Solo Sikoa Is The New NXT North American Champion

The Bloodline added another title to its collection following Solo Sikoa’s win on NXT 2.0’s first-anniversary episode.

WWE Superstar Solo Sikoa is the new NXT North American Champion following his victory over Carmelo Hayes on the special first-anniversary edition of NXT 2.0.

It all went down at the WWE Performance Center on Tuesday, September 13. In the main event, recent main-roster debutant and Bloodline member Solo Sikoa brought the NXT North American Championship reign of Carmelo Hayes to an end after connecting with a Superfly Splash for the 1-2-3. Sikoa prevailed despite interference from Hayes’ crony Trick Williams, who did all he could to help his buddy out. Trick’s tricks weren’t enough, Sikoa was too dominant.

Sikoa’s appearance in the main event was un-scheduled. Wes Lee won the right to challenge Hayes for the gold in the main event by receiving more fan votes than Von Wagner and Joe Gacy — but it wasn’t Lee’s night. He was ambushed by Carmelo and Trick in the locker room and suffered an injury which meant he was unable to compete. Carmelo’s chicanery backfired, however, as Sikoa took Lee’s place … and left the Performance Center with the title.

Sikoa made his NXT 2.0 debut in October of last year.

The new NXT North American Champion, Solo Sikoa, made his main roster WWE debut at Clash At The Castle in Cardiff, UK on September 3 when he interfered in the main event between his cousin Roman Reigns and the challenger Drew McIntyre, helping Reigns retain the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship in the process.

Source: TheSportster

Backstage News Regarding WWE Creative Frustrations Around Roman Reigns As Double Champion

According to WrestleVotes, the situation with Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns is “complex,” as WWE wants to go into WrestleMania with two champions, but also doesn’t want Roman Reigns to lose “at all” between now and WrestleMania, with “at all” emphasized. Citing a source, WrestleVotes said that WWE Chief Content Officer Triple H and his team are “open to all things creatively here.”

Reigns has been WWE Universal Champion since August 2020, an unprecedented 741-day reign. Reigns unified that title with the WWE Championship in April by defeating then-WWE Champion Brock Lesnar in the main event of the second night of WrestleMania 38.

There has been speculation that Reigns will be facing his cousin Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson at WrestleMania 39. The match has even been teased on Johnson’s NBC sitcom “Young Rock,” but Johnson’s schedule continues to fill up between his acting career and being a co-owner of the third iteration of the XFL. Johnson has been so busy that he even turned down hosting The Emmy Awards, which aired on Monday.

There had been speculation that Cody Rhodes could be the one to challenge and eventually dethrone Reigns. Rhodes suffered a torn pectoral muscle in June but could be back in time for the 2023 Royal Rumble in January.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

WWE NXT 2.0 Preview 9/13/2022: One-Year Anniversary Celebration

WWE NXT 2.0 celebrates its one-year anniversary of the NXT 2.0 rebranding.

Here is the lineup for tonight’s episode of WWE NXT in Orlando, Florida at the Capitol Wrestling Center on the USA Network:

Jerry Lawler Confirms Plans For Upcoming A&E Biography

WWE and A&E have produced over 130 hours of new content since they expanded their partnership in March. The current season of the series “Biography: WWE Legends” kicked off with an episode centered around The Undertaker and recently wrapped up with an episode dedicated to the first WrestleMania. Next season will include an episode featuring WWE Hall of Famer Jerry “The King” Lawler.

“For next season, they’re doing my documentary for A&E, and we had the Batmobile out, driving it over to the Mid-South Coliseum where we had all those famous matches and all that sort of stuff,” Lawler said on the Johnny Dare Morning Show. “So yeah, it’s always fun to get the Batmobile out. I love looking at people’s faces.”

The series premiered in April 2021, with episodes featuring stars such as WWE Hall of Famers “Rowdy” Roddy Piper, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, and Bret “The Hitman” Hart. A&E ordered more episodes, which began airing weekly in July. When the two sides expanded their deal earlier this year, WWE co-CEO Nick Khan commented on the successful partnership with A&E.

 “A&E is an amazing partner with an impressive lineup of signature series across its networks,” Khan said in the original announcement. “The expansion of our partnership will allow us to continue creating a massive slate of new content with a trusted partner while further establishing A&E as a destination for WWE fans for years to come.”

Source: Wrestling Inc. with credit to “Johnny Dare Morning Show”

Madusa Autobiography Announced For 2023

With a career in the squared circle as storied as the one Madusa Miceli has had, one would think she would have more than enough material to write her own book. Evidently the women’s wrestling and WWE Hall of Famer agrees with that sentiment.

Canadian publishing company ECW Press, who have previously published wrestling biographies or autobiographies on Stu Hart, Bruce Hart, and Pat Patterson, as well as books detailing the history of Stampede Wrestling or the Death of WCW, have announced “The Woman Who Would Be King: The Madusa Story.” The former WWE Women’s Champion is listed as the co-author of the book, along with Greg Oliver.

A description of the autobiography reveals that the book will cover Madusa’s in-ring career, including her time in All Japan Women’s Pro Wrestling, WCW, and WWE as Alundra Blaze, and moments such as her tossing the WWE Women’s Championship in the trash on “WCW Monday Nitro.” The book will also delve into Madusa’s private life and her post-wrestling career as a monster truck driver, where she became the first woman to win the Monster Jam World Finals racing championship in 2005.

Madusa has remained active in wrestling over the last several years, appearing a handful of times on WWE TV and for AEW back in 2020, where she presented the AEW Women’s Tag Team Cup to eventual winners Diamante and Ivelisse. Her most recent appearance was on “NXT 2.0” this past July, announcing a fatal four way match for the then-vacant “NXT” Women’s Tag Team Titles.

“The Woman Who Would Be King: The Madusa Story” will be available to read as of April 13, 2023, though fans can pre-order the book today.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

More Details On Lady Frost And Impact Wrestling

Lady Frost and Impact Wrestling are not currently on the best terms. Impact denied Frost’s request for a release, which has led to Frost not appearing in the promotion, and not being paid per the stipulations of her deal.

Fightful Select recently confirmed that Frost was recently asked by Impact to put over Masha Slamovich, with reports saying that Frost and Impact ceased communications shortly after that, confirming a recent PWInsider report that said similar.

Slamovich has been on a serious winning streak in Impact Wrestling, having not lost in the promotion since September of 2021, most recently defeating Deonna Purrazzo on an episode of Impact Wrestling, the wrestler that dealt Slamovich her September 2021 defeat. Before heading to Impact Wrestling, Slamovich wrestled on two occasions for All Elite Wrestling, losing to Penelope Ford and Hikaru Shida on episodes of “AEW Dark” and “AEW Dark: Elevation.”

Frost has still not been released from her contract, despite Frost requesting it in June, and she even went as far as pleading her case to Leonard Asper, the CEO of Impact’s parent company Anthem. Frost was last booked for an Impact event in April, during the promotions tapings in Dallas, TX, despite needing an undisclosed medical procedure. Frost reportedly lost money on the tapings, as Impact made her pay out of pocket for hotel and travel expenses. Frost initially signed with Impact Wrestling in October 2021, answering an open challenge from Deonna Purrazzo. Impact wrestling has yet to comment on the situation publicly.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

WWE RAW Preview 9/12/2022

WWE invades the Moda Center in Portland, OR for tonight’s episode of Monday Night Raw. Here is what’s on tap for tonight’s show:

  • WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship: Raquel Rodriguez & Aliyah (c) vs. IYO SKY & Dakota Kai
  • Raw Women’s Champion Bianca Belair hosts an open challenge 
  • Edge vs. Dominik Mysterio
  • Johnny Gargano’s in-ring return against an unknown opponent

Backstage Details Regarding Pre-AEW Dynamite Talent Meeting Ran By Top Talent

The weekend is upon us and many people in AEW are sure to be thrilled after a very long week. It began with controversy following an eventful post AEW All Out press scrum, which then led to a wild post scrum backstage fight, stories that dominated the week until an acclaimed “AEW Dynamite” episode Wednesday night. Prior to the show, reports of a talent meeting had emerged to address the ongoing situation within the promotion. In the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer provided more details what occurred in said meeting.

“Moxley, Jericho and Bryan Danielson called a meeting in Buffalo on September 7 before the show started,” Meltzer said. “One person stated that it was the best backstage meeting the wrestlers had ever had and that they realized there was brand damage done that they have to overcome. Moxley’s promo of wanting to be handed the ball and become a legend and take that shot when we’re now in the fourth quarter of the game, and behind did have its sense of reality to it. Even before the meeting, we were told that the talent arrived, knew they had a show to do and it was business as usual.”

The Observer report also mentioned that it was again stressed to talent not to air grievances in public, although the general sentiment after the meeting adjourned was one of wanting to put what happened on Sunday night behind them and focus on producing quality shows moving forward. Additionally, most AEW talent ended Wednesday pleased with how strong “Dynamite” turned out and excited for where things go from here, although “others noted being depressed with how everything had gone down over the past week.” AEW will end this unpredictable week with “AEW Rampage“, airing tonight on TNT. The main event will see Claudio Castagnoli defend the ROH World Championship against Dax Harwood of FTR.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

AEW Rampage Preview 9/9/2022

Tonight on AEW Rampage:

  • ROH World Championship: Claudio Castagnoli (c) vs. Dax Harwood
  • AEW World Championship Tournament Match: Sammy Guevara vs. Darby Allin
  • Serena Deeb vs. Madison Rayne
  • ROH World Television Champion Samoa Joe speaks

WWE SmackDown Preview 9/9/2022

Tonight’s episode of WWE SmackDown comes from the  the Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, WA.