Corey Graves Officially Announces WWE Speed Starting In April, Winner Gets New Title

WWE has announced that they will introduce a new title and a new match type called WWE Speed beginning next month.

“WWE SmackDown” commentator Corey Graves announced on X that the WWE Speed matches will last 3 minutes and air exclusively on the social media platform X. He revealed that WWE Speed will kick off on April 3, a few days before WrestleMania 40.

“Starting April 3, WWE Speed, airing exclusively on X, brings a fresh and dynamic new twist to classic in-ring competition, where some of the fastest and toughest WWE Superstars do battle with time itself because in WWE Speed our Superstars only have 3 minutes to defeat their opponent,” revealed Graves. “3 intense, adrenaline-fueled minutes where strategy, agility, and strength collide. This isn’t just another match; this is a sprint to the finish line. The prize? The prestigious, first-ever WWE Speed Championship. So brace yourself for a tournament like no other where every match is a finale, every second could define a Superstar’s legacy. WWE Speed, April 3, exclusively on X.”

https://twitter.com/WWE/status/1773122996061770152

In his announcement, Graves didn’t reveal the Speed Championship, but judging by the graphics WWE has used so far, it could likely have a green theme. WWE and X announced a partnership to create the Speed title last month, and reports suggest both main roster and “WWE NXT” stars will feature in it. New Catch Republic’s Pete Dunne has reportedly been involved in the WWE Speed matches as a producer. The last singles title that WWE introduced was the 24/7 Championship in 2019, which was an intergender title that was made inactive in 2022. 

Source: Wrestling Inc.

AEW Dynamite Preview 3/27/2024

AEW Dynamite will air live tonight on TBS from the Centre Videotron in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada.

  • Will Ospreay vs. Katsuyori Shibata
  • Swerve Strickland vs. Konosuke Takeshita – The winner will be ranked #1 as the updated rankings will also be released
  • AEW Tag Team Championships Tournament Quarterfinals: The Young Bucks vs. Private Party
  • AEW Tag Team Championships Tournament Quarterfinals: Best Friends vs. Undisputed Kingdom
  • TBS Championship Number One Contender Match: Anna Jay vs. Willow Nightingale vs. Skye Blue vs. Kris Statlander. Mercedes Mone’ will be on Commentary – The winner will earn a title opportunity at Dynasty on April 21 in St. Louis, MO.

Multiple Promotions To Hold Crossover Event Under United Japan Pro Wrestling Banner

Japanese wrestling promotions have had their fair share of rivalries over the years, with Antonio Inoki and Giant Baba famously having two completely different ideologies that led to the formation of New Japan and All Japan Pro Wrestling in the ’70s. However, in recent years, many promotions in Japan have seen the benefit of collaboration and working together, which was taken to another level with the formation of United Japan Pro Wrestling in late 2023, and an inaugural event for the group has been announced.

On May 6, 2024, the “ALL TOGETHER: United Japan Pro Wrestling Inauguration & Noto Earthquake Benefit Event” will take place with NJPW, STARDOM, NOAH, DDT, Dragon Gate, and Big Japan Pro Wrestling all confirmed to have wrestlers taking part. The event will not only act as the inaugural event for the group, but as the name suggests, a portion of the proceeds from the event will be donated to the victims of the earthquake that hit the Noto peninsula region of northern Japan on January 1. A number of matches have already been announced for the event, with more expected to come in the near future. 

The “ALL TOGETHER” name was first used in 2011 when NJPW, NOAH, and AJPW joined forces for a charity event at the Nippon Budokan, which is where the 2024 event will take place. There were also ALL TOGETHER events in 2012 and 2023, with the proceeds going to charity on both occasions. AJPW, Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling, and GANBARE Pro Wrestling are also members of the UJPW group, but will not be able to participate on May 6. However, they will play a part in the second event the group intends to hold, titled “Hokkai Kita-Yell” in Sapporo on June 15.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

WWE Star Alexa Bliss Offers Update On A Possible Return

It’s been quite awhile since WWE fans have seen Alexa Bliss in a wrestling ring. The former five-time WWE Women’s Champion and three-time WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion hasn’t wrestled a match since January 2023, when she unsuccessfully challenged Bianca Belair for the Raw Women’s Championship at the Royal Rumble. But Bliss is now hinting that a return to the squared circle could be on the horizon.

ADVERTISEMENT
Taking to X on Tuesday afternoon, Bliss noted that she was “back at it,” posting emojis a muscle flex and lifting weights, signaling she was back working out. Though Bliss didn’t provide any further clarification, several fans, and even the official account for the USA Network, came away from the tweet excited, anticipating a potential WWE return.

https://twitter.com/AlexaBliss_WWE/status/1772700710729035877
https://twitter.com/USANetwork/status/1772704838217842836

Bliss’ absence was brought on by a variety of factors, including an appearance on Fox’s “The Masked Singer,” and a skin cancer scare shortly after her match at the Rumble. Bliss went public with her diagnosis in March, and days later would reveal she was cancer-free after undergoing a procedure soon after. Just two months later, Bliss revealed she was pregnant with her and her husband, singer Ryan Cabrera’s, first child, extending her absence. Bliss would give birth to the couple’s daughter, Hendrix, on November 27.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

The Slammy Awards Set To Return On WWE WrestleMania Weekend

WWE issued the following: 

THE SLAMMYS: THE FANS CHOICE AWARDS TO AIR LIVE ON SUNDAY, APRIL 7 FROM WWE WORLD AT WRESTLEMANIA

Streaming Live Across WWE Social Platforms with Voting Open Today Until Wednesday, March 27

STAMFORD, Conn., March 22, 2024 – WWE®, part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO), today announced The Slammys: The Fans Choice Awards will take place at WWE World at WrestleMania on Sunday, April 7, and air live across WWE’s YouTube channel, Facebook, X, Twitch and TikTok.

Hosted by Cathy Kelley and WWE Superstar Big E, alongside special guest appearances from additional WWE Superstars, The Slammys: The Fans Choice Awards will celebrate the very best achievements across the WWE Universe over the past year.

Voting for The Slammys: The Fans Choice Awards is open now and will run until this Wednesday, March 27, at www.wwe.com/slammys.

WWE and Fanatics Events, the live and special event division of Fanatics, recently announced details for WWE World at WrestleMania, a five-day interactive fan experience taking place from Thursday, April 4 through Monday, April 8 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia. WWE World at WrestleMania will feature a variety of immersive experiences for fans including a central main stage that will host roundtable discussions with top WWE Superstars, a WWE 2K24 Showdown gaming tournament, live podcast recordings, live memorabilia and autograph sales through Fanatics Live, and the largest WWE Superstore in WrestleMania history. The event will also feature exclusive merchandise and meet-and-greets with WWE Superstars and Legends, in addition to immersive exhibits and memorabilia honoring WrestleMania’s 40-year history.

Tickets for WWE World at WrestleMania are going fast and available to purchase now. For further details, visit: www.fanaticsevents.com/wwe.

WWE NXT Preview 3/26/2024

Tonight’s episode of WWE NXT in Orlando, Florida at the Performance Center on the USA Network: 

  • The Wolf Dogs (Bron Breakker & Baron Corbin) vs. Alpha Academy’s Otis & Akira Tozawa –If Alpha Academy wins, they are added to the NXT Tag Team title match at Stand & Deliver
  • Carmelo Hayes vs. Trick Williams “Prime Target” vignettes
  • We’ll hear from Ridge Holland
  • Ilja Dragunov vs. Stacks Lorenzo
  • Shawn Spears vs. Dijak
  • Josh Briggs vs. Duke Hudson
  • Thea Hail vs. Jazmyn Nyx
  • Lola Vice open challenge

The Rock Viciously Assaults Cody Rhodes To End WWE RAW

The Rock viciously assaulted Cody Rhodes as this week’s episode of WWE RAW came to a conclusion.

Following the main event of RAW which saw Jey Uso face off against Shinsuke Nakamura, The Rock attacked. The Jey Uso/Nakamura match saw Jimmy Uso and Solo Sikoa try to get involved. However, Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins came down to stop the attack. As Rhodes fought Jimmy to the back, The Rock was there to take over and attacked Cody.

The Rock slammed Cody’s head into a table while trash talking him. He also hit him numerous times with a trash can. The two battled outside in the rain, with The Rock slamming Rhodes’ head into the side of his own private bus.

The Rock continued to call Cody a “boy” and stated that he was the “Final Boss” and that Rhodes shouldn’t have “stuck his nose in his business.” The show went off the air with The Rock smearing the blood of Rhodes on a belt that said “Mama Rhodes.”

Source: eWn

WWE RAW Preview 3/25/2024

Tonight’s WWE RAW live on USA Network from the the Allstate Arena in Chicago, IL.

  • CM Punk to appear in his hometown of Chicago
  • Jey Uso vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
  • Sami Zayn vs. Bronson Reed
  • Ricochet vs. JD McDonagh
  • Andrade vs. Ivar
  • Ivy Nile vs. Candice LeRae

Upcoming AEW Collision Will Avoid WWE WrestleMania 40 Competition

The April 6 episode of AEW Collision will not air in the show’s regular time slot nor have to go head-to-head with WrestleMania 40, which is set to start at 7 p.m. EST.

According to the TNT programming schedule, the edition of the show will instead air at 11:30 p.m. EST.

As a reminder, the show will be taped after AEW Dynamite on Wednesday, April 3.

Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin, The Motor City Machine Guns, Reportedly Finished With TNA

Two of the most successful stars in the history of TNA Wrestling have reportedly finished up with the promotion. According to PWInsider, Saturday night’s tapings in Philadelphia marked the final TNA performances (at least for now) of Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin, the Motor City Machine Guns. PWI says TNA held an emotional backstage sendoff for the veteran duo whose contracts are up on April 1. This report was confirmed by Fightful Select, who add that while “the door has been kept open” for the Guns to return, they are not currently expected to remain with TNA.

Sabin and Shelley have spent the majority of their careers in TNA since debuting for the promotion in 2003 and 2004, respectively, and they’ve seen plenty of individual success, with both men having enjoyed a reign with the promotion’s world championship. However, they are much better known as a tag team — the Motor City Machine Guns are three-time TNA tag champs and have won tag team gold in Game Changer Wrestling, New Japan Pro-Wrestling, and Ring of Honor (prior to its acquisition by AEW CEO Tony Khan).

The Guns’ final TNA match is reportedly against Eddie Edwards and Brian Myers for the tag titles. Come April, they will be free agents and can sign with any promotion. They previously appeared in one match for AEW, teaming with Jay Lethal in a losing effort against FTR and Wardlow at All Out 2022, and Shelley has been seen on WWE television as well, competing alongside KUSHIDA on “WWE NXT” as part of the 2020 Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic (he also boasts an 2005 appearance on “WWE Sunday Night Heat”). WWE Hall of Famer “Road Dogg” Brian James recently suggested Sabin and Shelley would be “good WWE superstars.” on his podcast, “Oh … You Didn’t Know,”

Source: Wrestling Inc.