Category: WWE

Other Wrestlers Added To Mae Young Tournament

Kairi Sane (formerly Kairi Hojo) of Japan will be joined by two other international wrestlers, Dakota Kai of New Zealand and Piper Niven of Scotland, as well as NXT star Bianca Belair in the Mae Young Classic. Belair defeated Aliyah to earn a spot in the tournament.

Mae Young Classic field widens with addition of international sensations, including Japan’s Kairi Sane

An internationally feared pirate has set course for NXT and the Mae Young Classic.

Twenty-eight year-old Kairi Sane, nicknamed “The Pirate Princess” in her home country of Japan, where she is one of the most celebrated women’s wrestlers of the modern era, announced today that she has signed with NXT and will compete in this summer’s global women’s tournament.

Sane broke the news via a video message that played on the big screen inside Ry?goku Kokugikan Sumo Hall, the site of today’s WWE Live Event in Tokyo.

Formerly known by the alias Kairi Hojo, Sane has wrestled for five years and was a multi-time champion in the Japanese organization Stardom. Her pirate persona is inspired by her elite background in yachting: Before entering the mat game, Sane competed in the yachting world championship and was considered an Olympic hopeful. Though Sane has often carried a spyglass to the ring, it’s her highlight reel-worthy diving elbow drop — thought by many to be the most beautiful in the world — that has navigated her to many milestone victories.

Sane, however, is not the only new blockbuster entrant confirmed for the Mae Young Classic. Joining her are two other international sensations, Dakota Kai of New Zealand and Piper Niven of Scotland, as well as NXT Superstar Bianca Belair, who won a Qualifying Match to earn her berth in the Mae Young Classic.

Auckland, New Zealand’s Dakota Kai has held titles not just in her native country, but also in Australia, Japan and the United States (including the SHIMMER Tag Titles with NXT Superstar Ruby Riot). The 10-year veteran, also known as “The Captain of Team Kick,” is famous for her wide variety of strikes, including a running Yakuza kick that, in GIF form, has taken on a life of its own among wrestling fans. She came into WWE’s orbit once before, in a 2015 loss to Nia Jax on NXT. Two years later, she is now a recruit at the WWE Performance Center and looking to prove she belongs for good this time.

Hailing from Ayrshire, Scotland, Piper Niven (photo courtesy of Dod Morrison) is an experienced powerhouse who has competed across numerous promotions, including Shine, SHIMMER and Glasgow-based Insane Championship Wrestling. Drawn to sports-entertainment at an early age thanks to the likes of “Stone Cold” Steve Austin and Chyna, Niven played contact sports in her youth, setting the foundation for her eventual in-ring debut in 2008. She is revered for her high-impact offense, which includes senton splashes, powerslams and a signature Michinoku Driver.

Bianca Belair, of Knoxville, Tenn., qualified for the Mae Young Classic with a recent victory over NXT Superstar Aliyah. (Watch the match in its entirety, below.) Calling herself the “EST of NXT,” Belair claims to be the strongest, fastest and toughest woman on the Performance Center roster. Before joining WWE in 2016, she competed in track and field at University of South Carolina, Texas A&M and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and she is a regional CrossFit competitor who has been featured in RX Magazine. Prior to making her NXT debut, she shined in last year’s inaugural Performance Center Combine, putting up amazing numbers such as a 400-pound trap-bar deadlift and a 2.07-second 10-yard sprint.

Today’s additions bring the total number of confirmed Mae Young Classic entrants to 13. The tournament, which will be announced by WWE Hall of Famers Jim Ross and Lita, debuts on WWE Network on Monday, Aug. 28.

Source: WrestlingINC

Paige – Total Divas Update, More On Split With Alberto Del Rio, SmackDown Star Added To Total Divas

Paige will not be appearing on the upcoming season of Total Divas. Dave Meltzer reported in the latest issue of Wrestling Observer Newsletter that Carmella will be joining the cast, joining fellow newcomers Alexa Bliss and Nia Jax in replacing Paige, Renee Young and Eva Marie.

