During the latest edition of Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer reported that the December 26th episode of RAW will likely be a ‘best of’ episode, although that hasn’t been confirmed. There is no taping scheduled for December 26, as all of the events on that day are live events. Meanwhile, tonight’s taping in Des Moines will just be the live episode.
It’s possible that WWE will announce their plans for next weeks show during tonight’s episode.
After Solo Sikoa attacked Matt Riddle on the December 5 episode of “WWE Raw,” WWE announced Riddle would be out of action for six weeks to recover from his storyline injuries. As previously reported by Bodyslam.net, the injury angle was done because Riddle failed another drug test and would be going to rehab as a result. In the midst of these allegations, however, the fact that WWE didn’t publicly announce either reported suspension has led to Dave Meltzer questioning WWE’s wellness policy in a recent edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
The first failed drug test was said to have occurred over the summer, while Riddle was feuding with Seth Rollins. WWE pulled Riddle vs. Rollins from SummerSlam and cited “creative adjustments,” delaying the match until Clash at the Castle in September. Meltzer pointed out that Riddle wasn’t gone for a full 30 days during his initial absence between July 25 and August 20, and regarding Riddle’s current absence, Meltzer noted that six weeks does not equate to the standard 60-day suspension for a second violation of the WWE wellness policy. Ultimately, Meltzer speculates that “either WWE has secretly changed its policy or something doesn’t add up.”
WWE officials did not comment to the Observer on a change in policy, nor did they deny the story being inaccurate. However, it’s believed internally amongst talent that WWE wrote Riddle off for six weeks so he could go to rehab. However, one source told Meltzer that Riddle was taking time off “because of pressure of going through a divorce” while denying the suspension allegations. Other sources closest to Riddle did not respond to the Observer’s request for comment.
Source: Wrestling Inc.
Bobby Lashley has been “fired” from WWE.
During Monday night’s episode of RAW, WWE ran a storyline angle where Adam Pearce fired the ‘Almighty One.’ In the main event of the show, Lashley faced off against Seth Rollins for a shot at Austin Theory and the WWE United States Championship.
The finish of the match came when the referee rolled out of the ring and appeared to injure his ankle. This resulted in Lashley locking in the Hurt Lock on Rollins. The referee wasn’t able to call the match (storyline-related), which resulted in Lashley hitting a spear on Rollins and then arguing with the ref. While this was happening, Rollins was able to recover and hit a Pedigree on Lashley to get the pinfall.
Following the match, Lashley took out his frustrations on the referee. When a second ref came in, Lashley “accidentally” elbowed him. At that point, Adam Pearce came out and fired Lashley as the show faded to black.
Immediately after the show ended, Byron Saxton attempted to get a word in with Adam Pearce, who was enraged over what had transpired just moments before. Pearce stated that it would be “very premature” of him to comment on the situation so soon.
Saxton then approached Lashley and asked for his comments on what had just taken place. The former WWE Champion didn’t say a word and went inside his locker-room. Lashley came out moments later with his luggage and hurriedly left the arena.
Source: EWrestlingNews
Tonight’s WWE RAW live from the Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. on USA Network at 8/7C.
WWE’s event page indicates that “Raw” Women’s Champion Bianca Belair, Kevn Owens, and Seth “Freakin” Rollins are scheduled to appear, as well as The Judgment Day’s Finn Bálor, Damian Priest, and Rhea Ripley.
Tonight’s WWE Raw live from the Norfolk Scope Arena in Norfolk, Virginia, on USA Network at 8/7C with the Survivor Series WarGames fallout episode.
Moving forward, WWE will now be looking ahead to the new year, with the next main roster premium live event being the Royal Rumble on January 28,
Less than 24 hours after WWE officially changed Mia Yim’s ring name to Michin on its website, it appears it’s back to Mia Yim again, as you can see at this link here.
Yim even confirmed the ring name change Tuesday on the “Ten Count” podcast. She noted during the interview that Michin was a nickname within The O.C. They told her that she needed one and she used Michin because it was something that her mom called her since she was a child. Michin means crazy in Korean. Yim also shared the name change news on her Twitter. WWE also filed to trademark the name Michin a few weeks ago.
