WWE SmackDown Preview 4/16/21

Tonight’s WWE SmackDown on FOX will be the special post-WrestleMania 37 edition of the show.

Pat McAfee joins Michael Cole on the WWE SmackDown announce team.

WWE has announced two matches for tonight – Otis vs. Rey Mysterio, plus Robert Roode and Dolph Ziggler defending their SmackDown Tag Team Titles against The Street Profits.

WWE has indicated that we will find out what’s next for WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns following his WrestleMania win over Daniel Bryan and WWE Hall of Famer Edge. Reigns’ double pin may be addressed tonight by Adam Pearce and referee Charles Robinson.

WWE is also teasing that we will find out what’s next for new SmackDown Women’s Champion Bianca Belair following her WrestleMania 37 win over Sasha Banks. An appearance by new WWE Intercontinental Champion Apollo Crews and his new muscle, Commander Azeez, is also likely.

Mauro Ranallo Working The Impact Rebellion PPV

Mauro Ranallo working the Impact Rebellion pay-per-view is reportedly a one-off, at least for now.

Impact announced on Thursday that the former WWE and MMA announcer will join the Rebellion commentary team on April 25 to call the Title vs. Title match between Impact World Champion Rich Swann and AEW World Champion Kenny Omega.

PWInsider reports that Mauro is only coming in to Impact for this pay-per-view, at least as of Thursday evening. However, the door could be open for more work down the line. The gig came together over the last several weeks with the idea of Mauro adding to the grandeur of the Title vs. Title main event.

Mauro was at the Impact studios on Wednesday night, doing voice-over work for the “5 Ways To Win” videos for Omega and Swann, which you can watch below. Mauro also did voice-over work for the “This Is Rebellion” special that will air on AXS TV next Tuesday night.

“Swann vs Omega, champion vs champion, title vs title – this match represents everything I love about professional wrestling,” Ranallo said in a press release. “I have been fortunate to call these two superstar’s matches in the past and I’m very excited to be part of this historic encounter.”

Mauro and Impact Executive Vice President Scott D’Amore go back a few decades after working together in Stampede Wrestling. It’s possible that this is the connection between Mauro and Impact.

“This once in a generation title vs. title showdown deserves to be called by the once in a generation play-by-play announcer,” D’Amore added in a press release. “I’ve known Mauro for over two decades. There are very few people in the world who are as passionate about or know their wrestling history as well as Mauro. This is an historic main event, the world champions of two major organizations putting everything on the line. I’m thrilled that April 25th, at Rebellion, fans will have Mauro’s legendary voice proving the soundtrack to history!”

This will be Mauro’s first pro wrestling work since leaving WWE in August 2020. He has continued to work for Showtime Boxing, and worked the Mike Tyson pay-per-view from Triller last year.

 Below are the new “5 Ways To Win” videos Mauro did for Swann and Omega:

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Pat McAfee Joins The WWE SmackDown Announce Team

Pat McAfee has joined the WWE SmackDown announce team.

WWE and McAfee just announced that the former NFL star turned podcaster, who recently had a strong run in WWE NXT, will join the SmackDown commentary team beginning tonight with the post-WrestleMania 37 episode.

McAfee and Michael Cole will make up the new SmackDown announce team. This change comes after Corey Graves was sent to RAW this week, to work with Byron Saxton and newcomer Adnan Virk.

“For as long as I can remember WWE has been a company that I have admired, both for its incredible staying power of creating riveting entertainment and for its ability to connect people all over the globe,” McAfee said in a press release. “I’ve been fortunate to try a lot of cool professions but working for WWE was the one I looked forward to most. I am incredibly honored and grateful for the chance to give back to the business that has given me and many others so much and having the opportunity to sit at the same table that legends have graced is truly a dream come true. Now let’s go get it.”

https://twitter.com/PatMcAfeeShow/status/1383027420991750146

Pat McAfee joins Friday Night SmackDown announce team

WWE today announced that Pat McAfee will debut as the new analyst for Friday Night SmackDown tonight at 8 pm ET live on FOX.

McAfee dropped the news on the WWE Universe with a huge social media announcement on Friday morning.

“For as long as I can remember WWE has been a company that I have admired, both for its incredible staying power of creating riveting entertainment and for its ability to connect people all over the globe,” said McAfee. “I’ve been fortunate to try a lot of cool professions but working for WWE was the one I looked forward to most. I am incredibly honored and grateful for the chance to give back to the business that has given me and many others so much and having the opportunity to sit at the same table that legends have graced is truly a dream come true. Now let’s go get it.”

McAfee will be joined at ringside every week by Michael Cole, VP of WWE’s on air announce talent and voice of Friday Night SmackDown on FOX.

Known for his candid, relatable, and refreshing opinions, McAfee’s insight and sense of humor have built him a large, loyal and active fan base. In addition to being a philanthropist, social media influencer, stand-up comedian and former All-Pro punter for the Indianapolis Colts, McAfee is also the host of the #1 international daily streaming sports show The Pat McAfee Show, which is simulcast both on YouTube and on Sirius XM Channel 82 Mad Dog Sports Radio. Additionally, McAfee is the host of the popular podcast The Pat McAfee Show 2.0 and has performed both inside the ring and behind the microphone on WWE’s NXT.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

WWE Talent Roster Releases

WWE released a total of 10 main roster talents on Thursday, exactly one year since their COVID-19 budget cuts on April 15, 2020. The Superstars released on Thursday were Samoa Joe, Mojo Rawley, Mickie James, Chelsea Green, Tucker, Wesley Blake, Billie Kay, Peyton Royce, Kalisto and Bo Dallas. All wrestlers are under a standard 90-day non-compete clause with WWE and are not free to sign with other promotions until Wednesday, July 14.

It was just reported by the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that the rumor going on Thursday said more cuts could be coming today, April 16, with a focus on NXT.

Impact Wrestling Preview 4/15/21

IMPACT! tonight at 8/7c on AXS TV

* The fallout from Hardcore Justice

* Pick Your Poison: Matt Cardona chooses opponent for Brian Myers, Myers chooses opponent for Cardona

* TJP vs. Josh Alexander

* Grudge Match: Havok vs. Nevaeh will kick things off on Before The Impact

MLW Fusion Preview 4/14/21

MLW presents Fusion TONIGHT at 7pm ET featuring a National Openweight title bout on Youtube and other platforms. (Learn more about where to watch.)

  • National Openweight Championship: Alex Hammerstone (champion) vs. Mil Muertes 
  • World Tag Team Championship: Los Parks (champions) vs. The Dirty Blondes 
  • Caribbean Championship: Richard Holliday (champion) vs. Gino Medina

For over a month Mil Muertes has paraded around Major League Wrestling as the illegitimate National Openweight Champion. Now Alex Hammerstone looks to send a thunderbolt straight through the “Man of 1,000 Deaths” and reclaim the belt that was literally stolen from him  on this edition of Fusion, presented by newlawoffice.com.

Can Hammerstone conquer Azteca Underground’s undefeated luchador and finally regain his title belt or will Muertes nail the coffin shut on the longest title reign in league history?

In a match six months in the making, the Dynasty detonates as Richard Holliday puts the Caribbean Championship up for grabs against Gino Medina. 

Gino vows to prove he’s beyond dynastic and is untouchable as he looks to dethrone his former “bro” and walk away with his first championship in MLW. However, he’ll have to hang in the rarefied air of the Carribean Champ. Who’s walking out of Orlando with the belt? Tune in and find out.

Fresh off a 30 day suspension following a reprehensible attack on Bu Ku Dao, Alicia Atout looks for answers as she chats one on one with controversial top ranked Middleweight TJP.

Salina de la Renta and league officials brokered the deal over the weekend and now in a late addition to an already stacked fight card, Los Parks are set to defend the World Tag Team Championships against the Dirty Blondes! Will Salina’s aggressive moves impress her new boss El Jefe? Or will Azteca Underground’s luchadores be toppled and lose the gold? It’s a high risk, high reward evening 

PLUS: “The Young GOAT” Myron Reed speaks exclusively as he continues to call out and pressure Lio Rush for a World Middleweight title shot! 

MLW cameras journey to Kauai, Hawaii as the legendary Kevin Von Erich presents Ross and Marshall with the opportunity of a lifetime.

Join Ray Flores, fight analyst Saint Laurent, and backstage correspondent Alicia Atout for a night of top ranked competition headlined by a blockbuster National Openweight title fight.

Fans can also watch nationwide on cable and dish via beIN SPORTS on Saturday nights at 10pm ET and on demand anytime, anywhere on DAZN. MLW airs on Fubo Sports Network and the Roku Channel on Friday nights 7pm / 10pm ET. Learn more about where to watch.

AEW Dynamite Preview 4/14/21

Tonight’s AEW Dynamite episode airs on TNT at Daily’s Place in Jacksonville, Florida.

* Chris Jericho vs. Dax Harwood with Mike Tyson as the Special Enforcer. Cash Wheeler and Sammy Guevara will be at ringside but the other Pinnacle and Inner Circle members will be banned from ringside

* AEW World Tag Team Champions The Young Bucks defend against PAC and Rey Fenix

* AEW TNT Champion Darby Allin defends against Matt Hardy in a Falls Count Anywhere match

* Anthony Ogogo makes his in-ring debut

* Jade Cargill vs. Red Velvet

* Kris Statlander makes in-ring return against indie star Amber Nova

* How will Taz react if Christian Cage turns down his Team Taz invite?

Roderick Strong Leaves NXT. Is He Heading To RAW Or SmackDown?

There’s now speculation on Roderick Strong possibly going to RAW or SmackDown.

Last night’s WWE NXT show featured a segment earlier in the show where Strong and wife Marina Shafir were shown entering the WWE Performance Center. Strong later met NXT General Manager William Regal in his office and handed over an envelope of papers, presumably his notice, and then said he was “done” in NXT.

Regal admitted that Strong gave him trouble at times with The Undisputed Era, but said he is a consummate professional, and is welcome back to NXT at anytime.

WWE later noted that Strong has officially resigned from the NXT brand.

Before tonight, Strong was last seen in the storylines during the “Takeover: Stand and Deliver” build for the Adam Cole vs. Kyle O’Reilly feud. He lost to Cameron Grimes on last week’s Takeover go-home show and was scheduled to compete in the Battle Royal to determine the Takeover Gauntlet Eliminator participants, but there was a backstage segment where Strong was shown leaving the venue.

WWE often calls wrestlers to the main roster around this time of the year, but there’s no word yet on if Strong is headed to the blue or red brand. The veteran pro wrestler has been with WWE since October 2016. Shafir signed with WWE in May 2018 but hasn’t had much of an in-ring career.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

WWE NXT Preview 4/13/21

A loaded line-up has just been announced for tonight’s WWE NXT episode on the USA Network.

WWE RAW Preview 4/12/21

Tonight’s WWE RAW will be the biggest episode of the year, featuring fallout from WrestleMania 37.

RAW will take place from the WWE ThunderDome at Yuengling Center on the University of South Florida campus in Tampa, Florida. This show will mark WWE’s first event under the new residency at the Yuengling Center.

WWE has not announced any matches or segments for tonight’s show but it’s likely that new red brand champions will appear – RAW Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley, RAW Tag Team Champions Omos and AJ Styles, and WWE United States Champion Sheamus.

It will be interesting to see if “The Fiend” Randy Orton appears after last night’s loss to Randy Orton, which was apparently caused by Alexa Bliss. It looks like WWE has a new chapter in that storyline to continue. An appearance by WWE Champion Bobby Lashley is also possible to celebrate his Night One win over Drew McIntyre.

The RAW After WrestleMania usually features surprises and call-ups, but there’s no word yet on what WWE has planned for this year.

Source: Wrestling Inc.