It looks like WWE RAW Superstar Finn Balor has launched his own clothing line – PE&K.
Balor has launched a website for the brand at http://www.smmileitspeak.com but only t-shirts are available as of this writing. The Twitter account for the brand notes that they are based in Brooklyn.
The company “Story” or mission statement reads like this:
Smile it’s PE&K!Our goal at PE&K is to provide clothes that will make you smile, whilst having the least amount of impact on our lovely planet as possible.
– All our shirts are made in USA , and printed in UK,
– We don’t use plastic, but if there is, biodegradable YAY!
– And the only paper we use will be the sticker for shipping & international custom sheets (We are trying to source recyclable paper)
– No stickers
– No wasted cardboard
– Nothing that is going to hurt our planet
– We like to say. We are friends of the environment
Pro Wrestling Sheet reports that ex-TNA wrestler Chase Stevens was arrested last month after beating Brian Christopher so badly he needed surgery on his face.
According to the affidavit, Chase — real name Jonathan Ryan Clark — was taken into custody on February 18th in Indiana for battery following an incident that took place at a hotel.
The report states an intoxicated Brian Christopher Lawler — aka Grandmaster Sexay from the tag team Too Cool — entered the lobby bloody with severe injuries described as “swelling all over, an approximate 2-inch laceration to his right brow, orbital eye socket discoloration to both eyes, bleeding from the nose, abrasions and noticeable front tooth dental injuries.”
Officers then made contact with Stevens in his hotel room who told police Lawler had caused them problems at nightclubs hours earlier and refused to go to sleep on the floor of the hotel room.
The wrestler then admitted to punching Brian in the face two times, but claimed it was in self defense. He also says Brian fell and hit the ground. Officers noted in the report, “There was visible blood stains on the carpet floor, a small amount of blood smears on the wall and a small amount blood spatter on the sheets. The trash can inside the room had blood and tissue in it as well.”
According to the report: “Lawler said he was attacked for no reason but he was very confused. The physician reported that Lawler had several broken bones in his face, broken teeth and that surgery was required. Officers were told that a trauma team had been activated after Lawler’s injuries had been evaluated. Lawler was intoxicated on alcohol and admitted he is on several prescription drugs. Lawler told me that he absolutely wanted to pursue charges against Clark.”
Chase Stevens was then taken into custody and a witness in the room told police that Brian was drunk/causing a scene and Stevens hit him more than once to “calm Lawler down.”
Prior to surgery, Brian Christopher told police that Chase thought he was making an advance on the witness — who is Stevens’ girlfriend — but the former WWE star says he didn’t.
Sources tell Pro Wrestling Sheet that Lawler was released from the hospital days later. Chase is out of jail as well.
WWE says “after further consideration” they will be changing the name of the upcoming Fabulous Moolah Memorial Battle Royal at WrestleMania 34.
A rep for WWE says, “After further consideration, we believe it’s best to proceed with the name ‘WrestleMania Women’s Battle Royal.’What remains most important is that this historic match is part of WWE’s unwavering commitment to the Women’s Division.”
There was major backlash following the announcement this week due to former Moolah trainees accusing her of things such as taking money from women and pimping them out for sex work … which was echoed by former trainee Mad Maxine.
In addition, Deadspin reached out to the parent company of Snickers — who are sponsoring WrestleMania 34 — and they released the following statement:
We were recently made aware of the World Wrestling Entertainment Inc’s (WWE) decision to honor a former wrestler during the upcoming WrestleMania 34 event. As a principle-based business that has long championed creating inclusive environments that encourage and empower everyone to reach their full potential, this is unacceptable. We are engaging with the WWE to express our disappointment.
The video of the original announcement from Raw this week disabled comments this morning as well, which was a clear sign WWE had seen the negative reactions.
Stephanie McMahon issued the following statement on the name change, thanking the WWE Universe for using their voice:
Thank you @WWEUniverse for using your voice. What remains most important is that the “@WrestleMania Women’s Battle Royal” will be a historic match and is part of @WWE’s unwavering commitment to our Women’s Division. #WomensEvolution#ChangeTheName
The following article is up on Sportskeeda.com and was written by Anirban Banerjee. I have the pleasure, on the first Saturday of each month in my duties as Ring Announcer for Hoosier Pro Wrestling (HPW), to work directly with Flash Flanagan, who this article is about. ”
Flash was seen on WWE programming as an EMT more than once in the last few days. The picture above wasn’t this weekend but comes from Flash’s Facebook profile.
Flash is the ultimate professional, and his love for the wrestling business is like none other that I have seen. It’s so awesome that he is getting this opportunity. He certainly deserves it.
Ed Boston
WWE News: Randy Orton vouches for Indy Wrestler to WWE officials
Hopefully, the Indy Wrestler will be signed by WWE officials
Randy Orton makes his entrance at WrestleMania
What’s the story?
Randy Orton is not known for being the most selfless WWE star. This time, however, he reportedly did a wrestler from the Independent Scene a favour by recommending him to WWE officials as a potential signee.
A former WWE Enhancement Talent, Flash Flanagan was present backstage during Sunday, Monday and Tuesday’s shows. According to F4WOnline (H/T Wrestling Inc), he was getting a look at from WWE officials as Randy Orton did him a favour and recommended him to the authorities backstage.
In case you didn’t know…
Flash Flanagan is a veteran wrestler on the Independent Scene. He has been connected to WWE previously, but only worked there as an Enhancement Talent. He wrestled in Ohio Valley Wrestling, the old developmental territory of WWE.
There he won the OVW Championship on four separate occasions. On WWE television Flanagan had lost to Brian Christopher in a Light Heavyweight Championship Tournament match in 1997. He also wrestled on Shotgun Saturday night and had a few dark matches as well. He does hold a victory over Chris Jericho when he pinned him in 2001 to retain the OVW Title.
He also wrestled in other promotions like Impact Wrestling, then known as TNA, and the International Wrestling Association.
The heart of the matter
He faced Randy Orton in a dark match in 2001 before the live broadcast of Raw. The match took place when Orton was still a rookie and just emerging in the wrestling business. On that occasion, Orton won the bout between the two.
You can see the match here:
Orton seemed to return the favour 17 years later when he recommended him to WWE officials and got him an opportunity to be looked at backstage.
He was present at the WWE shows on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, where the WWE officials were reportedly evaluating him backstage.
What’s next?
Flanagan is now 43 years old and wrestles for Hoosier Pro Wrestling in Indiana and SICW Wrestling Explosion in Illinois. If the WWE officials liked him, Flanagan may be signed by WWE in the coming months.
You can see Jericho take on Flash Flanagan in this video:
* Impact World Champion Austin Aries “The Belt Collector” speaks tonight
* Sami Callihan vs. Fallah Bahh
* Taya Valkyrie vs. Rosemary
* Allie celebrates Knockout Championship
* Matt Sydal’s “One True Spirit Guide” revealed
* Feast or Fired next week
* Moose enters Feast or Fired
* Trevor Lee enters Feast or Fired
* Trevor Lee enters Feast or Fired
* Caleb Konley enters Feast or Fired
* Will KM Feast… Will KM be Fired?
This Thursday on IMPACT – we're on the road to Redemption on April 22nd as the ultimate match of chance – Feast or Fired – returns plus an exclusive Austin Aries interview, Matt Sydal's spiritual adviser is revealed and Rosemary faces off against her bitter rival Taya Valkyrie. pic.twitter.com/v8ya6krD8z
Mick Foley recently appeared on X-Pac 12360, and continued his push for Vader & Chyna to go into the WWE Hall of Fame.
“We could go around and around because obviously there are dozens of people who are deserving and it’s a pretty subjective Hall. It’s not like the Baseball Hall of Fame, it’s based on statistics and you know things that are very objective. But, I think when you look at the contributions Leon (Vader) made you know; with WWE being probably the least impressive run he had. But, I think that’s only because people were in his ear and it was pre-Attitude Era, where he wasn’t really allowed to be the Vader that had struck fear into the hearts of enhancement workers around the country. And I thought he was a dominant performer who drew more money than just about anybody in his era around the world. And the thing is, it would mean so much to him. He just had an operation on his heart and I mentioned it to Vince (McMahon) last year that I wished he’d consider it sooner rather than later, because I know how much it would mean to him (Vader). For Joanie (Chyna), I love the fact that she is mentioned on WWE, that they show her in videos and I hope it’s a sign that one day she’ll be in.”
According to The Wrestling Observer Newsletter, NJPW has a preliminary hold on a date for a show on July 7th at the Cow Palace in San Francisco. They run March 25th in Long Beach, which sold out 5,000 seats in under 20-minutes. There is also talk of the July return being in a major arena in either Long Beach or Las Vegas. The show would be on the same night as UFC’s show in Las Vegas for International Fight Week.
Jeff Hardy’s wife Beth noted on Twitter yesterday morning that she dropped Jeff off at his final physical therapy appointment. As noted, Jeff was scheduled to begin training at the WWE Performance Center later this month as he gets ready to return from a torn labrum & torn rotator cuff but there’s no word yet on if his weekend DWI arrest has changed those plans.
Hardy has not commented on the arrest but he did post the following yesterday after his final visit with Pinehurst Surgical in Pinehurst, NC:
ThankYou @PSurgical1946 physical therapy dept! . . !My shoulder is no longer O B S O L E T E!:)!
Ronda Rousey is once again scheduled to appear on every RAW through WrestleMania.
WWE announced last week that Rousey would be appearing on every RAW until WrestleMania, only for her to not appear on last Monday’s show. Pro Wrestling Sheet reports that Rousey was actually not supposed to be on Monday’s show because she was taking her medicals in Pittsburgh, and that the WWE announcement was a mistake. WWE has since deleted their original article about Rousey’s RAW appearances, which now forwards to her profile page.
Rousey will make her WWE debut at WrestleMania 34 on Sunday, April 8th in New Orleans. She will team up with Kurt Angle to face Triple H and Stephanie McMahon.
Tonight’s WWE SmackDown Live will take place from the Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, IN with the fallout from Fastlane as the Road to WrestleMania 34 heats up.
* Shane McMahon to make a WrestleMania announcement
* Asuka to make her first SmackDown LIVE appearance after challenging Charlotte Flair
* AJ Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura’s Road to WrestleMania begins
* How will Randy Orton deal with the target on his back?
* How have The Bludgeon Brothers changed the SmackDown Tag Team division?
