Who will John Cena Face At WrestleMania 34, The Undertaker, Rey Mysterio Or Somebody Else?

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There was speculation that John Cena would face The Undertaker at WrestleMania 34. Then there was speculation that the match would no longer be happening and Cena would be facing Rey Mysterio. Now it seems that the Cena vs Taker match might still be on. Whether it’s Cena vs Taker or Cena vs Mysterio, we will probably have to wait until after SmackDown’s Fastlane pay-per-view to find out for sure.

As seen on WWE Monday Night RAW this week, John Cena teased a match against The Undertaker. Cena said that he was looking for a path to WrestleMania and had issued a challenge to The Undertaker, but WWE officials told him that it’s impossible to make the match.

“I have figured out that I need to stand in this ring and do something that I should have done a long time ago, and that is to put out a WrestleMania challenge to the Undertaker!” Cena exclaimed to a huge pop from the crowd. “You want WrestleMania? That IS WrestleMania! And that match is not happening. I don’t make the matches. As obvious as this seems, I’ve been told that the match is not happening because that match, once again, is impossible.”

It seemed unlikely that WWE would have the match mentioned on live television, only for it not to happen. However, Justin Barrasso reported at Sports Illustrated on Wednesday that Cena will be facing Rey Mysterio at WrestleMania after it was ruled that The Undertaker will not be working the show. It was added that Mysterio was backstage at SmackDown Live on Tuesday and is reportedly finalizing a deal with WWE by the end of the week. Mysterio was backstage at the SmackDown live event this past Monday in San Diego and posted a photo after the show with Sin Cara.

Dave Meltzer reported in the latest issue of The Wrestling Observer Newsletter that the plan for WrestleMania is still Cena vs. The Undertaker as of this past Monday night. He noted that he hasn’t heard of any changes in plans since, and that the only thing that would prevent that match would be Taker pulling out of the show for some reason, like getting injured during training. It was noted that Cena’s promo was to defer attention from the dream match until after he works the SmackDown Fastlane pay-per-view.

Cena appeared on SmackDown Live on Tuesday night and defeated WWE Champion AJ Styles in a non-title match to earn a spot in the main event of Fastlane on Sunday, March 11th. Cena, Styles, Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, Baron Corbin and Dolph Ziggler will compete in a Six-Pack Challenge for the WWE Championship.

As for Mysterio, Meltzer noted that he has no deal with WWE, but has a meeting with Triple H scheduled very soon. A deal is reportedly dependant on Triple H clearing his schedule, as he is not looking to work full-time. There are also some other details that need to be ironed out, like opportunities outside of wrestling for Mysterio.

Source: WrestlingINC

Colin Cowherd Talks Attending SmackDown And Teases WWE Moving To FOX

Colin Cowherd, who hosts The Herd with Colin Cowherd on FOX Sports Radio and FOX Sports 1, as well Speak For Yourself on FS1, discussed his visit to SmackDown Live this week.

“It was like a rock concert,” Cowherd said of the show on Speak For Yourself, which you can watch in the video above.

Cowherd has been a very vocal critic of pro wrestling in the past. He once famously referred to wrestling fans as “booger eaters,” and often criticized WWE for the number of wrestlers dying young due to drug-related deaths. He has seemingly since changed his stance on the business.

“If you haven’t gone to WWE, it’s loud, there’s bikinis, there’s fireworks, there’s on-stage performance,” Cowherd said. “There’s a lot of interaction with the crowd. It was fun, I had a blast!”

Cowherd noted that while he didn’t have the opportunity to meet Vince McMahon, he did interact with his daughter, Stephanie.

“It’s really a professionally run organization and it was a hoot,” Cowherd said. “We laughed for two hours.”

In addition to Cowherd, Richard Deitsch of Sports Illustrated revealed that FOX Sports President Eric Shanks and FOX Sports Talent Producer Jacob Ullman were at the show. FOX has expressed interest in securing the television rights for WWE when their deal with NBCUniversal / USA Network expires on September 30th, 2019. WWE has stated that they plan to announce their U.S. distribution plans between May and September of this year. Their exclusive negotiating period with NBC expires sometime this spring.

Cowherd teased WWE possibly moving to FOX. Cowherd’s co-host, Jason Whitlock, said that he used to be a wrestling fan when he was younger and looks forward to “possibly getting more involved or watching more wrestling in the future.”

“You should,” Cowherd said. “Very good sport! Coming to a network near you!”

Sources: WrestlingINC and Speak For Yourself

Backstage News On Neville Possibly Returning To WWE

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Neville is reportedly once again talking with WWE about a return to the company, according to Dave Meltzer in the latest issue of The Wrestling Observer Newsletter. It was noted that if it does happen, the target for a return would be sometime in April.

Neville left the company in mid-October, reportedly over frustration with his status. He was scheduled to lose to then-WWE Cruiserweight Champion Enzo Amore on the October 9, 2017 episode of WWE Monday Night RAW, and left the company after reportedly learning of the scheduled finish. The match resulted in Enzo losing the championship to Kalisto.

Neville has been silent since his departure with his last social media post, seen below, coming in late September ripping WWE Shop over his new shirt. He has remained on their roster section on WWE.com.

Since quitting in October, Neville had been wanting his release from the company. He is still under WWE contract and his deal is apparently frozen for the time that he is not working. It’s the same situation that led to Daniel Bryan and Rey Mysterio remaining with the company well after their original contracts had expired.

Source: WrestlingINC

Kenny Omega Comments On Facing Young Bucks At NJPW Strong Style Evolved

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Kenny Omega and Kota Ibushi will face The Young Bucks at NJPW Strong Style Evolved in Long Beach, California on March 25. On Twitter, Omega said as a friend he wasn’t sure if he was ready for this match, but as a team the Golden Lovers will be. The Young Bucks recently announced they would no longer be Junior Heavyweights, Omega later proclaimed he and Ibushi were the best tag team in the world, which the Young Bucks took exception to.

Source: WrestlingINC

 

Impact Wrestling Vs. Lucha Underground Event Set For WrestleMania Weekend

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Impact Wrestling has announced that their event in New Orleans at WrestleCon during WrestleMania weekend will be Impact Wrestling vs. Lucha Underground. Impact stars will face-off against stars of Lucha Underground.

Impact made the announcement Thursday morning, revealing that the event will take place on Friday April 6th at 9pm and stream live on Twitch.

General Manager of Lucha Underground Dorian Roldan was quoted saying, “We think this is a great opportunity for both IMPACT Wrestling and Lucha Underground to put on a great show for all the wrestling fans who will be in New Orleans.”

Matches for the show will be announced in the coming weeks, but you can find tickets ranging from $34-$130 by CLICKING HERE.

Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet

Rob Gronkowski Furthers Speculation About A Possible Move To WWE

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Speculation has continued to increase following the New England Patriots’ loss to the Philadelphia Eagles at Super Bowl LII on whether tight end Rob Gronkowski has played his last game for the Pats and will decide to move over to the world of professional wrestling. WWE is reportedly interested in signing Gronk if he does indeed decide to retire from the NFL.

“I’m definitely going to look at my future, for sure, sit down in the next couple weeks, and see where I’m at,” Gronkowski said during a press conference following the Patriots’ loss. He also deflected a question asked about retirement, stating that he is not ready to answer that question.

Recently, Gronkowski has posted a series of cryptic tweets regarding the possibility of joining WWE. His good friend, Mojo Rawley, appears to be the bridge between Gronk’s possible transition from NFL to WWE.

Last year, at WrestleMania 33 in Orlando, Rawley won the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal, and celebrated with Gronkowski. Prior to Rawley’s win, Gronkowski was involved in the match in an altercation with Jinder Mahal. Rawley shared his thoughts on Gronk coming over to the WWE.

“In my opinion and a lot of others, he’s the greatest tight end to ever play the game,” said Rawley. “You take all those assets and just raw abilities that you have and you bring that here, it’s kind of a recipe for success one way or another. He has a lot on his plate right now. Whether an appearance here in the WWE again comes at WrestleMania, or whether it comes to a WrestleMania five years from now, I’m sure at some point you’re going to see him in a ring again.”

Gronkowski may have added to the speculation on Twitter this week. As seen below, Gronk shared a recent article of Rawley being interviewed by ABC 15 Arizona and wrote, “It’s a team effort with Family and Friends!”

Source: WrestlingINC

NXT Preview 2/28/18

* Kairi Sane looks to put a stop to Shayna Baszler’s path of destruction

* What’s next for Andrade “Cien” Almas following Johnny Gargano’s exit from NXT?

* Tyler Bate and Velveteen Dream settle their differences inside the squared circle

Jeff Hardy Returning To The Ring In Time For WrestleMania 34?, Speculation On Hardy Return Plans

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Jeff Hardy has started training for his return to the ring, according to Wrestling Observer Radio. There’s no word yet on when Hardy will be cleared to return to the ring but there’s hope that he will be back in time for WrestleMania 34.

Hardy has been out of action since suffering a torn right rotator cuff in September. He underwent surgery in Alabama during the first week of October and almost immediately began what WWE called a tough physical rehab. There was talk at the time of Hardy being out of action for 6-9 months and other wrestlers have been out for 7 months with similar injuries. WWE sources expected Hardy to be out until May 2018. Hardy noted during a November interview that he hoped to be back in the ring by April.

There’s been a lot of speculation on creative plans for Hardy’s return now that brother Matt Hardy is doing the “Woken” storyline and feuding with Bray Wyatt. It’s believed that Jeff would be put back with Matt as Jeff contributed to the success of the original “Broken” storyline in TNA. There has also been a lot of speculation on WWE pulling the trigger on another big singles run for Hardy.

Source: WrestlingINC

Ronda Rousey To Be Inducted Into International Sports Hall of Fame

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Former UFC women’s bantamweight champion and current WWE Superstar Ronda Rousey, can add yet another accolade to her illustrious combat sports career, which already boasts a mixed martial arts (MMA) world title, as well as a bronze medal in Olympic Judo.

The International Sports Hall of Fame, class of 2018.

The ceremony takes place March 3, 2018, as part of the Arnold Schwarzenegger Sports Festival in Columbus, Ohio, a 501(c) Non Profit Foundation “established to honor the world’s greatest athlete legends in all sports.”

Joining “Rowdy” at this year’s induction ceremony is WWE wrestler and movie star David Bautista, former UFC champion Bas Rutten, New Zealand television personality Phil Keoghan, and Dr. Terry and Jan Todd, who did a bunch of stuff that I’m sure was important.

WWE Hall of Famer Kurt Angle announced on Instagram that he will be appearing at the Arnold Sports Festival in Columbus, OH on March 3rd from 12-3pm. Angle will be appearing at the Barndad Nutrition Booth.

Rousey will also be receiving her 6th degree black belt in Judo that weekend while her mother, AnnMaria De Mars, will receive her 7th degree black belt.

Sources: MMA Mania and WrestlingINC

Brock Lesnar’s Chances Of UFC Return ‘Very, Very, Very Good’ According To UFC President Dana White

Brock Lesnar met up with UFC President Dana White over the weekend while in Las Vegas. Rumors on a potential UFC return for Lesnar have been ramping up as of late because Lesnar’s current WWE contract expires after WrestleMania 34, where he will defend the WWE Universal Championship against Roman Reigns. White posted a photo of the two together, but has yet to elaborate on what they discussed.

Yesterday, Dana White appeared on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio and at one point was asked about the chances of Lesnar returning to the UFC. White kept his answer positive, but brief.

“They’re very, very, very good.”

Lesnar’s last UFC fight was at UFC 200 back in July of 2016 where Lesnar defeated Mark Hunt by unanimous decision, which was later overturned. Failing a post-fight drug test for clomiphene, Lesnar was suspended for a year and fined $250k. In February of last year, Lesnar said he would be retiring from MMA. If he did decide to return, there’s still just over six months of his suspension that he would still have to fulfill.

Lesnar was scheduled to be at Monday’s Raw for a face-off with Roman Reigns, but that segment didn’t take place. He was featured in multiple Raw scripts that were done and his absence was acknowledged by Reigns during a segment he did by himself.

Lesnar is scheduled to defend against Kane at Saturday’s WWE live event in Chicago and is scheduled to return to WWE TV on the March 12 Raw from Detroit.

Source: WrestlingINC