Source: WWE.com
Will Dolph Ziggler instigate himself into another all-or-nothing match?
Expect the Charlotte vs. Sasha Banks vs. Becky Lynch rivalry to kick into gear in a big way on RAW.
How will Lana and Team BAD make their presence known?
Who will enter in the third annual Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal?
Will Triple H & Stephanie McMahon settle their Roman Reigns problem in the ring or with a mountain of litigation?
Source: WrestlingINC
Reports surfaced last week that soon-to-be WWE Hall of Famer Sting had decided to retire. However, according to the man himself, he hasn’t officially retired.
“My neck is okay. I’m not officially retired. There’s a lot of rumors out there, but I’m not officially retired,” said Sting to a TMZ reporter.
WWE announced the following:
Stan Hansen to be inducted into WWE Hall of Fame’s Class of 2016
Stan Hansen, Borger, Texas’ nastiest resident, will take his place in sports-entertainment history on the eve of WrestleMania 32, when he is inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame’s Class of 2016. The news was reported by Tokyo Sports in Japan, the country where Hansen spent most of his storied career. They got exclusive comments from the man known as “The Lariat.”
Hansen’s journey to the ring began in an unusual place: On the gridiron at West Texas State University, a factory for future wrestlers. When his football days came to an end, Hansen stepped into the squared circle and quickly earned a reputation as one of the most vicious competitors in the sport. Hansen’s style of wrestling wasn’t technically proficient or beautiful by any stretch of the imagination. It was dirty, gritty and ferocious. And it worked.
With an ever-present scowl on his face and his bull rope in hand, The Bad Man from Borger made his way to WWE in 1976. Hansen immediately set his sights on then-WWE Champion Bruno Sammartino. The double-tough Texan stunned fans when he broke The Living Legend’s neck with a devastating clothesline that would become known as the Lariat.
After a rematch with Sammartino at Shea Stadium, Hansen traversed across the Pacific Ocean to Japan, where he became a legend. One of the most feared foreigners in Japanese wrestling history, Hansen was the first gaijin to earn victories over the country’s most revered grapplers, Giant Baba and WWE Hall of Famer Antonio Inoki. While in Japan, Hansen also formed one of the most devastating tag teams in wrestling history with an old college friend, the unhinged Bruiser Brody. The cowboy and the fur-clad wildman had Japanese fans running from them as they entered the ring, and their opponents begging for mercy.
In between trips to Japan, Hansen returned to the U.S. to unleash his brand of brutality on American soil. The Bad Man from Borger won the AWA World Championship by defeating Rick Martel in 1985. He never lost the title, choosing to vacate it by running it over with his truck. In 1990, he ended Lex Luger’s record-setting reign as United States Champion. By 1991, he exclusively competed in Japan for the next 10 years, retiring in 2001 as a decorated champion and a legend in The Land of the Rising Sun.
Now, the surly outlaw will receive sports-entertainment’s highest honor, when he takes his place in the WWE Hall of Fame.
WWE announced that Cesaro will be in action next month during the WrestleMania Revenge tour in Europe. They posted the following on Twitter, announcing that Cesaro would be in action at the April 15th live event in Amsterdam, Netherlands at the Ziggo Dome, which would mean that he will most likely be wrestling at the other shows on the tour. Cesaro has been claiming in interviews that he will not be able to make WrestleMania this year.
Source: WrestlingINC
We mentioned a couple of weeks ago that WWE Hall of Famer and former WWE and WCW Champion Kevin Nash was going to donate his brain to help CTE research after his death and Rob Van Dam will also donate his brain. Now, Mick Foley and Jeff Hardy have also joined in on the cause.
In an interview that WrestlingINC.com published earlier, former WWE and TNA world champion Jeff Hardy said that he’s only aware of about two or three concussions that he’s had, but still wants to donate his brain to the research cause.
In addition, WWE Hall of Famer Mick Foley mentioned on Twitter that he’s also donating his brain, and that former WWE Superstar Chris Nowinski talked him into doing it. Nowinski had his career ended due to concussions over ten years ago.
Source: WrestlingINC
TMZ reports that 2016 WWE Hall of Famer Sting has decided to retire from in-ring action.
Sting was reportedly evaluated by several doctors that agree it’s too risky for him to get back into the ring after suffering the neck injury against Seth Rollins at WWE Night of Champions last September.
Sting was reportedly diagnosed with cervical spinal stenosis, which affects the nerves and can result in extreme pain and discomfort.
TMZ adds that Sting may make the official announcement at the Hall of Fame ceremony on April 2nd. Sting is said to be open to a non-physical role with the company but no offer had been made at last word.
Source: WWE.com
AJ Styles VS Kevin Owens
Will Roman Reigns step back into the ring tonight on SmackDown?
What does Charlotte have in store for Sasha & Becky?
Dolph Ziggler VS The Miz
Kofi Kingston VS King Barrett
Source: WrestlingINC
The Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports that WWE is looking at giving Joan Lunden the Warrior Award for this year’s WWE Hall of Fame Class. Lunden, a breast cancer survivor, hosted Good Morning America for years and recently partnered with WWE and Susan G. Komen for some of their their breast cancer awareness efforts.
Source: WrestlingINC
Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports that Bray Wyatt vs. Brock Lesnar at last Saturday’s WWE Roadblock event was changed to Wyatt and Luke Harper vs. Lesnar in a Handicap Match where Wyatt did not tag in because Wyatt is injured.
The Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports that Wyatt is dealing with a pretty significant back injury, apparently suffered within the past week. There’s no word yet on how long he will be out of action but we will keep you updated.
Wyatt’s last match came on March 8th, an eight-man match at the SmackDown tapings. His last singles match came on March 7th, the No DQ RAW match against Dean Ambrose.
Source: WrestlingINC
It’s been expected that TV host Regis Philbin would be inducted into the Celebrity Wing of the WWE Hall of Fame this year but Jim Ross noted on his “Ross Report” podcast yesterday that rapper Snoop Dogg is rumored to be inducted.
Snoop, a big pro wrestling fan, hosted RAW back in 2009 and most recently appeared in 2015 for a segment with Hulk Hogan. He’s also the cousin of Sasha Banks.
Snoop’s induction has not been confirmed and Ross mentioned that’s what he heard through the grapevine but doesn’t know if it’s true.
As noted, WWE is also expected to announce a Warrior Award recipient for this year’s Hall of Fame Class. Stan Hansen is the only wrestler left to announce as his induction was confirmed in a WrestleMania magazine that’s been published. They will join Sting, The Fabulous Freebirds, The Godfather, Jacqueline and Big Boss Man in this year’s Class.
