Luke Harper Returned At WWE RAW Live Event In Rochester, NY

Luke Harper made his official in-ring return at tonight’s WWE RAW live event in Rochester, NY after being out of action since November 2018. Harper defeated Mojo Rawley in his first match back with the company.

Despite working some NXT live events in the latter part of 2018, Harper has been absent from WWE TV since last August when his fellow “Bludgeon Brother”, Erick Rowan, suffered a torn bicep at SummerSlam 2018. The team was forced to drop the WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championship to The New Day after the injury occurred.

As has been well documented, Rowan recently returned to WWE TV and essentially became the bodyguard to WWE Champion Daniel Bryan. Meanwhile, Harper was seen regularly attending the WWE Performance Center in Orlando while sporting a cast on his left hand, indicating that he had surgery.

https://twitter.com/JoeyShoots/status/1104544774554615811

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Bullet Club Adding A New Member

During night one of the NJPW New Japan Cup it was teased Bullet Club would be adding a new member soon. Most of the vignette hid the individual, but there is a glimpse near the end and it’s Canadian wrestler, El Phantasmo.

Debuting back in 2005, El Phantasmo has been a big part of numerous promotions in Canada. Currently working on the UK indie scene, he typically works with RevPro Wrestling where he won last year’s British J-Cup tournament. RevPro is also a partner of NJPW.

The current Bullet Club roster is: IWGP Heavyweight Champion Jay White (leader), Bad Luck Fale, Chase Owens, Gedo, Hikuleo, Jado, Robbie Eagles, IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion Taiji Ishimori, IWGP Tag Team Champion Tama Tonga, IWGP Tag Team Champion Tagna Loa, and Yujiro Takahashi.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

AEW Files New Trademark Application

On February 28, 2019, All Elite Wrestling, LLC applied for yet another trademark through the United States Patent & Trademark Office. This time, AEW is applying to trademark ‘All Elite Wrestling – AEW’.

According to the filing, “[t]he mark consists of the term ALL ELITE WRESTLING AEW surrounded by rectangular border, with the words ‘ALL ELITE’ in smaller font on top, the stylized wording AEW in bigger font in the middle, and the word ‘WRESTLING’ in smaller font at the bottom.”

Moreover, the design is to be associated with AEW music and ringtones, merchandise such as posters and trading cards, mugs and glassware, toys and Christmas ornaments, clothing, bags and backpacks, various forms of retail sales, as well as the live streaming of events, among other things.

This filing comes hot off the heels of news that AEW’s prior trademark applications (the original AEW design and wordmark, ‘All Elite Wrestling’, ‘AEW Double Or Nothing’, ‘AEW All Out’, ‘Tuesday Night Dynamite’, ‘Fight For The Fallen’ and ‘Change The Universe’) all faced initial refusal from the USPTO on a variety of technical grounds. AEW has six months from USPTO’s February 19, 2019 letter of initial refusal to rectify its rejected trademark applications.

What is unknown at this time is whether the new trademark application has any impact on AEW’s previous filings. The February 28, 2019 application could be used to replace the prior AEW design; however, given the distinctive appearance and description of this most recent filing, it is most likely merely a variant logo design.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Trevor Lee Debuts In WWE NXT (Photos)

Former Impact Wrestling X-Division Champion Trevor Lee made his WWE NXT in-ring debut tonight in Dade City, Florida when he suffered a loss to NXT UK’s Luke Menzies.

Along with being a three-time X-Division Champion, Lee was also an Impact World Tag Team Champion with partner, Brian Myers. He’s also held titles in AAW, PWG, and was the OMEGA Heavyweight Champion.

Below are some photos from tonight’s NXT live event:

https://twitter.com/WWENXT/status/1104206026734268417

https://twitter.com/FLWrestlingFan/status/1104187882913386497

https://twitter.com/Tarratastic/status/1104188211931373574

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson Reportedly Leaving WWE After Turning Down Deals

There’s now speculation on Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson possibly leaving WWE later this year.

Gallows and Anderson have reportedly turned down multi-million dollar contracts from WWE, according to PWInsider. Word is that The Good Brothers are now planning on leaving WWE when their current contracts expire.

It was reported back in December that they deals will expire in late September 2019, but then it was believed that they would be re-signing instead of returning to New Japan Pro Wrestling. This was before AEW potentially entered the picture.

We’ve noted how WWE officials have been approaching talents about signing new contracts as of late. Gallows and Anderson had multiple meetings with officials but word came out over the last few days that they turned down new deals. They are looking to leave WWE because they aren’t satisfied with how they have been used in recent years, according to the report.

It was also noted that Gallows and Anderson are brought to TV, but they aren’t currently being booked for non-televised live events. One source claimed to PWI that they were removed from the live event tours after initial contract meetings that didn’t lead to a new agreement between the two sides.

The Good Brothers are rarely featured on WWE TV these days. The former RAW Tag Team Champions lost to Rusev and Shinsuke Nakamura on the February 5 SmackDown episode and then they lost to SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Usos on the December 18 episode. They haven’t been used much since being brought to SmackDown from RAW after WrestleMania 34 last year. They had a “Botch Club” WWE Digital series premiere earlier this year but it was nixed after the premiere episode.

The WWE futures of Gallows and Anderson were a hot topic backstage at this week’s SmackDown. While a lot can change between now and late September, word going around the wrestlers this week is that Gallows and Anderson are determined to continue their pro wrestling careers outside of WWE.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

How Much Money The XFL Has Already Paid WWE

In late 2017 there were rumblings that Vince McMahon was considering a revival of the XFL. In January of 2018, McMahon made it official and the league is entirely owned by Alpha Entertainment which is owned by McMahon and shares office space with WWE.

That marks a departure from the first version of XFL which was equally co-owned by WWE and by NBC. McMahon established Alpha to completely separate the XFL from the WWE this time around.

But that doesn’t mean that the two companies won’t work together and that is evident by recent SEC filings. They note just how much money is exchanging between WWE and Alpha/XFL and also detail the arrangement between the two”

“As previously announced, Vincent McMahon organized and owns a majority of Alpha Entertainment, LLC (“Alpha”), which owns and operates the professional football league XFL. Under arrangements made at the time of its organization, WWE received, among other things, an equity interest in Alpha without payment by, or other financial obligation on the part of, WWE; WWE sold certain intellectual property rights relating to XFL to Alpha for a payment in the amount of $1 million; and WWE entered into a support services agreement under which WWE provides Alpha certain administrative support services on a cost-plus margin basis. During the year ended December 31, 2018, Alpha was billed approximately $1,305,000 for services under the administrative support services agreement, of which $474,000 was due at year end and subsequently paid.”

In summary:

– WWE sold intellectual property rights to Alpha for $1 million
– Alpha was billed over $1.3 million for WWE providing administrative support
– Alpha paid WWE $474,000 for that administrative support

While the XFL does have its own Careers page on its website, WWE also has a job posting for an XFL position on its website. This could be part of the services agreement between WWE and Alpha/XFL as the latter gets up and running.

So, even though Alpha Entertainment was created to keep the XFL’s operations separate from WWE, the XFL is still leaning on its big brother named World Wrestling Entertainment.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

WWE Fastlane 3/10/19

March 10, 2019 – 7 PM ET /4 PM PT  – Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, Ohio

Kickoff – 6 ET/3 PT

WWE Championship: (C) Daniel Bryan vs. Kevin Owens

Becky Lynch vs. Charlotte Flair (If Lynch wins, she’ll be added to Charlotte vs. Ronda Rousey for the WWE RAW Women’s Championship at WrestleMania 35)

WWE RAW Tag Team Championship: (C) The Revival vs. Bobby Roode & Chad Gable vs. Ricochet & Aleister Black

SmackDown Women’s Championship: (C) Asuka vs. Mandy Rose

SmackDown Tag Team Championship: (C) The Usos vs. Shane McMahon & The Miz

The Shield (Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns & Dean Ambrose) vs. Drew McIntyre, Baron Corbin & Bobby Lashley

WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship: (C) Sasha Banks & Bayley vs. Nia Jax & Tamina

WWE United States Championship: (C) Samoa Joe vs. R-Truth vs. Rey Mysterio vs. Andrade

(Kickoff) The New Day (Big E & Xavier Woods) vs. Rusev & Shinsuke Nakamura

WWE Announces EVOLVE 123 & 124 Cards

EVOLVE has announced that WWE NXT North American Champion The Velveteen Dream will face Orange Cassidy in a non-title match at EVOLVE 123 on March 15 in Melrose, MA. NXT’s The Street Profits will also be in action that night, defending their EVOLVE Tag Team Titles against The Unwanted.

It was also announced that Dream and The Street Profits will team to face Joe Gacy, Shane Strickland and Eddie Kingston the next night at EVOLVE 124 in Queens. Ricochet will be doing meet & greets at both events.

Below is WWE’s announcement on EVOLVE 123 and EVOLVE 124:

EVOLVE 123 and 124 lineups revealedThe North American Dream will soon descend on EVOLVE Wrestling.

In the wake of his epic victory over Johnny Gargano for the NXT North American Title last month, Velveteen Dream will shroud his enduring purple reign over EVOLVE 123 and 124. Joining Dream for the action-packed events will be fellow NXT Superstars The Street Profits and Ricochet.

