Tonight’s WWE SmackDown on FOX will take place at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee with more build for the Royal Rumble.
Naomi gets an important rematch with SmackDown Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair
WWE is also teasing another confrontation between Seth Rollins and WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns for tonight’s show.
Sami Zayn has reportedly re-signed with WWE.
It was reported in mid-December that Zayn was rumored to have signed a new WWE contract as his previous deal was set to expire at the end of 2021.
In an update, word now is that Zayn signed a new multi-year contract with WWE, according to Fightful Select. There is no word on the exact length of the deal, but it could be for the three years that several talents have re-signed for, including Zayn’s good friend Kevin Owens last month.
Zayn was said to be “kind of private” about his contract negotiations with WWE, but the company made it clear that they wanted to retain his services, and a new deal was reached.
There was talk within AEW of that company being interested in Zayn if he were to leave WWE, and ROH was also reportedly in bringing Zayn back before they went on a hiatus.
Zayn is currently feuding with Jackass star Johnny Knoxville for a payoff in the 30-Man Royal Rumble Match later this month. He is also the current #1 contender to WWE Intercontinental Champion Shinsuke Nakamura, but there’s no word on when the title match will happen as Nakamura has been recovering from a hand injury.
Zayn originally signed a three-year WWE contract in 2018, which was modified a bit due to time off for surgery. He will remain with the company for the next few years.
Source: Wrestling Inc.
ROH World Tag Team Champions The Briscoes recently spoke with Busted Open Radio about the potential of them working for WWE or AEW. While the talk has largely been about them and AEW, the popular duo believes they could make an impact for Vince McMahon.
WWE
“I mean, I think that we would definitely survive,” Jay said. “Because at the end of the day you’ve got to get in that ring and ring the bell.”
Mark Briscoe added, “I think that we would survive and thrive. Vince McMahon likes money, and shoot when we get in-between those ropes, that’s what we are going to do, we are going to make your company money. I think that’s the bottom line, not trying to sound cocky or anything.”
“We are very confident in our abilities, especially right now we are at the top of our game,” Jay added. “So, really man, anywhere we go, we are going to definitely like he said, survive and thrive.”
The style of The Briscoes is very unique and certainly different from anything in WWE right now. However, the tag team believes that is what is needed right now. The fighting style is something they both think fans want
“When people are sitting around, and you’ve got a wrestling fan that has wrestling on TV, and he has his friends over and there not wrestling fans. What are you going to show them to get them to become wrestling fans? You can’t be showing them this clown s–t, man,” Jay stated. “You’ve got to show them something that they can get into, some real s–t.
“And professional wrestling as we all know, there’s so many different flavors of professional wrestling,” Mark added. “But you can’t have certain flavors showcased for such a high percentage of the time. You’ve got to have a fight, that’s what wrestling is, a fight. That’s got to be your staple, that’s got to be your backbone. Your backbone can’t be comedy or this that and the other you’ve got to have fighters out there.”
AEW
If they joined AEW. With the company having a huge roster, Jay made it clear that they wouldn’t be taking a backseat to anybody.
“That’s the thing man, if it does happen, when and if, everybody else is going to have to take a backseat. That’s just going to be the way it is,” Jay Briscoe said. “Once we get in there, ya’ll know what we’re going to do. Once they see we do us and FTR and we whoop their ass, they aren’t going to have no choice but to put us regularly on their television program.”
The Briscoes have been undergoing a war of words online with FTR recently. Despite the fact that they do not like Twitter, the duo admitted that they need to do it at this point in their careers.
“We’re just keeping it real, man. I don’t even like to get on the damn Twitter, man,” Jay Briscoe said. “It just sucks you in, I don’t like to get too involved but at this point in our careers, we’ve got to do what we’ve got to do. So, we just putting it out there and letting them know, ‘we’re here.’”
“Especially like, it wasn’t five minutes after the Ring Of Honor news hit. Back when it did hit, when your boy, Dax, Big Dax just tweeting Briscoes, nothing but Briscoes,” Mark added. “So we can’t sit there, yeah, ‘Briscoes, huh, Briscoes, what’s up?’”
The Briscoes also believe they will be sure to make a big impact if they do join the company. The team are confident due to the fact they’re trying to provide for their families. This means they will do whatever is needed.
“I think once we make that splash, they’re going to want to see it again and again,” Jay Briscoe stated. “So, I ain’t really too worried about that. At the end of the day we’re providing for our families. So we’ve got to do what we’ve got to do. But, I don’t think we’ve got to worry about riding the bench.”
Source: Wrestling Inc.
NXT 2.0’s “Ring General” WALTER has been given a new ring name by WWE. For some reason.
WALTER has a new name! The former NXT UK Champion revealed that his new name was Gunther following the main event of this week’s NXT 2.0.
It all went down at the WWE Performance Center on Tuesday, January 18. In what was his first singles match on NXT 2.0, “Der Ring General” went one-on-one with Diamond Mine’s Roderick Strong in a thrilling main event. It was a hard-hitting bout, and Strong put up a good fight, but ultimately, WALTER was too powerful a foe to overcome. With his brute strength and wily in-ring skills, the gargantuan Austrian eventually overpowered the former NXT Cruiserweight Champion and finished him off with a brutal powerbomb for the 1-2-3.
After the bell, WALTER got on the mic to make a declaration. “The winner of the match … is GUNTHER!” as his Imperium colleagues Marcel Barthel and Fabian Aichner appeared and proceeded to deliver a beat down to the still-reeling Roderick Strong. Strong’s Diamond Mine underlings Brutus and Julius Creed ran to the ring to make the save and a three-on-three brawl ensued as the show went off the air.
Changing WALTER’s name to Gunther seems pointless — and it is definitely pointless — but it could mean that WWE has some big plans for him. Right?
“It is tough to bet against Walter,” Triple H said of Gunther (back when was Gunther was still called WALTER) during an appearance on The Bump back in January 2021. “Anyone who has watched him over the last few years, anyone who has recently watched him against Ilja [Dragunov], one of the most physically imposing, physically dominating performers out there. There’s no wasted movement, he’s not flashy, he doesn’t care about how it looks, he’s just effective.”
Source: TheSportster
Mustafa Ali took to Twitter to request his release from WWE.
“I have a message that is much bigger than my dreams in pro wrestling,” Ali wrote. “Despite my best efforts, I will not be able to deliver this message while working with WWE.
“Therefore, I am requesting my release from WWE.”
Ali signed with WWE in 2016 to wrestle in the Cruiserweight Classic. He last wrestled on the October 29, 2021 episode of SmackDown, losing to Drew McIntyre. Ali took time off for paternity leave last November and welcomed his third child later that month.
Last November, Ali posted a “better America” promo that was supposed to be used for a storyline that was ultimately nixed. The angle getting dropped reportedly had nothing to do with Ali taking time off, as Ali noted it was nixed because it was “controversial”.
On an episode of The Bump last November, Ali said that he believed that he was the “most unheard voice in the history of WWE.”
“I think I’m the most unheard voice in the history of WWE,” Ali said, partially in character. “With zero hesitation in my voice, with no flinch whatsoever, I will say pound for pound, I am the most underutilized talent in this company’s history. Does that put it into perspective for you?
“Here’s the thing, I speak many languages, and one of them is the truth, and I know that’s a foreign language, especially around the WWE Universe. But the truth is, I’ve been great this entire time. All it is is an opportunity that I’m asking for. And when I do have those opportunities, some outside intervention always just seems to show up conveniently.
“You mentioned one person who did that hashtag, #JusticeForAli. Listen, I’m that same guy who came back from a serious, almost career-ending injury, and for weeks, all I heard was, ‘Kofi, Kofi,’ night in and night out. I moved on, but I’m rehashing here. Same thing at Money In The Bank. The next night, they were dancing with Brock [Lesnar]. Where was Justice for Ali then? I’m not looking for anyone’s support. I don’t need anyone’s support. The only thing I need is an opportunity. I’ll handle the rest.”
Source: Wrestling Inc.
Tonight’s WWE NXT 2.0 will be the second episode of the new era with NXT Champion Bron Breakker leading the brand.
The 2022 Men’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic will kick off tonight, and continue next week. First round matches include MSK vs. Jacket Time, Edris Enofe and Malik Blade vs. Legado del Fantasma, The Creed Brothers vs. Josh Briggs and Brooks Jensen, and Grizzled Young Veterans vs. Andre Chase and Bodhi Hayward.
As seen in the promo below, WWE is teasing an appearance by Elektra Lopez on this week’s show. She picked Santos Escobar over Xyon Quinn on last week’s NXT.
Below is the current line-up for tonight:
* Elektra Lopez plans to unleash
* The 2022 Men’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic kicks off
* Tony D’Angelo hosts a memorial service for Pete Dunne
* WALTER vs. Roderick Strong
Tonight’s WWE RAW will take place from the BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma with more build for the Royal Rumble.
WWE has officially announced the Elimination Chamber Premium Live Event for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
WWE announced today that they will return to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Saturday, February 19 for the next Elimination Chamber event.
Elimination Chamber 2022 will be held at a new venue built in 2021, the Jeddah Super Dome, billed as the world’s largest pillarless superdome. A media report from last year noted that the dome can hold 5200 vehicles, but did not include the number of seats. WWE previously ran the King Abdullah International Stadium when in Jeddah.
WWE’s announcement today noted, “The Elimination Chamber show complements the commitment of the General Entertainment Authority to provide the most famous international events and entertainment shows. This show was preceded by several previous partnerships with WWE to present international shows in the kingdom, which achieved remarkable local and international success, including the recent WWE Crown Jewel show in Riyadh Season 2021 and WWE Super ShowDown in the previous Riyadh Season in early 2020.”
It was reported last week that WWE may be re-branding Elimination Chamber to WrestleMania Chamber, but nothing has been confirmed as of this writing and today’s announcement did not include a name change.
There’s still no word on if WWE will hold a men’s and women’s Chamber match in Saudi Arabia, but we will keep you updated.
WWE and the Saudi General Sports Authority announced in 2018 that they were entering into a 10-year strategic multi-platform partnership to support the Saudi Vision 2030 initiative, which is the Kingdom’s social and economic reform program. The deal called for two events to be held per year, but the COVID-19 pandemic forced delays in 2020 and 2021. WWE visited Saudi Arabia for Greatest Royal Rumble and Crown Jewel in 2018, Super ShowDown and Crown Jewel in 2019, and Super ShowDown in 2020, then Crown Jewel this past October.
WWE said they will announce more Elimination Chamber details in the coming weeks.
Source: Wrestling Inc.
Tonight’s WWE SmackDown on FOX will take place from the CHI Health Center in Omaha, Nebraska with more build for the Royal Rumble.
WWE has not announced any matches as of yet for tonight’s SmackDown, but they have confirmed that RAW Superstar Seth Rollins will be appearing to build to the Royal Rumble match with WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns.
Regarding Reigns, it’s expected that he will celebrate 500 days as champion tonight. He passed the milestone earlier this week.
SmackDown will likely see more blue brand Superstars announce their spots for the Royal Rumble after Sheamus confirmed his participation last week.
WWE Hall of Famers The Rock & Roll Express are retiring from tag team competition.
Ricky Morton took to Twitter this week to announce that he and Robert Gibson will begin their farewell tour on Saturday, January 22 when they wrestle AAA World Tag Team Champions FTR at a Big Time Wrestling event in Spartanburg, SC.
Morton noted that he and Gibson will continue to make appearances together, but they are retiring from wrestling as a tag team. Morton wants to spend more time teaming with his son, Kerry Morton, and work with other up & coming talent.
“Rock & Roll Express Farewell tour begins January 22nd, 2022. I want to focus more with Kerry and behind the scenes in the wrestling business. #onelastride,” he wrote. “Specify, Robert and I are retiring from tag team wrestling together. Not appearances/signings. I would like to continue to tag team with my son and work with the younger generation in this glorious business.”
After the match against FTR, Morton will then wrestle Matt Cardona at GCW’s The Wrld On GCW the next night from Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City. Morton is also scheduled to team with 2 Cold Scorpio to wrestle Effy and Allie Katch at this Friday’s GCW Notorious event in Detroit. Morton is then scheduled to compete in the 26th annual ECWA Super 8 Tournament on Saturday, March 26 in Morganville, NJ.
Morton and Gibson began teaming together in the early 1980s. The legendary tag team has held gold in more than a dozen promotions. They were inducted into the NWA Hall of Fame in 2006, the WWE Hall of Fame in 2017, and the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2021.
Source: Wrestling Inc.
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