Tonight’s WWE NXT on the USA Network will air from the NXT Arena at Full Sail University in Winter Park, FL with the final hype for Sunday’s “Takeover: Portland” event.
WWE announced that Simone Johnson – the daughter of WWE great Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson – has begun training at the WWE Performance. If she makes it to the main roster, she will become the first 4th generation wrestler in history as her grandfather Rocky Johnson and her great-grandfather “High Chief” Peter Maivia also competed for WWE. Rocky Johnson and Maivia are both WWE Hall of Famers.
“It means the world to me,” Johnson said. “To know that my family has such a personal connection to wrestling is really special to me and I feel grateful to have the opportunity, not only to wrestle, but to carry on that legacy.”
“Simone Johnson’s unbridled passion and incredible drive has earned her a coveted spot training with the elite athletes from around the world at the WWE Performance Center,” said Paul “Triple H” Levesque, Executive Vice President, Talent, Live Events & Creative. “Not only does Simone now have an opportunity to cultivate and display her passion for WWE within the Performance Center, but she’ll carry on the tradition of her incredible family lineage while creating her own impact as WWE’s first fourth generation Superstar.”
Johnson will join the diverse group of Superstars in training at the Performance Center, learning from a coaching staff that includes legends of the squared circle, led by Head Coach Matt Bloom and Assistant Head Coach Sara Amato.
“Simone knows she has a lot to learn,” said Bloom. “She’s hungry to learn and picks the coaches’ minds, and the veteran Superstars’, as well. She’s not going to rest on her laurels. It’s been a short time, but she’s been crushing it.”
“Simone is a wonderful girl,” Amato added. “She’s like a sponge, it’s pretty amazing. She knows what it takes to succeed and all the hard work and sacrifice that goes into it. I wouldn’t have expected anything less.”
https://twitter.com/WWE/status/1226931688573415426
On this week’s WWE Backstage it was announced John Cena will be appearing on the February 28 episode of SmackDown in Boston, Massachusetts.
Cena’s last WWE TV appearance was back in July on the RAW Reunion where he had a rap battle with The Usos.
As noted, Cena reportedly wants to have a more significant role on this year’s WrestleMania.
“Those spots are very coveted. There are performers who work all year, 250 shows a year, they earn those spots,” Cena said. “I would love to earn one, at least. And the way you do that is by Vince McMahon, the head of creative, calling you up and being like, ‘Hey pal, I’d like you to do this.’ And then I say yes sir, and then I kind of put my own spin on it.”
Last WrestleMania he showed up as his Doctor of Thuganomics gimmick in a segment with Elias.
Looks like AJ Styles’ recent injury at the Royal Rumble won’t keep him out of action for long, as WWE has announced he’ll compete in the Tuwaiq Trophy Gauntlet Match at Super ShowDown.
The gauntlet match match was announced during Raw and additional competitors include Andrade, Bobby Lashley, Erick Rowan, Rusev and R-Truth.
As we previously reported, Styles suffered a separated shoulder while taking a spear from Edge during the Men’s Royal Rumble Match.
This will also be Andrade’s first match since being suspended for violating WWE’s Wellness Policy.
WWE Super ShowDown takes place February 27.
WWE did an injury angle on this week’s RAW that saw Randy Orton take out Matt Hardy after Matt confronted Orton over the recent attack on WWE Hall of Famer Edge. They had words and Matt blocked the first RKO attempt, but Orton ended up connecting and dropping him. Orton then smashed Matt’s head between two steel chairs, just like he did with Edge a few weeks ago. It was speculated that WWE did this angle to write Matt off TV as his contract reportedly expires on Sunday, March 1.
Matt tweeted a goodbye message to his fans after RAW and linked them to the latest “Free The Delete” episode on YouTube, which includes a possible teaser on him being “The Exalted One” for The Dark Order in AEW.
https://twitter.com/MATTHARDYBRAND/status/1227076312864415744
There has been no word on a possible last minute deal between WWE and Matt, but it’s been reported that creative differences are a “major hurdle” in the contract negotiations, not pay.
Below is video from the abgle on RAW and video of Hardy receiving medical attention and making his exit during the commercial.
Source: Wrestling Inc.
Jeff Hardy could be returning to action soon as he’s scheduled to be at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando next week.
Hardy is set to visit the Performance Center to have his progress towards an in-ring return checked on, according to PWInsider. Jeff has been out of action with a leg injury since shortly after WrestleMania 35 in April 2019. It was originally reported that he would be out of action for 6-9 months.
Regarding Jeff’s WWE contract, it was scheduled to expire on Sunday, March 1 but WWE would add extra time to the contract to make up for the time he’s been out with the injury.
Matt’s WWE contract is still scheduled to expire on March 1. PWInsider reports that the talks between Matt and WWE continue, but his status has not changed beyond that. As we’ve noted, the “major hurdle” between the two sides on a new deal is not money, but how Matt would be used creatively moving forward.
As noted before, Jeff is scheduled to be back in court on Monday, April 6, the day after WrestleMania 36, for the charges related to his DWI arrest from October 3, 2019 in Moore County, NC. Jeff was also arrested in Myrtle Beach, SC on July 13, 2019 for public intoxication, but there’s no update on that court case as of this writing.
It was reported back in early January that WWE officials have pushed Jeff to address his personal health in the wake of those arrests, and that he has been working hard at doing that.
