Tag: WWE

Drew McIntyre Reportedly Very Sick Before Recent WWE RAW Match, Update On His Status

As noted, Drew McIntyre is currently out of action after undergoing an operation to repair a lingering injury that came up after his recent promotional tour of Mexico. The idea was to get the surgery out of the way, so McIntyre will be ready for the fall TV push and the build to WrestleMania 36 season.

In an update, The Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports that the minor surgery was not bone or muscle related.

Besides the surgery, McIntyre was reportedly sick for a few weeks but just kept to himself and continued to work. His last match came on the August 26 RAW, a King of the Ring loss to Ricochet, and he was so sick that day that he could barely get out of bed. McIntyre just figured he had the flu and was run down, so he kept to himself and worked through it.

WWE officials told McIntyre to see a doctor when he returned from Mexico last week, and that’s when the doctor diagnosed him and ordered him into surgery just three hours later.

There’s no word yet on what WWE has planned for McIntyre, but he’s been rumored for a big singles push for the past year, and new speculation is that the push could really get going in time for the WrestleMania 36 build.

Drew is said to be ready to return to the ring now, but he’s waiting on the call from WWE and approval from their doctors. It’s believed that he could be cleared by WWE doctors as soon as next week’s post-Clash of Champions TV shows.

Michael Cole Possibly Joining The WWE SmackDown Announce Team, Vic Joseph Rumored For RAW

As noted earlier, via @Wrestlevotes, WWE is planning to make significant changes to the announce teams when they make the other changes for the fall following the SmackDown Fox premiere on Friday, October 4. It was also noted that there’s talk of bringing the two-man booth back.

In an update, @Wrestlevotes revealed this afternoon that Michael Cole is scheduled to head to SmackDown from RAW. Vic Joseph would then go to RAW to be the lead announcer there.

It should be noted that these changes with Cole and Joseph are not set in stone, but this is the working idea.

Cole currently calls RAW with Corey Graves and Renee Young. Joseph is calling 205 Live with Aiden English and WWE NXT Superstar Dio Maddin, who made his debut last night to replace Nigel McGuinness, who is headed to NXT full-time to call the Wednesday night USA Network show with Mauro Ranallo and WWE Hall of Famer Beth Phoenix.

There’s no word yet on who will work RAW and SmackDown with Joseph and Cole, but the announce teams are expected to be exclusive to each brand. Tom Phillips currently leads SmackDown with Graves and Byron Saxton. There’s been talk of having Renee be exclusive to SmackDown, because she will be hosting the FS1 WWE studio show on Tuesday nights. Graves could stay on RAW to call the show with Joseph. There’s also no word on if 205 will be called by just Maddin and English each week.

Stay tuned for more updates on the WWE announce teams.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

WWE NXT Preview 9/11/19

NXT tonight at 8 ET on WWE Network.

WWE NXT UK Preview 9/11/19

NXT UK, today at 3 ET/8 BST on WWE Network.

Huge NXT UK Tag Team Championship Rematch

After The Grizzled Young Veterans lost the NXT UK Tag Team Titles to Mark Andrews & Flash Morgan Webster in a Triple Threat Match at NXT UK TakeOver: Cardiff, General Manager Johnny Saint has granted Liverpool’s No. 1 Zack Gibson & James Drake a one-on-one opportunity to regain the titles against new titleholders. Will the Welshmen’s title reign be permanently grounded before it even gets off the ground?

Plus, Tegan Nox makes her highly anticipated NXT UK debut and Jordan Devlin takes on Ashton Smith and so much more.

WWE Reportedly Planning Significant Announce Team Changes

WWE is scheduled to make significant changes to the announce teams, according to @Wrestlevotes.

We’ve noted how WWE is looking to have more brand exclusivity, with everything from announcers to rosters to storylines, after SmackDown premieres on Fox Friday nights on October 4. The announce team changes are set to be made then.

There’s no word yet on the exact commentary team changes, but word is that all shows will be impacted, including RAW. It was also said that the return of the two-man booth is coming.

