* NXT Championship: (C) Drew McIntyre vs. Roderick Strong
* Aleister Black vs. Lio Rush
* Nikki Cross and Ruby Riot vs. Billie Kay and Peyton Royce
* “The Pirate Princess” Kairi Sane sets course for NXT
Category: WWE
Shayna Baszler On Why She Signed With WWE (Video)
As noted, WWE announced on Tuesday that Shayna Baszler has officially signed with the company and reported to the WWE Performance Center in Orlando. There’s speculation that she may make her WWE NXT TV debut at tonight’s Full Sail University tapings. WWE posted this video of The Queen of Spades arriving to the building and talking about her journey.
The former UFC star says she did everything there was to do in fighting as she hit a point where she was just going through the motions when fighting someone. Baszler says it was time to move on to the next step and in wrestling, WWE is the next step. Baszler also says she wants to become the absolute best to represent her coaches in the best way possible.
Source: WrestlingINC
Details On Creative Plans For “Sister Abigail” Debut
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If you were confused by Bray Wyatt‘s Sister Abigail promo during Raw this week, we’ve got the explanation you’re looking for below … but warning, spoilers lie ahead.
Sources with direct knowledge tell Pro Wrestling Sheet the current plan is for Wyatt to wrestle at TLC using the name “Sister Abigail” — similar to how Finn Balor becomes The Demon — and he’d wear a different outfit.
From what we’re being told, WWE is NOT planning to introduce a female character with the name.
For those who missed it, Wyatt transformed into a scarecrow-like character last night during a backstage promo directed at Balor and a female voice could be heard laughing alongside his.
No word on whether the match will have any sort of additional gimmick attached.
Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet
WWE 205 Live Preview 10/3/17
Tonight’s WWE 205 Live will take place from the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado
* Cedric Alexander and Gentleman Jack Gallagher finally collide
* Will Kalisto challenge Enzo Amore for the WWE Cruiserweight Championship?
SmackDown Live Preview 10/3/17
Tonight’s WWE SmackDown Live will take place from the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado with the final hype for Sunday’s WWE Hell In a Cell pay-per-view.
* Shane McMahon and Kevin Owens to stand face-to-face
* The Usos plan to read The New Day their rights
* Shinsuke Nakamura interview to kick off SmackDown LIVE
* The Lone Wolf to go back to war with Tye Dillinger
* The Fashion Police return in search of justice
WWE On Lance Russell’s Passing
Legendary wrestling announcer Lance Russell passed away today at the age of 91. WWE posted the following on “The Voice of Memphis Wrestling” passing:
Legendary announcer Lance Russell passes awayWWE is saddened to learn that Lance Russell, the legendary voice of Memphis, Tenn., wrestling, has passed away at age 91.
A fixture of the Memphis circuit, Russell’s career as an announcer began in the late 1950s and spanned nearly 40 years until his semi-retirement in 1997. His avuncular charm and steady hand guided fans who tuned in to watch the region’s larger-than-life personalities and notoriously wild ring action.
As the unflappable host of the Continental Wrestling Association’s weekly Saturday morning show held at WMC’s TV studios, as well as the Mid-South Coliseum cards each Monday night, Russell provided commentary for all of Memphis’ most famous matches.
His relaxed drawl was the soundtrack for Jerry “The King” Lawler’s rivalry with absurdist comedian Andy Kaufman in the early 1980s, a groundbreaking event that made national headlines. When an impromptu tag team fight broke out in the concession stand of the Tupelo Sports Arena in Mississippi years earlier, after that night’s taping had ended, it was Russell who alerted the cameraman to begin filming and who literally shined a light on the brawl, which many consider a milestone moment in wrestling.
Over the years, Russell developed a level of credibility and trust with TV audiences that rivaled Walter Cronkite’s, and as Superstars like Lawler and Bill Dundee switched allegiances, Russell remained a consummate moral compass. His interaction with rule-breakers like Austin Idol and “Mouth of the South” Jimmy Hart — which often featured Russell voicing his disappointment over their dirty deeds — became as much an attraction to fans as the matches themselves.
Russell also commentated in WCW from 1989 to 1992.
Following news of Russell’s passing, many of his friends, contemporaries and admirers expressed their love and affection for the “Voice of Memphis Wrestling.”
WWE extends its condolences to Russell’s family, friends and fans.
Shayna Baszler Officially Joins The WWE Performance Center
WWE announced the following:
Shayna Baszler officially joins the WWE Performance CenterShayna Baszler already made history as a finalist in the inaugural WWE Mae Young Classic. Now, The Queen of Spades is ready to embark on her new career in WWE as an official member of the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Fla.
Baszler, a former UFC fighter originally from Sioux City, S.D., began training full-time at the Performance Center last week.
“I’m looking forward to getting out there and twisting limbs off and breaking bodies,” she told WWE.com. “I can’t wait.”
The WWE Universe watched this past summer as Baszler used a rear-naked choke to submit four consecutive opponents and advance to the Mae Young Classic Final, where she lost to tournament winner Kairi Sane of Japan.
A member of the MMA Four Horsewomen and former training partner of Ronda Rousey, Baszler brings extensive catch wrestling expertise to the Performance Center. She learned the dangerous and hybrid form of grappling under former UFC Heavyweight Champion Josh Barnett and the late U.K. legend Billy Robinson, continuing a prestigious lineage that also includes Karl Gotch, whom Japanese audiences once dubbed “The God of Wrestling.”
Baszler described WWE as “the next step” in her progression as a combat athlete.
“It’s very serious to me and, in some ways, a lot more important [than MMA] based on where I come from,” Baszler said. “Waving the banner of my coaches is a heavy flag to wield, so it’s something I take very serious. Because of that, I wanted to start at the beginning and show that I’m willing to start at the bottom and prove myself and work my way up, so there’s no excuse when I get here and I’m breaking these girls in half. I didn’t get any ‘gimmes.'”
Legendary Wrestling Announcer Lance Russell Passes Away
It’s a sad day in wrestling. Legendary wrestling announcer Lance Russell has passed away at the age of 91.
Lance was best known as the voice of Memphis wrestling.
I grew up watching and listening to Lance Russell and in my opinion he was the best in the business. I believe he should be in the WWE Hall of Fame. I had the pleasure to meet him once and got the photo above.
All of us here at Wrestling News Blog send our thoughts and prayers out to Lance’s family and friends.
Below are reactions on his death from longtime announce partner Dave Brown, Jerry “The King” Lawler and others:
WWE Pays Tribute To Shooting Victims At RAW (Video) & SmackDown Live
Monday night’s RAW opened with a moment of silence for the victims of the shooting in Las Vegas on Sunday night. Vince McMahon, Shane McMahon along with the entire RAW roster was out on the stage to honor the victims.
WWE repeated what they did on RAW, opening SmackDown Live with a moment of silence for the Las Vegas shooting victims.
RAW Preview 10/2/17
Tonight’s WWE RAW will take place from the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado.
* Roman Reigns battles The Miz for the Intercontinental Championship
* The Kingslayer aims to conquer The Monster Among Men
* How will Alexa Bliss respond to Mickie James’ attack?
* When will Nevillle strike again?
