Tonight’s WWE NXT episode on the USA Network will air from the campus of Full Sail University with fallout from the Great American Bash.
Impact Wrestling Preview 7/14/20
It’s the last stop on the road to Slammiversary! Don’t miss all the action this Tuesday at 8/7c on AXS TV and Twitch.
* Before all 10 of these Knockouts compete in the Knockouts gauntlet on July 18th at Slammiversary, they will compete in one of the most star-studded Knockouts tag matches of all time. Taya Valkyrie, Rosemary, Kimber Lee, Kiera Hogan and Tasha Steelz team up on one side. On the other, Kylie Rae, Susie, Alisha, Havok and Nevaeh prepare for battle. Who will gain momentum heading into the high-stakes Knockouts #1 Contender Gauntlet at Slammiversary?
* Knockouts Championship contract signing for Slammiversary: Deonna Purrazzo vs. Jordynne Grace (c)
* Tommy Dreamer and Crazzy Steve battle Moose and a mystery partner
* Inside look at Ace Austin’s training regimen as he returns to his roots.
* The Deaners vs. XXXL
WWE RAW Preview 7/13/20
Tonight’s RAW on the USA Network will be the final episode before WWE’s “The Horror Show at Extreme Rules” pay-per-view.
Kevin Owens Reportedly Confronts Vince McMahon Over Masks At TV Tapings
Kevin Owens reportedly confronted Vince McMahon over the lack of masks at WWE TV tapings during the coronavirus pandemic.
WWE French-language commentator Pat Laprade noted during a recent episode of the Les anti-pods de la Lutte podcast and revealed that Owens raised concerns with the WWE Chairman & CEO at the TV tapings held on Friday, July 3 at the Performance Center. This reportedly led to the mandatory mask policy, and the fines for not wearing masks while in the building.
Owens reportedly told McMahon that he was not comfortable with the lack of masks being worn by people in the Performance Center, and people being too close to each other. Owens also told McMahon that he was going home, apparently due to COVID-19 concerns. Vince then asked Owens what he wanted him to do, and Owens allegedly responded by saying Vince is the only person that the WWE crew will listen to.
It was also said that Vince asked Owens if instituting a mask policy with fans would work. Owens then said that he once swore on SmackDown, was fined and never did it again, with the idea that the fine was a deterrent. Vince apparently listened and took action as Owens stayed to work the tapings after noticing that people were starting to wear masks and practice better social distancing.
Friday’s RAW tapings were for tonight’s episode, which will see Owens take on Seth Rollins in singles action.
As we’ve noted, WWE is now issuing $500 fines for not wearing masks, unless a person is performing in front of the camera. The second offense reportedly brings a fine of $1,000.
It was reported back in June that Owens skipped a set of TV tapings after a developmental talent tested positive for the coronavirus. Owens’ wife’s grandfather had passed away from the virus a few weeks before. Owens would later post a heartfelt message about the COVID-19 pandemic, which you can see at this link.
WWE officials told their employees a few months ago that they did not have to work during the pandemic if they didn’t feel comfortable doing so, and that the decision would not be held against them in the future. Owens appeared on WWE’s The Bump in late June and talked about how the company reacted to his decision to miss the tapings in June.
“Due to the circumstances that happened last week with the positive coronavirus test, I just thought it was wiser for me to stay with my family,” Owens said. ” I told the people in charge my decision, and they were like, ‘Yeah, ok.’ I think they know that once I make my mind up on something, that’s the way it’s going to be. They were respectful of my decision. I’m glad I did it because I think this was the best decision for me to do for my family.”
Source: Wrestling Inc.
Recently Released WWE Superstars To Become Free Agents This Week
Several former WWE Superstars are set to become free agents later this week.
WWE released dozens of employees and talents back in mid-April due to the negative impact of the COVID-19 outbreak. The main roster wrestlers who were cut will see their 90-day non-compete clauses expire on Wednesday of this week, July 15.
It’s believed that at least some of the former WWE Superstars will end up in AEW and Impact Wrestling. Impact has been teasing some of the recently released wrestlers for their Slammiversary pay-per-view on Saturday. Eric Young, EC3, Heath Slater and others have been rumored for spots on the Impact roster, and it’s been reported that Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson have already signed.
A number of WWE NXT talents were also cut back on April 15. They were under 30-day non-competes and were free agents as of May 15. That is how Deonna Purrazzo was able to make her Impact debut last month. WWE also released or furloughed several producers in April, and it’s been reported that some of those furloughs will be brought back as WWE begins to resume normal operations amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The following former WWE main roster Superstars will become free agents later this week:
* Aiden English
* Curt Hawkins
* EC3
* Epico Colon
* Eric Young
* Erick Rowan
* Heath Slater
* Karl Anderson
* Kurt Angle (believed to be under non-compete)
* Lio Rush (may have been under NXT deal)
* Luke Gallows
* Maria Kanellis
* Mike Kanellis
* No Way Jose
* Primo Colon
* Rusev
* Sarah Logan (pregnant)
* Zack Ryder
NJPW Announces Cards For New Japan Road And Sengoku Lord In Nagoya
NJPW has announced the cards for its next two shows: New Japan Road (Korakuen Hall) in Tokyo on July 20, and Senkogu Lord in Nagoya (Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium) in Aichi on July 25.
Some of the more notable matches at these events are: IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental Champion EVIL vs. Hiromu Takahashi, NEVER Openweight Champion Shingo Takagi vs. El Desperado, and Dick Togo teaming up with EVIL and Taiji Ishimori against BUSHI, Tetsuya Naito, and Hiromu Takahashi.
It should also be noted YOSHI-HASHI (knee) and Minoru Suzuki (fever) are scheduled to return to in-ring action.
Below are the full cards, which will stream on NJPW World:
New Japan Road
* Satoshi Kojima and Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Yuya Uemura and Yota Tsuji
* Gabriel Kidd, Ryusuke Taguchi, Tomoaki Honma, and Togi Makabe vs. SHO, YOSHI-HASHI, Toru Yano, and Tomohiro Ishii
* SANADA and Shingo Takagi vs. DOUKI and El Desperado
* Hirooki Goto and Kazuchika Okada vs. Gedo and Yujiro Takahashi
* Master Wato, Yugi Nagata, Kota Ibushi, and Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru, Minoru Suzuki, Zack Sabre Jr., and Taichi
* BUSHI, Tetsuya Naito, and Hiromu Takahashi vs. Taiji Ishimori, Dick Togo, and EVIL
Sengoku Lord in Nagoya
* Yuya Uemura vs. Taiji Ishimori
* Satoshi Kojima, Ryusuke Taguchi, Tomoaki Honma, and Togi Makabe vs. Gabriel Kidd, Yota Tsuji, Toru Yano, and Tomohiro Ishii
* SHO, YOSHI-HASHI, and Hirooki Goto vs. BUSHI, SANADA, and Tetsuya Naito
* Master Wato, Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Yuji Nagata, Hiroshi Tanahashi, and Kota Ibushi vs. DOUKI, Yoshinobu Kanemaru, Minoru Suzuki, Zack Sabre Jr, and Taichi
* Kazuchika Okada vs. Yujiro Takahashi
* Shingo Takagi (c) vs. El Desperado (NEVER Openweight Championship)
* EVIL (c) vs. Hiromu Takahashi (IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental Championship)
WWE Announces This Week As Women’s Evolution Week
WWE.com has announced that this week will officially be “Women’s Evolution Week” on all digital and social channels.
The platforms will be releasing content centered around the growth of the WWE women’s division, especially over the past five years since the “Four Horsewomen” of WWE (Sasha Banks, Bayley, Becky Lynch, and Charlotte Flair) arrived on the main roster.
The full article from WWE reads:
Five years ago on July 13, Becky Lynch, Charlotte Flair and Sasha Banks arrived to Raw, signaling a change for women’s wrestling in WWE. In honor of this landmark night in sports-entertainment history, WWE will celebrate Women’s Evolution Week on its digital and social channels all this week.Check back with WWE’s digital platforms each day this week for exciting looks back at landmark Women’s division moments in WWE, the trailblazing Superstars who paved the way and what lies ahead for the intrepid female competitors of the future.
WWE’s first and only all-women pay-per-view event, Evolution, took place on October 28, 2018. The card featured multiple standout matches including a brutal Last Women Standing Match between Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair for the SmackDown Women’s Championship.
NJPW Dominion Results 2020
Togi Makabe, Tomoaki Honma, and Gabriel Kidd vs. Satoshi Kojima, Yuji Nagata, and Ryusuke Taguchi
Winners: Satoshi Kojima, Yuji Nagata, and Ryusuke Taguchi via Submission
Tomohiro Ishii, Toru Yano, and Yota Tsuji vs. SANADA, BUSHI, and Hiromu Takahashi
Winner: SANADA, BUSHI, and Hiromu Takahashi via Submission
Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Yuya Uemura, and Master Wato vs. El Desperado, Yoshinobu Kanemaru, and DOUKI
Winners: El Desperado, Yoshinobu Kanemaru, and DOUKI via Pinfall
Hirooki Goto and Kazuchika Okada vs. Yujiro Takahashi and Taiji Ishimori
Winners: Yujiro Takahashi and Taiji Ishimori via Pinfall
Shingo Takagi (c) vs. SHO (NEVER Openweight Championship)
Winner: Shingo Takagi via Pinfall
– Post-match, El Desperado comes out and punches Takagi in the face while he was on the stage. He takes the title and smacks Takagi with it. Desperado taunts the champion a bit and heads to the back with the title, Takagi needs help getting up, but goes after him.
Hiroshi Tanahashi and Kota Ibushi (c) vs. Taichi and Zack Sabre Jr. (IWGP Tag Team Championship)
Winners: Zack Sabre Jr. and Taichi via pinfall to win the IWGP Tag Team Championship
Tetsuya Naito (c) vs. EVIL (IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental Championships)
Winner: EVIL via pinfall to win the IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental Championship
– Post-match, EVIL steps on Naito and raises up his newly won titles. Man in a BUSHI mask does the Bullet Club hand signal with EVIL. EVIL gets on the mic and crowd boos. Masked man reveals himself to be Dick Togo. They start beating up Naito and Hiromu Takahashi runs to the ring to clear them out. Takahashi eventually challenges EVIL for his titles, or even one of them, EVIL doesn’t give much of an answer and heads to the back. Takahashi then screams his head off in frustration as he watches EVIL walk off with his titles.
Charlotte Flair Explains Why She Is Taking Time Off From WWE
Charlotte Flair will be out of action for a while due to personal time and having surgery done.
Charlotte took to Twitter to explain more on why she is going to be gone from WWE for a while.
She explained how in 2018 she had silicone poisoning from her breast implants. She went to the doctors and picked the option that would be the fastest recovery time, which didn’t solve the problem. A few months ago, the same issue happened again to her.
Charlotte now has decided to go with the option that she believes will solve the issue this time, though the recovery time is longer than she would like. She also stated she doesn’t have silicone poisoning right now.
She ended her explanation with the tweet, “I’ll be back when I’m ready. The body will be rested, and the mind still focused on legacy. Focused on this job. Focused on being better. Always being better.”
Below is her full statement:
My air conditioning is broken, and we have a little free time. These tweets may be spaced out a bit, but we’re going to talk time off, plastic surgery and boobs. The entire world having an opinion on the topic bothers me more than I care to let on, so we are going to discuss it.
I’m going to save the history of my boobs for a different bedtime story, so:
Picture it. Charlotte, North Carolina, 2018. A young queen, shortly after a career-defining Wrestlemania victory, finds herself sicker than sick at her brother’s house. A trip to the doctor tells us the likely culprit is silicone poisoning, and that my implant had been leaking for quite some time. It was one of the worse cases the doctor had seen.
At that time, I had a few options to fix the issue. Each option had a specific recovery time. I love this job more than anything, so I picked the option that allowed me to return the soonest. That was the choice I made. Fast forward to a few months ago. Something felt off, so I went back to the doctor. Same issue again. This time, I’m going with an option that I believe will solve the issue long time, even though the recovery period is a little longer than I would like.
To clarify: I do not have silicone poisoning this time. The surgery is cosmetic to fix an issue from a prior surgery. I’ll be back when I’m ready. The body will be rested, and the mind still focused on legacy. Focused on this job. Focused on being better. Always being better.
Source: Wrestling Inc.
AEW Announces “Fight For The Fallen” Charity Initiatives To Support COVID-19 Response
AEW has announced two charity-driven initiatives in conjunction with Fight for the Fallen to help support COVID-19 response in Florida.
The company sent out a press release on Friday which explains:
Leading up to the highly anticipated FIGHT FOR THE FALLEN event this Wednesday, July 15, AEW today announced two charity-driven initiatives to help support northeast Florida’s response to COVID-19.
Funds from both AEW programs will be distributed to Florida’s First Coast Relief Fund and Feeding Northeast Florida, both of which will provide a range of health and well-being services for those struggling during this time. The two organizations are 501(c)(3) not for profits.
In the spirit of FIGHT FOR THE FALLEN, which raised money for the Jacksonville-based Victims Assistance Advisory Council last year, AEW is appealing to fans to donate what they can to Florida’s First Coast Relief Fund and Feeding Northeast Florida at http://www.AEWFightfortheFallen.com.
As part of the overall effort, AEW has designed a limited-edition shirt depicting powerful FIGHT FOR THE FALLEN imagery with a COVID-19 protective face mask at the center of the artwork. One-hundred percent of the proceeds from sales of the shirt, which is available at http://www.ShopAEW.com, will also go to Florida’s First Coast Relief Fund and Feeding Northeast Florida.
In March, the Khan family donated $1 million to various organizations to support northeast
Florida’s response to COVID-19.“The efforts of the First Coast Relief Fund and Feeding Northeast Florida over the past four months have been truly amazing, but unfortunately the battle against this pandemic continues and that means their work is far from over,” said Tony Khan, President and CEO of All Elite Wrestling. “On behalf of everyone at AEW, and our fans, I thank both groups for their commitment to our home community of Jacksonville and North Florida and hope we can all come together to do what we can to support their mission.”
Fight for the Fallen airs this Wednesday on TNT. The show will feature FTR vs. Lucha Brothers, The Elite vs. Jurassic Express, Cody Rhodes vs. Sonny Kiss and Jon Moxley defending the AEW World title against Brian Cage.
Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet
