The Hardys appeared yesterday at IWC independent wrestling event in Pittsburgh, PA, as seen in the video below. The Hardys brought their WWE Tag Team Championship with them and thanked WWE for allowing them to attend. Matt Hardy did a promo using a very toned-down version of his “Broken” gimmick, and also referred to Jeff as “Brother Nero.”
Source: WrestlingINC
As noted, Mauro Ranallo’s WWE run is apparently over. Ranallo had taken over the lead announcing position on SmackDown in January of 2016.
Ranallo’s current absence from WWE is believed to be over tension with JBL after Ranallo tweeted out results of him winning the “Wrestling Observer Announcer of the Year” award for 2016. JBL, who didn’t place in the top 10 in the category and was actually voted “Worst Television Announcer” in 2015, was upset over the tweet and went on a public rant about Ranallo on Bring It To The Table in March. The Wrestling Observer had reported that tension had been building between both men up until that point. Ranallo missed the following SmackDown tapings on March 14th, and hasn’t appeared on WWE television since.
As noted, CBS Sports reported this weekend that sources told them that Ranallo is not expected back on WWE TV before his contract ends. WWE sent CBS Sports a statement, noting that “Ranallo remains under contract with the company until Aug. 12, 2017.”
More media outlets have been reporting on JBL’s history of bullying. WXPI in Pennsylvania has a story here about the bullying accusations. As noted, Deadspin has a piece about JBL asking John Morrison and his tag team partner at the time, Joey Mercury, to take ring announcer Justin Roberts’ passport during an overseas trip, which they didn’t do. Someone ended up stealing Roberts’ passport, which was never returned. Forbes has an article at this link about the bullying allegations resurfacing, noting that “WWE’s Be a STAR campaign is a staple of its community outreach as WWE Superstars lead anti-bullying rallies across the country.”
There have been many stories in the past over JBL’s behavior. Joey Styles reportedly punched JBL out during an overseas trip in 2008 after dealing with JBL’s bullying. Former ECW and WWE star The Blue Meanie recently stated that JBL punched him during ECW One Night Stand because Meanie had spoken out about JBL’s behavior, although Meanie said that the two are fine with each other now. There are also the past comments in the video above at the 5:30 mark of JBL discussing hazing in the locker room and being proud of hazing The Miz in the past.
In Justin Roberts’ new book, Best Seat in the House: Your Backstage Pass through My WWE Journey, which is available at Amazon.com for $19.52, 
Roberts posted the Instagram post below about writing the book, noting that he wrote the book to tell his story about “being a kid who loved and lived for pro-wrestling.” He stated that the purpose was not to get anyone fired, noting that “sometimes firing someone is just to bandaid a problem and not address the root cause.” He added that he hopes that his story “will help make the wrestling world a better place for everyone who is still involved as there are a lot of great people who fall into that category and should be treated well.”
Source: WrestlingINC
As noted previously, Mauro Ranallo has needed time away from WWE in recent weeks, as it was believed the tension building between JBL and him was the main reason for his absence. WWE initially blamed bad weather and being “out sick” as reasons for him not being on SmackDown.
CBS Sports is now reporting that Ranallo is not expected back on WWE TV before his contract ends, according to one of their sources close to the situation. CBS also reached out to WWE for comment and were told “Ranallo remains under contract with the company until Aug. 12, 2017.”
Mauro signed with the WWE back in December of 2015 and has recently removed “WWE” from his Twitter profile, along with references he previously made about WrestleMania. He’s also begun talking about upcoming appearances for Showtime Boxing.
Source: WrestlingINC
Shinsuke Nakamura, The Revival and Tye Dillinger all made their main roster debuts this week. As noted, it was expected that Elias Samson would be coming to the main roster after losing the “Loser Leaves NXT” match to Kassius Ohno last week, however that hasn’t happened.
Dave Meltzer noted on the latest episode of Wrestling Observer Radio that Samson is expected to debut for either RAW or SmackDown next week. Meltzer said that Andrade Cien Almas was another name that he heard would be coming up.
As for next week’s “Superstar Shakeup”, Meltzer reported that there apparently were more changes made yesterday “regarding top stars and brand movement.”
Source: WrestlingINC
The A.V. Club has a new interview with WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross, who was promoting his “Ringside” show in Chicago at Zanies Rosemont on May 21st. Below are some highlights:
His new deal with WWE:
“I think I’m going to do 30-40 dates in my first 12 months of my deal. Those dates are to be determined. There’s nothing they can assign me that I haven’t done before. How many wrestling matches you think I’ve called in my lifetime—100,000? If they want me to do U.K. or NXT or Main Event, I don’t care. It’s all good to me. My days of being the lead guy, the No. 1 voice—all that is way yesterday. Guys who’ve had those issues like I have had in my career, they have self-esteem and confidence issues. I have both those. Totally happy to admit it, but I ain’t got them no more. I’m 65 years old. I feel great, I just lost my wife, I’m trying to get back on my feet here, and I’ve said this and I truly mean it: I’m happy to get my jersey back. I’m happy to re-sign with my old team. Whatever role I need to play, I’m fine with.”
If he interacted with The Undertaker at WrestleMania 33:
“Yes, I did. And I had interactions with him before. He used an RV as his dressing area. I went in his RV when I arrived hours before we were going on. So we had a very good personal conversation. We’ve been joined at the hip for a long, long time, even back to the WCW days. I helped get him into WCW from World Class Championship Wrestling. I thought at the time, you don’t see too many 6-foot-9, 300-pound guys who were athletic. Young Mark Calaway was an athletic beast. So we had a nice conversation. [And after the match], a big hug afterward. I cried, he didn’t want to cry, though he might have had a tear. It was very emotional for him afterward, and I didn’t want to monopolize his time. It sure as hell wasn’t about me, it was about him. What he helped facilitate for me was the greatest honor I have received in wrestling. I’ve been in three Halls Of Fame, and they pale in comparison to having a legendary guy wanting to bring me back—whether I was under contract or not—to be part of the broadcast team, so I can add to his soundtrack of that match. It was a really emotional day.”
His upcoming one-man show in Chicago on May 21st:
“It’s got an indescribable feel, quite frankly. The building’s got a personality, and it reflects the personalities of those sitting in the seats. For me, I’ve never performed or worked in a more memorable arena. And selfishly for me, I was sitting in that arena when I found out I was going into the WWE Hall Of Fame in 2007. The building’s got a personality that’s living and breathing, and the atmosphere is really amazing. It makes you glad to come to work that day.”
JR also discussed when talks with WWE started, if he will still be involved with the ITV show, his return at WrestleMania 33, Shinsuke Nakamura and more. You can read the full interview by clicking here.
Source: WrestlingINC
The truth always comes out when you’re drunk … which is why Alberto El Patron was an open book Thursday night via livestream, and he didn’t pull any punches.
The Impact Wrestling star posted a long video on social media with his fiancee Paige in tow and it featured a plethora of angry comments which appeared to be directed towards Triple H.
Some of the highlights:
Paige attempts to shut down the Periscope session throughout, but gets denied every time.
Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet
Watch the video at the link below:
Regarding the “Superstar Shakeup” set for next week’s WWE RAW, Dave Meltzer reported in the latest edition of Wrestling Observer Newsletter that the key moves appear to be AJ Styles to RAW and The New Day to SmackDown. There had been talk of moving Roman Reigns to SmackDown but word this week is that Reigns is staying on Monday nights.
The New Day to SmackDown makes sense as the SmackDown tag team division has needed a boost for some time. No word yet on what top RAW Superstar might jump to SmackDown with AJ coming to RAW but SmackDown did get the biggest post-WrestleMania 33 call-up in Shinsuke Nakamura. Meltzer also speculated that Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss could switch brands based on recent booking.
Source: WrestlingINC
WWE granted Simon Gotch of the tag team The Vaudevillains his release:
WWE has come to terms on a mutually agreed upon release with Simon Gotch as of today, April 5, 2017. WWE wishes Gotch the best in all his future endeavors.
Gotch wrestled last night during a dark match with his partner Aiden English. They faced-off against American Alpha and Simon took the pin.
No word at this time on why he asked for his release … but the tag team hasn’t been used much since being brought up to the main roster from NXT, where they had been regularly featured.
He changed his Twitter name to “Simon (TBD)” and tweeted about taking bookings:
Diamond Dallas Page was on The Dan Le Batard show to talk about his recent Hall of Fame induction. Things started off well, but quickly became heated when the subject of real life rivalries came up. It appears they ended the interview early, shortly after Page dropped a few swear words on-air.
Page was initially asked if there were any other names he was going to use while coming up in the business. He said he originally went by “Handsome” Dallas Page, but soon dropped it. Page then talked about going into the WWE Hall of Fame, and said his speech was the best thing he’s ever done. He said the most emotional part of it all was talking about Dusty Rhodes. He credits Dusty and Jake Roberts for his career as a whole.
Page was then asked to do a Dusty Rhodes impression. Page said meeting him was one of the defining moments of his life. He then did a Dusty impression of the first time they met where he said he saw Captain Lou, Jesse Ventura and himself in Page.
The topic of most memorable “beef” came up, and Page said in 1997 he and Macho Man won Feud of The Year by Pro Wrestling Illustrated. He said that feud made his career, and relayed the story he told at the Hall of Fame about a phone message he left with Savage. Page said Savage taking the Diamond Cutter made his career and helped him live his dream. Savage later approached him at a TV taping, and said he listened to the message a couple of time, and played it for his father. Savage said no one ever called him and thanked him like that.
Le Batard said that’s nice, but he wanted to know about real-life feuds. Page had a good laugh at that. Le Batard brought up Ric Flair specifically. Page said he’s about to get on Flair’s jet, and says they get along well now. Le Batard cut Page off, and said how in Flair’s book he wrote “Page’s climb to the top will go down in history as one of the greatest jokes ever perpetrated in our industry. The guy was an average wrestler, and an average talker with a bunch of tattoos that did nothing to win over fans.”
Page then replied. “It was called a little venting. At the time Naitch and I did go through quite a bit of heat with each other.” He said a few weeks after Flair’s retirement, the two made up at a fan convention. Page reached out to him, re-introduced himself and shook his hand so they could start all over.
The host wanted to know how the Scott Steiner feud went down, and who was trying to rip whose eyes out. Page got a little fed up at this point.
“Hey monkey, monkey, yo monkey, who the hell do you think you’re talking to? Monkey, who the hell do you think you’re talking to? I’m Positively Page! You think I’m going to flame your garbage? Asshole! f–k you!”
The hosts laughed hysterically at the first part, seeming to think it was all a joke. Page dropped another F-bomb, and they quickly cut off the segment.
The hosts later came back on and said they were frozen when DDP yelled. They didn’t seem to know whether Page was joking or not. One of the producers, Alison, jumped on and said Page continued yelling about the situation on the phone afterwards with her, and that he just wanted Le Batard to stop talking about it, because “he got what he wanted.” She described him as “maniacal”, but wasn’t entirely sure if he was genuinely mad or not. Le Batard speculated that he was upset, and said the former wrestler should have known better to swear on Disney radio.
They then took a vote on whether Page was actually angry or joking, Alison described him as a “crazy person”, Guillermo said he’s never coming on the show again. Everyone believed he was legitimately angry.
To listen to the interview in its entirety, check out the link below. DDP starts at around the 20:00 mark, and the hosts talk about the fall out of the interview at around 33:00.
Source: The Dan Le Batard Show With Stugotz
H/T WrestlingINC for transcription
Bray Wyatt regained one of his disciples this week … because Erick Rowan made his return on SmackDown Live to help the Eater of Worlds assault Randy Orton.
Rowan made a surprise appearance on the SmackDown Live after WrestleMania to tip the scales in Bray’s direction during a brawl with Orton, and he was sporting an updated creepy sheep mask.
As we previously reported, Rowan has been cleared to return to action since late February following a successful rotator cuff surgery back in October.
The reunited Wyatt Family didn’t have long to celebrate though, as Luke Harper ran down and chased away both of his former friends. Orton and Harper later beat his ex-teammates in the main event.
Check out Rowan’s return in the videos below:
