Tag: WWE

WWE Reportedly Has More Positive COVID-19 Tests Come Back

WWE reportedly had another round of positive COVID-19 tests last week.

There were issues at the WWE Performance Center TV tapings on Tuesday, August 4. WWE had plans to tape multiple episodes of SmackDown and 205 Live, but ended up taping just one episode of each show. It was noted then that the delays were due to problems with organization, and possibly with how late the RAW taping ran the night before. The delay led to WWE holding another taping yesterday, August 13, for tonight’s SmackDown and 205 Live episodes.

Last week’s delay was reportedly due to more people testing positive for the coronavirus.

It was reported by PWInsider, via three different sources, that the second SmackDown taping scheduled for last week was nixed at the last minute because more positive COVID-19 test results came back.

WWE implemented additional COVID-19 protocols and put significant effort into preventing the spread of the virus after the large outbreak in June. There is no word yet on who tested positive in this latest round of tests, or if more wrestlers tested positive than other employees. However, it was reported last week that some talents who were booked for the tapings had to be pulled at the last minute, which also contributed to the delay. Two of the wrestlers who were reportedly pulled from the SmackDown taping were Killian Dain and Danny Burch, but they both wrestled on this week’s WWE NXT episode. It’s possible that they were pulled due to creative reasons.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

WWE SmackDown Preview 8/14/2020

The Road to WWE SummerSlam will continue with tonight’s WWE SmackDown on FOX episode.

* Big E vs. John Morrison

* Braun Strowman promises a monstrous confrontation with “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt

* Alexa Bliss sit-down interview to discuss her recent interactions with The Fiend

* Tri-Brand Battle Royal to determine who will challenge WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion Bayley for her SmackDown Women’s Title at SummerSlam

WWE Expected To Announce Amway Center In Orlando As location Of SummerSlam, May Hold Other Events and TV Tapings At The Site, Virtual Fans

WWE is expected to announce the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida as the location for the SummerSlam pay-per-view on August 23. They’re also looking at the venue for other upcoming events and TV tapings.

It was reported on Thursday, via PWInsider, that WWE was considering the use of virtual fans for SummerSlam, something FOX has done for recent MLB broadcasts. Now @Wrestlevotes reports that WWE has a much bigger interactive experience planned for the Amway Center.

It was noted that WWE is about to begin a “new long term residency” at the Amway Center, indicating they have signed a lease with the venue, which has been “officially” closed until 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This residency includes a new interactive experience that will see fans appear live on the show via LED boards. The interactive experience will be hosted by WWE Superstars and Legends.

The interactive experience will be shown in the arena with more than 2,500 square foot of LED boards.

WWE should be announcing details on the interactive experience soon as it was noted that applications for people to appear on screen will open next week.

UPDATE

WWE production trucks have arrived at the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida.

Local reporter Jon Alba tweeted the following video of WWE loading their equipment into the building today.

WWE is set to tape upcoming pay-per-view and TV events from the Amway Center. You can click here to read our recent report on a very interesting new “interactive experience” WWE has planned for the venue, in which fans will be shown on large LED boards.

The Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports that the return to live TV will begin with next Friday’s SummerSlam go-home edition of SmackDown on FOX. If everything goes smooth with SummerSlam Weekend, the idea is to host as much live TV as possible from the Amway Center for the forseeable future.

The idea is that WWE really wants to get out of the Performance Center as far as filming goes. They are putting part of the blame for the drop in TV ratings on not being live and the darkness of the Performance Center, according to The Observer.

The return to live programming outside of the Performance Center will mean an increase in production costs that the company has saved on while filming at their own facility. It will also mean talent and staff will be traveling twice as much, assuming they stay with live programming, and effectively ignoring the 14-day quarantine mandates set by states like Connecticut and New York.

The WWE NXT brand will not be impacted by the main roster move to the Amway Center as the current plan for the black & yellow brand is to remain at the NXT Arena on the campus of Full Sail University in Winter Park, FL.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Shotzi Blackheart’s Car And Helmet Located By Police

NXT wrestler Shotzi Blackheart got her car and signature helmet stolen this week, but as seen in a new video officers reunited her with both last night.

As we previously reported, Blackheart’s ride was jacked outside of her apartment Tuesday morning with her gear and helmet (which had a lot of sentimental value) inside of the trunk.

Shotzi shared an update via YouTube on Thursday explaining that she received a call from police Wednesday evening about her car while brushing her teeth. Fellow NXT wrestler Jake Atlas then gave her a ride to meet with officers who were in the field with her vehicle.

When officers opened the trunk for Blackheart, who was in her wrestling gear, she was overjoyed seeing her helmet again and hugged it tightly after it was handed to her.

Watch the video below.

Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet

WWE NXT Preview 8/12/20

The road to WWE NXT “Takeover: XXX” will continue during tonight’s taped NXT episode on the WWE Network.

* Johnny Gargano and Candice LeRae let the NXT Universe into their home

* Adam Cole responds to last week’s attack by Pat McAfee

* NXT Cruiserweight Champion Santos Escobar vs. Tyler Breeze in a non-title match

* Karrion Kross vs. Danny Burch

* Bronson Reed vs. Damian Priest

* Kushida vs. Cameron Grimes vs. a mystery opponent in a Triple Threat qualifier for the “Takeover: XXX” Ladder Match for the vacant NXT North American Title

Shotzi Blackheart Says Her Car Got Stolen With Gear Bag And Helmet Inside

NXT wrestler Shotzi Blackheart says she might be wrestling in street clothes this week, because her car got stolen Monday night with her gear and helmet inside.

Blackheart tweeted Tuesday morning saying, “My car was stolen outside my apartment last night in Orlando. 2015 WHITE HONDA CIVIC LYTP77 last tracked driving down chickasaw at 5am.”

“Also my gear bag with all my gear, boots, entrance jacket and helmet were in the trunk. If you are wondering why I’m wrestling in street clothes and dont have my helmet that is why,” she added.

“Im mostly sad about my helmet… my first day of training seven years ago I saw that helmet hung up on the wall next to the ring. I looked at it everyday I went to training. Finally when it was time for me to start having matches I asked my trainers if I could have it. RIP HELMET.”

If you have any information on the whereabouts of her car, please contact local authorities.

Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet

WWE RAW Preview 8/10/20

The Road to SummerSlam continues with tonight’s taped WWE RAW episode on the USA Network.

* Kevin Owens goes one-on-one against Randy Orton

* Asuka faces Bayley with a SummerSlam title opportunity hanging in the balance

* Who will fight in Raw Underground next?

WWE SmackDown Preview 8/7/20

Tonight’s WWE SmackDown on FOX episode will feature more build for the upcoming SummerSlam pay-per-view.

Pat McAfee Accepts Challenge To Wrestle Adam Cole At NXT TakeOver: XXX

Triple H’s challenge for Pat McAfee to wrestle Adam Cole at NXT TakeOver: XXX has been accepted via beachside promo.

Triple H threw out the challenge to McAfee Thursday morning after the former NFL player punted Cole on Wednesday’s edition of NXT.

Pat accepted the challenge hours later in a video he took on his honeymoon.

“Triple H goes on ‘Get Up’ with Mike Greenberg and starts talking about how Adam Cole wants to challenge me to a fight at NXT TakeOver: XXX on August 22nd. That’s two weeks,” he said. “Two weeks to fight a guy whose been wrestling for twelve years. A guy who’s the longest-reigning NXT Champion. A guy whose been there, done that, with everything. What have I been doing? Oh, I dunno. Kicking-off Super Bowls. Running businesses, podcasting, radio shows, merch companies, being a standup comic, taking care of everyone one of my family members and my friends, and figuring things out as I go.”

“Two weeks is not a lot of time to learn how to keep up with somebody whose been doing something for over a decade. But two weeks is enough time to find enough anger inside of me. To find enough motivation to beat the sh*t out of Adam Cole. I’ll figure it out. August 22nd is gonna be a problem for the guy who once called himself ‘The King of NXT.’ And Triple H, you said you’re gonna be able to make me famous? Well your biggest guy is about to get made famous and it’s going to be for eating another right foot to the mouth! I accept.”

Watch the video below.

Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet

 

Watch what happened Wednesday night on NXT, that lead to the match being made for TakeOver: XXX

Source Pro Wrestling Sheet

Former WWE Superstar Marty Jannetty Apparently Claims He Murdered A Man As A Teenager

Former WWE Superstar Marty Jannetty is currently trending on Twitter due to a Facebook post he made early this morning.

Jannetty is known for making bizarre Facebook posts but in his latest it appears he is admitting to murdering a man when he was a teenager.

Jannetty recalled how he worked at a local bowling alley when he was 13, and was buying marijuana from a gay man who also worked there. The former WWE Intercontinental & Tag Team Champion went on about how he allegedly made the man “disappear” after an attempted sexual assault behind the building, and then dumped his body in the Chattahoochee River.

“I never told no one this, even my brother Geno..cause Geno would’ve killed him, and I didn’t want my brother gone,,hell he’d only recently came home from Viet Nam,” Jannetty wrote. “I was 13, working at Victory Lanes bowling alley, buying weed from a f-g that worked there..and he put his hands on me..he dragged me around to the back of the building..you already know what he was gonna try to do..

“That was the very first time I made a man disappear..they never found him..they shoulda looked in the Chattahoochie River..but Winnie(the girl in these pics) I likes you so damn much, probably my favorite..but I promised myself way back then, nobody would ever hurt me again..that includes you..I loved you but you hurt me with your f–kin Jamaican jealousy..you can go your own way, I don’t need you..”

Winnie is apparently the woman that Jannetty has been in a relationship with. He told another fan in a comment that they had a falling out. Jannetty again commented on the alleged murder and said he has the satisfaction of knowing the man never hurt another kid.

“Me and Winnie just had a fall out,” Jannetty wrote back to the fan who asked if he was OK. “But, if you’re asking bout the other thing..yes, that was a billion years ago, plus, I have the satisfaction of knowing that b—h ass n*nja never got to do another kid like that..”

For what it’s worth, Jannetty was born in Columbus, Georgia and the Chattahoochee River runs through that area. Jannetty was born in February 1960, so he would have turned 13 in 1973. The Vietnam War officially ended in April 1975, but troops were returning at various times before that. There are also records of a Victory Lanes Family Bowling Center in Columbus at some point. The facility once sat on Fort Benning Road, which is right next to the Chattahoochee River.

Jannetty has deleted the Facebook post but you can see screenshots below:

https://twitter.com/ewok_schultz/status/1290964671600693249

Source: Wrestling Inc.