Tonight’s WWE NXT episode on the USA Network will see the 2020 Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic tournament kick off.
Io Shirai is said to be “not necessarily happy” with how she’s used in WWE NXT, according to Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio.
The Stardom women’s wrestling promotion in Japan currently has a goal of bringing back Shirai and WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion Kairi Sane, but WWE may bring Shirai to the main roster to try and prevent that from happening.
This year is expected to be a big year for Stardom as New Japan Pro Wrestling parent company Bushiroad purchased them last fall and will put a lot of resources and marketing into the promotion moving forward. Meltzer noted that Stardom is looking to try and run bigger shows this year, but they recognize how it’s important for them to try and sign real stars, like Shirai and Sane. They both are already stars in Japan, but their runs with WWE will add to that.
Bushiroad reportedly wants to offer a lot of money to Sane and Shirai to stop them from re-signing with WWE. WWE may move Shirai to the main roster as her pay will then go way up. Meltzer noted that Shirai’s NXT pay is “nothing special” but she was making more money in Japan and working less dates, but because of her merchandise pay.
There was no further details revealed on why Shirai is unhappy in NXT, but besides that she has her fiancé back in Japan. Shirai and NJPW star Evil are engaged to be married, but there’s no word yet on when they will tie the knot.
There’s also no official word yet on when Sane and Shirai will see their WWE contracts expire. Sane reportedly signed a three-year deal back in March 2017. Shirai signed with WWE around the summer of 2018.
Source: Wrestling Inc.
WWE has reportedly signed popular independent star Mercedes Martinez, according to SoCal UNCENSORED.
Mercedes Martinez was trained by Jason Knight and made her wrestling debut in 2000. She has wrestled in many promotions like Shimmer, Ring of Honor, World Xtreme Wrestling, Women Superstars Uncensored, Beyond Wrestling, and is the current AWS Heavyweight Champion.
She is a two-time Mae Young Classic competitor and wrestled in NXT on several occasions.
Mercedes Martinez was also part of AEW’s Casino Battle Royale at All Out.
Sports Illustrated listed her on their Top 10 Women Wrestlers of 2019.
Source: Wrestling Inc.
There have been a lot of rumors and speculation on Paige possibly returning to the ring for WWE this year.
The speculation began after Paige made several cryptic tweets. She took to Twitter over the weekend and commented on her glory days, and the private footage that was released in 2018. The former WWE Divas and Women’s Champion declared that she has “a lot of career left” and that 2020 will be a good year for her.
“I get told that my glory days are over w/ my career & that I’m a ‘slut’ coz of the crap that got released about me. Just know again. Ppl make mistakes when they’re young. I’m not that person. Also my glory days are far from over,” Paige wrote.
“I have a whole a lot of career left in me. 2020 will be a good year for me,” she continued in another tweet.
Paige suffered a career-ending neck injury at a December 2017 WWE live event in Uniondale, NY, and then retired from the ring. She managed WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions The Kabuki Warriors until she needed to take time off for a hernia back in August 2018. The hernia was related to the career-ending neck injury, and she underwent another procedure last summer. The 27 year old revealed in a post-surgery Instagram post last August that she had the neck of a 60 year old. Despite the rumors and speculation, a return to the ring seems unlikely based on the information she’s revealed.
Paige will return to her duties as an analyst and co-host on FS1’s WWE Backstage this week.
You can see Paige’s full tweets below, along with responses from her wrestler parents. Her mother said she believes Paige will have her own primetime talk show within a few years.
https://twitter.com/RealPaigeWWE/status/1213205004397379585
https://twitter.com/RealPaigeWWE/status/1213205132457824256
https://twitter.com/RealPaigeWWE/status/1213534815602872320
https://twitter.com/RealPaigeWWE/status/1213534909794418688
Source: Wrestling Inc.
Big Show made a surprise return to in-ring action last night on WWE RAW to help Samoa Joe and Kevin Owens take on Seth Rollins and the Authors of Pain.
Last night’s edition of RAW featured featured Samoa Joe teasing a mystery partner against the aforementioned team. He then showed the partner to Kevin Owens behind a secret door later in the evening and KO was pleased with the choice.
When the reveal occurred before the main event, Big Show got a big pop from the crowd.
The match ended in disqualification when Big Show had AOP by the throat for a double chokeslam and Seth hit him from behind with a chair. The WWE legend got his revenge moments later, however, after hitting Rollins with a KO punch.
Big Show’s last match in WWE took place in November 2018.
During his time away from the ring, the 47-year-old filmed a Netflix series. The larger-than-life athlete previously said the show would drop on the platform around WrestleMania 36, therefore he’d like to wrestle at the event to promote the series.
As last night’s show was coming to a close, Vic Joseph announced next week’s show will feature a fist fight between Big Show, Samoa Joe and Kevin Owens against Seth Rollins and AOP.
Watch Big Show’s return below.
The first WWE RAW of 2020 will take place tonight from the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
WWE has not announced an official preview for tonight’s RAW as of this writing.
* Fallout from last week’s wedding of Lana and Bobby Lashley, which was crashed by Liv Morgan and Rusev.
* Tonight’s show will also feature the return of WWE Champion Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman for the Royal Rumble build
* United States Champion: (C) Andrade vs. Rey Mysterio
* RAW Tag Team Championship: (C) The Viking Raiders vs. The Street Profits vs. The OC (Anderson & Gallows)
The first WWE Friday Night SmackDown of 2020 will take place tonight from the FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee.
WWE has not released a preview for tonight’s episode.
Sasha Banks vs. Lacey Evans was recently mentioned during a NFL on FOX presentation.
Tonight’s show will also feature more build to the 2020 Royal Rumble pay-per-view, which will feature Daniel Bryan vs. WWE Universal Champion “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt.
The final WWE RAW of 2019 will take place tonight at the XL Center in Hartford, CT.
It is believed that WWE RAW Superstar Randy Orton suffered some sort of leg or knee injury during Sunday’s live event in Hershey, PA. According to several fans on Twitter, the injury happened minutes into his match against AJ Styles. The match was stopped and Orton was helped to the back by trainers.
WWE issued an update today and acknowledged unconfirmed reports of the leg injury, and noted that Orton is undergoing a medical evaluation.
Below is the full announcement on Orton:
Randy Orton undergoes medical evaluation following WWE Live EventAmid various unconfirmed reports that Randy Orton sustained a leg injury during a match at WWE’s Live Event in Hershey, Pa., on Sunday night, WWE.com has learned that the 13-time World Champion is undergoing a medical evaluation. The extent of any potential injuries suffered by Orton is not yet known.
The final WWE SmackDown of 2019 will take place tonight from the Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan.
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