We noted last year how Shelton Benjamin was set to make his return to the WWE SmackDown Live brand but that return was being delayed due to an injury. Shelton noted on Twitter today that he has been cleared to compete. No word yet on when he will return to WWE but it’s believed the return was never taken off the table.
Source: WrestlingINC
Forbes has a story here about the massive amusement park-themed WrestleMania 33 set, noting that it “could be the greatest over.”
WrestleMania 33 set photos:
Source: WrestlingINC
WWE cruiserweight Noam Dar suffered an injury during this week’s RAW match with Austin Aries, according to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. No word yet on details of the injury but Dar missed this week’s 205 Live where he was to continue his feud with Rich Swann in the ring.
Dar is set to be examined in Orlando this Sunday before WrestleMania 33 to determine how long he will be out of action.
Source: WrestlingINC
As noted, Mauro Ranallo missed his third straight of WWE SmackDown commentary this week due to his battle with depression and the bipolar disorders he’s fought since he was a teenager, something he’s often spoke publicly about. Wrestling Observer Newsletter points to the timing of Mauro’s absence and the public verbal jabs with SmackDown partner JBL. The two had often traded shots and JBL even blocked Mauro on Twitter back in December.
The March 13th episode of “Bring It To The Table” on the WWE Network played a part in all of this as JBL ranted on Mauro during that show. JBL apparently got mad when Mauro tweeted the results of the Wrestling Observer Announcer of the Year Awards, which Mauro won, and commented on how he was honored to have won the award two years in a row. The results list featured the top 10 placements for that category, which JBL not making the top 10. People close to the situation said that things between JBL and Mauro had been building to that point. JBL was said to be legitimately very upset about the awards mention and may have said something. Mauro tweeted on March 13th, “Jealousy is one hell of a drug.” He did not indicate that this tweet was for JBL but that’s how it was taken by many. Mauro also re-tweeted several comments that were mocking JBL’s tirade on “Bring It To The Table.”
After Mauro missed his first SmackDown the following day on March 14th in Pittsburgh, JBL took to Twitter and knocked Mauro for missing the show. Then it was believed that Mauro missed SmackDown due to bad weather in the Northeast part of the country but other announcers, such as Taz and Josh Mathews, were skeptical. JBL tweeted, “I made the show, everyone made the show, everyone. Maybe he shouldn’t have bashed me if he wasn’t going to show up.” JBL later deleted the tweet and hasn’t commented on Mauro since. JBL’s rants were seen as mean spirited, even if he was being in-character.
Mauro thanked fans on Twitter today and noted that he was getting stronger but as noted, it appears he will miss WrestleMania 33. The Observer reports that Mauro has only been in touch with his closest friends like Bas Rutten and Frank Shamrock. Those close to Mauro have said that he’s getting stronger and recovering. Rutten, who also co-hosts a podcast with Mauro, has made hints at and outright told people his feelings towards JBL. Rutten mentioned JBL in tweets made after Mauro missed the first SmackDown episode:
@Dearth17 @mauroranallo he’s the best, what are you talking about? THE BEST! Meaning, nobody is better! JBL? Haha, would love to meet him
— Bas Rutten (@BasRuttenMMA) March 18, 2017
@Dearth17 @mauroranallo I’m not! I’m flaming those Ahole(s)(JBL, whatever is his name)! Not you my friend!
— Bas Rutten (@BasRuttenMMA) March 18, 2017
@Dearth17 @mauroranallo in person, and than we talk “Mauro” wow, what a douche. Please attack me for that comment JBL, PLEASE!
— Bas Rutten (@BasRuttenMMA) March 18, 2017
@KayfabeCafe @WWE @mauroranallo I mean, he was a pro wrestler, but pls, you ALWAYS take care of your broadcast partner. ALWAYS.
— Bas Rutten (@BasRuttenMMA) March 18, 2017
Source: WrestlingINC
Adam Cole’s contract with Ring of Honor expires at the end of April and there have been rumors that he may sign with WWE when it’s up. Cole joined Busted Open with Dave LaGreca and Doug Mortman today and commented on his current contract situation with Ring of Honor and what the future might hold for him once his deal is up.
“I’ve discussed this before and I totally don’t mind talking about because it’s a very talked about thing,” Cole said. “I have about a month left on my Ring of Honor contract where at that point, I kind of have to make a decision. And the truth of the matter is, I haven’t made my decision of what I would like to do yet. Because, obviously, there are a lot of options I have to consider. There are a lot of situations I have to consider. So for me to make my best possible decision, I need to know all the avenues that I can take.
“So as of right now, again this kind of sounds like a cliché answer, I have big match after big match every single weekend. So I have to focus on this next month that I have: challenging for the Ring of Honor Television Championship this weekend, I’d like to get back over to New Japan. Right now, all of my focus is on making as much of an impact in Ring of Honor as I can. When it comes to May, that’s something that’s kind of up in the air at this point.”
Source: WrestlingINC
It appears Mauro Ranallo will not be working WrestleMania 33 this week as he tweeted well wishes to his WWE family as they head to Orlando today.
Mauro missed Tuesday night’s WrestleMania 33 go-home edition of WWE SmackDown Live – his third week in a row. Mauro’s absence is related to his battle with depression, which he’s fought since he was a teenager. Mauro noted last week that his doctors had advised him to stay off social media.
Mauro’s good friend and podcast co-host Bas Rutten recently appeared on The Luke Thomas Show and commented on the status of the SmackDown announcer:
“Yeah, he’s doing OK. As everybody knows, he’s very vocal about it but Mauro is bi-polar and sometimes, a few times a year, things are going too fast and he needs to just simply slow down. But he’s doing good and I talked to him… he’s sending me funny video clips, he just sent me something… It’s all in good spirits, I think he will be back to normal very soon.”
Source: WrestlingINC
Ed Boston and Vanessa Vasquez take a look at this weekend’s events. Including the Hall of Fame, NXT Takeover and of course WrestleMania itself!
The following is scheduled for tonight’s 3/29 episode of NXT, the last episode before NXT TakeOver: Orlando.
* Loser Leaves NXT: Kassius Ohno vs. Elias Samson
* Dash Wilder vs. Johnny Gargano vs. Akam
* Heavy Machinery (Tucker Knight and Otis Dozovic) vs. Mike Marshall and Johnathan Ortagun
WWE Hall of Famer Jerry “The King” Lawler noted on his latest “Dinner with The King” podcast that WWE may limit the amount of Hall of Fame inductees each year in the future because the speeches have gotten longer and longer. Lawler gave insight on being backstage with Vince McMahon during the Hall of Fame and his willingness to let presenters & inductees talk longer than expected. You can listen to the latest episode at this link or below:
Source: WrestlingINC
WWE announced today that new seats for WrestleMania 33 at Camping World Stadium have just been released via Ticketmaster. Get them now before they’re gone.
