Category: WWE

Randy Orton And AEW President Tony Khan Spar On Twitter After Khan Responded To a CM Punk Tweet

Tensions between WWE and AEW escalated on Monday when Randy Orton went back back and forth on social media with All Elite Wrestling President Tony Khan.

Things kicked off earlier today when CM Punk tagged Khan in a tweet promoting his appearance on tomorrow’s episode of WWE Backstage. “It IS weird trying to catch up on 5+ years of rasslin’, I’m doing what I can. There’s bright spots, mostly women from what I can tell. There’s BAD too. I’m gonna talk about it, and no one is safe. Join us,” he wrote.

Tony Khan responded hours later saying, “No one is safe? Sounds like a plane full of wrestlers in Saudi Arabia!” This was obviously in reference to WWE’s recent travel delays after Crown Jewel.

“What’s that whole thing about glass houses and stones,” Orton replied along with a news article on allegations made against Tony’s father Shahid Khan, who funded the promotion.

Tony wrote back: “I thought you only tagged me in your posts when you were grasping for leverage. That article’s over a year old + is about baseless claims made about my dad years ago. That’s the best you can do, nothing. Meanwhile in the time since that was written, you used the N word on twitch.”

And lastly, Randy ended the night firing back with: “Jacksonville Dixie: Why else would I tag you? If I wanted to talk business, I’d call your father.” He also added a kissy-face emoji.

You can see the tweets below:

WWE RAW Preview 11/18/19

Tonight’s WWE RAW will take place from the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts with the final red brand hype for Sunday’s Survivor Series pay-per-view.

  • Seth Rollins to wager his Survivor Series berth against Andrade on Raw
  • Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair to compete in tag team action on Raw
  • Rey Mysterio to appear live on Raw before challenging Brock Lesnar at Survivor Series
  • Zack Ryder & Curt Hawkins to challenge Raw Tag Team Champions The Viking Raiders
  • Natalya to battle WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion Asuka

Earl Hebner Says “You Feel Like A Prisoner” When You Work For WWE

Earl Hebner is perhaps the most famous wrestling referee of all-time. He’s been in the business for over 40 years and worked for Jim Crockett Promotions/NWA from 1977 to 1988, WWE from 1988 to 2005 and TNA/Impact Wrestling from 2005 to 2017  He is now a part of AEW and Hebner talked about the differences between AEW and WWE when he spoke to Wrestling Inc. on their WINCLY podcast.

“It doesn’t feel like you’re in prison here,” Hebner said of AEW as compared to WWE. “You’ve got more leeway and it’s more relaxing. It felt like you were in a prisoner in WWE but not in AEW.

“This is just a more laid back company and at my age, this is great for me.”

Hebner has been involved in many memorable wrestling matches and moments. He was asked what he would pick as the highlights of his career.

“The first one would be Saturday Night Main Event when I screwed Hogan. And the next one would be the Bret Hart deal [Montreal Screwjob],” Hebner said before being asked why he considers that controversial match a highlight.

“It made a name for me…”

“I don’t think they are ever gonna let that go. It’s gotta be over 20 years ago… [The fans] wanna torture me but I’m torturing them!”

WWE officiating, and their product in general, came under fire recently with the Seth Rollins-Bray Wyatt Hell in a Cell match. Hebner was blunt when asked what he thought of that controversial finish.

“I don’t watch their product,” stated Hebner.

Earl Hebner can be seen every Wednesday night on TNT, 8/7c, as part of AEW Dynamite. Hebner’s full interview with Wrestling Inc aired as part a recent episode of our WINCLY podcast. It can be heard via the embedded audio player at the bottom of this post, or via the video player at the top.

You can check out past episodes of the WINCLY here. Subscribe to Wrestling Inc. Audio on iTunes or Google Play. Listen to the show via Spotify here or through TuneIn here.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Jordan Myles (ACH) Addresses Status With WWE, His Mental Health, Calling Out Jay Lethal

A couple days ago, Jordan Myles (aka “Super” ACH) got on social media and said he quit WWE after calling out the company over one of his previous t-shirt design, claiming it to be racist. WWE had reportedly “very much tried” to work with Myles before he went public about his issues with the company.

Yesterday, Myles did a live Q&A on Twitter to answer questions from fans. In the Q&A he addressed: potential landing spots for him down the road, his mental health, if he’s legally cleared from WWE, and Jay Lethal. In regards to going to either AEW or NJPW, Myles felt like NJPW was where he’d like to return to.

