Tag: WWE

Backstage News On Roman Reigns Announcement, When Vince McMahon Found Out, What People Were Told

As noted, very few – if any – of the talent knew that Roman Reigns was battling leukemia again before he made his announcement on RAW this past Monday night. The leukemia had been in remission since late 2008. Dave Meltzer noted in the latest edition of The Wrestling Observer Newsletter that few people in the company knew that he had ever battled the disease.

According to The Observer, Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose were not even told about Reigns’ diagnosis. An hour before the show a few people, including Rollins and Ambrose, were told that Reigns would vacate the WWE Universal Championship to open up the show, but weren’t told why and that it would be explained his his promo. Reigns reportedly told Rollins and Ambrose to be ready to meet him after his promo was done, but they weren’t told what the promo would be about. Michael Cole also knew that Reigns would be vacating the title to open the show, but it’s believed he didn’t know why. It’s not known if he told Corey Graves and Renee Young beforehand as well.

Meltzer reported that Reigns was in a bus all day before the show, which he had requested. Vince McMahon wasn’t at RAW, but was working throughout the day to prepare people who had to know about Reigns’ announcement without providing specifics. McMahon reportedly first found out about Reigns’ diagnosis before the weekend, on Thursday night, October 18th. Reigns missed last weekend’s live events, but there was never a reason given why.

Triple H ran Monday’s RAW and produced the announcers, although Vince was in constant contact with him. In addition to Triple H, it’s believed that Kevin Dunn, Mark Carrano in talent relations and writers Dave Kapoor and Ed Koskey knew what the promo would be about. Stephanie McMahon and Michael Hayes were not at the show either.

The creative team was told that Reigns was vacating the title and there would be changes to the show. As noted, Dean Ambrose turning heel was always the plan, however it was changed to happen on Monday’s show because they felt it would be more effective there instead of continuing with the originally planned storyline.

Source: WrestlingINC

Matt Hardy Teases Upcoming WWE Match With Jeff Hardy, Plans For Matt’s TV Return & Character Change

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Matt Hardy spoke with Cultura Colectiva while in Mexico for the recent WWE promotional tour he was on. Hardy was there to promote the December 1 WWE live event in Mexico City, which will feature Superstars from both brands after originally announced as a RAW event.

Hardy, who has been out of action for a few months while he deals with some health issues, revealed that he and brother Jeff Hardy will be teaming up again in Mexico.

Hardy said the following before Roman Reigns took time off to battle leukemia, “It’s going to be earth-shattering! It’s the only live event we’re doing all year and all the top stars of both brands will be there: Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, Ronda Rousey, AJ Styles, me, my brother—everybody! I’m in fact gonna petition to have a Hardy Boys tag-team match even though we’re on different brands. I’m excited for this, man.”

Hardy also gave a preview of the House Hardy Halloween special that airs after WWE Evolution on the WWE Network and revealed that his role will be difference once he does return to WWE TV.

“Yes, on the WWE Network there’s gonna be a regular series featuring Woken/Broken Matt Hardy and my family, which will be entitled House Hardy—the first episode is going to air right around Halloween,” Hardy said. “It’s going to be incredibly entertaining! I’m looking forward to that. On the other hand, when I come back to WWE TV, my role is going to be altered a little bit (it won’t be 100% Broken/Woken Hardy.) So, I get to have the best of both worlds.”

Hardy spoke more about his return to WWE TV and how his character will be a bit different. Hardy said “Woken Matt” will live on with the WWE Network.

“It’s not 100% decided what I’ll end up doing once I return to WWE TV, that hasn’t been finalized yet. But I’m pretty sure we’ll take a tangent from the Woken/Broken Matt Hardy persona,” Hardy said. “That persona will definitely live on at the Network, and it might come back out on TV. I feel like when I return to WWE TV it’s gonna be—have you ever seen The Incredible Hulk when Bruce Banner got angry and turned into this green monster?—well, I feel you’re gonna have Matt Hardy and then there’ll be something that causes Matt Hardy to transform into Woken or Broken Matt Hardy.”

Source: Cultura Colectiva via WrestlingINC

WWE Issues Statement On Daniel Bryan/John Cena Reportedly Refusing Crown Jewel Appearances

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But it seems like John Cena and Daniel Bryan’s status is an even bigger question mark. After all, there were reports that WWE Creative was told Cena wasn’t doing the show and we can only assume that Bryan — given his many moral convictions doesn’t want to go either.

John Cena and Daniel Bryan gave for refusing to work the Crown Jewel event —- Daniel Bryan has a huge moral conviction to the idea and also has a public profile, but nowhere near to Cena’s. Since John Cena is a huge movie star already and slated to possibly become one of the biggest box office draws next to The Rock, his association with the country might be ill-timed.

Now Pro Wrestling Sheet reports that their sources have confirmed that Daniel Bryan has refused to go to the event and WWE has issued a statement saying:

“As always, we maintain an open line of communication with our performers and will address each situation accordingly.”

Bryan Alvarez discussed this on Wrestling Observer Live where he discussed the idea of these two huge (and still advertised) Superstars saying that they’re not headed to Riyadh Saudi Arabia.

“Now, Monday and Tuesday the feeling was that the show was in great jeopardy of not taking place in Saudi Arabia. It’s possible that they said, “We’re not doing the show in Saudi Arabia” and the company said, ‘It’s probably not taking place in Saudi Arabia so let’s keep the matches’ and that’s what they did.”

“Now it seems they’re absolutely going to Saudi Arabia so on Monday and Tuesday we’ll find out if there’s anything from that story. It’s been days and WWE hasn’t said anything about that story. But on Monday and Tuesday if they shoot angles taking them off the show, then you’ll know why.”

Alvarez also said that if Cena and Bryan end up going to Saudi Arabia then there is nothing to the story. Then again, it could still be true but WWE was willing to pull a bigger money truck (that’s a truck full of money) up to their homes.

Only time will tell what happens next, but it seems like we’re in the middle of another wait and see kind of situation. But for sure — unless something else happens like Vince McMahon gets a call from President Trump telling him to cancel the Crown Jewel event or move it (which isn’t likely) we’ll still see Crown Jewel take place in Saudi Arabia.

Source: Ringside News

WWE Announces Crown Jewel Will Continue As Planned

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Despite growing concern regarding WWE‘s relationship with Saudi Arabia, the company just confirmed Crown Jewel will continue on as planned.

As WWE announced their Q3 earnings today, they also addressed the status of their November 2nd event. In their 2018 business outlook, WWE stated:

“WWE has operated in the Middle East for nearly 20 years and has developed a sizable and dedicated fan base. Considering the heinous crime committed at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, the Company faced a very difficult decision as it relates to its event scheduled for November 2 in Riyadh. Similar to other U.S.-based companies who plan to continue operations in Saudi Arabia, the Company has decided to uphold its contractual obligations to the General Sports Authority and stage the event. Full year 2018 guidance is predicated on the staging of the Riyadh event as scheduled.”

As we previously reported, four U.S. senators called for WWE to re-think their relationship with the Saudi government. Pre-show panelist Sam Roberts also spoke out, saying the event should be moved.

For those unaware, Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi was reportedly assassinated in the Saudi consulate in Turkey over two weeks ago. The team of people who allegedly murdered him reportedly dismembered his body with a bone saw at the order of the highest levels of the Royal Court.

This prompted WWE to release a statement saying they were monitoring the situation.

Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet

WWE 205 Live, NXT And Mae Young Classic Preview 10/24/18

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Below are previews for 205 live, NXT and the Mae Young Classic airing on the WWE Network beginning at 7/6 C.

 

Tonight’s WWE 205 Live was taped last night at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

* Mike Kanellis vs. Lince Dorado

* Falls Count Anywhere Match: Mustafa Ali vs. Hideo Itami

 

Tonight on NXT:

* The aftermath of Aliester Black’s surprise return

* Major NXT Championship announcement for NXT TakeOver: WarGames

* Mia Yim vs. Aliyah

* What’s next for Undisputed ERA?

* EC3 vs. Adam Cole

*  Kassius Ohno vs. Justin Xavier

 

Semi-Final matches of the 2018 Mae Young Classic:

* Io Shirai vs. Rhea Ripley

* Meiko Satomura vs. Toni Storm

Backstage News On Dean Ambrose’s Heel Turn, Who Knew About Roman Reigns’ Announcement, More

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Regarding Roman Reigns announcing his battle with leukemia on Monday’s WWE RAW, PWInsider reports that 99% of those in the company h ad no idea what Reigns was going to announce before he went out to the ring. The upper-level officials in the company, likely the McMahon family’s inner circle and Talent Relations, were the only ones who knew before the announcement was made on Monday that Reigns was ill, along with members of Reigns’ family. The announcers were not clued in to what the announcement was before it was made.

On a related note, Vince McMahon was not in attendance for Monday’s RAW.

Reigns taking time off and dropping the WWE Universal Title obviously changed some creative plans. PWInsider adds that most plans for the WrestleMania 35 main event picture are now “out the window” but as noted recently, the main event was not locked in. Reigns was still expected to be a part of one of the top matches.

Reigns’ announcement did not push up the heel turn by new RAW Tag Team Champion Dean Ambrose. That turn was planned for the future but officials decided to pull the trigger early. PWInsider adds that this was not a creative plan made at the last minute due to Reigns’ announcement but the turn was moved up.

Source: WrestlingINC

Latest Update On WWE Crown Jewel Plans

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In a story that could change at any moment, as of this morning, tickets have still not gone on sale for WWE Crown Jewel in Saudi Arabia on November 2.

Some WWE staff members are expected to travel to the area within the next day though, according to PWInsider. Crown Jewel has obviously been a major talking point this week within the company and staff members haven’t been told of new plans by WWE management as of right now.

The report continued if WWE is looking to make any type of location change, they will have to do so very soon.

Tweeted out yesterday, WWE officials were reportedly scouting new locations for the Crown Jewelevent, according to Robbie Fox of Barstool Sports.

As noted, Dave Meltzer reported on Wrestling Observer Radio that the WWE creative team was told on Monday that John Cena would not be making the trip to Saudi Arabia for WWE Crown Jewel on November 2, seemingly confirming at least part of the report made on Monday by Barstool Sports’ Robbie Fox, that Cena and Daniel Bryan had told officials they were not going. Meltzer did not have an update on Bryan. WWE officials were reportedly looking to replace Cena in the World Cup tournament but he was still being advertised on RAW and he’s still listed for the event today.

Meltzer also noted that the entire Crown Jewel event is currently in jeopardy as the chances of the show happening as scheduled are looking worse than they did last week.

Source: WrestlingINC

WWE SmackDown Live Preview 10/23/18

Tonight’s WWE SmackDown Live will take place from the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey with the final hype before Sunday’s Evolution pay-per-view.

* AJ Styles & Daniel Bryan clash with The Usos in a SmackDown 1000 rematch

* Rey Mysterio to appear on “Miz TV”

* Rusev to do battle with Aiden English

* Naomi and Mandy Rose clash for the first time ever

* What will be the fallout of Charlotte and Becky’s WWE PC altercation?

News On John Cena & Daniel Bryan Refusing To Go To Saudi Arabia For WWE Crown Jewel, Event In Jeopardy

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It was reported on Monday that John Cena and Daniel Bryan are refusing to work the WWE Crown Jewel event in Saudi Arabia on November 2nd by Barstool Sports’ Robbie Fox. Cena is one of the eight Superstars to compete in the World Cup tournament, while Bryan is scheduled to face AJ Styles for the WWE Championship.

In an update to those reports, Dave Meltzer reported on the most recent edition of Wrestling Observer Radio that while he hasn’t heard anything about Bryan, the WWE creative team was told on Monday afternoon that Cena wouldn’t be taking part in the tournament and needed to be replaced. It’s not known if something had changed since then or if they feel that Cena will change his mind if the location is changed, but Cena was once again advertised to compete in the World Cup tournament on RAW later that night.

Meltzer also noted that the Saudi Arabia event is in jeopardy, and said that as things stand, it is a lot less likely to happen than it was last week. Tickets for the show were scheduled to go on sale last Friday, but never did.

WrestleVotes, who has broken several WWE scoops in the last year or so, reports that the show is back in “wait & see” mode. Regarding Cena being advertised for the World Cup on RAW last night, WWE may have kept Cena in the promos because officials want him to reconsider his decision or because Cena would end up being a part of the event if they decide to move locations. You can see their tweets below.

We will keep you updated on any developments regarding the status of WWE Crown Jewel.

Source: WrestlingINC

Alexa Bliss Reportedly Injured Again This Past Weekend

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Alexa Bliss is reportedly out of action with another injury, according to F4Wonline.com.

Word is that Bliss suffered a concussion at Saturday night’s WWE live event in Hartford, CT, but WWE has not confirmed that.

Bliss missed Sunday’s WWE Supershow in Boston, despite being advertised. Bliss had been out of action with an arm injury but she returned to the ring Friday’s live event in Bangor, ME. She then suffered the injury on Saturday in Hartford. The matches on Friday and Saturday saw Bliss and Mickie James lose to Nia Jax and RAW Women’s Champion Ronda Rousey when Bliss tapped to Rousey. Tamina Snuka replaced Bliss on Sunday in Boston.

Bliss is currently scheduled to team with Mickie to face WWE Hall of Famers Lita and Trish Stratus at Sunday’s WWE Evolution pay-per-view.

Source: WrestlingINC