WWE SmackDown will air live tonight on FOX, and emanate from the Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina.
CARD
NXT CHAMPIONSHIP STEEL CAGE MATCH:
Bron Breakker (c) vs. Grayson Waller
NXT WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP TRIPLE THREAT MATCH:
Roxanne Perez (c) vs. Gigi Dolin vs. Jacy Jayne
NXT NORTH AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH:
Wes Lee (c) vs. Dijak
NXT TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP FATAL 4-WAY MATCH:
The New Day (c) vs. Chase University vs. Gallus vs. Pretty Deadly
2-OUT-OF-3 FALLS MATCH:
Apollo Crews vs. Carmelo Hayes
NXT WOMEN’S TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH:
Katana Chance and Kayden Carter (c) vs. Fallon Henley and Kiana James
Vince McMahon returned to WWE’s Board of Directors last month to execute a sale of his billion-dollar company and negotiate new television deals. Vince’s return caused his daughter Stephanie McMahon to resign from WWE, leaving Nick Khan as the sole CEO of the juggernaut wrestling promotion.
Throughout January, Vince has been sued multiple times by multiple individuals and entities over his return to WWE’s Board.
Bloomberg now reports that on January 26th, shareholder Dennis Palkon filed a new lawsuit against WWE in Delaware Chancery Court.
The lawsuit seeks WWE’s internal files to launch an investigation into the allegations that Mr. McMahon “raped and sexually assaulted employees and contractors over decades” and paid millions of dollars in hush money to silence those allegations. The lawsuit further states “There are serious questions about how Vince McMahon obtained and delivered those funds to his victims” and suggests that McMahon reinstating himself as Executive Chairman of WWE’s Board displayed a “flagrant disregard for basic corporate governance norms.”
According to the lawsuit, if the information provided proves McMahon guilty of breaching his fiduciary responsibilities, “the plaintiff intends to achieve what the board wanted to, but could not in light of Vince McMahon’s thuggery [and initiate proceedings] to bar Vince McMahon from ever serving on the WWE board again.”
WWE has been dealing with three other lawsuits over McMahon’s return this past month.
Source: eWrestlingNews
The fourth season of VICE’s “Dark Side of the Ring” is in production. The documentary series, which focuses on controversial topics throughout the history of pro wrestling, will see the late Bam Bam Bigelow, Abdullah the Butcher, and the late Mike Awesome be profiled in the new season, according to PWInsider. It’s said that Mick Foley, Jim Cornette, Terry Funk, and “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan have all been interviewed for upcoming episodes.
Bigelow, who performed for promotions such as New Japan Pro-Wrestling, WWE, World Championship Wrestling, ECW and the Memphis Wrestling territory throughout his career, faced many struggles in his personal life. In his younger years, the former ECW World Heavyweight Champion was often arrested and was once incarcerated in Mexico City for six months. Years later, Bigelow struggled with his health and addiction. He passed away in January 2007.
Meanwhile, Abdullah the Butcher – a WWE Hall of Famer – is known for performing in hardcore matches around the globe. Because of his activities in such bouts, Butcher has several scars on the top of his head from excessive blading. In 2014, the former All Japan Pro Wrestling star was forced to pay out $2.3 million in damages to Canadian wrestler Devon Nicholson, who had accused Butcher of blading without consent and infecting him with hepatitis C. Regarding Awesome, he controversially departed ECW and signed with WCW while still reigning ECW World Champion in the 1990s. The former WWE Hardcore Champion was tragically found dead at his home in February 2007.
“Dark Side of the Ring,” created by Evan Husney and Jason Eisener, first aired in 2019 and has previously covered topics such as the Montreal Screwjob and Vince McMahon’s steroid trial. Chris Jericho has narrated the show since season two.
Source: Wrestling Inc,
Tonight’s live WWE RAW from the BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma at 8/7c on USA Network.
Sami Zayn’s tenure as the Honorary Uce has ended, and Jey Uso is leaving The Bloodline with him.
At this past weekend’s Royal Rumble 2023 pay-per-view event, Zayn was ejected from the group after refusing to attack Kevin Owens and for striking Roman Reigns with a steel chair.
While Reigns, Jimmy Uso, and Solo Sikoa all attacked Zayn, Jey refused to do so and instead walked away from his family.
Taking to Instagram, Jey shared an image from the night, with the simple caption “I’m out.”
Jey had been at odds with Zayn for months, but came to Sami’s defense during the ‘trial’ on last week’s “RAW is 30” show.
Source: eWrestlingNews
Nia Jax’s return at the 2023 WWE Royal Rumble pay-per-view event doesn’t appear to be a one-off, with a new piece of merchandise being released for the former RAW Women’s Champion.
Jax returned to WWE as the #30 entrant in this year’s Women’s Rumble match, after being released from the promotion in November 2021.
After her shocking return, WWE released a new shirt for Jax, using her moniker as the ‘Irresistible Force.’
Source: eWrestlingNews
WWE color commentator Pat McAfee made his return last night during the 2023 Royal Rumble. He joined the commentary team which featured Corey Graves and Michael Cole.
30-MAN ROYAL RUMBLE MATCH:
Entry Order:
Winner: Cody Rhodes
MOUNTAIN DEW PITCH BLACK MATCH:
Bray Wyatt def. LA Knight
After the match, Wyatt then ends up with some form of mask on his face with a completely different look than before, and he stalks Knight. He uses the kendo stick to hit Wyatt on the head but he just walks through it as the blows don’t register. Wyatt eats a trio of shots to the head but he doesn’t flinch as hey head through the fans, and Wyatt grabs Knight and locks in the Mandible Claw.
Uncle Howdy is then shown above Wyatt on a platform, and he launches himself off the top of the platform, crashing through Knight underneath as the area explodes. Above him are the puppet characters who look down and watch everything.
RAW WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP:
Bianca Belair (c) def. Alexa Bliss
After the match the lights flicker and a playground is shown with various Wyatt related logos. Uncle Howdy asks her if she feels in charge, and Bliss is then shown looking scared inside the ring.
30-WOMAN ROYAL RUMBLE MATCH:
Entry Order:
Winner: Rhea Ripley
UNDISPUTED WWE UNIVERSAL CHAMPIONSHIP:
Roman Reigns (c) w/Paul Heyman and Sami Zayn def. Kevin Owens
After the match, all of The Bloodline appear. Jey Uso wants to honor him but Reigns says no and he wants them to attack Owens more which The Usos do as they beat down on Owens, hitting the 1D. They then trap Owens’ head into a chair as Solo Sikoa charges into the corner with a hip attack. The Usos then handcuff Owens to the top rope, leaving him helpless as they continue the attack with superkicks.
Reigns then gets set to hit Owens with a chair but Zayn gets in the way and he tells Roman it is beneath him as it is enough. Instead, Reigns hands Zayn the chair himself, and he then steps infront of him and Zayn teases hitting Roman but he doesn’t. Reigns then pushes Zayn several times as he screams in his face, but Zayn then uses the chair…on Reigns! He apologizes to Jey, and then Jimmy Uso nails him with a superkick and begins a beatdown himself. Sikoa then hits the Samoan Spike to him as Reigns instructs them to keep attacking him and they beat him down as Jey watches on. They hen want more Jey to get involved, but he simply leaves the ring as he cries and walks away from The Bloodline. Reigns then takes out his frustration with a chair on Zayn himself.
Tonight’s WWE SmackDown will air live tonight on FOX, and emanate from the Sames Auto Arena in Laredo, Texas. This is the go-home show for this Saturday’s Royal Rumble.
Date: January 28, 2023
Location: Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas
CARD
30-MAN ROYAL RUMBLE MATCH:
Participants: Austin Theory, Baron Corbin, Bobby Lashley, Braun Strowman, Cody Rhodes, Drew McIntyre, Gunther, Karrion Kross, Kofi Kingston, Rey Mysterio, Ricochet, Santos Escobar, Seth Rollins, Sheamus, Omos, Dominik Mysterio and TBD
30-WOMAN ROYAL RUMBLE MATCH:
Participants: Candice LeRae, Emma, Liv Morgan, Raquel Rodriguez, Rhea Ripley, Shayna Baszler, Zelina Vega and TBD
MOUNTAIN DEW PITCH BLACK MATCH:
Bray Wyatt vs. LA Knight
UNDISPUTED WWE UNIVERSAL CHAMPIONSHIP:
Roman Reigns (c) vs. Kevin Owens
RAW WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP:
Bianca Belair (c) vs. Alexa Bliss
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