Tonight’s WWE 205 Live was taped last night at the Frank Erwin Center in Austin, Texas.
* Drew Gulak vs. The Brian Kendrick
* Tornado Tag Team Match: TJP and Mike Kanellis vs. The Lucha House Party
Category: WWE
WWE NXT UK Preview 12/5/18
Don’t miss back-to-back episodes of NXT UK today at 3 ET and 4 ET on the award-winning WWE Network.
* Flash Morgan Webster vs. Jordan Devlin (3pm)
* Travis Banks confronts Wolfgang & The Coffey Brothers (3pm)
* Banks vs. Wolfgang (4pm)
* Appearances by Ligero, NXT UK Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley and others (4pm)
Wrestling Legend Dynamite Kid Dead At 60
One of wrestling’s most innovative performers, Thomas “Dynamite Kid” Billington, died Wednesday on his 60th birthday, according to family friends.
Billington’s health struggles over the last decade have been well-publicized. His cause of death wasn’t immediately released.
Dynamite Kid’s wrestling career spanned two decades competing in the World Wrestling Federation, Stampede Wrestling, New Japan Pro Wrestling, and All Japan Pro Wrestling. He found mainstream success alongside Davey Boy Smith in the British Bulldogs tag team during the 1980s in WWF.
Smith’s son confirmed the news this morning on Twitter.
“It deeply saddens me to announce the passing of Tom Billington the ‘Dynamite Kid.’ I was really happy and glad I got to see Dynamite one last time last June in the UK. Dynamite was certainly an inspiration to myself and many others and really revolutionized professional wrestling as we know it today,” Harry Smith wrote.
The former WWF tag champ has been pointed to as an childhood inspiration to many of wrestling’s top performers because of his high-flying, intense, and explosive in-ring style. Naturally, the tributes started rolling in on social media at the news of his passing.
“Gutted to hear about the passing of one of my heroes and biggest inspirations,” wrote former WWE UK champ Tyler Bate on Twitter. “RIP Dynamite Kid, Tommy Billington.”
“Thank you for all the work you’ve done for our country and inspiring so many wrestling to take a chance on themselves,” Will Ospreay wrote. “RIP Dynamite Kid.”
Billington competed in his final match in 1996. Due to leg and spinal injuries, he’s largely been confined to a wheelchair for the last two decades.
Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet
Alexa Bliss Allegedly Cleared To Return?
Mark Henry revealed details today on a conversation he recently had with Alexa Bliss about her injury. Despite the scary specifics however, Henry claims she’s now been cleared.
The WWE Hall of Famer talked about the conversation Tuesday on SiriusXM’s Busted Open and explained how he sat with Bliss for about 15-20 minutes to discuss her condition.
Henry says Bliss told him the concussion she suffered was so bad she couldn’t remember where she was or what she was doing at times. Alexa then came back too soon after this happened and hit her head again … causing another concussion.
As we previously reported, WWE claimed Alexa’s first injury was arm related at the time. It’s clear that wasn’t the case though, as Mark says she suffered two head injuries but has now been cleared.
While we’ve been unable to confirm Alexa has been cleared, it’s worth noting she was at the Performance Center last week working in the ring with Mike Quackenbush.
Since Alexa has been away from the ring, she’s been put in charge of the women’s division on WWE TV.
Matt Hardy Says Retirement Is NOT On The Horizon
Contrary to popular belief, Matt Hardy says he’s NOT retiring from professional wrestling in the near future — he’s just been taking time off to heal various injuries.
Hardy was recently interviewed by Sportskeeda and told the publication his retirement is not on the horizon, despite how it appeared in some of his social media posts over the summer.
“I took time off to heal some nagging injuries and I’ll be back sooner rather than later,” he explained. “So, I’ve been doing this twenty-six years. I was just a little beat up. I was given a little time off. From when I’ve been back, for over a year and a half, I was full time. I did everything.”
Adding, “Jeff was off with the surgery, so just had a little bit of time off. I think Bray needed a little time off. He’d had a car accident. So, I think it was just a little bit of time off for everyone. So, I think you’ll see an evolution of Bray Wyatt and an evolution of Matt Hardy.”
Wyatt last wrestled in WWE at Starrcade. The match was not shown on the WWE Network broadcast. Hardy last wrestled in September, but made an appearance at a live event in Spain this month during a pull-apart brawl between Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose.
Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet
WWE SmackDown Live Preview 12/4/18
Tonight’s WWE SmackDown Live will take place from the Frank Erwin Center in Austin, Texas as the road to TLC continues.
* Becky Lynch, Charlotte Flair and Asuka sign their TLC Match contract
* Daniel Bryan to appear on a must-see “Miz TV”
* Jeff Hardy goes one-on-one with Randy Orton
* Woods, Uso and Cesaro square off in Triple Threat Match
WWE Mixed Match Challenge Preview 12/4/18
Tonight’s WWE Mixed Match Challenge will take place from the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
The MMC season two continues this evening on Facebook Watch at 10pm EST., immediately following WWE SmackDown Live on the USA Network.
