Source: PWInsider Elite via WrestlingINC
As of last week there was still at least some talk of having either Vince McMahon and The Rock or Stephanie McMahon and Ronda Rousey involved with the Roman Reigns vs. WWE World Heavyweight Champion Triple H main event at WrestleMania 32. We also know that there’s been talk of having a special referee in the match.
Source: PWInsider Elite via WrestlingINC
As of this past week, WWE NXT regulars Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa were still not signed to deals. There’s a feeling that they will be signed eventually but WWE is in no hurry as the current situation works for all sides. The two are available when WWE needs them but they’re still able to work indies and make money there.
Source: WrestlingINC
This week’s sitdown interview with Michael Cole features Brie Bella discussing husband Daniel Bryan’s WWE retirement. Below are highlights:
* Cole asks her how much of an emotional roller coaster Monday was. She says they were both emotional landing in Seattle because this would be the last time he touched down in his home state with WWE. She says when Bryan saw everyone backstage and started joking around with them, then he was happy. As time got closer to the retirement speech, that’s when he started breaking down again. She wasn’t sure if he would be able to pull it together because Bryan is very sensitive and the business means everything to him. She says she couldn’t be more proud of him. She just wanted to be a wife on Monday, not a wrestler or co-worker. Brie says she was in the “Gorilla Position” and couldn’t stop crying
* Cole brings up how she’s now the wrestler in the relationship and asks if she’s ready for that, and if they have discussed the transition. She talks about how they walked around Seattle on Tuesday morning and Bryan pointed out how nobody can call him a wrestler anymore. Bryan joked how he gets to walk into parties and introduce his wife, the wrestler now. Brie says she didn’t realize that her life is changing as well. As a woman, it’s empowering because she gets to be the one who works and she’s a wrestler. At the same time, it’s devastating because they are soulmates and have shared the same passion. She says if it wasn’t for Bryan, she wouldn’t be where she’s at in the ring now because he pushed her to get better
* Regarding the title shot against WWE Divas Champion Charlotte at Fastlane, Brie talks about how it’s hard that she doesn’t even have Nikki Bella by her side to fall on right now. Brie wonders how she’s the smallest out of Bryan and Nikki but she’s still the strongest standing. She says no matter what, she has strength inside because she’s a Bella and she’s going to use what Charlotte has said about her family. Brie says Charlotte crossed her family and the lioness in her is here now. Brie says she’s going to win the title at Fastlane and when she does, she’s going to dedicate it to her sister and make her husband proud. Brie says she’s going to stand in the middle of the ring at Fastlane and chant “yes!” after she wins.
The hunt is on! In an epic battle the fierce Catrina enlists the help of King Cuerno to defeat Fenix. PLUS, a new Luchadora makes her temple debut! Don’t miss the Boyle Heights action in an all new episode of ‘Lucha Underground’ on Wednesday, February 10th at 8:00PM ET/PT on El Rey Network. New one-hour episodes of the lucha libre wrestling series from Emmy Award®-winning producer Mark Burnett premiere every Wednesday at 8:00PM ET/PT.
Jack Evans and Drago make their return to The Temple.
A new luchadora is about to enter The Temple. Kobra Moon debuts.
The hunt continues as King Cuerno once again targets Fenix.
The following is scheduled for tonight’s 2/10 WWE NXT on the WWE Network:
* NXT Women’s Title: Bayley (c) vs. Carmella
* Baron Corbin vs. Johnny Gargano
* Cameron vs. Alexa Bliss
* Elias Samson vs. Jesse Sorensen
* The Hype Bros. in action.
The following is scheduled for tonight’s 2/10 ROH TV on Comet:
* ROH Tag Team Titles: War Machine (c’s) vs. The All Night Express
* 2016 Top Prospect Tournament First Round: Action Ortiz vs. Leon St. Giovanni
* Alex Shelley vs. Frankie Kazarian w/Chris Sabin
* Dalton Castle w/The Boys vs. Joey “Diesel” Daddiego w/Truth Martini
Source: WrestlingINC
CM Punk detractors are going to have some more ammunition, as the former WWE Champion will have his UFC debut delayed yet again. He’ll be undergoing back surgery to repair a herniated disc, according to MMAFighting’s Ariel Helwani.
Punk told Helwani that his back is something that has always bothered him, and he figured that it was simply professional wrestling injuries. As it turns out, it was.
“It got bad enough to the point where I couldn’t do anything the week before I went to train with the New Jersey Devils last month. One day I could manage, the next day I couldn’t. I’ve been in agony for almost a month. Chiropractor, acupuncture, massage, cryotherapy, nothing worked,” Punk told MMA Fighting.
CM Punk was linked to both July’s UFC 200 and June’s UFC 199 to take on Mickey Gall. Gall defeated Mike Jackson at last weekend’s UFC Fight Night 82 to earn the right to take on Punk in his UFC debut.
Many fans, fighters and media have speculated that Punk’s UFC career is simply a publicity stunt, and that he has no intent to fight. According to my sources close to the camp, Punk has always had the actual intent to fight, along with his trainers at Roufusport. Punk, 37, still insists he will fight in the UFC.
Source: WhatCulture.com
PWInsider.com are reporting that Titus O’Neil has been suspended by WWE for “unprofessional conduct.”
The former Prime Time Player was reportedly sent home from last night’s Smackdown taping in Portland, Oregon shortly after he arrived.
This relates to an incident that took place after RAW went off the air on Monday Night. Daniel Bryan was saying his goodbyes to the WWE Universe while the rest of the locker room watched on from the top of the stage – this was aired live on the WWE Network.
As Bryan made his way through the crowd of wrestlers to the back, Vince McMahon tried to follow suit but was grabbed by O’Neil on the way in what has been described as a “playful and physical way.”
McMahon responded by shoving O’Neil away, almost knocking into Stephanie McMahon as she tried to get past. This was caught by cameras as the Network show ended.
PWInsider have been told that Vince was angry at being grabbed and that led to the suspension.
The length of Titus’ suspension hasn’t been confirmed but it looks like it could be upwards of 90 days. That would rule him out of WrestleMania 32.
Titus had been making decent process as a singles competitor after his time teaming with Darren Young as the PTPs ended. However, he did lose to Social Outcasts’ Adam Rose on Monday’s RAW.
Source: allwrestlingnews.com
While he hasn’t wrestled in over a decade and turned 49-years-old in December, wrestling companies are still vying for the services of Bill Goldberg. Not only is TNA interested in acquiring the two-time world champion, but WWE is as well.
WrestleMania 32 is a little over three months away and WWE wants to feature as many marquee names as possible. The company, however, is running low on options at this point. And by options we mean big names you usually don’t see on WWE television.
Vince McMahon has pretty much given up on convincing Steve Austin on wrestling at the event. It is highly unlikely that Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson will wrestle since he will be busy filming a movie adaptation of Baywatch, though he could appear live to speak. Ronda Rousey, who WWE hoped would face Stephanie McMahon in a match, will be busy shooting a movie in Indonesia. Sting is facing neck surgery to alleviate injuries sustained at Night of Champions. Hulk Hogan is out of the question after WWE cut all ties with the wrestling legend over the summer, his termination coinciding with the publication by the National Enquirer and Radar Online of a racial rant made by him on a leaked sex tape.
This pretty much leaves Goldberg as the biggest outside name who could actually wrestle at WrestleMania 32. WWE believes Goldberg would be a draw for the show after sales of its 2013 DVD and Blu-ray on him were strong. Sales of the title topped 100,000 units and was among the top five sellers of 2013 and 2014. It greatly outsold WWE’s biography on Triple H, Triple H – Thy Kingdom Come, and in less time.
In June, Goldberg stepped back in the ring for a one-off spot where he attacked Scott Steiner and Doc Gallows at Citi Field in New York. When asked about his performance that night and his desire to get back into the ring, Goldberg spoke candidly.
The itch will always be there because I am always a competitor and my wife and son have never seen me wrestle. Let me be clear though, that itch won’t supersede my ability to be a businessman. The itch is always there, it’s there three times a week when I walk into my Muay Thai gym and put the gloves and shin pads on. It was a very special circumstance at Citi Field and ironically now the Mets are in the World Series. It was something I chose to do and thought was appropriate at the time. It was not me coming out of retirement by any means. I am a part owner of Legends of Wrestling so if I want to go out there and pick and choose my spot to do something interesting, then that’s what I do with no motives behind it. I am a competitor and always have that itch until the day I die, but I won’t let the itch supersede being a businessman.
It is said that Goldberg is really only interested stepping foot inside a WWE ring one time, for a match at WrestleMania 32. WWE higher-ups, however, want to sign him to a one-year deal and wrestle multiple times. They’re looking at Goldberg as a special attraction who can be used sporadically throughout the year to pop WWE Network subscriptions. There is discussion within WWE of offering Goldberg a six-month deal, which would run from Wrestlemania season through the summer or fall.
Goldberg normally doesn’t have much leverage with WWE, but with the company running low on names who can add to the bottom line and TNA willing to spend money on acquiring him, he’s in a better negotiating position than in years past.
Source: WrestlingINC
Big Time Wrestling announced today that Sting will be making three rare indie appearances at their shows on Friday, March 18th in Altoona, PA, Saturday, March 19th in Danbury, CT and Saturday, April 9th in Webster, MA. Sting, Lex Luger and other stars will be meeting fans before each show. More information is available at btwtickets.com.
