Booker T, on his latest Hall Of Fame podcast, talked about missing WWE NXT Vengeance Day and being replaced by Wade Barrett due to a medical issue.
He will also miss a few weeks of NXT TV. He said,
“First of all, I want to thank everybody for all of the support and all the well wishes, telling me to get well and get back on track. I’m going to get back as soon as I can. I’m going to take a couple weeks off, but rest assured, I will be back live and and in living color, doing it like it’s supposed to be done, but I’m going to take these days off to relax. I’m relaxing.
“I had a medical procedure. I don’t like putting my business out there. If I was dying, I’ll let you guys know. I ain’t dying, I ain’t dead yet or anything like that. It is something that’s going to keep me down for a couple of weeks. I don’t like being down. I like being on the go and working out. That’s been my thing for forever, being able to get up in the morning and being able to train. Before I go to bed at night, getting in the gym to train. This last month or so, I haven’t been able to do that. Right now, I’m on my way back to getting to that point. I feel good. I’m sore as hell. I feel good. I hate I missed Vengeance Day. The action was action packed. I was sitting and listening, and it just didn’t have the same feel. Wade [Wade Barrett] didn’t have enough rhythm, especially to his cadence. As far as the show goes, awesome show.”
DUSTY RHODES TAG TEAM CLASSIC TOURNAMENT FINALS: The Wolf Dogs (Baron Corbin and Bron Breakker) def. Carmelo Hayes and Trick Williams
NO DQ MATCH: Dijak def. Joe Gacy
MIXED TAG TEAM MATCH: The D’Angelo Family (Tony D’Angelo, Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo and Adriana Rizzo) def. OTM (Bronco Nima, Lucien Price and Jaida Parker, with SCRYPTS)
After a Pop Rox from Perez, Vice shocked the NXT Universe by cashing in her Breakout Tournament Contract to make it a Triple Threat Match.
Despite the added threat, Valkyria found aid in the form of Tatum Paxley who neutralized Perez, allowing her to hit Nightwish on Vice to retain her title.
NXT NORTH AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIP: Oba Femi (c) def. Dragon Lee
NXT CHAMPIONSHIP: Ilja Dragunov (c) def. Trick Williams
After the match, Carmelo Hayes snapped on his partner (Trick) and pummeled his leg with a steel chair, ending the friendship of Trick Melo Gang.
NXT Vengeance Day – PLE – Sunday, February 4 2024 – on Peacock – from the F&M Bank Arena in Clarksville, Tennessee.
CARD
NXT CHAMPIONSHIP: Ilja Dragunov (c) vs. Trick Williams
NXT WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP: Lyra Valkyria (c) vs. Roxanne Perez
NXT NORTH AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIP: Oba Femi (c) vs. Dragon Lee
NO DQ MATCH: Dijak vs. Joe Gacy
MIXED TAG TEAM MATCH: The D’Angelo Family (Tony D’Angelo, Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo and Adriana Rizzo) vs. OTM (Bronco Nima, Lucien Price and Jaida Parker, with SCRYPTS)
DUSTY RHODES TAG TEAM CLASSIC TOURNAMENT FINALS: The Wolf Dogs (Baron Corbin and Bron Breakker) vs. Carmelo Hayes and Trick Williams
Cora Jade has gone under the knife to surgically repair a torn ACL.
During the main event of a WWE NXT live event earlier this month, Jade’s match against Lyra Valkyria for the Women’s Title had to be stopped due to an injury.
Jade posted the following on Twitter, confirming the news:
“WWE NXT” has a new sheriff in town, and her name is Ava Raine.
Tuesday’s episode of “NXT” marked an important meeting for 22-year-old Ava Raine, as she was seen standing outside the office of Senior Vice President of Talent Development Creative Shawn Michaels. A returning William Regal then emerged from the office, sharing the news that Raine had been named as the new General Manager of “NXT,” making her the youngest general manager in WWE history.
As Raine thanked Regal for sitting in on their meeting, Regal noted that while this role is often a thankless job paired with long hours, he is confident that Raine can keep up with its demands. Regal also reminded her that he is always a phone call away if she needs advice along the way.
Regal previously took on the on-screen General Manager duties for “NXT” in 2014, serving in this role until his eventual release from WWE in January 2022. Following his exit from WWE, Regal joined All Elite Wrestling, serving as a managerial figure for the Blackpool Combat Club. The veteran performer later requested his release from AEW, which was then granted in December 2022, on the condition that he could not appear on WWE television in 2023. With his non-compete clause now over, Regal is free to resume any on-screen duties that WWE may have for him, including tonight’s new “NXT” GM unveiling.
Raine isn’t the only member of the Samoan dynasty to receive an authority position this week. Earlier today, WWE revealed that her father, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, was appointed to the board of directors at TKO Group Holdings.
During Tuesday’s episode of “WWE NXT,” commentator Vic Joseph confirmed that former “NXT” Tag Team Champion Cora Jade has suffered a torn ACL and is expected to be out of action for close to a year. Jade was injured last Friday at a house show during her match against “NXT” Women’s Champion Lyra Valkyria. She reportedly had to be taken backstage by four officials.
Jade, who has been with WWE since 2021, had just made her return last month to the developmental brand. Jade had previously lost to former main roster star Dana Brooke (now Impact Wrestling’s Ash By Elegance) in a Kendo Stick match, before clearing out her locker on the August 1 episode. She ended up being gone a total of four months, finally making her return on December 9 at the “NXT” Deadline premium live event, where she attacked Valkyria.
Jade was scheduled to compete in Tuesday’s 20-woman No. 1 contender’s match (a battle royal that turned into a four-way) for Valkyria’s title; Joseph made the official announcement of Jade’s injury, which had been previously reported, immediately prior to the bell. Jade was replaced by newcomer Wren Sinclair (a debuting Madi Wrenkowski) in the contest, which was ultimately won by Jade’s arch-rival and former tag team partner Roxanne Perez.
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