Backstage News On WWE’s Groundwork For The Rock vs. Roman Reigns Dream Match

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson made a surprise return to WWE on Monday night’s ‘Day 1’ themed episode of RAW, confronting Jinder Mahal and teasing a potential match with his cousin, Roman Reigns.

Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Radio is reporting that a potential dream matchup between The Rock and Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40 is not yet confirmed.

However, it was noted that Reigns began using the “Head of the Table” and “Tribal Chief” as nicknames years ago to set up an eventual blockbuster clash with The Rock.

Meltzer said, “That whole thing, ‘The Head of the Table’ and all that, and ‘Tribal Chief,’ was all done originally to build up the Roman Reigns-Rock match.”

It was further stated that a matchup between The Rock and Reigns has been on WWE’s radar before, with The Great One previously turning down an offer to lay the smackdown on The Tribal Chief at WrestleMania 38 in Arlington, TX. Meltzer said,

“I remember they were gonna do the Dallas show [WrestleMania 38] and then it was gonna be Los Angeles [WrestleMania 39]. He turned down the first one to do the second one, which would have been Los Angeles. Then Los Angeles ended up being canceled, kind of in December, I think.”

During an appearance on ESPN’s College GameDay this past September, The Rock confirmed that his dream match with Reigns was in the works for WrestleMania 39, but plans later fell through.

Only time will tell if The Rock vs. Roman Reigns finally happens at WrestleMania XL this year.

Source: eWn

NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 18 1/4/2024 (Card)

NJPW Wrestle Kingdom18 from the Tokyo Dome 1/4/2024 beginning around 2:30 am EST on NJPW World.

CARD

  • IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: SANADA (c) vs. Tetsuya Naito
  • IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship: Will Ospreay vs. Jon Moxley vs. David Finlay
  • IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship: Hiromu Takahashi (c) vs. El Desperado
  • IWGP Jr Tag Championship: Bullet Club War Dogs (c) vs. Catch 2/2
  • NJPW World Television Championship: Zack Sabre Jr (c) vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi
  • NEVER Openweight Championship: Shingo Takagi (c) vs. Tama Tonga
  • IWGP Tag & STRONG Openweight Tag Team Championships: Bishamon (IWGP Tag) vs. Hikuleo & El Phantasmo (STRONG Openweight Tag)
  • Bryan Danielson vs. Kazuchika Okada
  • Yota Tsuji vs. Yuya Uemura
  • Kaito Kiyomiya & Shota Umino vs. HOUSE OF TORTURE (EVIL & Ren Narita)
  • Kickoff: KOPW 2024 New Japan Ranbo

Backstage Report On Future Of Trinity Fatu (Naomi In WWE)

Ever since joining Impact Wrestling/TNA Wrestling in April 2022, it’s been all sunshine and roses for Trinity, who is currently entering her sixth month as Knockouts Champion. It may also be her last month as champion, however, as Trinity appears to be contemplating a career move back to her old stomping grounds.

Fightful Select reports that Trinity’s contract with Impact/TNA is set to expire in the not-so-distant future and that the Knockouts Champion will be finishing up with the promotion. It’s unclear if Trinity’s last date will be the upcoming Hard to Kill PPV, where the promotion will officially rebrand back to TNA, or if she will continue to work through the end of the month.

As for what Trinity’s next move will be, those within WWE expect that she will return to the company, where she worked for over a decade under the name Naomi. One person within WWE believes a deal is so close that something drastic would have to occur to prevent Trinity from re-signing, though they pointed out that anything could happen in the current free agency market. WWE had previously sought to bring Trinity back last year but was prevented due to an unofficial hiring freeze. The move isn’t a surprise to those in TNA, who have long thought Trinity would return to WWE when her contract expired.

Trinity’s departure from WWE came under controversial circumstances, after she and then WWE Women’s Tag Team Title partner Mercedes Mone, then Sasha Banks, walked out of the promotion in May 2022 after disagreements with WWE Chairman Vince McMahon. While Trinity’s return to WWE is expected, the same cannot be said for Mone, who has broken off talks with WWE and is expected to sign with AEW.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

WWE NXT New Year’s Evil Preview 1/2/2024

Tonight’s WWE NXT New Year’s Evil Live on USA Network from the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, FL.

  • NXT Men’s Breakout Tournament Final: Riley Osborne vs. Oba Femi
  • Dragon Lee & LWO (Joaquin Wild & Crus Del Toro) vs. 3 Members Of No Quarter Catch Crew
  • Ranch Hand Or Servant For A Day Match: Tiffany Stratton vs. Fallon Henley
  • Roxanne Perez vs. Arianna Grace
  • Ridge Holland exclusive interview
  • NXT Women’s Championship: Lyra Valkyrie (c) vs. Blair Davenport
  • NXT Championship: Ilja Dragunov (c) vs. Trick Williams

MJF Considering Surgery Following AEW Worlds End

AEW concluded the year with its Worlds End 2023 pay-per-view event at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, New York, on Saturday night, where AEW World Heavyweight Champion MJF defended against Samoa Joe.

Prior to the match, MJF was dealing with injuries to his shoulder and hip, leading to expectations of him taking a break following the event. Joe’s win and capturing the title were always part of AEW’s plans and not because of MJF’s injuries. 

Dave Meltzer noted on Wrestling Observer Radio that MJF is debating whether to do rehab or get shoulder surgery.

Source: eWn

Mercedes Mone Expected To Sign With AEW

Mercedes Mone and AEW continue to be in talks.

According to a report from Fightful Select, talks between Mone and AEW have continued after the former Sasha Banks’ talks with WWE felt apart within the past week or two. Multiple sources say Mone will ultimately land in All Elite Wrestling.

At one point, there were plans for Mone to make her AEW debut at All In 2023, but those plans were scrapped after an agreement couldn’t be reached at the time.

While the belief is that Mone will be signing with AEW, no one has confirmed that ink has been put to paper at this point. Both WWE and AEW have had recent situations where a deal was not signed until the day that they made their debuts (CM Punk and Will Ospreay). One source added, “it’s never official until it’s official.”

Source: eWn

The Rock Returns To WWE Raw On New Year’s Day, Teases Challenge Against Roman Reigns

After tons of speculation this week about “a former WWE champion” returning to WWE on tonight’s episode of “Raw,” the thousands of fans in the San Diego, California crowd, and the millions at home let out an audible sigh when Jinder Mahal hit the ring. But as “The Modern Day Maharaja” chastised the United States, expectations boomed for something more, and none other than The Rock made his way down the ramp, sending the place into a frenzy. From there, things only got more intriguing.

As Rock sang a custom rendition of the United States National Anthem to Mahal, things ended with more physicality than we’ve seen from “The People’s Champion” in several years, hammering Mahal with his trademark right hands, dropping him with a Spinebuster, and putting an end the altercation, of course, with The People’s Elbow.

From there, Rock thanked San Diego, told the crowd he loved them, and said he was hungry. He noted plans to go out and get something to eat but asked the crowd if he should sit in a booth, or maybe at the bar (which drew a pop from the audience, gleefully ending the holiday season themselves), or maybe, just maybe, he should take a seat at the head of the table.

Could that finally mean what the collective would think it to mean? Common sense would say that he wouldn’t utter those specific words without a specific payoff in mind. With WrestleMania season right around the corner, as well as a massive Elimination Chamber event in Perth, Australia, the conversation is only just getting started.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

WWE RAW Day 1 Preview 1/1/2024

Tonight’s WWE RAW Day 1 Live on USA Network from the Pechanga Arena in San Diego, California.

  • World Heavyweight Championship: Seth Rollins (c) vs. Drew McIntyre
  • Women’s World Championship: Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Ivy Nile
  • Becky Lynch vs. Nia Jax
  • #1 Contenders for WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship: Shayna Baszler & Zoey Stark vs. Natalya & Tegan Nox

AEW Worlds End 12/30/2023 (Results) – The Devil & His Masked Men Revealed

Zero Hour Pre-Show

Willow Nightingale defeated Kris Statlander

  • Willow won via gut wrench powerbomb

Serena Deeb’s return is announced via a pre-taped vignette

Killswitch wins the 20-Man Battle Royal to earn a shot at the TNT Championship

  • Danhausen, Trent Beretta and Killswitch (Luchasaurus) were the final three in the match. Trent turned on Danhausen and threw him over the ropes. Trent brought the fight to Killswitch and ended up on the apron, but Killswitch caught him with an elbow and knocked him off of the apron to win.

FTW Championship: HOOK defeated Wheeler Yuta to retain

  • HOOK choked Yuta out with the handle of a hockey stick

Main Show

Blackpool Combat Club (Claudio Castagnoli and Bryan Danielson), Mark Briscoe, and Daniel Garcia defeated Brody King, Jay White, Jay Lethal, and Rush

  • Daniel Garcia pinned Jay Lethal

Andrade El Idolo (w/ CJ Perry) vs. Miro

Miro immediately attacks Andrade during his entrance. Andrade whips him outside to catch a breather, then goes for a suicide dive. Miro catches him with a forearm before Andrade goes for a Figure Four. CJ screams at Miro and says, ‘Is this what you wanted’ and waves her surgically-repaired finger at him. After some back and forth, Andrade shoves Miro over the commentary table, then reverses a whip into the steps.

Andrade goes for a running move in the corner but Miro rolls outside. Andrade refocuses and hits a springboard moonsault on the floor, then whips Miro into the ring steps. Miro avoids a moonsault, but can’t avoid the next one and Andrade gets two. Miro mounts a comeback and goes for the Accolade, but can’t quite hook it in. Andrade gets another near fall and calls for a Figure Four, but Miro refuses to tap.

Andrade bridges up and tries to get Miro to tap, but CJ slides in the ring and sweeps his arms. Andrade can’t believe what happened, then he turns around and gets caught with a roundhouse kick. He kicks out of the pin, but Miro makes him tap to the Accolade.

Winner by submission – Miro

AEW Women’s World Championship – Toni Storm (c) vs. Riho

Storm goes for a hip attack but Riho rolls through and tries for a pinfall. Storm counters with a package piledriver for two. Riho comes back with multiple near falls, and Storm gets the ropes on the last one. Riho goes up top, but Storm sweeps her feet and slams her on her head. Storm finally puts Riho away after hitting a DDT.

Winner and STILL AEW World Women’s Champion – Toni Storm

Mariah May comes out with a champagne bucket, but ends up throwing rose pedals around Toni as she celebrates her win.

Swerve Strickland (w/ Prince Nana) vs. Dustin Rhodes

Swerve jumps Dustin before the bell and whips him into the ringpost, then sends him into the barricade and ring steps. Prince Nana places a cinder block under Dustin’s ankle, and Swerve jumps from the apron and stomps Dustin’s foot. Doctors and referees run out to check on Dustin as Swerve sits on the turnbuckles. Dustin struggles to put weight on his foot and he’s helped up the ramp. Dustin stops and tries to go back to the ring, and Swerve taunts him from the ring. Dustin gets back in the ring as Swerve says they’re wasting his time, but Dustin calls for the bell.

The match starts and Swerve charges the corner, then talks trash to the camera while he wrenches down on Dustin’s neck. Dustin strikes back with some knife-edge chops in the corner, then gets a crossbody for two. Dustin hits some more uppercuts, then hits a powerslam for two. Dustin hits the Final Cut, but Swerve kicks out at two.

Swerve regains control and continues to toy with Dustin, as he snaps his arm back. Swerve leaps off of the top rope and hits the Swerve Stomp for the win.

Winner – Swerve Strickland

Swerve motions that he wants gold, then says they’d better not waste him time anymore.

Ricky Starks, Big Bill, Konosuke Takeshita and Powerhouse Hobbs) (with Don Callis) vs. Le Sex Gods (Chris Jericho and Sammy Guevara), Sting, and Darby Allin

Big Bill and Hobbs swing Darby like a jump rope and whip him across the ring. Starks goes for a splash but Darby dives out of the way. Sting finally gets the hot tag and takes Takeshita and Starks down with clotheslines. He knocks Hobbs out of the way and crotches Big Bill on the top rope. Sting and Jericho hit stereo splashes in opposite corners. The opposition regains control and Starks heads up top, doing Snake Eyes off of the top rope. Sammy goes for a cutter but Starks blocks it and throws him into the ropes.

Sammy bounces back and hits a cutter, but Big Bill picks him up and runs into a powerslam. Jericho hits Bill with a Codebreaker, but Big shakes it off. Bill goes for a chokebomb, then pummels Jericho in the middle of the ring. Bill charges the corner and eats a big boot, but Hobbs takes Jericho right down with a spinebuster. Hobbs slams Jericho on the mat, then he picks him up for another. Darby splashes Jericho into Hobbs, then Takeshita takes Darby down. He ends up hitting Sammy and Darby with a German suplex, but Sting takes Takeshita down and puts him in the Scorpion Deathlock. Don Callis runs in with a baseball bat and makes Sting breaks the hold, then Jericho puts Hobbs in the Walls of Jericho.

Sting decks Takeshita and puts him back in the Scorpion Deathlock, but Starks breaks up both submission holds. Big Bill kicks Sting in the face and whips Darby in the corner, but Darby ducks and Bill hits the turnbuckle. Darby sends Bill into the barricade, then Sammy goes for a dive on the floor but Starks spears him and gets two. Sammy regains control and heads up top, hits a Shooting Star Press for the win.

