* Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic opens with huge 2016 Finals rematch: Authors of Pain vs. TM61
* Aleister Black and Killian Dain wage war amid NXT Title aspirations
Category: WWE
The Young Bucks Respond To Sheamus’ WrestleMania 34 Open Invite
The Young Bucks have responded to the open invitation from RAW Tag Team Champion Sheamus for a match at WrestleMania 34 against The Bar. As noted, word going around at RAW was that The Bar will be challenged by two Superstars that are not currently a tag team.
Nick Jackson of The Bucks tweeted the following in response to Sheamus’ open invite:
Source: WrestlingINC
Bray Wyatt Accepts Matt Hardy’s Ultimate Deletion Challenge
Bray Wyatt has accepted Matt Hardy’s challenge for The Ultimate Deletion at The Hardy Compound in North Carolina, as seen in the tweet below. We noted before that the current plan is for the match to air before WrestleMania 34. The Hardy Compound footage used on this week’s RAW in the segment with Matt was filmed last week by Reby Hardy.
On a related note, it looks like all the characters from the original storyline in TNA will be used as Hardy called on Queen Rebecca, Senor Benjamin, Vanguard 1, son King Maxel, younger son Lord Wolfgang and “the dilapidated boat” Skarsgard. Below are recent tweets from Matt and Benjamin:
Source: WrestlingINC
Medical Update On Jeff Hardy
Pro Wrestling Sheet reports that Jeff Hardy is ready to return to action after getting the green light from his surgeon and now he’s just waiting on clearance from WWE.
As you may recall, Hardy underwent successful rotator cuff surgery in October and multiple sources say Jeff’s surgeon cleared him last month … which is why he was recently in Birmingham, Alabama getting evaluated by WWE doctors.
As we first reported, Hardy suffered a torn rotator cuff and labrum during an episode of Raw.
The evaluation reportedly went well and he’s hoping to hear good news from WWE soon. With WrestleMania 34 and The Ultimate Deletion right around the corner, so does everyone else.
Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet
SmackDown Live Preview 3/6/18
Tonight’s WWE SmackDown Live will take place from the Resch Center in Green Bay, WI with the final hype before Sunday’s Fastlane pay-per-view.
* Randy Orton battles Jinder Mahal before his first-ever U.S. Title Match at WWE Fastlane
* WWE Champion AJ Styles faces Dolph Ziggler ahead of Six-Pack Challenge at WWE Fastlane
* Charlotte Flair and Ruby Riott come face to face before SmackDown Women’s Title Match at WWE Fastlane
* Will Becky Lynch and Carmella come to blows?
WWE Mixed Match Challenge & 205 Live Preview 3/6/18
Tonight’s WWE Mixed Match Challenge and WWE 205 Live will take place from the Resch Center in Green Bay, WI.
WWE Mixed Match Challenge:
* Braun Strowman & Alexa Bliss vs. Jimmy Uso & Naomi
WWE 205 Live:
* Who will advance to the semifinals?
* Drew Gulak vs. Mark Andrews
* Mustafa Ali vs. Buddy Murphy
Alberto El Patron (Del Rio) Met With Vince McMahon At WWE HQ
Impact Wrestling star Alberto El Patron (Alberto Del Rio) was at WWE headquarters in Stamford, CT last week, according to PWInsider. Patron was there to film interview material for a future project on Rey Mysterio but he also met with Vince McMahon while there.
There has been talk within WWE of Vince being very interested in Patron returning to the company, even before last week’s visit. Vince has always been high on Alberto as a character and a performer.
Alberto, a former WWE Champion, last worked for WWE in September 2016. His current deal with Impact is set to expire in April but company officials have been working to negotiate a new deal. There’s hope that Alberto, would likely be the highest paid talent in Impact, will sign a new contract after weekend talks with Impact officials were said to be positive. Patron is scheduled to face Impact World Champion Austin Aries at the April 22nd Redemption pay-per-view.
Source: WrestlingINC
WWE To Introduce New Cruiserweight Tag Team Titles After WrestleMania 34
WWE officials are planning to introduce new Cruiserweight Tag Team Titles after WrestleMania 34, according to PWInsider.
No word yet on how the first-ever WWE Cruiserweight Tag Team Champions will be crowned on WWE 205 Live but as noted, the vacant WWE Cruiserweight Title will be decided in tournament finals at WrestleMania. There’s also no word yet on exactly when the titles will be introduced but officials have worked on several title designs and plans were recently finalized for the look of the titles.
This move would make 3 tag team titles for the main roster and would be the first set of Cruiserweight Tag Team Titles since WCW ended in 2001. The WCW Cruiserweight Tag Team Titles were introduced in March 2001 and then abandoned later that month when WWE bought WCW. Kid Romeo & Elix Skipper were the first champions but they lost the titles to Billy Kidman & Rey Mysterio on the final WCW Nitro episode.
Source: WrestlingINC
WWE To Hold Dual-Brand Money In The Bank Ladder Matches
WWE Money in the Bank 2018 will be held at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois on June 17, with tickets going on-sale this Friday at 10 a.m. CT at Ticketmaster.com. According to the official website of the Allstate Arena, both the Men’s and Women’s Money in the Bank Ladder Matches will feature Raw and SmackDown stars.
The Allstate Arena is advertising eight male stars and eight female stars for the event.
Male stars advertised for the event include Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, Finn Balor, Braun Strowman, WWE Champion AJ Styles, Randy Orton, United States Champion Bobby Roode and Shinsuke Nakamura.
Female stars advertised for the event are Sasha Banks, Bayley, Mickie James, Nia Jax, Natalya, Lana, Naomi and Becky Lynch.
Here is the complete announcement.
WWE MONEY IN THE BANK COMES TO CHICAGO!
FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER…
A MEN’S AND WOMEN’S LADDER MATCH WITH SUPERSTARS FROM RAW AND SMACKDOWN LIVE.DON’T MISS IN ACTION YOUR FAVORITE WWE SUPERSTARS INCLUDING,
ROMAN REIGNS
SETH ROLLINS
FINN BALOR
BRAUN STROWMAN
WWE CHAMPION – AJ STYLES
RANDY ORTON
UNITED STATES CHAMPION – BOBBY ROODE
SHINSUKE NAKAMURA
SASHA BANKS
BAYLEY
MICKIE JAMES
NIA JAX
NATALYA
LANA
NAOMI
BECKY LYNCH
PLUS, MANY MORE LIVE!!!!
WWE IS THE BEST VALUE IN ENTERTAINMENT!
TICKETS START AT JUST $25!!
This comes after WWE announced last month the return of dual-brand pay-per-view events.
Source: WrestlingINC
Jonathan Coachman Named In New Lawsuit, Accused Of Sexually Harassing Women At ESPN, WWE And Coachman Responds To Allegations
Jonathan Coachman has been named in a new lawsuit against ESPN in which an ex-employee claims he was “notorious” for sexually harassing women at the company.
Former anchor Adrienne Lawrence filed a sexual harassment/discrimination lawsuit against ESPN on Sunday that accuses the company of ignoring her complaints, specifically against SportsCenter host John Buccigross — but Coachman is mentioned as well.
The document states:
“On or around January 18, 2016, SportsCenter anchor Jonathan Coachman (“Coachman”) emailed Ms. Lawrence offering to provide her with mentorship and providing his cellphone number. When he contacted her via text, he quickly turned a professional conversation into a personal matter, asking her about her musical interests. He was employing the ESPN predators’ playbook. See supra at ¶ 84. Colleagues then cautioned Ms. Lawrence that Coachman was notorious for sexually harassing female employees. After learning that, Ms. Lawrence made an effort to communicate to Coachman that she had a boyfriend, after which she did not hear from him again and he made no offers of mentorship.”
Lawrence also claims:
“Coachman’s reputation for making unwelcome sexual advances toward women and engaging in other sexually harassing behavior was not a secret. Cary Chow had warned Ms. Lawrence about him when he gave the short list of men at ESPN who were notorious for sexual harassment. Coachman had sent Walsh inappropriate photos of himself and text messages, falsely telling her colleagues that they were romantically involved and that she “wanted” him – another common practice of men at ESPN. See supra at ¶ 13. At least one young production assistant who joined ESPN just out of college had complained to Ms. Lawrence about Coachman making her feel uncomfortable by complimenting her physical appearance and making passes at her.
As explained below, when Ms. Lawrence complained to Jack Obringer, Senior Coordinating Producer, Studio Production of ESPN, Inc. that she was being sexually harassed (by another individual), Obringer guessed that the harasser was “Coachman” and indicated that his inappropriate behavior toward women was well-known to management. Nevertheless, Coachman continued to appear in ESPN commercials and on SportsCenter without discipline or accountability until he was quietly dismissed on or around April 26, 2017 via layoff.”
Some of her claims have been already shot down by ESPN and Jemele Hill.
WWE issued this statement below:
“We take these matters very seriously and are investigating.”
Jonathan Coachman took to Twitter to respond to being one of several current and former ESPN employees named in a sexual discrimination and harassment lawsuit filed against the company on Sunday by former ESPN anchor and legal analyst Adrienne Lawrence. Coachman denied the allegations, writing:
I will address this only once because I am seething today. In 21 years of being a PROFESSIONAL I have never been more offended in my life. I my 9 years I can count on one hand the amount of times I interacted with anyone other than a co-anchor. To allow someone to spread vicious Lies and flat out fabrications is not ok and it’s time someone stood up for themselves. @jemelehill addressed her lie last night. I am not a part of this lawsuit because I have never done anything wrong. My reputation speaks for itself and anyone that has ever worked with me Will back that up. I am also offended that someone can dangerously throw peoples names into something for the clear attempt at getting headlines. This the only time I will address this because I am not a part of this lawsuit. My heart goes out to anyone falsely accused of Anything. Trust me it doesn’t feel good. But most of you have been incredible and supportive. Onward and upward.
Sources: Pro Wrestling Sheet and WrestlingINC
