Tag: WWE

Backstage News On Rhea Ripley’s Expected Recovery Timeline

Rhea Ripley’s current injury is not expected to be a long-term one according to Dave Meltzer on the latest edition of “Wrestling Observer Radio.”

It was revealed on “WWE Raw” this week that Ripley has not been medically cleared to compete in her scheduled “WWE Raw” Women’s Championship match at the upcoming WWE Money In The Bank premium live event, where she was expected to face Bianca Belair. While the company didn’t reveal any details about the nature of her issues, Ripley has since done that herself.

She took to social media to respond to a fan who claimed she didn’t look injured by stating, “Brain/teeth [injury]. Can’t see a brain injury. Stop being incompetent and reaching at nothing.” This is the reason why she has been written off television for now, but it isn’t expected to be a lengthy absence for her, as Ripley is set to be back fairly soon.

The Judgment Day star had shown a picture of some dental work she had done recently, which relates to the teeth issue she mentioned on social media. Ripley had braces put on the top of her mouth, clearly showcasing how the work had to be done in order to fix the injury she suffered.

https://twitter.com/RheaRipley_WWE/status/1534559936247742471

Because of her injury, WWE held a fatal five-way at the start of “WWE Raw” this week in order to create a new number one contender for Belair’s title. In the end, Carmella picked up the victory against Becky Lynch, Asuka, Alexa Bliss, and Liv Morgan, and she will get her title shot at WWE’s Money In The Bank next Sunday.

When Belair announced the news of Ripley’s injury status, the EST of WWE did make it clear that she would still defend the title in the future against Ripley when she does return to the company, although there is no official date on when that is going to be taking place.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Update On When Charlotte Flair Could Return To WWE TV

The “SmackDown” Women’s Championship is currently held by Ronda Rousey, but the WWE Superstar she captured the title from seems poised to make a return to the blue brand this summer.

The PNC Arena in Raleigh, NC, is advertising that Charlotte Flair will be in attendance at the “SmackDown” TV taping scheduled for Friday, August 12. The venue’s official website states that Ronda Rousey, Drew McIntyre, and Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions, The Usos, will be in the house. In addition, “Raw” Women’s Champion Bianca Belair will be defending her gold in a Triple Threat Match against Rhea Ripley and Asuka. The blurb then states “plus Charlotte Flair” to cap off the main introduction to the event.

WWE SummerSlam is set to take place on July 30 in Nashville, TN, two weeks before the taping Flair is announced for, which seems to indicate a return is on the horizon, whether it be leading into the big summer event, at the event, or post-event.

Flair last appeared at the WrestleMania Backlash premium live event last month, where she lost the “SmackDown” Women’s Championship to Rousey in an “I Quit” Match. “The Baddest Woman on the Planet” had been feuding with Flair after making a return to WWE following a nearly three-year absence in January. She won the 2022 Women’s Royal Rumble Match and ultimately chose Flair to face at WrestleMania 38 but was controversially defeated, before the “I Quit” Match was set for the following month. WWE explained “The Queen’s” absence by stating, in storyline, that she suffered a “fracture of the radius” during the bout with Rousey at WrestleMania Backlash following the Ronda Armbar, which also involved a steel chair for added leverage.

During her sabbatical from the company, Flair tied the knot with her partner, former WWE Superstar and current AEW wrestler, Andrade el Idolo, in Mexico. “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair walked his daughter down the aisle at the ceremony, which was attended by Finn Bálor, Rey Mysterio, Apollo Crews, and former “Raw” Women’s Champion Lina Farene (Nia Jax). Flair and Andrade also went on their honeymoon following the wedding to celebrate.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

WWE NXT Preview 6/21/22

Tonight on WWE NXT 2.0 at 8 pm ET on USA Network:

Bruce Prichard Assumes WWE Talent Relations Role, John Laurinaitis Placed On Leave [Report]

Bruce Prichard is reportedly filling in for John Laurinaitis, who has been placed on leave while the WWE board conducts its investigation.

As its board conducts an internal investigation into alleged hush payments, WWE has implemented a few personnel changes. As reported, Vince McMahon recently stepped aside as CEO and was replaced by his daughter Stephanie, now the company’s interim CEO and chairwoman. Another boardroom move was reportedly initiated on the evening of Monday, June 20, when Bruce Prichard was announced as WWE’s Interim Head of Talent Relations.

Per PW Insider, a Prichard will assume the role previously occupied by John Laurinaitis, who has been placed on “administrative leave”. The move was reportedly announced via an email to WWE personnel, which stated that Laurinaitis would not be on the road with WWE “pending the conclusion of our Board of Directors’ internal investigation.”

Prichard is also a Senior Vice President of WWE and serves as the Executive Director of both Raw and SmackDown.

On Wednesday, June 15 the Wall Street Journal dropped a bombshell story that claims WWE’s board received an email containing details of a workplace affair McMahon conducted with a now-former WWE paralegal and the subsequent payments made in exchange for the unknown person’s silence.

The email alleges that the female paralegal was initially hired on a salary of $100,000 per year, but her salary was doubled after she began a sexual relationship with McMahon. Allegedly, when McMahon ended the relationship with the former WWE employee, he “gave her like a toy” to the company’s general manager of talent relations John Laurinaitis.

WWE Raw Superstars Reportedly Annoyed At Long Wait Time Before Matches

Not many fans watching at home realize that WWE Superstars, especially on the “Raw” brand, are routinely made to hang around in the ring for long periods prior to matches.

While wrestlers camping out in the ring is customary, the new format of “Raw” has reportedly prolonged the wait time. Between the advertisements, video packages, interviews and recap segments, the downtime between the start of an entrance to the beginning of a match regularly exceeds 15 minutes these days – especially for the “Raw” main events. However, the near 20-minute gap for the 5/30 “Raw” main event between Rhea Ripley and Liv Morgan seemed particularly egregious.

According to Fightful Select, a lot of the WWE Superstars dislike the new norm of hanging around for long periods and have conveyed their complaints to WWE higher-ups. Fightful reached out to several Superstars who had been subjected to the waits over the last year. The wrestlers were reportedly told that the TV show’s format “was what it was” and it was intended to “improve the show flow.” When one talent was asked what they did during the wait time, they said “talk to the crowd, dance, get annoyed that I’m waiting that long.”

During the aforementioned 5/30 “Raw” main event, Morgan stood in the ring for 19 minutes prior to her match against Ripley, according to fans at the Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa. During that break, WWE on USA Network cut to a commercial break, played a memorial day package, and also showed a promo to build up to the Hell in a Cell premium live event.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

The fans are also complaining about the long wait time between matches, I have talked with someone who attended the RAW show in Evansville, In on 5/23/2022, he was annoyed with the long wait between the matches.

WWE Raw Preview 6/20/22

A Money in the Bank qualifying match is on the card and an intriguing comeback performance is being promoted for tonight’s episode of WWE “Raw”.

WWE SmackDown Preview 6/17/22

A tumultuous week for WWE wraps up with a live edition of “SmackDown” tonight on FOX.

WWE is promoting that Mr. McMahon will appear on tonight’s broadcast. WWE specified that it will be “Mr. McMahon” who will be on “SmackDown”, indicating that he will be speaking in character.

WWE and its Board of Directors announced early this morning that Vince McMahon has stepped back from his responsibilities as Chairman and CEO amid an investigation into alleged misconduct. His role in directing the creative direction of the company is not changing. Stephanie McMahon has been appointed the interim CEO and interim Chairwoman.

WWE Board Of Directors Now Being Investigated For Breach of Fiduciary Duties

The allegations facing Vince McMahon are only reaching farther into WWE as the Board of Directors is now under investigation by a law firm.

On the heels of news that Vince McMahon is being investigated by his own board of directors for allegedly paying off a paralegal to keep quiet regarding an affair he was involved in, WWE’s board of directors and senior management are being investigated as well. Scott+Scott Attorneys at Law LLP is investigating whether members of WWE’s board of directors or senior management failed to manage WWE in an acceptable manner, and as such, were in breach of their fiduciary duties to WWE.

Essentially, to be in breach of one’s fiduciary duties is to fail to act in the best interests of another person (in this case shareholders) when it is the responsibility of that person to do so. The reason for the investigation is to determine whether WWE and its shareholders have suffered damages as a result of said mismanagement and are owed any monies or damages as a result.

On June 15, 2022, the Wall Street Journal reported that the WWE board was investigating an alleged $3 million settlement that CEO Vince McMahon agreed to pay to keep an affair quiet. Now, the law firm is reaching out to shareholders and letting them know that if they feel they have legal claims against WWE’s directors and officers, they should come forward to discuss the investigation, including whether these same shareholders have legal rights.

