United States Championship: (C) Kalisto VS Alberto Del Rio
Tables Match: The Dudley Boyz VS The Wyatt Family (Luke Harper & Erick Rowan)
Dean Ambrose & Neville VS Kevin Owens
Social Outcast (Heath Slater, Curtis Axel, Bo Dallas & Adam Rose) VS Goldust, Jack Swagger, Zack Ryder & Damien Sandow
Becky Lynch VS Brie Bella
Stephanie McMahon noted on Twitter that she was training last night to get in shape for WrestleMania 32, indicating that she may be wrestling a match at the biggest show of the year.
At one point, WWE wanted Stephanie to do something with Ronda Rousey at WrestleMania 32, but Rousey’s status is still up in the air. It was believed she would not be appearing but if she did, she likely would not wrestle.
Stephanie’s last match came at SummerSlam in 2014, where she defeated Brie Bella.
The 100th episode of Jim Ross’ “Ross Report” podcast features Steve Austin and can be heard at this link. Austin said he’s sure he will be at WrestleMania 32 this year and added that there are creative plans in place that he’s not able to discuss yet.
Source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter
The Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports the current word is that WWE NXT will see Doc Gallows and Karl Anderson debut at NXT TV tapings in early March.
No word yet on when AJ Styles might debut but at one point WWE did want him as a surprise entrant in the 30-man Royal Rumble main event. That could have changed when the news got out. As noted, Shinsuke Nakamura is headed to do WWE training and medical tests in February but there’s been no word on when he might appear on WWE TV.
On a related note, the Bullet Club name is still owned by New Japan Pro Wrestling as of this week. Gallows owns the rights to the name Biz Cliz.
Tommaso Ciampa VS Danny Burch
The Ascension VS The Mechanics
Elias Samson VS Corey Hollis
NXT Women’s Battle Royal to determine #1 Contender
It was noted previously that there was rumors that Bullet Club members Bad Luck Fale & Tama Tonga may leave New Japan Pro Wrestling for WWE, but Bad Luck Fale announced that he wouldn’t be leaving New Japan, reports emerged that Bullet Club partner Tama Tonga will be sticking around as well.
Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Radio mentioned on last night’s show that Tonga has re-signed with New Japan Pro Wrestling. The 33-year old has been in New Japan since 2010, and is a founding member of the highly popular Bullet Club faction.
Shortly after we published the story, Tonga took to Twitter to say this wasn’t the case. Tonga said that he’s still a free agent, despite the rumors that he’d re-signed a new deal with New Japan Pro Wrestling.
Tonga is the son of Haku, who showed up at Wrestle Kingdom 10 and New Year Dash as a cameo member of the Bullet Club. Tonga’s brother Micah competes for TNA, and performed in the WWE and NXT as Camacho.
Source: WrestlingINC
Source: WrestlingINC
Top Japanese star Shinsuke Nakamura, who was stripped of the IWGP Intercontinental Title this week, is headed to the United States to spend some time at the WWE Performance Center in early February, according to PWInsider.
Nakamura is set to spend several weeks at the Performance Center to train and will also undergo medical testing, possibly in Pittsburgh, PA, where they usually do it. If Nakamura passes everything, he would be cleared to sign with the company.
Source: WrestlingINC
Former WWE Divas Champion Paige was not at Raw last night, and hasn’t been on the road with WWE recently.
Paige last competed in 2015, taking on Charlotte and Becky Lynch in a triple threat WWE Divas Championship match on a live event in Rhode Island. Paige hasn’t wrestled on a televised event since her loss at WWE TLC.
Paige has been dealing with a slight concussion, but hopes to return to the ring soon. For the time being, she’s at home in Florida.
Source: WrestlingINC
An upcoming episode of CW’s “Supernatural” will have a pro wrestling theme as main characters Sam and Dean get involved with a pro wrestling tour that’s “rocked by some seriously scary mayhem.” WWE has announced The Miz for that episode.
Source: WrestlingINC
If you were expecting Shinsuke Nakamura to hang around and drop the IWGP Intercontinental Championship, you can give up on that idea. New Japan Pro Wrestling has stripped Nakamura of the championship, although he’ll appear on a few shows to finish out his deal.
New Japan Pro Wrestling posted an article early Tuesday announcing the move. Many expected Nakamura to finish out the month in New Japan in order to lose the title, likely to new Bullet Club leader Kenny Omega.
Omega and Nakamura started a storyline at New Year Dash where Omega pinned the dominant IWGP Intercontinental Champion. After the match, Omega hit fellow Bullet Club member AJ Styles with his finish, kicking him out of the group. Omega then challenged Nakamura to a title match. The article stated that Kenny Omega would be taking on an undetermined opponent for the championship.
Both Nakamura and Styles have been involved in rumors that they’re heading to WWE. Styles finished up with the company at New Year Dash, with Nakamura stating that he’d be leaving after January. Karl Anderson and Doc Gallows are both rumored to be leaving for WWE as well.
Nakamura’s final show is expected to be January 30 at Korakuen Hall.
