Tonight’s WWE SmackDown Live will take place from the Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan with the fallout from Hell in a Cell.
* Will Sami Zayn explain why he helped Kevin Owens?
* AJ Styles invokes his rematch clause against United States Champion Baron Corbin
* Becky Lynch and Carmella square off
* How did Hell in a Cell change The Usos?
UFC superstar Conor McGregor is reportedly in talks with WWE for a one-off appearance at WrestleMania 34, according to a report by SunSport in the U.K. According to the report, “a deal is close” with WWE.
“Conor is a huge wrestling fan. His entire persona on stage he has developed from watching performers like Ric Flair and The Rock,” a source told SunSport. “These are the top dogs at self-promotion and trash talk. He watched these guys when he was younger. This is something he’s always wanted to do. The WWE guys have asked him to do shows before with them but the timing was never really right. But this time it looks like a deal is going to be locked into place.”
SunSport had also reported this past January that WWE presented McGregor with “a hefty offer,” which he declined.
During an appearance at a “Leaders in Sports” convention at Stamford Bridge last week, Stephanie McMahon discussed the possibility of McGregor making an appearance for WWE, stating that he would “be a perfect fit” in the company.
“I think Conor would be a perfect fit with WWE,” McMahon said. “He certainly has the personality and the athletic ability, the appeal. He speaks his mind, he’s very genuine and authentic and he has a hell of a Vince McMahon swagger.”
McGregor drew the ire of several wrestling superstars when he took shots at the current talent during a media conference call in 2016. McGregor said that while he respected “the old G’s of the game” like The Rock and Ric Flair, the today’s stars are “dweebs.”
“The rest are dweebs,” McGregor said. “What’s the main guy? John Cena. He’s 40, he’s 40 years of age. He’s walking around in a illuminous orange t-shirt and a headband talking about [how] no one can see him. We can see him right there, he’s a big fat 40 year old failed Mr. Olympia motherf–ker! They’re dweebs, those guys!
“Like I said, no disrespect to the Dons of the game,” he continued. “I mean Vinny Mac’s a f–king legend. They wrote Vinny Mac a couple of years ago, then he rose back up and he’s back in the billionaires club. What he’s been able to do with that bunch of dweebs he has over there at the moment has been phenomenal and I respect him for that. And then of course, the old G’s of the game – The Rock, Stone Cold – they’re all cool mother f–kers. Even Ric Flair’s a cool mother f–ker… but that new age of those guys are absolute dweebs… it ain’t trash talk, it’s true talk!”
Source: WrestlingINC
It didn’t arrive in September as originally announced (at least, not on purpose), but the Global Wrestling Network (GWN) is here. The streaming service is a key part of Anthem Entertainment’s plan to make money off of Global Force Impact Wrestling, its tape library and current roster.
In addition to the free tier which will give users access to the latest Impact and Xplosionepisodes, the pay service includes old episodes and pay-per-view (PPV) events – many of which feature current WWE talent like Kurt Angle, Samoa Joe and AJ Styles. PWInsider reports that, in an effort to position GWN as the alternative to WWE Network, Anthem’s app “also features material from Scott D’Amore’s Border City Wrestling, Aaron Weiss’ Pro Wrestling Superstars PPV series, Canadian independent promotion Smash Wrestling, and Wrestling at the Chase, classic content from the old St. Louis territory.”
Here’s the company’s official press release:
Anthem Launches Global Wrestling Network
Multi-Platform Digital ServiceNASHVILLE | TORONTO – Anthem Sports & Entertainment Corp., the parent company of IMPACT Wrestling, announced today the launch of the Global Wrestling Network, a multi-platform digital service designed to give fans around the world instant 24-hour access to the extensive IMPACT Wrestling library, including every classic pay-per-view event, groundbreaking original series, reality shows and documentaries, exclusive events and cards from international promotions and partners, classic content from old territories, over 1,000 hours of original programming, plus the ability to purchase premium live pay-per-view events.
Global Wrestling Network will be available on all major over-the-top (OTT) platforms and devices, including web at GlobalWrestlingNetwork.com, iOS and Android, and coming soon to Roku, Xbox, Amazon Fire TV and Smart TVs. A premium subscription will be priced at just US$7.99 per month with a 30-day free trial for new members.