Paige has been on the cast of Total Divas since the third season, which premiered in September of 2014. Her last season on the series focused on her relationship with Alberto Del Rio, however that aspect was never pushed on WWE programming.

As we reported Paige and Del Rio broke up on Saturday night. Someone who saw the breakup said that Alberto reportedly said that “enough was enough” and that he reached his limit and knew that it was time to break up. Meltzer noted in the Observer that one of Del Rio’s close friends told him about the breakup, and that “it’s always possible they could get back together, but it did happen.” He added on Wrestling Observer Radio last night that while it could change, they were broken up as of Tuesday.

Paige has been out of action since suffering a neck injury in June of 2016. She was drafted to the RAW brand the following month but has yet to appear on the show. Since then she has had two Wellness violations. She has been training for a WWE return, and is expected to be back in action this summer.

Source: WrestlingINC

Tyson Kidd Being Transitioned Into Non-Wrestling Role

Pro Wrestling Sheet reports that Tyson Kidd, aka TJ Wilson, is making his return to wrestling, however, it won’t be in the ring, he’ll be working in a non-wrestling capacity.

According to sources, Kidd is currently being transitioned into a non-wrestling role. Since it’s still fresh, one source says it’s too early to define whether it’ll be behind the scenes, like a producer/agent, or if he’ll be used in some sort of on-air role that doesn’t require wrestling.

For those who don’t recall, Tyson was injured during a match with Samoa Joe in 2015 that ended his in-ring career. Kidd was kept from filming Total Divas last season because the company feared he’d open up about the night of his injury.

The 36-year-old recently revealed, however, that he’ll once again appear on the show next season.

 

Randy Orton And Jinder Mahal To Battle For WWE Title In A Punjabi Prison Match At Battleground

punjabi prison randy orton jinder mahal smackdown live battleground shane mcmahon smackdown live

The last Punjabi Prison match was about 10 years ago, but that’s about to change, because the brutal structure is coming back at the SmackDown Live exclusive pay-per-view WWE Battleground.

The announcement happened on SmackDown Live last night when Orton refused to leave the ring until he was granted a title match, causing Shane McMahon to come out from the back.

The SD Live Commissioner granted the rematch, but said Jinder was allowed to pick the stipulation.

The WWE Champion then made his entrance and announced that he and Randy would face each other in a Punjabi Prison match next month.

 

Carmella Officially Ms. Money In The Bank (Video)

Image result for Carmella wins MITB on smackDown Live

Last night on SmackDown live, Carmella won the Money In The Bank Ladder Rematch. So, Carmella is now officially Ms. Money in the Bank.

The MITB rematch was made after the first-ever women’s MITB Ladder match at the June 18th pay-per-view ended in controversy due to James Ellsworth helping Carmella win.

Carmella now has one year to cash in her contract for a shot at the SmackDown Women’s Title, currently held by Naomi.

SmackDown Live Preview 6/27/17

Tonight’s WWE SmackDown Live will take place from the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, California.

* Second-ever Women’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match to take place tonight on SmackDown LIVE

* Naomi and Lana face off in SmackDown Women’s Championship rematch

* Sami Zayn battles Baron Corbin on SmackDown LIVE

* The Hype Bros battle The Usos for a chance to earn a SmackDown Tag Team Title Match

 

Jim Cornette On Vince Russo’s Protective Order, Taking Things Too Far, Russo Calling Him A Pill Head

Image result for Jim Cornette On Vince Russo's Protective Order, Why Everything Has Gone Too Far, Table For 3's Role

Today The Two Man Power Trip of Wrestling welcomes back to the show our favorite guest of all time, Jim Cornette. Fresh off of being served with a protective order by his longtime nemesis Vince Russo, the leader of the “Cult of Cornette” discusses what this rivalry means to him personally as well as how it has lasted as long as it has. John and Chad also bring up the topics of booking ideas, taking credit for angles and story lines and the inclusion of Eric Bischoff and Bruce Prichard into what seems to be this endless feud. The full episode can be downloaded at this link.