The MMC Playoffs will continue on tonight’s show.
* The Miz and Asuka vs. Jimmy Uso and Naomi
* Jeff Hardy and Charlotte Flair vs. Carmella and R-Truth
Chris Jericho Reportedly Involved In Physical Incident Outside Of Tour Bus
Chris Jericho was reportedly involved in an altercation with a fan following the Fozzy concert at The Exchange in Regina, Saskatchewan on Sunday night.
The incident reportedly started when a drunk man, described as being “all messed up” when the trouble began, tried getting on the Fozzy tour bus, according to Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio. Apparently there was a younger man who helped perform with the band that night, and he wanted to get on the tour bus to get autographs. Another man, the intoxicated guy who later ended up in police custody, reportedly tried to help the autograph-seeker get on the bus. The band did not want the inebriated man on the bus, but he tried sneaking on anyway. A crew member saw this and ended up in a fight with the guy, coming out of it with a broken collarbone.
Jericho reportedly came off the bus and started yelling at the drunk man as he was being kicked out. Jericho hit the man with a Spear and mounted him with punches, according to Meltzer. Jericho returned to the bus, came back out and yelled at the guy, and hit him with more punches.
People were watching the incident unfold and tried to hold the man until police arrived. He got away and was later chased by police, then apprehended. There’s no word yet on what the man was charged with or if anyone else is facing charges.
Source: WrestlingINC
Natalya Written Out Of WWE RAW Storylines Due To Elbow Injury?
It appears that WWE will be going in a different direction with Ronda Rousey and who she partners with.
Over the past few months, Ronda has had an ally in Natalya. There were plans to turn the latter heel until her father, Jim Neidhart, passed away this past summer. While WWE has been teasing it, now it appears that Natalya will take a small break.
On last night’s Monday Night RAW, Rousey and Natalya were in a match against Tamina and Nia Jax before the Riott Squad interrupted. The trio ended up putting Natalya through a table. In the latest episode of Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer reported that Natalya has an elbow injury. The angle on RAW was done to replace her with Ember Moon in the storyline.
A timetable for Natalya’s return is unknown. Ronda is scheduled to face Nia Jax for the RAW Women’s Championship at the TLC PPV on December 16th inside the SAP Center in San Jose, California.
Source: WrestlingINC
Air Date Announced For WWE Tribute To The Troops
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WWE has announced that the 16th annual Tribute to the Troops will air on Thursday, December 20 at 8pm ET on the USA Network.
WWE also announced that Jon Stewart will make a special appearance on the show. As noted, country music artist Morgan Wallen will also perform.
WWE TTTT will be taped today at Fort Hood in Texas.
Below is the updated TTTT announcement with comments from Vince McMahon:
STAMFORD, Conn. and Fort Hood, Texas., Dec. 4, 2018 – The 16th annual WWE Tribute to the Troops celebration will be held today at Fort Hood with a two-hour special airing Thursday, Dec. 20 at 9/8c on USA Network. This year’s celebration will feature a special appearance by Jon Stewart, former host of The Daily Show and a long-time supporter of our servicemen and women. In addition, rising country music star Morgan Wallen will perform for the troops in attendance.
WWE began Tribute to the Troops in 2003 to honor our servicemen and women and their families. In the tradition of Bob Hope, WWE brings together the best of sports, entertainment and pop culture with celebrity appearances and performances from music’s most popular acts in what is considered TV’s most patriotic and heartwarming show of the year
“Entertainment companies such as WWE and other nationally recognized performers and performances which have visited Fort Hood in the past are a tremendous morale booster for our Soldiers and their families,” said Col. Henry Perry, U.S. Army Garrison Fort Hood commander. “It shows how a little bit of their time can give our Soldiers some relaxation, good fun and enjoy much needed down time experiencing something they don’t see every day.”
“It is an honor to celebrate our servicemen and women for their unwavering commitment and sacrifice to our country,” said Vince McMahon, WWE Chairman & CEO. “We are proud to return to Fort Hood and continue WWE’s Tribute to the Troops tradition for the 16th consecutive year.”
While in Fort Hood, WWE Superstars will spend time giving back to military personnel and their families. Activities include a Be a STAR bullying prevention rally, as well as hospital visits and military outreach initiatives across the base. WWE will also make a financial contribution to Celebration of Love, a local non-profit organization dedicated to supporting U.S. soldiers, veterans and their families through their Soldiers of America program. This year, Celebration of Love is holding a Christmas Toy Drive, gifting 1,200 bikes and toys to military children at Fort Hood. WWE last held Tribute to the Troops in Fort Hood in 2010.
UPDATE: Roman Reigns is set to make his WWE TV return on the 16th annual Tribute to the Troops special.
Reigns is in town and would be limited to a non-wrestling role, if his appearance makes the special. This would be Reigns’ first WWE TV appearance since announcing his second battle with leukemia back on October 22.
