Multiple sources with direct knowledge told Pro Wrestling Sheet that WWE officials will soon announce that WrestleMania is returning to New Orleans in 2018.
The event was last held in the Big Easy back in 2014 for WrestleMania XXX and featured Daniel Bryan‘s memorable WWE World Heavyweight Title win. It’s also where Undertaker‘s streak ended.
With less than 100 days until WrestleMania 33, The Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports that WWE officials have locked in just three matches – Big Show vs. Shaquille O’Neal, Triple H vs. Seth Rollins and Bill Goldberg vs. Brock Lesnar.
While a potential match with John Cena vs. The Undertaker was somewhat acknowledged on this week’s SmackDown, Vince McMahon has not decided on that match but it is possible. Another probable is a multi-person match for the RAW Women’s Title.
Regarding The Undertaker’s match, the likely opponent is Cena but current WWE United States Champion Roman Reigns is also being considered with the feeling that Reigns is the future and Cena vs. Taker doesn’t build for the future, and this could be Taker’s last WrestleMania match. If Cena wins the WWE Title from AJ Styles or Reigns wins the Universal Title from Kevin Owens at the Royal Rumble, it looks like Taker could be in line for a title shot in Orlando.
Taker has not been announced for the Royal Rumble main event next month but potential WrestleMania scenarios would make him a favorite. Braun Strowman is another favorite to win the Rumble, indicating a win by Reigns over Owens at the Rumble to set up Braun vs. Reigns at WrestleMania. The storyline between Owens and Chris Jericho has been brewing for months and it’s believed they will face off at WrestleMania but that hasn’t been confirmed.
Source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter via WrestlingINC
Earlier this week, Sasha Banks may have indicated that she wants to jump from RAW to SmackDown Live when she posted a cryptic tweet. A fan tweeted a GIF of her holding the RAW Women’s Title with a caption that said, “soon Lil Boss Jr will come home.” Sasha responded with the following tweet:
For what it’s worth, Kurt Angle has been telling indie promoters that he’s returning to WWE in April, perhaps in time for WrestleMania 33 on April 2nd.
Angle is scheduled to wrestle Alberto Del Rio for the first time on February 12th in the UK for WCPW and then will face Cody Rhodes for their third match but has told promoters he’s not accepting indie dates past those two.
Wrestling Observer Newsletter adds that there are all sorts of rumors going around in regards to Angle and WWE. It should be noted that this wouldn’t be the first time Angle has told promoters he’s returning to WWE and with the way the rumor mill heats up for WrestleMania season, this should be taking as a rumor for now.
Source: WrestlingINC
WWE Superstar Big Show was a victim to a online death hoax, claiming he died from a car accident.
The Associated Press reported the following yesterday:
AP FACT CHECK: WWE wrestler Big Show not deadSAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A story reported by a blog called “WWE” that claimed professional wrestling star “Big Show” had died in a car accident is false.
Chris Bellitti, a spokesman for World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc., (WWE) said Tuesday that the “Big Show,” whose real name is Paul Donald Wight II, is alive and well. He also said the blog site is not affiliated with the legitimate WWE site.
On Dec. 10, the short, poorly written blurb claimed the star had been admitted to a hospital and died.
On Monday, the 44-year-old tweeted a photograph of himself training in the gym. The tweet was reposted by WWE’s official Twitter account.
WWE Hall of Famer Mick Foley took to Facebook today to address reports of a possible hip surgery. Foley says he does need the $60,000 operation but he doesn’t have health insurance after having his coverage dropped this year.
The RAW General Manager reveals that he is on a handshake deal with WWE, besides the Legends deal which is for merchandise, and confirms he missed Monday’s RAW. You can read his full post below:
ABOUT THAT HIP OPERATIONI guess I should’ve said something when I started getting prayers and well wishes from friends and colleagues alike – including some of the biggest names in the business. I have definitely mentioned that I needed a hip replacement, definitely mentioned that I intended to get one sometime early in 2017, but never actually set a date. I have this little tiny problem in that I don’t actually have health insurance.
I had health insurance for 26 years, but the last four years have been tough – with companies sending out letters telling me they will no longer be insuring families, and that I needed to find alternate insurance. By 2016 health insurance was particularly confusing, and after missing one payment, I found myself no longer insured. I am doing my best to be insured in 2017, but nothing is guaranteed, and I have no idea how this new insurance company will feel about replacing a hip that clearly should’ve been replaced many years ago.
For those wondering why the general manager of Raw needs to procure his own health insurance: well, I’m on a handshake deal. I do the job as long as I enjoy it and feel like I am making a difference, and I do it as long as WWE is happy with me and thinks I’m the best person for the role. No contract involved at all, except for the legends deal, which is strictly about merchandise. For those wondering why I just don’t pay out-of-pocket, well it’s a $60,000 operation, and I am going to look at some other options before I shell out 60K for an operation. Maybe I will concentrate on landing a couple of TV or film roles and get the far superior AFTRA insurance to take care of the operation. I probably should not be talking about it at all – but the word is out there, and I feel like I owe people an explanation.
Luckily, I am used to the constant pain – and it’s not like I wasn’t warned by almost every guy in the wrestling business that the moves I was doing as a younger man were going to come back to haunt me. Well, they’re haunting me! The weight-loss has helped considerably; without it, and the DDP yoga, I don’t believe I could even get through airports. But the constant travel means constant pain. I love being the Raw GM, and I will miss it when it’s gone. But my quality of life will probably improve when Stephanie and WWE decide to go in a new direction.
Thank you for your prayers and concern. I am coming off an amazing December, during which I created some memories that I know I will hold onto for a lifetime. I know a lot of people don’t get my whole Santa thing. I can only tell you that when that red suit goes on, the very best part of me comes out, and I do some things I am very proud of each December. I had wanted most of December off, but I had made a commitment to the Pittsburgh Children’s Hospital, and it meant a lot to me to fulfill that commitment. Then Mr. McMahon said something to me about a shark cage in question with Chris Jericho suspended above it, and I knew I had to be at that Raw. I missed Monday’s raw. I should be back for almost every episode until that moment comes when/if the company decides to go in a different direction. If they do, I will simply be grateful for every single day I had a chance to go out and try to make a difference. Some nights I was more successful than others. But deep down I think the superstars in the back know I was doing my best to look out for them – and they know that has not always the case when it comes to the people who fill these roles.
With or without a new hip I’m going to lead a good life. The medical sciences out there to help me lead a life with far less pain. I hope that I am given the opportunity to take advantage of the new technology. Maybe some enterprising orthopedic specialist can think outside the box and look at me as a potential poster-boy for their services. If The Rock can sell tires, then I have to believe I can sell hip replacements.
Have a nice day.
Source: WrestlingINC
NXT’S JAPAN DEBUT AIRING TONIGHT ON WWE NETWORK
For the first time, witness NXT’s historic night in Osaka, Japan tonight on WWE Network at 8/7 C. This special two-hour edition of NXT will feature Samoa Joe defending his NXT Championship against Shinsuke Nakamura in its entirety and Asuka defending the NXT Women’s Championship in front of her hometown crowd against WWE Superstar Nia Jax.
The night of action will feature:
* Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Samoa Joe (NXT Championship Match)
* Asuka vs. Nia Jax (NXT Women’s Championship Match)
* #DIY vs. Tajiri & Akira Tozawa (NXT Tag Team Championship Match)
* Liv Morgan & Aliyah vs. Billie Kay & Peyton Royce
* Oney Lorcan vs. Andrade “Cien” Almas
There’s been a lot of speculation on when Chris Hero (Kassius Ohno) may make his WWE return, if that is still the plan. Talk among fans heated up today when WWN Live announced Hero for their EVOLVE events on Friday, January 27th and Saturday, January 28th in San Antonio, Texas during WWE’s Royal Rumble weekend. Hero’s opponent for Friday has not been announced but he will be facing Zack Sabre Jr. on Saturday, which is the same night as WWE NXT “Takeover: San Antonio” with Bobby Roode vs. NXT Champion Shinsuke Nakamura.
Source: WrestlingINC
The Bollywood Boyz have been sent back to WWE NXT as officials want them to get some additional “seasoning” before being used on 205 Live again, according to PWInsider. Harv Sihra and Gurv Sihra worked the November 29th episode of 205 Live with a win over Drew Gulak and Tony Nese but they haven’t worked the main roster since. They did work a few NXT live events in December but don’t appear to be regulars at this point. It was noted that their match on 205 Live, and perhaps their matches at the Cruiserweight Classic, didn’t click in the eyes of WWE officials.
Source: WrestlingINC
Tonight on 12/27 205 Live on the WWE Network:
WWE Cruiserweight Championship: (C) Rich Swann vs Neville
Gentleman’s Duel: Jack Gallagher vs Ariya Daivari
