Category: WWE

The Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Is Returning

nxt, dusty classic, dusty rhodes, ciampa, gargano

The annual Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic is returning and a major duo have been confirmed as participants … but for those who don’t want to be spoiled, this is your warning.

According to those in attendance, the return of the Dusty Classic was announced during tonight’s NXT TV tapings in Orlando.

The round of tapings began with a Johnny Gargano promo which was interrupted by his former DIY tag team partner Tommaso Ciampa, who suggested the pair reunite to compete in the tournament.

Gargano accepted the invitation as the two shook on it.

The other teams in the tournament are Street Profits, Fabian Aichner & Marcel Barthel, Moustache Mountain, Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch, Ricochet & Aleister Black, Forgotten Sons and Undisputed Era.

It’s been quite a week for Ciampa and Gargano. DIY not only made surprise appearances on Raw and SmackDown Live, but they were victorious on both shows — defeating The Revival and The Bar.

Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet

Chris Hemsworth Set To Play Hulk Hogan In Netflix Film

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Chris Hemsworth, best known for his role as Thor, will play Hulk Hogan in a biopic for Netflix.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, former WCW head Eric Bischoff is one of the producers along with Michael Sugar, Todd Phillips, and Bradley Cooper. Phillips, who recently completed DC Comics’ The Joker, will be directing the flick.

Reports suggest the movie will focus on Terry Bollea’s transformation into the Hulkster and the rise of Hulkamania in the 80s. The controversy over racial comments he made and the legal fight against Gawker for releasing his sex tape will not be the focus.

THR says the deal for the movie is still in its final stages. Bolea will likely be a consultant.

Hemsworth recently made headlines for showing off his pythons on the beach, but they weren’t close to 24-inches at this point. Looks like he’ll have to start saying a few more prayers and taking a few more vitamins before donning the red and yellow, brother!

Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet

Sasha Banks And Bayley Make Surprise Appearance At NXT Tapings (PHOTOS)

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The new WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions followed up on their vow to take the belts to every brand … including NXT.

Sasha Banks and Bayley made their NXT homecomings during last night’s NXT TV taping, much to the excitement of the Full Sail Crowd, to show off the new hardware.

They reiterated their promise to defend the belts in NXT, as well as RAW and SmackDown.

https://twitter.com/JJWilliamsWON/status/1098402425193619461

The Velveteen Dream Wins NXT North American Championship

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On last night’s WWE NXT episode. The Velveteen Dream defeated Johnny Gargano in the main event to become the new NXT North American Champion.

This is Dream’s first title reign since debuting with the brand in 2016. Gargano won the title back at NXT “Takeover: Phoenix” during WWE Royal Rumble weekend on January 26, defeating Ricochet.

WWE NXT Preview 2/20/19

NXT, Tonight at 8 ET on WWE Network.

* A special announcement will be made

* Velveteen Dream challenges Gargano for NXT North American Title

* Aleister Black goes one-on-one with Roderick Strong

* Mia Yim squares off with Xia Li

* The Original Bro speaks out

WWE NXT UK Preview 2/20/19

NXT UK, today at 3 ET/8 GMT on WWE Network.

* Toni Storm battles Rhea Ripley in an NXT UK Women’s Championship Match

*  Mark Andrews & Flash Morgan Webster take on Gallus’ Joe Coffey & Mark Coffey

* NXT UK Tag Team Champions Zack Gibson & James Drake will address the WWE Universe in Phoenix

* Trent Seven steps into singles competition against the debuting Shane Thorne

Vince McMahon Is Reportedly Upset With The Undertaker’s Starrcast Appearance

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As previously reported, The Undertaker signed a deal and is scheduled to appear at the Starrcast 2 wrestling convention in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 25. The convention falls on the same date as All Elite Wrestling’s Double Or Nothing event, and the two are affiliated with one another, but Starrcast is not considered to be an official AEW event.

The news about Taker appearing at Starrcast 2 was apparently a big deal to WWE CEO Vince McMahon and it did not go down well with him, according to Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio. He notes that McMahon is under the impression that Starrcast and All Elite Wrestling are directly related to one another, and he’s not happy with the developing situation.

Just days before it was officially announced, AEW announcer and the founder of Starrcast, Conrad Thompson, gave Wrestling Inc. a hint about Undertaker’s upcoming appearance at Starrcast.

“With [a few] exceptions, I got everybody I wanted,” Thompson said. “There will be a lot of star power at Starrcast 2. And I started with – hey, let me make a list of everybody that wasn’t available for the first one for whatever reason, and let me try to book those guys. I was successful in doing so. Hypothetically, if Undertaker were at Starrcast, that would be a pretty big deal, huh?”

In our conversation, Thompson also reiterated that AEW and Starrcast are separate.

“It was a thrill as a wrestling fan to be a part of something so historic [at the rally],” Thompson stated. “No, I don’t work there (AEW) and there’s lots of people saying, ‘Oh, Starrcast is an AEW event.’ No, we’re featuring a ton of AEW talent, but Starrcast is owned by me and it’s an independent thing. There will be a ton of wrestlers from other companies there. It’s the exact same as the first [Starrcast]. It’s sort of the official unofficial – if that makes any sense.”

Meltzer also mentioned that there are still no definite plans for The Undertaker at this year’s WrestleMania, including any set special appearances. A large portion of the WrestleMania card is still in flux and has yet to be established. Even John Cena is reported as not having a determined opponent for this year’s “Show Of Shows”.

Starrcast II will be taking place in Las Vegas from May 23-26 and tickets are now available.

Source: Wrestling Inc

Backstage News On The NXT Call Ups And Last Minute Changes Made To RAW This Week

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This week in WWE, RAW and SmackDown audiences were exposed to some of the most talented stars NXT has to offer when Ricochet, Aleister Black, NXT North American Champion Johnny Gargano, and NXT World Champion Tommaso Ciampa made their main roster debuts on WWE TV.

On the latest edition of Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer explained that WWE had a different episode of RAW put together sometime last week, one that didn’t include any new call ups. A week of ratings continuing to decline, All Elite Wrestling continuing to gain momentum, and the announcement that Undertaker is joining Starrcast 2 on AEW Double Or Nothing weekend, left McMahon feeling “off”.

McMahon decided to add some top tier wrestlers to the main roster, so he accessed the pool of available NXT stars and asked them to fly out their best four guys. Meltzer notes that Triple H didn’t initially know about the call ups and there was a lack of communication throughout the process.

The RAW match that ultimately saw Bobby Lashley & Lio Rush vs. WWE Intercontinental Champion Finn Balor & new NXT call up, Ricochet, was reportedly set to be Finn Balor vs. Ricochet in a singles match just before the show aired. It’s believed that Triple H made the call to switch up the singles match between the two babyface characters because he was concerned about how the crowd would react, and he didn’t want either star going over the other after Balor had just won the title and Ricochet had just debuted.

It was also noted that, for the foreseeable future, Ricochet, Black, Gargano, and Ciampa will be performing on WWE NXT, RAW, and SmackDown. The idea is to give each superstar their respective push and be “put over like crazy” in the process.

It will be interesting to see how this translates to NXT’s TakeOver special on WrestleMania weekend. It was mentioned that NXT already had storylines and a card laid out for the upcoming TakeOver event but the sudden change of plans may alter that.

Source: Wrestling Inc

Tye Dillinger Requests Release From WWE

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Tye Dillinger has requested his release from WWE. Dillinger revealed on Twitter and Instagram that he asked for his release.

Dillinger wrote:

Before rumors begin to spread, let me set things straight ahead of time:

This evening, I requested my release from WWE. In the past 5 and a half years with them, I have seen and done some wonderful things. Things that I am very proud of and will never forget. I have met and have worked with unquestionably, some of the greatest talent on this earth and the pleasure has been all mine.

I feel at this time this decision, as extremely difficult as it was, is what is best for myself and WWE. I wish to continue to grow as a performer and offer those paying hard earned money to watch a show I’m performing on, a little more of myself. To the male and female locker rooms, coaches and producers, to the production/ring crew, all the way up to the very top of WWE and most of all the fans…l wish you all the very best and thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything.

https://twitter.com/perfec10n/status/1098084854992957440

Dillinger did not specify if his release was granted, although it would appear to be the case with his post.

Dillinger had originally signed with WWE in 2006 and was trained at Ohio Valley Wrestling. He was released from his contract in January 2009. He re-signed with the company in 2013 and worked in NXT through 2017, before moving to the main roster on the SmackDown brand in April of that year. During that time, he was never really featured.

Dillinger was last seen on television in a match with then-United States Champion Shinsuke Nakamura on an episode of SmackDown Live last September. He suffered a hand injury that required surgery the following month at a WWE live event in Macon, Georgia. He returned to action at live events earlier this month, however had not been used on television.

NXT Teasing “Special Announcement” Following Multiple Debuts On RAW & SmackDown

Fresh off the heels of NXT Stars – Johnny Gargano, Tommaso Ciampa, Ricochet & Aleister Black debuting on RAW  and SmackDown live this week, WWE is teasing a “special announcement” for this week’s episode of NXT.

WWE.com posted the following:

Get ready, because this week’s NXT will feature a special announcement. With no additional details currently available, speculation about what’s in store for the black-and-gold brand is running wild. Be among the first to find out when NXT streams Wednesday at 8/7 C on WWE Network.