How WWE Network‘s Table For 3 may have been the catalyst for the recent developments between Cornette and Russo:

“When you just say it like that it just sounds so crass. We had a great time doing Table for 3 and it got such great feedback on Twitter, people raved and everybody wanted to see more and petitioned the WWE to see more. The only person that actually didn’t like it was Vince Russo. He kind of got offended (I guess) that as part of the discussion that we had and that Eric Bischoff and I who have never been friendly and it was the first time we had talked face to face in over twenty years bonded over a mutual dislike of Mr. Russo. As that came up and we mentioned that, the WWE was quick to flash that picture up there because I guess they wanted to make that point and he got offended. We exchanged some harsh words in both directions on our podcasts.

“I had said some harsh things that I have expressed remorse about and in fact on my YouTube channel, the statement is up there now and finally when I had said such harsh things about Vince Russo that I was served with a protective order and that he accused me of stalking him for eighteen years, I didn’t realize that I had taken it that far and I had no idea of that. It ordered me to stay away from him, his family, his residence (that I’ve never been to) and his wife (that I haven’t seen in over twenty years) and to never call his phone (that I never called and didn’t have the number to until last week) but I shouldn’t do that and I am not going to do that because after all it is court ordered. I really feel bad and express remorse that I scared the little fella so bad that he would have to go through something like this and it has gone too far. So we will be lighting up on the poor thing and I don’t want to be accused of putting somebody in fear of their life.”

Was there any way to patch things up prior to the protective order:

“He went on his show again and demanded that I come on his show or let him come on my show or go on somebody’s show and say these things to his face on Skype. I took it too far (of course) and said I’d be happy to say these things to your face and whatever happens will happen and lets settle this and that didn’t work out well because I got a protective order. So we aren’t going to be talking face to face or contacting each other at all because that is strictly forbidden so that debate will never happen. But I thought we were starting to work through our issues until that Table for 3.

Bruce Prichard and Eric Bischoff’s feud with Vince Russo heating up:

“Poor Bruce Prichard. I didn’t hear the whole show but I guess Vince got upset because they read significant portions of a book that he wrote on the air and it made him look bad because I guess it was completely different things than what he is saying now but I don’t know. I never read it so I can’t comment. I hope that Bruce certainly doesn’t certainly doesn’t take anything too far like I did. Of course Eric Bischoff. He had mentioned that he doesn’t hate Vince Russo, he just takes him for what he is and I believe that is a ‘pathological liar’ was the quote. But I can’t remember because I saw that second hand.”

Prichard addressing Russo’s claims that he was a “pill head and alcoholic”:

“That basically is saying that Vince was lying about it. When you say that I am afraid now that Vince is going to have to go to court again and get some kind of order against Bruce. You can’t go around calling Vince Russo a liar because he does not take that well. I don’t think we should be smearing his reputation anymore because after all he is a fine, upstanding human being.”

“Apparently, every major wrestling personality in probably the history of the world that he has ever worked with and he’s like the scientists on global warming. 97% of them are so jealous of Vince and so upset about what he’s accomplished that they lie and talk about how crooked and how much of a cheat and a con man and a scoundrel he is. He is going to have to spend a lot of time in court serving all these papers. I wish we would just stop impugning his integrity.”

For this and every other episode of The Two Man Power Trip of Wrestling please subscribe to us on iTunes, Podomatic, Player FM, Tune In Radio and The IRW Network, The exclusive home of The Triple Threat Podcast featuring Shane Douglas

& TMPToW. As well as follow us on Twitter @TwoManPowerTrip

Source: WrestlingINC

Lucha Underground – AAA Stars Appearing At Slammiversary This Sunday

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Lucha Underground / AAA stars El Hijo del Fantasma and Drago will team up at Slammiversary this Sunday in a 4-way match for the IMPACT Wrestling Tag-Team Championship, now held by the Latin American Xchange (LAX). The match will also feature talent from two other international promotions.

