The following is set for tonight on WWE NXT 2.0 at 8/7 C on USA!
Backstage News On AAA TripleMania Main Event Plans Follow Jeff Hardy’s Arrest
AAA are still hoping to have Matt Hardy involved in the main event of TripleMania this weekend, according to Dave Meltzer on the latest edition of “Wrestling Observer Radio.”
The Hardy were scheduled to compete in the main event of the show this Saturday in Tijuana against Dragon Lee and Dralistico, but that match is now up in the air due to the recent news of Jeff Hardy being arrested for a DUI emerging. But, the company does still want Matt to be involved, and they would ideally like to find a new partner for him.
As of now, nobody has been determined for that, as it is short notice for someone to make that trip, but they have reportedly asked for a bunch of guys as AAA are hopeful of making this match work still. There is still no confirmation on the match happening though, including Matt’s status.
Jeff was reportedly bonded out of jail Monday evening with a $3,500 bond being paid via the assistance of a bail bondsman. He was previously slated to appear in court Tuesday at 1:30 pm ET, but that appearance is currently listed as “canceled.”
The Hardys were originally scheduled to compete at “AEW Dynamite” this week in a triple threat ladder match for the AEW Tag Team Championships, and the status of that encounter is still up in the air as well. The company has reportedly asked Warner Bros to pull all advertising of this match and Jeff in general, but no official statement has yet to be made by AEW or Tony Khan on this situation.
The lineup for TripleMania this weekend is as follows:
* The Hardys vs. Dragon Lee & Dralistico (This is currently up in the air)
* Ruleta de la Muerte Semifinal: Villano IV vs. Psycho Clown (The loser advances to the finals)
* Ruleta de la Muerte Semifinal: Blue Demon Jr. vs. Pentagon Jr. (The loser advances to the finals)
* AAA World Cruiserweight Champion Laredo Kid vs. Rey Fenix vs. Hijo del Vikingo vs. AAA Latin American Champion Black Taurus vs. Bandido
* Elimination Cage Match: Chik Tormenta vs. Sexy Star II vs. Reina Dorada vs. Lady Shani vs. La Hiedra vs. Lady Maravilla vs. Flammer vs. another competitor to be announced.
* Final Elimination Cage winners will face each other in a Mask vs. Mask Match
* TripleMania Cup: Competitors TBA
Matt Hardy Breaks His Silence On Jeff Hardy’s Arrest
Matt Hardy has issued his first statement since his brother Jeff Hardy was arrested yesterday morning in Volusia County, FL. Jeff was pulled over and later incarcerated following several charges which included his third DUI in ten years and on Tuesday his older brother took to Twitter to comment on the well-being of his brother.
“It was disheartening to hear the news about my brother yesterday,” Matt tweeted. “Recovery isn’t a linear process & I’ll continue doing whatever I can to help my brother be healthy. Being healthy & well is the most important thing for Jeff, his wife, his children & our family at this time.”
Jeff was bonded out of jail on Monday evening after paying $3,500 bond via the assistance of a bail bondsman. According to PWInsider, Hardy was slated for a court appearance later today, but that court appearance is currently listed as canceled.
The Hardys were set to participate in a three-way ladder match this Wednesday at “AEW Road Rager” for the Tag Team Titles against The Young Bucks and the Champions Jungle Express, but since Jeff’s arrest, that match has been pulled. In addition, it’s being reported that AEW has requested WarnerMedia to remove Hardy from any promotional material moving forward.
Matt and Jeff were also scheduled to compete at AAA TripleMania against Dragon Lee and Dralistico, but that match has also been pulled. Dave Meltzer is reporting that AAA would still like Matt Hardy to compete on the card and would ultimately like to find him a new partner to work with.
Jeff Hardy first showed up in AEW on the March 9 episode of “AEW Dynamite” in an effort to help his brother Matt. He has since competed in tag matches and was a singles participant in the Owen Hart Cup. The last match he worked was a tag team match against The Young Bucks at Double or Nothing.
Source: Wrestling Inc.
Jeff Hardy Arrested For DUI, AEW Asks WarnerMedia To Remove Jeff From All Advertising
In a frustrating and concerning bit of news, AEW star Jeff Hardy was arrested Sunday night or early Monday morning for driving while intoxicated. This comes just days before he was set to compete in a Triple Threat Ladder Match on Dynamite with The Young Bucks and Jurassic Express and continues the long upsetting saga that is Hardy’s battle with addiction.
Hardy’s previous issues with alcohol or drug-related arrests are well documented. In March 2018, he was arrested for driving while impaired in Concord, North Carolina, He was arrested again in July 2019, in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina for public intoxication. In October 2019, he was arrested in Moore County, North Carolina for driving while impaired. For these latest charges — license charges are second-degree misdemeanors and the DUI is a third-degree felony — he is slated to appear in front of a judge for his first hearing on June 14 at 1:30 pm.
At this point, some fans are saying he should be done getting chances, but most fans are simply concerned for Jeff’s well-being. That he’s continued to struggle is not a good sign and some are looking back at WWE’s offer to get him into rehab as something he potentially should have accepted instead of leaving and having his WWE contract terminated.
This is clearly becoming an issue for Jeff and one that perhaps requires immediate intervention. He seems unable to overcome these alcohol issues and his health is far more important than a single wrestling match or his run in AEW. WWE seemed to recognize he needed help and gave him an ultimatum. Perhaps AEW will do the same if they recognize this is an issue that needs addressing immediately.
UPDATE:
We might not be seeing Jeff in AEW for a while.
The details of the arrest, and what comes next for Hardy, remain unclear. A three-way tag team ladder match in which both Hardy Boyz were supposed to compete was slated to take place on Dynamite this week. That match has been removed from AEW’s social media ads, and apparently the promotion has now asked WarnerMedia to remove Hardy from all AEW advertising.
Although there has been no official statement from AEW on the Hardy situation just yet, The Wrestling Observer reports it has asked WarnerMedia to stop advertising the veteran effective immediately. While that doesn’t necessarily mean there won’t be a ladder match on Dynamite this week, it almost definitely means Hardy will not be a part of it.
AEW isn’t the only promotion that will be sweating the status of Hardy right now. He and his brother Matt are also supposed to be competing in a big time match at Triplemania for AAA this weekend. Another match that seems likely to be altered ahead of the weekend with FTR prime candidates to step in. They’re the AAA Tag Team Champions after all.
The news that Hardy has once again been arrested for driving while under the influence has sparked a number of conversations since it broke. Some have questioned whether this has been going on for months and WWE was in the right to try and get Hardy to agree to rehab. The vast majority of fans are just hopeful this latest incident will finally be the last, as sooner or later, Hardy is going to seriously hurt himself or, even worse, someone else.
Source: TheSportster
Lets all pray that Jeff finally accepts and gets the help he really needs.
Wrestling Legend (The Great Muta) Keiji Mutoh Announces His Retirement From The Ring
Keiji Mutoh, best known for his portrayal of The Great Muta in WCW and NJPW, announced his impending in-ring retirement at the “Cyberfest Festival” yesterday.
Muta, currently signed to Pro Wrestling Noah, appeared at the joint project of DDT, Noah, and Tokyo Joshi Pro, and announced that he will no longer be competing in the ring after this Spring. He intends to have a final 5 matches before he takes off his boots for good.
The longtime veteran returned to pro wrestling this past May after recovering from a hip injury. He has been competing on and off for nearly 40 years now, first debuting in 1984 with New Japan Pro Wrestling. He would go on to be the IWGP Heavyweight Champion with the promotion on four separate occasions throughout his career.
Muta is also recognized as one of the wrestlers that popularized innovative moves that are used often in modern wrestling like the Shining Wizard, the Moonsault, the Muta Lock, and the Dragon Screw Leg Whip. Additionally, he is one of only four wrestlers that was able to capture AJPW’s Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship, NJPW’s IWGP Heavyweight Championship, and Noah’s GHC Heavyweight Championship in his career.
He is also a thirteen-time world tag team champion, including five AJPW World Tag Team Championships, six IWGP Tag Team Championships, one GHC Tag Team Championship, and one WCW World Tag Team Championship. Muta has held an impressive total of 32 Championships over the course of his career, a feat few other wrestlers can proclaim.
Source: Wrestling Inc.
WWE RAW Preview 6/13/22
The following is set for tonight’s WWE RAW:
WWE Releases NXT Star Troy ‘Two Dimes’ Donovan
WWE has released NXT star Troy ‘Two Dimes’ Donovan.
According to Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer, Donovan was released on June 11 due to a “policy issue.” It was not a budget or creative decision.
Meltzer noted that Donovan was told he might be brought back to WWE in a year.
Donovan’s release was also confirmed by Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful.
Before his WWE release, Donovan was part of Tony D’Angelo’s stable on “NXT 2.o.” Earlier this month, on June 4 at “In Your House,” Donovan, D’Angelo, and Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo had defeated Legado del Fantasma. Since Legado del Fantasma lost, they had to join D’Angelo’s stable.
Donovan was signed with the mid-March WWE Performance Center Class that also featured Lorenzo, Roxanne Perez, Sloane Jacobs, and Arianna Grace. He made his WWE in-ring debut on the April 8 edition of NXT Level Up, where he and Lorenzo lost to Andre Chase and Bodhi Hayward.
Before signing with WWE, Donovan wrestled as Cole Karter in the indies. As Karter, he wrestled several matches on both AEW Dark and AEW Dark: Elevation.
Donovan took to Twitter to thank his friends and colleagues for their support.
“Thank you to everyone who’s reached out,” Donovan tweeted. “Mistakes happen and lessons are learned. A bump in the road doesn’t define me though. I’ll be back.”
One of those supporters was recent NXT newcomer Thea Hail who encouraged Donovan to “just keep swimming!”
Donovan’s release from the company came as a shock to the “NXT” fanbase as he has become a prominent figure on the show after joining the D’Angelo Family as one of Tony D’Angelo’s wiseguys. “Two Dimes” Donovan, along with Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo were two of D’Angelo’s “capos” and a major storyline began developing between that trio and Legado Del Fantasma. A “turf war” was had at NXT In Your House and it was D’Angelo’s crew who came out victorious after Donovan “stacked” Lorenzo on top of Joaquin Wilde for the pinfall. Due to the match stipulation, Legado Del Fantasma was forced to join the D’Angelo Family and there has been teased tension between the factions since.
Source: Wrestling Inc.
NWA Alwayz Ready Results 6/11/2022
Trevor Murdoch defeated Aron Stevens
NWA WORLD WOMEN’S TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
The Pretty Empowered (Ella Envy & Kenzie Paige) defeated The Hex (Allysin Kay & Marti Belle) (c) (**TITLE CHANGE**)
NWA JUNIOR HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Homicide (c) defeated PJ Hawx
NWA JUNIOR HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Homicide (c) defeated Colby Corino
Natalia Markova defeated Taya Valkyrie
NWA NATIONAL HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Jax Dane (c) defeated Chris Adonis
Thom Lattimer defeated Cyon
NWA WORLD TELEVISION CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Tyrus (c) defeated Mims
NWA WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Commonwealth Connection (Doug Williams & Harry Smith) defeated La Rebelion (Bestia 666 & Mecha Wolf) (c) (**TITLE CHANGE**)
NWA WORLD WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Kamille (c) defeated KiLynn King
NWA WORLDS HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Trevor Murdoch defeated Nick Aldis and Sam Shaw and Thom Lattimer (**TITLE CHANGE**)
NWA Alwayz Ready 6/11/2022
DATE: June 11, 2022 8:00 pm
LOCATION: Knoxville Convention Center, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
AVAILABLE ON: FITE TV
CARD
NWA WORLDS HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Nick Aldis vs. Matt Cardona (c) (Match to Be Changed due to Cardona not being able to compete due to his torn bicep injury)
NWA WORLD WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
KiLynn King vs. Kamille (c)
NWA WORLD TELEVISION CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Mims vs. Tyrus (c)
NWA NATIONAL HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Chris Adonis vs. Jax Dane (c)
NWA JUNIOR HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
PJ Hawx vs. Homicide (c)
NWA WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Commonwealth Connection (Doug Williams & Harry Smith) vs. La Rebelion (Bestia 666 & Mecha Wolf) (c)
NWA WORLD WOMEN’S TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
The Pretty Empowered (Ella Envy & Kenzie Paige) vs. The Hex (Allysin Kay & Marti Belle) (c)
Aron Stevens vs. Trevor Murdoch
Natalia Markova vs. Taya Valkyrie
Pre-Show
Jake Dumas vs. Rodney Mack
TRIPLE THREAT TAG TEAM MATCH
AJ Cazana & *TBA* vs. The Fixers (Jay Bradley & Wrecking Ball Legursky) vs. The Mortons (Kerry Morton & Ricky Morton)
AEW Rampage Preview 6/10/22
One of the most celebrated in-ring performers of his generation and an eye-popping pro wrestling prospect will make their AEW in-ring debuts on tonight’s episode of “Rampage”.
New Japan Pro-Wrestling’s Will Ospreay will be in a trios match alongside Aussie Open against the Ring of Honor World Tag Team Champions FTR and Trent Beretta. Ospreay, Aussie Open, and their United Empire stablemate Aaron Henare attacked Beretta and FTR on Wednesday’s “Dynamite”.
Ospreay is a former IWGP World Heavyweight Champion in NJPW and is almost universally recognized as one of the best professional wrestlers in the world today. Ospreay is also the leader of NJPW’s United Empire stable, which added Aussie Open late last year. Kyle Fletcher and Mark Davis are rising stars in the world of tag team wrestling. They joined NJPW in April after building their reputations in Australia and Europe.
The following line-up is announced for tonight:
- Eddie Kingston vs. Jake Hager
- Kris Statlander vs. Red Velvet
- FTR & Trent Beretta vs. Will Ospreay & Aussie Open
- The in-ring debut of Satnam Singh, teaming with Jay Lethal
- We hear from Hook and Danhausen
