Sami Zayn is currently dealing with an injury, according to PWInsider. Zayn has been working through the injury but is now headed to Birmingham, Alabama this week to have the injury examined.
Sami was booked to take the easy loss to Bobby Lashley at Money In the Bank because of the injury.
No word yet on specifics of the injury but Sami was not at last night’s RAW and Money In the Bank was his last date until he’s able to return. Stay tuned for updates on his status.
Source: WrestlingINC
The G1 Climax is a 20-man round robin styled tournament that is considered NJPW’s most prestigious tournament of the year. The winner will receive an opportunity to challenge for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship at Wrestle Kingdom 13. Once the G1 ends on August 12, the winner does have to defend their title opportunity until next January, so winning the G1 doesn’t necessarily guarantee a future title shot.
Over the last couple days NJPW has announced the participants, blocks, and now the full cards for the tournament. You can see when every match takes place by clicking here.
Here are some of the key match-ups to look out for in the tournament:
* Kazuchika Okada vs. Jay White (July 14)
* Kenny Omega vs. Tetsuya Naito (July 15)
* Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Jay White (July 16)
* Hirooki Goto vs. Kenny Omega (July 19)
* Kazuchika Okada vs. Hangman Page (July 20)
* Hirooki Goto vs. Tomohiro Ishii (July 21)
* Togi Makabe vs. Kazuchika Okada (July 22)
* SANADA vs. Kota Ibushi (July 26)
* Kazuchika Okada vs. YOSHI-HASHI (July 27)
* Tomohiro Ishii vs. Kota Ibushi (July 28)
* Michael Elgin vs. Kazuchika Okada (July 30)
* Hirooki Goto vs. Kota Ibushi (August 1)
* Kazuchika Okada vs. Minoru Suzuki (August 2)
* Tomohiro Ishii vs. Kenny Omega (August 4)
* Kazuchika Okada vs. EVIL (August 5)
* Tetsuya Naito vs. SANADA (August 8)
* Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kazuchika Okada (August 10)
* Kenny Omega vs. Kota Ibushi (August 11)
* A Block vs. B Block winners (August 12)
A Block
* Hiroshi Tanahashi (17 time entrant, 17th consecutive entry)
* Togi Makabe (15 time entrant, 15th consecutive entry)
* Michael Elgin (4 time entrant, 4th consecutive entry)
* Kazuchika Okada (7 time entrant, 7th consecutive entry)
* Jay White (G1 Debut)
* YOSHI-HASHI (3 time entrant, 3rd consecutive entry)
* Bad Luck Fale (5 time entrant, 5th consecutive entry)
* Hangman Page (G1 Debut)
* EVIL (3 time entrant, 3rd consecutive entry)
* Minoru Suzuki (8 time entrant, 2nd consecutive entry)
B Block
* Juice Robinson (2 time entrant, 2nd consecutive entry)
* Hirooki Goto (11 time entrant, 11th consecutive entry)
* Tomohiro Ishii (6 time entrant, 6th consecutive entry)
* Toru Yano (13 time entrant, 12th consecutive entry)
* Kenny Omega (3 time entrant, 3rd consecutive entry)
* Kota Ibushi (4 time entrant, 2nd consecutive entry)
* Tama Tonga (3 time entrant, 3rd consecutive entry)
* Tetsuya Naito (9 time entrant, 9th consecutive entry)
* SANADA (3 time entrant, 3rd consecutive entry)
* Zack Sabre Jr. (2 time entrant, 2nd consecutive entry)
Source: WrestlingINC
It is a rather long journey to actually get nominated for an Emmy Award. You must pass a couple different stages in the selection process first but it looks like a few WWE programs could be on their way to making the final nomination list.
The Emmy Prelim Ballot was recently released and it includes WWE programming in several categories. WWE attended the For Your Consideration event and brought a lot of star power to the show. Not only did they have skits designed to entertain but they also brought a couple heavy-hitting programs to put up for a nomination.
The WWE Network‘s 24 Special “Empowered” is listed on the Prelim Ballot for Best Documentary or Non-Fiction Special. HBO and WWE Studio’s joint project Andre The Giant is also in the same category.
WrestleMania 34 is getting some attention in the Outstanding Variety Special (Live) category. Both Raw and Mixed Match Challenge are also listed in the Emmy Prelim Ballot for Outstanding Structured Reality Program. The Unstructured Reality Program category includes some WWE representation in the form of both Total Divas and Total Bellas.
Only time will tell if those WWE programs actually make it into the small list of nominees for an Emmy Award, but it’s certainly a good start to see them on the list at this point.
Source: WrestlingINC
RAW General Manager Kurt Angle announced on this week’s show that Ronda Rousey has been suspended for 30 days. Rousey interrupted this week’s RAW opening segment to confront new RAW Women’s Champion Alexa Bliss and ended up assaulting Bliss, Angle and a few referees. Angle then suspended Rousey as punishment. Rousey made it clear that she will be going for Bliss when the suspension is up, champion or not.
Below is WWE’s announcement on the storyline suspension along with a post-show tweet from Angle and an apology from Rousey:
Ronda Rousey suspended from Raw for 30 daysRonda Rousey has been suspended from Monday Night Raw for 30 days after attacking Raw Women’s Champion Alexa Bliss, two WWE officials and Raw General Manager Kurt Angle.
The incident occurred one night after WWE Money in the Bank, where Bliss caused Rousey’s Raw Women’s Championship Match against Nia Jax to end in disqualification. The Goddess then cashed in her newly won Money in the Bank contract on The Irresistible Force to claim the title.
Jax will challenge Bliss for the title in a rematch at WWE Extreme Rules. Rousey, meanwhile, will be barred from Monday Night Raw until Wednesday, July 18 — three days after that event.
Stay with WWE.com as this story develops.
@therealkurtangle I sincerely apologize for my behavior tonight…. Though you were the first to put hands on me, I shouldn’t have let my temper get the best of me….Despite the fact I was cheated, provoked, and disrespected by Alexa… i shouldn’t have been willing to go through you to get to her. I’ll gladly serve my suspension … but Alexa, know that every moment you don’t see me i am thinking of you and preparing for your comeuppance. So you in 30 days #LittleMissBish
Source: WrestlingINC
WWE’s The New Day appeared alongside Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks in the latest episode of Being The Elite … but if that wasn’t enough to work you into a frenzy, a potential wrestling match between the two teams was also teased.
Kofi Kingston, Big E, and Xavier Woods are involved in a standoff with Omega and The Bucks ahead of their Street Fighter V showdown at EC3 at the top of this week’s show.
The most interesting moment happens at the end of the video, however, as Omega touts his victory over New Day and Nick Jackson questions if there’s something “better” they can defeat them at.
“The fans want it. I know I want it,” Nick tells Kenny and Matt. “We’re three athletes: think about it. We can beat them at something else.”
“It would have to be neutral ground,” Kenny responds.
Matt mentions a wrestling match … but the video ends and we’re left hanging!
It’s worth noting Triple H said last week that WWE would be open to inter-promotional opportunities with other companies. WWE also hyped The Bucks and Omega on their social channels last week. Is this impossible dream match becoming more probable?
Watch the latest episode of Being The Elite below. The match tease happens in the last minute or so.
Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet
NXT UK — a new show that will tape its first episode next month — was announced by Johnny Saint and Triple H during tonight’s show at Royal Albert Hall.
The show will feature a men’s division, women’s division and tag team division, with new belts being introduced for the latter two.
NXT UK will be taped over a series of 8 live events filmed on the following dates:
Triple H is quoted on WWE.com as saying, “This is the next step in our ongoing strategy to create localized content and further develop our brand globally.”
Watch the announcement video below:
Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet
Tonight’s WWE RAW will take place from the Van Del Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan with the fallout from Money In the Bank.
* Will Alexa Bliss pay for cashing in?
* Does The Monster in the Bank have a plan for Brock Lesnar?
* How will Rollins’ rivalry with Elias play out in the wake of the WWE Money in the Bank controversy?
* Who will dare meet The Big Dog in his yard?
As noted, it was announced at the WWE 2K19 press conference today that WWE Champion AJ Styles will be featured on the cover of the game, which will be released worldwide for PS4, Xbox One and Windows PC on October 9th.
Below is the full announcement on the game and the Million Dollar Challenge:
AJ Styles unveiled as WWE 2K19 cover Superstar2K unveiled The Phenomenal One as the WWE 2K19 cover Superstar and introduced a brand-new challenge that could make someone $1 million richer.
WWE 2K19 now has a Phenomenal cover Superstar and a path to WWE video game immortality.
2K has named AJ Styles as the cover Superstar of the upcoming edition of the WWE video game franchise. The world-renowned video game publisher unveiled its choice and other details about WWE 2K19, most notably the debut of the Million Dollar Challenge, during a press conference today.
Styles, the two-time WWE Champion who successfully retained his title at Money in the Bank 2018, attended 2K’s press conference. He expressed excitement and gratitude at being chosen for 2K’s highest honor.
“As a hardcore gamer and ambassador of everything it means to ‘Never Say Never’ in both my professional and personal life, it is a dream come true to be selected as the WWE 2K19 cover Superstar,” he said.
The Phenomenal One joins an elite group of grapplers who previously served as the face of the WWE 2K franchise. 2K’s past choices for the coveted role include “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, The Rock, John Cena, Brock Lesnar and Seth Rollins, who graced the cover of last year’s game.
In addition to its cover Superstar selection, 2K introduced the WWE 2K19 Million Dollar Challenge. This competition, introduced by Styles during the press conference, will put players on a path to facing The Phenomenal One for a chance to win $1 million.
To participate in the WWE 2K19 Million Dollar Challenge, eligible players must accomplish four tasks:
* Players must beat a to-be-announced new mode in the game.
* Then, players can submit a promotional video proving they can beat AJ Styles in WWE 2K19.
* From there, four semifinalists will be selected for a semifinal round of competition.
* One player will then earn the chance to compete against AJ Styles one-on-one in WWE 2K19. The prize? One million dollars.2K will announce more details about the WWE 2K19 Million Dollar Challenge in the months to come. For complete rules including eligbility requirements, please visit: wwe.2k.com/milliondollarchallenge/rules
When they purchase their copy later this year, players will also be able to choose from multiple editions of WWE 2K19. 2K introduced multiple premium editions of this year’s game, which include:
* The WWE 2K19 Deluxe Edition, which contains a copy of the game with special packaging and access to Season Pass, Pre-Order and Collector’s Edition digital content.
* The WWE 2K19 Collector’s Edition, which contains the same features as the Deluxe Edition plus exclusive and rare collectibles, as well as limited-edition WWE SuperCard content.Additional details about what will be offered in each edition will be announced by 2K this summer.
WWE 2K19 is not yet rated by the ESRB and is scheduled for worldwide release on Oct. 9, 2018.
https://twitter.com/WWEgames/status/1008742272282722304
Source: WrestlingINC
The next World Tag Team Champions will be decided as Pentagon Jr. & Rey Fenix face the Dirty Blondes and Team TBD in an anything goes title fight. Plus, a bounty hunter targets World Heavyweight Champion Shane Strickland.
MATCHES: World Tag Team Title Match: Pentagon Jr. & Rey Fenix vs. Dirty Blondes vs. Jason Cade & Jimmy Yuta
Maxwell J. Friedman vs. MVP
The G1 Climax is a 20-man round robin styled tournament that is considered NJPW’s most prestigious tournament of the year. The winner will receive an opportunity to challenge for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship at Wrestle Kingdom 13. Once the G1 ends on August 12, the winner does have to defend their title opportunity until next January, so winning the G1 doesn’t necessarily guarantee a future title shot.
Over the weekend, the G1 participants were announced and here’s what this year’s blocks look like:
A Block
* Hiroshi Tanahashi (17 time entrant, 17th consecutive entry)
* Togi Makabe (15 time entrant, 15th consecutive entry)
* Michael Elgin (4 time entrant, 4th consecutive entry)
* Kazuchika Okada (7 time entrant, 7th consecutive entry)
* Jay White (G1 Debut)
* YOSHI-HASHI (3 time entrant, 3rd consecutive entry)
* Bad Luck Fale (5 time entrant, 5th consecutive entry)
* Hangman Page (G1 Debut)
* EVIL (3 time entrant, 3rd consecutive entry)
* Minoru Suzuki (8 time entrant, 2nd consecutive entry)
B Block
* Juice Robinson (2 time entrant, 2nd consecutive entry)
* Hirooki Goto (11 time entrant, 11th consecutive entry)
* Tomohiro Ishii (6 time entrant, 6th consecutive entry)
* Toru Yano (13 time entrant, 12th consecutive entry)
* Kenny Omega (3 time entrant, 3rd consecutive entry)
* Kota Ibushi (4 time entrant, 2nd consecutive entry)
* Tama Tonga (3 time entrant, 3rd consecutive entry)
* Tetsuya Naito (9 time entrant, 9th consecutive entry)
* SANADA (3 time entrant, 3rd consecutive entry)
* Zack Sabre Jr. (2 time entrant, 2nd consecutive entry)
All 19 G1 shows will be live and feature English commentary, which can be seen on NJPW World (about $9 a month to sign up).
Source: WrestlingINC
