Tag: WWE

Wrestling Legend Pedro Morales Dies At 76-Years-Old

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Wrestling legend Pedro Morales has passed at away at the age of 76.

WWE.com confirmed Morales’ passing on Tuesday. The former wrestler had reportedly been battling Parkinsons Disease in recent years.

WWE.com posted the following:

WWE is saddened to learn WWE Hall of Famer Pedro Morales has passed away.

A native of Culebra Island, Puerto Rico, Morales moved to New York in his youth and debuted in the ring in 1959 at age 17. After establishing his reputation as a fiery competitor in WWE on the east coast, Morales traveled west to territories in Texas and California, where he competed for much of the 1960s. In California, he battled The Destroyer in a famous rivalry, and formed a popular tag team with Pepper Gomez.

Morales returned to WWE in 1970, and in less than a year, he captured the WWE Championship from Ivan Koloff inside Madison Square Garden. During his nearly three years on top, Morales developed a passionate following in the northeast, particularly among New York City’s growing Hispanic population.

More than 22,000 fans turned out to Shea Stadium in 1972 to watch him battle close friend and former champion Bruno Sammartino in the main event of the inaugural Showdown at Shea supercard. After 75 minutes of action, the bout was ruled a draw in accordance with the state athletic commission’s strict 11 p.m. curfew.

He held the WWE Title for a staggering 1027 days before losing it to Stan Stasiak in December 1973. Morales puts his name in the record books again in 1980 when he won the World Tag Team Titles with Bob Backlund and then the Intercontinental Title to become the first Triple Crown Champion in WWE history.

Morales hung up his boots in 1987 but continued on as an ambassador for sports-entertainment. He later became a commentator for both WCW and WWE’s Spanish announce teams, and in 1995, he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.

WWE extends its condolences to Morales’ family, friends and fans.

Mustafa Ali Replaced In Elimination Chamber Match Due To Injury

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It was announced last night on SmackDown live that Mustafa Ali has been replaced in the WWE Championship – Elimination Chamber Match with Kofi Kingston.

As noted, Mustafi Ali suffered a concussion at Sunday’s WWE live event in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, according to Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio. Ali was scheduled to be re-evaluated at SmackDown in Toledoby WWE doctors to determine if he was able to compete at Elimination Chamber this Sunday.

Ali addressed not being able to compete this Sunday at Elimination Chamber in a video on SmackDown last night.

WWE SmackDown Live Preview 2/12/19

Tonight’s WWE SmackDown Live will take place from the Huntington Center in Toledo, Ohio with the final hype for Sunday’s WWE Elimination Chamber pay-per-view.

* High-stakes Gauntlet Match to take place to decide who enters last in WWE Championship Elimination Chamber Match

* The Usos to join Shane McMahon & The Miz on “McMiz TV”

* Will Andrade start to end the legend of Rey Mysterio?

* What does Charlotte Flair’s WrestleMania shocker mean for Team Blue?

Paige Opens Up About Hitting Rock Bottom After Her Suspensions And Leaked Sex Tapes

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Most wrestling fans are aware of the peaks and valleys that Paige has gone through in her career – both inside and outside of the ring. But many may not be aware of just how low those valleys were in the aftermath of her 2016 WWE suspensions for violating the Wellness Policy and the subsequent leaking of sex tapes involving Paige.

Paige suffered from bouts of depression and was nearly suicidal by 2017 as she dealt with the fallout of her private life becoming public. She was also treated for anorexia and her hair started falling out according to a profile from the New York Post.

“To be publicly humiliated like that was terrible, and I don’t wish that for anyone,” Paige said.

All the while this was going on, Paige was also dealing with a neck injury that kept her on the shelf for a year-and-a-half.

When she thought she had hit rock bottom, a random encounter with a seven-year-old girl at a grocery store changed Paige’s outlook on life.

“Of course, [the girl] didn’t have the internet and thought I was the most beautiful and most successful woman in the world,” Paige said. “It opened my eyes to so many things. I was like, ‘I’m gonna let videos get in the way of things?’

“I thought, what am I doing? I need to be successful for her. My whole journey was supposed to be about inspiring people.”

Just as Paige strives to inspire others, this chance encounter with the young girl inspired Paige and she was able to snap out of the funk she had been in.

Unfortunately, a new injury to her neck would ultimately end Paige’s career, but as one door closes, another one opens and Paige became the General Manager of SmackDown Live until this past December.

She also launched a makeup and clothing line and her journey in wrestling has made its way to the big screen. Fighting With My Family debuts in theaters on Friday and it depicts the career of Paige up to her becoming the youngest Divas Champion in WWE history.

The film is co-produced by The Rock and it also features several other wrestlers including Zelina Vega and The Big Show.

Source: WrestlingINC

Mustafa Ali WWE Status And Injury Update

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Mustafa Ali suffered a concussion at Sunday’s WWE live event in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, according to Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio.

Sunday’s live event saw Ali team with Tye Dillinger for a win over Samoa Joe and Shelton Benjamin.

Ali was scheduled to be re-evaluated today at SmackDown in Toledo. If doctors won’t clear him to compete, a decision will then be made on who will replace Ali in the Elimination Chamber match for the WWE Title at Sunday’s pay-per-view. Ali has reportedly told WWE officials that he’s able to work, but they won’t wait around and see what happens between now and Sunday, and won’t risk it as they will pull him from the Chamber match if he’s not cleared today.

Tonight’s SmackDown is scheduled to feature a Gauntlet Match to determine who enters the Chamber in the final spot on Sunday. Ali is scheduled to work the Gauntlet with WWE Champion Daniel Bryan, Randy Orton, AJ Styles, Samoa Joe and Jeff Hardy. It’s been reported that WWE is planning on blaming Ali’s situation on Orton.

There’s no word yet on who might replace Ali in the Chamber but speculation is that the spot could go to someone like Rey Mysterio, Andrade, Shinsuke Nakamura or Rusev, depending on who challenges WWE United States Champion R-Truth. Stay tuned for updates on Ali’s status for the Chamber.

Source: WrestlingINC

Dave Bautista In Talks With WWE For WrestleMania 35 Match, But Also Has Interest With AEW

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Pro Wrestling Sheet reports that Dave Bautista is in talks with WWE for a match at WrestleMania 35, but it’s not set in stone yet … and All Elite Wrestling is expressing interest.

According to multiple sources, the “Guardians of the Galaxy” star is deep in talks with WWE about a return on “The Grandest Stage of Them All.”

However, we’re told he’s 50/50 on returning at this point based on how talks have gone.

In addition to this, we’re told there’s been interest expressed to Dave from All Elite Wrestling and he isn’t turning them away. Our sources say he’s listening to what both companies have to offer.

For those unfamiliar, AEW is the new company started by the billionaire Khan family with Cody Rhodes, Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks serving as Executive Vice Presidents. Chris Jericho is also signed to the company and it’s rumored a TV deal is on the horizon.

As you may recall … Dave last made a WWE appearance in October during SmackDown 1000’s Evolution reunion. The segment ended with a tease for a future match between Batista and Triple H. The next month, however, Triple H got injured at WWE Crown Jewel.

The WWE Exec has since been cleared to train again though, as he revealed on a media call.

Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet

RAW Highlights (Videos) Vince Suspends & Pulls Becky From Mania Match, Replaced With Charlotte, New RAW Tag Champs

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Last night on WWE RAW, Triple H & Stephanie McMahon announced that “The Man” Becky Lynch seen her doctors and was cleared and  Becky apologized to them to end her suspension and get her Title match with Ronda Rousey at WrestleMania 35. But then Vince McMahon came out and suspended Becky for 60 days in-which would mean she will miss WrestleMania. Vince announced that she will be replaced with Charlotte Flair.

Reports are that the plan for the RAW Women’s Title match at WrestleMania 35 is a triple threat match with Ronda defending her title against Becky and Charlotte.

The Revival finally defeated Bobby Roode and Chad Gable to become RAW Tag Team Champions, which you can see below plus some other highlights from last night’s WWE RAW:

WWE RAW Preview 2/11/19

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Monday’s WWE RAW will take place from the Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan for the last RAW before Elimination Chamber.

* Becky Lynch invited to Raw again by the McMahon Family after her controversial actions last week

* How will Seth Rollins respond to Brock Lesnar?

* Did Finn Bálor earn his Intercontinental Championship Match?

* Ruby Riott sets her sights on the Raw Women’s Championship

* Will Dana Brooke go one-on-one with Natalya?

* What’s next for Kurt Angle?

WWE Confirms “Superstar Shake-Up” In April

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Earlier this week, a commercial aired in Canada during RAW for the upcoming RAW and SmackDown tapings in Montreal on April 15 and 16. The promo said that “the first international Superstar Shake-up” will occur at each show.

In the video below, WWE has confirmed those dates are indeed when this year’s Superstar Shake-up will take place.

Last year’s took place on April 16 and 17. The Shake-up saw Jeff Hardy, Samoa Joe, R-Truth, Mandy Rose, Sonya Deville, Asuka, Sheamus & Cesaro as the top stars moved from RAW to SmackDown. Kevin Owens, Dolph Ziggler, Jinder Mahal, Sami Zayn, The Riott Squad, Natalya, Baron Corbin, Bobby Roode, Chad Gable, Mojo Rawley and Zack Ryder were among the names moved to RAW.

Source: WrestlingINC

WWE Co-President Comments On All Elite Wrestling

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WWE Co-President George Barrios commented on the launch of a “new wrestling organization” during today’s fourth quarter 2018 WWE earnings call. The caller was presumably asking about All Elite Wrestling, wondering if AEW has caused an impact on the market for talent, and if WWE is seeing more cost inflation due to their launch.

“Yeah, too early to tell. We wouldn’t talk about specifics of that,” Barrios said. “From our perspective, we think we are the premiere global organization with the greatest wrestlers in the world, one of the greatest platforms. We have a lot of confidence in our ability to manage that.”

Source: WrestlingINC