“New Japan, not that I got anything against AEW, but New Japan, I love New Japan,” ACH said. I feel like I got a lot more left to accomplish there.”

One fan asked if ACH was legally able to move on from WWE, but he confirmed that’s not the case.

“Legally, no. Mentally, yes,” ACH responded.

ACH was asked about the “mental health rumors” and noted he can have severe mood swings due to his anxiety and depression, but that shouldn’t discredit what he’s previously said.

“The thing about the mental health, I do suffer with anxiety and I do suffer with depression and I can have bad mood swings sometimes, but that doesn’t mean when I speak out it doesn’t have any meaning behind it,” ACH said. “The t-shirt triggered things from my past and it all came up at once, and a lot of anger from my past came up with it, as well. That caused me to come at people the way that I did. Again, I’m not gonna apologize for what I said. What I said, I meant it.”

The topic of Jay Lethal was also brought up as ACH referred to him as an “Uncle Tom” while also blasting WWE on social media. ACH noted there is a story behind why he said that about Lethal, but wasn’t going to disclose it.

“There’s a huge story behind it, and to be fair and respectful, I won’t disclose that story,” ACH responded. “I won’t disclose that story because I won’t throw more salt on his name that I already have. I think any issues between him and I—now that it’s out there, I’m cool, I’m straight, it is what it is, you know what I mean? But our beef is our beef. There may not be any beef—to be fair—there ain’t no beef on my end. I said what I had to say and I’m done. I’m done with it, I got everything off my chest, it’s out there in the public eye. If anybody wants to know, your best bet is to ask him, or ask around, there were a ton of people around.”

ACH also confirmed that Lethal never said anything to him after his tweet.

https://twitter.com/ACHisSuper/status/1195739257266151424

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Hulk Hogan Reveals Hardware Removed From His Back

It looks like WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan underwent successful back surgery on Tuesday. We noted last week that The Hulkster revealed that he would be going under the knife for another back operation this week.

“They’re going to fuse six levels together, so we’ll see how I feel after that,” Hogan told Sports Illustrated last week.

As seen below, Hogan took to Twitter today and revealed some of the hardware that was removed from his back.

He wrote, “That is the old hardware that came out of my back brother. HH”

Source: Wrestling Inc.

WWE Friday Night SmackDown 11/15/19

Tonight’s WWE Friday Night SmackDown and WWE 205 Live will take place from the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia as the road to Survivor Series continues.

  • The New Day and The Revival set for championship rematch
  • Daniel Bryan joins The Miz for “Miz TV”
  • Nikki Cross takes on Bayley for the right to join Team SmackDown at Survivor Series
  • Mustafa Ali & Shorty G face Dolph Ziggler & Robert Roode with Survivor Series spots on the line
  • Lacey Evans joins Team SmackDown for Survivor Series

There will be an appearance by WWE Universal Champion “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt.

Ronda Rousey Documentary Finally Being Released Next Week

Lionsgate will release a new documentary on UFC Hall of Famer and WWE Superstar Ronda Rousey next Tuesday, November 19.

You can see the trailer for “The Ronda Rousey Story: Through My Father’s Eyes” above. The documentary will be available for digital streaming and on-demand, and has a runtime of 106 minutes.

The special was written and directed by former WBC International Light Middleweight boxing champion Gary Stretch. UFC President Dana White and several fighters, including Randy Couture, are featured, along with Gene LeBell.

This project was first announced back in late 2014, by Wrekin Hill Entertainment, and was then announced to be shown in theaters in 2016. It was then announced for a delayed theatrical release in 2017, but it looks like that never happened. A screening in Hollywood did take place in late 2016. It appears Lionsgate may have acquired the rights from Wrekin Hill, and are finally releasing the documentary on digital platforms.

Below is the synopsis for the doc:

“When Ronda Rousey became the first female UFC champion, she achieved more than athletic glory—she realized her late father’s belief that she would make her greatest dreams come true. The Ronda Rousey Story: Through My Father’s Eyes follows Ronda’s inspiring journey to superstardom, weaving revealing interviews with dynamic fight footage to create a portrait of a remarkable and fearless woman who overcame all odds to become a symbol of strength, hope, and female empowerment.”

Rousey is currently on a hiatus from WWE, but is appearing on the current season of Total Divas. She has been rumored for an upcoming return to the WWE storylines but there’s no word yet on when that might happen.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

WATCH: CM Punk’s Secret Arrival To FOX Studios For WWE Backstage

CM Punk arrived to the FOX lot in secret this week for a surprise appearance on WWE Backstage … and the whole thing was documented in a cool behind the scenes video.

