Category: WWE

Vince McMahon Steps Aside And Puts Triple H In Charge Of ‘WWE 205 Live’

There are major behind-the-scenes changes going on with the WWE 205 Live brand as Vince McMahon has stepped aside and is no longer personally producing the show, according to PWInsider. The changes began with last week’s episode, which featured new 205 Live General Manager Drake Maverick and kicked off the 16-man tournament that will end at WrestleMania 34 with the crowning of a new WWE Cruiserweight Champion.

Triple H is now overseeing 205 Live and he has brought back some of the aspects of the WWE Cruiserweight Classic tournament, including the style and presentation of the wrestlers. Vince had personally worked with the 205 Live Superstars to bring out their personalities to present them in a certain way but there has been more focus on the in-ring work under Triple H.

There has been a lot of internal talk over the past few months about why 205 Live wasn’t succeeding like they had hoped. Vince reportedly believed that a character-driven show was the best way to get the brand over, which is why former WWE Superstar Enzo Amore was brought over to be the top star of the brand. Enzo’s arrival helped with viewership and buzz for the show but there were still people in the company that wanted to present the show like the Cruiserweight Classic was presented. Their feeling was that having smaller talents that were just echoing the Superstars from RAW and SmackDown was not going to showcase what made the cruiserweight talents unique, and it wasn’t going to help 205 Live grow into its own brand, more than just a weekly WWE Network TV show.

The product we’ve seen over the last few weeks is said to be very much in line with the original plans for 205 Live before Vince became personally involved with the direction of the show and the development of the cruiserweight talents.

While WWE is still considering non-televised 205 Live live event shows in the future, there are currently no plans to run more cruiserweight-exclusive events as the plan is to focus on re-building the brand by presenting strong athletic characters with strong in-ring competition.

Vince finally made the decision to let Triple H run the show back in mid-January as a way to reboot the brand, or fix it. Triple H is running the show, making all decisions, while Jonathan Baeckstrom is the current lead writer. Baeckstrom has worked on the WWE creative team since August 2013 and has been a lead writer since November 2016. Former WWE Performance Center Coach Adam Pearce is still working as the lead producer for the brand.

Regarding roster changes, there may be more additions in the coming weeks. WWE NXT Superstar Roderick Strong was brought up to help freshen the roster and the show. As noted, Strong defeated Hideo Itami last night to advance in the 16-man tournament.

Source: WrestlingINC

Lita On Wearing ‘Times Up’ Gear For The Women’s WWE Royal Rumble Match

Image result for Lita women's Royal Rumble

Lita took to Twitter to discuss why she wore #TimesUp gear during The Royal Rumble match last week. The WWE Hall of Famer said that she paid tribute to the women who are no longer with us that had paved the way for the match to happen. She said that #MeToo and #TimesUp have helped bring strength and unity to men who had previously felt “alone, ashamed or scared” and that she is proud of every woman who has come forward for the movements.

 She also stated that she started an eBay auction fund. Although the link to the auction is in the pinned tweet on her Twitter account, the auction is currently down.

You can check Lita’s full statement below (h/t to Cageside Seats for the transcription):

“On January 28, I was fortunate enough to have been included in the first ever Women’s Royal Rumble match. Historically, it was tough to have the women even represented at the Royal Rumble pay-per-view, much less have equal representation and be the main event. With only a few days notice between when I was asked to participate and the match itself, I had to wonder: As much as I wanted to be a part of history, could I pull this off?? After all, I hadn’t been in the ring in a decade, and while my full-time tenure at WWE sowed the seeds for the current Women’s Evolution (led by a roster of kick-ass women), I knew this historic event was going to be much bigger than myself and my own contributions to the industry. A big factor in deciding to go for it was the position I was now in to represent women everywhere.First, to all the women in professional wrestling. Women who passed away before they were able to their contributions as a rung on this ladder [sic]. I wanted to step in the ring for these performers who came before me and sacrificed so much of their lives for their millions of fans. But this evolution is bigger than even them. I wanted to be an entrant in this match for all women who have felt underrepresented, in all aspects of their lives.

That is why, when I stepped through the curtain, I wore my #TimesUp gear. Watching these women step forward, hearing their #MeToo stories, as difficult as they are to share, has brought strength and unity to women who previously felt alone, ashamed or scared. This is so much bigger than one match. Everyone has their own journey and their own way to heal. I am still figuring out mine, but am so proud of all of you who have been able to come forward and join together for the sake of the evolution, and the re-education that this is not right.

Women should not be discriminated against, and I support you in whatever makes you feel like you are doing the right thing for you. Taking legal action is only one of those ways, but it also happens to be one of the ways where our support can do the most good. Which is why 100% of the proceeds of this auction is being donated to the #TimesUp Legal Defense Fund to honor the strength of ALL women. I support you, and applaud your courage and your healing, in whatever way is best for you.

Thanks for reading,

Amy”

Source: WrestlingINC

Jason Jordan’s Wife Issues Statement On His ‘Minor Neck Injury’ And WWE Return

Related image

Jason Jordan’s wife April Everhart took to social media last night during RAW and issued a statement on his WWE status, confirming that he has been sent home after last night’s backstage segment with RAW General Manager Kurt Angle.

In regards to Jordan possibly undergoing surgery due to the apparent severity of his neck injury as he’s reportedly lost strength in his grip, Jordan’s wife indicates that he will not be undergoing surgery. You can read her statement below:

I will address this once…Yes, “Jason Jordan” is injured. I assure you everything you have seen online is “Fake News!” He has a minor neck injury and will be back in no time! Although, I am very excited to have him home for a bit, I promise, I will help guide him to a speedy recovery! Thank you to everyone who reached out to check on him! He is very positive and already planning his comeback! In the meantime, just please keep sending Nathan and I good vibes!!

https://www.instagram.com/p/Be11PEOhLql/?utm_source=ig_embed

 

Source: WrestlingINC

WWE Mixed Match Challenge and 205 Live Preview 2/6/18

Image result for 205 Live and WWE Mix Match Challenge

Tonight’s WWE Mixed Match Challenge and WWE 205 Live will take place from the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Missouri.

WWE is allowing fans to vote for the special referee in tonight’s Mixed Match Challenge match – SmackDown General Manager Daniel Bryan or RAW General Manager Kurt Angle. Voting opens at noon today, as explained by Renee Young in this video.

WWE Mixed Match Challenge:

* Goldust and Mandy Rose take on Naomi and SmackDown Tag Team Champion Jimmy Uso.

 

WWE 205 Live:

* What does Drake Maverick have in store for WWE 205 Live?

* Who will advance in the WWE Cruiserweight Championship tournament? – Roderick Strong vs. Hideo Itami – Kalisto vs. Lince Dorado

SmackDown Live Preview 2/6/18

Tonight’s WWE SmackDown Live will take place from the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Missouri as the road to WrestleMania continues.

* Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn to battle for a WWE Title opportunity at WWE Fastlane tonight on SmackDown LIVE

* Bobby Roode defends the United States Championship against Rusev tonight on SmackDown LIVE

* Daniel Bryan to reveal the first-ever SmackDown LIVE Top 10 Superstars List

* Charlotte Flair looks for payback against Riott Squad’s Liv Morgan

Jason Jordan May Need Surgery For Neck Injury

Related image

It looks like Jason Jordan may need to undergo surgery soon.

It was noted on Wrestling Observer Radio that the kind of neck injury Jordan is currently suffering from is the kind that talents definitely get surgery for and not the kind of injury that one would just work through.

As noted, Jordan is said to be having issues with his grip, which could indicate a very serious injury. It was also noted that Jordan is dealing with a loss of grip strength.

Jordan’s injury is serious enough that WWE officials are not booking him in any physical angles or matches until further notice. This is also why he and Seth Rollins lost the RAW Tag Team Titles to The Bar.

Jordan’s last match came at the January 28th Royal Rumble pay-per-view, the title loss, but he barely did anything during that match. Before that he lost a six-person tag match with Rollins and Roman Reigns on the January 8th RAW and before that he defeated Cesaro in singles action on January 1st.

