Samoa Joe Reportedly Returning To WWE NXT For Non-Wrestling Role

Samoa Joe is reportedly back with WWE after being released back in mid-April due to budget cuts.

It was reported last week that NXT officials wanted to bring Joe back to work as an in-ring talent, and that he was briefly at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando earlier in the week. Now PWInsider reports that Joe is coming back to work exclusively with the NXT brand.

Joe’s return to the company comes after Triple H reportedly “snatched him back” as soon as possible. A source noted that Triple H was not happy with Joe being let go, and wanted him back in NXT instead of going to work elsewhere, away from WWE. Triple H was the point person responsible for signing Joe back in 2015, and at one point gave him a unique contract where he was able to continue working indie dates.

Joe was not backstage at “Takeover: In Your House” on Sunday, and there’s no word on when he will officially make his return. Joe has not wrestled since February 2020 due to concussion issues, and was working as a RAW commentator at the time of his release. It was noted that when he was at the WWE Performance Center in recent weeks, he was not taking any bumps.

Regarding Joe’s in-ring future, it’s believed that while he could wrestle at some point, that is not the goal with this upcoming return as they want Joe to focus more on non-wrestling duties. It’s possible that Joe’s return is related to NXT General Manager William Regal teasing change for the NXT brand at the end of Takeover last night. WWE is promising that there will be a follow-up to Regal’s teaser on Tuesday’s NXT episode.

Dave Meltzer noted on the latest edition of Wrestling Observer Radio that Joe has been given “a Regal-like role” with NXT, and that Joe is the favorite to replace Regal, if the pro wrestling legend really is stepping down from the General Manager role. It was speculated by PWInsider that we could see Joe be the new General Manager, or some sort of enforcer for Regal.

Regal has been the NXT General Manager since July 2014, and has also worked as a trainer behind-the-scenes, and as WWE’s Director of Talent Development & Head of Global Recruiting. Joe worked the NXT brand from May 2015 until January 2017, and is a two-time NXT Champion.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Major Changes Coming Soon To WWE NXT?

It looks like a big change could be coming to the WWE NXT brand.

Last night’s NXT “Takeover: In Your House” featured several segments where NXT General Manager William Regal and security had to keep Superstars apart. A parking lot segment earlier in the day saw The Way and Kyle O’Reilly argue, while Pete Dunne and NXT Champion Karrion Kross brawled backstage later in the night. Regal and his security team also had to stop NXT Women’s Champion Raquel Gonzalez and Dakota Kai from brawling with Shotzi Blackheart and Ember Moon before the main event.

The wild Takeover main event saw Kross retain over O’Reilly, Dunne, Johnny Gargano and Adam Cole in a Fatal 5 Way. The finish saw O’Reilly pass out in the Kross Jacket submission. After the match, McKenzie Mitchell caught up with Regal backstage as he was exiting his office and walking out to the parking lot. McKenzie asked Regal his thoughts on the show.

A somber Regal responded, “It’s been 7 years since I became the GM of NXT and I’ve never seen so much bedlam. It’s complete madness. I think it’s time for a change.”

Regal then walked off as Mitchell wondered what that could mean for NXT.

There is no word yet on what WWE might have in store for the NXT brand. Tuesday’s NXT episode on the USA Network will feature fallout from last night’s show, and a potential update to Regal’s teaser.

https://twitter.com/WWE/status/1404263433042866177
https://twitter.com/WWENXT/status/1404264997765713923

Source: Wrestling Inc.

WWE NXT TakeOver: In Your House Results 6/13/2021

WINNERS TAKE ALL FOR THE NXT NORTH AMERICAN TITLE AND NXT TAG TEAM TITLES
Bronson Reed (c) and MSK (c) defeated Legado del Fantasma (Santos Escobar, Joaquin Wilde and Raul Mendoza)

Xia Li defeated Mercedes Martinez

LADDER MATCH FOR THE MILLION DOLLAR TITLE
LA Knight defeated Cameron Grimes to win the Million Dollar Title
WWE Hall of Famer Ted DiBiase Sr. at ringside.

NXT WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP
Raquel Gonzalez (c) defeated Ember Moon

NXT CHAMPIONSHIP
Karrion Kross (c) defeated Adam Cole, Johnny Gargano, Kyle O’Reilly, and Pete Dunne

Impact Wrestling Against All Odds Results 6/12/2021 – Young Bucks, Sami Callihan

STREET FIGHT
Sami Callihan and Tommy Dreamer defeated The Good Brothers

Joe Doering defeated Satoshi Kojima

NUMBER ONE CONTENDER FOR X-DIVISION TITLE
Petey Williams vs. Trey Miguel vs. Ace Austin vs. Chris Bey vs. Rohit Raju ends in a no contest

W. Morrissey defeated Rich Swann

Tenille Dashwood defeated Jordynne Grace

IMPACT KNOCKOUTS TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP
Fire ‘N Flava (c) defeated Kimber Lee and Susan

IMPACT WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP
Violent By Design (c) defeated Decay

IMPACT KNOCKOUTS CHAMPIONSHIP
Deonna Purrazzo (c) defeated Rosemary


IMPACT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Kenny Omega (c) defeated Moose

Near the end of the match, the referee got knocked out and the Young Bucks jumped in to help take down Moose with superkicks and a BTE Trigger. Matt and Nick Jackson helped lift Moose up on Omega’s shoulders for the one winged angel and the win.

After the title match, the lights went out and Callihan appeared in the ring. He took out Matt and Nick Jackson with a baseball bat. He went to beat up Omega, but Callis got on the mic and told him he’s the boss and Sami couldn’t hurt his family.

Callis then fired Callihan from Impact Wrestling. D’Amore (who was also on commentary) argued with Callis as the two went to the back. This swerve now puts into question the title match between Omega and Callihan at Slammiversary on July 17.

Tonight’s title match was also held from AEW’s home, Daily’s Place. The rest of the show aired from Skyway Studios in Nashville, Tennessee.

WWE NXT TakeOver: In Your House 6/13/2021

DATE: June 13, 2021 8:00 pm
LOCATION: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
AVAILABLE ON:Peacock, WWE Network (outside of the U.S.)

CARD

NXT CHAMPIONSHIP
Karrion Kross (c) vs. Adam Cole vs. Johnny Gargano vs. Kyle O’Reilly vs. Pete Dunne

NXT WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP
Raquel Gonzalez (c) vs. Ember Moon

WINNERS TAKE ALL FOR THE NXT NORTH AMERICAN TITLE AND NXT TAG TEAM TITLES
Bronson Reed (c) and MSK (c) vs. Legado del Fantasma (Santos Escobar, Joaquin Wilde and Raul Mendoza)

LADDER MATCH FOR THE MILLION DOLLAR TITLE
LA Knight vs. Cameron Grimes
WWE Hall of Famer Ted DiBiase Sr. will be at ringside.

Xia Li vs. Mercedes Martinez

Impact Wrestling Against All Odds 6/12/2021

DATE: June 12, 2021 8:00 pm
LOCATION: Skyway Studios, Nashville, Tennessee/ Daily’s Place, Jacksonville, Florida
AVAILABLE ON:FITE, Impact Plus, Traditional PPV

CARD

IMPACT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP (Match will take place at Daily’s Place, Jacksonville, Florida)
Kenny Omega (c) vs. Moose

IMPACT KNOCKOUTS CHAMPIONSHIP
Deonna Purrazzo (c) vs. Rosemary

IMPACT WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP
Violent By Design (c) vs. Decay

IMPACT KNOCKOUTS TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP
Fire ‘N Flava (c) vs. Kimber Lee and Susan

NUMBER ONE CONTENDER FOR X-DIVISION TITLE
Petey Williams vs. Trey Miguel vs. Ace Austin vs. Chris Bey vs. Rohit Raju

STREET FIGHT
The Good Brothers vs. Sami Callihan and Tommy Dreamer

Satoshi Kojima vs. Joe Doering

Rich Swann vs. W. Morrissey

Tenille Dashwood w/ Kaleb With A K vs. Jordynne Grace w/ Rachael Ellering

AEW Dynamite Preview 6/11/21

Tonight’s AEW Dynamite episode airs at 10/9c on TNT from Daily’s Place in Jacksonville, Florida. This week’s show was preempted on Wednesday due to the NBA Playoffs.

* Nyla Rose vs. Leyla Hirsch

* Christian Cage vs. Angelico

* Don Callis and Kenny Omega will blow the lid off the conspiracy to get the AEW World Title off Omega

* Cody Rhodes will make a special announcement in a segment with Tony Schiavone

* AEW World Tag Team Champions The Young Bucks and Brandon Cutler vs. PAC, Eddie Kingston and Penta El Zero Miedo

* Hangman Page and 10 vs. Brian Cage and Powerhouse Hobbs

* AEW TNT Champion Miro defends against Evil Uno

* Lance Archer will be in action for the first time since his loss to AEW TNT Champion Miro at Double Or Nothing

* Sting and Darby Allin will make an announcement on Allin’s tag team partner for the match against Scorpio Sky and Ethan Page

* The Pinnacle will speak for the first time since their Stadium Stampede loss to The Inner Circle at Double Or Nothing

WWE SmackDown Preview 6/11/21

Tonight’s WWE SmackDown on FOX will take place with more build for the upcoming Hell In a Cell pay-per-view.

WWE has announced just one match for tonight’s show and that’s The Street Profits vs. Alpha Academy.

WWE is also teasing that SmackDown Tag Team Champion Rey Mysterio will be out for revenge on WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns on tonight’s show. Reigns attacked Rey and Dominik Mysterio last week in their main event title defense against The Usos, and it’s believed that Rey vs. Roman will be announced for Hell In a Cell.

The Cesaro vs. Seth Rollins and Sami Zayn vs. Kevin Owens feuds are also expected to continue tonight.

WWE Reportedly Releasing More Wrestlers, Backstage Talk On Contracts And Cuts

WWE officials are reportedly looking at making more releases.

WWE recently parted ways with a number of Superstars, who were told that they were being released as a part of budget cuts. Now word via Andrew Zarian of the Mat Men podcast is that there will be more releases made as the company looks to cut back on contracts.

It was reported earlier this week that there is a push among some in WWE who think Aleister Black should be brought back. Zarian reported on Mat Men that there are a lot of people within WWE who believe the company never really intends on fully releasing some wrestlers, and that some of the cuts are just a contract move so that they can re-negotiate the deals.

This way of doing business is not official, but it is heavily speculated on within WWE, and people are said to be very unhappy with the possibility of that happening, due to the fact that WWE could terminate contracts in the middle of a wrestler’s deal, in order to re-negotiate, just to give that talent less money. It was noted that this isn’t something WWE does often, and this isn’t the first we’ve heard of the practice, but if true it would be a new method of doing business for the company.

It was also said that WWE management does want to cut back on contracts and because of that, more releases are coming. There is no word on exactly when the next round of cuts will be made, or who is being released, but it was noted that this last round on June 2 was not the final list of cuts.

Since mid-April WWE has released a number of wrestlers, and made several office cuts amid corporate restructuring. The following Superstars have been released since the first round of budget cuts on April 15 of this year: Wesley Blake, Bo Dallas, Chelsea Green, Tucker Knight, Kalisto, Peyton Royce, Billie Kay, Mickie James, Samoa Joe, Ruby Riott, Aleister Black, Braun Strowman, Santana Garrett, Lana, and Buddy Murphy. They also released Lars Sullivan, Steve Cutler and Andrade in the months leading up to April, but for various reasons.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

WWE Is Hoping To Land The Rock For Survivor Series

A new report claims WWE is hoping to recruit the services of The Rock for Survivor Series, but nothing is yet in place.

WWE is now only a little more than a month away from returning to the road. The first real indicator that wrestling life is about to return to normal. Other than WrestleMania this year, all of WWE’s shows since March of last year have been in empty buildings. Superstars have had to settle for performing in front of thousands of LED screens.

Needless to say, once fans are back in attendance WWE will want to give them as much as they possibly can. That might seem like a slightly contradictory thing to say considering the recent big names releases. However, there are rumors that Brock Lesnar and John Cena will be back soon, and even reports that WWE is tapping up The Rock for a long-overdue return.

That’s according to Dave Meltzer. Meltzer noted in the most recent edition of Wrestling Observer Newsletter that WWE is currently working on getting The Rock back into the mix for Survivor Series this year, but hasn’t managed to lock him down just yet. Considering the projects The People’s Champ always seems to have on his slate, that’s not in the least bit surprising.

The last time The Rock appeared on WWE TV was for SmackDown’s debut on Fox. It could be argued that the July 16 edition of SmackDown, which will be WWE’s first show back in front of fans, will be a show on equal footing with that episode, if not slightly bigger considering what it will signify. It could be a little short notice for The Rock though, which is why November’s Survivor Series might be the earliest possible opportunity to get him in.

Survivor Series is also the last major WWE PPV before Royal Rumble, the show that is considered to be the start of the road to WrestleMania. With fans clamoring for a Rock versus Roman Reigns match at WrestleMania, Survivor Series could well be the place where WWE plants the very first seeds for that dream match.

Source: The Sportster