WWE NXT 2.0 Preview 10/5/21

Tonight’s WWE NXT 2.0 episode will feature a follow-up to Toxic Attraction attacking NXT Women’s Champion Raquel Gonzalez at the end of last week’s show.

* LA Knight vs. Odyssey Jones

* Cora Jade will be in action

* NXT Tag Team Champions MSK vs. The Grizzled Young Veterans vs. Carmelo Hayes and Trick Williams vs. Josh Briggs and Brooks Jensen in a non-title Fatal 4 Way

* Tony D’Angelo will make his official in-ring debut

* Lash Legend hosts the second episode of “Lashing Out with Lash Legend”

* The feud between Bron Breakker and NXT Champion Tommaso Ciampa is also expected to continue tonight after the two appeared for vignettes on last week’s show.

Tessa Blanchard Reportedly Returning To Action Soon With Relaunch Of The “WOW: Women of Wrestling” promotion.

Tessa Blanchard is reportedly planning a return to action soon.

After a year and a half as a free agent and much speculation on her future, Fightful Select reports that Blanchard is scheduled to work for a planned relaunch of the “WOW: Women of Wrestling” promotion.

A press conference to announce the WOW return is scheduled for Wednesday night. Word is that a roster is not in place yet, and the relaunch won’t occur imminently, but it is in the works.

There’s no word on if Tessa has actually signed a contract yet, but she is set to be involved with the project.

Los Angeles Lakers owner Jeanie Buss is attached to the WOW project as she technically still owns the promotion. Several former WOW talents have not heard of the relaunch, and have not been contacted to be a part of the roster. Some former WOW talents have not heard from WOW creator David McLane since last year when they were e-mailed and asked to not post in regards to controversies of bullying allegations surrounding Blanchard.

The WOW relaunch itself has been known among some within women’s wrestling circles for a few months now as several names have been contacted to work the project, but none ended up agreeing to be a part of the roster outside of Blanchard.

Tessa had been WOW World Champion from the February 15, 2019 episode until dropping the title to The Beast on the November 23, 2019 episode. It was announced last summer that WOW and AXS TV had parted ways.

Blanchard has been away from pro wrestling for the most part since finishing up with Impact Wrestling last year, leaving the promotion as World Champion as her contract was terminated days before it was set to expire. She became a free agent more than 18 months ago. It was reported in December that she was still celebrating her marriage to Daga, and had not decided on her future in the business. It was then rumored earlier this year that Tessa and Daga were in talks with AEW or headed to AEW, but nothing ever came of it. Tessa also had talks with the NWA at one point in the last year, but nothing came of those discussions.

Tessa has not wrestled since dropping the Warrior Wrestling Women’s Title to Kylie Rae in September 2020.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

News On Report Of AEW EVPs Reportedly Losing Creative Power

Last week, it was reported that the AEW EVPs have lost creative power, and Tony Khan has been completely taken over that role. The report stated that Kenny Omega, The Young Bucks and Cody Rhodes were “EVPs in name only in 2021.”

On the latest edition of Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer reported that the roles of higher ups in AEW have remained unchanged since December of 2019. AEW President Tony Khan took more control of booking since then, but no one in AEW has lost any creative power. Khan recently said in an interview that AEW has grown stronger the more he takes on.

Khan is in charge of booking the matches and segments and tells talent what they’re involved in and where their direction is going, including the AEW EVPs and other top stars like Chris Jericho, Jon Moxley, CM Punk and Bryan Danielson. However, those top stars are still allowed input into their angles and matches, and their allowed their own creative input in their promos as well.

While Khan, as head booker, decides who wins and loses matches, talent have the creative input to fill out the details of Khan’s vision. Meltzer used the example from the last episode of Rampage where Khan can tell Danielson and Matt Jackson to go out there for a 15-16 minute match, and it’s up to Danielson and Jackson to do what they want.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

2021 WWE Draft Night 2 Results, WWE Free Agents Revealed, RAW And SmackDown Rosters

Below are the results from night 2 of the 2021 WWE Draft, that took place Last night on RAW and RAW Talk.

WWE DRAFT PICKS FROM NIGHT 2 ON RAW:

ROUND 1
* RAW picks SmackDown Women’s Champion Becky Lynch to come over from SmackDown
* SmackDown picks SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Usos to stay on SmackDown
* RAW picks Bobby Lashley and MVP to stay on RAW
* SmackDown picks Sasha Banks to stay on SmackDown

ROUND 2
* RAW picks Seth Rollins to come over from SmackDown
* SmackDown picks WWE Intercontinental Champion King Shinsuke Nakamura and Rick Boogs to stay on SmackDown
* RAW picks WWE United States Champion Damian Priest to stay on RAW
* SmackDown picks Sheamus to come over from RAW

ROUND 3
* RAW picks AJ Styles and Omos to stay on the show
* SmackDown picks Shayna Baszler to come over from RAW
* RAW picks Kevin Owens to come over from SmackDown
* SmackDown picks Xia Li to come over from WWE NXT

ROUND 4
* RAW picks Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins to come over from SmackDown
* SmackDown picks Erik and Ivar of The Viking Raiders to come over from RAW
* RAW picks Finn Balor to come over from SmackDown
* SmackDown picks Ricochet to come over from RAW

ROUND 5
* RAW picks Karrion Kross to stay on RAW
* SmackDown picks Humberto Carrillo and Angel Garza to come over from RAW
* RAW picks Alexa Bliss to stay on RAW
* SmackDown picks Cesaro to stay on SmackDown

ROUND 6
* RAW picks Carmella to come over from SmackDown
* SmackDown picks Ridge Holland to come over from NXT
* RAW picks Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson
* SmackDown picks Sami Zayn to stay on the show

MONDAY NIGHT PICKS FROM RAW TALK:
* RAW picks Dana Brooke to stay on RAW
* RAW picks Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode to come over from SmackDown
* RAW picks Jaxson Ryker to stay on RAW
* RAW picks Veer to stay on RAW
* RAW picks Liv Morgan to come over from SmackDown
* RAW picks Mia Yim (fka Reckoning) to stay on RAW
* RAW picks Tamina Snuka to come over from SmackDown
* RAW picks Tegan Nox to come over from SmackDown
* RAW picks Shelton Benjamin and Cedric Alexander to stay on RAW
* RAW picks The Miz to stay on RAW
* SmackDown picks Jinder Mahal and Shanky to come over from RAW
* SmackDown picks Natalya to stay on SmackDown
* SmackDown picks Shotzi Blackheart to stay on SmackDown

WWE Draft changes will officially go into effect with the October 22 edition of SmackDown, which is the night after WWE Crown Jewel.

Based on only the WWE website rosters, below are the updated lists of RAW and SmackDown rosters, and free agents, coming out of the 2021 WWE Draft. The list of free agents is based off Superstars who were not drafted on Friday or Monday, and excluding a few names like Maryse and Paige for obvious reasons.

There’s still no word on how WWE plans to swap the RAW and SmackDown Women’s Titles.

FREE AGENTS:
* Asuka
* Bayley
* Brock Lesnar
* Elias
* Eva Marie
* Gran Metalik
* John Cena
* Lacey Evans
* Lince Dorado
* Shane McMahon
* Slapjack (Shane Thorne)
* Titus O’Neil
* The Undertaker

RAW:
* AJ Styles
* Akira Tozawa
* Alexa Bliss
* Angelo Dawkins
* Apollo Crews
* Austin Theory
* Becky Lynch (SmackDown Women’s Champion)
* Bianca Belair
* Big E (WWE Champion)
* Bobby Lashley
* Carmella
* Cedric Alexander
* Chad Gable
* Commander Azeez
* Damian Priest (WWE United States Champion)
* Dana Brooke
* Dolph Ziggler
* Dominik Mysterio
* Doudrop
* Drake Maverick
* Edge
* Finn Balor
* Gable Steveson
* Jaxson Ryker
* John Morrison
* Karrion Kross
* Keith “Bearcat” Lee
* Kevin Owens
* Liv Morgan
* Mia Yim
* Montez Ford
* MVP
* Nia Jax
* Nikki A.S.H. (WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion)
* Omos
* Otis
* R-Truth
* Randy Orton (RAW Tag Team Champion)
* Reggie (WWE 24/7 Champion)
* Rey Mysterio
* Rhea Ripley (WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion)
* Riddle (RAW Tag Team Champion)
* Robert Roode
* Seth Rollins
* Shelton Benjamin
* T-BAR
* Tamina Snuka
* Tegan Nox
* The Miz
* Veer
* Zelina Vega

SMACKDOWN:
* AJ “Top Dolla” Francis
* Aliyah
* Angel Garza
* Ashante “Thee” Adonis
* “B-Fab” Briana Brandy
* Cesaro
* Charlotte Flair (RAW Women’s Champion)
* Drew Gulak
* Drew McIntyre
* Erik
* Happy Baron Corbin
* Humberto Carrillo
* Isaiah “Swerve” Scott (WWE NXT North American Champion)
* Ivar
* Jeff Hardy
* Jey Uso (SmackDown Tag Team Champion)
* Jimmy Uso (SmackDown Tag Team Champion)
* Jinder Mahal
* King Shinsuke Nakamura (WWE Intercontinental Champion)
* Kofi Kingston
* MACE
* Madcap Moss
* Mansoor
* Mustafa Ali
* Naomi
* Natalya
* Rick Boogs
* Ricochet
* Ridge Holland
* Roman Reigns (WWE Universal Champion)
* Sami Zayn
* Sasha Banks
* Shanky
* Shayna Baszler
* Sheamus
* Shotzi Blackheart
* Toni Storm
* Xavier Woods
* Xia Li

WWE RAW Preview 10/4/21, WWE Draft Night 2

Tonight’s WWE RAW from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee will feature Night 2 of the WWE Draft.

Some of the names eligible for picks on tonight’s show include SmackDown Women’s Champion Becky Lynch, Seth Rollins, Bobby Lashley, WWE United States Champion Damian Priest, WWE Intercontinental Champion King Shinsuke Nakamura, and SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Usos, among others.

Paul Heyman and The Usos are set to appear on tonight’s show,

2021 WWE Draft Night 1 Results

In case you missed it, below is the results from night 1 of the 2021 WWE Draft, that took place Friday night on SmackDown.

ROUND 1
* SmackDown picks WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns to stay on SmackDown
* RAW picks WWE Champion Big E to stay on RAW
* SmackDown picks RAW Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair to come over from RAW
* RAW picks Bianca Belair to come over from SmackDown

ROUND 2
* SmackDown picks Drew McIntyre to come over from RAW
* RAW picks RAW Tag Team Champions Randy Orton and Riddle to stay on RAW
* SmackDown picks The New Day’s Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods to come over from RAW
* RAW picks WWE Hall of Famer Edge to come over from SmackDown

ROUND 3
* SmackDown picks Happy Baron Corbin and Madcap Moss (Riddick Moss) to stay on SmackDown
* RAW picks WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Nikki A.S.H. and Rhea Ripley to stay on RAW
* Hit Row (“B-Fab” Briana Brandy, Ashante “Thee” Adonis, “Top Dolla” AJ Francis, NXT North American Champion Isaiah “Swerve” Scott) to come over from WWE NXT
* RAW picked Keith “Bearcat” Lee to stay on RAW

ROUND 4
* SmackDown picks Naomi to stay on SmackDown
* RAW picks Rey Mysterio and Dominik Mysterio to come over from SmackDown
* SmackDown picks Jeff Hardy to come over from RAW
* RAW picks Austin Theory to come over from WWE NXT

Brock Lesnar announced that he is a free agent because of his good friend Paul Heyman.

Roman Reigns told Paul Heyman to go to RAW and make sure that The Usos get drafted to SmackDown. Reigns told The Usos to got to RAW and if they don’t get drafted to SmackDown, then leave Heyman dead at RAW.

The WWE Draft continued on Talking Smack and numerous stars were picked by both RAW and SmackDown.

WWE DRAFT PICKS FROM TALKING SMACK:

* RAW picks Nia Jax to stay on RAW
* RAW picks John Morrison to stay on RAW
* RAW picks WWE 24/7 Champion Reggie to stay on RAW
* RAW picks on R-Truth to stay on RAW
* RAW picks Drake Maverick to stay on RAW
* RAW picks T-BAR to stay on RAW
* RAW picks Akira Tozawa to stay on RAW
* RAW picks Doudrop to stay on RAW
* RAW picks Zelina Vega to come over from SmackDown
* RAW picks Otis to come over from SmackDown
* RAW picks Chad Gable to come over from SmackDown
* RAW picks Apollo Crews to come over from SmackDown
* RAW picks Commander Azeez to come over from SmackDown
* SmackDown picks Aliyah to come over from NXT
* SmackDown picks Drew Gulak to come over from RAW
* SmackDown picks Mace to come over from RAW
* SmackDown picks Mansoor to come over from RAW
* SmackDown picks Mustafa Ali to come over from RAW
* SmackDown picks Toni Storm to stay on SmackDown

WWE SmackDown Preview 10/1/21, WWE Draft Night 1

Tonight’s post-Extreme Rules edition of WWE SmackDown on FOX will air live from the Royal Farms Arena in Baltimore, Maryland with Night 1 of the WWE Draft.

Multiple sources have reported that WWE NXT will be a part of the WWE Draft, which kicks off tonight during SmackDown from Baltimore, and then wraps with Monday’s RAW from Nashville.

It was noted by the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that as of several days before the Draft, besides the top picks that FOX and the USA Network require, plans for the various picks were not set in stone, but that NXT looks to be a big part of the plans.

People in WWE were said to be under the impression that Xia Li, Dakota Kai and Aliyah are the leading candidates among the female NXT Superstars. These names have been rumored for main roster call-ups for months now, and have been working main roster dark matches.

Regarding Li, it was noted that WWE wants a legitimate Chinese star in the market after the success UFC had when Zhang Weili held the Women’s Strawweight World Title, which she lost back in April.

WWE previously indicated that WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Nikki A.S.H. and Rhea Ripley would not be eligible for the Draft, but that’s not necessarily the case. WWE’s official preview for tonight’s SmackDown included the following on the Draft:

“Which Superstars are about to make the jump from Raw to SmackDown? Who is heading from Friday night to Monday night? No titleholder’s place is safe! No tag team guaranteed to stay together! The only thing certain is that nothing will stay the same!”

Mick Foley To Make Special Appearance At GCW Fight Club

Game Changer Wrestling announced that WWE Hall of Famer Mick Foley will be making a special appearance at GCW Fight Club.

Foley will be presenting the GCW World Championship before the Title match between Jon Moxley and Nick Gage.

Moxley became the GCW World Champion after he defeated Matt Cardona at GCW Art of War Games.

GCW announced, “*BREAKING* Hardcore Legend MICK FOLEY will be in AC to present the GCW World Championship prior to the #MOXvsGAGE Main Event. Watch LIVE on @FiteTV: https://fite.tv/watch/gcw-october-atlantic-city-combo/2pa4y/… Less than 25 Tix left: http://MOXVSGAGE.EVENTBRITE.COM”

Fight Club is on October 9 at the Showboat in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Below is the updated line-up for Fight Club: 

* Mick Foley To Make Special Appearance

* Jon Moxley (c) vs. Nick Gage (GCW World Championship Match)

* Alex Zayne vs. Ninja Mack

* Atticus Cogar vs. Jordan Oliver

*  “Second Gear Crew” (Matthew Justice, Mance Warner & AJ Gray) vs. Alex Colon, G-Raver & Akira (Six-Man Tag Team Match)

The event will be available to stream on FITE.

https://twitter.com/GCWrestling_/status/1443740532342145027
https://twitter.com/AllEliteDoug21/status/1443923284882563095

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Heath Returns To IMPACT, Saves Rhino From A Potential Attack

Heath has returned to IMPACT Wrestling and in the process, he has prevented Rhino from being attacked by Eric Young and Violent by Design. Heath was out with an injury suffered at last year’s Bound for Glory event, but now he is back and is hoping to reunite with Rhino, but tonight was not the night as Rhino walked away from him with no confirmation of a reunion. Here is how it all went down:

VBD comes out to the ring. Eric Young says they had all the momentum, all the control, but someone made a mistake: Rhino. EY knows that Rhino knows that. Now Rhino has a decision to make. He’s either with them or he walks away (nobody walks away). “Walk away” chants. Rhino comes out. “Gore” chants as Rhino makes his decision. He gets surrounded as the pressure’s on. Suddenly, Heath comes out and he returns. Heath attacks Deaner. He lariats out Joe Doering. The ring is cleared to just him and Rhino. Heath wants a hug. Rhino exits via the barricade.

https://twitter.com/IMPACTWRESTLING/status/1443749619129896965

Source: WrestleZone

Impact Reveals Digital Media Championship

Impact has added a Digital Media Title to its ranks, and it seems as if both men and women can compete for it.

Impact unveiled its Digital Media Championship this week, and it appears both male wrestlers and Knockouts will be eligible to compete for it.

Every promotion needs a core set of titles. A World Championship, Women’s Title, and tag team belts. As for what a promotion chooses to build on that foundation when it comes to other titles is up to their creativity and imagination. Impact Wrestling has always been pretty creative when it comes to that corner of the business, and it continued to prove that via the reveal of an all-new championship this week.

During this week’s episode of Impact TV, a video package aired announcing a tournament for its new Digital Media Championship. The title’s gimmick is that, for the most part, it will only be defended on shows that air online. Whether it be via Impact’s YouTube channel or on Impact Plus. The package also makes it seem like both men and women will be able to compete for the title.

While that has not yet been confirmed by Impact, the video, which you can check out below, features Knockouts like Tenille Dashwood and Chelsea Green alongside some of the male stars who will presumably be a part of the tournament. The bracket is yet to be announced, but the first matches will take place on October 5. The tournament’s final and the first-ever Digital Media Champion will be crowned later this month at Bound For Glory.

Source: TheSportster