Tag: SmackDown

WWE SmackDown Preview 9/9/2022

Tonight’s episode of WWE SmackDown comes from the  the Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, WA.

Pat McAfee joining ESPN’s College GameDay

Pat McAfee has landed another gig as he has signed a full-time deal with ESPN.

The former NFL punter will help host “College GameDay,” which is a show about college football that airs every Saturday morning during the football season.

The news was first reported by the New York Post. It has since been confirmed by McAfee.

McAfee said today on his podcast/radio show that he will be putting his SmackDown duties on hold during the college football season but he is still part of the WWE family.

McAfee said that he was thinking about doing both gigs at the same time but it’s tough for him to keep up with the travel schedule and WWE suggested for him to take the time away and he could return when the time is right.

“Now one of our guys is on College GameDay,” McAfee said in regards to a text message he got from an “OG” from WWE after praising the company on his show.

Triple H tweeted the following:

@PatMcAfeeShow approached us about his amazing opportunity with College GameDay. We’d never stand in Pat’s way, as he continues to architect his exceptional career. Pat will remain a member of the @WWE  Universe and we look forward to his return. #UpToSomethingSZN”

Source: WrestlingNews.co

WWE SmackDown Preview 9/2/2022

WWE taped tonight’s episode of SmackDown last week that will air on FOX at the Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, MI.

Solo Sikoa Is Reportedly Moving Up To The main Roster

Solo Sikoa could be the latest member of the Anoa’i family to join WWE’s main roster full-time. PWInsider is reporting that the son of Rikishi, cousin of Roman Reigns, and brother of Jimmy and Jey Uso is expected to be promoted from “NXT 2.0” as soon as possible, and it could happen as early as this month if all goes according to plan.

If the report is accurate, Sikoa will also join the “SmackDown” brand alongside Reigns and the Usos. While no plans have been confirmed yet, the rumored brand coupled with Sikoa’s family heritage makes him a perfect fit for The Bloodline, but that’s all speculation for the time being. That said, Sikoa previously discussed creative plans that WWE had for him, noting that the company was eager to fast-track him to the main roster and pair him with his brothers before he’d even debuted on TV.

Sikoa has been absent from “NXT 2.0” recently while he recovers from a sprained PCL. WWE announced the setback on the episode that aired on August 9, just days after the rising star’s last in-ring encounter with Von Wagner. The good news, however, is that the 29-year-old is expected to be fully healed within four to six weeks. The Superstar took to social media after the announcement and claimed that he’d be back in action soon, stating that the “knee injury ain’t nothing!” The forecast for Sikoa’s comeback from injury aligns with the reported timing of his main roster debut, but WWE has been known to change its creative plans.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

WWE SmackDown Preview 8/26/2022

WWE SmackDown returns tonight to Detroit, Michigan – airing live on FOX at 8/7C.

After it was revealed earlier this week that Gigi Dolin’s injury has taken her out of action, WWE made a major change to the Women’s Tag Team Championship tournament. Toxic Attraction was initially added to the tournament following an injury to Zoey Stark and an unspecified medical issue for Nikkita Lyons, which ultimately saw the “NXT 2.0” team of Stark and Lyons removed from the tournament. Now, instead of finding a second replacement team, WWE has confirmed that it’s scheduled a Second Chance Fatal Four-Way Tag Team Match to find out who will advance to the semi-finals. The semi-finals bout will also happen tonight against Raquel Rodriguez and Aliyah, meaning that winning team — Dana White and Tamina, Shotzi and Xia Li, Nikki A.S.H. and Doudrop, or Natalya and Sonya Deville — will compete twice in the same evening.

Toxic Attraction Removed From Tag Title Tournament Due To Gigi Dolin Concussion

Fans had been waiting months for WWE to announce what it had planned for the Women’s Tag Titles after Sasha Banks and Naomi handed them over and walked out. It took Vince McMahon retiring for those plans to be put in place. A tournament to decide who the new champions will be. However, as that tournament nears its end, it has been wrought with issues.

Last Friday, as Nikkita Lyons and Zoey Stark prepared to make their main roster debuts, WWE revealed the NXT duo would not be competing in the tournament. Stark is legitimately injured, and Lyons is too apparently though whether that’s the case or not remains up in the air. Toxic Attraction replaced the pair and defeated Natalya and Sonya Deville to progress.

Three days later, the high Gigi Dolin and Jacy Jayne were likely riding after debuting on SmackDown and winning their first match has come crashing down. Right before Raw went live on Monday, WWE revealed that Toxic Attraction, who were replacements themselves, will now need to be replaced. WWE reported Dolin suffered an injury on SmackDown, and it has since been revealed (via Wrestling Observer Radio) that injury was a concussion.

