AEW Rampage Preview 3/31/2023

Tonight’s AEW Rampage on TNT at 10/9C.

  • Sammy Guevara vs. Konosuke Takeshita
  • Kings of the Black Throne vs. Best Friends
  • Taya Valkyrie vs. Marina Shafir
  • Juice Robinson vs. Action Andretti

WWE SmackDown Preview 3/31/2023

WWE SmackDown airs live tonight on FOX and emanate from the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, CA. Tonight’s SmackDown is the go-home show for this weekend’s huge two-night WrestleMania 39 event.

Tony Khan Refuses Comment Once Again On CM Punk’s AEW Status

After what seemed like a long silence, the situation between AEW and CM Punk returned to the news cycle in full force over the last week, after a message board post led to a since-deleted Instagram story by Punk that may have likely hurt his chances of returning to AEW. However, with Punk still recovering from injury, there is still time before AEW owner Tony Khan will have to make a decision on whether to bring Punk back, let him go, or find an alternate solution.

Till that time comes, the future of Punk in AEW will continue to be a topic Khan gets asked about, much like he has ever since the media scrum incident following All Out in September that began this whole situation. And Khan was indeed asked about Punk while speaking with talkSPORT, and for those who have followed Khan throughout this, the song remained the same regarding his answer. “I cannot comment on that,” Khan said.

Khan was a good sport about the question, however, realizing that these questions won’t stop until something regarding Punk’s future is decided. So he followed up the question with a joke that many will likely see as a shot at one of Khan’s nemeses, journalist and sometimes WWE correspondent Ariel Helwani, who repeatedly asked Khan about Punk, to no avail, in an interview between the two last October. “Well better to ask once than seven times in a row after I ‘no comment,'” Khan said. “Who would do that?”

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Vince McMahon Enters Employment Agreement With WWE

Vince McMahon is officially a WWE employee again as the Executive Chairman of the Board entered into an employment agreement with the company, effective as of March 29, 2023, according to a new SEC filing.

The agreement is retroactive to January 9, 2023 as that is the date he was appointed Executive Chairman.

McMahon previously resigned as WWE CEO and Chairman last July amid sexual misconduct and hush money allegations. He returned to the Board of Directors in January.

You can check out the SEC filing below:

“Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
On March 28, 2023, in connection with Nick Khan’s transition to being the sole Chief Executive Officer of the Company following the departure of Stephanie McMahon, and the appointment of Vincent McMahon as the Company’s Executive Chairman, the Compensation & Human Capital Committee (the “Committee”) of World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (the “Company”) approved an amendment to Mr. Khan’s employment agreement with the Company and a new employment agreement with Mr. McMahon following a review of market data with the input of its independent compensation consultant and legal counsel.

Mr. Khan entered into an employment agreement amendment with the Company, effective as of March 29, 2023 (the “Khan Amendment”), pursuant to which, retroactive to January 10, 2023 (the date Mr. Khan was appointed the sole Chief Executive Officer of the Company), Mr. Khan’s (i) annual base salary increased from $1.35 million to $1.5 million; (ii) annual target bonus opportunity (as a percentage of annual base salary) increased from 160% to 175%; and (iii) annual equity grant date target value increased from $3.575 million to $5.375 million, subject to performance metrics and vesting periods (as determined by the Committee). These changes are being made in connection with certain changes to narrow the definition of “change of control” and “good reason” in Mr. Khan’s employment agreement.

Mr. McMahon entered into an employment agreement with the Company, effective as of March 29, 2023 (the “McMahon Employment Agreement”), pursuant to which, retroactive to January 9, 2023 (the date Mr. McMahon was appointed Executive Chairman of the Company), he will continue to serve as Executive Chairman for a term of two years from his start date of January 9, 2023, subject to automatic extension for additional one-year terms thereafter unless either the Company or Mr. McMahon provides at least 180 days’ notice of non-renewal. The McMahon Employment Agreement provides that Mr. McMahon will receive (i) an annual base salary of $1.2 million, (ii) an annual target bonus opportunity (as a percentage of annual base salary) of 175% and (iii) an annual equity grant date target value set at $4.3 million, subject to performance metrics and vesting periods (as determined by the Committee). In the event the Company terminates his employment without “cause” (as defined in McMahon Employment Agreement) or he terminates his employment for “good reason” (as defined in the McMahon Employment Agreement), Mr. McMahon will be eligible to receive as severance (a) base salary continuation through the end of the term (or, if longer, for one year), (b) a prorated portion of the annual bonus based on target performance for the year in which the termination occurs and (c) health and welfare continuation through the end of the term in accordance with the Company’s severance policy. In the event such a termination occurs within the two-year period following a “change in control” (as defined in the McMahon Employment Agreement), Mr. McMahon will instead be eligible to receive (1) a lump sum cash payment equal to two times Mr. McMahon’s then-current base salary, (2) a lump sum cash payment equal to two times Mr. McMahon’s annual bonus based on target performance, (3) a prorated portion of the annual bonus based on target performance for the year in which the termination occurs, (4) full accelerated vesting of Mr. McMahon’s unvested equity awards (with the payout of performance-based awards determined based on target-level achievement) and (5) health and welfare continuation for the twenty-four month period following the termination.

As disclosed in our annual proxy statements, the annual target bonus opportunity is a target opportunity only and the actual bonus paid may be above or below such amount based on, among other factors, the Company’s performance taking into account performance metrics established by the Committee. For annual equity grants, the Company’s current practice is to value grants at an average of the closing price of the Company’s Class A Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange over the thirty trading days immediately preceding the grant date; however, the 2023 grants for Messrs. Khan and McMahon are instead valued over the thirty trading days immediately preceding February 7, 2023 (the date on which 2023 annual equity awards were granted to our other named executive officers).

The foregoing descriptions of the Khan Amendment and the McMahon Employment Agreement are qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete text of the Khan Amendment and the McMahon Employment Agreement, as applicable, copies of which are attached as Exhibits 10.1 and 10.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference. Further information about the Company’s executive compensation plans and programs, including the incentive plan, is included in the Company’s proxy statements.”

Source: eWrestlingNews

Randy Orton Has Arrived In Los Angeles For WWE WrestleMania 39 Weekend

As expected, Randy Orton has traveled to Los Angeles, California for WWE WrestleMania 39 weekend.

Due to a back injury, The Viper has not been on WWE television since The Usos defeated RK-Bro in a unification title match on the May 20th episode of Friday Night SmackDown. Orton was attacked by The Bloodline to be written off television following the match.

Orton later had a fusion surgery done on his lower back that would keep him out of action for an extended period of time.

Pwinsider is reporting that Orton has arrived in Los Angeles for WrestleMania 39 weekend. It’s still unclear whether he will appear at WrestleMania or on the post-WrestleMania editions of RAW and SmackDown.

Source: eWrestlingNews

Impact Wrestling x NJPW Multiverse United: Only the STRONG Survive 3/30/2023 (Results)

#1. [X Division Championship] Trey Miguel (c) vs. Rich Swann vs. Frankie Kazarian vs. Kevin Knight vs. Clark Connors vs. Rocky Romero — Winner: Trey Miguel retains

#2. Alex Coughlin, Sami Callihan, Fred Rosser, and PCO vs. Eddie Edwards, Joe Hendry and Team Filthy (Tom Lawlor and J. R. Kratos) — Winners: Couglin, Callihan, Rosser & PCO

#3. Jeff Cobb vs. Moose — Winner: Jeff Cobb

#4. [Winner Gets Knockouts Championship Match at Rebellion] Masha Slamovich vs. Deonna Purrazzo vs. Gisele Shaw vs. Miyu Yamashita:  — Winner: Deonna Purrazzo

#5. [Impact World Tag Team Championship] Bullet Club’s Ace Austin & Chris Bey (c) vs. TMDK (Bad Dude Tito & Shane Haste) vs. Aussie Open vs. The Motor City Machine Guns — Winners: Bullet Club retains

#6. Kushida vs. Lio Rush — Winner: Kushida via submission

#7. [NJPW Strong Openweight Championship] KENTA (c) vs. Minoru Suzuki — Winner: KENTA retains

#8. Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. ‘Speedball’ Mike Bailey — Winner: Hiroshi Tanahashi

Impact Wrestling x NJPW Multiverse United: Only the STRONG Survive 3/30/2023 (Card)

IMPACT Wrestling and New Japan Pro-Wrestling present Multiverse United: Only the STRONG Survive LIVE TONIGHT at 11pm ET streaming exclusively on FITE.

