Category: WWE

WWE RAW Preview 2/4/19

Image result for Stephanie McMahon invites Becky Lynch to the red brand.

Tonight’s WWE RAW will take place from the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon as we move towards the Elimination Chamber PPV on February 17.

* Stephanie McMahon invites Becky Lynch to the red brand.

* Kurt Angle will address his future with WWE.

* Sasha Banks and Bayley vs. Alicia Fox and Nikki Cross (Qualifier for Tag Team Elimination Chamber Match)

* Does Seth Rollins regret choosing Universal Champion Brock Lesnar as his WrestleMania opponent?

* Will Braun Strowman get payback against Drew McIntyre and Baron Corbin

* WWE Intercontinental Champion Bobby Lashley (with Lio Rush) vs. Finn Balor (Title Match)

* Jeff Jarrett comes swinging for Elias – Jeff Jarrett (with Road Dogg) vs. Elias

Former NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ronnie Garvin Says Dusty Rhodes Was ‘Overrated’

Related image

WWE Hall of Famer Dusty Rhodes has been widely viewed as one of the best minds in pro wrestling history. Throughout his career, in addition to being a top name in the NWA, Rhodes was also a head booker for many years during his time with the company. Rhodes would go on following his retirement from full-time competition to be a head creative mind for both TNA, FCW, and NXT. Despite his highly acclaimed creative abilities, one person, former NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ronnie Garvin, feels much different. Garvin shared his thoughts on the latest episode of Under the Mat Radio.

“Dusty Rhodes was overrated. He was the booker most places he went, Florida, Carolinas,” said Garvin. “I didn’t like what he done a lot of times. A lot of politics, he put himself in places he should’ve been, he didn’t draw the big of money. When he was in the main event, he booked 30 men on the card and had more gimmick matches. Rock n’ Roll Express, those kids were so over. So over, that they would sell out and Dusty Rhodes would book them in small towns because he didn’t want them on the same card as him because he wanted the thunder.”

Garvin reached the pinnacle of his career on September 25, 1987. In a steel cage match, Garvin defeated Ric Flair to win the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. Although Garvin stated that he made more money in a short period of time than he ever had, he also admitted that he “didn’t go crazy” when he won the title.

“You know I’ve had a lot of title matches, I don’t want to diminish the World Title, it was great,” said Garvin. “But I guess with luck and staying healthy long enough, I got to the very top. To me, and I’m being honest, wrestling was a job, pure and simple. I didn’t go crazy because I was the world champion. I’ll tell you, the World Title is probably the most money I made in a short period of time.

“I was in wresting five years before Flair showed up. I don’t know the guy, I mean I know him (speaking as in working with him), but I never visited with the guy, never had a meal with the guy, never traveled with him. I ran into him a few times in the dressing with and said hi and [bye], but know nothing about the guy. We had two different lives. He had the party life which is fine and I don’t begrudge it. One thing about Flair no matter how I hard I hit him he never complained.”

Garvin also discussed Randy Orton using his signature stomps, and more. You can listen to the full interview here.

Source: WrestlingINC

Backstage News On WWE Trying To Lock Up Talent At This Week’s WWE SmackDown

Related image

As we previously reported, WWE confirmed that Dean Ambrose will be leaving the company when his contract expires in April.

PWInsider is reporting at this week’s SmackDown, WWE officials were meeting backstage with any WWE Superstars who’s contracts where going to expire within the next two years in an attempt to sign them to new deals.

WWE has been looking to sign their Superstars for five-year deals for awhile now with Kevin Owens and The Miz as recent examples. At the moment, they obviously don’t want talent heading off to the newly formed All Elite Wrestling, which was partially set off by Ambrose’s deciding to exit from the company in April.

The report continued that many of the talent backstage “were in amazement” as they watched WWE officials try to lock up new deals.

Source: WrestlingINC

WWE Has Reportedly Decided On Their WrestleMania 35 Main Event

Image result for Becky Lynch vs. ronda Rousey WrestleMania 35

According to Sports Illustrated, sources close to WWE have said the current plan is to have WWE RAW Women’s Champion Ronda Rousey vs. Becky Lynch be the main event of WrestleMania 35. WWE’s biggest show of the year will go down on April 7 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

The SI news does conflict with a report from two days ago on Wrestling Observer Radio that said the match would eventually become a triple threat with the addition of Charlotte somewhere down the line. Dave Meltzer did note the match could always be changed.

The only other announced match so far for WrestleMania 35 is WWE Universal Champion Brock Lesnar taking on Seth Rollins. Rollins won the Men’s Royal Rumble and chose Lesnar as his upcoming opponent.

Lynch replaced an injured Lana at #28 in the Women’s Royal Rumble match this past Sunday after losing a WWE SmackDown Women’s Championship Match to Asuka earlier in the night. Lynch would last eliminate Charlotte from the Rumble to guarantee herself a Women’s Championship match at WrestleMania 35.

Earlier this week on RAW, Lynch made an appearance and announced her opponent would be Rousey.

Source: WrestlingINC

Update On The Death Of Brian Christopher, Subpoenas Issued

Brian Christopher passed away at the age of 46 on July 29 when he was found in a Hardeman County Tennessee jail cell after allegedly hanging himself while in isolation. Christopher’s father WWE Hall Of Famer Jerry “The King” Lawler has remained steadfast that he doesn’t believe the story and that things aren’t adding up when comparing evidence to the jail’s version of events.

ABC-24 is reporting attorneys representing Lawler have now filed two subpoenas, which are demanding answers from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and The Hardeman County Sheriff’s Office with the ongoing investigation of Christopher’s death. The investigation was initially opened the same day Christopher passed away after being taken off life support. Attorney Jeff Rosenblum spoke to ABC-24 about wanting an explanation.

“We were tired of waiting,” Rosenblum said. “This family has waited for more than six months for the Hardeman County Sheriff’s Department to provide them with detailed explanation and the documentation as to what happened to their son and we decided that we would take this into our own hands.”

The report continued that no medical examiner’s report has been filed.

Back in August on his podcast, Dinner With The King, Lawler believed they may have to start up their own investigation to get to the truth.

“Once we see the results of that investigation, then we might have to launch an investigation of our own,” Lawler said. “This is not about a lawsuit or trying to sue the jail or sue the Sheriff or sue the county or anything. It’s not about that at all. It’s just about finding out what really happened here.”

Christopher was a one-time WWE Tag Team Champion alongside Scotty 2 Hotty.

Source: WrestlingINC

Sarah Logan Was One Of The Vikings In War Raiders Entrance At NXT TakeOver: Phoenix

sarah logan war raiders entrance takeover video behind the scenes

WWE shared a video on Wednesday confirming what many had already suspected — Sarah Logan was one of the Vikings in War Raiders’ entrance at TakeOver.

“I’m gonna be a Viking for my husband’s first-ever TakeOver title match,” an excited Logan says at the top of the Performance Center video.

Rowe later revealed in the video that the crew also included his brother and sister.

After their big title win at the event, the tag team were interviewed with Logan by their side. “They always say aim for the stars and you’re gonna be ok,” her husband Rowe explained in the video. “This was the stars. This was the impossible dream.”

Watch the full behind the scenes video below.

Report: Hideo Itami To Be Released By WWE

Image result for hideo itami

According to a report from Fightful, Hideo Itami is the latest wrestler within WWE to ask for his release from the company. Unlike others who reportedly did the same, however, they are also reporting it’s likely he will be granted his wish.

Not long after the aforementioned report was published, Itami changed his name on Twitter back to Kenta and tweeted this:

https://twitter.com/HideoItami/status/1090473371924492289

His issues, unsurprisingly, apparently have to do with being dissatisfied with his creative direction. He felt like a truly hot commodity when he originally debuted in NXT but never seemed to get off the ground, with various injury issues partly to blame. When he was put on 205 Live, there was some hope but the cruiserweight division hasn’t done much for many and Itami is likely much better off heading back to Japan.

Hideo Itami has not yet received his WWE release, according to PWInsider. He will be receiving it, and when he does, he will be subject to the 90-day non-compete clause. Itami is expected to return home to Japan.

Sources: CageSideSeats, PWInsider, Fightful and WrestlingINC

WWE Confirms Dean Ambrose Not Renewing Contract

Image result for Dean Ambrose not renewing WWE contract when it expires in April

WWE has confirmed that Dean Ambrose will not be renewing his WWE contract when it expires in April.

WWE issued the following statement:

Dean Ambrose (Jonathan Good) will not be renewing his contract with WWE when it expires in April.

We are grateful and appreciative of all that Dean has given to WWE and our fans. We wish him well and hope that one day Dean will return to WWE

WWE NXT Preview 1/30/19

WWE NXT streaming tonight at 8/7 C on WWE Network.

* The Streets Profits vs. The Forgotten Sons

* Kairi Sane & Io Shirai vs. Marina Shafir & Jessamyn Duke

* NXT TakeOver: Phoenix aftermath

WWE NXT UK Preview 1/30/19

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

* Tyler Bate & Trent Seven vs. Marcel Barthel & Fabian Aichner

* WALTER is scheduled to compete in his first NXT UK match

*  “Bomber” Dave Mastiff will take on “Primate” Jay Melrose

* Jinny battles Kasey Owens

* The first-ever NXT UK Tag Team Champions James Drake & Zack Gibson will address the WWE Universe