Essentially, this investigation will try to uncover if all the incidences that Vince and others are being accused of might have interfered with the company’s ability to make money for its shareholders. If Vince and others named in said suit were not effectively doing their job, the shareholders may have a right to sue. To put it simply, if whatever is uncovered in these investigations shows that McMahon and others were not working in the best interests of the shareholders, things could get ugly and quickly.

Source: TheSportster

Vince McMahon To Appear On SmackDown After Stepping Back As WWE CEO

Following a report revealing the WWE board is investigating allegations made against Vince McMahon, the boss has temporarily stepped down as the chairman and CEO of the company. Vince’s daughter Stephanie has been appointed interim CEO and chairwoman pending the results of the investigation. Vince will remain in charge of WWE creative, something that will likely be addressed tonight on SmackDown.

Shortly after WWE issued a statement revealing Vince will be stepping back from his duties as the promotion’s chairman, a second reveal was made informing fans the boss will be on SmackDown tonight. What exactly Vince will be doing on the show hasn’t been clarified, but as you can see in the tweet below, the implication is he will be opening the show.

Putting Vince on TV amid all this, or rather Vince putting himself on TV in the middle of all this, is quite something. Although the results of the investigation could well prove nothing actually happened, and the currently inactive chairman may well be appearing on TV tonight to deliver a sincere message, advertising the way WWE has on social media makes it feel a lot like a way to get viewers off the back of something that is currently unresolved.

As for Stephanie, the interim chairwoman has already issued her first statement since being brought back into the fold just a month after she stepped away from her previous WWE duties. “I am honored to assume the role of interim Chairwoman & CEO. I love @WWE and all it continues to do to entertain billions around the world,” Stephanie tweeted.

More details about what exactly is going on behind the scenes in WWE will undoubtedly continue to emerge in the coming days and weeks. Perhaps most notably tonight when Vince opens SmackDown. There will likely be a lot of change coming, regardless of the results of the investigation. Plus, the allegations made against John Laurinaitis still haven’t been officially addressed.

Source: TheSportster

UPDATE:

Shortly before 10 a.m. EST, CNBC’s Alex Sherman tweeted out just how McMahon would be approaching his appearance on tonight’s broadcast.

“New from CNBC: Vince McMahon will speak tonight on SmackDown IN CHARACTER as Mr. McMahon to address his temporary absence,” Sherman tweeted. “Could be a big ratings night for WWE. McMahon has torn up the script for SmackDown, which was written last night, I’m told.”

Vince McMahon Has Voluntarily Stepped Down As Chairman And CEO Of WWE, Stephanie McMahon Appointed Interim CEO 

News broke revealing Vince McMahon is being investigated by WWE’s board of directors. The main claim made against the chairman is that McMahon had an affair with a former WWE employee, and when the consensual relationship came to an end, the boss paid her a $3 million settlement to keep quiet about it.

Just two days later, that investigation has led to Vince voluntarily stepping down as WWE’s CEO and chairman pending the results of the investigation. “Effective immediately, McMahon has voluntarily stepped back from his responsibilities as CEO and Chairman of the Board until the conclusion of the investigation,” a press release issued by WWE reads, via Wrestling Inc.

As for who will fill Vince’s role while the investigation is ongoing, and perhaps for good depending on the results, that will be his daughter, Stephanie McMahon. The boss’s daughter has been appointed interim CEO and interim chairwoman of the company in her father’s absence. Vince won’t be gone completely for the time being. The press release also makes clear that Vince will retain his responsibilities as WWE’s head of creative content.

“I have pledged my complete cooperation to the investigation by the Special Committee, and I will do everything possible to support the investigation,” Vince’s part of the official statement from WWE reads. “It is extremely important to me that we have a safe and collaborative workplace. I have committed to doing everything in my power to help the Special Committee complete its work,” Stephanie writes. Her return to fill in as chairwoman comes just a month after she stepped back from her role as WWE’s chief brand officer.

It’s currently unclear how this will affect the day-to-day of WWE for the fans, especially since Vince has retained his role as the head of the company’s creative. That could all change depending on the results of the investigation, of course, although the duration of it also remains unclear at present. The investigation also includes other claims of misconduct made against both Vince and John Laurinaitis since the initial news about the alleged affair and payoff broke.

Source: TheSportster