Tag: WWE

ROH Source Reportedly Denying WWE Sale Reports

Chuck Carroll has a story at CBS regarding rumors of a WWE purchase of Ring of Honor. Accoring to Carroll, multiple sources told him that WWE is not purchasing Ring of Honor with one high-ranking ROH source outright saying “there is no story here.”

ROH COO Joe Koff has previously stated that the idea of WWE purchasing the ROH tape library is unlikely, but they do have a good working relationship.

“I’m always open to any conversation,” said Koff. “We do business with them if they want to do a DVD or VOD if they need footage from early matches they do come to us. We are open to work with them on that basis because it doesn’t hurt us. It actually helps us.”

Carroll had asked Koff earlier this month about whether ROH will begin streaming on WWE Network.

“No, no, no, no,” Koff told Carroll. “It’s very flattering and humbling to us. It validates what we’ve done. A lot of their current performers and stars are ROH guys and we have their history. So maybe the content of the backstories of Kevin Steen before he became Kevin Owens or AJ Styles’ run in Ring of Honor, Tyler Black (aka Seth Rollins), Claudio (Castagnoli aka Cesaro) … all of the guys who have wrestled for us. We have their backstory and where it began… That’s our content.”

The full article with details on the relationship between WWE and ROH is at this link.

Source: WrestlingINC

Mauro Ranallo Thanks Fans For Support During His Absence

Mauro Ranallo took to Twitter for the first time since last Tuesday to comment on his absence from Smackdown. Ranallo noted that his doctor has told him to “stay off social media” but that he wanted to thank fans for his support.

WWE said that Ranallo missed this week due to illness, while last week’s miss was attributed to travel issues due to weather conditions in the Northeast.

Ranallo has suffered from depression for much of his life, an issue he’s spoken of in depth in interviews, and there was some concern because he has been out of contact with longtime friends since March 14th, the day before he last posted on his usually-active Twitter account (and the day before last week’s Smackdown). However, the site reports that according to his closest friends, Ranallo is doing alright and is resting up.

Source: 411Mania

Shawn Michaels Reveals That He Was Offered Match With AJ Styles At WrestleMania

WWE Hall of Famer Shawn Michaels appeared on the latest episode of The Sam Roberts Wrestling Podcast. During the interview with Roberts, Michaels revealed that he was actually offered a match against AJ Styles at WrestleMania 33.

“I guess I’m breaking something with you and I don’t even know if I should, but I could have had that match,” Michaels said (h/t to Sports Illustrated for the transcription). “They didn’t have an opponent for AJ at WrestleMania. I said that I hadn’t been asked because I hadn’t—but then I was.

“I said, I wish that young man was here 10 years ago, man. I honestly do. I think he’s very talented.”

Michaels has not wrestled since losing a “Career vs. Streak” match against The Undertaker at WrestleMania XXVI in 2010. He told ESPN earlier this year that Triple H and Vince McMahon had never approached him about a return match, but he thinks that a match with Samoa Joe would be something that he would have enjoyed.

“I look at Samoa Joe and I’ve told him a number of times that I see his stuff at NXT and think to myself, ‘Man, I could have a great deal of fun with you.’ He’s a guy I have sort of enjoyed, and one of those sleeper guys that no one talks about,” Michaels told ESPN in January. “We have contrasting styles. I get that everybody wants to see me and AJ or Seth or Dolph [Ziggler]. From my standpoint, I think really telling a great story out there [is most important]. I could do it with a guy like Samoa Joe. His stuff looks really good, and sometimes he just looks like he’s beating the tar out of somebody.”

Source: WrestlingINC

Backstage Notes On WWE Trying To Buy Ring Of Honor

We noted on Wednesday via Pro Wrestling Sheet that WWE officials have been engaged in secret talks with Ring of Honor parent company Sinclair Broadcasting about a buyout of the brand. The takeover would reportedly see the weekly ROH TV show air on the WWE Network, among other changes, but there’s been no word yet on talents being kept.

The Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports that WWE first contacted Sinclair back in August with the idea of buying the company for the tape library and to remove another competitor. A deal has been discussed within WWE and other promotions for a few weeks now but as noted, there is no concrete deal on the table. This could explain why John Cena recently posted a photo of ROH star Jay Lethal to his Instagram account.

The major part of the deal is the ROH tape library, which features early matches from the careers of WWE Superstars like AJ Styles, Daniel Bryan, Seth Rollins, Samoa Joe, Kevin Owens, Cesaro, Austin Aries and others.

The Observer adds that WWE has also sent at least minor inquiries and feelers to other indie companies, in the US and the UK, about buying them out.

Source: WrestlingINC

RAW Star Returning To SmackDown Soon?, News On Possible SmackDown Women’s Title Match Participants

Summer Rae was apparently training for her return at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando. Summer has been out of action since last summer with a knee injury.

While Summer has not appeared on WWE TV since the Draft after being sent to the RAW roster, The Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports that there’s talk of bringing her back to the SmackDown roster with an appearance at WrestleMania 33 in the SmackDown Women’s Title match.

Regarding that match, graphics have confirmed that it will be Alexa Bliss defending against Becky Lynch, Mickie James, Carmella and Natalya but it’s possible we also see appearances by Naomi, Tamina Snuka, Eva Marie and Summer. There’s also been rumors of a stipulation being added to the match.

The Observer adds that it’s also possible we see former WWE Superstars return for the SmackDown Women’s Title match. We’ve noted how the company contacted several women from the past about appearing at WrestleMania 33 for an angle or match that has been kept secret. Kelly Kelly and Lisa Marie Varon (Victoria) were among those contacted about working for the company in Orlando that Sunday.

Who Will Induct Beth Phoenix Into The WWE Hall Of Fame?

Image result for Natalya inducting Beth phoenix into WWE Hall of Fame

 

WWE announced that Natalya will induct Beth Phoenix into the WWE Hall of Fame during WrestleMania 33 weekend.

Natalya to induct Beth Phoenix into the WWE Hall of FameNatalya will induct her best friend and former tag team partner, Beth Phoenix, into the WWE Hall of Fame on Friday, March 31, live on WWE Network.

“There’s nobody that I can think of that deserves to be in the WWE Hall of Fame more than Beth Phoenix,” Natalya told WWE.com. “She’s a pioneer for women in our division. Beth did extraordinary things for women in WWE.”

The Glamazon stood out in many ways during her incredible run in WWE, becoming a four-time champion and the second woman in history to enter the Royal Rumble Match.

“Beth broke down a lot of walls for women in the industry in the sense that she wasn’t a cookie-cutter-type female wrestler,” Natalya explained. “She was bigger than the other girls, she was muscular and dominant, she was strong. At different stages in WWE, that wasn’t always the ‘in’ thing. Beth did it her way and stayed true to who she was. She believed in herself and blazed her own trail.”

For Natalya, inducting Phoenix is an honor, though one she joked that she knew was coming.

“It’s not a surprise,” the third-generation Superstar said. “Beth knows I’d put her in the Sharpshooter if she asked anybody else.”

Kidding aside, Natalya can’t wait to present The Glamazon to the WWE Universe as a Hall of Famer for the first time.

“Beth is one of my best friends,” she said. “We’re close as sisters. It’s such a huge honor for me to induct her into the WWE Hall of Fame because I feel like we shared so many incredible memories on the road, traveling thousands of miles together. We did it all together. While Beth is getting this honor, I want to help share her journey and do her justice.”

How will Natalya honor her close friend? Find out when she inducts Beth Phoenix into the WWE Hall of Fame at the 2017 Induction Ceremony, live on WWE Network Friday, March 31 at 8 ET/5 PT.

REPORT: WWE In Talks To Buy Ring of Honor Wrestling!

