Tag: WWE

WWE Announces Neck Surgery For Tommaso Ciampa, Update On A Possible Recovery Time

WWE has confirmed that WWE NXT Champion Tommaso Ciampa will undergo neck surgery on today.

WWE noted that Ciampa was evaluated today and it was determined that he needs an anterior cervical fusion. The typical recovery time for that kind of operation looks to be 3-6 months, but they will have a better idea of his return once the surgery has been completed.

As noted earlier, via Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio, Ciampa was expected to be out of action for a long time, perhaps as long as 6-14 months.

It’s likely that he will have to vacate the NXT Title at next Wednesday’s NXT TV tapings at Full Sail University. Ciampa has been pulled from all WWE events and signings or appearances. Ciampa originally planned to work through the injury to face Johnny Gargano at “Takeover: New York” during WrestleMania 35 weekend, then take time off, but the situation apparently got much worse in the last week and the surgery must be done now.

Below is WWE’s announcement on the surgery:

NXT Champion Tommaso Ciampa to undergo neck surgeryNXT Champion Tommaso Ciampa will undergo neck surgery tomorrow, WWE.com has confirmed.

Following a medical evaluation today, Ciampa has been scheduled for an anterior cervical fusion.

Stick with WWE.com for more details as they become available.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Tommaso Ciampa To Undergo Neck Surgery, Set To Be Out Of Action “For A Long, Long Time”

Last month, reports surfaced of NXT Champion Tommaso Ciampa is currently dealing with a neck injury that has forced him out of some appearances outside of WWE and even caused a re-write for RAW two weeks ago. Along with Johnny Gargano, the duo was initially scheduled to be involved in a Fatal 4-Way tag match, but were instead taken off the show completely.

On the latest Wrestling Observer Radio, it’s being reported that Ciampa is going to have neck surgery in the next couple of days. He’s not going to be in the ring for a “long, long time,” but the exact amount of time wasn’t known at this point. Dave Meltzer speculated – based on the history of neck surgeries – that Ciampa could be out anywhere from 6 to 14 months.

Ciampa will have to vacate the title and the expected TakeOver: New York match between him and Gargano obviously won’t happen either. WWE had originally hoped Ciampa could work through the injury to get by WrestleMania weekend, but things have worsened in the past week to change that plan.

Stories leading to TakeOver: New York most likely will be adjusted on next Wednesday’s NXT TV tapings.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

WWE SmackDown Live Preview 3/5/19

Tonight’s WWE SmackDown Live will take place from the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, with the final hype for Fastlane.

* R-Truth to issue another United States Championship Open Challenge

* The Miz to face Jey Uso

* Is Kevin Owens looking to gain more momentum heading into WWE Fastlane?

* Will The Hardy Boyz continue their quest to become the greatest tag team?

WWE RAW Highlights: Becky Lynch’s Suspension Lifted, “Rowdy” Ronda Unleashed, The Shield Reunited, Triple H Responds To Batista

Last night on RAW:

Stephanie McMahon announced that they are dropping all charges against Becky Lynch and her 60 day suspension has been lifted and that she would face Charlotte Flair at Sunday’s Fastlane for the vacated RAW Women’s Championship. Becky has to sign a Hold Harmless agreement.

Later at the end of the night, Becky signed the agreement and Ronda Rousey showed up and said she didn’t vacate the title she just wanted WWE to do the right thing. Stephanie gave Ronda back her title. Stephanie said Becky will still face Charlotte at Fastlane and if “The Man” beats Charlotte she will be added to the WrestleMania RAW Women’s Championship match with Ronda and Charlotte.

Stephanie McMahon says that “Ronda is going to get what’s coming to her” after The Baddest Woman on the Planet’s actions on RAW.

Also last night, The Shield reunited after Dean Ambrose who at first told Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns no, came back to the ring to help them after being attacked by Barron Corbin, Drew McIntyre and Bobby Lashley.

At Fastlane The Shield will Face, Corbin, McIntyre and Lashley.

Triple H responds to “The Animal” Batista’s vicious assault on two-time WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair.

WWE RAW Preview 3/4/19

Tonight’s WWE RAW will take place from the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia with the final red brand hype for Sunday’s WWE Fastlane pay-per-view.

* Animalistic aggression – Triple H responds

* What is the status of the RAW Women’s Championship?

* Is a Shield reunion on the horizon?

* Intercontinental and Extraordinary – Balor and Lashley

* SNL “Weekend Update” hosts Michael Che & Colin Jost to be special guests on RAW

Backstage News On Arn Anderson’s WWE Firing

Arn Anderson was released from WWE in February due to an incident at a live event with Alicia Fox.

Wrestling Inc. has confirmed with multiple sources that Anderson was fired because Fox showed up at a live event intoxicated. Anderson was the agent for her match and allowed her to perform. Vince McMahon was reportedly furious when he found out and it was the final straw.

Anderson had been working with WWE since WCW folded in 2001. He would occasionally appear in backstage segments and even got physical at the WWE Starrcade event in November of 2017, where he delivered his trademark spinebuster to Dolph Ziggler.

Fox’s status is unclear. She was not backstage at RAW last week.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

WWE Announces Torrie Wilson For The 2019 WWE Hall Of Fame

WWE has confirmed Torrie Wilson for the 2019 WWE Hall of Fame Class.

Torrie joins headliners DX (Triple H, Shawn Michaels, Chyna, Billy Gunn, “Road Dogg” BG James, Sean “X-Pac” Waltman) and The Honky Tonk Man as confirmed inductees for the 2019 class. Taz, Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake and The Hart Foundation (Bret Hart, Jim Neidhart, Jimmy Hart) are rumored.

The 2019 WWE Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place on Saturday, April 6 from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn during WrestleMania 35 weekend.

Below is WWE’s announcement on Torrie:

Torrie Wilson to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2019Torrie Wilson went from a small-town Idaho girl to a worldwide Superstar. Soon, she will be a WWE Hall of Famer, too.

Wilson is the latest Superstar to be announced for the WWE Hall of Fame’s Class of 2019, joining D-Generation X and The Honky Tonk Man. The news was first reported by ESPNW. Wilson will take her place in sports-entertainment history on the eve of WrestleMania 35, Saturday, April 6, at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. Tickets for this historic evening are available now.

A budding fitness model in the late 1990s, Wilson’s entrance into sports-entertainment came out of a backstage visit to WCW with her then-boyfriend. She accompanied Scott Steiner to the ring, and ended up staying in the industry for close to a decade after that. While competing occasionally in WCW, Wilson was also the manager for competitors like David Flair, Billy Kidman, The Filthy Animals and Shane Douglas.

Wilson joined WWE when the company purchased WCW in spring 2001. Her athleticism and penchant for entertainment made her a great fit for WWE during one of the sports-entertainment industry’s biggest eras. Wilson’s partnership with her friend (and sometimes rival) Stacy Keibler made her a key figure in WCW’s invasion of WWE. Once that invasion was fought off, Wilson became a pivotal member of the WWE Women’s division, engaging in memorable rivalries with the likes of Keibler, Sable and Melina. She even fought for her family’s honor against the nefarious Dawn Marie.

Wilson later joined forces with Candice Michelle and Victoria to sow chaos on Monday Night Raw, even bringing her pet dog Chloe into the fray while battling Superstars, such as Trish Stratus and Mickie James. Injuries forced Wilson out of the ring in 2008, but she soon found a new passion: helping others get in shape through ventures like her business, Torrie Wilson Fit.

Wilson did not stay away from sports-entertainment for good, though. In 2018, she returned to the ring to take part in the first-ever Women’s Royal Rumble Match – then later that year was a featured competitor at WWE Evolution, the first-ever all-women’s pay-per-view event, in a Battle Royal for a future championship opportunity. And now, for her contributions that helped blaze a trail for women in sports-entertainment, Wilson will take her place in sports-entertainment history.

Don’t miss Torrie Wilson enter the WWE Hall of Fame, along with D-Generation X and The Honky Tonk Man, during the 2019 Induction Ceremony on Saturday, April 6, at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. Tickets for the ceremony are available now.

Bruce Prichard Reportedly Not Heading WWE Creative Team

As previously reported, Bruce Prichard transitioned into a new, full-time creative role with WWE prior to last week’s episode of RAW.

On the latest Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer further elaborated on Prichard’s backstage role, explaining that there is yet to be a defined position for Prichard as he settles in to this full-time spot within the company. Meltzer noted that Prichard is technically not on the writing team, although he’s involved in the process.

Although he may not be Vince’s “right-hand man” as initially believed, Prichard is said to still be a key guy involved in the overall creative process and his opinions will be weighed as such. Michael Hayes, David Kapoor, Ed Koskey, and Brian James were named as a few of the people who will apparently be higher up on the chain of command than Prichard.

On a recent edition of his Something To Wrestle podcast, Prichard personally went in to detail about returning to the WWE creative team. For now, Prichard is looking forward to distinguishing where he will best fit in today’s modern world of pro wrestling.

“I’m not being coy, but a lot still needs to be worked out as far as what my role will be,” Prichard explained. “I’m going to come back and help out wherever I can be most valuable. We’re working through it, we’re figuring out where I might fit best, and how, and what, and why, and everything else. It’s something that happened pretty quickly with me going to TV.

“A lot has changed in 10 years. I have to see where I fit in and they have to see where I fit in,” Prichard continued. “There’s still a lot of questions to be answered…We’re going to figure out what it’s going to be, where it’s going to be and all of that good stuff. All those questions are still to be answered. We’re working our way through it. We’re going to experiment with some things and have some fun and see where we go.”

Source: Wrestling Inc.

WWE Panel At SXSW

Triple H, Stephanie McMahon, Cathy Kelley and Charlotte Flair will participate in a SXSW (South By Southwest) panel in Austin, Texas on Saturday, March 9 from 2-3pm local time. The topic will be female empowerment and the Women’s Evolution in WWE. SXSW posted the following announcement on the event website:

The Women’s Evolution in WWE and BeyondBrave women and men from all walks of life are stepping into the spotlight to shine a brighter light on gender equality gaps. This industry shift has brought global attention to the need for women to have greater opportunities.

In February 2015, WWE fans created the viral hashtag #GiveDivasAChance as a rallying cry for female performers to be featured in more prominent storylines. WWE has since responded with the Women’s Revolution. No longer known as “Divas,” WWE “Superstars” now receive more air time to showcase their athleticism. WWE has not only increased its dynamic female fan base, but is actively empowering women inside and outside the ring. This will be a discussion focused on the broader industry relevance of women’s empowerment and the leadership needed to foster change.

Source: Wrestling Inc.