Don’t miss what promises to be an incredible Intercontinental Title showdown pitting The One and Only against The Ring General, this Friday at 8/7 C on WWE SmackDown on FOX.
The XFL announced on Thursday several big updates for the minor league.
The league announced its key football hires and the coaching staff for all eight of its teams.
Reggie Barlow, Anthony Becht, Terrell Buckley, and Jim Haslett were among the eight head coaches revealed.
Barlow served as the head football coach at Alabama State University from 2007 to 2014 and at Virginia State University from 2016 to 2021. Before his coaching career, he played for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Oakland Raiders, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Becht was selected 27th overall by the New York Jets in the 2000 draft and went on to play for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, St. Louis Rams, Arizona Cardinals, and Kansas City Chiefs.
Terrell Buckley played for the Green Bay Packers, Miami Dolphins, Denver Broncos, New England Patriots, New York Jets, and New York Giants.
Haslett was selected in the second round of the 1979 NFL Draft by the Buffalo Bills and finished his career in 1987 with the New York Jets. Haslett most recently spent two seasons as the Inside Linebackers Coach at the Tennessee Titans.
As noted, the XFL reached a multi-year agreement with The Walt Disney Company and ESPN in May. The multi-year agreement is from 2023 to 2027. Each season’s 43 games will air on ABC, ESPN networks, and FX.
The XFL Draft is set for November 2022, while the season kickoff is February 18, 2023.
Below is the full press release from the XFL:
NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 9, 2022 – The XFL today announced it has hired key front office and coaching staff for its eight teams as it continues to build an elite, experienced football operations team. In addition to its Head Coach, each team has added a Director of Player Personnel (“DPP”), Offensive Coordinator (“OC”) and Defensive Coordinator (“DC”) to its staff, some of whom are returning after serving in the League in 2020. The DPPs and coaching staff will actively scout potential players and help build their team in preparation for the XFL Draft in November 2022 and season kickoff on Saturday, February 18, 2023. All names and Head Coach pairings can be found below.
“It is exciting to have both new and returning names joining our growing League. For me, this is a clear signal that the reimagined XFL, guided by the innovative vision of our new ownership group, has the potential to make a positive impact on the entire football ecosystem, and people want to be a part of building this new league of opportunity for players and coaches, alike,” said Russ Brandon, President of the XFL. “As we gear up for a busy summer of scouting events, we are encouraged to see the continued interest in our League from players, which has been reflected in the strong demand and registration for our upcoming showcases. We expect this momentum to continue, especially as we get closer to our Draft in November.”
Starting this month, the XFL will host a series of player showcases in six cities across the United States, giving prospective football players a chance to exhibit their skills. DPPs will attend all of the showcases along with some of the XFL’s Head Coaches, who were previously announced in April 2022.
Doug Whaley, Senior Vice President, Player Personnel, added, “Our DPPs bring a lot of experience and knowledge to the XFL. They understand the quality of players we are looking for and have a keen eye for talent. We are glad to have them joining the XFL and are eager for them to help build our teams and league from the ground up.”
“I’m thrilled to officially welcome our OCs and DCs to the XFL. Individually and collectively, these are tremendous coaches and true leaders whose expertise will be crucial not only for the success of their teams, but for the dynamic football product we will deliver to fans,” said Marc Ross, Executive Vice President, Football Operations.
The XFL will kick off on February 18, 2023 in partnership with its new, exclusive broadcast partner, The Walt Disney Company and ESPN.
For more information, visit XFL.com and follow us on Twitter,Facebook, and Instagram.
Head Coach: Reggie Barlow
DPP: Von HutchinsOC / RB: Fred Kaiss DC: Gregg Williams
Head Coach: Anthony Becht
DPP: Dave Boller* OC: Bruce Gradkowski DC: Nathaniel “Donnie” Abraham
Head Coach: Terrell Buckley
DPP: Larry Lee OC: Robert Ford DC: Tony Carter
Head Coach: Jim Haslett
DPP: Randy Mueller* OC: June Jones* DC: Ron Zook
Head Coach: Wade Phillips
DPP: Marc Lillibridge OC: AJ Smith* DC: Brian Stewart
Head Coach: Bob Stoops*
DPP: Rick Mueller OC: Jonathan Hayes *DC: Jay Hayes*
Head Coach: Hines Ward
DPP: Will Lewis* OC: Jaime Elizondo* DC: Jim Herrmann*
Head Coach: Rod Woodson
DPP: Joey Clinkscales *OC: to be announced DC: to be announced
*Returning to XFL
About XFL
The XFL’s ownership group, led by Dany Garcia, Dwayne Johnson, and Gerry Cardinale’s RedBird Capital Partners, is building a fan-first, fast-paced global professional football league with innovative rules and enhanced 360 game experience. The XFL will bring entertainment to world class football, with the goal of advancing the game of football and expanding player opportunities when it launches in February 2023.
The XFL went into bankruptcy after the COVID-19 pandemic brought an early end to their return season in the spring of 2020. WWE Chairman & CEO Vince McMahon had sold the league to The Rock, along with business partners Dany Garcia and RedBird Capital in August of 2020, for $15 million.
Apparently Chris Jericho and MVP was involved in a heated verbal altercation.
The Wednesday Night War might have come to an end when NXT moved to Tuesdays nights, and there might be friends on both sides, but there is still a healthy competition between WWE and AEW. While some wrestlers might not care which side is doing better than the other and mean it, others very much do. That was reportedly made evident in a hotel lobby during the early hours of Thursday morning after Dynamite this week.
According to Wrestling Observer‘s Dave Meltzer, Chris Jericho and MVP came to verbal blows in a hotel in Houston, Texas. “Jericho was talking to Matt Hardy and MVP shows up. Most people didn’t know what was up and thought he was kidding around until it became clear he wasn’t kidding,” Meltzer explained. Apparently the argument may have hinged on an issue between the two that dates back 18 months.
Apparently no punches were thrown, nor was there a physical altercation of any kind, but it seems likely that might have been the case had the two not been separated. “Nothing bad happened even though it was a tense situation. Jericho did tell him that he doesn’t fight jobbers when he got in the elevator ad MVP was screaming it in the lobby,” Meltzer went on to say.
Jericho and MVP will have shared a WWE locker room in the past, but not for a very long time. By the time MVP returned for his latest stint in WWE during the 2020 men’s Royal Rumble, Jericho had already become All Elite. In fact, it has been more than 12 years since the two were in the same match together. Coincidentally, that match was the 2010 Royal Rumble.
As for why the two of them don’t get along to the point that they openly fought, at least verbally, remains unknown. What would happen if the two of them had been allowed to fight, that’s anyone’s guess. MVP seems like a pretty tough guy, but apparently Jericho once managed to restrain Goldberg backstage, so he’s definitely not someone you’d want to mess with if it can be avoided.
Source: TheSportster
Major League Wrestling presents its Rise of the Renegades tonight at 8pm ET featuring World Heavyweight Champion Alex Hammerstone teaming Ross & Marshall Von Erichs for the first time ever, streaming worldwide for free on MLW’s YouTube channel and Saturday nationwide at 8pm ET on cable and dish on beIN SPORTS.
The World Heavyweight Champion. The Sons of Thunder. For the first time ever, World Alex Hammerstone joins forces with Ross and Marshall Von Erich to take on Cesar Duran’s hand picked trio of Richard Holliday, Mads Krugger and King Muertes.
Making a deal with the ruthless Duran, the masked mercenary Mads Krugger has provided his services in exchange for a favor. What is that favor? We may just found out tonight.
Can the Von Hammers send a blazing thunderbolt through three of the league’s most dangerous? Tune in and find out!
“Samoan Werewolf” Jacob Fatu kicks it on the streets and introduces the big Tongan, Juicy Finau.
Four months after being sidelined, Aramis returns to the league to settle the score with the man who took him out of action, Gino Medina …. in an MLW first: the Mexican Strap match! The ring will be surrounded by wrestlers with unforgiving leather straps. What happens when Aramis or “El Intocable” fall out of the ring? VIOLENCE!
“The Golden Assassin” Octagon Jr puts his fighting fury on full display as he defends the Caribbean Championship against the hybrid arsenal of Matt Cross.
Taya Valkyrie is in the house!
National Openweight champ Alex Kane and Mr Thomas dish on rumors of new blood joining The Bomaye Fight Club in the near future. Is Bomaye in full recruitment mode?
Less than two weeks away from Slammiversary, the action heats up on an all-new IMPACT! this Thursday at 8/7c on AXS TV and 8:30pm ET on YouTube for IMPACT Insiders.
The following line-up is announced for tonight:
The action begins Before the IMPACT, streaming this Thursday at 7:30pm ET exclusively on IMPACT Plus, YouTube and Facebook. Don’t miss it when Johnny Swinger and Zicky Dice square off with Black Taurus and Crazzy Steve of Decay! Plus, Gia Miller, Josh Mathews and George Iceman get you ready for all things IMPACT on the road to Slammiversary.
Cheeky Englishman Will Ospreay and his United Empire comrades ambushed FTR and Trent Beretta on this week’s AEW Dynamite on TBS.
Will Ospreay made his All Elite Wrestling debut when he and his United Empire cronies (Aaron Henare, Mark Davis, and Kyle Fletcher) ambushed FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler) and Trent Beretta on this week’s edition of AEW Dynamite on TBS.
It all went down at the Cable Dahmer Arena in Kansas City, Missouri on Wednesday, June 8. The segment began with Trent Beretta cutting a promo in which he addressed the ROH World Tag Team Title match from the May 25 edition of Dynamite, which ended in a double disqualification when United Empire member Great-O-Khan and Jeff Cobb interfered, allowing FTR to retain the gold while screwing Roppongi Vice in the process.
FTR came to the ring and informed Trent that he needs to take his grievances up with “Will Ospreay’s bitch boys” in United Empire … and then the man himself arrived on the scene.
Former IWGP Heavyweight Champion appeared on the ramp, which distracted FTR and Trent long enough for Aaron Henare and Aussie Open (Mark Davis & Kyle Fletcher) to ambush the trio from behind. Ospreay got involved in the ensuing brawl which allowed United Empire to maintain the upper hand and leave their enemies reeling. Ospreay hit Rent with a Hidden Blade and the UE celebrated as the segment drew to a close.
Later in the night, it was announced that Ospreay and Aussie Open would take on FTR and Trent in trios action on this week’s Rampage.
Ospreay was sidelined with a neck injury last May and was forced to relinquish the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship he’d won the previous month at Sakura Genesis. Ospreay sustained the injury during a match against Shingo Takagi, who would go on to defeat Kazuchika Okada for the vacant championship at Dominion on June 7.
The Essex boy shocked the wrestling world when he gatecrashed NJPW’s Resurgence event which emanated live from The Torch at LA Coliseum in Los Angeles, California on Saturday, August 14. The 28-year-old revealed that he was medically cleared to compete and proclaimed that he was the rightful IWGP World Heavyweight Champion since he never actually lost the title.
Source: TheSportster
A brand new title that was unveiled on Wednesday night and the plans for how a new champion (AEW All-Atlantic Champion) will be crowned were revealed. Yes, there’s going to be another tournament, but this one’s a little different, and it’s already underway.
The match to decide the first-ever All-Atlantic Champion will be a Fatal 4-Way. Eight wrestlers will get the opportunity to qualify through four different matches, the first of which took place on Wednesday night. Buddy Matthews faced off against Pac, with the latter booking his spot, and a chance to become the first All-Atlantic Champion, at Forbidden Door.
Since it’s an AEW championship, three of the spots will be going to AEW wrestlers. The other two qualifying matches will feature Ethan Page battling against the returning Miro, and Malakai Black versus Penta. The fourth spot will go to a New Japan star, giving someone from the promotion the chance to become the first All-Atlantic Champion. Who exactly will get that opportunity is yet to be announced.
The All-Atlantic championship will be the sixth title introduced to AEW, joining the World, TNT, Women’s, TBS, and Tag Titles. Tony Khan has already revealed there will be Trios Titles added in the future, and has considered bringing in Women’s Tag Titles too. The introduction of the All-Atlantic Championship came as quite a surprise, and will likely fill a similar role to the one the Intercontinental Title does in WWE.
Source: TheSportster
The chase for the interim AEW World Championship begins on tonight’s “Dynamite” from the Cable Dahmer Arena in Independence, Missouri. (Kansas City area)
Tonight’s show will open with a battle royal. A list of participants has not been announced. However, an ad for tonight’s show mentions a “star-studded field” while showing images of Penta Oscuro, Miro, Powerhouse Hobbs, Sammy Guevara, Darby Allin, and Wardlow.
The following line-up is announced for tonight:
John Cena arranged to meet Misha Rohozhyn, a 19-year-old Ukrainian refugee with Down syndrome this past weekend. According to the Wall Street Journal, Cena was touched by the strength and resolve of Rohozhyn and his family, who fled the besieged city of Mariupol, and were profiled by the same publication at the end of May.
In the profile, the Journal mentioned that Misha, who cannot speak, was soothed by his mother, who promised that they would find her son’s hero, Cena, once free from the Russian bombardment. Cena read the article and scheduled a visit to the Dutch town of Huizen, in which the Rohozhyn family had found refuge.
“I didn’t want a son to think of his mom in a different light just because she did whatever she had to do to get him to safety,” Cena said, referring to the almost-fiction that Misha’s mother had used to calm her distressed son. “I wanted to tell him today personally that his story really touched me.”
Cena’s visit was the first time Misha had smiled since the war began on February 24th. While war is a hellish experience for anyone caught in the crossfire, the bombardment, bombings, noises, and general disruptions of combat can be especially hard on those with the kind of sensory issues that Down syndrome can cause.
Cena sat and ate a traditional Ukrainian honey cake with Misha and his family, while a number of jealous children watched at the window. Cena also brought a WWE Title belt for Misha, as well as other memorabilia.
After getting a tour of Misha’s room, and comparing biceps with each other, Cena returned to London, where he’s currently filming a movie. Cena left Misha with the advice about how life has good days and bad days.
“I hope he gets more good days,” Cena said.
At the end of their exchange Rohozhyn had a clear message to Cena, say hello to Alexa Bliss for him.
As Cena was departing from his visit, where he gave Misha WWE merchandise and ate cake, he stated that “she will definitely get that, she will definitely see that,” and he was a man of his word as the former “Raw” Women’s Champion has responded to Misha’s request.
Bliss took to social media to send Misha a message of her own, stating: “Hi Misha!!! sending so many hugs ! Thank you @JohnCena !!! This warms my heart so much.”
During last night’s episode of WWE NXT 2.0, former Intercontinental Champion Apollo Crews made his NXT return.
Crews came out to confront NXT World Champion Bron Breakker. Breakker had successfully retained the NXT title this past Saturday at “In Your House” against Joe Gacy.
During the promo, Crews said he’s back in NXT for as long as he wants to be and misses being there. He calls Breakker one of the best acts in the entire company and not just in NXT.
Crews also added that he can’t wait to make history with Breakker, but until then, he’ll see him around.
It was interesting that he appeared on NXT as a face receiving a huge ovation.
Later in the night, Apollo joined forces with Solo Sikoa to take on Carmelo Hayes and Grayson Waller in tag team action. Crews picked up the win for his team after nailing Waller with a spinning powerbomb for the 1-2-3, marking his return to NXT with a victory.
Crews made his NXT debut in August 2015 and in April 2016, was moved to the main roster. He won the Intercontinental title at WrestleMania 37 from Big E. Crews would hold the title until August 2021.
Crews was drafted to “Raw” in the 2021 WWE draft, though he hasn’t competed on “Raw,” since the March 21 episode. His last match was on the May 30 edition of “Main Event” against Akira Tozawa.
Source: Wrestling Inc.
