Category: WWE

Pro Wrestling Illustrated Reveals “Wrestler Of The Year” And “Woman Of The Year” For 2018

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In a close vote, Becky Lynch topped Ronda Rousey for 2018’s “Woman of the Year”, as voted by the readers of Pro Wrestling Illustrated. Lynch received 40 percent of the vote, four percent better than Rousey. Asuka and Tessa Blanchard were distant runners-up.

Rousey being selected number one in PWI’s “Woman’s 100” led to Lynch posting some disparaging tweets about PWI – and Publisher Stu Saks in particular. Even though Lynch appeared happy while posing for the PWI cover of the awards issue with the Woman of the Year plaque, she complained about her #11 placement in the “100” throughout much of the photo shoot.

Rousey achieved a near-record 87 percent of the vote in being named “Rookie of the Year”. The widest margin of victory in the 46-year history of the PWI awards was enjoyed by The Giant (Big Show), who garnered 88 percent of the vote for “Rookie of the Year” in 1996.

AJ Styles was named “Wrestler of the Year” for the third straight year. Styles now has earned a total of seven Achievement Awards. Styles earned 46 percent of the votes in the “Wrestler of the Year” category, followed by Kenny Omega (17 percent), Cody (8 percent), and Seth Rollins (7 percent). He also was voted “Most Popular” for the second straight year. The only other wrestler to receive WOTY honors for three straight years is Ric Flair (1984-1986).

Styles and Becky also topped Wrestling Inc.’s Best of 2018 for “Male Wrestler of the Year” and “Female Wrestler of the Year”, respectively.

PWI’s annual year-end issue can be purchased in print or digital formats at pwi-online.com.

Source: WrestlingINC

WWE Announces “Worlds Collide” With Talent From Multiple Brands

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WWE today officially announced the WWE Worlds Collide Tournament during Royal Rumble weekend as part of Axxess. The tournament will feature talent from the NXT, NXT UK and 205 Live brands. The tournament will start as a 15 man battle royal on Saturday, which will determine the first round matches for the tournament beginning later that day. The winner of the battle royal will receive a bye in the first round.

The tournament will conclude on Sunday at the final Axxess session. The winner of the tournament will be awarded a future title shot.

You can check out the full announcement below:

The Superstars of NXT, NXT UK and 205 Live are set to battle in the first-ever WWE Worlds Collide Tournament, one of the most unique tournaments in sports-entertainment history, and it all goes down at Royal Rumble Axxess in Phoenix.

Brand-versus-brand dream matches will become a reality as 15 Superstars in total — five from NXT, five from NXT UK and five from 205 Live — will compete over the course of two days, with the tournament winner receiving a future NXT, NXT UK or 205 Live Championship Match of their choosing. That means anyone can become a champion on any brand!

The WWE Worlds Collide Tournament, which will be taped for a WWE Network special, kicks off with a 15-Superstar Battle Royal on Saturday, Jan. 26, at the 8 a.m. session of Axxess. The order of elimination in the Battle Royal will then determine the First-Round Matches for a 15-Superstar, single-elimination tournament beginning later that session. The Battle Royal winner will receive a first-round bye.

The tournament will continue at Saturday’s second session of Axxess, taking place from 1-5 p.m., before concluding at the final Axxess session on Sunday, Jan. 27, from 8 a.m.-12 p.m. Featuring a veritable who’s who from all three brands, the tournament will include the following Superstars:

From NXT

From NXT UK

From 205 Live

Given the format of the tournament, there’s no telling who will fight whom when the brands collide. Which Superstar will rise to the occasion, beat out the best of his brand (and others), and claim a future title opportunity — and what championship will he choose to go after?

Royal Rumble Axxess, which takes over the Phoenix Convention Center Friday, Jan. 25, to Sunday, Jan. 27, will also feature NXT UK tapings on Friday and Sunday, as well as Superstar meet-and-greets, the WWE Superstore, photo opportunities, other live matches and much more throughout the entire weekend. Tickets are available now at Phoenix.Ticketforce.com.

Backstage News On Chris Jericho’s AEW Contract, AJ Styles Speculation

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Chris Jericho’s new contract with All Elite Wrestling is reportedly for 3 years, according to Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio. Meltzer said Jericho revealed that this is the best contract of his career.

As noted before, Jericho talked with WWE and AEW up until the last minute, signing his AEW contract just recently. It came down to AEW offering Jericho a better deal. Jericho will be allowed to work New Japan Pro Wrestling and his cruise, which are stipulated in the contract.

It’s no secret that AEW and WWE are getting aggressive when it comes to signing top talents to contracts. AEW is expected to pursue WWE talents when their contracts expire. Cody Rhodes and The Young Bucks have friendly relationships with many of the WWE talents, which will help with potential negotiations. One top WWE Superstar who has a contract coming up that they are familiar with is AJ Styles. Meltzer speculated on WOR that Styles has a lot of leverage right now because he’s a top WWE talent and AEW would offer him a significant deal with an easier schedule. Styles is making a lot of money with WWE right now but AEW potentially could beat that. AJ turns 42 this year and if he really wants an easier schedule with good money, he could get that from AEW.

Meltzer noted that no one is in a better position between WWE and AEW right now other than Styles, except for maybe Kenny Omega. Omega’s future has not been confirmed but it’s still believed that he will end up with AEW after his New Japan Pro Wrestling contract expires on January 31.

It was also noted that AEW is offering good money to wrestlers right now. During the recent Double Or Nothing rally, Cody talked about how AEW wanted to change the wrestling economy and how they wanted to pay wrestlers good money because happy, paid wrestlers translates to happy fans. Some of the AEW contracts are totally exclusive but others are being allowed to work elsewhere. AEW officials are wanting to make everything beneficial for all talents. There’s no word yet on what talents like “Hangman” Adam Page are earning from AEW but WWE made a strong offer to Page and he turned them down.

Source: WrestlingINC

WWE Announces Official Cookbook

 

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Celebrity chef Allison Robicelli teased a new WWE project earlier this week. WWE announced that project today – The Official WWE Cookbook. Insight Editions will release the cookbook on Tuesday, March 19. It will feature more than 75 recipes with full-color photographs. The 8×10 hardcover book will include 128 pages.

You can pre-order the cookbook at a sale price via this link. Below is WWE’s announcement on the book along with the cover art:

“WWE: The Official Cookbook” available this MarchInsight Editions today announced “WWE: The Official Cookbook” featuring a collection of recipes and dishes inspired by your favorite WWE Superstars and Legends.

“WWE: The Official Cookbook” gives fans a guide to creating a variety of fun dishes and drinks including recipes like The Rock’s Jabroni Macaroni Salad, John Cena’s Fruity Pebbles treats, and Nacho Man Randy Savage.

Featuring more than 75 recipes and striking, full-color photographs, “WWE: The Official Cookbook” contains separate categories for food and drinks — from appetizers to desserts — creating the ultimate recipe collection for the WWE Universe.

“WWE: The Official Cookbook” is in stores Tuesday, March 19 and available for pre-order now.

Source: WrestlingINC

Former WWE Superstar Eva Marie To Appear On Upcoming “Big Brother: Celebrity Edition”

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Former WWE Superstar Eva Marie will be appearing on the upcoming season of “Big Brother: Celebrity Edition” on CBS.

As seen below, videos revealed on social media show Marie being interviewed for the series at a gym in Los Angeles.

Eva has done some acting and modeling since leaving WWE on good terms in August 2017, and has also ran her NEM Fashion brand. She has stayed away from the indie scene.

This will be Eva’s return to reality TV as she previously appeared on WWE’s Total Divas.

“Big Brother: Celebrity Edition” is set to premiere on CBS on Monday, January 21. Stay tuned for updates on Eva working the show.

https://twitter.com/melbrown0/status/1083217658747727872

Source: WrestlingINC

Wrestling Talent Wars Heating Up, Piper Niven Headed To WWE Soon?

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The talent wars are heating up now that AEW has officially launched. All the top promotions are aware of the free agents, and they are making plays to sign them. Not only are WWE and AEW getting aggressive in signing talent, but you also have New Japan Pro Wrestling and Ring of Honor trying to sign talents to contracts.

Meltzer noted that there are a lot of people in WWE who are interested in exploring their options with AEW, if not go ahead and sign with them. These talents obviously have to wait until their WWE contracts expire and there is also a “wait and see” feeling to see if AEW works out, and what it becomes.

Scottish women’s wrestler Piper Niven is reportedly signing with WWE soon, according to Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio.

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Niven, also known to fans as Viper, participated in the 2017 Mae Young Classic and defeated Santana Garrett in the first round. She then defeated Serena Deeb in the second round but lost to Toni Storm in the third round.

Niven is currently signed to World of Sport Wrestling but it’s believed she is headed to WWE once her deal expires. Meltzer notes that All Elite Wrestling wanted to sign Niven but she decided not to sign with them.

Source: WrestlingINC

WWE NXT Preview 1/9/19

WWE NXT, tonight at 8 ET on WWE Network.

* Will Adam Cole even the score with EC3?

* A chaotic ending to Belair’s undefeated streak?

* Johnny Gargano to speak out

* Barthel & Aichner’s “European Union” comes to NXT

WWE 205 Live Preview 1/9/19

WWE 205 Live, tonight at 7 ET on WWE Network:

* Cedric Alexander faces Hideo Itami to determine who will earn the final spot in the Fatal 4-Way for Buddy Murphy’s WWE Cruiserweight Championship at the Royal Rumble event. Who will join Buddy Murphy, Akira Tozawa and Kalisto in the Fatal 4-Way Match for The Juggernaut of 205 Live’s WWE Cruiserweight Championship at Royal Rumble?

WWE NXT UK Preview 1/9/19

NXT UK, today at 3 ET and 4 ET on the WWE Network.

* Zack Gibson & James Drake will battle Flash Morgan Webster & Mark Andrews today to determine Moustache Mountain’s opponents at NXT TakeOver: Blackpool.

* WWE United Kingdom Champion Pete Dunne & Moustache Mountain vs. Gallus’ Joe Coffey, Mark Coffey & Wolfgang

WWE SmackDown Live Preview 1/8/19

Tonight’s WWE SmackDown Live will take place from the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, FL as the road to the Royal Rumble continues.

* Triple Threat Match to decide who will square off against Asuka for the SmackDown Women’s Title at Royal Rumble

* The Usos to battle The Bar with a SmackDown Tag Team Championship opportunity on the line

* AJ Styles to confront WWE Champion Daniel Bryan

* Who will gain momentum heading into the Men’s Royal Rumble Match?

* Will Rusev be looking for retribution?