Tag: WWE

Gable Steveson Reportedly Intends To Use Final Year Of NCAA Eligibility

A new article from FloWrestling states that Gable Steveson has confirmed he intends to return to NCAA competition next year.

Steveson won national titles while attending the University of Minnesota in 2021 and 2022 before retiring from NCAA competition to focus on his career with WWE, with whom he signed a Next In Line deal in 2021.

After making a few appearances on WWE programming, Steveson recently returned to freestyle wrestling this past spring, competing at the US Open and Final X.

Scheduling details are reportedly still being sorted out with WWE, but with 2021 not counting toward his eligibility due to circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, Steveson does have one final year remaining as noted on his UMN roster page.

Source: WrestleView

WWE RAW Preview 6/19/2023

Tonight’s WWE Raw from the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland, Ohio on the USA Network at 8/7c.

  • Seth Rollins defends the World Heavyweight Championship in an open challenge
  • Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Bronson Reed
  • Money in the Bank qualifying match: Trish Stratus vs. Raquel Rodriguez
  • Non-title match: Women’s World Heavyweight Champion Rhea Ripley vs. Natalya
  • Matt Riddle vs. Ludwig Kaiser
  • Logan Paul returns

WWE SmackDown Preview 6/16/2023

Tonight’s WWE SmackDown will air live on FOX and emanate from the Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky.

  • Roman Reigns returns amid chaos and treachery in The Bloodline
  • No. 1 Contenders Tag Team Gauntlet Match featuring The OC, Latino World Oder, Street Profits, Brawling Brutes, and Pretty Deadly. The winner will be the new number one contenders to the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships currently held by Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn.
  • AJ Styles and Michin vs Karrion Kross and Scarlett
  • Charlotte Flair to be a guest on the Waller Effect
  • IYO SKY vs Zelina Vega

Carlito Reportedly Claimed To Have Signed With WWE When Canceling An Indie Show

Carlito made a surprise appearance at WWE Backlash 2023, but that might not be the only time he works for the company this year. According to Dave Meltzer of “Wrestling Observer Radio,” the 44-year-old canceled an independent booking for July 15 and told the promoter, Devon Nicholson, that he’s going back to WWE.

Of course, nothing is concrete at the moment. However, Meltzer noted that he wouldn’t be surprised if Carlito returns to WWE on a more permanent basis after the pop he received at Backlash. “Caribbean Cool” showed up at the event to help the Latino World Order attack Judgment Day, marking his first appearance for the company since the 2021 WWE Royal Rumble.

Following Backlash, Carlito said that he’s “open to whatever,” revealing that he’ll always entertain credible business opportunities, whether that’s with WWE or another promotion. That said, he also stated that he wasn’t going to sit by the phone waiting for offers to come in, noting that he’s perfectly happy being an independent performer.

Previously, it was reported that Carlito’s Backlash appearance was supposed to be a one-off. However, WWE officials were reportedly surprised about the reaction he received, claiming that it surpassed expectations. Furthermore, footage of his comeback went viral on the company’s YouTube and social media channels afterward, indicating that Carlito has lots of fans in the WWE Universe.

Carlito’s first full-time run with WWE came to an end in 2010, but “Caribbean Cool” has made occasional appearances since then. He appears to be on good terms with the promotion these days, but it remains to be seen if he’s actually scheduled to return on a more substantial basis.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

WWE NXT Preview 6/13/2023 – Seth Rollins?

WWE NXT tonight at 8/7c on the USA Network from the Capitol Wrestling Center inside the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida.

  • Will WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth “Freakin'” Rollins respond to the challenge laid out last week by former WWE NXT World Champion Bron Breakker?
  • NXT Heritage Cup Championship Match: Noam Dar (c) vs. Nathan Frazer
  • Thea Hail vs. Cora Jade
  • Roxanne Perez vs. Tatum Paxley
  • Tyler Bate, Wes Lee & Mustafa Ali vs. The Schism
  • Baron Corbin vs. Ilja Dragunov
  • Malik Blade vs. Edris Enofe

WWE RAW Preview 6/12/2023

WWE Monday Night Raw live this evening at 8/7c on USA Network from the Intrust Bank Arena in Wichita, Kansas.

  • Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn vs. Gunther & Ludwig Kaiser
  • Cody Rhodes vs. The Miz
  • Men’s Money in the Bank Qualifying Match: Matt Riddle vs. Damian Priest

SmackDown Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley could possibly be getting a new Title belt just as Asuka received a new WWE Women’s Championship this past Friday on SmackDown

WWE Reportedly Interested In Partnership With Disney

Disney, Amazon Prime Video, and others are interested in bidding on WWE’s next TV rights deals now that the exclusive WWE TV rights negotiating windows with FOX and NBCUniversal have closed for Raw and SmackDown.  

FOX and NBCU remain in talks with WWE. The report noted that Disney has shown interest in WWE programming for FX, not ESPN. 

After the report came out, WrestleVotes noted that WWE has big interest in a partnership with Disney: 

“Regarding the TV rights negotiations, there is big time interest from WWE in a Disney partnership. Not to say the other parties involved aren’t enticing, but Disney is viewed as a win win if that’s ultimately the decision.”

Source: eWn

WWE Announces Unification Match Of NXT Women’s Tag Titles And Main Roster Women’s Tag Titles

Shayna Baszler and Ronda Rousey are hungry for gold, and now they’ve got their sights set on Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn. Friday night on “WWE SmackDown,” WWE announced a match to unify the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship and the “NXT” Women’s Tag Team Championship after Baszler and Rousey confronted reigning “NXT” champs Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn.

As Fyre and Dawn were being introduced to the crowd, they were immediately interrupted by the newest WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions. Baszler questioned their knowledge of “WWE NXT” Women’s Tag Team Championship history and claimed the titles only exist because of her, after which Rousey claimed the division wasn’t big enough for them and demanded a shot at the “NXT” tag team gold, as well. Fyre and Dawn were quick to accept the challenge before throwing the first shots and coming out on top in the ensuing brawl

The match, which was later announced for the June 23 episode of “SmackDown,” seems likely to answer questions many fans have had since the WWE Draft about the status of the “NXT” women’s tag belts with Fyre and Dawn called up to the main roster. After two years of existence and 12 total reigns, it’s possible that Fyre and Dawn will go down as the final “NXT” Women’s Tag Team Champions.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Asuka Receives New WWE Women’s Championship On SmackDown, Charlotte Flair Returns And Challenges Asuka

On Friday’s episode of “WWE SmackDown,” general manager Adam Pearce presented Asuka with a brand new WWE Women’s Championship belt, replacing the “Raw” Women’s Championship she won from Bianca Belair at Night of Champions

Before Pearce could even buckle the belt around Asuka’s waist, she was confronted by a returning Charlotte Flair, who informed Pearce that she had no intention of waiting in line for a title shot and challenged Asuka to a championship match, which was immediately accepted. The appearance marked Flair’s return to WWE programming after a two-month hiatus; she was last seen losing the “SmackDown” Women’s Championship to Rhea Ripley at WrestleMania 39.

Asuka’s acceptance of Flair’s challenge potentially sets up the fourth televised championship singles match between the two women, with Flair currently holding a 2-1 advantage (there have been 11 total singles match between them, six won by Flair, five by Asuka). It also puts Pearce in a bind, as earlier in the broadcast, he had promised Belair a rematch for the title. While Pearce mentioned in a backstage segment that Asuka vs. Charlotte could occur the night on the June 30 “SmackDown,” the night before Money in the Bank, it’s also possible WWE is ultimately setting up a triple threat involving Belair.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

WWE SmackDown Preview 6/9/2023

 Tonight’s WWE SmackDown, live on FOX from the Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa.

  • Men’s Money In The Bank Qualifying Match: Butch vs. Baron Corbin
  • Men’s Money In The Bank Qualifying Match: Santos Escobar vs. Mustafa Ali
  • Women’s Money In The Bank Qualifying Match: IYO SKY vs. Shotzi
  • Women’s Money In The Bank Qualifying Match: Bayley vs. Mia Yim (Michin)
  • Jey Uso makes his choice – Jimmy or The Bloodline