WWE SmackDown will air live tonight on FOX and emanate from the Coliseo de Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Tonight’s SmackDown is the final show before Saturday’s Backlash.
AEW Rampage Preview 5/5/2023
AEW Rampage will air tonight at a special time – 6:30pm EST. / 3:30pm PST on TNT
- The Firm Deletion: The Hardy Boys, HOOK & Isiah Kassidy vs. Ethan Page, Stokely Hathaway, Big Bill & Lee Moriarty
- El Hijo Del Vikingo & The Lucha Brothers vs. Powerhouse Hobbs, QT Marshall, and Aaron Solo
- Jade Cargill vs. TBA
- Mark Briscoe vs. Preston Vance
Trinity’s Impact Wrestling Debut (Video)
Trinity has arrived in Impact Wrestling. The star formerly known as Naomi in WWE is taking her glow straight to the top with an eye on the Knockouts Championship. Trinity made her televised debut for Impact during Thursday night’s episode of Impact Wrestling (May 4, 2023).
Prior to the TV taping, Impact teased a major surprise. They spoiled the news to reveal Trinity was in the Impact Zone. Impact hyped Trinity’s appearance throughout the broadcast, and they gave her the main event slot. The time was here to feel the glow as Trinity walked through the curtain.
Trinity soaked in the standing ovation. She said it felt good to be in the ring again, especially in a place where she can glow.
Trinity chose Impact, because the company has the most-storied women’s division in wrestling. The Knockouts division is the place to be for fierce competition, and she wants a piece of it. There have been amazing wrestlers through the years from Awesome Kong and Gail Kim to current stars Mickie James, Deonna Purrazzo, and Jordynne Grace. We’ve seen Trinity win championships before, and now she’s here to win more. The brightest star in the galaxy is ready to shine. Trinity is here for the Knockouts Championship.
Enter Purrazzo. As current Knockouts champion, the Virtuosa took upon herself to be the first to welcome Trinity to Impact. She credited Trinity for doing her homework. That means Trinity should know that this is the new age of the Virtuosa. If Trinity does get a title shot against Purrazzo, that is not something Trinity can just walk out on. Shots fired! (That was a reference to Naomi and Sasha Banks walking out of WWE.)
Trinity retorted with fire of her own. Stepping in the ring with Trinity will make Purrazzo wish she gets fired again. (That is a reference to Purrazzo being released from NXT in 2020.)
Enter Grace. The Juggernaut wanted to remind them that she has a title match against Purrazzo at Under Siege on May 26. If Trinity wants to wrestle Purrazzo, that’s fine with Grace. If Trinity wants a title shot, then Grace is the one she should be coming for. Trinity stepped aside for Purrazzo and Grace to handle business. Trinity exited the ring to dance on stage as the show closed.
Source: CageSideSeats
Update On AEW’s Plans For Rampage After Collision Starts
AEW Collision will air on TNT starting June 17, 2023, and will be built around the returning CM Punk.
The program joins AEW Dynamite, which airs every Wednesday night on TBS, and AEW Rampage every Friday night on TNT.
As reported earlier AEW has ended Dark and Dark: Elevation ahead of the launch of the new show.
Dave Meltzer reported in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that Rampage would turn into what Dark and Dark: Elevation were as those programs showcased younger talent.
“The idea right now is for Dynamite and Rampage to tape together on Wednesday nights and Collision and ROH to tape together on Saturday nights,” Meltzer wrote.
Source: eWrestlingNews
Ronda Rousey Set To Be Featured On New Unscripted Reality Series – Stars on Mars
FOX Entertainment and Eureka Productions sent out a press release today to announce a new unscripted reality series, which is titled Stars on Mars.
In the presser, it was announced that WWE Superstar Ronda Rousey will be featured on the show alongside Lance Armstrong, Natasha Leggero, Marshawn Lynch, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Adam Rippon, Tom Schwartz, Richard Sherman, Tinashe, Porsha Williams Guobadia, Tallulah Willis and Ariel Winter.
You can check out the official announcement below:
FOX LAUNCHES 12 CELEBRITIES TO THE RED PLANET ON THE NEW UNSCRIPTED SERIES “STARS ON MARS,” DEBUTING MONDAY, JUNE 5 ON FOX
The 12 Stars Are Lance Armstrong, Natasha Leggero, Marshawn Lynch, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Adam Rippon, Ronda Rousey, Tom Schwartz, Richard Sherman, Tinashe, Porsha Williams Guobadia, Tallulah Willis and Ariel Winter
FOX announces the 12 fearless celebrities who will pack their bags and prepare for launch to the red planet as crew members on Stars on Mars, an out-of-this-world new unscripted series, premiering Monday, June 5 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. This summer, professional athletes, reality world megastars, triumphant entrepreneurs, renowned television and film actors, uproarious comedians and trailblazing entertainers will colonize, compete and conquer “Mars” until there is one victorious space invader, who will claim the title of “the brightest star in the galaxy.” Celebrities will ditch their jerseys, business suits and red carpet gowns for the ultimate attire – an astronaut suit. Once on “Mars,” this group of stars will receive interstellar assignments from legendary actor and Star Trek icon William Shatner, who serves as Mission Control. Colonizing Mars could be our future… let’s send them first!
Meet the 12 crewmates joining Stars on Mars:
· Former Professional Road-Racing Cyclist and Investor Lance Armstrong
· Comedian, Actress and Writer Natasha Leggero
· Former Super Bowl Champion, Community Advocate and Entrepreneur Marshawn Lynch
· Widely known Comedic Actor Christopher Mintz-Plasse
· Olympic Figure Skater and TV Personality Adam Rippon
· Professional Wrestler and UFC champion, Olympic Medalist and Actress Ronda Rousey
· Television Personality and Restaurateur Tom Schwartz
· Sports Analyst and Professional Football Player Richard Sherman
· Multi-Platinum-Certified POP & R&B Disruptor, Singer, Songwriter and Dancer Tinashe
· Television Personality, Actress and Author Porsha Williams Guobadia
· Entrepreneur and Artist Tallulah Willis
· SAG Award-Winning Actress and Producer Ariel Winter
This summer, adventurous celebrities prepare for take-off to the red planet, where they will live, eat, sleep, strategize and bond with each other in the same space station. During their stay, they will be faced with authentic conditions that simulate life on Mars, and they must use their brains and brawn – or maybe just their stellar social skills – to outlast the competition and claim the title of “brightest star in the galaxy.” The celebrities will compete in missions and will vote to eliminate one of their crewmates each week, sending them back to Earth. Cue the intergalactic alliances and rivalries. Stars on Mars will send these famous rookie space travelers where no one has gone before and reveal who has what it takes to survive life on “Mars.”
Stars on Mars is produced by Eureka Productions, a Fremantle company. Chris Culvenor, Paul Franklin, Wes Dening and Eden Gaha serve as executive producers, along with Charles Wachter, serving as executive producer and showrunner.
Stars on Mars is an original format created by Chris Culvenor of Eureka Productions. Fremantle has international distribution rights to the Stars on Mars format.
Source: eWrestlingNews
AEW Reportedly Changes Plans For Roster Split
There is believed to be a roster split in AEW with the idea of building their reported Saturday show, AEW Collison, around CM Punk as a way to separate him from those who don’t like him.
Thus, AEW will have to have some sort of roster split for Punk to have people to work with.
Punk is slated to return on June 17th, 2023, at the United Center in Chicago for the debut of the show.
In the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer of F4WOnline.com wrote the following,
“Punk will be the star of Collision most weeks, but he will be on Dynamite at times when needed. Those with unresolved issues with Punk would be on Collision the week he’s on Dynamite,” Meltzer wrote.
Meltzer added that there will be less of a split with the women’s roster due to a lack of depth. Plans are said to be “up in the air” and nothing is final. The idea is still to get people to resolve their issues.
Source: eWrestlingNews
AEW Will No Longer Air Dark & Dark: Elevation
Ahead of AEW launching its Collision show, a two-hour program on TNT starting June 17, 2023, the company has nixed its two streaming shows.
On YouTube, AEW had been airing Dark and Dark: Elevation every Monday and Tuesday. That is no longer the case, as reported by Andrew Zarian of the Mat Men Podcast. He wrote,
“AEW Dark and Dark Elevation have ended for the time being. This in part has to do with AEW signing a new deal for AEW Collision to air on Saturdays. Part of the new deal is that AEW Wrestling content will exclusively air on WBD. As of today, this doesn’t include ROH.”
Source: eWrestlingNews
WWE Backlash 5/6/2023 (Card)
- Date: May 6, 2023
- Location: Coliseo de Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot in San Juan, Puerto Rico
CARD
Cody Rhodes vs. Brock Lesnar
Matt Riddle, Kevin Owens, and Sami Zayn vs. The Bloodline (Solo Sikoa , Jey Uso, and Jimmy Uso) (with Paul Heyman)
SMACKDOWN WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH:
Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Zelina Vega
Seth Rollins vs. Omos
UNITED STATES CHAMPIONSHIP TRIPLE THREAT MATCH:
Austin Theory (c) vs. Bobby Lashley vs. Bronson Reed
SAN JUAN STREET FIGHT:
Bad Bunny vs. Damian Priest
RAW WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH:
Bianca Belair (c) vs. Iyo Sky
Impact Wrestling Preview 5/4/2023
Impact Wrestling from Chicago, tonight at 8/7c on AXS TV and 8:30pm ET on YouTube for IMPACT Insiders.
- The debut of Trinity Fatu
- Impact World Champion Steve Maclin, Champagne Singh and Shera vs. PCO and two partners of his choosing
- Part Two of the Frankie Kazarian sit-down interview
- Moose & Brian Myers vs. Yuya Uemura & Bhupinder Gujjar
- Mike Bailey vs. Jonathan Gresham
- Alisha Edwards vs. Jody Threat
- Sami Callihan has accepted Deaner’s challenge to meet him in the ring tonight on Impact
ROH TV Preview 5/4/2023
ROH will air a new episode of its weekly television show tonight at 8 pm ET on HonorClub.
You can sign up for the streaming service here. Below is the lineup for the show:
- ROH Women’s World Championship Proving Ground Match: Athena (c) vs. Angelica Risk
- Claudio Castagnoli vs. Robbie Eagles
- Preston Vance vs. Rich Adonis
- Robyn Renegade vs. Skye Blue
- Best Friends (Chuck Taylor & Trent Beretta), Stu Grayson, Darius Martin, & Action Andretti vs. The Varsity Athletes (Josh Woods & Tony Nese & Ari Daivari) & The Kingdom (Matt Taven & Mike Bennett)
- Brian Cage vs. Brock Anderson
- Willow Nightingale vs. Steph De Lander
- Rocky Romero vs. Lee Moriarty
- Angelico vs. Komander
- ROH TV Championship: Samoa Joe (c) vs. Christopher Daniels
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