WWE on FOX’s Twitter account shared the video which begins with Punk talking about meeting with FOX executives about his role on the show. The former WWE champion says he was told they want him on the show as an analyst, similar to A-Rod with MLB coverage and Troy Aikman with NFL coverage.

Punk is shown arriving to the lot shortly before Backstage was set to begin and hiding his face with a scarf to make sure the secret wasn’t spoiled beforehand.

Prior to making his first appearance on the show, Punk is shown in the elevator saying “this is kind of a big deal.” When someone in production reaffirms that he IS kind of a big deal, the former wrestler replies saying, “For the first time, I will say yes. I will admit that. This is kind of a big thing.”

Watch the full video below to see CM Punk watching the show before his intro and more.

WWE Backstage airs Tuesday nights on FS1 at 11pm ET/ 8pm PT.

https://twitter.com/WWEonFOX/status/1195176384005459969

CM Punk wwe backstage behind the scenes video

Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet

The Rock Officially Joins DC Universe, ‘Black Adam’ Release Date Announced

The Rock has finally announced, after years of circling the project, that he’ll don the cape to become Black Adam in the DC Universe.

Dwayne Johnson made the announcement via Instagram with a lengthy post:

Like most kids growing up, I dreamed about being a superhero. Having cool superpowers, fighting for what’s right and always protecting the people.

It all changed for me, when I was 10yrs old and was first introduced to the greatest superhero of all time – SUPERMAN.

As a kid, Superman was the hero I always wanted to be.

But, a few years into my fantasy, I realized that Superman was the hero, I could never be.
I was too rebellious. Too rambunctious. Too resistant to convention and authority.

Despite my troubles, I was still a good kid with a good heart – I just liked to do things my way.

Now, years later as a man, with the same DNA I had as a kid – my superhero dreams have come true.
I’m honored to join the iconic #DCUniverse and it’s a true pleasure to become, BLACK ADAM.

BLACK ADAM is blessed by magic with the powers equal to SUPERMAN, but the difference is he doesn’t toe the mark or walk the line.

He’s a rebellious, one of a kind superhero, who’ll always do what’s right for the people – but he does it his way. Truth and justice – the BLACK ADAM way.

This role is unlike any other I’ve ever played in my career and I’m grateful to the bone we’ll all go on this journey together.

The character of Black Adam is an anti-hero who is Shazam’s nemesis. The project has been in and out of development for years. Johnson was offered the role of Shazam during casting of the film released earlier this year, but he chose to stick with Black Adam. There was talk of his character appearing in “Shazam!” as well, but it was ultimately decided that the character should get its own film.

FYI – “Shazam!” was a box-office success and a sequel is currently in the works.

Black Adam will be released on December 22, 2021. Production begins in July.

Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet

“The Fiend” Bray Wyatt’s Opponent For Universal Title Match At Survivor Series, WWE Forced To Change Plans

The affects of the chaotic travel issues stemming from the WWE Crown Jewel event in Saudi Arabia are still being felt, as a big plan originally set for this month’s WWE Survivor Series pay-per-view appears to be scrapped altogether.

On the latest episode of Wrestling Observer Radio at F4WOnline.com, longtime Wrestling Observer Newsletter editor Dave Meltzer (@DaveMeltzerWON) suggested that one of the last matches that will be announced for this month’s WWE Survivor Series pay-per-vew will be “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt defending his WWE Universal Championship in a one-on-one showdown against Daniel Bryan.

It was speculated that the original idea for the title match was for Wyatt to face The Miz, with an angle to be shot for the episode of WWE SmackDown after the WWE Crown Jewel special.

Instead, due to the travel issues that came up, the angle and entire direction in general was changed.

Under those original plans, Bryan was headed for a WWE Intercontinental Championship win over Shinsuke Nakamura on TV, which would have put him in the three-way match at WWE Survivor Series against AJ Styles and Roderick Strong in the “Champion vs. Champion vs. Champion” triple-threat match featuring the WWE United States Champion from the WWE Raw brand (Styles), the WWE Intercontinental Champion from the WWE SmackDown brand (Bryan) and the North American Champion from the NXT brand (Strong).

As seen by the recent announcement made by WWE, the match will instead feature Styles, Nakamura and Strong competing in the three-way match of secondary individual title-holders.

WWE Survivor Series is scheduled to take place on Sunday, November 24th from Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois. The show will air live via pay-per-view and will stream on the WWE Network.

Source: EWrestling