Ryback — Announces Departure, Wishes WWE The Best In Their Future Endeavors (VIDEO)

Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet

Wake up WWE Universe … Ryback is now a free agent — and The Big Guy has all sorts of plans.

The former Intercontinental Champion bid adieu to WWE on Instagram today saying, “The Big Guy Ryback would like to wish the WWE the best in their future endeavors. From this point forward, myself and the WWE will no longer be conducting business together.”

Ryback also says he plans to continue wrestling a full schedule and plugged several new ventures … including a clothing line, a motivational book and a line of nutritional supplements.

As you may recall, the 34-year-old was sent home from RAW on May 2nd due to contract negotiation issues and was in the middle of a trademark battle with WWE regarding use of the phrase “The Big Guy” at the time.

No comment yet from WWE regarding his release, but it’s worth noting that the wrestler’s photo still appears on their roster page. Check out the video.

 

Update:

WWE just announced the following:

WWE parts ways with RybackEffective today, Aug. 8, 2016, WWE has parted ways with Ryback and he is no longer under contract. WWE wishes Ryback the best in all his future endeavors.

Shelton Benjamin Not Returning To WWE At This Time Due To Injury

Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet

The Gold Standard will not be making his WWE return as previously advertised … Shelton Benjamin says their doctors discovered a serious shoulder injury during testing and now he needs surgery.

Shelton tweeted, “I am both disappointed & sadden to announce that due to a serious injury to my shoulder I will not be returning to WWE at this time.”

He added, “For now I will have to put pro-wrestling to the side as I prepare to undergo surgery to repair my torn rotator. This comes as a shock to me as I am no stranger to performing while in pain, yet I had no idea of the severity of my condition.”

Benjamin’s return was hyped with a vignette during the debut episode of SmackDown Live last month.  No word at this time if his injury will be addressed on TV.

Here are his tweets:

Olympians Who Competed In WWE (Video)

WWE posted this video with Corey Graves looking at 7 Olympians who competed in WWE – Bad News Brown, Ken Patera, Mark Henry, Danny Hodge, Mad Dog Vachon, Chad Gable and Kurt Angle.

Top WWE Stars Missing SmackDown Next Week, Meet AJ Styles In New Zealand

Source: WrestlingINC

WWE is headed overseas after RAW next Monday for their tours in Australia and New Zealand. While the tours mostly consist of RAW Stars, SmackDown stars John Cena, AJ Styles, Erick Rowan, The Usos and Apollo Crews are also scheduled, so they won’t be on SmackDown on Tuesday. The scheduled dark match main event for Tuesday’s SmackDown in Bakersfield, CA is WWE Champion Dean Ambrose vs. Bray Wyatt.

Styles will be making an appearance in Auckland, New Zealand next Wednesday at Westfield St Lukes at 80 St Lukes Rd. Styles will be meeting fans and signing autographs. You can get more details here.

TNA Impact Wrestling Preview: 8/4/16

Tonight on Impact Wrestling on Pop TV 8/7c.

Bound For Glory Playoffs Final – EC3 vs “The Miracle” Mike Bennett w/Maria

King of the Mountain Championship: (C) Eli Drake vs James Storm

What’s next for Gail Kim

Rhyno Wins Michigan State Representative Primary

Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet

The recent SmackDown Live signee — running under his real name, Terrance Guido Gerin — won yesterday’s Republican Primary for State House in Michigan’s 15th District.

According to WXYZ.com, he beat out two other Republican opponents by just 54 votes.

Regarding his decision to run for office, Rhyno told WWE.com, “Well, I’ve followed politics for decades. It’s something I’ve always had a passion for. I love my country, I love my state of Michigan and I love the city I live in.”

Rhyno will now face the Democratic Primary winner in the General Election this November.

Bray Wyatt Injured During SmackDown Live Match

Source: WrestlingINC

Bray Wyatt rolled his ankle during Tuesday’s WWE SmackDown Live main event but finished the match. After the injury, the referee threw up the dreaded “X” symbol but Wyatt clearly didn’t want to stop and didn’t want help from trainers.

Dave Meltzer confirmed on Wrestling Observer Radio that Wyatt sprained his ankle. Wyatt was still planning on working weekend WWE live events as of Wednesday morning. If he does miss this weekend’s matches, that could indicate that the injury is serious as he was intent on wrestling this weekend. Meltzer also confirmed that WWE wanted Wyatt to stop the match on Tuesday night but he refused.

WWE Cruiserweight Classic Preview: 8/3/16

The following is set for tonight’s 8/3 WWE Cruiserweight Classic on WWE Network:

* Final week of first-round action

* Johnny Gargano vs. Tommaso Ciampa

* Rich Swann vs. Jason Lee

* Jack Gallagher vs. Fabian Aichner

* Noam Dar vs. Gurv Shira

NXT Preview: 8/3/16

The following is set for tonight’s 8/3 WWE NXT on the WWE Network:

* The debut of Bobby Roode

 * The return of Hideo Itami

* NXT Women’s Champion Asuka vs. Aliyah

* NXT Tag Team Champions The Revival vs. TM-61

ROH Preview: 8/3/16

The following is set for tonight’s 8/3 ROH TV on Comet:

* ROH Champion Jay Lethal and IWGP Tag Champions The Briscoes vs. Bullet Club (IWGP Jr. Tag Champions The Young Bucks and Adam Cole)

* MOOSE w/Stokely Hathaway vs. Donovan Dijak w/Prince Nana