XFL announced that they have partnered with The Spring League as they work to reimagine the game of football.
XFL posted the following on Facebook:
Report: Hideo Itami To Be Released By WWE
According to a report from Fightful, Hideo Itami is the latest wrestler within WWE to ask for his release from the company. Unlike others who reportedly did the same, however, they are also reporting it’s likely he will be granted his wish.
Not long after the aforementioned report was published, Itami changed his name on Twitter back to Kenta and tweeted this:
https://twitter.com/HideoItami/status/1090473371924492289
His issues, unsurprisingly, apparently have to do with being dissatisfied with his creative direction. He felt like a truly hot commodity when he originally debuted in NXT but never seemed to get off the ground, with various injury issues partly to blame. When he was put on 205 Live, there was some hope but the cruiserweight division hasn’t done much for many and Itami is likely much better off heading back to Japan.
Hideo Itami has not yet received his WWE release, according to PWInsider. He will be receiving it, and when he does, he will be subject to the 90-day non-compete clause. Itami is expected to return home to Japan.
Sources: CageSideSeats, PWInsider, Fightful and WrestlingINC
Trent Baretta and Chuckie T Reportedly Leaving NJPW Soon
Trent Baretta and Chuckie T are finishing up with New Japan after they complete their scheduled shows on the New Beginning USA Tour, according to Dave Meltzer on the latest Wrestling Observer Radio.
Meltzer notes that Baretta was offered a contract with a big push and booking dates guaranteed throughout the year. Baretta had reportedly spoken to New Japan management prior to his decision to leave and told them he would agree to a new deal, however, he’s now backing off from the deal and is on his way out.
There’s no word yet on what the future plans are for Baretta and Chuckie T but Meltzer speculates that AEW is a likely alternative because of their good relationships with The Elite.
Baretta began his professional wrestling career in 2004 and it didn’t take long for him to get signed by WWE. He traveled through WWE’s developmental territories before appearing on TV as a lower-card singles competitor. After being released in 2013, Baretta began wrestling in such promotions as Pro Wrestling Guerilla, TNA/Impact Wrestling, and Ring of Honor. Beretta is a former four-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion with his current promoter, NJPW.
Chuck Taylor, or “Chuckie T”, began pro wrestling training at the age of fifteen in Hardin, Kentucky, despite laws in the state that required someone to be eighteen to compete. Taylor would travel to Tennessee or Illinois just to work shows a his age and receive exposure. He is arguably most notable for his time wrestling with New Japan, Ring of Honor, and Pro Wrestling Guerrilla. Taylor is a former two-time PWG World Champion.
Source: WrestlingINC
WWE Confirms Dean Ambrose Not Renewing Contract
WWE has confirmed that Dean Ambrose will not be renewing his WWE contract when it expires in April.
WWE issued the following statement:
Dean Ambrose (Jonathan Good) will not be renewing his contract with WWE when it expires in April.
We are grateful and appreciative of all that Dean has given to WWE and our fans. We wish him well and hope that one day Dean will return to WWE
WWE NXT Preview 1/30/19
WWE NXT streaming tonight at 8/7 C on WWE Network.
* The Streets Profits vs. The Forgotten Sons
* Kairi Sane & Io Shirai vs. Marina Shafir & Jessamyn Duke
* NXT TakeOver: Phoenix aftermath
WWE NXT UK Preview 1/30/19
NXT UK, streaming on WWE Network today at 3 p.m. ET/8 p.m. GMT.
* Tyler Bate & Trent Seven vs. Marcel Barthel & Fabian Aichner
* WALTER is scheduled to compete in his first NXT UK match
* “Bomber” Dave Mastiff will take on “Primate” Jay Melrose
* Jinny battles Kasey Owens
* The first-ever NXT UK Tag Team Champions James Drake & Zack Gibson will address the WWE Universe
R-Truth Wins U.S. Championship On Tonight’s WWE SmackDown
R-Truth defeated Shinsuke Nakamura on tonight’s WWE SmackDown to become the new WWE United States Champion.
It looked like they may have botched Truth’s roll-up on Nakamura. Truth’s post-match celebration was interrupted by Rusev and Lana, leading to Truth granting a title shot to Rusev. Truth then retained the title over Rusev. Nakamura and Rusev double teamed Truth after the match and beat him down in the middle of the ring.
Truth is now a two-time United States Champion. Nakamura won the title from Rusev on Sunday during the WWE Royal Rumble Kickoff pre-show.
Below are photos and videos of tonight’s title change:
https://twitter.com/WWE/status/1090419752160247808
https://twitter.com/WWE/status/1090421641941680128
https://twitter.com/WWE/status/1090421820098920454
https://twitter.com/WWE/status/1090422610859454464
WWE Halftime Heat Possible Plans For Sunday
WWE officials want to air Sunday’s Halftime Heat special live so there are no spoilers, and so it’s another piece of original live content for the WWE Network, according to PWInsider.
The current plan is to hold the match inside the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, streaming it live to the WWE Network and other WWE digital platforms. WWE could bring local fans into the PC so there’s a crowd, or they could use a bunch of wrestlers as extras in the crowd. They could also do an “empty arena” match like they did with The Rock and WWE Hall of Famer Mick Foley years ago. It was previously speculated that the match would be taped at Wednesday’s WWE NXT TV tapings from Full Sail University.
As noted, the match will air during halftime of the NFL’s Super Bowl LIII on Sunday. It will be NXT Champion Tommaso Ciampa, NXT North American Champion Johnny Gargano and Adam Cole vs. Ricochet, Aleister Black and The Velveteen Dream. WWE Hall of Famer Shawn Michaels will serve as a guest commentator.
Source: WrestlingINC
WWE Hires Shawn Daivari To Work Behind-The-Scenes
Former WWE Superstar Shawn Daivari has been hired to work as a producer for WWE. It was first reported by Last Word On Pro Wrestling.
Daivari left WWE in 2007 but has stayed active in pro wrestling, including a run with Impact Wrestling. He also opened a wrestling school in Minnesota with former WWE star Mr. Anderson. Daivari returned to WWE in 2018 for the Greatest Royal Rumble event in Saudi Arabia, appearing with his brother – WWE 205 Live Superstar Ariya Daivari.
WWE continues to hire wrestling veterans to work in roles behind-the-scenes. As noted, they have recently hired WWE Hall of Famer Jeff Jarrett, Shane Helms, Sonjay Dutt and Abyss.
Source: WrestlingINC
Daniel Bryan Dumps WWE Championship Belt In Trash Can, Unveils New Hemp Title Belt
After weeks of promises, Daniel Bryan has finally come through on his vow to create a more sustainable WWE Championship to wear to the ring.
It all went down on SmackDown Live this evening after Daniel cut an intense promo about the WWE Championship while standing next to a trash can. He then dumped it in the garbage and asked Rowan to present him with the new belt.
The new belt, seen in the video below, is made out of “sustainable, organic hemp.”
Shortly after the announcement … Triple H appeared on the Titantron to announce Daniel Bryan would be defending his new championship inside the Elimination Chamber against Mustafa Ali, Randy Orton, Samoa Joe, AJ Styles and Jeff Hardy.
