More NXT UK Releases And Suspension, Update On The Future Of The Brand

It looks like the WWE NXT UK brand will be returning with new content soon.

There has been a lot of speculation on the future of the brand as of late. They haven’t filmed new content in months due to the coronavirus pandemic, and several talents were recently hit with accusations in the “#SpeakingOut” movement. It was reported on Monday that a mandatory conference call was planned for today with staff and talent told to participate.

That conference call happened this afternoon and PWInsider reports that it was more or less a chance for WWE officials to touch base with the roster. It was also said that officials told the talents to be ready to get back to work when the time was right. Several NXT UK talents have taken to social media this afternoon and indicated that they would be working TV tapings soon.

F4Wonline.cm adds that Triple H addressed talents during the call and told them explicitly what the protocol is regarding sexual abuse allegations. Triple H said there would be zero tolerance on any charges, provided there was irrefutable evidence against them. It was taken as more of a warning going forward than anything else. Their report also noted that there was no talk of any other changes with the brand.

There has been talk of taping new material for NXT UK soon, but nothing is official as far as dates go, according to PWInsider. NXT UK episodes on the WWE Network have been special editions for a few months now, featuring older matches or compilations, but last week’s “Superstar Picks” episode featured the return of talent vignettes and promos for feuds.

While WWE has not announced new NXT UK dates as of this writing, it’s worth noting that the 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland still has tickets up for sale for the NXT UK “Takeover: Dublin” event. That show was originally scheduled for Sunday, April 26 but was re-scheduled to Sunday, October 25 due to COVID-19.

In other NXT UK news, PWInsider reports that referee Joel Allen was released over the weekend. Referee Chris Roberts was also released, according to F4Wonline.com, and Joe Coffey was suspended. The releases and the suspension follow the recent departures of Ligero, Jack Gallagher and Travis Banks. All faced allegations from the “#SpeakingOut” movement.

It’s interesting to note that NXT UK Women’s Champion Kay Lee Ray took to Twitter this afternoon and posted a graphic of the other WWE women’s champions – WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Sasha Banks & Bayley, who is also the SmackDown Women’s Champion, RAW Women’s Champion Asuka, and NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai.

She wrote, “Doesn’t matter if you like it or not but fact is, I am your longest reigning women’s champion across all @WWE brands right now. I AM YOUR FOREVER CHAMPION!!! Fight me….”

Bayley responded and wrote, “Don’t mind if I do.”

This exchange has fans hoping for a potential match between Bayley and Ray.

The NXT UK brand currently has the following champions – Ray, NXT UK Champion WALTER, and NXT UK Tag Team Champions Wolfgang and Mark Coffey of Gallus.

Impact Wrestling Preview 6/30/20

The following is scheduled for tonight’s Impact on AXS TV:

* TJP and Fallah Bahh vs.Reno Scum

* Kiera Hogan w/Tasha Steelz vs. Havok w/Nevaeh

* Moose vs. Crazzy Steve

WWE RAW Preview 6/29/20

Tonight’s taped WWE RAW will take place from the Performance Center in Orlando, FL with more build to WWE’s “Extreme Rules: The Horror Show” pay-per-view.

WWE has not published an official preview for tonight’s RAW but they are focusing on the following points for tonight’s show:

* Double contract signing for Extreme Rules: The Horror Show

* Will Seth Rollins continue his reign of terror?

WWE Has Released More Stars Due To The #SpeakingOut Movement

NXT UK star Ligero has been released by WWE after an assault allegation and multiple other accusations of harassment.

The news was first reported by PWInsider and we’ve since confirmed the release with sources. WWE has yet to make the release public.

Ligero’s termination comes during the #SpeakingOut movement that has rocked the wrestling world, particularly in the UK. As we the 35-year-old was accused of “indecent assault” by Violet O’Hara. Multiple women have also said Ligero sent them inappropriate messages.

Ligero denied the assault allegation, calling it “absolutely false,” but admitted to sending “unwanted messages” to women.

As you’ll recall, Jack Gallagher was also released last week by WWE under similar circumstances.

NXT UK star Travis Banks has been released by WWE after admitting to having a relationship with a 17-year-old trainee in the past.

The news was first reported by POST Wrestling’s John Pollock and we’ve since confirmed the termination with sources.

Banks’ firing comes after wrestler Millie McKenzie accused Banks of being emotionally manipulative during a “secret one year relationship” when she was 17. Banks subsequently released a statement confirming they had a consensual relationship when she was a trainee of his and said he was sorry for any pain caused by it.

Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet

Michael Elgin Will Not Appear In Any Further Impact Wrestling Programming

Impact Wrestling has announced Michael Elgin will no longer appear on their shows going forward.

According to a statement first given to PWInsider, and later shared on their website:

“Impact Wrestling announced that Michael Elgin will not be appearing in any further Impact Wrestling programming.”

The report notes that Elgin has been removed from the roster page, as well as the merch store, but he has not been announced as officially released yet.

Elgin was suspended from Impact this week pending further review after being accused in the #SpeakingOut movement of sending unwanted nude photos to women, among other old incidents. The company also fired Joey Ryan and Dave Crist due to allegations made.

As we previously reported, Impact additionally terminated Tessa Blanchard’s contract last night. Blanchard, whose contract was set to expire next month, had reportedly landed in hot water after not filming content requested for a promo segment while quarantining in Mexico.

Blanchard was originally scheduled to defend the Impact title in the main event of Slammiversary next month against Elgin, Trey Miguel, Eddie Edwards and Ace Austin.

Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet

Multiple people who were at the WWE Performance Center tested positive for the virus this past week

Jamie Noble has confirmed he’s one of the people in WWE who got hit with COVID-19.

The WWE producer shared the news on Instagram, writing, “Not how we expect this month to go! Covid-19 has hit home. Prayers for me and my family will be greatly appreciated!”

Multiple people who were at the Performance Center tested positive for the virus this week. This includes Renee Young, Kayla Braxton and Adam Pearce; who all went public with the news yesterday on social media.

WWE has said they will now be testing everyone at the PC for COVID-19 before filming shows for the foreseeable future.

Jim Cornette Discusses The Sexual Misconduct Allegations Made Against He And His Wife

As noted, the “Speaking Out” movement trending worldwide encourages people to use social media and online platforms to open up about physical and emotional abuse they have experienced. Indie wrestler Phil Earley used the platform to make several accusations against Jim Cornette and his wife Stacey, going back to when Cornette ran Ohio Valley Wrestling when it was a WWE developmental territory.

Earley describes the alleged grooming process that Stacey and Jim put him and others through during their time at OVW. During the most recent edition of his Jim Cornette Drive Thru Podcast, Cornette discusses the allegations directly and details all the instances where the allegations were apparently false.

“I have never asked the commissioner or representative of the commission to the state of Kentucky to test, fine, suspend, harass, cuss out, or in other ways mistreat anybody, or do any favors for anybody in OVW or any other company,” Jim started. “You hear all these outlaws here, ‘Aw, they called the commission and you bury us.’ I’ve applauded him a few times fining or suspending these promotions sometimes, but I’ve never asked him to do it. And if it ever came to needing a sworn statement from a government official to that fact, he would be more than happy to provide one.

“I have never offered any wrestler, male or female, preferential treatment, a job, a contract, a push, or anything else related to their employment or threatened the opposite if they would or would not engage in ribbled relations with me or my wife,” Cornette continued. “No ‘quid pro quo’, ‘no tit for tat’, as they say… No female wrestler that I ever worked with in Ohio Valley Wrestling, or anywhere else to my recollection, has ever said that I talked to them or treated them improperly, except when critiquing their matches or performance of same, but treated them improperly or with any personal or language or actions of that description.”

Cornette continued on, admitting that he has physically abused men in the past but he has never sexually abused anyone. He also specified that anybody who has been involved with him or his wife sexually has always been aware of it and pleased with the experience.

“I have not been involved with anyone under legal age. I have not physically abused anybod- well, I’ve physically abused some men by the strict definition of that term,” Jim admitted. “I have hit many f–king men over the head with a tennis racket… But not [abuse] in a sexual way. Okay, there’s categorical. I haven’t abused any men in a sexual way and I haven’t physically abused any women.

“I have never sent inappropriate pics, texts, sexts, or whatever to anybody cause I’ve never sent a damn text to anybody,” Jim continued. “I’ve never done that on Facebook for the same reason. I have never slept in the same bed with a woman and not had sex with them and it wasn’t a surprise to anybody that was involved with it when it happened. And I didn’t know that people just did that like it’s the f–king Brady Bunch. Oh, come on over. Let’s hang out, let’s have a sleep over. We’re grown adults but we – Oh, I don’t understand. Nobody that I’ve ever known in the biblical sense has been forced or coerced in anyway to be there and all seemed happy to take part and happy when it was over it, you can take that as you will.”

Cornette clarified that nothing of the sexual nature that has been brought up has upset Stacey because she was already aware of their lifestyle. He recalls 5-6 people from the pro wrestling world that have actually made it into their hot tub.

“I’m not being accused of cheating by my spouse or significant other because whenever that’s happened she’s either known about it or been there when it took place. But my own wife is not mad at me for anything,” Jim explained. “So apparently that just leaves, when you take all those other things out, fun? That’s what you’re left over with is just fun? Day-off personal time amongst friends. Fun? Isn’t everybody supposed to have their fun? There’s about 5 or 6 individuals on the AEW roster I could question about ‘fun’!

“I ain’t joking with you, from the professionals in the wrestling industry that have been in our hot tub that we’ve had for fifteen years, I’d say 5-6 tops. And I don’t remember any of them being contracted at the time to any major organizations,” Jim continued. “That’s what I’m saying – if you take out the manipulating people’s jobs accusation, which we’ve just basically drawn and quartered, as they say, and illustrated it was f–king caca. What you’ve got left is I’ve been charged with having an interesting sex life.”

Lastly, Jim noted that pictures of Stacey’s backside used as poof for the accusations are not a rarity. He explained that they are actually quite common and he has taken hundreds of photos of her from behind.

“Pictures of Stacey’s ass are not uncommon,” Jim explained. “She is proud of it and rightfully so! I have taken hundreds of pictures of that ass over the years in many different locations. She doesn’t just send them out unsolicited.”

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Impact Wrestling Terminates Tessa Blanchard’s Contract

Impact Wrestling has terminated Tessa Blanchard’s contract and stripped her of the Impact World Championship, according to PWInsider.

Tessa was originally going to defend the Impact World title at Slammiversary on July 18 against Eddie Edwards, Ace Austin, and Trey. The match was going to be her first match since COVID-19. She has been stuck in Mexico due to the pandemic and missed several empty arena TV tapings.

PWInsider also reports that Tessa was supposed to send promos from Mexico for a June episode of Impact, but she never sent them. Reportedly there were even attempts made to get her to return and drop the Impact World Championship, but neither side would come to terms.

Tessa Blanchard won the Impact World Championship earlier in January at the Hard to Kill PPV after defeating then-champion Sami Callihan. She became the first woman to win the title.

Below is Impact’s statement that was originally sent to PWInsider:

Impact Wrestling confirmed that it has terminated its relationship with Tessa Blanchard and stripped her of the Impact Wrestling World Championship.

WWE SmackDown Preview 6/26/20 – Special Tribute To The Undertaker

Tonight’s WWE SmackDown on FOX will air on a tape delay from the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, FL.

SmackDown tonight will feature a tribute to The Undertaker. The special tribute to Taker will include the Boneyard Match from WrestleMania 36, which saw Taker defeat AJ Styles.

It’s interesting to note that WWE has edited their SmackDown preview for tonight, removing previously announced segments. It was announced before that Styles will also be in action tonight as he defends his WWE Intercontinental Title against Drew Gulak. It was also announced that SmackDown will feature WWE Universal Champion Braun Strowman addressing Bray Wyatt, and Sheamus raising a toast to Jeff Hardy. The WWE website no longer includes the previews on Styles vs. Gulak, Strowman or Sheamus and Hardy.

AEW Dynamite Preview 6/24/20

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

* AEW World Champion Jon Moxley will be in action with Taz on commentary

* Chris Jericho and Orange Cassidy face-off

* FTR vs. The Natural Nightmares

* “The Exalted One” Mr. Brodie Lee and Colt Cabana vs. Joey Janela and Sonny Kiss

* Luchasaurus vs. Wardlow (Lumberjack Match)

* Santana vs. Matt Hardy (Fans vote on which “Version” of Matt will show up)

* AEW Women’s World Champion Hikaru Shida in action

* Press conference highlights for the TNT Championship Match at Fyter Fest