Tag: WWE

Sheamus Reportedly Suffering From A Really Bad Injury

Sheamus hasn’t competed in a WWE ring since he was defeated by Edge in what could be the “Rated-R Superstar’s” final-ever match for the company. While his absence hasn’t been addressed by the company, Dave Meltzer has revealed on the latest “Wrestling Observer Radio” that Sheamus is currently out of action due to a really bad shoulder injury.

While there are no details as to when the “Celtic Warrior” sustained the issue or how long he is going to be on the shelf for, this is the reason he hasn’t been shown on television, nor has he been part of WWE live events throughout the past month. Neither Sheamus nor WWE has made an official comment on the situation, and it remains to be seen what the long-term plan is.  

Sheamus’ future has been a big talking point as of late anyway due to the fact his contract with the company is set to expire in 2024, but that is something that could end up being extended now if he’s out for a while as WWE could tag that time on. 

This is not the first injury that the Irishman has sustained throughout his tenure with WWE, which began back in 2006. While he’s had several smaller issues over the years he did deal with a major neck injury back in 2019 which took him out of action for nine months and sparked retirement rumors, but it remains to be seen if his current problem will be as severe.

WWE has been continuing to use his fellow Brawling Brutes as a tag team as Butch and Ridge Holland have been getting opportunities to shine together as a duo, which could open the door for Sheamus to rejoin the group when he is able to return. 

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Matt Riddle Released By WWE

Matt Riddle is gone from WWE.

In a statement released on Twitter, Riddle announced his departure and thanked his fans for all the years of memories. The move follows mass talent cuts by WWE on Thursday, when the promotion released at least 22 stars or prospective stars in the way of its acquisition by Endeavor and merger with Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Riddle, himself a former UFC fighter, began training as a professional wrestler almost a decade ago and signed with WWE in 2018. Over the course of his career, he won the “NXT” Tag Team Championship with Pete Dunne (now known as Butch), the “Raw” Tag Team Championship with Randy Orton, and the WWE United States Championship. His WWE run was also characterized by prominent accusations against him during the #SpeakingOut movement, his real-life feud with Seth Rollins, and his multiple drug suspensions, the most recent of which came in 2022 and resulting in him being removed from television. Riddle returned on the “WWE Raw” after WrestleMania 39, but with a somewhat diminished role in the absence of his injured partner, Orton.

Riddle made headlines earlier this month for an incident at JFK airport and hadn’t been seen on television since. Despite reports that his absence was not related to the airport altercation and that he was making his return to “WWE Raw” this week, Fightful Select is now reporting that Riddle hasn’t been backstage or on the road with WWE since he was pulled from weekend events and the September 11 episode of “Raw.” Fightful claims Riddle was not planned for a return and not part of WWE’s creative plans following the incident, despite the fact that he was in the middle of a storyline that had seen him teaming up with Drew McIntyre, and says one source cited Riddle as having “burned through too many chances while in WWE.”

Source: Wrestling Inc.

WWE SmackDown Preview 9/22/2023

Tonight’s WWE SmackDown will air live on FOX from the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona.

  • LWO (Rey Mysterio and Santos Escobar) vs. The Street Profits
  • WWE Women’s Championship: IYO SKY (c) vs. Asuka
  • John Cena to appear

More WWE Releases From Yesterday

Yesterday WWE released several members of their roster, including Mustafa Ali, Emma, Rick Boogs, Aliyah, Riddick Moss, Top Dolla, Elias and Shelton Benjamin.

Update:

WWE also released the following:

  • Dana Brooke
  • Mansoor
  • Mace
  • Shanky
  • Dabba Kato / Commander Azeez / Babatunde (NXT)
  • Quincy Elliot (NXT)
  • Bryson Montana (NXT)
  • Yulisa Leon (NXT)
  • Daniel McArthur (NIL)
  • Kevin Ventura-Cortez (NIL)
  • Alexis Gray (NIL)
  • Brooklyn Barlow (NIL)
  • Abule Abadi-Fitzgerald

The company was looking to cut back on $50 million to $100 million in expenses following the merger with UFC to form the TKO Holdings Group.

Dave Meltzer reported the following in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter:

“The key to the releases were talent making main roster money but not being used on the main roster and with the idea that they were not going to be used in the future,” Meltzer wrote.

“It’s time in vs. how much money you are paid vs. return on investment,” said one WWE official regarding the talent cuts.”

Dolph Ziggler Released From WWE

Dolph Ziggler’s lengthy time with WWE has come to an end with his release this week, Fightful has learned.

Ziggler signed with WWE in 2004 and would debut on the main roster the following year as the ‘caddy’ of Kerwin White/Chavo Guerrero.

Returning to the main roster the next year as ‘Nicky’ of the Spirit Squad, it wouldn’t be until 2008 that Ziggler began using the name he would stick with for the rest of his run.

Ziggler leaves WWE a two-time World Heavyweight Champion, as well as a multi-time Tag Team, Intercontinental, and United States Champion.

