Ziggler Heel Turn, Ambrose Wins Intercontinental Title

It appears that Dolph Ziggler made a heel turn last night on SmackDown Live. After Baron Corbin defeated Ziggler, Corbin got a chair and looked to attack Ziggler, when Kalisto came down and made the save. Ziggler wasn’t very thankful as he nailed Kalisto with a superkick and said he never needed anyone. Later in the locker room he attacked Apollo Crews.

 

In the main event Dean Ambrose defeated The Miz for the Intercontinental Title.

SmackDown Live Preview 1/3/17

AJ Styles and John Cena’s WWE Title Match contract signing

Intercontinental Championship: (C) The Miz w/Maryse vs Dean Ambrose

Dolph Ziggler vs Baron Corbin

Who will challenge the new SmackDown Tag Team Champions American Alpha?

Who is the mysterious La Luchadora?

Source: WWE.com

WrestleMania 34 Location Revealed – Official Announcement Coming

Multiple sources with direct knowledge told Pro Wrestling Sheet that WWE officials will soon announce that WrestleMania is returning to New Orleans in 2018.

The event was last held in the Big Easy back in 2014 for WrestleMania XXX and featured Daniel Bryan‘s memorable WWE World Heavyweight Title win. It’s also where Undertaker‘s streak ended.

Does Sasha Banks Want To Jump To SmackDown Live?

Earlier this week, Sasha Banks may have indicated that she wants to jump from RAW to SmackDown Live when she posted a cryptic tweet.  A fan tweeted a GIF of her holding the RAW Women’s Title with a caption that said, “soon Lil Boss Jr will come home.” Sasha responded with the following tweet:

Kurt Angle Reportedly Tells Indie Promoters He’s Returning To WWE During WrestleMania Season

For what it’s worth, Kurt Angle has been telling indie promoters that he’s returning to WWE in April, perhaps in time for WrestleMania 33 on April 2nd.

Angle is scheduled to wrestle Alberto Del Rio for the first time on February 12th in the UK for WCPW and then will face Cody Rhodes for their third match but has told promoters he’s not accepting indie dates past those two.

Wrestling Observer Newsletter adds that there are all sorts of rumors going around in regards to Angle and WWE. It should be noted that this wouldn’t be the first time Angle has told promoters he’s returning to WWE and with the way the rumor mill heats up for WrestleMania season, this should be taking as a rumor for now.

Source: WrestlingINC

Mick Foley Needs Hip Surgery But Doesn’t Have Health Insurance, Talks WWE Contract Status, More

WWE Hall of Famer Mick Foley took to Facebook today to address reports of a possible hip surgery. Foley says he does need the $60,000 operation but he doesn’t have health insurance after having his coverage dropped this year.

The RAW General Manager reveals that he is on a handshake deal with WWE, besides the Legends deal which is for merchandise, and confirms he missed Monday’s RAW. You can read his full post below:

ABOUT THAT HIP OPERATIONI guess I should’ve said something when I started getting prayers and well wishes from friends and colleagues alike – including some of the biggest names in the business. I have definitely mentioned that I needed a hip replacement, definitely mentioned that I intended to get one sometime early in 2017, but never actually set a date. I have this little tiny problem in that I don’t actually have health insurance.

I had health insurance for 26 years, but the last four years have been tough – with companies sending out letters telling me they will no longer be insuring families, and that I needed to find alternate insurance. By 2016 health insurance was particularly confusing, and after missing one payment, I found myself no longer insured. I am doing my best to be insured in 2017, but nothing is guaranteed, and I have no idea how this new insurance company will feel about replacing a hip that clearly should’ve been replaced many years ago.

For those wondering why the general manager of Raw needs to procure his own health insurance: well, I’m on a handshake deal. I do the job as long as I enjoy it and feel like I am making a difference, and I do it as long as WWE is happy with me and thinks I’m the best person for the role. No contract involved at all, except for the legends deal, which is strictly about merchandise. For those wondering why I just don’t pay out-of-pocket, well it’s a $60,000 operation, and I am going to look at some other options before I shell out 60K for an operation. Maybe I will concentrate on landing a couple of TV or film roles and get the far superior AFTRA insurance to take care of the operation. I probably should not be talking about it at all – but the word is out there, and I feel like I owe people an explanation.

Luckily, I am used to the constant pain – and it’s not like I wasn’t warned by almost every guy in the wrestling business that the moves I was doing as a younger man were going to come back to haunt me. Well, they’re haunting me! The weight-loss has helped considerably; without it, and the DDP yoga, I don’t believe I could even get through airports. But the constant travel means constant pain. I love being the Raw GM, and I will miss it when it’s gone. But my quality of life will probably improve when Stephanie and WWE decide to go in a new direction.

Thank you for your prayers and concern. I am coming off an amazing December, during which I created some memories that I know I will hold onto for a lifetime. I know a lot of people don’t get my whole Santa thing. I can only tell you that when that red suit goes on, the very best part of me comes out, and I do some things I am very proud of each December. I had wanted most of December off, but I had made a commitment to the Pittsburgh Children’s Hospital, and it meant a lot to me to fulfill that commitment. Then Mr. McMahon said something to me about a shark cage in question with Chris Jericho suspended above it, and I knew I had to be at that Raw. I missed Monday’s raw. I should be back for almost every episode until that moment comes when/if the company decides to go in a different direction. If they do, I will simply be grateful for every single day I had a chance to go out and try to make a difference. Some nights I was more successful than others. But deep down I think the superstars in the back know I was doing my best to look out for them – and they know that has not always the case when it comes to the people who fill these roles.

With or without a new hip I’m going to lead a good life. The medical sciences out there to help me lead a life with far less pain. I hope that I am given the opportunity to take advantage of the new technology. Maybe some enterprising orthopedic specialist can think outside the box and look at me as a potential poster-boy for their services. If The Rock can sell tires, then I have to believe I can sell hip replacements.

Have a nice day.

Source: WrestlingINC

NXT Special From Japan 12/28/16

WWE NXT Japan

NXT’S JAPAN DEBUT AIRING TONIGHT ON WWE NETWORK

For the first time, witness NXT’s historic night in Osaka, Japan tonight on WWE Network at 8/7 C. This special two-hour edition of NXT will feature Samoa Joe defending his NXT Championship against Shinsuke Nakamura in its entirety and Asuka defending the NXT Women’s Championship in front of her hometown crowd against WWE Superstar Nia Jax.

The night of action will feature:

* Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Samoa Joe (NXT Championship Match)
* Asuka vs. Nia Jax (NXT Women’s Championship Match)
* #DIY vs. Tajiri & Akira Tozawa (NXT Tag Team Championship Match)
* Liv Morgan & Aliyah vs. Billie Kay & Peyton Royce
* Oney Lorcan vs. Andrade “Cien” Almas

Chris Hero (Kassius Ohno) In Town For WWE Royal Rumble Weekend

There’s been a lot of speculation on when Chris Hero (Kassius Ohno) may make his WWE return, if that is still the plan. Talk among fans heated up today when WWN Live announced Hero for their EVOLVE events on Friday, January 27th and Saturday, January 28th in San Antonio, Texas during WWE’s Royal Rumble weekend. Hero’s opponent for Friday has not been announced but he will be facing Zack Sabre Jr. on Saturday, which is the same night as WWE NXT “Takeover: San Antonio” with Bobby Roode vs. NXT Champion Shinsuke Nakamura.

Source: WrestlingINC

205 Live Tag Team Sent Back To WWE NXT

Image result for The Bollywood Boyz NXT

The Bollywood Boyz have been sent back to WWE NXT as officials want them to get some additional “seasoning” before being used on 205 Live again, according to PWInsider. Harv Sihra and Gurv Sihra worked the November 29th episode of 205 Live with a win over Drew Gulak and Tony Nese but they haven’t worked the main roster since. They did work a few NXT live events in December but don’t appear to be regulars at this point. It was noted that their match on 205 Live, and perhaps their matches at the Cruiserweight Classic, didn’t click in the eyes of WWE officials.

Source: WrestlingINC