Big E Gives Injury Update Following One-Year Scan

Big E is about to have a check-up to see how his recovery is going after he suffered a neck injury when he landed on his head following a belly-to-belly suplex from Ridge Holland on an episode of WWE SmackDown in 2022. The New Day member fractured his C1 vertebrae and C6 vertebrae.

Speaking on the Battleground podcast, Big E discussed his current condition:

“It’s just a complicated fracture. I broke my C1 and C2 in two places, a Jefferson fracture is what it’s called. It just takes a little more time to heal. We just did the one-year scans after WrestleMania, it was a little later because of WrestleMania.

“We need to sit down with the doctors at some point and figure out what the next step is. From my perspective, I feel great, I have no function issues, no pain issues, I’ve been in the gym since two weeks after I broke my neck. I’m feeling great. Obviously, your neck has to be in a certain condition to deal with the rigors of being in the ring on a nightly basis.”

Source: eWrestlingNews

NWA Powerrr Preview 4/18/2023

The National Wrestling Alliance has announced the matches for tonight’s episode of their Power series. 

NWA Power will air at 6pm ET on YouTube. Here are the matches: 

  • Tyrus addresses Crockett Cup rumors
  • NWA World Television Championship: Thom Latimer (c) vs. Psycho Boy Fodder (w/ Angelina Love)
  • NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship: Kerry Morton (c) vs. Joe Alonzo (w/ Jamie Stanley)
  • Natalia Markova vs. La Rosa Negra

WWE NXT Preview 4/18/2023

Tonight’s WWE NXT at 8/7c on the USA Network from the Capitol Wrestling Center inside the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, FL.

Jeff Jarrett Provides Update On Future AEW House Shows And Summer Plans

WWE Hall of Famer and AEW personality Jeff Jarrett recently spoke on his podcast, “My World with Jeff Jarrett,” about a variety of professional wrestling topics including an update on more AEW house shows coming up:

Conrad Thompson told Jarrett: “Well, we also know that you guys are back on tour. You got upcoming dates in Pittsburgh, Sunrise FL, Baltimore, Detroit, Austin TX. You got the big Double or Nothing loop for Las Vegas. The rumor and innuendo is that there might even be some more house shows coming up. Is that right?”

Jarrett said, “We’re off and running. We hit Corbin Kentucky and Salem Virginia, which is right outside of Roanoke. So yeah, we’ve got those two House Rules events coming up. Lots of buzz going on right now around AEW and the ups and downs and everything in between. But yes, Troy OH, was the first House Rules event, and, you know, Salem, and Corbin, Kentucky, so we’re moving over into a different part of the country. Our next two events are going to be near and dear to both of our hearts, but we’ll see how that goes. So, you know, at some point we’re going to get out to the Midwest and Texas and probably out West. The Carolinas are a hotbed that we’re looking at, obviously Florida, and then it goes without saying, the Northeast, There are many, many markets in the Northeast that House Rules would fit. So we’re excited. We’re also talking to some Canadian partners from coast to coast. AEW has a monster summer planned for Canada. I mean, a monster summer. Things are rocking, pal. My day job is keeping me busy in so many ways.”

Source: PWMania

You can listen to the complete podcast below:

Saraya Interested In Match Against Mercedes Mone At AEW All In At Wembley Stadium

AEW star Saraya recently spoke with Raj Prashad of Uproxx.com for an in-depth interview covering all things pro wrestling. During the discussion, Saraya commented on potential opponents for the AEW All In event at Wembley Stadium in London:

“I haven’t performed in the UK in years. And then to be on one of the biggest stages you can get over there, Wembley Stadium, it’s just a very wild opportunity. It does have that WrestleMania 1 vibe where this is something really special. I feel so fortunate that I get to be a part of history.”

“I would love to face Jamie Hayter. That would be amazing, because she’s also from the UK — I’ve had the opportunity to be in a tag and triple threat, but not a singles match, and I would love that opportunity. Do we open that Forbidden Door? Mercedes Mone, I would love to face her there. That would be such a full circle moment. There’s so much opportunity there.”

Source: PWMania

WWE Reportedly In Renewed Talks With ESPN Following Endeavor Deal

The question of WWE’s TV rights following news of the WWE-UFC Merger have been a subject of speculation, and it seems a first move for the post-merger WWE is in motion. According to PWInsider Elite, WWE is in talks with ESPN to collaborate on new projects moving forward. The biggest caveat being that, for the time being, these talks do not involve a weekly TV series.

A collaboration between WWE and ESPN wouldn’t be the first for the companies, as ESPN was airing classic WWE content in 2020. The relationship between the two ended after WWE’s deal to migrate WWE Network content to Peacock in 2021. Speculation at the time held that NBCUniversal was a probable candidate for an eventual sale of WWE, due to the large portion of WWE’s content on various NBCU platforms.

However, it seems with the WWE-UFC Merger that WWE may be looking to diversify its TV presence. WWE’s TV rights with both NBCU and FOX are up next year. Reporting holds that WWE is open to all conversations on new TV deals, barring somebody paying a lofty sum for exclusive TV rights for the various WWE shows. 

Another interesting piece of information from the report is the news that another promotion was in talks with ESPN. Despite AEW’s recent deal with ESPN to air their programming in Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands, it is confirmed that AEW is not the promotion in question. Which promotion was in talks with ESPN is unknown, but it can be assumed with WWE stepping back in that those talks are in jeopardy.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Tommy Dreamer Says He’s Taking A Break From Wrestling, Thanks Impact Fans

Impact Wrestling shared a video of Tommy Dreamer in which he says he’s going to ‘go away for a while’ and thanked Impact fans. Dreamer defeated Bully Ray to win Hardcore War for his team at Rebellion last night.

He said: “I’ve known Frankie Kazarian since the original ECW, when he was just starting training. He came up with Killer Kowalski, and he got in the ring, and years later we joke about it, where he was like, ‘This was the greatest experience and the scariest experience in my life.’ Tonight was a pure example of what I love about professional wrestling. It’s an escape. It’s an escape for me. There’s no other place I wanted to be than the middle of that ring tonight. I have received so much love from the professional wrestling community. I just gotta say thank you. I’m gonna go away for a while because mentally, I’m not here, and I gotta get better. Somebody else needs my love. Yuya, Bhupinder, Killer Kelly, Frankie, I wish the world always sees through my eyes. When I walk out there, I see a whole mass of people from different countries, races, creeds, all showing their love for one thing, and that’s professional wrestling. It’s a beautiful world that I’ve lived in, and it’s gonna be the hardest one that I have to leave. But again, for tonight, I just want to say thank you for everything you’ve ever done for me. I have literally wrestled in front of billions of people. Thank you for today, thank you for everything. I love you guys.”

https://twitter.com/IMPACTWRESTLING/status/1647791172323090435

WWE RAW Preview 4/17/2023

WWE Raw will air live tonight on the USA Network and emanate from the Simmons Bank Arena in North Little Rock, AR.

Warner Bros. Discovery Has Reportedly Been Told That CM Punk Is Returning To AEW, Reportedly Planning A Program Between Punk & Chris Jericho

Reportedly Planning A Program Between CM Punk And Chris Jericho

CM Punk hasn’t been seen on AEW programming since September’s All Out pay-per-view, where he tore his triceps while reclaiming the AEW World Championship, unloaded his feelings in the post-show media scrum, and reportedly got into a physical altercation with the Young Bucks and Kenny Omega to cap off the eventful evening. Though it seemed, for a time, that AEW and Punk would part ways, the evidence is mounting that the former world champion is preparing to stage a comeback within the next couple of months. On the latest “Wrestling Observer Live,” host Andrew Zarian revealed that Warner Bros. Discovery has been told a Punk return is coming.

“The story here is that CM Punk is essentially happening,” Zarian said. “I know for a fact that Warner has been told he is coming back. They are very much aware of the situation.” Zarian went on to state that talks between Punk and the Elite have yet to take place, with Matt and Nick Jackson of the Young Bucks particularly reluctant to work with the former WWE star.

It was reiterated that the rumored Saturday night show that AEW is expected to introduce in the coming months will showcase Punk’s comeback, with the company’s recently scheduled Chicago event on June 17 being eyed as both the show’s debut and Punk’s grand return. The new series will reportedly involve some kind of roster split for the company, though it’s still unknown just how strict these divisions will be. According to Zarian, the company is hoping to launch the new series as a top show on or near the same level as “AEW Dynamite.”

Reportedly Planning A Program Between CM Punk And Chris Jericho

The wheels appear to be in motion for CM Punk’s return to AEW in the coming months. And while reports had indicated that there were sentiments throughout the locker room that did not want him back in the fold, it may be one of the backstage leaders — and one of Punk’s most outspoken critics — who ends up in a program with him: Chris Jericho. 

As shared via “Wrestling Observer Live,” a sit-down was set to take place involving Punk, Jericho, AEW owner Tony Khan, FTR, and several others. There has been no word yet on if The Elite would participate, as they’ve reportedly been reluctant on working together with Punk in the future. However, if everyone is able to get on a similar page to make things work, one of Punk’s first angles upon coming back would then be with Jericho in some capacity. FTR — who has been pushing to do a program with Punk, specifically for All In — and other members of the Jericho Appreciation Society could get involved as things expand, but at its baseline, it’s lining up as Punk vs. Jericho. 

The bad blood between Punk and Jericho ratcheted back up last month when Punk singled Jericho out in particular in a since-deleted Instagram post. Since then, Jericho has given some winks on social media that he’s not down to work with Punk if a return should happen. However, it is entirely possible that such an approach was taken by “Le Champion” in order to stoke the fires of interest toward a big-money feud in the planning stages.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Impact Wrestling Rebellion 4/16/2023 (Results)

  • IMPACT World Championship Match: Steve Maclin defeated KUSHIDA
  • IMPACT Knockouts Championship Match: Deonna Purrazzo defeated Jordynne Grace
  • IMPACT X-Division Championship Match: Elimination Three-Way Match: Trey Miguel (c) defeated  Jonathan Gresham and Mike Bailey
  • IMPACT Tag Team Championship Match (Ultimate X Match): Bullet Club (Ace Austin and Chris Bey) (c) defeated The Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin)
  • Hardcore War: Team Dreamer (Tommy Dreamer, Frankie Kazarian, Yuya Uemura, Killer Kelly, and Bhupinder Gujjar) defeated Team Bully (Bully Ray, Jason Hotch, John Skyler, Kenny King, and Masha Slamovich)
  • Last Rites Match: PCO defeated Eddie Edwards (with Alisha Edwards)
  • Dirty Dango, Joe Hendry, and Santino Marella defeated The Design (Deaner, Angels, Callihan, and Kon)
  • IMPACT Knockouts Tag Team Championship: The Coven (KiLynn King and Taylor Wilde) (c) defeated The Death Dollz (Jessicka and Rosemary) (Pre-Show)
  • Champagne Singh and Shera defeated Heath and Rhino (Pre-Show)

News From the Show 

Sami Callihan Turns on the Design 

After weeks of speculation and questionable behavior from Sami Callihan, he finally turned on The Design. Deaner gave Callihan his signature baseball bat to use on the opposition. As Callihan was about to unleash his signature weapon on the opposing team, he turned and assaulted Deaner, leaving the match afterward and allowing Santino Marella to pick up the win with the Cobra.

Nick Aldis Returns to IMPACT

Nick Aldis made a surprise return to IMPACT as a special guest commentator for the IMPACT World Championship. He is a former TNA World Heavyweight Champion and TNA World Tag Team Champion under the name Magnus. He was a part of the roster from 2008-2015 and in 2017. Aldisalso made a one-off appearance at the 2022 Multiverse United event where he teamed with Mickie James against Matt Cardona and Chelsea Green.

Steve Maclin Wins the IMPACT World Championship 

After a brutal back-and-forth match with KUSHIDA, Steve Maclin became IMPACT World Champion. After the match, Maclin grabbed a microphone and demanded Scott D’Amore be the one to hand him the belt. D’Amore came to the ring and obliged but not happily. Maclin, not happy with D’Amore’s attitude, hit him with the belt. This caused Nick Aldis to get up from the commentary position and confront Maclin. With Dreamer coming out on top of the Hardcore War and pinning Bully Ray, this rivalry is likely over with, or at least heading to the closing phases.

Deonna Purrazzo Becomes Knockouts Champion

Deonna Purrazzo defeated Jordynne Grace to become Knockouts Champion for the third time. The two Knockouts left it all in the ring in the main event of the show. In the end, Purrazzo got her hand raised in Canada to close out the night.

Source: LastWordOnSports