Keith Lee Finally Explains His Lengthy Absence From WWE

Keith Lee has finally opened up on the reasons behind his lengthy absence from WWE in a video posted to his YouTube channel. The former NXT Champion took to the platform on Thursday to reveal he contracted COVID-19 and was also diagnosed with heart inflammation earlier this year.

The superstar disappeared from television right before the Royal Rumble in January. he returned to Raw briefly in early February but then would take another leave of absence in the middle of the month and didn’t show up again until mid-July.

Lee posted a number of cryptic tweets while he remained out but did assure fans he would deliver an explanation at some point. That explanation is finally here.

The 36-year-old noted having missed three weeks of WWE programming after testing positive for the coronavirus in January. After wrestling in February, he got a call telling him something was off with his bloodwork as his heart was inflamed. The condition made it so that he could not do much physical activity.

Lee beat Sheamus in a singles match during the January 11 episode of Raw, going off TV for three weeks before defeating Riddle on February 8.

He was booked to face Bobby Lashley for the United States Title at Elimination Chamber nearing the end of February but was taken off the card on the same day. WWE announced the former NXT star was in recovery after getting assaulted by Lashley and John Morrison would triumph in a Fatal Four-Way during the preshow to become his replacement vs. Bobby.

Lee returned five months later, responding to Lashley’s challenge for a championship contenders match before losing. He went on to fight current NXT champ, Karrion Kross, at the end of July and the beginning of August.

https://twitter.com/ryansatin/status/1425879913702170624

Source: TheSportster

Former WWE Superstar Brian Knobbs Hospitalized

Former WWE and WCW Tag Team Champion Brian Knobbs — best known as one half of The Nasty Boys — was rushed to a hospital earlier this week due to multiple medical issues.

On Wednesday, Knobbs’ friend Fred Jung set up a GoFundMe page to help the pro wrestling veteran with his medical expenses. According to Jung, Knobbs is dealing with “major stomach issues” and is presently undergoing tests to determine the severity of his illnesses.

Jung also informed that Knobbs’ “good knee has finally given out” and requires surgery. In 2019, Knobbs underwent a total knee replacement on his other knee.

Jung wrote, “Just yesterday, Brian was rushed by ambulance to the emergency ward where he is going through a battery of tests to determine the severity of his major stomach issues. His doctors have expressed extreme concern and told Brian that he will probably remain in the hospital for at least the next couple of months. Coupled with his stomach issues, Brian’s good knee has finally given out and requires a surgery if he hopes to walk again. Brian is a proud man who has tirelessly worked his entire life to be self-sufficient.”

As of this writing, the GoFundMe page has raised more than $7,500 out of the goal of $20,000.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Impact Wrestling Preview 8/12/21

Tonight, tensions will escalate as a new challenger arises in Impact Wrestling’s #1 Contenders Battle Royal.

The winner of this set bout will have the opportunity to face either Kenny Omega or Christian Cage for the Impact World Championship at Emergence on Friday, August 20. (Kenny Omega will defend the Impact Title against Christian Cage on this Friday’s debut of AEW Rampage)

Tonight on Impact on AXS TV:

* #1 Contenders Battle Royal

* Jay White & Chris Bey vs. FinJuice

* Non-Title Match: X-Division Champion Josh Alexander vs. Daivari

* Taylor Wilde vs. Tenille Dashwood

* Sam Adonis and Joeasa will kick things off on Before The Impact at 7 PM ET!

Johnny Gargano And Candice LeRae Are Expecting A Baby

Johnny Gargano has revealed on Twitter that he and Candice LeRae are expecting their first baby.

The tweet comes complete with a couple of photos. One with what appears to be a baby pair of wrestling boots, and another of Gargano holding some scan photos along with LeRae and their dog. The first photo also includes the baby’s due date. February 2022, which means LeRae is currently about three months pregnant. That explains why LeRae hasn’t wrestled much for the past few months.

https://twitter.com/JohnnyGargano/status/1425818199673683968

Tyler Breeze Says He’s Taking A Break From Wrestling, Has No Interest In Joining AEW

Former WWE Superstar Tyler Breeze has opened up about his future plans and revealed that he has no intention of joining AEW.

Former WWE Superstar Tyler Breeze has revealed that he’s in no rush to get back in the ring following his recent release.

During a recent chat with Chris Van Vliet, Breeze said that he has no interest in signing for AEW as there’s so much going on that he’d probably get lost in the shuffle.

“There is a lot happening right now and it’s a very exciting time for wrestling, which is cool,” Breeze said.  “At the same time, at AEW, there are a lot of people debuting and everyone is moving around all over the place. I don’t know if I even wanted to go there if it would make a massive impact. I don’t think it would be like, “OH MY GOD!’ because now it’s kind of the norm and a lot of people are going there and there might be some big names going there. Nobody knows what’s happening. I just feel like now is not the time for me to even go towards there,” he added.

Breeze opened up about his future plans and said he’s planning to take a break from wrestling altogether. In 2019, Breeze opened a wrestling school called Flatbacks Wrestling in Apopka, Florida, with his former WWE colleague Shawn Spears, who now works for AEW. Breeze believes that teaching at the school will prevent him from getting rusty while he’s on hiatus.

“I’ve wrestled for 14 years straight and I’m okay with taking a break,” Breeze confessed. “My body actually likes it and I get enough wrestling at the school to keep myself good. Going out and wrestling on the Indies, I’m not currently taking any wrestling bookings because going out there and getting injured doesn’t appeal to me.”

However, the former NXT Tag Team Champion added that he might be tempted to get back in the ring for that right opponent.

“If there’s a match that’s fun, then I might do it, but for the most part, I kind of scratched the wrestling itch,” he said. “If it comes back, maybe, but right now I have enough other stuff on the go. I’ll do signings and appearances and seminars because I can, but in terms of jumping back in the ring and wrestling right away, I don’t have an interest for it. I like the other outside stuff I’m going and exploring that and giving my body a break and watching as a spectator.”

Breeze’s 11-year WWE career came to an end on June 25 when he was released by WWE alongside several of his now-former colleagues as a result of budget cuts, allegedly necessitated by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Sources: TheSportster and Fightful

AEW Dynamite Preview 8/11/21

Tonight’s AEW Dynamite episode airs on TNT at the Petersen Events Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

* Matt Hardy and Private Party vs. Orange Cassidy, Chuck Taylor and Wheeler Yuta

* Darby Allin vs. Daniel Garcia

* The Labours of Jericho, Chapter 4: Chris Jericho vs. Wardlow with MJF at ringside

* Nyla Rose vs. Kris Statlander

* Dan Lambert will appear

* The Good Brothers (c) vs. Evil Uno and Stu Grayson (Impact World Tag Team Championship)

* AEW World Champion Kenny Omega and AEW World Tag Team Champions The Young Bucks vs. Dante Martin, Mike, and Matt Sydal

WWE NXT Preview 8/10/21

Tonight’s WWE NXT episode will air live on the USA Network after two weeks of taped shows airing on Syfy due to coverage of the Tokyo Olympics on USA.

NXT will feature more build for the upcoming Takeover 36.

* Sarray vs. Ember Moon

* Adam Cole and Kyle O’Reilly meet for a “Face to Face” segment mediated by NXT General Manager William Regal

* NXT Women’s Champion Raquel Gonzalez addresses Dakota Kai and their Takeover 36 match

* NXT UK Superstar Ilja Dragunov appears

WWE Teases Elias Character Is No More During Monday Night Raw

WWE aired a vignette where Elias threw his guitar in a fire and said WWE no longer stands for Walk With Elias. He said, “Elias is dead.”

During the last hour of Monday’s Raw, a vignette of Elias was shown where the Drifter and apparently former musician destroyed his guitar and claimed that “Elias is dead.”

A character who was among the more popular in the company when things were going well and he was fresh and new, creative seemed to miss an opportunity with Elias to really capitalize on how big a heel he was and how big a babyface character he could be. They chose to try and make his gimmick a parody of itself and team him with partners that didn’t necessarily accentuate his unique skills. His popularity faded and he became a bit of a mid-card jobber.

It appears WWE is going to try and reinvent the Elias character if the video shown during Raw is any indication.

It featured Elias standing over a bonfire he likely started himself and looked at his guitar. After a dramatic pause, he threw the guitar in the fire and said, “WWE used to stand for Walk With Elias.” He then added as he walked away, “Elias is dead.”

If WWE is going to change up his gimmick, it’s not clear which direction they’re going to go with the character. No indications were given in the video itself. The only hint was that the announcers for Raw acted shocked and asked out loud what it meant. That seems to hint that a storyline might present itself that Elias could explain why he’s going a different direction in the future.

Source: TheSportster

[Reports] More WWE Releases Are Expected To Take Place Soon

15 WWE talents were recently released over a six-day span. According to multiple reports, more releases are expected to follow.

More WWE releases are reportedly on the horizon.

On July 31, the company announced the stunning release of Bray Wyatt. Two days later, Hall of Famer Ric Flair was let go from his legends contract at his request. And last week, WWE released NXT talents Bobby Fish, Mercedes Martinez, Bronson Reed, Leon Ruff, Jake Atlas, Stephon Smith, Kona Reeves, Giant Zanjeer, Zechariah Smith, Asher Hale, Tyler Rust, Desmond Troy and Ari Sterling.

Multiple reports suggest that more releases will soon follow.

Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer discussed the releases on Wrestling Observer Radio (h/t WrestlingNews.co). Meltzer said “I doubt it that’s it. Everyone is kind of talking like that’s not gonna be it.”

Citing a WWE source, Fightful Select (h/t WrestlingInc.com) reported that company releases will happen regularly going forward.

WWE began a long series of releases in April of last year amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Dozens of talents and several staffers (producers, on-air personalities and longtime referee Mike Chioda) were let go from their contracts. More cuts took place in April; WWE wound up bringing back Samoa Joe two months after releasing him from his old contract.

On June 2, WWE announced the releases of Aleister Black (now Malakai Black in AEW), Lana, Murphy, Santana Garrett, Ruby Riott and Braun Strowman. It has been reported that the company may have interest in bringing back The Monster Among Men.

Before WWE began the massive releases last spring, Vince McMahon and company officials were supposedly keen on stockpiling talents in order to prevent them from landing with the rival AEW promotion.

WWE has more than enough finances and resources to keep the talents that they have released. By letting all of these wrestlers go, they’re just going to allow other promotions to cash in on the opportunities. McMahon doesn’t view AEW as serious competition, but that company has done done an excellent job in maximizing the talents of former WWE talents like Miro, Malakai Black and Jon Moxley, among others. So really, it’s difficult to comprehend WWE’s logic behind all of these releases.

Source: TheSportster

NJPW Announces Completed Vaccination Program For Talent

NJPW announced that all participating staff members and wrestlers have now received both COVID-19 vaccine doses.

As noted in the below press release, the workplace vaccination program was for wrestlers and staff that live in Japan.

Thank you for your continued support of New Japan Pro-Wrestling, and your continued co-operation with COVID protocols at live events.

In recent weeks, NJPW has proceeded with a workplace vaccination program for wrestlers and staff residing in Japan. All participating staff members and wrestlers in the program have now received both vaccine doses.

Everyone involved in New Japan Pro-Wrestling will continue to come together to do everything we can to ensure peace of mind to fans attending NJPW events, and to create the safest possible environment to enjoy New Japan action.

We ask for your continued co-operation in COVID countermeasures at events going forward.

Source: Wrestling Inc.