WWE taped tonight’s episode of SmackDown last week that will air on FOX at the Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, MI.
Solo Sikoa could be the latest member of the Anoa’i family to join WWE’s main roster full-time. PWInsider is reporting that the son of Rikishi, cousin of Roman Reigns, and brother of Jimmy and Jey Uso is expected to be promoted from “NXT 2.0” as soon as possible, and it could happen as early as this month if all goes according to plan.
If the report is accurate, Sikoa will also join the “SmackDown” brand alongside Reigns and the Usos. While no plans have been confirmed yet, the rumored brand coupled with Sikoa’s family heritage makes him a perfect fit for The Bloodline, but that’s all speculation for the time being. That said, Sikoa previously discussed creative plans that WWE had for him, noting that the company was eager to fast-track him to the main roster and pair him with his brothers before he’d even debuted on TV.
Sikoa has been absent from “NXT 2.0” recently while he recovers from a sprained PCL. WWE announced the setback on the episode that aired on August 9, just days after the rising star’s last in-ring encounter with Von Wagner. The good news, however, is that the 29-year-old is expected to be fully healed within four to six weeks. The Superstar took to social media after the announcement and claimed that he’d be back in action soon, stating that the “knee injury ain’t nothing!” The forecast for Sikoa’s comeback from injury aligns with the reported timing of his main roster debut, but WWE has been known to change its creative plans.
Source: Wrestling Inc.
Fans had been waiting months for WWE to announce what it had planned for the Women’s Tag Titles after Sasha Banks and Naomi handed them over and walked out. It took Vince McMahon retiring for those plans to be put in place. A tournament to decide who the new champions will be. However, as that tournament nears its end, it has been wrought with issues.
Last Friday, as Nikkita Lyons and Zoey Stark prepared to make their main roster debuts, WWE revealed the NXT duo would not be competing in the tournament. Stark is legitimately injured, and Lyons is too apparently though whether that’s the case or not remains up in the air. Toxic Attraction replaced the pair and defeated Natalya and Sonya Deville to progress.
Three days later, the high Gigi Dolin and Jacy Jayne were likely riding after debuting on SmackDown and winning their first match has come crashing down. Right before Raw went live on Monday, WWE revealed that Toxic Attraction, who were replacements themselves, will now need to be replaced. WWE reported Dolin suffered an injury on SmackDown, and it has since been revealed (via Wrestling Observer Radio) that injury was a concussion.
It was a little unclear how exactly WWE would fill a tournament for the Tag Titles when there aren’t that many women’s teams to begin with. That reality has really hit home with yet another replacement needed. Instead of finding another team, the four duos who lost their first round bouts will get a second chance match. The Four-Way tag team bout will take place this Friday on SmackDown.
Elsewhere in the bracket, Iyo Sky and Dakota Kai booked their spot in the final on Raw last night. Raquel Gonzalez and Aliyah are the other team left in, and they will face the winner of the 4-way match. When exactly that second semifinal, and then the final, will take place is unclear. Probably not at Clash at the Castle since Sky and Kai are already booked in a different match that night.
Source: TheSportster
Tonight’s episode of “WWE SmackDown” will take place at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada,
Roman Reigns and Drew McIntyre to go head-to-head
The Viking Raiders will hold a Viking Funeral for The New Day
The WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship tournament is also set to continue tonight, as “NXT 2.0” stars Nikkita Lyons and Zoey Stark will make their “SmackDown” debuts against Natalya and Sonya Deville
There are reports that Zoey Stark is injured and that she and Nikkita Lyons is out of the tournament and may be replaced by Toxic Attraction (Gigi Dolin and Jacy Jayne).
2022 has been rather unkind to pro wrestlers, putting the best of the best on the shelf for extended periods due to injuries. And just when you thought the injury bug was preparing to recede, it has threatened to raise its ugly head (or in this case, its back) yet again. According to multiple reports, Drew McIntyre is working through a lower back injury, which is why he was pulled from WWE’s live events at Atlantic City, NJ, and Salisbury, MD, over the weekend.
The story was first broken by Jason Powell of ProWrestling.net, who reported that McIntyre is currently dealing with “a lower back issue causing him soreness.” Subsequently, news outlets such as PWInsider and Fightful Select would confirm the report. Fortunately, all the reports noted that McIntyre isn’t expected to undergo surgery, his advertised match against Roman Reigns at Clash at the Castle is still on the table, and the decision to pull him from the live events is considered a precautionary move.
However, fans on social media are speculating whether the injury could alter WWE’s creative plans going into the match in Cardiff, Wales. Although Reigns is still the odds-on favorite to retain his unified world title, there’s been talk that McIntyre could be the man to dethrone the Tribal Chief in front of 70,000+ fans in his home nation of the United Kingdom. If that had indeed been the plan, WWE’s top brass could be forced to call an audible and keep the belts on Reigns, especially if they believe McIntyre’s injury would require surgery at some point in the future.
McIntyre is still expected to work the next two episodes of “WWE SmackDown” in the lead-up to Clash at the Castle on September 3.This past Friday, he called out the returning Karrion Kross for blindsiding him with a vicious attack the previous week, promising to send Kross “back to the dungeon he crawled out of.” Scarlett then walked down to the ring, distracting McIntyre enough to be jumped by The Usos. The segment led to a McIntyre/Usos handicap match, which was later changed to a tag team bout also including Madcap Moss, with McIntyre and Moss getting the win.
Source: Wrestling Inc.
WWE SmackDown airing tonight on FOX at 8/7C from Raleigh, North Carolina.
Plus, AJ Francis, better known simply as Top Dolla and Ashonte “Thee” Adonis are reportedly expected to appear.
And will we see more about last week’s shocking return of Karrion Kross along with Scarlett.
Triple H, the new Head of Creative for WWE, may not be done bringing back released NXT stars.
WWE fans might be seeing the returns of two former NXT superstars. Earlier today, Mike Johnson of PWInsider reported that AJ Francis, better known simply as Top Dolla, was slated to be at the August 12 tapings of Smackdown Live in Raleigh, North Carolina. In an update to that report, Johnson added that Top Dolla’s tag team partner, Ashonte “Thee” Adonis, is scheduled to attend the tapings as well.
Several other released talent have been brought back into the WWE since Triple H took charge, including Dakota Kai, Dexter Lumis, Karrion Kross, and Scarlet. Before their release in November of last year, Adonis and Francis were a part of the Hit Row stable alongside B-Fab and Swerve. There’s been no word on whether B-Fab will be returning to WWE as well. Swerve, now one half of the AEW World Tag Team Champions alongside Keith Lee, will obviously not be joining his former teammates.
The Smackdown tag team division has been struggling as of late, so an additional team could be a great benefit to the show.
Source: TheSportster
Karrion Kross is back in WWE, and in a major way. He was dropped right into the main event scene between Roman Reigns and Drew McIntyre.
With rumors circulating that Triple H was interested in bringing back Karrion Kross to WWE, it didn’t take long for that rumor to be proven accurate. During Friday’s SmackDown, Kross, along with Scarlett and her hourglass, returned and took aim at one of the brand’s biggest stars.
The closing segment of SmackDown featured a showdown between Roman Reigns, with The Bloodline, and Drew McIntyre. Reigns talked about how much he hates Brock Lesnar before demanding the WWE Universe acknowledge him. That brought out Drew McIntyre who didn’t waste any time asking the crowd if they wanted to see him wipe out the entire Bloodline prior to their upcoming match at Clash at the Castle. Before he could make good on his threat, a strange video was projected onto the entrance screen with a familiar theme song. It was hard to make out who was in the entryway, but it was a female figure. As McIntyre and Reigns looked on confused, Kross came in from behind and attacked McIntyre.
The announce crew wasn’t sure who it was exactly, until Pat McAfee shouted, “Karrion Kross?” Michael Cole then confirmed that was the case when the camera zoomed in on Kross. Cole said, “Karrion Kross, a former NXT Champion has returned.” Scarlett placed the hourglass on the ring apron and turned it over. Kross was staring at Reigns and pointed and tapped his wrist – Tick Tock, as to say Reigns has ben put on notice and his time is running out.
This is a big play by Triple H creatively. Not only did he bring back a recently-released former NXT Champion, but he’s plopped him right into the main event scene on the blue brand. Just prior to a big showdown between McIntyre and Reigns at Clash at the Castle, Kross is now a big part of the picture and it’s unclear how WWE will include him in all of this. Triple H was known to be a fan of Kross’ during his NXT run, suggesting he had all the tools to be a huge star. Clearly, he’s putting his money where his mouth is.
Source: Wrestling Inc.
The fallout from SummerSlam will play out on tonight’s “WWE SmackDown” episode airing on FOX at 8/7C.
No matches have been announced for tonight’s show at the time of this posting.
There should be more build up for matches at Clash at the Castle.
Probably something about Ronda Rousey’s suspension after she attacked the referee following her loss to “SmackDown” Women’s Champion Liv Morgan at SummerSlam. Rousey forced Morgan to tap out to an armbar. However, the referee did not see Morgan tapping out and instead counted Rousey’s shoulders down for the pin. In addition to attacking the referee after the match, Rousey also laid out Morgan.
Rousey’s “suspension” shouldn’t last long. Rousey is reportedly expected to return to WWE programming in time to set up a match for her at Clash at the Castle.
Pat McAfee is expected to be back at his usual post on commentary. He’s coming off a win over Happy Corbin at SummerSlam.
WWE SmackDown, tonight at 8/7 C on FOX.
Also tonight, Maximum Male Models, along with their newly revealed Director of Talent Maxxine Dupri are set to unveil their 2022 beachwear collection. Maxxine (formerly known as Sofia Cromwell on “NXT”) made her main roster debut during a brief backstage segment on last Friday’s “SmackDown”. Her debut reportedly also served as a write-off for Maximum Male Models’ former frontman, and Maxxine’s storyline “brother”, Max Dupri.
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