William Regal Going In 2017 WWE Hall Of Fame, Other Rumored Names

Word now is that WWE NXT General Manager William Regal will get the nod for this years WWE Hall of Fame.

Other names considered for the 2017 class are WWE’s 12th Grand Slam Champion Christian, current agent and former WWE Tag Team Champion Mike Rotunda (Irwin R. Schyster) and former WWE Tag Team Champions The Natural Disasters – John Tenta (Earthquake) and Fred Ottman (Typhoon), according to Bryan Alvarez on Wrestling Observer Radio. Tenta would be inducted posthumously as he passed away in 2006.

As noted, we also know that former World Heavyweight Champion Diamond Dallas Page and former Intercontinental Champion Rick Rude will be going in this year.

The 2017 WWE Hall of Fame ceremony takes place on Saturday, April 1st from the Amway Center in Orlando during WrestleMania 33 weekend. WWE may announce the headliner next week as tickets for the event officially go on sale.

Source: WrestlingINC

“HBK” Shawn Michaels Talks New Movie Role

Below is a clip of WWE Hall of Famer Shawn Michaels discussing his personal role in WWE Studios’ Christian comedy-drama film “The Resurrection of Gavin Stone” that comes out on January 20th.

NXT Preview 1/11/17

NXT Tag Team Championship: (C) #DIY vs The Revival

Billie Kay & Peyton Royce vs Sara Bridges & Macey Estrella

Elias Samson vs Jonathan Cruz

Andrade Cien Almas vs Oney Lorcan

WWE Hires New Announcer

WWE has hired announcer Vic Travagliante, according to PWInsider. He will reportedly use the name Vic Joseph. Vic has been the voice of House of Hardcore. Travagliante has previously worked for the Cleveland Browns Network and CBS Cleveland.

Source: WrestlingINC

Mark Hunt Files Civil Suit Against Brock Lesnar And UFC

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Mark Hunt has taken matters to the courts, filing a civil suit against Brock Lesnar, UFC president Dana White and the promotion he currently works for. Hunt, who is expected to return to action later this year at UFC 209 vs. Alistair Overeem, filed the suit Tuesday in Nevada District Court.

For the past several months, Hunt has been very outspoken against both the UFC and Lesnar for what happened back in July at UFC 200. The 42-year-old lost a decision to Lesnar, who later failed his post-fight drug test.

“I want the UFC to understand it’s not OK to keep doing what they’re doing,” Hunt told ESPN.com. “They’re allowing guys to do this. They had a chance to take all the money from this guy, because he’s a cheater, and they didn’t. What message is that sending to the boys and girls who want to be a fighter someday? The message is, ‘You just have to cheat like this and it’s OK.’ In society, if you commit a crime, you pay. Why is it different in MMA? It’s hurt the business, so it’s even worse. They need to be held accountable for this.”

Hunt’s suit states the defendants “affirmatively circumvented and obstructed fair competition for their own benefit.” He is also accusing the UFC and Lesnar of racketeering, fraud and several other allegations. He is seeking damages “in the millions.”

Lesnar, who came out of retirement and was granted a waiver for the four-month testing policy prior to the bout, was fined $250,000 and suspended for a year by the USADA. The suspension has no affect on Lesnar’s current WWE contract.

Source: WrestlingINC

Former WWE & WCW Star Rex King/Timothy Well Passes Away

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Former WWE and WCW star Timothy Smith, known by the ring names Rex King and Timothy Well, passed on Monday due to complications from kidney failure. He was 55 years old.

Smith is known to WWE fans for his Well Dunn tag team with Steve Doll. He last worked for WWE in 1995. Smith was named as one of the wrestlers in the class-action lawsuit filed by lawyer Konstantine Kyros back in July of 2016, alleging that WWE concealed the risks of traumatic brain injuries.

Source: WrestlingINC

Below are some videos from Smith’s career:

205 Live Preview 1/10/17

Tonight 205 live is in Baton Rouge, Louisiana

WWE Cruiserweight Champion Rich Swann vs. Tony Nese

Cedric Alexander vs. Noam Dar

A Parley with Jack Gallagher and Ariya Daivari

SmackDown Live Preview 1/10/17

Tonight SmackDown Live is in Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Baron Corbin vs. John Cena, Natalya vs. Nikki Bella and The Wyatt Family vs. SmackDown Tag Team Champions American Alpha for the SmackDown Tag Team Titles

Will Corbin wreak havoc on the Cenation?

The Wyatt Family look to take back the SmackDown Tag Team Titles

Nikki Bella stands ready to play with the Queen of Harts

Beware of an angry Ziggler

Who is the mysterious La Luchadora?

Backstage News On ROH Talents Leaving For WWE, Which Wrestlers Will Be Staying, Adam Cole

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As noted, Kyle O’Reilly lost the ROH Championship to Adam Cole at Wrestle Kingdom 11 last week. O’Reilly’s contract with ROH had expired before the show, and Dave Meltzer reported in the latest issue of The Wrestling Observer Newsletter that ROH officials expect him to leave for WWE. They also expect Ray Rowe to be heading to WWE.

We noted last week that Jay Lethal revealed in an interview with ComicBook.com that he signed a new two-year deal with ROH. Meltzer noted that Bobby Fish, Hangman Page and Christopher Daniels also signed new contracts with ROH. Fish had an offer from WWE, but decided to stay with ROH.

Meltzer also wrote that ROH Champion Adam Cole is believed to be heading to WWE in May, however cannot negotiate with them until May 1st.

Source: WrestlingINC

WWE Confirms WrestleMania 34 Will Be Held In New Orleans At The Superdome

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WWE issued the following yesterday:

WrestleMania returns to New Orleans in 2018

The Showcase of the Immortals is returning to New Orleans in 2018.

As first reported by The Times-Picayune, WrestleMania 34 will emanate from the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans on Sunday, April 8, 2018.

A capacity crowd of 75,167 WWE fans filled the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in 2014 for WrestleMania 30. That was the year that The Undertaker’s WrestleMania Streak famously came to an end at the hands of Brock Lesnar, as well as the event where Daniel Bryan defeated Batista and Randy Orton in a triple threat main event to win the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.

WWE will hold a press event today in New Orleans to make the WrestleMania 34 announcement official. Check back to WWE.com today for full coverage, including photos and videos.