Source: WrestlingINC

RAW Preview 2/5/18

Tonight’s WWE RAW will take place from the Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa as the Road to WrestleMania 34 continues.

* Reigns battles Wyatt in Elimination Chamber Qualifying Match

* Which Superstars will compete in the first-ever Women’s Elimination Chamber Match?

* What’s next for The Miz?

* The Bar is raised

* “Top Guys” finally live up to their nickname

Matt Hardy Now Owns All Trademarks Related To His “Broken” Character And The Broken Universe

PWInsider.com is reporting that Matt Hardy is now officially listed as the trademark owner for the terms Broken Matt, Brother Nero, Broken Brilliance and Vanguard 1.

According to the report, Impact Wrestling President Ed Nordholm signed an agreement on January 8 handing over all ownership rights to Hardy. Two days later, Hardy shared a smiling photo with Nordholm on Twitter.

As of January 31, all four trademarks now belong to Matt Hardy going forward and he is now within legal rights to use them as he sees fit.

Hardy has been using the term “Woken” in WWE since early December.

Source: WrestleView

Kurt Angle Teases Return Of Old Gimmick

Image result for Kurt Angle

RAW General Manager Kurt Angle is teasing a return to the ring with his “Wrestling Machine Mode” gimmick. No word yet on if the WWE Hall of Famer will be returning to the ring for WrestleMania 34 Season but he wrote the following on Instagram this weekend:

Kurt Angle “Wrestling Machine Mode” was my favorite character in WWE. He wasn’t very funny but he could take out anybody in an instant. Will the “wrestling machine” make a return? Stay tuned…. #itstrue

 

Source: WrestlingINC

Booker T Blames Corey Graves For Being Taken Off Raw & Challenges Him To A Fight

Image result for Booker T and Corey Graves

Last week, a change was made to the Raw announce team with Jonathan Coachman coming in and WWE Hall of Famer Booker T being moved out. WWE said Booker T would remain with the company to work Kickoff panels, as well as making occasional Raw appearances and serving as a WWE Ambassador. On his podcast ,Heated Conversations, Booker T spoke about why he was moved off the team and blamed Corey Graves and the jabs that have been thrown by both announcers.

“If I got Corey Graves into a fisticuffs, I would beat him down like he stole something,” Booker T said. “I would be whoopin’ his ass all day long. My thing is this, I’m a nice guy, until you get on my bad side. Corey Graves, I wouldn’t necessarily say he’s on my bad side right now, but he’s the reason that I’m not on Monday Night Raw right now. Lot of people in the company thought I was going to jump on him. I was gonna do something bad to him. I was gonna drag him. I was gonna take him out to the woodshed. I was gonna beat that man so bad that he was going to say ‘Please, please, just don’t beat me anymore.’ That’s how hot I was getting, that’s how close I was getting.”

According to Booker, WWE wanted him to cool off and did that by moving him back to the Kickoffpanels and away from Graves.

“So, they said ‘Hey, Book, step back a second, alright? We’re gonna regroup, press the rewind button. We’re gonna send you back to the Kickoff show, SmackDown and Monday Night Raw PPVs and cool ya down for a second. Because we don’t want you to do anything to Corey Graves.'”

Booker T continued that if he catches Graves out and about, he’s going to “do something” to the Raw Announcer.

“If I catch Corey Graves on the street, I’m gonna do something to him,” Booker T said. “I ain’t gonna do it at the office or the airport, but if I catch Corey Graves on the street, you see that little bouffant hairdo he got? I’m gonna rearrange it for him.”

Wrapping up, Booker said he didn’t like his money being messed with and outright challenged Graves to a fight.

“Everybody knows my reputation, I get mean, if you mess with my ‘green,'” Booker responded. “And right now, my ‘green’ is being messed with. Is WrestleMania coming up, right? There’s room for one more match at WrestleMania. Right now on my show, I’m calling Corey Graves out to a fight. Not a match. Not a pre-show pose down or anything like that. I’m calling Corey Graves out to a fight. I’m talking man-to-man. Mano-a-mano. You and I.”

Transcript via WrestlingINC