It was a little unclear how exactly WWE would fill a tournament for the Tag Titles when there aren’t that many women’s teams to begin with. That reality has really hit home with yet another replacement needed. Instead of finding another team, the four duos who lost their first round bouts will get a second chance match. The Four-Way tag team bout will take place this Friday on SmackDown.

Elsewhere in the bracket, Iyo Sky and Dakota Kai booked their spot in the final on Raw last night. Raquel Gonzalez and Aliyah are the other team left in, and they will face the winner of the 4-way match. When exactly that second semifinal, and then the final, will take place is unclear. Probably not at Clash at the Castle since Sky and Kai are already booked in a different match that night.

Source: TheSportster

WWE SmackDown Preview 8/19/22, Zoey Stark Injured?

Tonight’s episode of “WWE SmackDown” will take place at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada,

Roman Reigns and Drew McIntyre to go head-to-head

The Viking Raiders will hold a Viking Funeral for The New Day

The WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship tournament is also set to continue tonight, as “NXT 2.0” stars Nikkita Lyons and Zoey Stark will make their “SmackDown” debuts against Natalya and Sonya Deville

There are reports that Zoey Stark is injured and that she and Nikkita Lyons is out of the tournament and may be replaced by Toxic Attraction (Gigi Dolin and Jacy Jayne).

Drew McIntyre Reportedly Pulled From WWE Live Events Due To Injury

2022 has been rather unkind to pro wrestlers, putting the best of the best on the shelf for extended periods due to injuries. And just when you thought the injury bug was preparing to recede, it has threatened to raise its ugly head (or in this case, its back) yet again. According to multiple reports, Drew McIntyre is working through a lower back injury, which is why he was pulled from WWE’s live events at Atlantic City, NJ, and Salisbury, MD, over the weekend.

The story was first broken by Jason Powell of ProWrestling.net, who reported that McIntyre is currently dealing with “a lower back issue causing him soreness.” Subsequently, news outlets such as PWInsider and Fightful Select would confirm the report. Fortunately, all the reports noted that McIntyre isn’t expected to undergo surgery, his advertised match against Roman Reigns at Clash at the Castle is still on the table, and the decision to pull him from the live events is considered a precautionary move.

However, fans on social media are speculating whether the injury could alter WWE’s creative plans going into the match in Cardiff, Wales. Although Reigns is still the odds-on favorite to retain his unified world title, there’s been talk that McIntyre could be the man to dethrone the Tribal Chief in front of 70,000+ fans in his home nation of the United Kingdom. If that had indeed been the plan, WWE’s top brass could be forced to call an audible and keep the belts on Reigns, especially if they believe McIntyre’s injury would require surgery at some point in the future.

McIntyre is still expected to work the next two episodes of “WWE SmackDown” in the lead-up to Clash at the Castle on September 3.This past Friday, he called out the returning Karrion Kross for blindsiding him with a vicious attack the previous week, promising to send Kross “back to the dungeon he crawled out of.” Scarlett then walked down to the ring, distracting McIntyre enough to be jumped by The Usos. The segment led to a McIntyre/Usos handicap match, which was later changed to a tag team bout also including Madcap Moss, with McIntyre and Moss getting the win.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

WWE SmackDown Preview 8/12/22

WWE SmackDown airing tonight on FOX at 8/7C from Raleigh, North Carolina.

Plus, AJ Francis, better known simply as Top Dolla and Ashonte “Thee” Adonis are reportedly expected to appear.

And will we see more about last week’s shocking return of Karrion Kross along with Scarlett.

WWE Reportedly Bringing Back Hit Row’s Top Dolla And Ashonte “Thee” Adonis

Triple H, the new Head of Creative for WWE, may not be done bringing back released NXT stars.

WWE fans might be seeing the returns of two former NXT superstars. Earlier today, Mike Johnson of PWInsider reported that AJ Francis, better known simply as Top Dolla, was slated to be at the August 12 tapings of Smackdown Live in Raleigh, North Carolina. In an update to that report, Johnson added that Top Dolla’s tag team partner, Ashonte “Thee” Adonis, is scheduled to attend the tapings as well.

Several other released talent have been brought back into the WWE since Triple H took charge, including Dakota Kai, Dexter Lumis, Karrion Kross, and Scarlet. Before their release in November of last year, Adonis and Francis were a part of the Hit Row stable alongside B-Fab and Swerve. There’s been no word on whether B-Fab will be returning to WWE as well. Swerve, now one half of the AEW World Tag Team Champions alongside Keith Lee, will obviously not be joining his former teammates.

The Smackdown tag team division has been struggling as of late, so an additional team could be a great benefit to the show. 

Source: TheSportster