Category: WWE

Backstage News On Who Is Responsible For Jeff Jarrett’s Upcoming WWE Hall Of Fame Induction

Image result for Jeff and Karen Jarrett WWE Hall of Fame

WWE shocked the wrestling world earlier this month when they confirmed TNA co-founder Jeff Jarrett for the 2018 WWE Hall of Fame class. Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated reports that Triple H is the man who made the induction possible.

It was noted that Jarrett does have some supporters in WWE. The obvious allies would be WWE Champion AJ Styles and WWE United States Champion Bobby Roode but Jarrett is also close with WWE Hall of Famers Scott Hall and Kevin Nash, who are close to Triple H.

Barrasso also pointed to another possible twist in the Jarrett story – his future with WWE. There’s no word yet on if Triple H will try to bring Jarrett on to work with the WWE NXT brand, as he has done with Jeremy Borash, another longtime TNA employee.

As noted before, Jarrett revealed in a TMZ interview that WWE called him back in January to discuss the induction. The call came shortly after Jarrett completed WWE-sponsored rehab for alcoholism.

Source: WrestlingINC

Johnny Gargano Leaves WWE NXT Per Stipulation Of Losing Match

Image result for A somber Johnny Gargano leaves NXT: NXY Exclusive, Feb 21, 2018

On last night’s WWE NXT main event we saw Johnny Gargano lose a Career vs. Title match to NXT Champion Andrade “Cien” Almas. Per the stipulation, Gargano must now leave NXT. The match saw interference by Tommaso Ciampa, Zelina Vega and Candice LeRae.

What’s next for Johnny Wrestling?

Below is post-match video of a somber Gargano leaving the arena with his wife as the roster and others look on, including NXT General Manager William Regal.

Gargano tweeted the following after the loss:

Jim Cornette On How Much Money WWE Loses With NXT

Image result for Jim Cornette On How Much Money NXT Spends

Jim Cornette was the former lead booker for Ohio Valley Wrestling, WWE’s former developmental promotion, so he has a keen interest in the company’s current developmental territory NXT. On recent episode of The Jim Cornette Experience, Cornette made some revelations about how much money NXT is losing.

Cornette said he was sent the yearly and quarterly reports that are available because the WWE is a publicly-traded company. He revealed that NXT lost way more many than it made in the last two years, a luxury he wishes he had when he was at the helm of OVW.

“NXT in 2016 sold $7 million in tickets and had $20 million in expenses. In 2017, NXT had let’s say $6 million in ticket sales and $25 million in expenses… In all honesty, 2016 they lost $13 million, 2017 they lost $19 million and that’s not a ton of money for that whole company and organization up there. But can you imagine what me and Danny Davis could’ve done with Ohio Valley Wrestling if they said, ‘OK guys, you can bring in anybody that you want that’s not on the main roster or signed to New Japan and you can lose $32 million over the next two years.’ Holy f**k!”

Cornette said OVW never was in that position even though it didn’t generate a lot of money on its own. Still, he believes OVW was successful in its own right and says it was never in a bad monetary situation.

“We already had the highest rated show on the station’s Saturday schedule we were on… We had numerous events that drew large houses at the Gardens and we drew at Six Flags and we produced a ton of talent. I don’t know what the percentages would be but I guarantee we didn’t lose $32 million,” he said. “That’s the thing, Ohio Valley Wrestling never lost money since it’s been in operation. There have been a few years it may not have made much, but at that point in time it was the only full-time company with television running regular events in the United States besides the WWE that was profitable.”

Cornette said he understands the WWE’s need to develop their future superstars, so it’s necessary for them to put a lot of money towards NXT. Still, he thinks the losses are very monumental, so he was surprised by the numbers.

“I understand they’re making the investment in training the future superstars and they have to, they’ve figured out that they have to because they’re not getting them from anywhere else,” he said. “So they have to train their own, but my God!”

Source: The Jim Cornette Experience via WrestlingINC

NXT Preview 2/21/18

* Johnny Gargano risks his NXT career in NXT Title Match against Andrade “Cien” Almas

* The fiesta meets the experience: No Way Jose vs. The Velveteen Dream

* Vanessa Borne readies for a punishing playdate with Nikki Cross

Backstage Talk On Triple H Taking Over Vince McMahon’s WWE Duties

There continues to be talk within WWE about Triple H taking over the main duties of the company from Vince McMahon, according to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. The talk is that Triple H has been assembling his team in WWE NXT to have them ready when the time comes. We’ve noted how Triple H recently took over the WWE 205 Live duties. It was also noted how Triple H and Stephanie McMahon negotiated Ronda Rousey’s WWE contract, not Vince. While Triple H made the announcement, The Observer reports that Vince is the one who negotiated the deal for WWE Universal Champion Brock Lesnar but there’s no word yet on if Vince will re-negotiate Lesnar’s deal when it comes up or if Triple H and Stephanie will handle the talks.

Source: WrestlingINC

WWE Cruiserweight Title Tournament Brackets Revealed

WWE NXT Superstar Buddy Murphy made his WWE 205 Live debut on last night’s show and defeated Ariya Daivari in a first round match in the WWE Cruiserweight Title tournament. The first round then wrapped with Mustafa Ali defeating Jack Gallagher in the main event.

The tournament brackets were revealed and they look like this:

First Round
* Cedric Alexander defeated Gran Metalik
* TJP defeated Tyler Bate
* Roderick Strong defeated Hideo Itami
* Kalisto defeated Lince Dorado
* Mustafa Ali defeated Jack Gallagher
* Buddy Murphy defeated Ariya Daivari
* Drew Gulak defeated Tony Nese
* Mark Andrews defeated Akira Tozawa

Quarter-Finals
* Cedric Alexander vs. TJP
* Roderick Strong vs. Kalisto
* Mustafa Ali vs. Buddy Murphy
* Drew Gulak vs. Mark Andrews

Semi-Finals
* Cedric Alexander or TJP vs. Roderick Strong or Kalisto
* Mustafa Ali or Buddy Murphy vs. Drew Gulak or Mark Andrews

Finals at WrestleMania 34
* Cedric Alexander or TJP or Roderick Strong or Kalisto
vs.
* Mustafa Ali or Buddy Murphy or Drew Gulak or Mark Andrews

Source: WrestlingINC

WWE Mixed Match Challenge and 205 Live Preview 2/20/18

Tonight’s WWE Mixed Match Challenge and WWE 205 Live shows will take place from the Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix.

WWE Mixed Match Challenge:

* Nia Jax & Apollo vs. Charlotte Flair & Bobby Roode

 

WWE 205 Live:

* Will Gentleman Jack Gallagher heed Drake Maverick’s advice?

* Who will advance to the second round? Buddy Murphy vs. Ariya Daivari and Jack Gallagher vs. Mustafa Ali.

SmackDown Live Preview 2/20/18

Tonight’s WWE SmackDown Live will take place from the Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix.

* Charlotte Flair, Naomi & Becky Lynch to battle The Riott Squad

* How will WWE Champion AJ Styles deal with his upcoming Fatal 5-Way Match?

* The New Day to battle Shelton Benjamin & Chad Gable

* Is Bobby Roode’s U.S. Title reign in danger?

* Are The Bludgeon Brothers on the hunt for The Usos?

Jeff Jarrett Reveals When WWE Contacted Him Regarding WWE Hall Of Fame Induction

Image result for Jeff and Karen Jarrett WWE Hall of Fame

WWE confirmed this week that former Intercontinental Champion Jeff Jarrett will be the latest inductee into the Hall of Fame. During the video package, WWE aired his achievements while competing for the company, from popularizing himself by pompously spelling his name, to eventually becoming a crew-cut, hard-nosed competitor and smashing guitars over the heads of his foes.

 They also showed some of his pinnacle moments in WCW, as he was the World Heavyweight Champion four times, United States three times, and the leader of nWo 2000 in just under a year and a half with the company from 1999-2001.

Jarrett was interviewed by TMZ about WWE’s announcement, as seen in the video above. Jarrett stated that it is surreal to him, and WWE asked him back in January if he would like to go in the Hall of Fame and he did not think twice about it.

“Out of all the guys who’ve laced up their boots, there’s less that 200 of us in the Hall of Fame,” said Jarrett. “So, I’m very grateful, I’m very, very humbled, and… this is for my family. My family goes back three generations, so I’m the lucky one that got picked for my family being in the Hall of Fame.”

On the March 26, 2001 simulcast of Raw and Nitro, where Vince McMahon revealed that he bought his rival, he also publicly fired Jarrett as he was appearing on WCW Nitro. A year later, Jarrett and his father Jerry would launch TNA Wrestling.

TMZ asked Jarrett about that infamous moment. Jarrett stated, “that night in Panama city, who would’ve thunk (laughs), who would’ve thought these many years later, 17 years later or whatever it may be, that I’m standing here Monday, February the 19th and the announcement is made.”

Jarrett would then say “thank you” to WWE for their decision to induct him in the Hall of Fame, despite his ups and downs.

Source: WrestlingINC and H/T to TMZ

Karen & Jeff Jarrett On His WWE HOF Induction

Image result for Jeff and Karen Jarrett WWE Hall of Fame

Jeff Jarrett and wife Karen Jarrett posted the following on Jeff’s 2018 WWE Hall of Fame induction: