Tag: Aleister Black

Backstage News On Why Aleister Black And Kevin Owens Are Missing WWE Saudi Arabia Event

Daniel Bryan, Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn and Aleister Black will not be appearing at the upcoming WWE Super ShowDown event on Friday, June 7th in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Dave Meltzer reported in the latest edition of The Wrestling Observer Newsletter that Black’s absence was a company decision due to some of his tattoos having a religious connotation. Black has generally kept quiet regarding the meaning behind his body art, although he did reveal the meaning of his back tattoo in an interview with The Daily Star in 2017.

“I don’t really talk about the meaning of my tattoos, but I will give you that one,” Black said. “The being on my back is Lilith, in some folklore she is the first woman to ever rebel against paradise. The reason she is there for equality, equality for every man and woman – which is the most important thing there is.”

Bryan is likely not appearing at the event for the same reasons that he skipped last November’s Crown Jewel show in Riyadh. While he wrestled at WWE’s first big show in Saudi Arabia, The Greatest Royal Rumble, last April, he had since learned more of the country’s treatment of homosexuals. Bryan was also upset that Sami Zayn was not being allowed on those shows because of his Syrian ancestry, which he felt was racist. Saudi Arabia cut ties with Syria in 2012, and Zayn had started a #SamiForSyria mobile clinic in Syria in 2017.

WWE issued the following statement at the time regarding Zayn’s absence from the event:

“WWE is committed to embracing individuals from all backgrounds while respecting local customs and cultural differences around the world.”

According to The Observer, company sources stated that Owens is declining to work the show because his family asked him not to go. It was noted that there may have been other reasons, including Zayn not being allowed to work the show. Owens had been in a program with WWE Champion Kofi Kingston. Dolph Ziggler was pulled out of an appearance in Australia the weekend of Super Showdown and will now face Kingston for the title.

The only other star that refused to work Crown Jewel was John Cena, who is not scheduled for WWE Super ShowDown.

WWE Super ShowDown takes place on Friday, June 7th, at the King Abdullah Sports City’s King Abdullah International Stadium in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

WWE Tag Teams Splits Up, WWE Quietly Moves New RAW Superstars Back To SmackDown

WWE has apparently changed their minds on a few roster moves made during the 2019 Superstar Shakeup last week.

Andrade and Zelina Vega are now listed as SmackDown Superstars on the WWE website. They were moved to RAW in the Shakeup last Monday and Andrade picked up a non-title win over WWE Intercontinental Champion Finn Balor, who was sent to the blue brand the next night. Vega and Andrade had cut several promos on social media and video to warn the red brand that they were the new faces of the show.

It looks like Aleister Black could be going from RAW to SmackDown as well. Black, who is married to Vega, had been floating between shows since his call-up from WWE NXT, but he and partner Ricochet were confirmed for the red brand in the Shakeup last week. Black is now listed on the SmackDown roster on the official WWE website and his name has the SmackDown logo next to it. Ricochet is still listed for the RAW brand, so that tag team is apparently done.

Andrade and Charlotte Flair were one of the real-life WWE couples affected by the Superstar Shakeup, but that appears to have been rectified. Black and Vega were also kept together on the same brand, but the Black and Ricochet tag team appears to be done.

It will be interesting to see if the Andrade, Vega and Black roster changes are addressed on tonight’s RAW episode.

As we’ve noted, it’s believed that WWE United States Champion Samoa Joe will join the red brand on tonight’s show. Joe had been scheduled to bring the title to RAW on last week’s Shakeup edition of RAW but he was very sick, so sick that his segment was pulled from the show. WWE did not quietly announce Joe’s roster change as they did with other Superstars because they were saving it for tonight as they have an angle planned.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

UPDATE:

Cesaro has been moved to RAW. This means The Bar has split up as Sheamus appears to be staying on SmackDown Live

UPDATE: 4/23/19

It was revealed on 4/23/19 edition of SmackDown Live that, Jinder Mahal and the Singh Brothers has been moved to SmackDown Live.

Ricochet, Aleister Black, Johnny Gargano And Tommaso Ciampa Make RAW Debut – Permanent Call Up?

Image result for Ricochet, Aleister Black, Johnny Gargano And Tommaso Ciampa Make RAW Debut

Last night in the opening segment of RAW, Triple H announced that NXT Stars – Ricochet, Aleister Black, Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa would debut on RAW later in the show.

Video packages were played to hype each competitor.

The footage WWE shared on social media was captioned “Triple H introduces WWE’s newest Superstars” and Michael Cole welcomed them to WWE, so it sounds like a permanent call up. No word on what this will mean for Ciampa’s current NXT Championship run and Gargano appeared on RAW as the NXT North American Champion.

Ricochet teamed with WWE Intercontinental Champion Finn Balor to defeat Bobby Lashley and Lio Rush in tag team action. The match was made after Ricochet saved Balor from a double team by Rush and Lashley. The match saw Ricochet get the pin on Rush after hitting the 630 from the top rope.

Johnny Gargano teamed up with former DIY partner Tommaso Ciampa to defeat the RAW Tag Team champions The Revival.

Aleister Black interrupted Elias then went on to defeat him in a singles match.

Aleister Black And Zelina Vega Recently Got Married

aleister black zelina zega married wedding

You probably didn’t even know they were a couple, but Pro Wrestling Sheet can confirm Aleister Black and Zelina Vega have tied the knot.

WrestlingInc first reported the WWE Superstars recently got married, and sources confirm the info is accurate, but it’s unclear where or when the nuptials occurred.

The couple have done a stellar job of keeping their relationship secret. In fact, it was only one week ago when Aleister first appeared on her Instagram in a training video.

Congratulations to the newlyweds!

Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet

Update On Aleister Black’s Status For NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn

aleister black update status nxt takeover brooklyn injury surgery groin october

Aleister Black will NOT be wrestling at NXT TakeOver: Brooklyndue to the groin injury he recently suffered.

As we previously reported, Black underwent groin surgery last week after getting injured at a live event during a match against Tommaso Ciampa.

The former NXT champion likely won’t be cleared for action until October, meaning he’s unable to wrestle this month at TakeOver.

Video footage was released to explain his upcoming absence.

Following last night’s airing of NXT TV, the company put out a video which shows Aleister found unconscious in the parking lot at Full Sail University by William Regal.

Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet

Aleister Black Undergoes Groin Surgery, NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn Status In Question

aleister black injured groin surgery takeover brooklyn

Pro Wrestling Sheet has confirmed Aleister Black recently went under the knife after injuring his groin at a live event and it’s possible he’ll miss NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn.

The Wrestling Observer first reported Aleister’s injury occurred at a live event in Las Vegas over the weekend and described the situation as “quite serious.”

Sources tell us Black underwent surgery this week to repair the torn groin and he’s definitely not confirmed at this point for TakeOver: Brooklyn on August 18.

Recovery time for this sort of procedure is typically three weeks or longer.

We’ll keep you updated if any additional information is made public by WWE.

Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet