Tag: WWE

Rumored Names For 2019 WWE Hall Of Fame

The Wrestle Votes Twitter account, which has broken news stories in the past, reports that The Hart Foundation (Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart, Jimmy Hart, Bret Hart), Tazz and The Honky Tonk Man are being considered for this year’s WWE Hall of Fame class. They would join D-Generation X if the rumor is true.

Tazz would also be one of the first big names from ECW to get inducted, as WWE has relied mostly on their own history and WCW in the past.

https://twitter.com/WrestleVotes/status/1098962673436409856

Source: 411 Mania 

Report: WWE Releases Arn Anderson

Arn Anderson Parts Ways With WWE

Pro Wrestling Sheet is reporting that WWE Hall Of Famer Arn Anderson of the Four Horsemen faction, and longtime behing-the-scenes producer / agent for has been released from the company.

According to the report, Anderson “exited the company on Thursday.”

It is unclear at this point why Anderson, who has worked for WWE since 2001, has departed from the company.

Anderson retired from in-ring competition in 1997 due to neck and back injuries, but still got in the ring for the occasional tag match or bump. Anderson has been a road agent with WWE since WCW folded in 2001. He occasionally appeared in backstage segments over the years, whether that was to offer advice to young superstars or participate in small comedic segments.

One of the original members of the Four Horsemen, “The Enforcer” is a multi-time tag team champion, winning titles with the then-WWF, WCW and NWA.

Although not confirmed, the influx of new road agents like Abyss, Gregory Helms and Daivari may have been a factor in WWE and him parting ways. This news comes just a few days before Ric Flair’s birthday celebration on RAW.

Matt Hardy Comments On WWE Contract Ending Very Soon

Last August, Matt Hardy’s wife, Reby Hardy appeared on Busted Open and spoke about her husband, who was going through a transitional period at the time where he was stepping away from the ring to rehabilitate his back and hip. She also noted his WWE contract would be up in March of this year.

“Matt is good. Matt is right now going through a bit of a transitional period,” Hardy said. “He’s not really sure what he’s going to be doing. His contract is up in March, which I’m not sure many people are aware of. But there’s sort of a decision to be made at this point as to whether or not he should continue his in-ring career or if he should pursue something different, which he would totally be up for and would be excited to do, I feel like.”

Earlier today, Hardy tweeted out photos from 2014 when he held titles in two different indie promotions and wrote how he felt “comfortable” working outside of WWE.

“#TBT 2014 As both the MCW Wrestling & Extreme Rising Champion, whilst working dozens of territories. I’ve always felt comfortable outside of the WWE.”

https://twitter.com/MATTHARDYBRAND/status/1098653768428642304

Hardy would respond to an individual who said that will probably be a tweet he’ll be forced to delete. The WWE Superstar replied it was quite the opposite and noted he has 11 days left on his WWE contract.

“Not a threat at all, just a fact. I have 11 days left on my current deal. I love WWE, but I’m 100% comfortable being outside the walls of pro wrestling’s ‘Alexandria’ Safe-Zone. I’m a born survivalist. My previous tweet will nevah face deletion.”

https://twitter.com/jeremy_vaeni/status/1098654878182719488

https://twitter.com/MATTHARDYBRAND/status/1098658248415035393

Last month, Hardy noted he was “physically greenlit” to return to the ring.

Roman Reigns Returning To RAW This Monday With Leukemia Update

Roman Reigns / WWE Update

WWE announced that Roman Reigns will be appearing on this upcoming Monday night’s episode of WWE RAW.

WWE.com posted the following:

Roman Reigns returns to Raw this Monday with an update on his battle with leukemia

Last October, Roman Reigns (Joe Anoa’i) revealed to the WWE Universe that he would be stepping away from WWE — and relinquishing the Universal Championship — to focus on his battle with leukemia, an illness that had returned 11 years after his initial diagnosis.

On Monday, The Big Dog returns to provide an update on his treatment, live in Atlanta.

What will Reigns have to say to the WWE Universe, more than four months after his last appearance on the red brand?

Don’t miss Roman Reigns’ anticipated return to WWE television on Raw Monday night, beginning at 8/7 C on USA Network.

Tuesday morning, Reigns will be appearing on the popular morning talk show, “Good Morning America,” live in Times Square in New York City.

Sasha Banks And Bayley Make Surprise Appearance At NXT Tapings (PHOTOS)

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The new WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions followed up on their vow to take the belts to every brand … including NXT.

Sasha Banks and Bayley made their NXT homecomings during last night’s NXT TV taping, much to the excitement of the Full Sail Crowd, to show off the new hardware.

They reiterated their promise to defend the belts in NXT, as well as RAW and SmackDown.

https://twitter.com/JJWilliamsWON/status/1098402425193619461

Vince McMahon Is Reportedly Upset With The Undertaker’s Starrcast Appearance

Image result for Vince McMahon Is Reportedly Upset With The Undertaker's Starrcast Appearance

As previously reported, The Undertaker signed a deal and is scheduled to appear at the Starrcast 2 wrestling convention in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 25. The convention falls on the same date as All Elite Wrestling’s Double Or Nothing event, and the two are affiliated with one another, but Starrcast is not considered to be an official AEW event.

The news about Taker appearing at Starrcast 2 was apparently a big deal to WWE CEO Vince McMahon and it did not go down well with him, according to Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio. He notes that McMahon is under the impression that Starrcast and All Elite Wrestling are directly related to one another, and he’s not happy with the developing situation.

Just days before it was officially announced, AEW announcer and the founder of Starrcast, Conrad Thompson, gave Wrestling Inc. a hint about Undertaker’s upcoming appearance at Starrcast.

“With [a few] exceptions, I got everybody I wanted,” Thompson said. “There will be a lot of star power at Starrcast 2. And I started with – hey, let me make a list of everybody that wasn’t available for the first one for whatever reason, and let me try to book those guys. I was successful in doing so. Hypothetically, if Undertaker were at Starrcast, that would be a pretty big deal, huh?”

In our conversation, Thompson also reiterated that AEW and Starrcast are separate.

“It was a thrill as a wrestling fan to be a part of something so historic [at the rally],” Thompson stated. “No, I don’t work there (AEW) and there’s lots of people saying, ‘Oh, Starrcast is an AEW event.’ No, we’re featuring a ton of AEW talent, but Starrcast is owned by me and it’s an independent thing. There will be a ton of wrestlers from other companies there. It’s the exact same as the first [Starrcast]. It’s sort of the official unofficial – if that makes any sense.”

Meltzer also mentioned that there are still no definite plans for The Undertaker at this year’s WrestleMania, including any set special appearances. A large portion of the WrestleMania card is still in flux and has yet to be established. Even John Cena is reported as not having a determined opponent for this year’s “Show Of Shows”.

Starrcast II will be taking place in Las Vegas from May 23-26 and tickets are now available.

Source: Wrestling Inc

Backstage News On The NXT Call Ups And Last Minute Changes Made To RAW This Week

Image result for Ricochet, Aleister Black, Johnny Gargano And Tommaso Ciampa Make RAW Debut

This week in WWE, RAW and SmackDown audiences were exposed to some of the most talented stars NXT has to offer when Ricochet, Aleister Black, NXT North American Champion Johnny Gargano, and NXT World Champion Tommaso Ciampa made their main roster debuts on WWE TV.

On the latest edition of Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer explained that WWE had a different episode of RAW put together sometime last week, one that didn’t include any new call ups. A week of ratings continuing to decline, All Elite Wrestling continuing to gain momentum, and the announcement that Undertaker is joining Starrcast 2 on AEW Double Or Nothing weekend, left McMahon feeling “off”.

McMahon decided to add some top tier wrestlers to the main roster, so he accessed the pool of available NXT stars and asked them to fly out their best four guys. Meltzer notes that Triple H didn’t initially know about the call ups and there was a lack of communication throughout the process.

The RAW match that ultimately saw Bobby Lashley & Lio Rush vs. WWE Intercontinental Champion Finn Balor & new NXT call up, Ricochet, was reportedly set to be Finn Balor vs. Ricochet in a singles match just before the show aired. It’s believed that Triple H made the call to switch up the singles match between the two babyface characters because he was concerned about how the crowd would react, and he didn’t want either star going over the other after Balor had just won the title and Ricochet had just debuted.

It was also noted that, for the foreseeable future, Ricochet, Black, Gargano, and Ciampa will be performing on WWE NXT, RAW, and SmackDown. The idea is to give each superstar their respective push and be “put over like crazy” in the process.

It will be interesting to see how this translates to NXT’s TakeOver special on WrestleMania weekend. It was mentioned that NXT already had storylines and a card laid out for the upcoming TakeOver event but the sudden change of plans may alter that.

Source: Wrestling Inc

Tye Dillinger Requests Release From WWE

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Tye Dillinger has requested his release from WWE. Dillinger revealed on Twitter and Instagram that he asked for his release.

Dillinger wrote:

Before rumors begin to spread, let me set things straight ahead of time:

This evening, I requested my release from WWE. In the past 5 and a half years with them, I have seen and done some wonderful things. Things that I am very proud of and will never forget. I have met and have worked with unquestionably, some of the greatest talent on this earth and the pleasure has been all mine.

I feel at this time this decision, as extremely difficult as it was, is what is best for myself and WWE. I wish to continue to grow as a performer and offer those paying hard earned money to watch a show I’m performing on, a little more of myself. To the male and female locker rooms, coaches and producers, to the production/ring crew, all the way up to the very top of WWE and most of all the fans…l wish you all the very best and thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything.

https://twitter.com/perfec10n/status/1098084854992957440

Dillinger did not specify if his release was granted, although it would appear to be the case with his post.

Dillinger had originally signed with WWE in 2006 and was trained at Ohio Valley Wrestling. He was released from his contract in January 2009. He re-signed with the company in 2013 and worked in NXT through 2017, before moving to the main roster on the SmackDown brand in April of that year. During that time, he was never really featured.

Dillinger was last seen on television in a match with then-United States Champion Shinsuke Nakamura on an episode of SmackDown Live last September. He suffered a hand injury that required surgery the following month at a WWE live event in Macon, Georgia. He returned to action at live events earlier this month, however had not been used on television.

NXT Teasing “Special Announcement” Following Multiple Debuts On RAW & SmackDown

Fresh off the heels of NXT Stars – Johnny Gargano, Tommaso Ciampa, Ricochet & Aleister Black debuting on RAW  and SmackDown live this week, WWE is teasing a “special announcement” for this week’s episode of NXT.

WWE.com posted the following:

Get ready, because this week’s NXT will feature a special announcement. With no additional details currently available, speculation about what’s in store for the black-and-gold brand is running wild. Be among the first to find out when NXT streams Wednesday at 8/7 C on WWE Network.

WWE SmackDown Live Preview 2/19/19

Image result for WWE SmackDown And 205 Live Previews: Daniel Bryan's Next Challenger, The Miz Apologizes, NXT Tease

Tonight’s WWE SmackDown Live will take place from the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana with the fallout from Elimination Chamber.

WWE is focusing on the following points for tonight’s SmackDown:

* “The New” Daniel Bryan’s WWE Fastlane opponent to be revealed

* The Miz to issue a public apology to Shane McMahon

* How will Charlotte Flair react to Becky Lynch’s assault?

* Can Kofi Kingston rebound from tough Elimination Chamber defeat?

* Will the NXT takeover continue?