Winners – Chris Jericho, Sammy Guevara, Sting, and Darby Allin

TBS Championship: Julia Hart (c) vs. Abadon

Abadon gets some punches in early, but Julia regains control and whips her outside. Julia chokes Abadon on the ropes and applies a headlock, but Abadon bites her arm to break the hold. Julia finally regains control and tries to keep Abadon grounded, but Abadon fires back with a spinning side slam. Abadon gets a knee strike for two and screams in frustration.

Abadon heads up top, but Julia meets her halfway. Abadon bites Julia’s forehead and the referee checks on her. Skye Blue runs out and attacks Abadon and hides under the ring. Abadon gives chase and pulls Skye out to the floor, then decks her with a clothesline and a knee to the face. Julia gets back in it and slams Abadon’s head into the ring steps repeatedly. Julia rolls Abadon back in the ring and hits a moonsault for the win.

Winner and STILL TBS Champion – Julia Hart

No Disqualification Match (TNT Championship) – Christian Cage (c) vs. Adam Copeland

Copeland rushes Cage on the ramp and lawn darts him headfirst into the stage. Copeland brings Christian down the ramp and attacks him on the floor, then whips him into the commentary table. Copeland screams at Nigel McGuinness to shut up, then he pummels Christian in the ring and laughs. The pair end up fighting into the crowd and Copeland dives onto Christian from an elevated staircase. They make their way back into the ring and Christian gets the upper hand, and Copeland is busted open above his left eyebrow.

Christian chokes Copeland with a kendo stick and taunts the crowd, then blows a kiss to the camera. Nick Wayne gets two chairs at Christian’s request, then Christian puts Copeland in a Boston crab while sitting on the chair. Christian gets a metal rod and tries to hit Copeland, but Copeland ducks and smashes the kendo stick over Christian’s head and ribs. Copeland applies a crossface, but Christian crawls over and gets the metal rod. Copeland intercepts it and uses it to choke Christian, who pulls himself to the ropes and away from Copeland.

The Rated R Superstar gets a ladder from under the ring as Nick Wayne checks on Christian. Copeland wedges the ladder in the turnbuckles and slingshots Christian’s face into it as Shayna Wayne looks on. Christian comes back with a kendo stick shot and an inverted DDT, then climbs the ladder. Copeland meets him at the top and goes for a suplex, but Christian counters and hits a sunset flip powerbomb for two. Christian gets two tables, but Copeland regains control and tries to take Christian’s head off with a chair. Nick Wayne runs in and takes it from him, and Christian hits Copeland with a low blow. Nick helps Christian get a table in the ring, and Christian props it up in the corner. Copeland and Christian fight for position, and Copeland finally catches Christian with a spear through the table.

Shayna Wayne breaks up the pin, and Copeland stalks her on the floor. Nick hits Copeland with the TNT Championship and hits a cutter off of the turnbuckles onto the floor. Christian catches Copeland with the Killswitch for two, then Nick and Christian pour lighter fluid on a table at ringside. Copeland takes them both out and lights the table on fire, then powerbombs Nick onto the table. Christian gets the title in the ring, but Copeland kicks him in the nuts and hits a Killswitch and makes the cover.

Winner and NEW TNT Champion – Adam Copeland

Killswitch attacks Copeland after the bell and chokeslams him through a chair. Killswitch holds up his contract from winning the battle royale, but Christian runs in and stops him. Christian asks for the contract so he can use it, and Killswitch can’t seem to make the decision. Christian whispers in his ear, and Killswitch hands it over. Christian signs it, and the referee rings the bell.

Christian spears Copeland and makes the cover.

Winner and NEW TNT Champion – Christian Cage

AEW Continental Classic Finals: Eddie Kingston vs. Jon Moxley

Kingston and Moxley feel each other out with a test of strength, then Mox takes Eddie down on the floor. They trade chops in the ring, then Mox hits a piledriver and gets a two count. Mox goes for a submission and Eddie bites his hand. They trade more chops, then Kingston takes Mox down with a suplex. Mox psyches himself up, seems to stagger after injuring his knee and falls to the mat. Kingston connects with some rapid-fire chops and screams, “You want 100%, motherf*cker?” at Mox. Kingston hits a DDT, but Mox fires right back with a cutter and a lariat.

Mox hits a Northern Lights Bomb for two. Mox goes towards the corner, but Kingston cracks him with a spinning backfist for two. Kingston hits a Northern Lights Bomb for two, then Mox slaps him in the face to rile Kingston up. They trade chops again, and Kingston nails Mox with a spinning backfist and makes the cover.

