The latest WWE and AEW News and Results
With Bryan Alvarez out being a good dad, myself and “Filthy Tom” Lawlor team up today on Wrestling Observer Live to let you know about all of the news taking place.
We take a look at tonight’s WWE Raw and get you updated on what’s taken place so far in the WWE Draft, AEW injuries, plus, we need to talk about Conor, bare fisticuffs, and so much more.
A fun show as always, so check it out~!
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Paige VanZant will no longer be competing at BKFC 27.
The 28-year-old was scheduled to face Charisa Sigala on Saturday’s card from London but BKFC announced on Tuesday that the fight has been pulled from the show.
MMA Junkie is reporting that VanZant vs. Sigala was removed from the event in order to headline the company’s show on October 15. Other reports suggest the fight was pulled due to “logistical concerns in London” and could be moved to November.
VanZant posted to social media to express her frustration with the fight being postponed.
“THIS IS OUT OF MY CONTROL!!!” VanZant wrote. “I WENT AN ENTITE CAMP AND WEIGHT CUT TO BE PULLED A WEEK OUT!!!! I DID NOT PULL FROM MY FIGHT!!!! I WAS PULLED! I AM PISSED OFF AND HEARTBROKEN! I [WORKED] MY F—KING ASS OFF TO BE PULLED A WEEK BEFORE I AM SUPPOSED TO COMPETE!!!!!!”
MMA reporter John Morgan responded to VanZant’s comments and confirmed it was not PVZ’s decision for the fight to be postponed.
“Spoke to a person with knowledge of the decision that confirmed this was a difficult decision made by the organization, not PVZ, due to some logistical concerns in London. Told despite an October date being announced for the reschedule, November possible, as well.”
Paige VanZant wants to remain in BKFC, and is working on a contract extension with the company.
She told MMA Fighting that despite her losing streak in the company, she plans on remaining with BKFC.
“I’m still bare knuckle boxing,” VanZant said. “I’m still with BKFC. I’m about to sign a contract extension. Of course I didn’t have the greatest success right off the bat but that also fueled my fire even more. Training harder and I do see a lot of relationship between my training for BKFC and my training for pro wrestling. “The great thing is there’s 24 hours in a day and I’m going to use every single hour of that to train for both.”
VanZant has a 0-2 record in BKFC, most recently losing to Rachael Ostovich at BKFC 19 back on July 23 of last year.
After making appearances starting in September, it was announced in March that VanZant has signed with All Elite Wrestling. Aligned with Dan Lambert, Scorpio Sky, and Ethan Page, she is currently feuding with Tay Conti and Sammy Guevara.
New AEW signee Paige VanZant is set to headline a Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship event this summer.
BKFC has announced that VanZant will headline the promotion’s show at Alexandra Palace in London on Saturday, July 9. An opponent for VanZant has yet to be revealed.
This will be VanZant’s third fight since making her bare-knuckle boxing debut for BKFC. It’s the final fight on her current BKFC contract.
VanZant has yet to get her first BKFC win. She’s lost fights against Britain Hart and Rachael Ostovich.
On an episode of Dynamite earlier this month, it was officially confirmed that VanZant has signed a pro wrestling contract with AEW. She’s appeared for the promotion as part of Dan Lambert’s American Top Team stable. After VanZant signed with AEW, BKFC stated that VanZant was still under contract with them and that BKFC and AEW would work together to build her career.
During an interview on MMA Fighting’s The Fighter vs. The Writer, VanZant said that her focus right now is on both pro wrestling and bare-knuckle boxing.
“[My management team] really changed my life so I could sit down and say, ‘OK, Paige, what do you want to do with your time and your life and your career?’ I’m so fortunate having that management team on my side, and so now I’m doing exactly what I want to do,” VanZant said.
“I want to fight for AEW. I want to fight for BKFC. Contract is open-ended so I could still do MMA at the same time. I love MMA and I know my door’s definitely not closed on MMA, but at the same time, my passion really is pro wrestling and bare-knuckle boxing right now.”
VanZant told Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour this week that, in a perfect world, she would make her AEW in-ring debut in the next few months. She’s training for pro wrestling at Coastal Championship Wrestling in Florida. The school is run by David “Gangrel” Heath.
Paige VanZant’s bare knuckle fighting career isn’t over just yet.
Despite signing with AEW, the 27-year-old is still expected to continue competing for Bare Knuckle Fighting Championships (BKFC). She has fought twice for the promotion since signing there in the summer of 2020.
“Paige is still under contract with BKFC,” BKFC officials said to MMA Fighting. “The companies will work together to build her career.”
According to ESPN’s Marc Raimondi, VanZant is expected to begin training at Coastal Championship Wrestling in Pompano Beach, Florida. The school is run by David Heath, aka Gangrel.
Although it is not known when VanZant will fight for BKFC again, company president Dave Feldman told MMA Fighting in January he was hoping she would be scheduled for a bout in April or May.
The former UFC fighters is 0-2 in her bare knuckle boxing career thus far, having dropped fights to Britain Hart and Rachael Ostovich. VanZant had previously defeated Ostovich in a 2019 UFC fight.
