Source: WrestlingINC
It looks like WWE is moving forward with the return of Clash of the Champions for the RAW brand as Ticketmaster is now advertising the September 25th WWE pay-per-view from Indianapolis as Clash of Champions, replacing Night of Champions. No word yet on the returns of Backlash and No Mercy, which were indicated in a “leaked” list of pay-per-view plans for the Brand Extension, but WWE is expected to make announcements on schedule changes soon.
Triple H tweeted the following after last night’s tapings, saying WWE launched a new brand with the CWC (Cruiserweight Classic):
Source: WrestlingNews.Co
The big story this week is about Roman Reigns’ wellness policy failure and his 30-day suspension. WWE has not released any other information other than Reigns’ statement.
There have been instances where a wrestler would fail a wellness test but would be kept on TV for weeks or months before being suspended. In the case of Reigns, it was a recent failure. Very few people knew before it was announced but his wellness failure was known by the company by late last week.
Since Reigns was about to be suspended, it made sense for him to lose the title at Money In The Bank. The title change to Seth Rollins and then to Dean Ambrose was said to be a late change made by Vince McMahon. It’s not known for sure if the late change was a coincidence or if it was a result of Reigns’ wellness failure but it’s worth nothing that you rarely see top guys lose clean like Reigns did.
Reigns will not be at the draft show on July 19 but his suspension will be up in time before the Battleground pay-per-view on July 24.
Source: WWE.com
Seth Rollins to kickoff SmackDown
Apollo Crews vs Sheamus
Becky Lynch vs Dana Brooke
Cesaro vs Alberto Del Rio
Source: WrestlingINC
We recently reported how WWE was apparently bringing back the WCW Clash of the Champions name for TV specials and other merchandising. We also reported how there were plans to do brand-specific pay-per-view events after the upcoming WWE Brand Extension.
According to a user on Reddit, WWE will indeed be bringing back the Clash name to use at a RAW branded pay-per-view event. The user also leaked this pay-per-view calendar for the rest of the year.
It should be noted that these changes have not been confirmed:
* WWE SummerSlam – August 21st in Brooklyn, 7pm EST start time, both brands
* WWE Backlash, September 11th in Richmond, 8pm EST start time, SmackDown event, WWE Network exclusive
* WWE Clash of the Champions, September 25th in Indianapolis, 8pm EST start time, RAW event
* WWE No Mercy, October 9th in Sacramento, 8pm EST start time, SmackDown event
* WWE Hell In a Cell, October 30th in Boston, 8pm EST start time, RAW event
* WWE Survivor Series, November 20th in Toronto, 7pm EST start time, both brands
* WWE TLC, December 4th in Dallas, 8pm EST start time, SmackDown event
* WWE Roadblock, December 18th in Pittsburgh, 8pm EST start time, RAW event
Update:
It appears the “leaked” WWE pay-per-view list for the rest of 2016 showing brand-exclusive events and the returns of Clash of the Champions, No Mercy and Backlash may be legitimate. WWE would not confirm or deny the list to The Observer but said, “We will soon announce show information for dates added to the calendar.”
We noted earlier via PWInsider that people within WWE expect Natalya to leave the company once her current deal expires, mainly over how her husband Tyson Kidd is still out of action with a neck injury. Natalya took to Twitter to deny the reports. The Wrestling Observer Newsletter adds that there’s nothing to the reports and that Natalya is signed to WWE for a pretty significantly long period of time.
Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet
Former WWE World Heavyweight champ Seth Rollins may fought his way back to health, but now The Architect is faced with an even greater challenge — a Sharknado!
Rollins will be making an appearance in this summer’s Sharknado 4: The 4th Awakens and his character’s name is AstroTech Lopez.
Additional cameos will be made by Carrot Top, Gilbert Gottfried, the Chippendales Dancers and Paul Shaffer. New cast members include Gary Busey, Tommy Davidson, and Cheryl Tiegs.
The 4th Awakens picks up five years after the last installment and the cosmos have been blissfully shark-free in the intervening years, but that’s about to change.
The movie premieres July 31st at 8 PM ET on SyFy.
Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet
Alberto Del Rio has dished out additional details to MLW Radio on what led to Paige being detained after Money in the Bank … claiming officers intervened after hecklers refused to give up.
Del Rio allegedly told MLW’s Court Bauer that he and Paige were repeatedly being harassed by a drunk couple at a show following MITB, so they asked security to kick the two hecklers out.
Bauer says the couple waited outside for Del Rio/Paige to leave and when they exited the hotel, there was a confrontation. Police arrived on-scene shortly after.
As we previously reported, police say they were flagged down after a woman was seen running into the street. Paige was detained and officers determined that she needed further medical evaluation.
The entire MLW episode, including updates on ADR’s condition after Sunday’s ladder match, can beHEARD HERE.
Video from The Wrestling Network YouTube Page:
The following is scheduled for tonight’s 6/22 WWE NXT.
* Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Murphy.
* Oney Lorcan vs. Tye Dillinger.
* Nia Jax vs. Liv Morgan.
* Bayley vs. Deonna Purazzo.
* No Way Jose vs. Josh Woods.
Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet
The commentary team for WWE’s Cruiserweight Classic has just been announced … and it will feature none other than former WWE World Heavyweight champ Daniel Bryan!
According to WWE.com … Bryan will be doing color commentary alongside Mauro Ranallo. This will be Daniel’s first WWE television appearance since retiring from the ring in February.
Of choosing Bryan to host the tournament WWE said, “Not only does he know what it takes to make it with the WWE Universe watching, but Bryan is a contemporary of several CWC competitors.”
The CWC is a 32-man tournament featuring wrestlers from all over the world and will air every Wednesday for 10 weeks. The whole thing culminates with a live two-hour special on September 14th. In preparation, WWE Network will air a special called CWC: Bracketology on July 6th.