Impact Wrestling issued the following:

Mexican Wrestling Stars Set to Debut at Slammiversary 15

El Hijo del Fantasma, Drago Team Up for Shot at World Tag-Team Championship

NASHVILLE | MEXICO CITY – IMPACT Wrestling, a subsidiary of Anthem Sports & Entertainment Corp., announced today that it will bring two superstars from Mexico-based Lucha Libre AAA (AAA for short) to participate in Slammiversary 15 on July 2, a live pay-per-view filmed on the backlot at Universal Studios Florida.

AAA stars El Hijo del Fantasma and Drago will team up at Slammiversary in a 4-way match for the IMPACT Wrestling Tag-Team Championship, now held by the Latin American Xchange (LAX). The match will also feature talent from two other international promotions.

El Hijo del Fantasma (Spanish for Son of the Ghost) is a second-generation wrestler who has been wrestling since 2000, following the wrestling boots of his father, El Fantasma.

Drago, who has been wrestling professionally since 1998, has won multiple tag-team championships and is regarded as one of the most colorful, charismatic and creative wrestlers ever.

In March 2017, IMPACT Wrestling announced a landmark alliance with AAA, including a talent exchange between the organizations and other opportunities to collaborate in their respective markets. The high-flying lucha libre style synonymous with AAA events was an early influencer of IMPACT Wrestling’s X-Division, which has produced some of the most memorable matches in professional wrestling history.

“I have worked with the founder of AAA, Antonio Pena, and his family for 15 years,” said Jeff Jarrett, who is the founder of IMPACT Wrestling and now serves as the company’s Chief Creative Officer. “Slammiversary is 15 years in the making, and we are thrilled to have these two AAA stars be part of the show. I am sure the fans who have never seen them before will be so impressed. AAA has been a revolutionary wrestling promotion at the forefront of lucha libre wrestling in Mexico. We are looking forward to taking the working relationship between IMPACT Wrestling and AAA to the next level later this year, and fans can look forward to more collaborations between the two promotions through the rest of 2017, including Bound For Glory in November.”

Dorian Roldán, the owner of AAA, said he is thrilled to be expanding the relationship between the two promotions during a milestone year, as AAA celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2017, while IMPACT celebrates its 15th anniversary at Slammiversary.

“I feel really proud to send Drago and Hijo del Fantasma to participate in this important show, that is IMPACT Wrestling’s 15th anniversary, not only for the importance of this promotion worldwide, but also because of the high quality entertainment they offer to thousands of people in each of their presentations, live and on TV. I’m completely sure that AAA and IMPACT Wrestling have a long and bright future together, where great battles, and extremely intense matches will be achieved,” Roldán said.

TripleMania is the biggest annual event promoted by AAA, commemorating the anniversary of the company’s founding. The show has been promoted for 20 years with 27 shows in total under the TripleMania banner.

TripleMania XXV is scheduled for August 26 in Mexico City, highlighted by Psycho Clown against Dr. Wagner Jr., in a mask vs. mask match. Several IMPACT Wrestling stars will also appear on TripleMania XXV, Jarrett confirmed.

For more information, please visit http://www.impactwrestling.com.

Source: WrestlingINC

RAW Preview 6/26/17

Tonight’s WWE RAW will take place from the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

* Is Samoa Joe prepared for Brock Lesnar’s return?

* Will Goldust be smacked by “the hand of Truth” during his movie premiere?

* What’s next for Enzo Amore?

* Will Bray Wyatt retaliate against Seth Rollins?

* Is an ambulance ride in Roman Reigns’ near future?