As noted, there’s been talk of Renee Young becoming exclusive to SmackDown because she will be hosting the FS1 WWE studio show on Tuesday nights. Corey Graves is expected to call either RAW or SmackDown, but not both shows. Nigel McGuinness has left the 205 Live announce team, to call WWE NXT with Mauro Ranallo and WWE Hall of Famer Beth Phoenix each week. 205 Live is now being called by Aiden English, Vic Joseph and NXT Superstar Dio Maddin (Brennan Williams) each week.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Kevin Owens Reveals Return To WWE NXT After Being Fired On SmackDown?

As noted, last night’s  WWE Clash of Champions go-home edition of SmackDown Live from Madison Square Garden saw Shane McMahon “fire” Kevin Owens to close the show.

Owens took to Twitter after the show and posted a cryptic tweet that seems to indicate that he may be headed back to the WWE NXT brand.

He wrote, “14-24-20”

Speculation is that each number corresponds to a letter in the alphabet, to spell out N-X-T. They could do a storyline where Owens was fired from SmackDown and RAW, but the ruling doesn’t apply to NXT.

Owens originally made his WWE debut on the NXT brand back in December 2014. He made his last appearance for the black & yellow brand in August 2015, and has been a member of the blue or red brand ever since.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Elias Reportedly Dealing With Legitimate Ankle Injury, Shane Fires Owens

WWE announced yesterday that Elias is injured and will not be able to compete in tonight’s King of the Ring quarterfinals match against Chad Gable on SmackDown from Madison Square Garden.

Elias is reportedly suffering from a legitimate ankle injury, according to PWInsider. The decision to pull him from the ring was made just yesterday.

Last night on SmackDown Elias was replaced by Shane McMahon. In the soryline fued between Shane & Kevin Owens, Shane made Owens the special guest referee and promised to drop his $100,000 fine if he does his job correctly – meaning make sure Shane wins.

In the match, Gable got a quick pin for the win, then Shane made it 2 out of 3 falls, Owens did his best to help Shane with quick counts but in the end Shane tapped out. Shane then attacked Owens and fired him.

WWE 205 Live Preview 9/10/19

Tonight’s WWE 205 Live will take place from Madison Square Garden in New York City with the final hype for WWE Clash of Champions.

* Tony Nese and WWE Cruiserweight Champion Drew Gulak vs. Lince Dorado and Humberto Carrillo

* Jack Gallagher and a mystery partner vs. Akira Tozawa and The Brian Kendrick.

WWE SmackDown Live Preview 9/10/19

Tonight’s WWE SmackDown will take place from Madison Square Garden in New York City with the final hype for WWE Clash of Champions.

* The Undertaker returns to SmackDown LIVE

* Kofi Kingston’s journey brings him back to Madison Square Garden

* Chad Gable looks to continue impressive King of the Ring run against Elias

* Will Roman Reigns pay back Erick Rowan for last week’s surprise attack?

Drew McIntyre Out Of Action With Injury

Drew McIntyre is currently dealing with an injury and is out of action, according to PWInsider.

McIntyre was not backstage at Madison Square Garden in New York City for last night’s RAW and was not backstage for last week’s show.

The report noted that word going around the locker room is that McIntyre underwent a minor surgery to help fix a lingering injury that came up after the recent tour of Mexico. WWE has not held live events in Mexico since December, but McIntyre was there in late August for a promotional tour to promote the WWE Supershow scheduled for late November.

The idea was to get the surgery out of the way, that way McIntyre will be ready and healthy going into WWE TV in October and the build towards WrestleMania 36 season in 2020. McIntyre will return to action as soon as WWE doctors clear him, which could be as soon as next week’s set of TV shows. McIntyre is said to be ready to return, but he’s just waiting on the call from WWE and the approval from the doctors.

McIntyre had been rumored for a match against Cedric Alexander at WWE Clash of Champions at one point.

McIntyre wrestled on the August 26 RAW episode for a King of the Ring first round loss to Ricochet.

Source: Wrestling Inc.