CARD

  • IMPACT WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP 4-WAY MATCH: Bullet Club (Chris Bey & Ace Austin) (c) vs. Motor City Machine Guns (Chris Sabin & Alex Shelley) vs. Aussie Open (Mark Davis & Kyle Fletcher) vs. TMDK (Shane Haste & Bad Dude Tito)
  • IMPACT X DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP 6-WAY SCRAMBLE MATCH: Trey Miguel (c) vs. Rich Swann vs. Frankie Kazarian vs. Rocky Romero vs. Kevin Knight vs. Clark Connor
  • “Winner is added to Impact Knockouts World Championship match at Rebellion”4-WAY MATCH: Deonna Purrazzo vs. Masha Slamovich vs. Gisele Shaw vs. Miyu Yamashita
  • NJPW STRONG OPENWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP: KENTA (c) vs. Minoru Suzuki
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi [NJPW] vs. Mike Bailey [Impact]
  • Jeff Cobb [NJPW] vs. Moose [Impact]
  • Fred Rosser, Callihan, PCO & Alex Coughlin vs. Team Filthy (Tom Lawlor & JR Kratos), Eddie Edwards & Joe Hendry
  • [Countdown to Multiverse Pre-show]
    Yuya Uemura vs. Gabriel Kidd

Impact Wrestling Preview 3/30/2023

This Thursday at 8/7c on AXS TV and YouTube for IMPACT Insiders, don’t miss a special LIVE edition of IMPACT! featuring expert analysis and never-before-seen matchups ahead of Multiverse United: Only the STRONG Survive.

Josh Alexander vs. Kenta for the Impact World Championship (Never Before Seen)

Will Ospreay vs. Homicide

Miyu Yamashita’s Impact debut

ROH TV Preview 3/30/2023

ROH will air a new episode of its weekly television show tonight at 7 pm ET on HonorClub. 

You can sign up for the streaming service here. Below is the lineup for the show: 

  • ROH Women’s Champion Athena vs. Emi Sakura.
  • ROH Six Man Tag Team Champions The Embassy vs. JP Griffy, Dak Draper & Arin Singh.
  • ROH Pure Wrestling Champion Wheeler Yuta vs. Leon Ruffin.
  • ROH TV Champion Samoa Joe and Mark Briscoe to appear.
  • AAA Mega Champion Hijo del Vikingo vs. Blake Christian.
  • Eddie Kingston vs. Christopher Daniels.
  • Top Flight & The Lucha Brothers vs. Rush & Dralistico & The Kingdom
  • Aussie Open vs. Tony Nese & Ari Daivari with Smart Mark Sterling.
  • Miyu Yamashita vs. Shazza McKenzie.
  • Metalik & AR Fox vs. Shawn Dean & Carlie Bravo.

Don Callis Legitimately Injured On AEW Dynamite

According to a report from Pwinsider, Don Callis was legitimately injured when he was “assaulted” backstage along with ‘Hangman’ Adam Page by the Blackpool Combat Club on Wednesday night’s episode of AEW Dynamite.

According to the report, ‘The Invisible Hand’ hit his head while he was going down following a punch thrown by Jon Moxley and ended up being busted open legitimately.

During Kenny Omega’s IWGP United States Championship defense against Jeff Cobb that followed immediately, the commentators noted that Callis was being checked out backstage which was legitimate.

No further details have yet been reported in regard to Don Callis’ injury.

Source: eWrestlingNews