Last night on SmackDown Live Vince McMahon announced that Elias as the biggest acquisition in SmackDown history. Roman Reigns came out and interrupted Elias. Reigns his Elias with a Superman Punch then laid out Vince with a SuperMan Punch then laid out Elias with a spear. Reigns claimed SmackDown as his yard.
Category: WWE
WWE NXT Superstar To Get New Name And Darker Gimmick
WWE NXT Superstar Punishment Martinez is being given a new name and character – Damien Priest.
The “even darker character” change for the former ROH TV Champion was revealed in the new WWE developmental profile from Sports Business Journal. It was noted that he will receive new outfits, new entrance music and a new persona.
Martinez told SBJ that the new gimmick is a perfect fit for him.
“I’ve always been into the weird, the odd, the dark, so that’s the character I’ve always represented,” he said.
The new name for Punishment has not been reflected on the WWE roster or social media. There’s no word yet on when he will start using the new gimmick at NXT live events. Punishment signed with WWE in October 28 and later made his debut as a heel. He has received rave reviews since arriving.
Source: Wrestling Inc.
WWE SmackDown Live Preview 4/16/19 Superstar Shake-Up
Tonight’s WWE SmackDown Live will take place from the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Final night of the Superstar Shake-Up
* Mr. McMahon to reveal the biggest acquisition in SmackDown LIVE history
* Who will join Team Blue in the Superstar Shake-up?
* Who is Paige’s new tag team?
* What’s next for WWE Champion Kofi Kingston?
* Will any team step up to The Hardy Boyz?
Vince McMahon To Announce “Biggest Acquisition In SmackDown History” Tonight
WWE has announced that Vince McMahon will appear on tonight’s Superstar Shake-Up edition of WWE SmackDown Live to announce the biggest acquisition in blue brand history.
On last night’s episode of RAW, AJ Styles, The Usos, The Miz, Rey Mysterio and Naomi were moved from SmackDown to RAW.
Below is the official announcement on Vince’s appearance:
Mr. McMahon to reveal the biggest acquisition in SmackDown LIVE historyThe first night of the Superstar Shake-up was thrilling, to say the least. Although SmackDown LIVE is saying goodbye to Superstars like AJ Styles, The Miz, Rey Mysterio and Naomi, there is still plenty of intrigue as to who will be joining Team Blue.
The mystery has been heightened by Mr. McMahon, who will be revealing the biggest acquisition in SmackDown LIVE history tonight. Who has the WWE Chairman secured for the blue brand?
Killian Dain Comments On SAnitY Breaking Up In The WWE Superstar Shake-Up
It lookes like SAnitY was split up during last night’s WWE Superstar Shakeup edition of RAW as leader Eric Young was sent to the RAW roster from SmackDown. There was no mention of Killian Dain or Alexander Wolfe.
Dain took to Twitter today and thanked everyone for supporting SAnitY. He wrote, “Good luck @TheEricYoung Good luck @TheWWEWolfe I’ll miss you both terribly. Had the time of my life as part of Sanity!! You are phenomenal in the ring and outside of it. Thanks to everyone who supported us”
Wolfe re-tweeted the comments from Dain and also commented on the Shakeup.
Wolfe wrote, “#SuperstarShakeup very interesting… What do YOU want?”
Young has not publicly commented on the Shakeup or the status of SAnitY. The group came up to SmackDown from WWE NXT in June 2018 but they are rarely used, on TV or at live events. They lost to The Undisputed Era on the NXT vs. NXT Alumni Worlds Collide special on the WWE Network this past Sunday.
You can see their tweets below:
https://twitter.com/KillianDain/status/1118117597881483264
https://twitter.com/TheWWEWolfe/status/1117961419519971328
Source: Wrestling Inc.
UPDATE:
Nikki Cross tweeted about the split up of SAnitY:
https://twitter.com/NikkiCrossWWE/status/1118272246487879681
New Bizarre Vignette For Bray Wyatt?,
We’ve noted how WWE last week aired a bizarre vignette for some sort of laughing buzzard, that is believed to be a teaser for Bray Wyatt’s return with a new gimmick. As seen below, a new vignette began airing this week.
WWE asked, “What spine-chilling entity is coming to WWE?”
Update On Ronda Rousey Taking Time Away From WWE
It looks like Ronda Rousey is in a hurry to expand her family so she can get back to work.
Rousey noted on Instagram today that she and husband Travis Browne are headed out on a vacation. She referred to it as a “#impregnationvacation” in the caption.
WrestleMania 35 was to be Rousey’s final appearance for WWE for the foreseeable future. She is under contract to WWE until April 10, 2021, but she was only committed to going hard full-time through WrestleMania 35, according to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
Rousey made it known last year that she was looking to have a child with Browne soon, before they got too much older. It’s been reported that WWE wants Rousey back in the ring for a WrestleMania 36 rematch with current RAW & SmackDown Women’s Champion Becky Lynch, but that would likely be cutting it close, depending on how long it takes the happy couple to get pregnant. Her new IG post indicates they are serious about expanding their family now.
On a related note, Rousey and Browne could be in Las Vegas for their vacation. They were photographed at The Range 702 firing range in Vegas earlier this week, as seen below.
You can also see Rousey’s full Instagram post below:
Source: Wrestling Inc.
WWE Superstar Shake-Up Moves At Last Night’s RAW
Last night was the first night of the annual WWE Superstar-Shake-Up and as usual there was some big changes.
Below are a list of names that has joined the RAW roster:
- AJ Styles
- The Miz
- The Viking Experience (Erik and Ivar) formally known as War Raiders (Hanson and Rowe) – current NXT Tag Team Champions
- The Usos
- Naomi
- ReyMysterio
- Andrade and Zelina Vega
- Cedric Alexander
- EC3
- Lacey Evans
- Eric Young
War Raiders Debut On WWE RAW As “The Viking Experience”
NXT Tag Team Champions Hanson and Rowe, better known as War Raiders, were shock call-ups on last night’s Superstar Shake-Up edition of RAW, joining forces with The Revival to face off against Ricochet, Aleister Black, Zack Ryder, and Curt Hawkins in an eight-man tag.
They weren’t introduced under their NXT monickers: instead, Hanson and Rowe have been rebranded Erik and Ivar, The Viking Experience.
RAW’s commentators then tried to put the act over as “not a gimmick,” claiming that Ivar and Erik are literal vikings, thus cementing the move’s utter ridiculousness.
Is this the dumbest name change in WWE history?
Ditching “War Raiders” essentially means that the hugely over “war” chants are probably going away as well.
Regardless, The Viking Experience should be strong enough to survive the silliness. They’re a great tag team, having proved it again at TakeOver: New York.
Here’s hoping they compensate by ruling the RAW tag division.
WWE RAW Preview 4/15/19 Superstar Shake-Up
Tonight’s WWE RAW will take place from the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Superstar Shake-Up night one.
* WWE gets shaken up
* Lacey Evans steps to “Becky Two Belts”
* The Universal Freakin’ Champion awaits his next challenge
* Bobby Lashley strikes back
* The Big Dog protects his yard