Winner of the Continental Crown – Eddie Kingston

  • Eddie Kingston is the ROH World Champion, NJPW Strong Openweight Champion, and the inaugural AEW Continental Champion

Kingston celebrates his win with his three championships. Kingston then kneels in the ring and smiles as Mox hugs him.

AEW World Championship – MJF (c) vs. Samoa Joe

Adam Cole is at ringside in his crutches for this one.

Circling, Friedman strutting, collar and elbow, into the corner, Max thumbs the eye and backs Joe off into the corner and puts boots to him! Charging in, Samoa gets him with the Rock Bottom and immediately stomps the shoulder! Jabs into the corner, stomps to the shoulder, snapmare and chops to the spine before dropping a leg on the injured arm!

Trapezius claw on the bad arm, MJF fights out, throwing chops, Joe cuts him off with a headbutt to the arm, Manhattan drop, elbow drop and Samoa is feeling it! Whip across, elbow up, enzuigiri in the corner, Joe wants the Muscle Buster but Max slips out! Low bridge sends Samoa to the floor, back inside, small package for two!

Sunset flip, Joe kicks out, schoolboy, same result! Basement superkick, Friedman in aagony but not giving up! Calling for the Kangaroo Kick but Joe counters and catapults him over the ropes! Max braces and tries to skin the cat and Samoa just wrecking balls him to the floor!

Joe off the ropes, wiping him out with a suicide dive! Back inside, drawing MJF up, Death Valley Driver… NOPE! Chaining suplexes together, straitjacket German suplex… FOOT ON THE ROPES! Samoa grabbing him by the shoulder brace, drawing him up on the apron, Max blocks, trading shots… MUSCLE BUSTER ON THE APRON DANGERRRROUS!

Back inside, cover… MJF WON’T STAY DOWN! Paintbrushing Friedman with slaps, setting him up top, looking for another Muscle Buster but Max breaks free and hammers him with headbutts! Up and over, rolling elbow to the back of the head! One-armed, MJF smashes Joe’s face into the turnbuckles over and over again!

Climbing up, overhand strikes in the turnbuckles and he caps it off by biting Samoa’s forehead! Calling for it again, again Joe has the Kangaroo Kick scouted! Samoa on the second rope, Max with a thumb to the eye, fireman’s carry but his shoulder gives out and he collapses!

Charging in, back elbow, Max off the second with a double stomp to the elbow! Shoulder block in desperation sends Joe to the apron, one-armed Heatseeker connects but can’t keep Samoa Joe down! One-armed Max looking to hit another one but Joe blocks! Samoa hosses him over his shoulder, sunset flip and into Salt of the Earth somehow!

Using his wrist tape to try and get some leverage but Bryce warns him off! Samoa with a Fujiwara armbar of his own! Friedman crawling desperate for the ropes and he makes it! Drawing him up by the brace again, Max looking for Salt of the Earth but Joe shifts gears towards the Coquina Clutch! MJF rams him in the corner and referee Bryce Remsburg goes down!

Friedman smiling, he hammers Joe with a low blow, fireman’s carry, trembling, walking to the middle of the ring… AN F-5?! One-armed cover as Bryce recovers… JOE KICKS OUT! MJF goes to Adam Cole for the Dynamite Diamond Ring but Samoa is on him before he can use it! Coquina Clutch, step up, reverse into a pin, Joe slips around, suffocating him, Friedman fading, struggling, kicking desperate for freedom! Bryce checks his hand once, twice…

Samoa Joe wins by referee stoppage with the Coquina Clutch, winning the AEW World Championship.

Post-match, Adam Cole slides into the ring to console his buddy Max, in tears at losing his title in his home of Long Island. They get to their feet and the Devil’s masked goons surround the ring!

They throw the ROH World Tag Team Championship belts into the ring and light on Max! Adam begs them to hit him instead, MJF isn’t having it, and the lights go down!

The lights come up and Adam Cole is seated on a chair and the goons unmask to reveal Roderick Strong, Matt Taven, Mike Bennett, and Wardlow! They set him up and Wardlow powerbombs Max! Adam pulls the devil mask out of his pocket and hobbles to his feet, dropping the mask on MJF’s fallen body.

AEW Rampage Preview 12/29/2023

AEW has announced the lineup for tonight’s new Rampage ‘New Year’s Smash’ episode, which you can see below:

  • ROH Pure Championship: Wheeler Yuta (c) vs. Matt Sydal
  • Orange Cassidy, Trent Beretta & Rocky Romero vs. Top Flight (Darius Martin & Dante Martin) & Action Andretti
  • Ruby Soho vs. Marina Shafir