Tag: WWE

WWE Changing Turnbuckles, Ropes And More To Protect Talent From Coronavirus During Tapings

WWE is planning another lengthy set of WWE NXT, RAW and SmackDown tapings from the empty WWE Performance Center in Orlando, FL this week. They plan to “take over” another hotel in the area, for talent to stay in, and tape in “waves” to follow CDC guidelines for the COVID-19 outbreak.

WWE will reportedly take extra safety measures at the Performance Center tapings as they continue to work through the coronavirus pandemic.

WWE is planning on changing the ropes, turnbuckles, aprons and canvas after every match, according to PWInsider. They are also planning to do a complete sanitizing of the WWE Performance Center as they work.

You can click here for recent comments from WWE Chief Brand Officer Stephanie McMahon on other ways they are staying safe while taping through the outbreak. There is currently a stay-at-home order in place for the state of Florida, but there’s no word yet on how WWE is dealing with that.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

WWE Changing Turnbuckles, Ropes And More To Protect Talent From Coronavirus During Tapings

Tournament To Determine Interim NXT Cruiserweight Champion Announced

NXT Cruiserweight champ Jordan Devlin is unable to travel at the moment due to the coronavirus pandemic, therefore a tournament has been announced to determine an interim champion.

General Manager William Regal made an appearance this morning on “The Bump” to make the announcement regarding the tournament.

“Due to current events, obviously, Jordan Devlin is in Ireland and he cannot defend his NXT Cruiserweight Championship. So I’ve decided that, in the meantime, we will hold a tournament for the NXT Cruiserweight interim Champion,” Regal stated.

The competitors and execution of the tournament will be revealed via social media in the coming days.

As for the NXT Tag Team titles, William Regal says he’s still making a decision regarding what to do with the belts as Pete Dunne is in a similar situation. Regal hopes to know more in the coming week.

Watch the announcement below.

nxt cruiserweight championship interim tournament jordan devlin

 

 

Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet

WWE RAW Preview 4/6/20

Tonight’s post-WrestleMania 36 edition of WWE RAW will take place from the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, FL. The show was taped last week.

* What’s next for WWE Champion Drew McIntyre?

* Will Edge continue his comeback run?

* Will Shayna Baszler make another play for Becky Lynch’s title?

* Did Kevin Owens end Seth Rollins’ crusade?

WrestleMania 36 Results Nights 1 and 2

Night 1

(Kickoff) Drew Gulak vs. Cesaro

Winner: Cesaro

 

Elias vs. King Baron Corbin-

Winner: Elias

 

WWE RAW WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP
Becky Lynch (c) vs. Shayna Baszler

Winner: Becky Lynch

 

WWE INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Sami Zayn (c) vs. Daniel Bryan

Winner: Sami Zayn

 

WWE SMACKDOWN TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP (LADDER MATCH)
John Morrison (c) vs. Jimmy Uso vs. Kofi Kingston

Winner: John Morrison to retain titles with The Miz

 

Kevin Owens vs. Seth Rollins

Winner: Kevin Owens after match restarted as a No DQ match

 

Mojo Rawley wins 24/7 Championship after breaking up attempted pin on R-Truth by WrestleMania host Rob Gronkowski

 

WWE UNIVERSAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Goldberg (c) vs. Braun Strowman

Winner and new Universal Champion Braun Strowman

 

BONEYARD MATCH
The Undertaker vs. AJ Styles

Winner: The Undertaker

 

Night 2

(Kickoff) Liv Morgan vs. Natalya

Winner: Liv Morgan

 

NXT WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP
Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Charlotte

Winner and new NXT Women’s Champion: Charlotte Flair

 

Aleister Black vs. Bobby Lashley

Winner: Aleister Black

 

Otis vs. Dolph Ziggler

Winner: Otis

 

LAST MAN STANDING MATCH
Randy Orton vs. Edge

Winner: Edge

 

Rob Gronkowski wins 24/7 Championship by pinning Mojo Rawley

 

WWE RAW TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP
The Street Profits (c) vs. Angel Garza and Austin Theory

Winners: Street profits

 

FATAL FIVE-WAY ELIMINATION MATCH FOR THE WWE SMACKDOWN WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP
Bayley (c) vs. Lacey Evans vs. Sasha Banks vs. Naomi vs. Tamina Snuka

Winner: Bayley

 

FIREFLY FUN HOUSE MATCH
John Cena vs. “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt

Winner: “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt

 

WWE CHAMPIONSHIP
Brock Lesnar (c) vs. Drew McIntyre

Winner and new WWE Champion Drew McIntyre

 

WrestleMania 36, April 4 and 5

DATE: April 4, 2020 at 7:00 PM ET (Preshow at 5:00 PM ET) – April 5, 2020 at 7:00 PM ET (Preshow at 5:00 PM ET)
LOCATION: WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida
AVAILABLE ON: WWE Network (first month free for new subscribers), FOX Sports App and traditional PPV

The Preshows will air on FS1

 

WWE CHAMPIONSHIP
Brock Lesnar (c) vs. Drew McIntyre

WWE UNIVERSAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Goldberg (c) vs. Braun Strowman

WWE RAW WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP
Becky Lynch (c) vs. Shayna Baszler

FATAL FIVE-WAY ELIMINATION MATCH FOR THE WWE SMACKDOWN WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP
Bayley (c) vs. Lacey Evans vs. Sasha Banks vs. Naomi vs. Tamina Snuka

NXT WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP
Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Charlotte

WWE RAW TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP
The Street Profits (c) vs. Angel Garza and Austin Theory

WWE WOMEN’S TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP
Asuka and Kairi Sane (c) vs. Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross

WWE INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Sami Zayn (c) vs. Daniel Bryan

WWE SMACKDOWN TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP (LADDER MATCH)
John Morrison (c) vs. Jimmy Uso vs. Kofi Kingston

LAST MAN STANDING MATCH
Randy Orton vs. Edge

BONEYARD MATCH
The Undertaker vs. AJ Styles

FIREFLY FUN HOUSE MATCH
John Cena vs. Bray Wyatt

Kevin Owens vs. Seth Rollins

Elias vs. King Baron Corbin

Aleister Black vs. Bobby Lashley

Otis vs. Dolph Ziggler

The Preshows will air on FS1

WWE SmackDown Preview 4/3/20

Tonight’s WWE SmackDown on FOX will be the WrestleMania 36 go-home show with the final hype for the big events on Saturday and Sunday.

Backstage Note On How WWE Will Air The Top Matches For WrestleMania 36

WWE officials were still working on the final line-ups for both nights of WrestleMania 36 this week, but word is that two of the bigger gimmick matches will air on different nights.

It was reported today by @Wrestlevotes that both of the “off location” matches will likely air on different nights. That would be the Boneyard Match between The Undertaker and AJ Styles, and the Firefly Fun House Match between John Cena and “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt.

It’s also believed that the two main title matches will also air on different nights – Drew McIntyre vs. WWE Champion Brock Lesnar, and Roman Reigns’ replacement vs. WWE Universal Champion Bill Goldberg. The same is likely for the two top women’s matches – Charlotte Flair vs. WWE NXT Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley, and Shayna Baszler vs. RAW Women’s Champion Becky Lynch.

Source: Wrestling Inc

Roman Reigns Will Be Removed From WrestleMania 36 Title Match In A “Unique Manner”

WWE has yet to confirm on TV that Roman Reigns will be out of the Universal title match at WrestleMania this weekend … and now Paul “Triple H” Levesque has explained why.

Speaking with Ariel Helwani, Levesque said the following in regards to the match:

“Well it’s a funny thing. I think you can watch our business in multiple different ways and one of them is the storyline aspect of it, and follow the storyline. Another way is the online component of it and the reality of it behind it. Roman has his situation and his reasons for doing the things that he’s doing, but I will say from our standpoint and the storyline standpoint, it’s going to play out in a unique manner and we want it to play out that way. It’s not necessarily putting me in an awkward position. It’s just, for me, saying I don’t want to give away the ending of the movie before the movie takes place. So I think everybody just has to watch and see how this unfolds. But it will unfold in a unique way and I think it will be meaningful for everybody.”

Reigns confirmed his absence from this weekend’s event on Instagram and said he made the decision for him and his family. WrestleMania was pre-taped last week and Roman was scheduled to face-off against Goldberg for the Universal Championship.

During the interview with Helwani, Triple H additionally addressed criticism of WWE for continuing to run events at the Performance Center during this pandemic.

“Look, there’s going to be critics of everything. I think we’re doing this to provide what we believe is an essential service in entertaining our fans, entertaining people around the world,” he stated.

“We’re working with the government officials very closely,” Levesque added. “We’re taking all of the precautions, we’re screening our talent. We’re making sure that there are no risks. Anybody that’s uncomfortable doing this doesn’t have to. The crew and the staff is very, very limited. We’re working the talent in waves, where we bring them in for their particular stuff and then they can leave, and keeping people as separated as possible. Trying to do this in as safe a way as possible, while still being able to perform a vital service.”

Listen to the full interview at this link HERE.

Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet

WWE NXT Preview 4/1/20

Tonight’s WWE NXT episode will air on the USA Network on a tape delay, reportedly from the NXT Arena at Full Sail University in Winter Park, Florida.

  • Keith Lee defends NXT North American Title against Dijakovic and Priest tomorrow night on USA Network
  • Second Chance Gauntlet Match tomorrow night to determine final entrant in No. 1 Contender’s Ladder Match
  • The Velveteen Dream takes on Bobby Fish tomorrow night on NXT

WWE Apparently Cancels All Events In April, Speculation On Touring Resuming In May

As we’ve expected, it looks like all WWE events for the month of April have been canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. This means that the WWE Performance Center tapings will continue.

We noted last week how WWE taped recent WWE NXT, 205 Live, RAW and SmackDown episodes at the empty WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida. They also taped both nights of WrestleMania 36, plus matches for the post-WrestleMania RAW on April 6 and the April 8 NXT episode. It’s been reported that WWE plans to air the April 10 SmackDown episode live from the WWE Performance Center, instead of taped, but that hasn’t been confirmed. It also appears that they are airing the April 15 NXT episode live from the NXT Arena at Full Sail University.

The Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut announced today that the RAW scheduled for Monday, April 27 has been canceled. Ticketmaster’s Fan Support will be contacting ticket holders soon with more details, including instructions on how to get refunds.

It will be interesting to see if WWE resumes regular touring at arenas across the country, with fans in attendance, during the month of May. Everything is up in the air due to the COVID-19 outbreak, and some see May as being too soon for some of the coronavirus-related restrictions to be lifted.

It’s worth noting that the Times Union Center in Albany, New York is still selling tickets for the SmackDown on FOX episode scheduled for May 1.

Source: Wrestling Inc.