Dream’s EVOLVE experience kicks off Friday, March 15, when he takes on Orange Cassidy at EVOLVE 123 at the Melrose Memorial Hall in Melrose, Mass., while Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins are set to take on two members of The Unwanted (Eddie Kingston, Joe Gacy, Colby Corino & Shane Strickland). From there, the action carries into Saturday, March 16, at La Boom in Queens for EVOLVE 124, which will see Dream and Street Profits assemble to take on The Unwanted’s Strickland, Kingston & Gacy in a Six-Man Tag Team Match. In addition, Ricochet will be on tap for meet-and-greets at both shows. (You must have a ticket to the events to take part in the meet-and-greets.)

The lineups for both events are listed below. Tickets for EVOLVE 123 and EVOLVE 124 are available now at WWNLive.com.

EVOLVE 123 – Friday, March 15 at Melrose Memorial Hall in Melrose, Mass.

Non-Title Match
NXT North American Champion Velveteen Dream vs. Orange Cassidy

Grudge Match – Stipulation to be Determined
EVOLVE Tag Team Champions The Street Profits vs. Two members of The Unwanted (Eddie Kingston, Joe Gacy, Colby Corino & Shane Strickland)

EVOLVE Championship Match
Austin Theory (c) vs. John Silver

EVOLVE 114 Rematch
Josh Briggs vs. Darby Allin

Tag Team Attraction 
AR Fox & Leon Ruff with Ayla & The Skulk vs. WWN Champion JD Drake & Anthony Henry

Plus Mae Young Classic 2018 competitor Priscilla Kelly, Curt Stallion, Harlem Bravado, Rory Gulak and others!

EVOLVE 124 – Saturday, March 16, at La Boom in Queens, N.Y.

Six-Man Tag Team Match
NXT North American Champion Velveteen Dream & EVOLVE Tag Team Champions The Street Profits vs. Shane Strickland, Eddie Kingston & Joe Gacy

Champion vs. Champion Non-Title Match
EVOLVE Champion Austin Theory vs. WWN Champion JD Drake

Grudge Match
Darby Allin vs. Anthony Henry

Special Challenge Match
AR Fox with Ayla & The Skulk vs. Josh Briggs

Curt Stallion vs. Leon Ruff

Harlem Bravado vs. John Silver

Plus more, with Priscilla Kelly and others.

With these shows being the final EVOLVE events before The WWNLive Experience, which takes place at La Boom in Queens on April 4-6, you can expect plenty of newsworthy happenings at EVOLVE 123 and 124. Visit WWNLive.com now for more details.

MLW Fusion Preview 3/9/19

Watch Major League Wrestling nationwide and in Canada each week on beIN SPORTS Saturdays 9pm ET / 7pm PT and on YouTube Sundays 12pm ET / 9am PT.

Jim Cornette is back calling wrestling in prime time. The media has praised the return of the “Louisville Slugger” so don’t miss his sophomore outing as he sits ringside with Rich Bocchini for a night of action! Moments after escaping the solid steel cage to retain the World Heavyweight Championship, “Filthy” Tom Lawlor was savagely attacked by the group identifying themselves as CONTRA.  This week on FUSION, we’ll get an update on Lawlor’s injuries and perhaps learn more about CONTRA. The Hart Foundation aren’t in a good mood following MJF and Richard Holliday’s recent actions. Teddy Hart, Davey Boy Smith Jr. and Brian Pillman speak candidly on their upcoming World Tag Team Title defense against MJF and Holliday. Mance Warner will be in the house. What’s Ol Mancer up to? Most likely lariats and light beers! Salina de la Renta will break her silence after last week’s steel cage match where Low Ki failed to reclaim the belt.  What is on the empresaria’s mind? Is the house of Promotions Dorado on shaky ground? Tune in to find out. There will also be a qualifying match for the 2019 Battle Riot. Will veteran DJZ punch his ticket to the 40-wrestler extravaganza or will newcomer Ace Austin silence the electric Filipino grappler? Tune in for this high flying, high stakes encounter.

Matches: 

  • Ace Romero vs. Simon Gotch
  • Battle Riot Qualifying Match: DJZ vs. Ace Austin
  • Alex Hammerstone vs. Isaias Velasquez

Join Jim Cornette and Rich Bocchini ringside in Chicago as Major League Wrestling presents the fastest and most dangerous hour of combat sports you’ll experience anywhere in the world. Watch MLW FUSION Saturday nights on beIN SPORTS at 9pm ET/6pm PT.  Don’t get beIN? Subscribe to MLW’s YouTube channel for free and stream binge on MLW FUSION anytime anywhere!

Impact Wrestling Preview 3/8/19

Tonight on Impact at 10/9c on Pursuit and Twitch:

* Ace Austin debuts

* Rascalz vs. Lucha Bros

* Alisha Edwards announcement

* Rich Swann vs. Ethan Page

* The Dark War: Team Rosemary vs. Team Su Yung