23-year-old NXT phenom Lio Rush will be making his main roster debut as part of 205 Live.
A promo for Rush was shown during last night’s cruiserweight showcase on WWE Network. Rush has been part of the WWE development system since the middle of 2017.
Most recently, Rush has been working NXT events alongside the much larger Babatunde — who appeared as part of the Greatest Royal Rumble event.
Rush has been used sparingly on NXT TV since tweeting a joke about Emma‘s release in October 2017. While officials may have held him back for a little bit, it’s clear they believe he has a bright future.
It’s been eight years since he retired from in-ring competition, but Shawn Michaels now says he’d consider stepping back in the ring for one more match if it’s “done the right way.”
The WWE Hall of Famer spoke to Sky Sports to promote his upcoming appearance in London as part of the United Kingdom Championship Tournament later this month and said, “It would have to be done the right way and just for one match rather than something that ran for longer.”
Adding, “It could be possible but people would have to accept they wouldn’t be getting the Showstopper, Mr. Wrestlemania.”
Michaels said goodbye to the WWE Universe and in-ring action in 2010 after being retired by The Undertaker in the main event of WrestleMania 26.
So … if a dream match were to occur, who would Michaels wants to be in the ring with? Michaels says, “AJ Styles and Daniel Bryan would be good, and then there’s the guys in NXT too. Someone like a JohnnyGargano would be fantastic.”
Nevertheless, HBK noted “one more match” is much more likely to be a tag team situation where “Hunter and I can just do a few crotch chops and have some fun.”
The outside-the-ring issues for Brian Christopher Lawler (son of WWE Hall of Famer Jerry “The King” Lawler) continued this week. FOX 13 Memphis is reporting that Lawler was arrested in downtown Memphis at the Hampton Inn because he tried to leave without paying the room.
The report states that the manager flagged down the police and they were informed that two people had stayed there without paying.
According to the police affidavit, Lawler and Terry Teague used a company credit card that did not have enough money to pay the $802 cost of the room. Lawler was charged with Theft Of Services of $1000 or less.
Lawler has had a history of legal issues over the years. Some of you may recall that Lawler was involved in a hotel fight in February with former TNA wrestler Chase Stevens. Lawler suffered a fractured skull, broken nose, and broken orbital bone and, according to the police report, Lawler was intoxicated. Stevens was charged with battery.
Jurors sided with CM Punk and Colt Cabana on Tuesday — clearing the pair in a defamation lawsuit filed by a WWE doctor upset with comments Punk made during a controversial 2014 podcast.
The decision came down around 4pm Chicago-time in Cook County Circuit Court, according to Wrestlezone, capping off a libel trial that lasted one week.
Over five days of testimony, Punk and Cabana’s lawyers tried to prove Punk believed what he said during the interview about Dr. Christopher Amann. Ultimately, Amann’s side had trouble proving any real monetary damage occurred. The doctor was seeking $4 million dollars (one dollar per each podcast stream) and additional punitive damages.
In the November 2014 podcast interview conducted by Cabana, Punk recalled his medical issues and treatments in the months leading up to him walking out of WWE following the Royal Rumble. Though he was rarely mentioned by name in the podcast, Amann felt Punk’s claims directly damaged his reputation and caused distress.
Amann told jurors he was harassed and humiliated by fans and that the podcast hurt his standing with patients. However, the WWE ringside physician couldn’t point to any monetary damages and he remains employed by the company.
Much of the testimony centered around a lump on Punk’s backside which Punk felt made him ill over an extended period. Punk contended Amann didn’t properly treat it. Amann claims he never saw it. His attorneys showed numerous texts and emails regarding Punk’s health and at no point did Punk put anything in writing with WWE doctors about the lump.
In the podcast, Punk said the lump ended up being a staph infection that ultimately could’ve cost him his life. It was shown it court that the lump was diagnosed by a physician’s assistant as a lump. Even so, the P.A. who treated Punk labeled it a possible staph infection — but never tested it.
Punk said the podcast was his way to “set the record straight for my fans” and tell his story. He told jurors he wouldn’t change anything about the interview.
At the end of the day, jurors didn’t see enough to prove Punk and Cabana legally defamed Amann.
With this trial now behind him, Punk has four days to get mentally prepared to step into the octagon. His second UFC fight is set for Saturday in Chicago against Mike Jackson.
AJ Mendez Brooks, who performed as AJ Lee, took the stand Monday and confirmed she pushed CM Punk to seek additional treatment over a discolored lump on his backside.
According to Wrestlezone — who had a reporter in attendance — both AJ and Punk were on the stand Monday morning beginning the fifth day of testimony in the libel trial pitting Punk and Colt Cabana against WWE doctor Chris Amann.
AJ noted the lump grew from a zit-sized spot to its largest at the 2014 Royal Rumble. She confirmed text communication about the lump and testified she sent Punk to a physician’s assistant that she believed to be a doctor.
On the stand, AJ told jurors she was surprised Amann didn’t see the lump as a problem sooner.
Before AJ was questioned … Punk was crossed examined by Amann’s lawyers about Friday’s testimony which included the lump, other health issues,and the 2014 Royal Rumble.
Punk said the physician’s assistant he saw definitely referred to the lump as staph but confirmed it was never diagnosed as such.
It’s interesting to note a text was also shown in court in which Punk told Mark Carrano, who is WWE’s Senior Director of Talent Relations, “take me off all shows, I’m sick and have bruised ribs and concussion symptoms.” Notes from Wrestlezone didn’t say when the text was sent.
At one point, Amman’s lawyers brought up the 2014 Rumble and asked if he stayed in the match in an effort to “blow WWE away” — despite being concussed — in an attempt to headline WrestleMania. Punk simply responded, “I don’t know.”
On Friday, Punk took the stand and cried while recalling the events surrounding that same Rumble match. After composing himself, the UFC fighter told jurors he stands by the comments he made during the infamous podcast interview.
Dr. Amann is asking for $1 million in damages.
Both sides have rested and closing arguments begin today.
Put away your sharpie pens, because Bo Dallas and Curtis Axel now have officially licensed B-Teamshirts on WWE Shop.
The shirts went live Monday and feature a big “B” on the front — just like the ones on TV — but in typical WWE fashion there’s also text on the back which says, “The ‘B’ Stands 4 Best.”
During an exclusive interview with Pro Wrestling Sheet, Kane — real name Glenn Jacobs — indicated he’s not done in a WWE ring … even if he’s an active mayor!
“I never rule anything out,” Jacobs said after chuckling over the idea of “Mayor Kane” competing. “I think it would be great to have a PPV here in Knoxville. We haven’t had one in forever. If there’s a PPV, it would be an honor for me to take part in that.”
We haven’t seen Jacobs in a WWE ring since Wrestlemania. He was originally scheduled to compete at the Greatest Royal Rumble — just four days before the GOP mayoral primary. Despite rumors to the contrary, Jacobs says the reason he was pulled from the card wasn’t political but rather a slight injury.
Just days later, he’d win his primary race by a mere 23 votes. Knox County leans red, which means he’s the clear front runner in August’s general election.
Yes, folks — that means The Big Red Machine will most likely be a mayor.
Jacobs says he’s developed his leadership style learning from those around his during his 21-year run as Kane. He specifically points to his storyline brother.
“The most important thing about leadership is to set an example. Undertaker — talk about learning how to be a professional,” Jacobs said. ” This guy is always there, always worked hard, took a lot of pride in what he does.”
Naturally, Jacobs also noted learning from Vince and Linda McMahon. He praised the couple for their vision, turning ideas and concepts into reality. Jacobs says transforming a family-run, regional business into a socially-accepted global empire gave him a platform to lead the county he loves.
At one point, society looked down on wrestling. His election proves that’s changing.
“I don’t think that the wrestling thing is what it once was,” Jacobs said. “We’ve had some people that have been so successful like Dwayne [Johnson] and John Cena doing all the stuff that he’s doing that perception is changing and rightfully so.”
Jacobs says many see his hall of fame career for what it is — two decades as an accomplished business man and ambassador for the WWE. Even so, he met some people along the campaign trail who looked at him as “just a wrestler.” The 3-time world champ took great pride in the election results proving doubters wrong.
“That gives me a lot of satisfaction,” Jacobs said. “Hopefully, I’ve done my little bit to destroy that unfortunate stereotype.”