WWE released Yim on November 4, 2021, alongside her husband, current AEW star Keith Lee. After being with Impact Wrestling for a few months, Yim made her WWE return on the November 7 episode of “Raw.” She helped The O.C. battle Rhea Ripley and The Judgment Day.
It’s worth noting that a week after her return was when WWE first revealed the Michin nickname. On the November 14 episode of “Raw” was when The O.C. officially introduced her as the solution to their “Rhea Problem.”
“Michin handles her business tonight in her return match,” Anderson said in the backstage segment.
The match was against Tamina and it was Yim’s first-ever singles victory on the WWE main roster. When Yim moved to the main roster from “NXT” as part of the Retribution stable, Yim wrestled only one singles match and she lost to Dana Brooke.
Source: Wrestling Inc.
A week after Karl Anderson referred to Mia Yim as “Michin,” which means “Crazy” in Korean, WWE officially changed the returning Superstar’s in-ring name on this week’s “WWE Raw.”
For starters, the television graphic referred to Yim as only “Michin” ahead of Team Bianca Belair’s in-ring promo, even though Yim was not present for the segment after being ambushed by Rhea Ripley in the backstage area. Furthermore, WWE’s official website made several changes to Yim’s profile page, referring to her as only “Michin” in the bio that recaps her WWE journey, including her participation in the inaugural Mae Young Classic in 2017, her run in “WWE NXT” and her recent return to the promotion as the solution to The O.C.’s “Rhea Problem.” Interestingly, the bio doesn’t include any information about her time as a member of RETRIBUTION.
WWE had filed to trademark the name “Michin” a few weeks ago, but it was previously believed that the moniker would only be used as Yim’s nickname, not her actual in-ring name. Yim herself confirmed the name change via Twitter, as seen below.
Michin will be a part of Team Bianca in a WarGames Match this Saturday at the Survivor Series premium live event. The team of Michin, Belair, Alexa Bliss, Asuka & a mystery partner will square off against Damage CTRL (Bayley, IYO SKY, Dakota Kai), Nikki Cross & Rhea Ripley. On this week’s “WWE Raw” in Albany, NY, Ripley defeated Asuka in a WarGames Advantage Match to secure the entrance order advantage for her team on Saturday. After the bout, Michin attacked Ripley, leading to a brawl between the two women as the show went off the air.
Source: Wrestling Inc.
With WWE’s Survivor Series WarGames event right around the corner, things could be taking a relatively unexpected turn this week. As it happens, a major return from injury is potentially on the cards.
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That’s because “Fightful Select” is reporting that “as of last week at least, former WWE Women’s Champion Becky Lynch was expected to be back soon.”
Lynch suffered a separated shoulder at SummerSlam in July during her match with Bianca Belair for the “Raw” Women’s Championship. Making it all the more interesting is that as recently as one month ago, Fightful noted that there was both no actual timeline for her to return and that there certainly weren’t plans in place for Lynch to return early. As is always the case when it comes to wrestling, however, plans are subject to change.
Now Fightful has been told that there have been talks of Lynch being the fifth member of Belair’s team in the women’s WarGames match this Saturday, which would see her align with Belair, Mia Yim, Alexa Bliss, and Asuka. Right now, those four are waiting on a fifth woman to join them in taking on Damage CTRL (Bayley, Dakota Kai, and IYO SKY), Nikki Cross, and Rhea Ripley.
Bianca said on Monday’s RAW that they will name their 5th member Friday on SmackDown.
It’s also been reported that the current feeling around the locker room in regard to working with Lynch specifically is one of excitement, especially now that Vince McMahon is no longer booking things. Just before her injury-forced departure, “The Man” came back around.
Source: Wrestling Inc.
Tonight’s WWE RAW will be broadcast live from the MVP Arena in Albany, New York at 8/7C on USA Network. It’s the last RAW before Saturday’s Survivor Series WarGames Premium Live Event.
Asuka and Rhea Ripley dig into the trenches for WarGames advantage
Belair, Matt Riddle, Bobby Lashley, Austin Theory, Bayley, and WWE United States Champion Seth Rollins are all advertised for the show on the WWE Events website. The arena website also advertises Elias, The O.C., The Judgment Day, and Kevin Owens, though Owens is unlikely given his return to SmackDown last week.
Tonight’s WWE RAW live from KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, KY, airing on USA Network at 8/7C.
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