WWE taped tonight’s episode of SmackDown last week that will air on FOX at the Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, MI.
Olympic wrestling gold medalist Gable Steveson was the first NIL signee for WWE. He recently gave an update regarding his training and noted that he’s “getting active” before his eventual WWE debut.
According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Steveson hasn’t progressed during his WWE training. The report notes that everything is “cold” on the Olympic wrestler, and the company may be hesitant to debut him soon.
Steveson was drafted to Raw during the WWE draft last October. He made a cameo appearance at this year’s WrestleMania.
Source: EWrestlingNews
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.
Triple H has been bringing a lot of previously released wrestlers back into the WWE fold since being appointed head of creative. Johnny Gargano, Karrion Kross, and Dakota Kai are just some of the names to be reinstated as WWE Superstars. Rumors started to swirl earlier this week that Braun Strowman would also be added to that list, and apparently, those rumors have now been confirmed.
That’s according to a new report from PW Insider claiming The Monster Among Men is once again a WWE Superstar. The former Universal Champion has reportedly signed a new deal with the company and will make his first appearance on RAW this coming Monday – September 5th.
Nevertheless, the latest report states the September 5 Raw which may well signal a big reset in WWE, and not just because Strowman looks likely to be back. Even though the draft that was once rumored to be starting next week now appears to have been pushed into 2023, Clash at the Castle will be the first PPV solely booked by Triple H. After that big show is in the rearview mirror, The Game can really put his stamp on what exactly he wants WWE to look like, at least when it comes to on-screen and in the ring.
Strowman was released by WWE in June of 2021 and might well be one of, if not the most surprising addition to that long list. Strowman had been Universal Champion the year before, beat Shane McMahon at WrestleMania a few months prior to being let go, and was competing for the WWE Title on a PPV just weeks before he was wished well in his future endeavors.
Source: TheSportster
Triple H is reportedly working on design alterations for WWE belts.
WWE’s title belts could be set for a redesign, with Triple H said to be already working on changes.
The Game has been handed a lot more power at WWE and, with that, a lot more responsibility, having taken over as the company’s head of creative on the back of Vince McMahon’s retirement. So far, he’s been doing a pretty good job with the company’s flagship shows, receiving lots of plaudits for the changes which have been introduced.
Monday Night Raw has also seen an impressive jump in ratings recently, going over the two million mark.
Triple H has introduced several changes since taking over, permitting the use of previously banned terms, lifting the Twitch ban, and, more importantly, bringing back a number of released wrestlers such as Karrion Kross, Dexter Lumis, Dakota Kai, Iyo Sky, and Johnny Gargano. Sasha Banks and Naomi are also expected back soon.
It’s believed that HHH is also allowing wrestlers to go by their real names, something given credence by Gargano’s return under his actual name and the Pete Dunne elements that surfaced on SmackDown this past Friday.
It’s now being reported that The Game is looking to make significant changes to belts at WWE. This comes from Belt Fan Dan, who has been responsible for many belt revelations in the past.
For now, the new creative lead is making the United States and Intercontinental Championships important again. Let’s see if the belts themselves receive upgrades.
Source: TheSportster
What might well be the busiest wrestling weekend of the year is almost upon us. WWE’s biggest UK show for three decades, an NXT vs. NXT UK supershow the next day, and then AEW All Out to close the weekend. NXT had just one more show to get all its ducks in a row for Worlds Collide on Tuesday, and it utilized plenty of main roster stars to get that done.
Some of the main rosters stars who made NXT cameos on Tuesday did so in an attempt to light fires under the various stars competing for multiple titles this weekend. Bron Breakker was warned not to underestimate Tyler Bate by Finn Balor, while Ciampa attempted to remind the champ just how much the NXT Title should mean to him.
Bate had a visitor of his own. Well, visitor via satellite, Rock-style. Finlay handed Bate a tablet on which his fellow Big Strong Boy Butch was waiting to chat. The man formerly known as Pete Dunne told Bate to unify the titles for NXT UK, a brand which will officially be laid to rest after Worlds Collide, paving the way for NXT Europe.
As for the women, Mandy Rose was paid a visit by Shayna Baszler. Baszler was less motivational and more threatening, labeling Rose a lesser champion than she was. Rhea Ripley also returned, backing Blair Davenport. None of the names mentioned so far will actually be competing at Worlds Collide. A few other stars from Raw and SmackDown will be, though.
After picking up a win on Tuesday night, NXT Tag Champions Kayden Carter and Katana Chance were confronted by Nikki ASH and Doudrop. It was confirmed later in the night that they will compete for the titles at Worlds Collide. Ricochet will also be on the show as he returned to NXT this week to challenge Carmelo Hayes for the North American Title. A championship Ricochet has held before, and is hoping to hold again come Sunday.
Source: TheSportster
WWE NXT 2.0 airing tonight on USA Network at 8/7C.
Worlds will collide this Sunday at 4 p.m. ET, when “NXT 2.0” and “NXT UK” do battle. The “Worlds Collide” event will be a highly charged occasion for the UK-based brand, who will officially close their doors following this weekend’s tussle, with an expansion and relaunch set to occur next year as “NXT Europe.” However, before the two brands mix it up in five days’ time, a huge “NXT 2.0” vs. “NXT UK” encounter will go down on tonight’s episode at the WWE Performance Center.
Vince Russo is claiming that he worked as a consultant for the USA Network for the past 2 years.
In a video posted on his YouTube account, Russo says the consulting job lasted from 2020 (just before WrestleMania) until 2022. Russo didn’t go into too much detail on his YouTube channel because he wants his followers to find out more by subscribing to his Patreon account.
Russo said the following on the free version posted on his YouTube account:
“I’ve been keeping a little secret for the last two plus years that I want to talk about on this show. I want to come clean. People tell me I don’t know what I’m talking about. When I start talking about the network, people actually think they know more about the network, and where the network stands pertaining to Raw and its audience and its numbers, than I do. Well, bro, I’m gonna break the news to you on this show. I’ve not said this publicly before from March, pre mania, bro. It was right before Mania in 2020 up until this past Mania in 2022. So basically, bro for two years, I was consulting for the USA Network, bro…”
“For two years, bro, the USA Network paid me very, very, very well. Now, if you want to know how this came about, let’s take a couple of steps back and I will explain this to you. I got in contact with the Vice President at the USA Network who was overseeing Raw, he knew who I was [and] called me back immediately. And we had a long, long, long discussion. And as the Vice President who oversaw Raw…so the first thing he did was he went directly to Vince McMahon….”
“So for two years, two years, I was consulting weekly with the USA Network. For two years, I heard the number and the rating and the viewership and the return on the investment…Don’t tell me I don’t know what the f**k I’m talking about. When it comes to numbers, when it comes to networks. I don’t care if it’s if it’s 1999 or 2020. I know where they stand. I know what they’re looking for. I know what’s acceptable and unacceptable because I had communication with them for two straight years. So don’t tell me I don’t know what the f**k I’m talking about bro when I am working directly with the network that WWE Raw is on.”
In 2021, Russo stated, “After knowing Vince McMahon for 30 years & having great success w/him during my time at WWE–yesterday he & I had our FINAL EXCHANGE. It’s an unfortunate story & sad in many ways, but, Closure is good.” Earlier this year, Russo claimed that Vince McMahon asked for his thoughts on the WWE product. Russo said he offered to work as a consultant for McMahon but he wasn’t going to do it for free. Russo said the following in May 2022: “But I certainly was not gonna do that for free because the product is horrible. I was just looking to help the guy because the product is horrible!”
Source: WrestlingNews.co with credit to Vince Russo
It looks like fans won’t be waiting much longer to see Sasha Banks and Naomi make a return to WWE.
Banks and Naomi reached an agreement to return, now with Triple H running creative. WWE has been waiting for the Women’s Tag Team Title Tournament to play out before bringing them back to television.
The finals of the tournament will take place on tonight’s episode of Raw when Dakota Kai & IYO SKY battle Raquel Rodriguez & Aliyah.
During today’s Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer noted that Banks and Naomi are expected back shortly, while Bryan Alvarez noted that both stars are back on the internal roster.
“Naomi and Sasha Banks should be back any week now,” Meltzer said.
Bryan Alvarez added, “they are back being listed on the roster, so they should be back at any time.”
Source: WrestlingNews.co