The Show-Off returned to NXT last year and briefly held the NXT Championship, dethroning Bronn Breakker.

Source: eWn

WWE Releases Multiple Wrestlers

WWE has released at least several members of their roster, including Mustafa Ali, Emma, Rick Boogs, Aliyah, Riddick Moss, Top Dolla, Elias and Shelton Benjamin

Emma initially reacted to the announcement that WWE was headed to Perth, Australia for Elimination Chamber next year, calling it a “dream”. However, then she found out about her release.

She wrote: “Oops nevermind. I just got released… I am no longer with WWE.”

https://twitter.com/EmmaWWE/status/1704870539540705609
https://twitter.com/WWE_Aliyah/status/1704876633289560122
https://twitter.com/SeanRossSapp/status/1704874964170485808
https://twitter.com/SeanRossSapp/status/1704881017494864376
https://twitter.com/SeanRossSapp/status/1704880947483595157
https://twitter.com/SeanRossSapp/status/1704880032986824823
https://twitter.com/SeanRossSapp/status/1704888762327572791

Source: 411Mania

Mustafa Ali Says He’s No Longer Working With WWE

It looks as if Mustafa Ali‘s time with WWE has come to an end.

“I am [no] longer working with WWE. I look forward to the future,” Ali wrote on Twitter.

There was some confusion about Ali’s initial statement, as it said, “I am longer working with WWE.” Ali replied and confirmed his departure before apologizing for the confusion.

Mustafa Ali was scheduled to face Dominik Mysterio for the NXT North American Championship at NXT No Mercy on September 30.

https://twitter.com/AliWWE/status/1704862785224450228

Mustafa Ali first appeared in WWE when he entered the Cruiserweight Classic in 2016. He signed a full-time contract with the company shortly after the tournament aired.

Ali spent time on 205 Live and SmackDown before he moved to RAW. He was part of the Retribution stable on the RAW brand, and went back to SmackDown after the stable disbanded.

He publicly requested his release in 2022, but it was not granted at that time. Once he returned to WWE after his request was denied, Ali challenged Gunther for the Intercontinental Championship and he was in the current program with Dominik for the North American title.

It is unclear for the reason for Ali’s departure this time.

Source: WrestleZone

Details On Confirmed Deal For WWE SmackDown To Leave Fox, Return To USA Network

It’s official — “WWE SmackDown” will leave Fox next year (as previously predicted by Wells Fargo) and return to the USA Network. The company announced the move this morning, with a new five-year deal bringing “SmackDown” back to cable starting in October 2024. Included with the announcement was the news that “SmackDown” will remain on Friday nights, and there will also be four WWE specials aired on NBC’s broadcast channel each year.

“NBCUniversal has been a tremendous partner of WWE for decades,” WWE President Nick Khan said. “We are excited to extend this longstanding relationship by bringing SmackDown to USA Network on Friday nights and look forward to debuting multiple WWE special events annually on NBC.”

Despite the new agreement, a report from the Sports Business Journal, which broke the “SmackDown” news ahead of WWE’s press release, states that WWE and USA Network parent company NBCU have yet to reach an agreement for “WWE Raw.” With “SmackDown” returning to the network, however, NBCU reportedly remains a favorite to retain the rights to the company’s longest-running show, though corporations such as Disney and Amazon are reportedly still interested in WWE rights.

The report does note that it’s possible “Raw” moves away from Monday nights, which would obviously be a major shift, as the series has been a staple of Mondays since its inception in January 1993. While WWE will maintain some kind of partnership with NBCU through at least 2028, it’s not yet certain that their catalog will remain available on the company’s streaming app, Peacock, for the long haul. The streaming deal between WWE and NBCU, which saw the dissolution of the WWE Network in the United States in favor of Peacock, lasts until 2026.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Randy Orton Is Working Out At The WWE Performance Center

Randy Orton has been spotted at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, FL in recent weeks.

According to a report from Pwinsider, numerous people training at the Performance Center have seen Orton at the facility over the past few weeks. The Viper has been spotted in the building and is often seen working out in the gym at the facility.

It’s worth noting that as of August, Orton had not been cleared for a return.

Finally, it was added that WWE has a very strict rule that talent who are returning have to work out in some capacity. As of this writing, there is no word on when Randy Orton will be making his return to WWE television. Of course, it’s obviously a good sign to see that he’s back at the Performance Center and beginning to work out again.

Source: eWn

WWE NXT Preview 9/19/2023

Tonight’s WWE NXT Live from Orlando, Florida at the Capitol Wrestling Center on the USA Network: 

  • WWE NXT Women’s Champion Becky Lynch to appear
  • Champion vs. champion non-title: NXT Champion Carmelo Hayes vs. NXT North American Champion Dominik Mysterio
  • Roxanne Perez vs. Lola Vice
  • NXT Global Heritage Invitational: Tyler Bate vs. Butch
  • NXT Global Heritage Invitational: Duke Hudson vs. Joe Coffey