Category: WWE

SmackDown Will Remain Live When It Moves To FOX Next Year, Still Slated For Friday Night

Image result for SmackDown on FOX

TheWrap.com is reporting that when SmackDown moves to FOX next year in October, the show will continuing airing live as it has since 2016.

The show was rebranded as “SmackDown Live” two years ago when it was shifted to the USA Network from the Syfy network and moved to Tuesday night.

When news first broke last week that FOX had come to an agreement to bring SmackDown to the network in 2019, it wasn’t immediately clear at the time if the show would become taped when early reports indicated the show would be moving to a Friday night time slot.

It was also reported earlier today by The Hollywood Reporter that numerous FOX executives held a pitch meeting with WWE executives (including Triple H and Stephanie McMahon) back on May 17 to finalize the deal, which will reportedly include plugs for WWE programming across all FOX platforms during major sports coverage. It was also hinted that a new weekly WWE studio show could be planned for FS1 as well.

Source: WrestleView

Text Messages Between CM Punk And WWE Doc Revealed In Court

cm punk wwe trial update text messages royal rumble 2014

Text messages centering around CM Punk‘s health issues ahead of his WWE departure were revealed during day two of testimony in the libel trial pitting he and Colt Cabana against a WWE doctor.

Roughly two months of emails and texts focusing on Punk’s medical problems were shown to jurors as Dr. Chris Amann was on the stand Wednesday, according to WrestleZone’s Nick Hausman.

In the communication from early November to mid-December, CM Punk complained about headaches and fatigue — all leading up to a December 2nd text Punk sent to Amann that read: “My head is killing me. Why do I have these headaches?”

Two days later, Punk texted Amann saying he wanted to go to a hospital.

According to Hausman’s court notes, the emails and texts were rolled out by Punk and Cabana’s legal team in response to Amann’s lawyers essentially tying Punk’s health problems to the 2014 Royal Rumble. In that event, Amman said he was summoned to see Punk during the match and the wrestler said he was seeing zig-zags/squiggly lines after taking a clothesline from Kofi Kingston.

At that point, Amann claims he determined Punk was concussed and need to leave the match. Punk, however, made the call to stay in — despite referees requesting he leave the ring — and producer Michael Hayes eventually sent Kane to the ring to eliminate him.

It’s worth noting that after eliminating Punk, Kane then chokeslammed him through a table.

During cross-examination, a slew of emails and text messages were shown which seem to indicate Punk complained about other problems relating to his health — like fatigue, nausea, diarrhea, days of vomit, headaches and more — yet he was still cleared for contact.

In addition to the emails and texts, testimony focused on prescriptions written by Amann, whether Punk had a cyst or back bulge, and how the Amann felt ridiculed made by the accusations on Cabana’s podcast.  Check out Wrestlezone’s coverage here.

Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet

John Cena Calls Out Complacency In WWE Locker Room, Says WM34 Match Should Be An Example

john cena undertaker complacency wwe locker room wrestlemania 34 interview

John Cena says his performance at WrestleMania 34 should serve as a message to the WWE locker room: “be happy with any sort of role, even if it is getting your tail kicked in.”

“That is a message to any performer who is complaining about their spot or that, creatively, they have nothing going for them,” Cena said in an interview with Sports Illustrated. “I’ve been first, I’ve been in the middle, I’ve been last. I just want to go out there and do something.”

Cena admitted he didn’t do well in the match — but called what happened at Wrestlemania 34 the ideal build-up to befit an iconic character in The Undertaker.

“My ‘WrestleMania Moment’ was to spend the time in the crowd and not do well in a very short performance, but I loved it because it got the job done. The focus was not me, the focus was someone else,” Cena told SI. “Often times, we look at things so selfishly, asking, ‘What’s in it for me?’ Well, what was in it for me was the chance to reintroduce a WWE icon.”

John said he pushed WWE management to allow him to sit in the crowd for longer than 10 minutes. The 16-time champ wanted to be fully committed. That’s why he spent five hours in the crowd chatting it up and snapping selfies with fans.

“I had to stretch the suspension of disbelief to its breaking point to do it, but it was awesome.”

Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet

NXT Preview 5/30/18

WWE Reportedly Has Big Plans For IIconics Due To Merch Sales

Image result for iconics smackdown

According to WrestlingNews.co reports that the IIconics (Billie Kay and Peyton Royce) are selling more merchandise than they were expected to, which means they are now in line for a big push. A new shirt was released several weeks ago, right around the time they debuted. It sold more than WWE thought it would. Now WWE has “big plans” for the two, with an idea to turn them into an updated version of LayCool (Layla and Michelle McCool).

Source: 411Mania

Punk-Cabana Libel Trial Against WWE Doc Begins, Jurors Listen To Controversial Podcast Episode

cm punk colt cabana trial podcast interview dr chris amann wwe

Testimony began Tuesday in the libel trial pitting CM Punk and Colt Cabana against a WWE doctor and during proceedings jurors had to listen to the famous podcast at the center of the lawsuit.

Gregory Pratt of the Chicago Tribune reports jurors heard the 2014 “Art of Wrestling” interview where Punk alleged Dr. Christopher Amann knowingly allowed him to work through serious injuries and misdiagnosed a staph infection — among other issues.

Pratt reports Punk was largely serious and attentive, but there were times where he seemed visibly amused at certain parts of the podcast.

At one point, Amann’s lawyer read tweets and news stories calling for the doctor to be fired.

The WWE doctor is asking for $1 million in damages.  Pratt expects Amann to continue testifying Wednesday when the trial resumes. Additionally, due to court obligations, Colt will be unable to attend a Compound Pro Wrestling Event this Friday in Oklahoma — so the event has been postponed.

https://twitter.com/ColtCabana/status/1001597097689468929

https://twitter.com/Compoundpw/status/1001600795400384512

Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet

SmackDown Live Preview 5/29/18

Tonight’s WWE SmackDown Live will take place from the PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina as the road to Money in the Bank continues.

* Daniel Bryan and Samoa Joe to clash for final spot in Money in the Bank Ladder Match

* The New Day battle The Miz & The Bar in Six-Man Tag Team action

* Is Carmella ready for Asuka?

* Will AJ Styles figure into the outcome of Shinsuke Nakamura’s match against Tye Dillinger?

WWE 205 Live Preview 5/29/18

Tonight’s on WWE 205 Live  will take place from the PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina.

* WWE Cruiserweight Championship: (C) Cedric Alexander vs. Buddy Murphy

Top International Women’s Wrestler Io Shirai Signs With WWE

Io Shirai

Top international women’s wrestler Io Shirai from the STARDOM Joshi promotion in Japan is said to have signed with WWE this past weekend, per a new report by Tokyo Sports on Sunday night.

Shirai (Masami Odate), along with Mae Young Classic winner and NXT star Kairi Sane, had been the top performers for the STARDOM promotion for the past few years prior to their signings with WWE, with both even making a couple appearances in Season 3 of Lucha Underground.

Shirai was set to be signed by WWE in 2017 when Sane was signed for the inaugural Mae Young Classic, but a heart issue in her medical testing caused WWE to rescind their offer.

Shirai recently lost the Wonder of STARDOM Championship (their top title) to Momo Watanabe last week, leading to rumblings starting about her signing with WWE, but STARDOM was said to have not known about Shirai’s signing with WWE until Sunday night when the story broke.

WWE is said to be talks with other performers from STARDOM about signing with the company as along with Shirai, Toni Storm (who was a major name for STARDOM over the last couple years) has also recently signed with WWE as part of the impending WWE UK touring brand.

Shirai’s last show for STARDOM will take place on June 17.

Source: WrestleView

Alexa Bliss Shares Emotional Moment With Fan Battling Eating Disorder (Video)

alexa bliss emotional moment fan eating disorder video

If you need a good cry to finish out your work week, you’re about to get it courtesy of Alexa Bliss.

During a question and answer session Friday with fans at MegaCon in Orlando, a young girl in the audience revealed she was recovering from an eating disorder and asked if the wrestler was ever told she was too small to do certain things.

Bliss, who battled anorexia, walked to the edge of the stage and asked the girl to approach her. Taking her hand, Alexa gave her the encouragement she said she once received.

“Don’t let anyone ever tell you that you can’t do anything. Ok? Because even though you’re struggling, I’ve been there,” Bliss said looking directly into the girl’s eyes. “I remember having someone tell me that I can get through it and it didn’t have to define me.”

At this point, everyone in the crowd pulled out their cellphones capturing the magical moment. The girl appeared to wipe away tears as Bliss continued.

“You cannot let anyone ever tell you what you can or cannot do. And I’m so happy that you’re getting help and that you’re getting healthier, because you’re beautiful inside and out,” added Bliss. “Please do not let anyone determine your self worth.”

Bliss hugged the girl as the crowd applauded in support.

After the event, which also featured Braun Strowman and Shinsuke Nakamura, Bliss tweeted, “this is why I love What I do.”

https://twitter.com/AlexaBliss_WWE/status/1000127392785018881

Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet