Big E Injured In Tuesday’s WWE SmackDown Live Main Event

It looks like Big E is currently dealing with a knee injury.

The big man of The New Day took to Twitter today and indicated a meniscus tear, possibly suffered during the six-man main event of Tuesday’s WWE SmackDown Live, which saw The New Day defeat Drew McIntyre and The Bar. Big E’s cryptic tweet indicates he suffered the injury while doing or taking a crossbody. He ended with a “Bye for a bit” and that could mean time off to heal.

According to our coverage from Tuesday night, Big E did take a crossbody from Cesaro towards the end of the match but he worked for a few minutes after that, even going for a pin right after and a Big Ending attempt.

You can see Big E’s tweet below:

WWE has confirmed that Big E is currently dealing with a knee injury and is not cleared to compete.  There’s no word yet on if he will need surgery or how long he will be out of action.

Below is WWE’s announcement on the injury:

Big E suffers torn meniscusBig E of The New Day has suffered a torn meniscus, according to a tweet from the Superstar posted Thursday afternoon.

He is not currently medically cleared for action.

Stay with all of WWE’s digital platforms for more details on Big E’s status as they become available.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Daniel Bryan Injured At WrestleMania 35?

Daniel Bryan may have suffered an injury during his WWE Title loss to Kofi Kingston at WrestleMania 35 on Sunday, according to Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio. Bryan was waiting to be examined this week, but word coming out of Sunday’s big event was that Bryan may have been injured.

This is why Bryan was sent went home earlier this week and was not backstage for Tuesday’s SmackDown from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Eli Drake’s Impact Wrestling Firing Might Get Ugly

Earlier this week, Impact Wrestling announced Eli Drake was done with the company via an announcement on its website.

The full statement by Impact at the time was, “Impact Wrestling announced today that it has terminated its relationship with Shaun Ricker, known as ‘Eli Drake.'”

PWInsider received word from those within Impact that the company will look into a breach of contract claim against Drake. This move would delay his ability to sign with another promotion until its settled.

Drake’s contract was set to expire on May 31, but he was officially terminated on April 7 over comments he made about Impact Wrestling. The report noted some in Impact believed Drake was headed to AEW once his contract expired.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

WWE Writer Says He Quit At The Hall Of Fame Ceremony

As noted earlier, Robert Evans was released from the WWE creative team during the 2019 WWE Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony this past Saturday night. The story going around is that Evans was fired because Vince McMahon’s name was mentioned in the speech and segment that Evans helped come up with, Bret Hart’s speech for The Hart Foundation. Vince has strongly stressed over the years that his name not be mentioned or praised during speeches, to the point that it has become a running joke.

In an update, PWInsider reports that the situation was more of a “You can’t fire me, I quit” scenario. Evans reportedly quit the company when it became obvious that WWE was going to fire him.

Furthermore, Evans took to Twitter this morning and issued an “official statement” on his WWE departure. Evans, who worked on the WWE creative team since the fall of 2016, said he quit. You can see his simple statement below:

https://twitter.com/Oh_Robert_Evans/status/1116323690684264449

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Possible New WWE Roles For “Road Dogg” BG James, More Details On WWE Creative Situation,

It was reported earlier that 2019 WWE Hall of Famer “Road Dogg” BG James had stepped down as the co-lead writer of the SmackDown brand, and that he informed officials that he was stepping down on Wednesday as WrestleMania 35 Week was coming to an end in Brooklyn. Word was that James had become increasingly frustrated with changed made to blue brand TV scripts by Vince McMahon, and that he finally “hit a breaking point” at Tuesday’s SmackDown.

It was also noted that James could be transitioning into another role with WWE. There was no role on a possible replacement for James, but the report also stated that the way WWE creative is set up these days the lead writer is more of a formality as opposed to a specific voice that drives the show. Everything pitched for SmackDown TV comes through the writing team to Vince, and is then approved with Vince tweaking the script up until it’s time to go live.

In an update, James is not leaving the company, according to Pro Wrestling Sheet. Word is now that James could fill the behind-the-scenes role once held by WWE Hall of Famer Arn Anderson at live events. There was also talk of James possibly working as a commentator.

Regarding the situation with James, it was described as a mutual decision to change his position with SmackDown moving to Friday nights on Fox in October, not necessarily James “stepping down.” WWE officials reportedly want to keep James’ position flexible at this time, and use him as a “utility player” so they can see where he would fit best moving forward. However, sources made it clear that this was not a contentious decision, and that both sides thought it was best.

James had been working on the SmackDown creative team since 2016. He was quickly promoted to become co-lead writer with Ryan Ward.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

More On Possible AEW TV Deal, AEW Weekly TV Show Not Airing Year Round To Be More Wrestler-Friendly?

As noted, Twitter insider @fightoracle reported that WarnerMedia/Turner Sports (TNT, TBS) was set to present All Elite Wrestling to advertisers at their 2019 Upfronts presentation on Wednesday, May 15 in New York City. This report came after it was recently stated by AEW announcer Jim Ross that AEW was close to signing with a network that many people have access to.

The Wrap now reports that Turner is in advanced talks with AEW for a weekly TV show that would likely air on TNT. It was noted that the deal is “definitely not signed” and the talks are “pretty complex” but “not imminent.” It is not a sure thing that AEW will be presented at the Upfronts.

The potential deal would see a weekly AEW TV series air on TNT, but AEW would also have a multi-platform existence. The Wrap noted that Turner’s Bleacher Report Live platform would be “the most sensible outpost for the sports entertainment overflow.”

It’s also possible that the AEW TV show would not be year-round, indicating that the promotion may have plans for an off-season. The Wrap noted, “That would likely be a combination of the newness of the league and its desire to be more wrestler-friendly than rival WWE, which has a punishing schedule for talent.”

The Wrap also reported that AEW’s first big event, Double Or Nothing on May 25 from Las Vegas, is set to stream on YouTube, Twitter and Facebook. It sounds like that could change as a streaming deal with a network is announced.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

“Road Dogg” BG James Steps Down As WWE SmackDown Co-Lead Writer, Another Writer Fired At WWE Hall Of Fame

2019 WWE Hall of Famer “Road Dogg” BG James has stepped down as the co-lead writer for WWE SmackDown, according to PWInsider. James informed WWE officials that he was stepping down on Wednesday as WrestleMania 35 Week came to an end.

James had been leading SmackDown with Stephen Guerrieri, who has been with the creative team since 2012 and in a head writer position since 2014, with James going on the road with the blue brand while Guerrieri would work out of WWE HQ in Stamford, CT. Word is that James had become increasingly frustrated with changes made to SmackDown scripts by Vince McMahon, and he finally hit a “breaking point” at Tuesday’s post-WrestleMania 35 edition of SmackDown from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

There’s no word yet on who may be replacing James in the co-lead writer role on the blue brand, but sources stated to PWInsider that with the way WWE creative is set up these days the lead writer is more of a formality as opposed to a specific voice that drives the show. Everything pitched for SmackDown comes through the team to Vince, and is then approved with Vince tweaking the script up until it’s time to go on the air. There’s also no word yet on if James will be transitioning into another role with WWE.

James had been working on the SmackDown creative team since 2016. He was quickly promoted to become co-lead writer with Ryan Ward.

While it’s not known if this is directly related, but James posted a tweet about change on Wednesday, writing, “Today I pray that I face the change, that is inevitably coming, head on and with faith and courage. The only constant is change! #HOPE #FAITH #OUDK”

James also defended SmackDown creative on Twitter, as he often does. Responding to criticism over the two six-man matches on this week’s episode, James wrote, “What about either 6 man last night was BS? A lot of the time it gets more talent on tv. I really don’t see what there is to get so angry about!”

In other WWE creative team news coming out of WrestleMania 35 Week, WWE writer Robert Evans was fired this past week. Word is that Evans was fired at the WWE Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony after he helped produce the Bret Hart speech for The Hart Foundation’s induction, and it featured a mention of Vince. Vince has strongly stressed for years that he does not want to be mentioned or praised during Hall of Fame speeches, according to PWInsider, to the point that it has become a running joke. When Vince was mentioned in Bret’s speech, Evans reportedly took the blame as the writer and producer of that segment. Evans was reportedly fired backstage in the Gorilla Position as the ceremony was going on.

For those who missed it, Bret’s speech included a story of the first time Vince reacted to The Hart Foundation and praised their in-ring work. DX later joked about Vince’s name being mentioned during their speech that wrapped the ceremony, and these jokes may have been inspired by Vince firing Evans for the earlier mention in Hart’s speech.

Evans was reportedly liked by those who worked with him backstage. The 35 year old previously wrestled on the indies as RD Evans and Archibald Peck before joining the WWE creative team in the fall of 2016.

You can see Road Dogg’s tweet on “change” below along with the exchange defending SmackDown:

Source: Wrestling Inc.

XFL Commissioner Oliver Luck Reveals Three-Tiered Extra Point System & Overtime Rules

Not only does the XFL want to distance itself from the AAF which lasted all of eight weeks, but Vince McMahon’s pro football league is also taking steps to differentiate itself from the NFL.

XFL Commissioner Oliver Luck revealed a number of rule changes that will make the XFL look like a brand of football that fans haven’t seen before.

