Tag: WWE

Ricochet Leaving WWE

WWE might still rule the wrestling world, but soon they will no longer be able to say they own “the one and only.” According to a report last week from Pro Wrestling Insider, former Intercontinental and United States Champion Ricochet has informed WWE he intends to leave the company upon the expiration of the five-year contract he signed in 2019.

Considering earlier reports that indicate Ricochet’s deal is up this summer, the news means his time in WWE is rapidly nearing its end, and PWI claims the company is expected to quickly begin writing him out of storylines. Those who attended “WWE SmackDown” live in Louisville Friday (7/5/2024), likely got the first taste of that process, as the first-ever “WWE Speed” Champion lost his title to Andrade in a match taped prior to the June 7 episode of the blue brand. Ricochet has also been part of a recent angle with Ilja Dragunov and Bron Breakker; he lost to Breakker on “WWE Raw” and lost to Dragunov in the first round of the 2024 King of the Ring Tournament last month.

PWI quoted one source who gave Ricochet “all the credit in the world for betting on himself.” Still just 35 years old, he will almost certainly make a splash on the free agent market and could be considered likely show up in AEW, especially considering a recent interview with old foe (and current AEW International Champion) Will Ospreay, who lamented WWE wasting Ricochet’s talent.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Former CMLL Star Stephanie Vaquer Signs With WWE Instead Of AEW

Stephanie Vaquer is bound for WWE. The former CMLL and NJPW champion is set to debut with the United States-based promotion, but there’s been some question about her status with CMLL ahead of her signing.

According to the Wrestling Observer, Vaquer was under contract with CMLL but the promotion and its partner NJPW knew that Vaquer would be negotiating with both AEW and WWE. However, both promotions asked that she still work the upcoming NJPW/CMLL Fantasticamania show in San Jose, CA, as she had been advertised for the show. CMLL also asked her to lose her CMLL Women’s title on her way out.

Vaquer signed with WWE but was unable to commit to the original Fantasticamania show and she vacated her title, leading to a Three-Way Match for the CMLL Women’s Championship taking place that night. CMLL and NJPW have already announced Vaquer’s departure, which signaled her going to WWE, as AEW is a business partner of both companies and would’ve allowed her to complete her booked dates.

WWE Hall of Famer and “NXT” creative head Shawn Michaels confirmed the news on X (formerly known as Twitter) on Wednesday, formally welcoming Vaquer to the white-and-gold brand.

https://twitter.com/ShawnMichaels/status/1811151655544496619

According to reports ahead of the announcement, Vaquer had entered WWE’s radar specifically after her outing against Mercedes Mone at AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door. She was booked in two appearances, wrestling Lady Frost prior to Forbidden Door during “AEW Collision,” and had reportedly been offered a deal to continue with Tony Khan’s company. However, she decided to join WWE, foregoing any of her future bookings with NJPW and CMLL and allegedly upsetting all three promotions. CMLL is said to be upset they were unable to have Vaquer drop the CMLL Women’s World and Women’s Tag Team titles prior to her departure as they had intended; they were vacated instead. Vaquer lost the NJPW STRONG Women’s Championship to Mone at Forbidden Door, simultaneously failing to capture the TBS Championship. She is the latest international women’s talent to be brought into WWE after Giulia agreed to terms to join the “WWE NXT” brand in the near future.

Dave Meltzer is reporting that WWE has no plans to change Vaquer’s ring name. This approach contrasts with WWE’s typical practice of creating new names for talents joining from other promotions, allowing the company to retain intellectual property rights.

However, it is essential to note that WWE can always change Vaquer’s ring name in the future.

WWE SmackDown Preview 7/12/2024

WWE SmackDown airs live tonight on FOX from the DCU Center in Worchester, MA.

  • Its Tiffy Time! Ms. Money in the Bank Tiffany Stratton to appear
  • Michin vs. Nia Jax
  • Baron Corbin and Apollo Crews vs. Angel Garza and Humberto Carillo
  • Solo Sikoa’s rise in The Bloodline continues

WWE RAW & NXT To Air On SYFY During Olympic Games

Due to the upcoming Summer Olympic Games, WWE’s regular programming, including Monday Night RAW and NXT, will be affected multiple times over the next month.

This is a recurring pattern every four years for RAW, although it is expected to change in 2025 when the show moves to Netflix. In the meantime, NXT will move to The CW in the fall, as the Olympic Games will be broadcast across various NBCUniversal networks, including the USA Network.

The Wrestling Observer Newsletter is reporting that RAW and NXT will be relocated to SYFY during the Olympics for four shows: RAW on 7/29, NXT on 7/30, RAW on 8/6, and NXT on 8/7.

Source: eWn

WWE Star Shayna Baszler’s Opponent For Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport XI Announced

WWE Superstar Shayna Baszler may have found herself a couple of good friends in the form of Zoey Stark and Sonya Deville on “WWE Raw,” but she has been confirmed to be facing a well-respected international performer at an upcoming independent event. Former UFC Heavyweight Champion Josh Barnett took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to officially announce that Baszler would be facing TJPW star Miyu Yamashita at his upcoming “Bloodsport XI” event on July 28 in Brooklyn, New York. 

“Two fierce warriors of the ring,” Barnett wrote. “Two battle hardened women through martial arts and pro wrestling training. Two meeting for the first time in the hardest hitting event in all of Professional Wrestling. The kicks of Miyu Yamashita taking on the submission holds of ‘The Queen of Spades’ Shayna Baszler at Josh Barnett’s: Bloodsport XI.”

Source: Wrestling Inc.

TNA Star Joe Hendry Returns To WWE NXT

Fresh off their four-way title match at “WWE NXT” Heatwave, Ethan Page, Shawn Spears, Trick Williams, and Je’Von Evans were slated to meet in tag team action, specifically with the former two taking on the latter pair. Ahead of their tag bout, though, the newly reinstated Brooks Jensen attacked Evans backstage, rendering him unable to compete. As such, Williams was then tasked with finding a new tag team partner for the evening. That replacement partner was later revealed to be TNA Wrestling’s Joe Hendry, who marked his first appearance on the “NXT” brand since the June 18 episode of “NXT.” 

Hendry and Williams proved to be quite successful in their debut as a pair, namely as Hendry laid out Spears with a chokeslam for the win. The duo did find themselves with a significant advantage in the match’s closing moments, however, as Page fled through the crowd after being attacked by Oro Mensah. Regardless of the circumstances, Hendry has now earned his first official victory under the banner of WWE.

Last month, Hendry appeared, albeit briefly, in a 25-man battle royal to determine the number one contender for the NXT Championship. Following this outing, Hendry’s face notably surfaced at the end of the “NXT” Heatwave premium live event, and in a commercial promoting Tuesday’s episode of “NXT.” Recent reports indicated that WWE officials were planning to heavily utilize Hendry on their programming again in the coming months, which has now seemingly begun with an alliance alongside the now former NXT Champion Trick Williams.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

WWE NXT Preview 7/9/2024

Tonight’s WWE NXT on the USA Network.

Fallout from NXT Heatwave

  •  Heritage Cup Championship Match: Tony D’Angelo (c) vs. Lexis King
  • Karmen Petrovic vs. Arianna Grace
  • Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson vs. OTM
  • Gallus vs. Tyson Dupont & Tyriek Igwe
  • Sol Ruca vs. Fallon Henley
  • Wes Lee addresses his future

Bobby Steveson (Damon Kemp) Gone From WWE NXT

Bobby Steveson, better known as Damon Kemp to WWE fans, has been a member of the “WWE NXT” roster since 2021, initially debuting as part of Roderick Strong’s Diamond Mine stable and more recently joining the No Quarter Catch Crew. Now, however, it seems his days in WWE are over. On Monday, the 25-year old took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to reveal that he has officially left WWE.

“As of today, I am no longer under contract with WWE,” Steveson wrote. “Forever grateful for the people I met and the experiences I’ve had.”

Contrary to what many initially assumed, Steveson was not released by WWE. A report from Fightful Select revealed that WWE simply chose not to renew Kemp’s contract; he signed a multi-year deal in the summer of 2021. Fightful was told that Kemp was informed ahead of time that his contract would not be renewed, and that this was not part of a new round of talent cuts. Kemp was last seen on the June 25 edition of “WWE NXT,” where he lost an initiation match to Tavion Heights, who has since taken Kemp’s place in the No Quarter Catch Crew alongside Charlie Dempsey and Myles Borne.

Steveson is the older brother of controversial Olympian Gable Steveson, who was also signed by WWE in 2021 and was released back in May. Fightful noted that Bobby made a much better impression than Gable did on coaches, fans and backstage officials during their three years with the company.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Bo Dallas Appears Backstage On WWE Raw Following Third Wyatt Sicks VHS Tape Vignette

The Wyatt Sicks continue to terrorize Chad Gable, complete with a third VHS tape delivery to commentary from Nikki Cross/Abby the Witch, after Bo Dallas revealed why the stable was going after the Alpha Academy leader in a video segment with his Uncle Howdy alter ego last week on “WWE Raw.” Last week, Dallas called Gable a “false prophet” who was belittling his family for his own gain. This week, the stable’s front man took things a step farther, appearing on “WWE Raw” for the first time without the Uncle Howdy mask since 2019 in a backstage segment.

As Gable was fighting fellow Money in the Bank ladder match contender Jey Uso following in the first match of the night, some of the lights in the arena went out while Gable had Uso in an ankle lock. Thanks to the distraction, Uso hit a spear and got the victory, then “yeeted” to the crowd and ran back in the ramp in the dark. All the lights in the arena then went out, the jarring piano tune signaling the arrival of the Wyatt Sicks began, and smoke filled the ring with Gable still in it. Cross/Abby then rose from underneath the ring once again, and Gable followed Uso up the ramp in complete darkness while the apparation once again put the box on the commentary desk, to be played later on the show.

When Michael Cole threw to the video from the commentary desk later in the night, Dallas delivered a monologue to the camera about his new family. He said he took in those that “no one wanted,” the discarded and forgotten. He said he gave them a purpose.

“They are so happy you remembered them,” Dallas said, as the video cut from the Firefly Funhouse characters to those who portray them behind the masks. Huskus the Pig was officially revealed to be the former Joe Gacy; Mercy the Buzzard, Dexter Lumis; Rambling Rabbit, Erick Rowan; and Abby the Witch, Nikki Cross.

“For grief is the price we pay for love,” Dallas can be heard saying as the video cut between characters. “So now we must set the captives free, so they need no master.”

The video of Dallas then kept cutting to show him as Uncle Howdy as he delivered the line, “Do you think we are sick?” and the over-modulated voice of Howdy from the tapes of weeks prior responded, “Yes, I do.”

“Then sick is what we’ll be,” Dallas said.

After the video, the broadcast cut to Gable backstage with “Raw” General Manager Adam Pearce. Gable lamented to Pearce that he was being targeted by the Wyatt Sicks, to which Pearce responded, “If they’re coming after you, did you stop and think why that might be?” Gable said he would deal with the Wyatt Sicks himself. Pearce turned to walk into his office, where he found Dallas waiting for him. The last thing viewers saw was Pearce walking into his office and shutting the door.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Rhea Ripley Returns On WWE Raw, Confronts Dominik Mysterio While Liv Morgan Flees

Former Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley returned to “WWE Raw” on Monday following Dominik Mysterio and champion Liv Morgan’s mixed tag team victory over the LWO’s Rey Mysterio and Zelina Vega. Ripley had been out of action due to injury at the hands of Morgan, and was forced to vacate her championship. Prior to Ripley’s departure, Morgan declared her “Revenge Tour,” and after she won the championship from Becky Lynch at Crown Jewel, she set her sights on Ripley’s boyfriend, Dominik. Earlier in the night, Judgment Day’s Damian Priest was seen backstage taking a phone call, and asked whoever was on the line (presumably Ripley) where they were, foreshadowing her return to TV.

Dominik was initially reluctant to team with Morgan, who once again got him into compromising positions through the show, but they managed to pick up the win after Morgan threw a chair in the ring to distract the referee, then helped Dominik knock Rey from the top rope, allowing Dominik to hit the frog splash and get the pin, his first victory over his father. Dominik impulsively hugged Morgan in the ring before pushing the women’s champion away, but Morgan jumped into his arms, knocking them both down with Dominik on top. At long last, Dominik seemed about to give in to Morgan’s seduction efforts — which was when Ripley’s music hit, causing both Dominik and Morgan to go wide-eyed with terror.

Ripley stormed down the ramp while Morgan scurried off through the crowd, leaving Dominik in the ring to face “Mami.” The USA Network feed cut off before the segment could be resolved, but footage from after the cameras went dark show Ripley speaking angrily to Dominik before storming right back out of the ring and up the ramp, while a hapless Dominik attempts to follow her and explain himself. Interestingly, a video posted to WWE’s social media afterward shows Morgan watching the confrontation from behind the curtain before turning away with a smile on her face.

Source: Wrestling Inc.