Tag: brandi lauren

Full lineup set for Impact Knockouts Knockdown tournament

Posted on by Joseph Currier

The full lineup is set for Impact Wrestling’s Knockouts Knockdown tournament.

Impact Wrestling announced today that Brandi Lauren will be taking part in the Knockouts Knockdown tournament. She’s the eighth and final entrant to be confirmed, joining Mercedes Martinez, Lady Frost, Renee Michelle, Chelsea Green, Tasha Steelz, Jamie Senegal, and Rachael Ellering.

The bracket for the tournament has yet to be revealed.

“The eighth and final entrant in the Knockouts Knockdown Tournament at IMPACT’s returning all-Knockout event is the bone-chilling Undead Bridesmaid, Brandi Lauren,” Impact Wrestling wrote. “As her search for souls continues, Lauren will also look to bring gold to the terrifying trio alongside Su Yung and Kimber Lee.”

Lauren was released by WWE during a round of NXT roster cuts this May.

The winner of the Knockouts Knockdown tournament will get a future shot at Impact’s Knockouts Championship, which is currently held by Deonna Purrazzo.

The tournament will air on Impact’s Knockouts Knockdown special this Saturday. The special begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time and will stream on Impact Plus and for subscribers to Impact Ultimate Insiders on YouTube.

Purrazzo is defending her Knockouts title against a mystery opponent at Knockouts Knockdown. Here’s the updated card for the show:

  • Eight-woman, one-night Knockouts Knockdown tournament (Mercedes Martinez, Lady Frost, Renee Michelle, Chelsea Green, Tasha Steelz, Jamie Senegal, Rachael Ellering, and Brandi Lauren)
  • Knockouts Champion Deonna Purrazzo defends against an opponent to be announced
  • Knockouts Tag Team Champions Decay (Rosemary & Havok) defend against The Influence (Madison Rayne & Tenille Dashwood)
  • Daffney memorial Monster’s Ball match (participants to be announced)

Veda Scott and Mickie James will be on commentary for Knockouts Knockdown, while Melissa Santos will be the ring announcer.

WWE announces new group of Performance Center signees

Posted on by Joseph Currier

WWE has officially announced its latest group of signees.

The newest group of WWE Performance Center recruits was revealed today and mostly consists of former members of the EVOLVE Wrestling roster, with Brandi Lauren, Curt Stallion, Anthony Greene, Leon Ruff, Joe Gacy, Josh Briggs, and referee Jake Clemons signing with WWE and joining the Performance Center.

It was confirmed this July that WWE had purchased EVOLVE Wrestling. Some past content from EVOLVE started to be uploaded to the WWE Network in August.

Jacob Kasper, a former All-American collegiate wrestler at Duke University, has also signed with WWE and is part of this class of Performance Center recruits. Kasper was recruited by Gerald Brisco. After being furloughed in April’s roster cuts, Brisco was released by WWE last month. 

WWE’s full announcement regarding the new recruits is available below:

A new class of recruits has reported for training at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Fla. The group can count among their ranks independent wrestling standouts and an NCAA All-American wrestler.

Brandi Pawelek, known on the independents as Brandi Lauren, is an exciting competitor who has stepped in the ring for promotions like EVOLVE and SHINE.

Camron Rogers is a 6-foot-1 Texan who competes under the name Curt Stallion. Rogers broke out in 2019 in EVOLVE Wrestling, where he battled the likes of SmackDown Superstar Matt Riddle and NXT Superstars Cameron Grimes, Dexter Lumis and Mansoor.

Anthony Greene is a flamboyant Massachusetts native and standout grappler from EVOLVE Wrestling. The 26-year-old stood toe-to-toe with NXT Tag Team Champion Tyler Breeze in EVOLVE, as well as many of his fellow recruits from this class.

Dartanyon Ruffin, better known as Leon Ruff, is a former EVOLVE Tag Team Champion. The energetic 24-year-old has competed on Raw, SmackDown, NXT and 205 Live in recent months, going up against the likes of Sheamus, Aleister Black, Tommaso Ciampa and Legado del Fantasma.

Joseph Ruby is a 6-foot, 249-pound powerhouse from New Jersey. Competing as Joe Gacy, he’s a former three-time Combat Zone Wrestling Heavyweight Champion and EVOLVE Tag Team Champion.

Joshua Bruns is an imposing figure, standing 6-foot-8 and weighing 268 pounds. As Josh Briggs, he’s been the EVOLVE Champion and battled the likes of NXT United Kingdom Champion WALTER, Matt Riddle, John Morrison and Raw Tag Team Champion Angelo Dawkins.

Jacob Kasper is a 25-year-old amateur wrestling standout from Lexington, Ohio. Kasper wrestled at Duke University, where he was a two-time NCAA All-American and won the 2018 ACC heavyweight championship. He also placed in the 2016 Olympic trials.

Jake Clemons of Ohio is a referee who has officiated matches on Monday Night Raw, as well as for promotions like EVOLVE and AIW.

For more information on the WWE Performance Center, visit WWEPerformanceCenter.com.

Four former EVOLVE wrestlers reportedly sign with WWE

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Update —

PWInsider also reported today that former EVOLVE wrestler Joe Gacy has signed with WWE.

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Following WWE’s purchase of EVOLVE earlier this year, more EVOLVE wrestlers have signed with WWE.

PWInsider reported today that EVOLVE Champion Josh Briggs, Brandi Lauren, Curt Stallion, and referee Jake Clemons have signed with WWE. That’s in addition to Leon Ruff and Anthony Greene signing with the company. Ruff, who did work as an extra for WWE prior to being signed, was highlighted in a video on the WWE Performance Center’s YouTube channel last month.

Lauren has also recently appeared as an extra for WWE, including being a Raw Underground competitor and being part of Damian Priest’s celebration after winning the NXT North American Championship at TakeOver XXX.

It was officially confirmed in July that WWE had purchased EVOLVE. Content from EVOLVE and WWE-affiliated independent promotions PROGRESS Wrestling, ICW, and wXw began being added to the WWE Network this month, including the Best of Drew McIntyre in EVOLVE, the best of Keith Lee in EVOLVE, and EVOLVE 125 from 2019 being uploaded.