Stay tuned for updates on The Hardys.
Source: Wrestling Inc.
Tonight’s WWE RAW will take place from the Toyota Arena in Ontario, California with what WWE is billing as two “epic main events” for the show.
WWE has not posted an official preview for tonight’s RAW.
Matches announced:
* RAW Women’s Championship: (C) Becky Lynch vs. Asuka
* The Authors of Pain and RAW Tag Team Champions Seth Rollins & Murphy vs. Kevin Owens, Samoa Joe and The Viking Raiders.
The arena is also advertising Bobby Lashley, Randy Orton, Rey Mysterio, Rusev, Natalya, Luke Gallows, Karl Anderson, and others, but no appearance by WWE Champion Brock Lesnar.
WrestleMania is returning to the city of angels in 2021, as WWE has announced the annual event will take place at the yet-to-open SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California on March 28, 2021.
WWE will hold a news conference tomorrow at the stadium about the big event.
Below is WWE’s full announcement:
STAMFORD, Conn. – February 10, 2020 – Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts Jr. and WWE® (NYSE: WWE) are proud to announce that SoFi Stadium and Hollywood Park in Los Angeles will host WWE’s pop-culture extravaganza, WrestleMania, on Sunday, March 28, 2021.”There is nothing quite like WrestleMania Week,” said Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. “It is a one-of-a-kind event that provides an economic boost to the region — and fans from around the world will find a city that is ready to host them and welcomes the spectacle.”
“The city of Inglewood is thrilled to say that WrestleMania will add to the growing number of national and internationally followed events that will be hosted in our city over the next eight years,” said Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts Jr. “WrestleMania brings excitement and is followed by almost every age demographic. With the scheduling of this marquee event, we can say without contradiction, the only thing that has changed in Inglewood is…everything.”
“WrestleMania is one of the world’s most-watched events, and we are proud to welcome WWE to the Inglewood community,” said Jason Gannon, Managing Director, SoFi Stadium and Hollywood Park. “WWE’s commitment to community is consistent with our mission to provide a lasting positive impact in the community. We look forward to making a difference with WWE.”
“On behalf of everyone at WWE, we are excited to bring WrestleMania back to Los Angeles,” said Vince McMahon, WWE Chairman & CEO. “WrestleMania will set the bar for future sports and entertainment events held at SoFi Stadium as we add this facility to the list of iconic venues that have hosted our pop-culture extravaganza.”
WrestleMania is more than just a one-day event; it’s a week-long celebration. In addition to WrestleMania 37, other events include Friday Night SmackDown®, NXT® TakeOver™ and Monday Night Raw® at Staples Center, WrestleMania Axxess, WWE’s interactive fan festival at the Los Angeles Convention Center, as well as the 2021 WWE Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. WWE will also host more than a dozen community outreach events, including hospital visits and Be a STAR® bullying prevention rallies, designed to give back to the local region.
Over the past 13 years, WrestleMania has generated more than $1.3 billion in cumulative economic impact for the cities that have hosted the event. This year, WrestleMania 36 takes place Sunday, April 5 from Raymond James Stadium.
WWE has officially announced that SummerSlam 2020 tickets will go on sale Friday, March 6 at 10am ET. Travel packages will go on sale Tuesday, February 18.
WWE SummerSlam 2020 will take place on Sunday, August 23 from the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusettes.
WWE also confirmed today that the TD Garden will host SmackDown on August 21, the NXT “Takeover: Boston” event on August 22, and then RAW on August 24. Tickets for those shows will go on sale beginning Friday, April 17 at 10am ET.
Below is WWE’s full SummerSlam 2020 announcement released today:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASESUMMERSLAM ® TICKETS AVAILABLE FRIDAY, MARCH 6
TRAVEL PACKAGES AVAILABLE TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18
STAMFORD, Conn., February 7, 2020 – WWE ® (NYSE: WWE) today announced that SummerSlam tickets will be available on Friday, March 6 at 10 AM ET. SummerSlam takes place Sunday, August 23, 2020 from TD Garden in Boston and streams live around the world on WWE Network.
Ticket prices range from $25-$500 and can be purchased via http://www.ticketmaster.com or in person at TD Garden Ticket Office. SummerSlam Week four-pack tickets will also be available.*
In addition, SummerSlam Travel Packages, which include tickets to SummerSlam Week events, hotel accommodations and exclusive WWE Superstar meet-and-greet experiences, will be available Tuesday, February 18 beginning at 12 noon ET at http://www.SummerSlamTravel.com.
TD Garden will also host three other spectacular WWE live events including Friday Night SmackDown ® on August 21, NXT ® TakeOver ® on Saturday, August 22 and Monday Night Raw ® on August 24. Individual tickets for those events will be available beginning Friday, April 17 at 10 AM ET.
SummerSlam Week also includes activities designed to give back to the local community including Be a STAR® bullying prevention rallies, hospital visits and Make-A-Wish events. Additional information on these events will be announced in the future at https://www.wwe.com/shows/summerslam.
*All tickets are subject to service charges and facility fees.
Tonight’s WWE Friday Night SmackDown will take place from the SAP Center in San Jose, California.
WWE Hall of Famer Bill Goldberg will return to the blue brand tonight, presumably to reveal his Super ShowDown opponent
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