disqualification Match

* Seth Rollins bids farewell to Raw

* Battle Royal to decide Asuka’s next challenger

* Mustafa Ali to speak about his RETRIBUTION reveal

See below for the updated draft pool for Monday’s edition of Raw:

Andrade
Bayley
Aleister Black
Alexa Bliss
Daniel Bryan
Carmella
King Corbin
Apollo Crews
Nikki Cross
Dabba-Kato
Dolph Ziggler & Robert Roode
Elias
Erik (of The Viking Raiders)
Lacey Evans
Charlotte Flair
Jeff Hardy
Billie Kay
Lana
Keith Lee
Riddick Moss
Natalya
Titus O’Neil
Randy Orton
Kevin Owens
R-Truth
RETRIBUTION (Mustafa Ali, T-BAR, MACE, SLAPJACK, RECKONING & RETALIATION)
Matt Riddle
The Riott Squad (Ruby Riott & Liv Morgan)
Peyton Royce
Arturo Ruas
Sheamus
Shinsuke Nakamura & Cesaro
The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins & Montez Ford)
Braun Strowman
Lars Sullivan
Tamina
Akira Tozawa
Zelina Vega
Bray Wyatt
Sami Zayn

Eva Marie Reportedly Returning To WWE

Eva Marie is reportedly returning to WWE soon.

There’s no official word on when Eva is set to return, but Cultaholic reports that the return may be imminent. It was noted that we could see the former WWE Divas Search competitor and Total Divas cast member return as soon as tonight’s RAW episode, featuring the end of the 2020 WWE Draft.

Wrestling Inc. noted back in September how Eva spoke with Reel Talker’s Jim Alexander and commented on her WWE experience, and how The McMahon Family took a chance on her. She said WWE will always be her #1.

“WWE is always my number one,” she said. “My family. They are everything. Vince, Hunter, Stephanie, they took a chance on me, as a nobody at all. They gave me opportunities to possibly become a superstar.”

Eva also said she has some unfinished business in WWE, during that interview.

“I am just so thankful to that company and feel I have some unfinished business (if you know what I’m saying). I have no problem and see myself coming back to WWE. Stirring it up a little bit,” she said of a potential return.

Eva first joined WWE in 2013 for Total Divas and the Divas Search, but left the company in August 2017 to focus on other interests outside of the company. She has done some acting and reality TV work since then, and has also launched her own fashion brands, among other projects. Eva also launched a podcast in 2018, The Natalie Eva Marie Show. She has stayed away from pro wrestling for the most part, but it was recently revealed at this link that she has a new pro wrestling show with NowThis coming out.

UPDATE:

PWInsider reports that Marie is currently in Orlando for this week’s WWE TV tapings at the Amway Center. She was seen on Sunday undergoing medical testing that was needed to enter the arena today.

Word is that the 36 year old Marie and WWE came to terms on a return deal during the week of September 20. There is still no word yet on if she will be returning to wrestle, or work as some sort of personality on TV.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

WWE To Continue Running At The ThunderDome For The Month Of November

WWE is planning on running from the ThunderDome at the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida for at least one more month.

The future of The ThunderDome has been up in the air as WWE’s current residency at the Amway Center is set to expire on Saturday, October 31, less than one week after WWE Hell In a Cell. However, PWInsider now reports that WWE will be extending the length of the ThunderDome concept for at least another four weeks.

This means that the 2020 WWE Survivor Series pay-per-view on November 22 will likely take place from the Amway Center.

There’s no word yet on where RAW, SmackDown and WWE pay-per-view events will air from for the month of December. It’s been reported that WWE was looking at other venue options in the state of Florida. The next WWE pay-per-view event after Survivor Series is TLC on December 20.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

WWE Draft Results From SmackDown and Supplemental On Talking Smack

ROUND 1
* WWE Champion Drew McIntyre stays on RAW
* RAW Women’s Champion Asuka stays on RAW
* The Hurt Business (MVP, Cedric Alexander, Shelton Benjamin, WWE United States Champion Bobby Lashley) stays on RAW
* WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns stays on SmackDown
* Seth Rollins goes from RAW to SmackDown

ROUND 2
* AJ Styles goes from SmackDown to RAW
* Sasha Banks stays on SmackDown
* Naomi goes from SmackDown to RAW
* Bianca Belair goes from RAW to SmackDown
* WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Shayna Baszler and Nia Jax stay on RAW

ROUND 3
* Ricochet stays on RAW
* Jey Uso stays on SmackDown
* Mandy Rose stays on RAW
* Rey Mysterio and Dominik Mysterio go from RAW to SmackDown
* The Miz and John Morrison go from SmackDown to RAW

ROUND 4
* SmackDown Tag Team Champions Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods go from SmackDown to RAW
* Big E stays on SmackDown
* Dana Brooke stays on RAW
* Otis stays on SmackDown
* Angel Garza stays on RAW

Here are the moves announced Talking Smack:

* Humberto Carrillo stays on RAW
* Murphy goes from RAW to SmackDown
* Drew Gulak goes from SmackDown to RAW
* Kalisto stays on SmackDown
* Tucker goes from SmackDown to RAW

The following Superstars are still free agents:

RAW: Mickie James
SmackDown: Lucha House Party (Gran Metalik and Lince Dorado), Shorty G

WWE SmackDown Preview 10/9/20: Draft Begins

Tonight’s WWE SmackDown on FOX episode will feature Night 1 of the 2020 WWE Draft.

WWE Champion Drew McIntyre and WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns are both eligible to be drafted tonight. You can click here for full rules on the Draft, and details on the Superstar pools for tonight.

Mickie James Out Of Action Due To Broken Nose Suffered On WWE RAW

WWE Superstar Mickie James will be out of action for several weeks after suffering a broken nose.

“I had my nose broken recently in match so I can’t wrestle for a few weeks,” James said while appearing on her YouTube channel, GAW TV (h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription).

James noted that the controversial finish to her Raw Women’s Championship match against Asuka – during an episode of Monday Night Raw on September 14 – was actually not “a swerve” and the result of her breaking her nose. The finish saw the referee call for the bell even though Mickie never tapped out to the Asuka Lock.

Interestingly, Mickie wrestled the following week on Raw against Zelina Vega because she wasn’t still aware of the severity of the injury.

“What had happened was, after the swelling went down [after the Asuka match injury], I noticed that this whole side of my nose was completely caved in.

“I go to the doctor [and he says] I broke my nose,” said Mickie.

Mickie explained that her cartilage was dislocated from her nasal cavity and therefore had to be relocated.

The former six-time WWE Women’s Champion has been off WWE TV since that match against Vega. As noted before, she is among the first pool of WWE superstars who are eligible for tonight’s WWE Draft on Friday Night SmackDown. The second pool of wrestlers will be drafted on Monday’s edition of Raw.

Source: Wrestling Inc.