Tag: WWE

NXT Reportedly Returning To Taping Shows In Advance

NXT is returning to taping shows in advance starting after next week’s TakeOver 36 event, according to Bryan Alvarez.

Shows will be taped on Monday, August 23, and Tuesday, August 24.

The Wrestling Observer Live host tweeted, “It appears NXT is returning to taping shows in advance starting next Monday and Tuesday nights.”

He later added, “NXT taping schedule may be temporary, but for sure they’re taping several episodes after Takeover.”

There is a behind-the-scenes power struggle with the WWE NXT brand. Triple H wasn’t even aware of the recent NXT cuts until John Laurinaitis started making the release phone calls to the various talents.

https://twitter.com/bryanalvarez/status/1427041026070380545
https://twitter.com/bryanalvarez/status/1427045498364469249

Source: Wrestling Inc.

WWE SmackDown Preview 8/13/21

Tonight’s WWE SmackDown on FOX will take place from the BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma with more build for the upcoming SummerSlam event.

Keith Lee Finally Explains His Lengthy Absence From WWE

Keith Lee has finally opened up on the reasons behind his lengthy absence from WWE in a video posted to his YouTube channel. The former NXT Champion took to the platform on Thursday to reveal he contracted COVID-19 and was also diagnosed with heart inflammation earlier this year.

The superstar disappeared from television right before the Royal Rumble in January. he returned to Raw briefly in early February but then would take another leave of absence in the middle of the month and didn’t show up again until mid-July.

Lee posted a number of cryptic tweets while he remained out but did assure fans he would deliver an explanation at some point. That explanation is finally here.

The 36-year-old noted having missed three weeks of WWE programming after testing positive for the coronavirus in January. After wrestling in February, he got a call telling him something was off with his bloodwork as his heart was inflamed. The condition made it so that he could not do much physical activity.

Lee beat Sheamus in a singles match during the January 11 episode of Raw, going off TV for three weeks before defeating Riddle on February 8.

He was booked to face Bobby Lashley for the United States Title at Elimination Chamber nearing the end of February but was taken off the card on the same day. WWE announced the former NXT star was in recovery after getting assaulted by Lashley and John Morrison would triumph in a Fatal Four-Way during the preshow to become his replacement vs. Bobby.

Lee returned five months later, responding to Lashley’s challenge for a championship contenders match before losing. He went on to fight current NXT champ, Karrion Kross, at the end of July and the beginning of August.

https://twitter.com/ryansatin/status/1425879913702170624

Source: TheSportster

Johnny Gargano And Candice LeRae Are Expecting A Baby

Johnny Gargano has revealed on Twitter that he and Candice LeRae are expecting their first baby.

The tweet comes complete with a couple of photos. One with what appears to be a baby pair of wrestling boots, and another of Gargano holding some scan photos along with LeRae and their dog. The first photo also includes the baby’s due date. February 2022, which means LeRae is currently about three months pregnant. That explains why LeRae hasn’t wrestled much for the past few months.

https://twitter.com/JohnnyGargano/status/1425818199673683968

WWE NXT Preview 8/10/21

Tonight’s WWE NXT episode will air live on the USA Network after two weeks of taped shows airing on Syfy due to coverage of the Tokyo Olympics on USA.

NXT will feature more build for the upcoming Takeover 36.

* Sarray vs. Ember Moon

* Adam Cole and Kyle O’Reilly meet for a “Face to Face” segment mediated by NXT General Manager William Regal

* NXT Women’s Champion Raquel Gonzalez addresses Dakota Kai and their Takeover 36 match

* NXT UK Superstar Ilja Dragunov appears

WWE Teases Elias Character Is No More During Monday Night Raw

WWE aired a vignette where Elias threw his guitar in a fire and said WWE no longer stands for Walk With Elias. He said, “Elias is dead.”

During the last hour of Monday’s Raw, a vignette of Elias was shown where the Drifter and apparently former musician destroyed his guitar and claimed that “Elias is dead.”

A character who was among the more popular in the company when things were going well and he was fresh and new, creative seemed to miss an opportunity with Elias to really capitalize on how big a heel he was and how big a babyface character he could be. They chose to try and make his gimmick a parody of itself and team him with partners that didn’t necessarily accentuate his unique skills. His popularity faded and he became a bit of a mid-card jobber.

It appears WWE is going to try and reinvent the Elias character if the video shown during Raw is any indication.

It featured Elias standing over a bonfire he likely started himself and looked at his guitar. After a dramatic pause, he threw the guitar in the fire and said, “WWE used to stand for Walk With Elias.” He then added as he walked away, “Elias is dead.”

If WWE is going to change up his gimmick, it’s not clear which direction they’re going to go with the character. No indications were given in the video itself. The only hint was that the announcers for Raw acted shocked and asked out loud what it meant. That seems to hint that a storyline might present itself that Elias could explain why he’s going a different direction in the future.

Source: TheSportster

[Reports] More WWE Releases Are Expected To Take Place Soon

15 WWE talents were recently released over a six-day span. According to multiple reports, more releases are expected to follow.

More WWE releases are reportedly on the horizon.

On July 31, the company announced the stunning release of Bray Wyatt. Two days later, Hall of Famer Ric Flair was let go from his legends contract at his request. And last week, WWE released NXT talents Bobby Fish, Mercedes Martinez, Bronson Reed, Leon Ruff, Jake Atlas, Stephon Smith, Kona Reeves, Giant Zanjeer, Zechariah Smith, Asher Hale, Tyler Rust, Desmond Troy and Ari Sterling.

Multiple reports suggest that more releases will soon follow.

Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer discussed the releases on Wrestling Observer Radio (h/t WrestlingNews.co). Meltzer said “I doubt it that’s it. Everyone is kind of talking like that’s not gonna be it.”

Citing a WWE source, Fightful Select (h/t WrestlingInc.com) reported that company releases will happen regularly going forward.

WWE began a long series of releases in April of last year amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Dozens of talents and several staffers (producers, on-air personalities and longtime referee Mike Chioda) were let go from their contracts. More cuts took place in April; WWE wound up bringing back Samoa Joe two months after releasing him from his old contract.

On June 2, WWE announced the releases of Aleister Black (now Malakai Black in AEW), Lana, Murphy, Santana Garrett, Ruby Riott and Braun Strowman. It has been reported that the company may have interest in bringing back The Monster Among Men.

Before WWE began the massive releases last spring, Vince McMahon and company officials were supposedly keen on stockpiling talents in order to prevent them from landing with the rival AEW promotion.

WWE has more than enough finances and resources to keep the talents that they have released. By letting all of these wrestlers go, they’re just going to allow other promotions to cash in on the opportunities. McMahon doesn’t view AEW as serious competition, but that company has done done an excellent job in maximizing the talents of former WWE talents like Miro, Malakai Black and Jon Moxley, among others. So really, it’s difficult to comprehend WWE’s logic behind all of these releases.

Source: TheSportster

WWE RAW Preview 8/9/21

Tonight’s WWE RAW will take place from the Amway Center in Orlando, FL as the Road to SummerSlam continues.

WWE has announced two segments but no matches for tonight’s RAW. Charlotte Flair will address last week’s non-title No Holds Barred loss to RAW Women’s Champion Nikki A.S.H., while WWE Champion Bobby Lashley will address his SummerSlam title defense against WWE Hall of Famer Bill Goldberg.

Goldberg is not advertised to appear on tonight’s show. John Cena is advertised to appear, but he has not been announced for the RAW broadcast by WWE.

The dark main events advertised locally are Flair vs. Rhea Ripley, and six-man action with Drew McIntyre, Randy Orton and Riddle vs. Lashley and RAW Tag Team Champions AJ Styles and Omos. There is no word on if Orton will finally return tonight, but AJ is expected to make his return after missing The Bump and RAW.

Renee Paquette Teases Return To Wrestling Broadcasting, Says AEW Is An Option

Former WWE broadcaster Renee Paquette (Renee Young) has revealed that her lengthy non-compete clause is due to expire soon.

Former WWE broadcaster Renee Paquette (known in WWE as Renee Young) has hinted that she may soon be returning to the world of professional wrestling broadcasting due to the imminent expiration of the lengthy non-compete clause in her WWE contract.

Renee addressed her current career situation in a recent interview with WrestlingINC.

“My non-compete with WWE is nearly up,” Paquette said. “I don’t ever want to separate myself from professional wrestling. I know that’s where my fanbase comes from; I know that’s essentially going to always be my bread and butter — and I love that. I love professional wrestling, so I’m not looking to get away from it by any stretch,” she continued.

Despite being unable to immediately return to broadcasting Renee made the most of her time. After leaving WWE, she launched a new podcast called Oral Sessions, published a cookbook, and became a parent for the first time with her husband, AEW star Jon Moxley.

In the aforementioned WrestlingINC interview, Renee commented on the possibility of her once again merging her family and professional lives by linking up with Mox in AEW.

“Looking at AEW, I think there are endless opportunities of other things I could be doing over there if that was to be something that came up down the line,” she said. “I’ve honestly not put much thought into it. That’s interesting to be like, ‘Oh, wait! I can do wrestling things again!’”

Renee Paquette would be an asset for whichever company she decided to work for, as she proved during her eight years with WWE.

Source: TheSportster

Triple H Reportedly Had No Say In Last Week’s NXT Releases

Apparently neither Triple H now Shawn Michaels were consulted on who from NXT should be released last week.

Triple H was reportedly not consulted about which NXT Superstars were going to get released at the end of last week.

WWE continued to add to what is already a list of more than 50 released Superstars and employees last week by letting go of 12 more NXT talents. Perhaps one of the most shocking batches so far as Bronson Reed, Mercedes Martinez, and Bobby Fish were among the names to be shown the door. This all comes amid reports that NXT will be undergoing some major changes in the near future.

Triple H is the man credited with responsibility for turning NXT into what it is today. However, Wrestling Observer’s Dave Meltzer has been led to believe neither he nor his Hall of Fame right-hand man Shawn Michaels had any say in who was cut last week. The decisions were made by Vince McMahon, Bruce Prichard, and John Laurinaitis.

Apparently, the reasoning behind the latest releases was that the trio responsible for them foresaw no future for the stars on the main roster. Interesting, as that suggests NXT is still seen as developmental in the eyes of McMahon rather than its own brand. That’s despite the likes of Johnny Gargano and Dakota Kai seemingly staying there for good without a potential call-up looming.

The 12 names let go and the reports that have followed suggest McMahon is reacting to the past two years of NXT. The black and gold brand failing to compete with AEW Dynamite before it moved nights, and whatever problem the boss has with the likes of Karrion Kross and Keith Lee. A message that has also surfaced which some have claimed is a mandate from the boss hints that the goal is to leave smaller wrestlers in the past and only focus on talent under the age of 30.

If Triple H really was kept in the dark about what happened last week, this could be the start of a very different, potentially incredibly bleak era in NXT’s still quite short history. It also suggests McMahon’s recent trip to the Performance Center wasn’t just to scout people he could use on Raw and SmackDown, it was also to rid NXT of stars he doesn’t have any use for elsewhere. This week’s episode of NXT will be incredibly interesting, although any changes being implemented probably won’t take hold right away.

Source: TheSportster