Tag: WWE

WWE Reportedly In Renewed Talks With ESPN Following Endeavor Deal

The question of WWE’s TV rights following news of the WWE-UFC Merger have been a subject of speculation, and it seems a first move for the post-merger WWE is in motion. According to PWInsider Elite, WWE is in talks with ESPN to collaborate on new projects moving forward. The biggest caveat being that, for the time being, these talks do not involve a weekly TV series.

A collaboration between WWE and ESPN wouldn’t be the first for the companies, as ESPN was airing classic WWE content in 2020. The relationship between the two ended after WWE’s deal to migrate WWE Network content to Peacock in 2021. Speculation at the time held that NBCUniversal was a probable candidate for an eventual sale of WWE, due to the large portion of WWE’s content on various NBCU platforms.

However, it seems with the WWE-UFC Merger that WWE may be looking to diversify its TV presence. WWE’s TV rights with both NBCU and FOX are up next year. Reporting holds that WWE is open to all conversations on new TV deals, barring somebody paying a lofty sum for exclusive TV rights for the various WWE shows. 

Another interesting piece of information from the report is the news that another promotion was in talks with ESPN. Despite AEW’s recent deal with ESPN to air their programming in Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands, it is confirmed that AEW is not the promotion in question. Which promotion was in talks with ESPN is unknown, but it can be assumed with WWE stepping back in that those talks are in jeopardy.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

WWE RAW Preview 4/17/2023

WWE Raw will air live tonight on the USA Network and emanate from the Simmons Bank Arena in North Little Rock, AR.

WWE SmackDown Preview 4/14/2023

WWE SmackDown will air live tonight on FOX and emanate from the Pinnacle Bank Arena, Lincoln, Nebraska.

  • The return of Shinsuke Nakamura
  • LA Knight vs Xavier Woods
  • Matt Riddle is coming after The Bloodline

Gable Steveson Returning To Amateur Wrestling Competition

WWE signee Gable Steveson has announced his plans to return to international wrestling competition.

On Tuesday, USA Wrestling sent out a press release to announce that Steveson will be competing at the US Open later this month.

You can check out the official announcement below:

OLYMPIC CHAMPION AND FORMER GOPHER GABLE STEVESON SET TO RETURN TO INTERNATIONAL WRESTLING COMPETITION
Former Gopher heavyweight Gable Steveson, as he announced his return to amateur wrestling competition on Tuesday evening with his registration in the U.S. Open, which will take place later this month.

The announcement closes out a 13-month hiatus from the sport dating back to last season’s NCAA Championships where Steveson left his wrestling shoes on center mat, a rich tradition in wrestling signaling the end of a competitor’s career.

Steveson has hinted towards his desire to make his return to the mat in recent media appearances as the 2024 Olympic cycle draws near. FloWrestling confirmed Steveson’s return through their social channels on Tuesday evening.

As the rumors swirled of a potential return for the heavyweight, the U.S. Open seemed to be the first event in which Steveson could come back to the mat as the tournament acts as the first step in qualifying for the U.S. Olympic Trials next summer.

In his four seasons at Minnesota, Steveson amassed an 85-2 career record with 60 bonus-point victories, collecting two NCAA titles, three Big Ten titles, and two Dan Hodge trophies. He also claimed the gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, defeating Georgia’s Geno Petriashvili in one of the most dramatic finishes the sport has ever seen.

The former Gopher great will return to action as a representative of the Gopher Wrestling Club, Minnesota’s regional training center for international styles. He will be competing alongside fellow GWC athlete Hayden Zillmer, the 2022 World Team member at 125 kilograms.

Fans can tune in to the awaited return of Gable Steveson at the 2023 U.S. Open in Las Vegas, Nevada on April 26-30, 2023 live on FloWrestling.

Source: eWrestlingNews

WWE NXT Preview 4/11/2023

Tonight’s episode of WWE NXT in Orlando, Florida at the Capitol Wrestling Center on the USA Network: 

New WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Crowned On RAW, Trish Stratus Turns Heel

We have new WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions in the form of Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez.

During Monday night’s episode of RAW, we saw a segment where Lita was found laid out in the backstage area. Following a commercial break, Trish Stratus offered to step in to help Becky Lynch defend her and Lita’s WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships in a previously scheduled match with Morgan and Rodriguez. The finish of the match came when Morgan ducked a Chick Kick and quickly rolled Stratus up for the win.

While Lynch wasn’t thrilled with losing the titles, she raised Stratus’ hand and hugged her. At that point, Trish turned heel and nailed Becky with the Chick Kick.

When backstage correspondent Byron Saxton attempted to get an explanation immediately following the betrayal, Stratus simply walked on by. So for the time being, the WWE Universe will only have certain questions to sit on. Until we get an explanation from Stratus herself, there’s going to be a lot of speculation. For the time being, fans may take some solace in the fact that this is already her second match of 2023. Given her actions Monday night, it seems certain that there’s more to come.

Becky Lynch vs. Trish Stratus has been rumored to be taking place for several months now. It was reported last month that there were plans for Stratus to turn her heel and work a program with Lynch through SummerSlam. 

Dave Meltzer noted on Wrestling Observer Radio that this is still the plan as WWE is going to extend the feud through the summer, leading to a SummerSlam match on August 5. 

Sources: eWrestlingNews and Wrestling Inc.

WWE RAW Preview 4/10/2023

WWE Raw will air live tonight on the USA Network and emanate from the Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, WA.

Details On Vince McMahon’s Lack Of Influence On WWE SmackDown And WrestleMania 39

WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque was reportedly the go-to person with regard to creative operations on this week’s “WWE SmackDown.”

As reported earlier, Vince McMahon was not present at the tapings in Portland, Oregon, and “reviewed creative plans remotely.” While there were minor changes made to the script, there was nothing major, which represents a drastic shift from the backstage environment during Monday’s post-WrestleMania 39 “WWE Raw” in Los Angeles.

In an update from PWInsiderElite, a source at the tapings described whatever changes made to the script as “nothing out of the ordinary” in comparison to changes made since Levesque took over creative last year. Typically, rewrites ordered by McMahon are known to wipe out multiple segments and/or matches, but there was “no sign of that today,” the source added. 

Furthermore, Mike Johnson of PWInsider confirmed that the main event plan for WrestleMania 39 was “always locked in” for Roman Reigns to defeat Cody Rhodes. Contrary to fan speculation, there were “no last-minute changes due to Vince McMahon” or anyone else. Johnson added that “Cody will be pushed going forward as a top-tier talent,” and the finish to his match with Reigns was kept a secret to the “absolute bare minimum of those who needed to know.” 

For fans who missed “SmackDown,” Triple H cut a very uplifting promo on the show, addressing “the future” in his address to the WWE Universe in Portland. While the primary focus of his speech was to announce the upcoming WWE Draft, Triple H seemed to firmly suggest that he was back calling the shots as it pertains to WWE creative operations, asking fans if they were “ready to play the game.”

It now remains to be seen if the script for Monday’s “Raw” is again altered by McMahon, as was reportedly the case earlier this week.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Update On Randy Orton’s Injury Status & In-Ring Return

It was reported last week that Randy Orton was in Los Angeles, CA for WrestleMania Weekend festivities. This sparked rumors of Orton possibly making his return at WrestleMania 39, or on RAW after WrestleMania. However, The Viper never appeared at either event.

The Wrestling Observer Newsletter is reporting that Orton’s back injury is not healed to the point that he can be medically cleared for an in-ring return. WWE sent out the information to dismiss any speculation about Orton making a surprise appearance.

Orton last competed on the May 20, 2022 episode of WWE SmackDown.

Source: eWrestlingNews

Triple H Announced Return Of The WWE Draft.

During a promo segment to open hour two of Friday night’s episode of SmackDown, Triple H once again sang the praises of WrestleMania 39 and all of the records the pay-per-view event set.

The WWE CCO then asked the fans if they wanted to know what was next. It was at that point that he announced the WWE Draft will be taking place “in a few weeks.” Triple H went on to announce that every Superstar will be eligible for this year’s draft. He claims it’ll be “bigger than ever” and will “change the game.” As of this writing, there is no word on whether the WWE NXT roster will be eligible to participate.

The WWE Draft is returning after a one year absence.