Luck said on the PFT PM podcast that the league will have a three-tiered extra point system in which teams can score one point, two points or three points after a touchdown.

On extra point attempts, teams can choose whether to go for a one-point conversion from the 2-yard line, a two-point conversion from the 5-yard line or a three-point conversion from the 10-yard line.

Thus, a touchdown and the ensuing PAT could result in anywhere from six to nine points. All of the conversion attempts would be from scrimmage plays as opposed to kicking attempts.

“We literally have a nine-point touchdown,” said Luck. “We think that’s valuable because teams that historically are down by let’s say three scores, well guess what, if it’s a 16-point or a 17-point differential, you’re really looking at a two-score game theoretically.”

The league considered moving the three-point conversion to the 15-yard line, but Luck said that defenses would have too much of an advantage with that much yardage to go.

The XFL will also use overtime rules which will resemble a soccer or hockey shootout. Each offense will have five attempts to score from the five-yard line and will accumulate one point for each score. If the defense forces a turnover, then the defense would get one point.

Both teams’ offenses and defenses will be on the field at the same time and lined up in opposite endzones. The offenses will then alternate during the five scoring attempts just as what happens in a shootout.

The XFL plans to begin play in 2020 and the overtime rules are currently being tested in the Spring League.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

AEW’s Rumored New Television Home

Warner Media Group, which operates Turner Sports (TBS, TNT), will reportedly be presenting AEW at their upfronts to advertisers next month, per the @fightoracle insider account, which bears an uncanny resemblance to MMA insider Front Row Brian’s now-suspended Twitter account.

Upfronts are where major television networks make presentations and preview their upcoming fall and midseason shows so that advertisers can purchase commercials on them ahead of time. The upfronts are held in the third week of May in New York, and Warner Media are currently scheduled to present on May 15th.

https://twitter.com/fightoracle/status/1116120237844332544

As we previously reported, WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross, who signed a three-year deal with AEW earlier this month, recently told WFAN Radio in New York City that AEW will have a weekly two-hour live TV show that premieres in October. While Ross declined to provide any additional details, he did say that the AEW TV show will air on a major network that everyone will have access to.

“[AEW] is overwhelming for me,” Ross said. “To be 67 years old and be anointed the voice of a brand that’s gonna be debuting in October on national television on a major cable network, which can’t be named now. When people hear what network we’re going on, they’re gonna be doubly excited. It’s a network we can all find.”

During an interview with Wrestling Inc. in February, AEW Executive Vice President Cody Rhodes told us that their potential deal could create a “massive shift in the pro wrestling industry.”

“I can’t talk about it but I know that I was quoted as saying, not by you guys, that ‘a TV deal was not important.’ And I think that in the context I was speaking, I was talking about how important social media and do-it-yourself brands are compared to the traditional TV median,” Rhodes explained. “But I also – let’s be serious, major TV is a huge thing. And it would be a massive shift in the pro wrestling industry. It would be a change-the-world-like move. But I can’t talk about any pending TV deals.

“A lot of the information that’s out there is very accurate about what we’re seeking to do and how frequently we’re seeking to do it,” Rhodes said. “But I don’t want to discourage any future partners. I can say that people have been really calculated about how we roll out announcements. We want to be proper. We can’t just stand on the podium in Jacksonville and say, ‘Hey, here’s the entire business model, here’s all of our plans, here’s x-amount of money.’ We can’t do that. I know the business of the business is very entertaining but I think if people put their trust in us like they have, we won’t let them down.”

Turner Sports has had a long history with professional wrestling, as Turner Broadcasting System purchased Jim Crockett Promotions in 1988, which was rebranded as WCW. WCW programming aired on TBS and TNT with WCW Monday Nitro on TBS going head-to-head with WWF Monday Night RAW from 1995 until the company was sold to WWE in 2001. Monday Nitro even surpassed RAW in the ratings for 83 consecutive weeks from 1996-1997.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

KUSHIDA Makes NXT Debut At TV Tapings

New WWE NXT Superstar KUSHIDA made his in-ring TV debut at this week’s NXT tapings from Full Sail University. He wrestled Kassius Ohno in a match that could air on May 1 or May 8.

As noted, WWE announced that Triple H and NXT General Manager William Regal had signed the 35 year old former IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion during WrestleMania 35 Weekend in New York City. He was shown at ringside for Friday’s “Takeover: New York” event.

Below are a few photos from KUSHIDA’s debut at Full Sail:

https://twitter.com/JJWilliamsWON/status/1116147353248063488

https://twitter.com/JJWilliamsWON/status/1116147458042675200

https://twitter.com/JJWilliamsWON/status/1116152222511980545

Source: Wrestling Inc.