Pro Wrestling Sheet has learned WWE and Sinclair Broadcast Group have recently discussed a potential buyout of Ring of Honor in secret … this according to sources.

Multiple sources with direct knowledge tell us the companies have been talking since January and things have been slowly progressing, with the plan being a full takeover if the deal is made official.

This would include the weekly TV show beginning to air on the WWE Network. No word at this point on whether every wrestler on the roster would continue working in ROH if it happens.

Keep in mind, there’s no actual deal on the table right now and discussions are simply that. This means the buyout could always fall through if both sides can’t agree on specifics.

WWE Bringing Back ‘Bad Blood’ Pay-Per-View After 13 Years

At last night’s SmackDown Live, WWE announced to the live crowd that their next show in the state of Connecticut will be the return of the Bad Blood pay-per-view. It will be a RAW exclusive show, and it will take place on July 9th at the XL Center in Hartford, CT. This marks the first WWE pay-per-view to take place at the XL Center since Vengeance in 2004.

The first Bad Blood pay-per-view took place on October 5, 1997, and marked the first-ever “Hell In A Cell” match, which saw Shawn Michaels defeat The Undertaker after Kane made his debut and interfered. There were two more Bad Blood pay-per-views – in 2003 and 2004 – which were RAW exclusive shows.

No ticket information or pre-sale code was given for this year’s Bad Blood.

Source: WrestlingINC

Matt Hardy And Jeff Hardy Offered New WWE Contracts

Pro Wrestling Sheet reports that WWE has offered new contracts to Matt and Jeff Hardy and that “all signs point to an inevitable [WWE] return.”

As we previously reported, Broken Matt is currently battling with Impact Wrestling over the use of his name/gimmick.  The wrestling company believes they should be paid when it’s used, but Hardy doesn’t agree. The brothers are also the current ROH tag champs after signing a short-term deal.

Still no word on whether WWE creative is looking to use their “broken” characters, but the legal side of things probably doesn’t bode well for a chance of that happening immediately.

Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet

Update: 

PWInsider confirmed reports that Matt and Jeff Hardy have been in talks with WWE, and noted that “it’s a matter or when, not if” the brothers return to the company.

According to PWInsider, the deal is only for Matt and Jeff, and not for Reby or Senor Benjamin. It was noted that one major issue that would have to be worked out is the schedule, as the Hardys likely don’t want a full time schedule.

Road Warrior Animal Says He ‘Feels Sorry’ For Paul Ellering Managing The Authors Of Pain

Image result for Road Warrior Animal

The Authors of Pain have ran roughshod through the NXT tag team division since their debut at NXT: The End last June. Since then, they dominated American Alpha, won the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, and defeated DIY for the NXT Tag Team Championship.

However, there is one person who does not believe that this resume is very impressive.

When Chris Featherstone spoke to Road Warrior Animal at an independent wrestling event recently, he did not have the fondest words to say about the Authors of Pain. In fact, he said that he felt sorry for his former manager Paul Ellering.

“I talk to Paul all the time,” Animal said. “I feel bad for him because of that team he’s managing. They’re green. You gotta start somewhere, but [man]. The only problem is, when you start managing two big guys, everybody’s gonna compare them to Hawk and I. It’s an unfair comparison. It’s like trying to compare a singles guy to Bruno Sammartino. You can’t. Bruno is Bruno. The Rock’s the Rock. They’ll never be another Rock. They’ll never be another Road Warriors ever. That’s the problem [WWE] is having now in the company. They [also] have the Ascension coming out, and the Ascension are [trying to be like the Road Warriors].”

Animal finds Ellering managing the Authors of Pain to be a negative comparison to managing the Road Warriors. In his eyes, the WWE is trying to recapture the moment of a dominant big man tag team, and using Ellering as the conduit to make it happen again. Thankfully, for the Authors of Pain, they do not look anything like the Road Warriors. The Ascension, however, is a much stronger comparison.

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You can hear the full interview on the Pancakes and Powerslams podcast by clicking here.

Source: WrestlingINC