Tag: WWE

Ryback — Announces Departure, Wishes WWE The Best In Their Future Endeavors (VIDEO)

Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet

Wake up WWE Universe … Ryback is now a free agent — and The Big Guy has all sorts of plans.

The former Intercontinental Champion bid adieu to WWE on Instagram today saying, “The Big Guy Ryback would like to wish the WWE the best in their future endeavors. From this point forward, myself and the WWE will no longer be conducting business together.”

Ryback also says he plans to continue wrestling a full schedule and plugged several new ventures … including a clothing line, a motivational book and a line of nutritional supplements.

As you may recall, the 34-year-old was sent home from RAW on May 2nd due to contract negotiation issues and was in the middle of a trademark battle with WWE regarding use of the phrase “The Big Guy” at the time.

No comment yet from WWE regarding his release, but it’s worth noting that the wrestler’s photo still appears on their roster page. Check out the video.

 

Update:

WWE just announced the following:

WWE parts ways with RybackEffective today, Aug. 8, 2016, WWE has parted ways with Ryback and he is no longer under contract. WWE wishes Ryback the best in all his future endeavors.

Shelton Benjamin Not Returning To WWE At This Time Due To Injury

Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet

The Gold Standard will not be making his WWE return as previously advertised … Shelton Benjamin says their doctors discovered a serious shoulder injury during testing and now he needs surgery.

Shelton tweeted, “I am both disappointed & sadden to announce that due to a serious injury to my shoulder I will not be returning to WWE at this time.”

He added, “For now I will have to put pro-wrestling to the side as I prepare to undergo surgery to repair my torn rotator. This comes as a shock to me as I am no stranger to performing while in pain, yet I had no idea of the severity of my condition.”

Benjamin’s return was hyped with a vignette during the debut episode of SmackDown Live last month.  No word at this time if his injury will be addressed on TV.

Here are his tweets:

Olympians Who Competed In WWE (Video)

WWE posted this video with Corey Graves looking at 7 Olympians who competed in WWE – Bad News Brown, Ken Patera, Mark Henry, Danny Hodge, Mad Dog Vachon, Chad Gable and Kurt Angle.

Top WWE Stars Missing SmackDown Next Week, Meet AJ Styles In New Zealand

Source: WrestlingINC

WWE is headed overseas after RAW next Monday for their tours in Australia and New Zealand. While the tours mostly consist of RAW Stars, SmackDown stars John Cena, AJ Styles, Erick Rowan, The Usos and Apollo Crews are also scheduled, so they won’t be on SmackDown on Tuesday. The scheduled dark match main event for Tuesday’s SmackDown in Bakersfield, CA is WWE Champion Dean Ambrose vs. Bray Wyatt.

Styles will be making an appearance in Auckland, New Zealand next Wednesday at Westfield St Lukes at 80 St Lukes Rd. Styles will be meeting fans and signing autographs. You can get more details here.

Rhyno Wins Michigan State Representative Primary

Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet

The recent SmackDown Live signee — running under his real name, Terrance Guido Gerin — won yesterday’s Republican Primary for State House in Michigan’s 15th District.

According to WXYZ.com, he beat out two other Republican opponents by just 54 votes.

Regarding his decision to run for office, Rhyno told WWE.com, “Well, I’ve followed politics for decades. It’s something I’ve always had a passion for. I love my country, I love my state of Michigan and I love the city I live in.”

Rhyno will now face the Democratic Primary winner in the General Election this November.

WWE Cruiserweight Classic Preview: 8/3/16

The following is set for tonight’s 8/3 WWE Cruiserweight Classic on WWE Network:

* Final week of first-round action

* Johnny Gargano vs. Tommaso Ciampa

* Rich Swann vs. Jason Lee

* Jack Gallagher vs. Fabian Aichner

* Noam Dar vs. Gurv Shira

WWE King Of The Ring Returning?

Source: WrestlingINC

WWE filed two trademark applications last week for “King of the Ring.” According to Trademarkia, one trademark was for “a show about professional wrestling” while the other was for “Computer software, namely, software for the creation of mobile internet applications and client interfaces.” It appears as if WWE will be using the name for a RAW or SmackDown branded pay-per-view next year.

The event was an annual pay-per-view from 1993 – 2002. After that, it was a pay-per-view in 2006 before becoming a one-night tournament on RAW in 2008 and 2010. It returned last year, with the final being a WWE Network exclusive event won by Wade Barrett.

Brock Lesnar Invades SmackDown Live – Revenge On Randy Orton (Video)

Monday night on RAW, Randy Orton invaded RAW and hit Brock Lesnar with a RKO. Last night on SmackDown Live, Lesnar returned the favor invading SmackDown Live and hiting Orton with a F5.

Why Booker T Was Hospitalized This Weekend

Source: WrestlingINC

Sharmell revealed on social media that Booker T was hospitalized over the weekend. This is why he missed last night’s RAW Pre-show.

Booker also tweeted that the Spin-a-roonie had been retired and now PWInsider reports that he had surgery on his elbow. Booker tore his triceps performing the move back in 2013 while being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame and apparently this surgery was related to that injury.

The WWE Hall of Famer is already at home recovering.

Lilian Garcia Comments On Her Absence From WWE Programming

Source: Bleacher Report

Lilian Garcia announced Monday she is taking a break from WWE to be closer to her father, who is battling cancer.

In a post on Instagram, the ring announcer wrote maintaining WWE‘s grueling travel schedule would be unrealistic, as she hopes to spend as much time with her dad as possible:

After working for WWE for a decade, Garcia left in September 2009 in order to focus on her recording career. Prior to her departure, she gave an address on the Sept. 21, 2009, edition of Raw:

The 49-year-old then returned to the company in December 2011 on an episode of SmackDown:

Should circumstances change at some point in the future, fans could see Garcia in a WWE ring again.

If a full-time return proves out of the question, she could appear for special occasions. Howard Finkel announced CM Punk’s arrival at Survivor Series 2011, and Tony Chimel came back to introduce Edge and Christian at Fastlane 2016. A similar role might be on the cards for Garcia down the line.