Tag: NXT

Samoa Joe Reportedly Returning To WWE NXT For Non-Wrestling Role

Samoa Joe is reportedly back with WWE after being released back in mid-April due to budget cuts.

It was reported last week that NXT officials wanted to bring Joe back to work as an in-ring talent, and that he was briefly at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando earlier in the week. Now PWInsider reports that Joe is coming back to work exclusively with the NXT brand.

Joe’s return to the company comes after Triple H reportedly “snatched him back” as soon as possible. A source noted that Triple H was not happy with Joe being let go, and wanted him back in NXT instead of going to work elsewhere, away from WWE. Triple H was the point person responsible for signing Joe back in 2015, and at one point gave him a unique contract where he was able to continue working indie dates.

Joe was not backstage at “Takeover: In Your House” on Sunday, and there’s no word on when he will officially make his return. Joe has not wrestled since February 2020 due to concussion issues, and was working as a RAW commentator at the time of his release. It was noted that when he was at the WWE Performance Center in recent weeks, he was not taking any bumps.

Regarding Joe’s in-ring future, it’s believed that while he could wrestle at some point, that is not the goal with this upcoming return as they want Joe to focus more on non-wrestling duties. It’s possible that Joe’s return is related to NXT General Manager William Regal teasing change for the NXT brand at the end of Takeover last night. WWE is promising that there will be a follow-up to Regal’s teaser on Tuesday’s NXT episode.

Dave Meltzer noted on the latest edition of Wrestling Observer Radio that Joe has been given “a Regal-like role” with NXT, and that Joe is the favorite to replace Regal, if the pro wrestling legend really is stepping down from the General Manager role. It was speculated by PWInsider that we could see Joe be the new General Manager, or some sort of enforcer for Regal.

Regal has been the NXT General Manager since July 2014, and has also worked as a trainer behind-the-scenes, and as WWE’s Director of Talent Development & Head of Global Recruiting. Joe worked the NXT brand from May 2015 until January 2017, and is a two-time NXT Champion.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Major Changes Coming Soon To WWE NXT?

It looks like a big change could be coming to the WWE NXT brand.

Last night’s NXT “Takeover: In Your House” featured several segments where NXT General Manager William Regal and security had to keep Superstars apart. A parking lot segment earlier in the day saw The Way and Kyle O’Reilly argue, while Pete Dunne and NXT Champion Karrion Kross brawled backstage later in the night. Regal and his security team also had to stop NXT Women’s Champion Raquel Gonzalez and Dakota Kai from brawling with Shotzi Blackheart and Ember Moon before the main event.

The wild Takeover main event saw Kross retain over O’Reilly, Dunne, Johnny Gargano and Adam Cole in a Fatal 5 Way. The finish saw O’Reilly pass out in the Kross Jacket submission. After the match, McKenzie Mitchell caught up with Regal backstage as he was exiting his office and walking out to the parking lot. McKenzie asked Regal his thoughts on the show.

A somber Regal responded, “It’s been 7 years since I became the GM of NXT and I’ve never seen so much bedlam. It’s complete madness. I think it’s time for a change.”

Regal then walked off as Mitchell wondered what that could mean for NXT.

There is no word yet on what WWE might have in store for the NXT brand. Tuesday’s NXT episode on the USA Network will feature fallout from last night’s show, and a potential update to Regal’s teaser.

https://twitter.com/WWE/status/1404263433042866177
https://twitter.com/WWENXT/status/1404264997765713923

Source: Wrestling Inc.

WWE NXT TakeOver: In Your House Results 6/13/2021

WINNERS TAKE ALL FOR THE NXT NORTH AMERICAN TITLE AND NXT TAG TEAM TITLES
Bronson Reed (c) and MSK (c) defeated Legado del Fantasma (Santos Escobar, Joaquin Wilde and Raul Mendoza)

Xia Li defeated Mercedes Martinez

LADDER MATCH FOR THE MILLION DOLLAR TITLE
LA Knight defeated Cameron Grimes to win the Million Dollar Title
WWE Hall of Famer Ted DiBiase Sr. at ringside.

NXT WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP
Raquel Gonzalez (c) defeated Ember Moon

NXT CHAMPIONSHIP
Karrion Kross (c) defeated Adam Cole, Johnny Gargano, Kyle O’Reilly, and Pete Dunne

WWE NXT TakeOver: In Your House 6/13/2021

DATE: June 13, 2021 8:00 pm
LOCATION: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
AVAILABLE ON:Peacock, WWE Network (outside of the U.S.)

CARD

NXT CHAMPIONSHIP
Karrion Kross (c) vs. Adam Cole vs. Johnny Gargano vs. Kyle O’Reilly vs. Pete Dunne

NXT WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP
Raquel Gonzalez (c) vs. Ember Moon

WINNERS TAKE ALL FOR THE NXT NORTH AMERICAN TITLE AND NXT TAG TEAM TITLES
Bronson Reed (c) and MSK (c) vs. Legado del Fantasma (Santos Escobar, Joaquin Wilde and Raul Mendoza)

LADDER MATCH FOR THE MILLION DOLLAR TITLE
LA Knight vs. Cameron Grimes
WWE Hall of Famer Ted DiBiase Sr. will be at ringside.

Xia Li vs. Mercedes Martinez

Shotzi Blackheart Confirms Injury

With Shotzi Blackheart off WWE NXT TV for several weeks, fans have wondered if she’s dealing with an injury.

On Tuesday night, Blackheart confirmed via Twitter that she’s injured.

During last week’s episode of NXT, Ember Moon, Blackheart’s tag team partner, called out NXT Women’s Champion Raquel Gonzalez for viciously attacking Blackheart the previous week.

On the May 25 episode of NXT, Moon and Blackheart defeated Gonzalez and Dakota Kai in a tag team bout. After the match, Gonzalez power bombed Shotzi into the Plexiglas barrier, then the ring post, then the barrier again, all while Kai grounded Moon in the corner, forcing her to watch.

It’s likely that the beatdown was done to write Shotzi off WWE TV, as she recovers from her injury. Shotzi didn’t provide any details on the nature of her injury.

https://twitter.com/ShotziWWE/status/1402478317626875905

Source: Wrestling Inc.

WWE NXT Preview 6/8/21

Tonight’s WWE NXT episode on the USA Network will be the go-home show for Sunday’s “Takeover: In Your House” event.

* WWE Hall of Famer Ted DiBiase has a priceless announcement for LA Knight and Cameron Grimes

* Fatal 5 Way Face-Off for “Takeover: In Your House” with NXT Champion Karrion Kross, Adam Cole, Kyle O’Reilly, Pete Dunne and Johnny Gargano

* Killian Dain vs. Isaiah “Swerve” Scott

* Oney Lorcan vs. Austin Theory

* Ember Moon vs. Dakota Kai

* Poppy returns to NXT

WWE NXT Preview 6/1/21

Tonight’s WWE NXT episode on the USA Network will feature more build for the upcoming “Takeover: In Your House” event.

Tonight’s show will open with Kyle O’Reilly vs. Johnny Gargano vs. Pete Dunne to determine the Takeover challenger for NXT Champion Karrion Kross. The match will air with only picture-in-picture commercials.

WWE has also announced that Legado del Fantasma’s Raul Mendoza and Joaquin Wilde will challenge NXT Tag Team Champions MSK on tonight’s show.

WWE NXT Preview 5/25/21

Tonight’s WWE NXT episode on the USA Network will be headlined by Finn Balor challenging NXT Champion Karrion Kross with the title on the line.

Velveteen Dream And Several Other NXT Talents Was Released By WWE

NXT star Velveteen Dream has reportedly been released by WWE.

The news was first reported by PWinsider and Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp, and later confirmed by other outlets, including Ryan Satin of Fox Sports and Bryan Alvarez of Wrestling Observer.

Several WWE NXT talents were released Wednesday – Jessamyn Duke, Vanessa Borne (Danielle Kamela), Skyler Story (Brandi Lauren Pawalek, Ava Storie), Ezra Judge (Ezekwesiri “EJ” Nduka Jr.), Alexander Wolfe (Axel Tischer), and Kavita Devi (Kavita Dalal). NXT referees Drake Younger (Drake Wuertz) and Jacob Clemons were also released.

WWE NXT Preview 5/18/21

Tonight’s WWE NXT episode on the USA Network will feature build for the upcoming “Takeover: In Your House” event, and will be headlined by a Steel Cage match.

* Prime Target preview for Finn Balor vs. NXT Champion Karrion Kross

* Arash Markazi interviews Pete Dunne

* Toni Storm vs. Zoey Stark

* WWE Hall of Famer “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase appears live to continue storyline with Cameron Grimes

* NXT North American Champion Johnny Gargano defends against Bronson Reed in a Steel Cage match