Members will also have free access to episodes of the weekly flagship show IMPACT!, as well as new weekly episodes of Xplosion and other original digital content featuring top professional wrestling stars, including Eli Drake, Bobby Lashley, EC3, Eddie Edwards, James Storm, the high-flying X-Division, the lovely and lethal Knockouts, including Sienna, Rosemary and Gail Kim, and talent from international partner promotions such as Johnny Impact, Naomichi Marufuji and El Hijo del Fantasma.
“Within just one year, we have made tremendous progress by re-branding and re-energizing the IMPACT Wrestling product,” said Ed Nordholm, president of IMPACT Wrestling. “The launch of the Global Wrestling Network marks a significant milestone in the brand’s digital growth and international expansion. Working with our partners, GWN will create, acquire and curate content from various promotions around the globe to become the leading provider of independent professional wrestling content in the world.”
Programming from IMPACT Wrestling’s 15-year library showcases household industry names such as Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair, Sting, Kurt Angle, Kevin Nash, Jeff Jarrett, AJ Styles, Samoa Joe, Bobby Roode and many more.
For more information, visit www.impactwrestling.com and www.globalwrestlingnetwork.com.
Source: CageSideSeats
Global Wrestling Network Available NowThe Global Wrestling Network is live as of right now. Right now you have access to the history of this incredible company at your fingertips. In a time where instant gratification is the new normal, GWN has arrived at the perfect time. All the moments, matches, championship celebrations and more are at your disposal to relive, remember and appreciate everything IMPACT has accomplished over the past 16 years.
Many of us look back and remember the destruction that Aces and Eights brought to IMPACT or the time Bully Ray actually put Dixie Carter through a table. How about the incredible matches that Team 3D had with The Wolves and The Hardy Brothers? The rise of EC3? The fall of Decay? It is all there. All ready to be relived over and over again.
For a small monthly fee you can really experience all that GWN has to offer with more additions coming each month. We can’t wait for you to experience all that GWN has to offer!
GET GWN HERE: http://impac.tw/gwnnow
Tonight’s WWE RAW will take place from the Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana as the road to TLC continues.
* “Miz TV” to set The Bar
* WWE Universe, meet Sister Abigail
* Mickie James proves she’s no “old lady”
* Kalisto ignites the Cruiserweight division
Earlier today, NJPW’s King of Pro Wrestling show took place.
* BUSHI, Hiromu Takahashi and SANADA defeated Bad Luck Fale, Leo Tonga and Yujiro Takahashi
* Hirooki Goto and Toru Yano defeated Minoru Suzuki and Zack Sabre Jr.
* Roppongi 3K (Sho Tanaka and Yohei Komatsu, formerly known as The Tempura Boyz) defeated Ricochet and Ryusuke Taguchi (c) (IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship)
* Davey Boy Smith Jr. and Lance Archer (c) defeated Guerrillas of Destiny and War Machine (IWGP Tag Team Championship Elimination Match)
* Cody, Kenny Omega, and Marty Scurll defeated Beretta, Jado and YOSHI-HASHI
* Juice Robinson and Kota Ibushi defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi and Togi Makabe
* Will Ospreay defeated KUSHIDA (c) (IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship)
* Tetsuya Naito defeated Tomohiro Ishii (Tokyo Dome IWGP Heavyweight Championship challenge rights)
* Kazuchika Okada (c) defeated EVIL (IWGP Heavyweight Championship)
(Kickoff) Chad Gable & Shelton Benjamin vs. The Hype Bros – Winners: Chad Gable & Shelton Benjamin
SmackDown Tag Team Championship – Hell in a Cell: (C) The New Day (Big E & Xavier Woods w/ Kofi Kingston)vs. The Usos – Winners and new SmackDown Tag Team Champions: The Usos
Rusev vs. Randy Orton – Winner: Randy Orton
United States championship: (C) AJ Styles vs. Baron Corbin vs. Tye Dillinger – Winner and new United States Champion: Baron Corbin
SmackDown Women’s Championship: (C) Natalya vs. Charlotte Flair – Winner by DQ: Charlotte Flair – Natalya assaulted Charlotte with a steel chair and got disqualified.
Breezango with the return of the Fashion Files – (Transcript from WrestlingINC) The announcers lead us to the return of The Fashion Files with Breezango. The Ascension, in disguise, makes an appearance at Breezango’s HQ. The case they’ve been working on is still open. The Ascension, in disguise, delivers a poster to Breezango that says the real Ascension wants to be their friends. Tyler Breeze and Fandango insult Konnor and Viktor, who take off their disguises and say Breezango should be ashamed of themselves for the harsh words. They walk off. Someone knocks on the door and Breeze thinks it’s The Ascension again. No one is at the door but there’s a briefcase laying there. They open it and a light is shining inside. “This isn’t just a briefcase, it’s a new case.” Apparently Breezango has a new case to investigate. A new Fashion Files segment based on Pulp Fiction is announced for Tuesday’s SmackDown.
WWE Championship: (C) Jinder Mahal w/Singh Brothers vs. Shinsuke Nakamura – Winner: Jinder Mahal
Bobby Roode vs. Dolph Ziggler – Winner: Bobby Roode – Ziggler hit Roode with a Zig Zag right after the pin fall.
Hell in a Cell -Falls Count Anywhere: Shane McMahon vs. Kevin Owens – As Shane jumped off the top of the cell, Sami Zayn pulled Owens off the table as Shane crashed through the table, Zayn then placed Owens on top of Shane for the cover – Winner: Kevin Owens
Shane was carted off on a stretcher.
Hell in a Cell -Falls Count Anywhere: Shane McMahon vs. Kevin Owens
WWE Championship: (C) Jinder Mahal vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
SmackDown Women’s Championship: (C) Natalya vs. Charlotte Flair
United States championship: (C) AJ Styles vs. Baron Corbin vs. Tye Dillinger
SmackDown Tag Team Championship – Hell in a Cell: (C) The New Day vs. The Usos
Bobby Roode vs. Dolph Ziggler
Randy Orton vs. Rusev
The Fashion Files return
(Kickoff) Chad Gable & Shelton Benjamin vs. The Hype Bros
It’s been over a year since the third season of Lucha Underground was taped. The season, which is still currently airing on the El Rey Network, was taped from March – May of 2016, leaving many wondering if a fourth season would be happening.
Dave Meltzer reported on the latest edition of Wrestling Observer Radio that there may be some good news regarding the future of the promotion as they have a potential source of funding. The drawback is that the budget for the show would have to be significantly cut as the source of funding is “earmarking far, far less money per episode and for the season” than what the company had been spending for the previous seasons. Meltzer said that while the future of the company was looking bleak, it’s a little “better than bleak” now.
Meltzer noted that many of the stars that he’s spoken to that are under contract with Lucha Underground want their release. Ricochet told Sports Illustrated in July that even though his contract with the company expired, his no-compete doesn’t expire until 90 days after the conclusion of the third season.
“My contract finished last June,” Ricochet told Sports Illustrated. “I’m on the no-compete for the rest of Lucha Underground’s season three, then I have 90 days after that. I can be on any TV as long as it’s not American TV. I can work indies, I can do iPPVs, most anything, really, just not on American TV. I’m not sure about a Season 4 with Lucha Underground. I’m busy until October, and I might take November off to heal up again. I really want to work on my diet and get myself in the best shape possible.”
Source: WrestlingINC
There will be a celebration of the late Lance Russell’s life and career this Saturday at Jerry Lawler’s Bar & Grille in Memphis. The legendary announcer passed away this past Tuesday at the age of 91. Below are details for Saturday’s event, which is open to the public:
Source: WrestlingINC
* The Fallout from Victory Road and Bound For Glory continues to take shape
* Knockouts Champion Sienna addresses the division
* New Tag Team Champions oVe will be in action
* Petey Williams, Sonjay Dutt and Matt Sydal vs. Caleb Konley, Andrew Everett and X Division Champion Trevor Lee
* James Storm and Impact Grand Champion Ethan Carter III vs. Texano Jr. and El Hijo del Fantasma
