Tag: WWE

Eric Bischoff Not Involved With The WWE SmackDown Creative Process?, More On His New WWE Role

New WWE SmackDown Executive Director Eric Bischoff is not expected to be involved with the blue brand creative process, according to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. It was noted in the latest issue that right now, those in WWE creative were told that Bischoff will most likely not be involved with the creative process.

With that said, it looks like Bischoff’s job will be to interface with the various departments in the company, and Fox. Bischoff is still to be the leader of the SmackDown side of things. The Observer noted that the brand currently has no leadership and runs off Ryan Ward and other writers pitching ideas off Vince McMahon.

Bischoff had no influence on this week’s SmackDown episode.

Bischoff appeared on the latest edition of the “After 83 Weeks with Christy Olson” podcast, recorded on Tuesday night, and said he had arrived in Stamford, and was watching the show that he will be taking over.

“I’m actually watching SmackDown as we speak, I’m boning up, I’m doing my research and getting familiar,” he said.

Bischoff visited WWE HQ on Wednesday, but said he will really get started next Monday and Tuesday.

“I’m kinda getting oriented [on Wednesday] and starting the process and getting familiar. I’m kicking it off on Monday and Tuesday next week,” he added.

Bischoff also admitted, during another recent “After 83 Weeks” podcast, that he has a lot to learn.

“The honest answer is, I’ve got a lot to learn between now and the time I actually am fully integrated into the process, because the audience has changed. Television has changed. So much has changed over the last five or seven years that I’ve got some catching up to do. I’m not going to sugarcoat it,” he said when discussing what’s different about producing wrestling for TV these days.

Bischoff is scheduled to appear on TV for the RAW Reunion special from Tampa on Monday.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Braun Strowman Signs New Multi-Year WWE Contract

“The Monster Among Men” Braun Strowman has signed a new WWE contract.

Strowman made the announcement via Instagram, writing:

Well I’m sure more than a few of you will like this announcement!!!!!!!! Here’s to 4 more years of being the hardest working and best big man in the whole damn industry and working for the Greatest promotion in the world the WWE.

The larger than life performer first signed with WWE in 2013 and made his main roster debut two years later as part of the Wyatt Family.

Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet

News On FOX Meeting About WWE – SmackDown Live, NXT On FS1

Fox officials hosted a summit meeting on Wednesday to talk with their affiliates about the fall schedule, according to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. WWE was included in this summit.

Since SmackDown will be part of the Fox sports block every Thursday to Sunday in the fall, the network reportedly wants WWE to be promoted as a legitimate sport that is a choreographed sports presentation, although the outcomes of the matches are predetermined. SmackDown will air 51 weeks per year on Fox, and will be preempted for the World Series. It’s possible that SmackDown airs on FS1 for that one week.

Fox will also air a one-hour launch show in late September to build to the live Friday night debut on October 4 from the Staples Center in Los Angeles. The idea is that the one-hour special will introduce WWE and the Superstars to the Fox audience. WWE and Fox are planning a major promotion that will see WWE Superstars take a moving truck to various sized markets to promote the network change. A digital primer is also being planned, which will allow viewers to get a behind-the-scenes look at the WWE product. This primer will teach viewers some of the insider terms, according to the Observer.

Fox is also in talks to bring the WWE NXT brand to TV. There’s been speculation on NXT airing on FS1, head-to-head with AEW’s weekly TNT show, but that has not been confirmed. As previously reported, FS1 will also air a weekly WWE studio show on Tuesdays with Renee Young as the host.

It’s believed that the SmackDown 20th Anniversary special will air as the premiere episode on Fox, on October 4. WWE will begin promoting that special in mid-September. It was noted at the summit that there will be a lot of surprises on that show.

Sources: Wrestling Observer Newsletter and Wrestling Inc.

WWE To Another Big Reunion Special Later This Year On FOX?

Next week’s WWE RAW episode will be a RAW Reunion special with a few dozen Legends and Hall of Famers making special appearances. Dave Meltzer noted on Wrestling Observer Radio that the original plan for the next reunion special was to hold it on the first SmackDown on Fox episode, which will take place on Friday, October 4.

There’s no word yet on if they still plan on doing a Legends-themed show for the first SmackDown on Fox.

It will be interesting to see if the SmackDown 20th Anniversary special will air on the USA Network or on Fox. The very first episode of SmackDown aired on April 29, 1999, which was a special on UPN. It became a weekly show on UPN on August 26, 1999, so the 20th anniversary of the weekly series would be next month.

There’s no word yet on when that show will air, however WWE could have the very first SmackDown on Fox also be the 20th Anniversary special since the SmackDown anniversary specials are usually held in late September or early October. The 5th Anniversary special took place on September 23, 2004, while the Decade of SmackDown special took place on October 2, 2009, and SmackDown 15 took place on October 10, 2014.

There’s no word yet on plans for the SmackDown 20th Anniversary special and while they might not hold another full-blown Legends reunion show just months after the RAW Reunion, it’s still likely that they will bring back at least some Hall of Famers and Legends for the SmackDown 20 special.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Mickie James Undergoes Successful Knee Surgery

Following an ACL injury that took her out of action last month, Mickie James has successfully undergone surgery to repair her knee.

Mickie’s husband Nick Aldis shared an update on Tuesday saying: “Surgery was a complete success. I’m sure when she’s feeling up to it she’ll share more. Thank you all!”

James was injured during a match against Carmella. She’s unsure of how long she’ll be out of action … but expects it to be “awhile.”

Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet

WWE SmackDown Live Preview 7/16/19

Tonight’s WWE SmackDown Live will take place from the DCU Center in Worcester, Massachusetts with the fallout from WWE Extreme Rules.

* Shane McMahon to host a town hall meeting

* Daniel Bryan to make a career-altering announcement

* The Kabuki Warriors to challenge WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions The IIconics

* Ember Moon and a mystery partner to face Rose & Deville

Finn Balor Reportedly Taking Time Away From WWE Soon

Finn Balor has reportedly requested some time away from WWE, according to Pro Wrestling Sheet.

Balor will reportedly take “a little bit of time” away from WWE beginning in August. Word is that he has asked for two months off, and the request was granted.

There’s no word yet on why Balor has asked for time off, but one source said Balor is just looking to “re-charge.”

It’s believed that the time off will begin after the SummerSlam pay-per-view on August 11, where it looks like he will face Bray Wyatt.

Wyatt made his return last night on RAW attacking Fin Balor.

Balor dropped the WWE Intercontinental Title to Shinsuke Nakamura on Sunday’s Extreme Rules Kickoff pre-show. After the match, Balor tweeted “Bye bye”, as seen below.

https://twitter.com/FinnBalor/status/1150580592309915653

Bray Wyatt Makes Big Return On WWE RAW (Video)

Bray Wyatt has finally returned to RAW after months of WWE airing his “Firefly Funhouse” segments on WWE TV.

Wyatt made his return to RAW on tonight’s show from Long Island following Samoa Joe’s win over Finn Balor. After the match, Joe attacked Balor but Balor fought him off and stood tall. That’s when the lights went out and music started playing in the arena. Wyatt appeared, wearing “The Fiend” mask that he debuted a few months back, and dropped Balor with Sister Abigail in the middle of the ring.

The segment ended with Wyatt laughing across the arena as RAW went to commercial.

It looks like Wyatt vs. Balor will be one of the matches for the WWE SummerSlam pay-per-view.

Wyatt took to Twitter after the show and made two comments. The first said, “Worth the hurt, worth the healing”

Wyatt then wrote, “I’ll forgive you, when it’s done brother. The sickness is gone. We owe them. And Yowie Wowie is it gonna be a spectacle!!!”

WWE RAW Preview 7/15/19

Tonight’s WWE RAW will take place from the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Long Island, NY with the fallout from WWE Extreme Rules.

WWE has not confirmed that new WWE Universal Champion Brock Lesnar will be on tonight’s RAW. No matches have been announced for tonight but it looks like Roman Reigns might appear as he was announced locally on Sunday.

* The Brock Party resumes – Brock Lesnar reclaimed the Universal Title last night at Extreme Rules after cashing in MITB on Seth Rollins after the main event in which Rollins and Becky Lynch retained their Titles.

* Club house rules: new WWE United States Champion AJ Styles

* What friends are for: fallout from the 2-on-1 Handicap Match for the SmackDown Women’s Title

Pat McAfee Takes Kendo Stick Shot During WWE Extreme Rules Watch Along

WWE’s Extreme Rules Watch Along got, well, extreme on Sunday after host Pat McAfee took a kendo shot to the back from Matt Hardy.

It all began after Baron Corbin walked into the room with a kendo stick and it led to McAfee eventually agreeing to let Hardy hit him in the back.

The full livestream can be FOUND HERE.

You can watch the clip HERE.