Tag: dark matches

LA Knight manages Mace in WWE SmackDown dark match

Posted on by Bryan Rose

LA Knight appeared in a dark match prior to tonight’s SmackDown in a managerial role.

Knight appeared in a suit prior to SmackDown managing Mace. He cut a promo prior to the match saying that he was creating Knight Model Management, and his first client was Mace. Mace then defeated Erik of the Viking Raiders with a leg lariat. This was Mace’s first match on TV since the November 21 edition of SmackDown, where he competed in a Black Friday battle royal that was won by Sami Zayn.

Knight has been a wrestler on NXT since he re-signed with the company last year. He most recently appeared at NXT Stand & Deliver on April 2, where he lost to Gunther, who has since been called up to the main roster on SmackDown. During his time in NXT, he held the Million Dollar Championship during his feud with Cameron Grimes and Ted DiBiase.

Other recent call-ups to the main roster include Marcel Barthel (under the name Ludwig Kaiser), Raquel Gonzalez (now Raquel Rodriguez), and Tommaso Ciampa.

Cody Rhodes faces Kevin Owens in dark match following WWE Raw

Posted on by Bryan Rose

A dark match took place following tonight’s WWE Raw that featured Cody Rhodes taking on Kevin Owens.

Rhodes defeated Owens, pinning him following the crossroads. After the match, Cody thanked the crowd for letting him back in their house. He said he loved pro wrestling and pro wrestling fans with all of his heart. He finished the promo by pointing out his little cousin and said it was the godson of Dusty Rhodes, and said he was family and everyone in here is his family.

Rhodes opened tonight’s episode of Raw talking about what inspired him to return to WWE, saying that it was an easy choice to make once he became a free agent. He posted a picture of his father Dusty Rhodes holding the WWE Championship back at a Madison Square Garden event from 1977, saying Dusty just wasn’t his dad, but his hero. He said at eight years old he wanted to become WWE Champion and put that belt in his father’s hands. He said that dream died, and wouldn’t be able to put the belt in the hands of The American Dream. But he could put it around the waist of The American Nightmare, saying he was ready to do this for his family and his father.

Seth Rollins came out after Rhodes’ promo. The two appeared as if they were about to fight, but they eventually shook hands. 

EC3, Lacey Evans wrestle in dark matches prior to WWE Raw

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Two of the NXT stars slated to be called up in the near future wrestled prior to Raw tonight in Orlando, Florida.

Natalya pinned Lacey Evans to start off the night. EC3 then pinned Curt Hawkins in the next match. Despite initial reports, these will not air on Main Event this week and are only dark matches.

The two, along with Heavy Machinery, Lars Sullivan and Nikki Cross, are set to be called up to the main roster in the next few weeks. Vignettes have been airing on both Raw and Smackdown for the last month.

Some of the wrestlers appeared to say their goodbyes over the weekend during NXT house show events. In Atlanta, EC3 and the War Raiders defeated the Undisputed Era and did their chant with them after the match. On the same card, Lacey Evans tagged with Aaliyah in a losing effort to Kairi Sane and Xia Li.

Meanwhile, Heavy Machinery said goodbye to the crowd in Jacksonville, Florida after defeating the Forgotten Sons.