WWE SmackDown Reportedly Moving To New Night With $1 Billion FOX Deal

Smackdown Live

As reported, FOX has reached an agreement to acquire SmackDown Live to join their programming. This comes off the heels of NBC Universal maintaining their partnership with WWE after their contract ended in September 2019, but only keeping Raw as a part of the deal.

According to The Wrap, the deal between WWE and FOX will also result in a change of day that SmackDown will be aired, which will be Fridays, according to a source with knowledge of the deal. In addition to FOX, SmackDown has also been aired since its series debut in 1999 on UPN, The CW, MyNetworkTV, and SyFy. Past incarnations of SmackDown have been aired on both Thursdays and Fridays.

For the first time ever, SmackDown moved exclusively to Tuesday nights on July 19, 2016 to help promote their move to USA at the beginning of the year, as well as the brand split. The name of the show was then changed to SmackDown Live.

The current FOX 2018 lineup for Friday has Last Man Standing airing from 8-8:30, The Cool Kids at 8:30-9, and Hell’s Kitchen from 9-10, so those shows would have to find a new night with the new deal.

For many years, WWE taped SmackDown on Tuesday nights to assist with their production scheduling, along with their WWE live event schedule. Per this report, there is no information on whether it will stay live. The SmackDown crew works live events from Saturday – Monday with television on Tuesday.

Regarding the terms of the deal, The Hollywood Reporter reports that it is a five-year agreement worth more than $1 billion, $205 million annually. This is a three-fold increase to what NBC Universal is currently paying for the blue brand on USA. There was even a bigger offer from another party, but WWE agreed to partner with FOX due to the company’s ability to heavily promote the product across a platform with other sports including NFL and MLB.

Averaging at 2.59 million viewers a week, SmackDown Live is still the sixth most watched original program on cable television.

Source: WrestlingINC

John Morrison Confirmed For “Survivor” Season 37 In First Official Trailer

johnny mundo john morrison survivor cast trailer season 37 david vs goliath

A trailer for the latest season of CBS’s award-winning reality series Survivor revealed Impact Wrestling/Lucha Underground star John Morrison has slingshot his way into the cast.

The theme for season 37 is “David vs. Goliath.” As you can imagine, Morrison will be on Team Goliath.

“I’m as fast as a Corvette and as big as a Hummer,” Morrison says in the trailer. “Millions of wrestling fans know me as Johnny Mundo, the mayor of Slamtown. I’ve been a champion of every organization that I’ve worked for. I’m something extraordinary.”

Team Goliath is described as competitors who come from privilege and have capitalized on their advantages to crush the competition — including in the professional wrestling ring. Naturally, that leaves Team David to be like the rest of us who don’t have an 8-pack and luscious, flowing hair.

Earlier this month, we reported Morrison had been rumored to be part of the latest Survivor taping.

Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet

XFL Has Already Launched An Online Store For Merch

xfl online store merchandise

It may be two years away from returning, but XFL is already back in the merch game … as the company opened a new online store this week selling everything from shirts to phone cases.

Some of the items available on XFL Shop:

Zip-up hoodie; $50
Embroidered Polo shirt; $30
League logo shirts varying in price
Drawstring bag; $23
Phones cases; $20

In an effort to promote the store, the company is selecting a random Twitter follower who retweets the announcement to receive a surprise pack of merchandise.

Browse the full website to check out their selection.

Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet

Mean Tweets #BRE edition (Shayna Baszler, Jessamyn Duke and Mia Yim)

If you watch Jimmy Kimmel Live then you’re familiar with his segment celebrities read mean tweets. Have you ever wondered though what it would be like if professional wrestlers and professional MMA fighters had their own edition?

Well wonder no more because we got you covered just yesterday WWE’S newest signee Jessamyn Duke uploaded a video to her official YouTube channel which you can subscribe to here http://www.youtube.com/JessamynDuke where her and her roommates do just that.

This one is definitely filled with lots of laughs and great comebacks so if you’re into that sort of thing.

Part 2 coming soon

SmackDown Live Preview 5/22/18

Tonight’s WWE SmackDown Live will take place from the DCU Center in Worcester, Massachusetts as the road to Money In the Bank continues.

* Daniel Bryan and Jeff Hardy to battle in a match with WWE Money in the Bank implications tonight on SmackDown LIVE

* The New Day to join The Miz on “Miz TV” during SmackDown LIVE

* Lana and Billie Kay to clash in Women’s Money in the Bank Qualifying Match tonight on SmackDown LIVE

* Naomi to face Sonya Deville in a Money in the Bank Qualifying Match tonight on SmackDown LIVE

WWE 205 Live Preview 5/22/18

Tonight’s WWE 205 Live will take place from the DCU Center in Worcester, Massachusetts.

* Is Buddy Murphy ready for Cedric Alexander?

* Hideo Itami vs. Akira Tozawa

Chris Jericho Cuts Foul-Mouthed Tirade Against Tetsuya Naito At NJPW BOTSJ

Image result for Chris Jericho Cuts Foul-Mouthed Tirade Against Tetsuya Naito At NJPW BOTSJ

Over the past couple months, Chris Jericho has attacked Tetsuya Naito twice from behind, first at New Year Dash and then at Wrestling Dontaku. Earlier today at NJPW BOTSJ (Night 4) IWGP Intercontinental Championship Tetsuya Naito and BUSHI defeated Tiger Mask and Toa Henare in a tag match. Afterwards, the lights went out and Chris Jericho popped up on the screen to cut a promo on his upcoming opponent at Dominion. Just a note, the video above is not safe for work.

“Naito, I read all of the things you’re saying about me,” Jericho said. “I know how you really feel and listen, you are one of the greatest performers in the world today. One of the biggest stars in NJPW, but to me you mean as much as this turtle.”

Jericho was outside and actually showed a turtle that he came across. He then continued on about taking Naito’s title away from him.

“Naito, I’m gonna f— you up! I’m going to take your Intercontinental Championship from you, not because you wanted it, you don’t want it, you’re too tranquilo. I’m not tranquilo,” Jericho scoffed. “I’m f—— crazy! I’m gonna show you just how crazy I can be at Dominion on June 9. I’ve been waiting for six months to get my hands on your stupid filthy head. Yeah, Los Ingobernables de Japon. Kiss my f—– ass!”

Naito had recently said in an interview he was, “superior” to Jericho, aside from name recognition, Jericho responded to that as well.

“You’re the best New Japan has to offer, but I’ve seen pieces of s— like you come and go, year after year, and guess what? Chris Jericho is still here,” Jericho continued. “The Alpha is still here. … I’m gonna make your famous Naito, when I beat your f—– ass at Dominion, take the Intercontinental Championship away from you, away from those filthy animals in Japan and take it back to the United States where it belongs. Be careful what you wish for junior because it’s going to come true. I’ll see you on June 9th at Dominion, f— face!”

When cameras cut back to Naito in the ring, he was relaxing on the mat (seemingly taking a nap) and cut a promo (translation by Chris Charlton).

https://twitter.com/reasonjp/status/998875727503097857

Source: WrestlingINC

John Cena And Nikki Bella Said To Be ‘Basically Back Together’

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People.com reports that John Cena and Nikki Bella are officially on the road to reconciliation, just over one month after they announced their breakup.

A source told People that “they’re basically back together.”

“They both got a wake-up call once they canceled the wedding, and they both realized they could fix what was broken,” the source told People.

Cena and Nikki admitted in media interviews that they have had some communication but People says they never stopped talking.

“They never stopped talking,” the source told People. “Other than the actual wedding weekend, when they took some space, they have been talking.”

Cena made it clear on NBC’s “Today” show that he wanted to have a family with Nikki and still wanted to marry her. It appears that was what Nikki wanted to hear.

“He has poured his heart out to her, and she was more than ready to take him back once she heard what she needed to hear,” the People source added. “He’s been saying and doing all the right things.”

As seen below, TMZ spotted the couple in San Diego this past weekend, their first appearance together since the split.

https://twitter.com/StevenCena76/status/997951422112194563

Source: WrestlingINC

WWE Reportedly Is Increasing PPV Length Beginning With Money in the Bank

Money in the Bank

Beginning with the Money in the Bank PPV on June 17 from Chicago, WWE will be increasing the length of all Pay Per View events to a four-hour minimum per multiple wrestling media reports on Monday night.

WWE is said to have informed many of their main domestic and international PPV providers, including InDemand and Sky TV, that the Money in the Bank PPV will be pushed back from its usual 8:00 PM ET start time to a 7:00 PM start time and that most PPV events will begin at 7:00 PM ET going forward.

This means that the Kickoff pre-shows will likely start at 6:00 PM ET.

It is also said that the WWE’s four major PPVs (WrestleMania, SummerSlam, Survivor Series and the Royal Rumble) will all become five-hour PPV events going forward. This is being done as a way to accommodate both rosters for RAW and Smackdown Live, with all non-major events being co-branded on the WWE Network.

WWE has not issued any comment nor confirmation on this reported change.

Source: WrestleView

Enzo Amore Announces Interesting Live Appearance For Next Monday Night

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Former WWE Superstar Enzo Amore took to Instagram last night to thank fans for their support. The posts come less than a week after it was announced by Enzo and his attorney that no charges were being filed by Phoenix police over the rape allegations made by a woman back in January, which led to Enzo’s WWE release while he was the Cruiserweight Champion. You can read the full statement from Enzo’s attorney at this link.

Enzo also announced his first post-WWE appearance. He will be meeting fans in New York City’s Times Square next Monday, Memorial Day, at 9pm. He noted that he will break his social media silence at 9:15pm for one big Instagram post, live from Times Square.

Enzo wrote with one of his posts, “I want to engage, interact, and personally than all of you who ever supported me! IT WAS YOU WHO WISHED ME LUCK ON MY FUTURE ENDEAVORS!! BUT I WON’T NEED LUCK…. JUST YOU!!”

He wrote in another post, “THERE IS NO BETTER SUPPORT than the support of the city that I LOVE! I’LL SEE YA SOON!! THANKS FOR THE LOVE… I’ll be reciprocating it soon.”

Enzo also revealed what looks like his new logo. You can see his recent IG posts below: