Tag: WWE

WWE Reportedly Has More COVID-19 Positives, Update On Holiday Tour Plans

WWE reportedly had more talents and staff who tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday.

As noted, it was reported on Wednesday morning how several WWE wrestlers and crew members have tested positive for COVID-19, and how it’s very likely that the spread of the Omicron variant will lead to more schedule and/or talent changes. You can click here for that original report.

In an update, PWInsider reports that there were additional talents and staff members who tested positive throughout Wednesday. Those talents have not been identified for obvious reasons, but there were also a number of talents who were contacted and asked to get tested out of an abundance of caution.

As of Wednesday afternoon, WWE officials still expected to go forward with all live events and tapings planned for the United States, but there has been a lot of phone calls being made and “a lot of running around” as the company tries to stay ahead of the situation while receiving additional details on talents and staff who may not be cleared to travel this weekend.

One WWE source noted that they are dealing with the same issues that Broadway and other sports leagues have dealt with in recent weeks, and that it’s nothing they could have avoided as they have held regular COVID-19 testing before allowing people into venues.

While no schedule changes have been confirmed as of this writing, it was noted that WWE is working on alternative line-ups for live events just in case a talent isn’t able to perform this weekend. A worst case scenario would see WWE fill up the undercard slots with wrestlers from WWE NXT, if necessary.

There’s hope that if wrestlers are unable to perform on the annual post-Christmas Holiday Tour of live events, then the WWE Day 1 pay-per-view is far enough away that wrestlers would be cleared in time to perform on that show, which is now less than 10 days away.

The Holiday Tour is returning this year after being nixed in 2020 due to the pandemic, and there are still no plans to nix any of the tour dates in the United States next week. The tour kicks off this Sunday in Tampa and in New York City at Madison Square Garden, and wraps next Thursday with a show in Buffalo. Next Thursday’s show scheduled for Quebec has been postponed until March, but that is the only change as of now. The other Canadian date, which is Wednesday in Toronto, is still on as of now.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

WWE Talent And Employees Reportedly Test Positive For COVID-19, FOX NYE Special Nixed

The COVID-19 Omicron variant is forcing tighter restrictions around the world, and word now is that WWE is once again dealing with significant issues related to the pandemic.

A number of WWE talents and staff members were reportedly feeling run down coming out of last weekend’s live events and TV tapings, and some have since tested positive for the coronavirus, according to PWInsider.

While some have already tested positive, others are still waiting for their test results to return.

Friday’s Christmas Eve edition of SmackDown on FOX is already taped (spoilers here), but the COVID-19 positives could have an immediate ripple effect on the return of the annual post-Christmas Holiday Tour, which is set to return this year after being nixed in 2020 due to the pandemic.

It remains to be seen how widespread the issues are for WWE, but with the timing of the positive tests and quarantine requirements, it’s almost impossible that there will not be some repercussions as there is not enough time for some talents and staff to test negative and be cleared to return to work.

There are currently no plans to cancel any events in the United States, but next week’s events in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and Laval, Quebec are up in the air due to COVID-related shutdowns and restrictions. Tickets for the Quebec show are no longer being offered, but the event is still listed as taking place as of this writing.

It’s interesting to note that due to the COVID-19 Omicron variant, FOX has canceled their “New Year’s Eve Toast & Roast 2022” special that was set to air next Friday night. This was the reason WWE SmackDown is being bumped to FS1 on New Year’s Eve. It’s been reported that due to the bump, WWE went with a Year In Review show for SmackDown that night.

FOX has not announced replacement programming for New Year’s Eve as of this writing, but WWE has no event scheduled for that night, which is the night before the WWE Day 1 pay-per-view at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, on New Year’s Day. It’s possible WWE could tape some SmackDown content at Sunday’s live events in Tampa and Madison Square Garden in New York City, Monday’s RAW in Detroit and Monday’s live event in Orlando, Tuesday’s live events in Pittsburgh and Washington, DC, Wednesday’s live events in Toronto and Baltimore, or Thursday’s live events in Buffalo and Quebec, but nothing has been announced.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

AJ Styles Appears On NXT 2.0, Confronts Grayson Waller

AJ Styles showed up at the WWE Performance Center on Tuesday, December 21 … but he wasn’t there for a workout. Instead, “The Phenomenal One” was there to confront the most hated man in NXT; Aussie upstart Grayson Waller.

It all went down on this week’s edition of NXT 2.0 when Styles confronted Waller, who earned the ire of the entire NXT locker room when he interrupted Johnny Gargano’s departure speech a few weeks ago, has been roasting Styles on social media over the last few days. As a result, Styles put Waller on notice and told him to expect a visit soon.

In case you missed it, Waller senselessly attacked Dexter Lumis with a steel chair following Dexter’s victory ver Trick Williams on Tuesday. As Waller gloated from inside the ring, live footage of Styles arriving at the Performance Center appeared on the screen. The arrogant Waller didn’t look perturbed in the slightest.

Following a commercial break, Styles made his way to the ring and came face-to-face with the dude who insulted his hairstyle on Instagram earlier in the week. Waller and Styles went back and forth on the mic, with Styles attempting to bury Waller by pointing out his shallow attempt to get a rub from a bigger star. Waller talked a big game and threatened to “end” the former WWE Champion.

The situation almost got physical, and Waller even took off his shirt in an attempt to goad Styles. When Styles called his bluff, Waller backed down and left the ring, telling Styles that he wants Omos to take care of Styles first.

As you might recall, Omos and AJ split on the latest edition of Raw after AJ loudly chastised Omos and Omos retaliated.

Source: TheSportster

WWE NXT Preview 12/21/21, AJ Styles

Tonight’s WWE NXT 2.0 episode will feature more build for the upcoming New Year’s Evil event.

* AJ Styles appears for new feud with Grayson Waller

* Dakota Kai vs. Raquel Gonzalez in a Street Fight

* Pete Dunne vs. Tony D’Angelo

* Trick Williams vs. Dexter Lumis

* The Grizzled Young Veterans vs. The Creed Brothers

* Von Wagner will appear

NXT 2.0’s Grayson Waller posted a video on Twitter this week in which he mocked former WWE Champion AJ Styles and even stole his phenomenal moniker. Styles responded to the video on Twitter and will seemingly follow up on that via a physical confrontation.

Waller questioned whether he had heard right, tweeting that Styles had better wipe his feet should he dare to show up in NXT tonight. WWE then retweeted Waller’s message, not confirming Styles is going to show up, but effectively doing so by ackowledging the whole thing. It’ll be a welcome break for Styles and a chance for him to be in a ring without having to check Omos isn’t lurking nearby.

WWE RAW Preview 12/20/21

Tonight’s WWE RAW will take place from the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, WI.

WWE SmackDown Preview 12/17/21

Tonight’s WWE SmackDown on FOX will air live from the Allstate Arena near Chicago.

Universal Champion Roman Reigns returns to SmackDown this Friday

“The Samoan sabbatical is over this Friday. After taking a week away on a night that saw Brock Lesnar wreak more havoc on the blue brand by attacking Sami Zayn yet again and hunting down WWE Official Adam Pearce to tell him a rather threatening story, Universal Champion Roman Reigns is set to return to Friday Night SmackDown. What will The Head of the Table have in store? How will he respond to The Beast’s latest actions on the road to their championship showdown at WWE Day 1? Find out live on SmackDown this Friday at 8/7 C on FOX!,” WWE wrote in their official preview for tonight.

Kevin Owens Has Signed A New Deal With WWE

According to a report, Kevin Owens has re-signed with WWE. His current deal runs up in January.

According to a report from Fightful Select (h/t WrestlingNews.co), Owens has signed a new deal with WWE. As previously noted, his current deal will expire in January.

Back in 2018, Owens announced that he had signed a new five-year deal with the company. The contract was reworked, and it thus pushed up the expiration date to Jan. 2022. But that’s all a moot point now, because the 37-year-old and longtime fan favorite is here to stay for the long run.

It’s worth noting that the contract of Owens’ close friend, Sami Zayn, is reportedly slated to expire soon as well. With Owens now signed long-term, WWE can now focus on working toward a new deal with Zayn. Keeping Owens, simply put, can only help WWE’s chances of convincing Zayn to stick around.

WWE has been giving both Owens and Zayn more television time in recent weeks. The Prized Fighter is now working in the WWE Championship scene on Raw with Big E, Bobby Lashley and Seth Rollins. Those four will face off for the title at the upcoming Day 1 pay-per-view.

Despite signing a three-year deal, Kevin Owens could be released at a moment’s notice.

According to Dave Meltzer, the deal is three years long and could be worth as much as $3 million to the former Universal Champion. Owens will also be working a lighter schedule moving forward. That’ll be more like live events every other week, not four matches a year like Brock Lesnar.

The other interesting note made on Wrestling Observer Radio is KO’s contract does not include a clause granting him immunity from being released. One of the main reasons The Prizefighter likely opted to re-sign is for job security. He has a wife and two young children at home, so the guaranteed money that comes with signing on with WWE will have likely been a big factor behind his decision to stay.

Owens said the decision to re-sign with WWE was easy because it was the best thing for his family.

“I’ll just say that my contract still ends on January 31, but not 2022,” Owens said. “I will still be in WWE for several years, The decision was pretty easy because it was the best thing for my family, really. When it comes to that, it’s always a pretty easy decision to take. WWE has been my home for seven years now, so I have a sense of belonging.

“Basically, I spent the majority of my career here. When you look at all the wrestling companies I’ve wrestled for, in WWE, that’s where I’ve been the longest. That’s where I need to be for the next few years. That’s how I felt and that’s the decision I made.”

While a three-year contract might sound like job security as well as a hefty wage, WWE has proved more than ever this year that anyone can be let go at a moment’s notice. There have even been cases in 2021 where it has felt as if WWE has signed wrestlers to new deals just so they can release them soon after. That forces those wrestlers to sit and do nothing for 90 days as opposed to moving on right away had their deal been allowed to run out. Hopefully, Owens won’t suffer the same fate and will be with WWE for at least three more years.

As for Zayn, he challenged Universal Champion Roman Reigns for the title on the Dec. 3 episode of SmackDown. Zayn lost quickly, however, as Brock Lesnar attacked him before the match started.

Source: TheSportster

WWE NXT Preview 12/14/21

Tonight’s WWE NXT 2.0 episode on the USA Network will feature more build for the upcoming New Year’s Evil episode on January 4.

Jeff Hardy Speaks For The First Time Since His WWE Release

Jeff Hardy made an appearance on his brother’s Twitch channel.

WWE shocked and upset a lot of fans last week when it was revealed that Jeff Hardy had been released from his contract. The company is actually yet to officially confirm Hardy is no longer with WWE, but apparently, the former World Champion was offered help and rehab by his former employers but he turned it down. Whether a relapse or ongoing issues with addiction led to Hardy’s release also remains unclear.

Jeff’s brother Matt, who is incredibly active on social media, has been providing fans with updates. Matt let fans know Jeff is doing okay and that his brother would share more information with him if and when he was ready. Well, the reason for Jeff’s release still isn’t any more clear, but The Charismatic Enigma has spoken publicly for the first time since his time with WWE came to an end.

Jeff made an appearance during Matt’s most recent Twitch stream. The appearance was part of a pre-taped clip Matt aired during the stream during which he is discussing how he was the architect of The Hardy Boyz with a ladder in the background. Jeff then appears with headphones on before joining his brother and revealing he was listening to a song called Release Me by Wilson Phillips.

“I am the Whisper In The Wind, I am The Swanton Bomb but without you there is no Poetry In Motion,” Jeff said, referencing the nods to The Hardy Boyz’s past Matt had just brought up. After finishing the rehearsed bit, Jeff proceeds to tout that he will be performing music at a number of live dates later this week, giving the locations and adding that he will be interacting with fans at the shows.

Matt told fans not to worry or read too much into what happened between Jeff and his brother over the weekend. He certainly seemed to be doing okay during his Twitch cameo, and must be in somewhat of a good place to be performing live music just a couple of days from now. The best of luck to Jeff and hopefully we will see him wrestle again elsewhere once his non-compete clause has expired.

Source: TheSportster

WWE RAW Preview 12/13/21

Tonight’s WWE RAW will take place from the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota with more build for the WWE Day 1 pay-per-view.

WWE has announced just one match for tonight’s RAW and that’s the RK-Bro-Nament finals with The Street Profits vs. The Mysterios. The winners will become the new #1 contenders to RAW Tag Team Champions Randy Orton and Riddle, likely for a title match at Day 1.

WWE has also announced that Bobby Lashley will address last week’s attack on WWE Champion Big E, Kevin Owens and Seth Rollins. It’s believed that this will lead to Lashley being added to the Triple Threat for the WWE Title at Day 1.

Regarding Becky Lynch, it’s believed that her feud with Liv Morgan will continue tonight. WWE has teased a rematch between the two after Lynch retained last week via handful of tights. The rematch is rumored for WWE Day 1.