Tag: icymi

Jonah’s Impact Wrestling agreement runs through April’s Rebellion

Posted on by Josh Nason

Jonah said in an interview Tuesday that his agreement with Impact Wrestling runs through April 23rd’s Rebellion pay-per-view in Poughkeepsie, New York.

The former Bronson Reed in WWE NXT made his debut at November’s Turning Point Impact Plus special, attacking Josh Alexander from behind. The two are set to square off at the January 8th Hard to Kill PPV in Jonah’s second match with the company.

In the aforementioned interview with WrestleZone, Jonah confirmed he would be with Impact through Rebellion but didn’t specify the reason for the short term deal or if he was interested in anything longer.

He said he is excited to be part of the company’s recently-announced mini-tour of sorts that will see them visit Dallas, Texas; Ft. Lauderdale, Florida; New Orleans, Louisiana; Louisville, Kentucky and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania before wrapping up in Poughkeepsie. 

“I think it’s exciting to be on the road and be in different cities where those people can see Impact Wrestling rather than being set in one place,” saying that while running shows in NXT in Orlando, Florida was fine during the pandemic, “it’s always good when you can go to different towns and get a feel from different crowds.”

Jonah is also currently working with New Japan in addition to some indie dates.

AEW producer Keith Mitchell retiring

Posted on by Ethan Renner

Long-time wrestling producer and director Keith Mitchell will be retiring after tonight’s AEW Dynamite New Year’s Smash. 

Mitchell, who began his time in the wrestling business with World Class Championship Wrestling, went on to work for WCW, TNA/Impact Wrestling, then joined AEW in 2019. 

AEW president Tony Khan tweeted:

“Tonight’s the last #AEWDynamite ever on TNT & this event New Year’s Smash is very special as this will be the final wrestling event produced by the great Keith Mitchell in his amazing 40 year career spanning World Class/WCW/Impact/@AEW. Let’s make Keith’s retirement show a Smash!”

Speaking on his Something to Wrestle podcast in 2019, WWE executive Bruce Prichard stated that he tried to hire Mitchell away from WCW decades ago. He also said that a highlight of his time in TNA was getting to work with Mitchell. Answering a fan question on his 83 Weeks podcast in 2019, Eric Bischoff stated that were he to start a wrestling company from the ground up, Mitchell would be the first person he would try to hire. 

Here is the announced lineup for Dynamite: 

  • Jim Ross returns
  • CM Punk appears
  • TBS Championship tournament semifinals: Thunder Rosa vs. Jade Cargill
  • Adam Cole, Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly vs. Orange Cassidy, Trent & Chuck Taylor
  • Lucha Brothers, Christian Cage, Jurassic Express vs. Matt Hardy, Private Party & FTR
  • Eddie Kingston, Santana & Ortiz vs. Daniel Garcia & 2point0

WWE Raw ratings up for Miz & Maryse wedding vow renewal

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

Image: WWE

Raw on Monday started lower than last week, but held its audience better likely due to the Miz/Maryse wedding vow renewal segment, finishing with 1.59 million viewers and a 0.42 rating in 18-49.

The number was up three percent in viewers, up 11 percent in 18-49, and up 13 percent in 18-34 from the previous week.

In 18-49, the first hour at 0.39 would have been among the worst opens in history, but the second hour grew to a 0.43 before hour three was at 0.41.

Raw was sixth for the night, trailing only NFL-related programming on ESPN. The Miami Dolphins vs. New Orleans Saints game did 12.31 million viewers and a 4.35 rating in 18-49 on ESPN opposite Raw, which was second in its time slot.

In total viewers, Raw was 14th, behind only news and NFL-related programming.

As compared to the same week one year ago, Raw was down 10 percent in viewers, down 19 percent in 18-49, and down 16 percent in 18-34.

For first-to-third hours, it is extremely rare for hour three to beat hour one — and this week did so. Women 18-49 dropped three percent from hour one to three, but men 18-49 were up 10 percent, teenage girls were down nine percent, teenage boys were even, and people over 50 were down six percent.

Basically, the wedding segment kept everyone at a better than usual level, but men more than women. Traditional wrestling wedding segments historically have done better with women.

The three hours were:

  • 8 p.m. 1.59 million viewers
  • 9 p.m. 1.66 million viewers
  • 10 p.m. 1.53 million viewers

AEW’s Jim Ross announces he is cancer-free

Posted on by Ethan Renner

Jim Ross is cancer-free. 

The AEW commentator announced on Twitter today that after undergoing 20-plus radiation treatments to battle skin cancer, he is now cancer-free. Ross posted:

“I’m CANCER FREE! 

We did it! 

See you tonight on #AEWDYNAMITE at 8 ET!”

Ross is set to return to commentary for tonight’s AEW Dynamite New Year’s Smash episode, airing live from Jacksonville, Florida. 

The 69 year-old Ross went public with his cancer diagnosis on October 23. He initially was not certain whether or not his treatment would force him to miss time at the AEW announce desk, but he ultimately stepped away for just over a month, with his last AEW appearance coming on the November 24 Dynamite. 

Ross, who turns 70 on January 3, is a member of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame, inducted in the class of 1999. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2007, the NWA Hall of Fame in 2016, received the Art Abrams Lifetime Achievement Award from the Cauliflower Alley Club in 2010, the Lou Thesz Award from the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2011, and is set to receive the Gordon Solie Award from the Tragos/Thesz Hall of Fame in 2022. 

AJ Styles to appear at NXT New Year’s Evil

Posted on by Joseph Currier

AJ Styles is headed to NXT for another confrontation with Grayson Waller.

The feud between Styles and Waller will continue when Styles confronts Waller at NXT New Year’s Evil next Tuesday. It will be the second confrontation that Styles and Waller have had on NXT.

After their feud began with Waller mocking him on social media, Styles showed up on NXT last week for a segment with Waller. Waller then returned the favor by appearing on Raw last night. They’ve teased having a match against each other, but WWE hasn’t confirmed when or if that match will be happening.

Waller kicked off tonight’s NXT following his appearance on Raw. It led to a match where Waller defeated Odyssey Jones. Waller was originally supposed to face Dexter Lumis, but Lumis didn’t appear on tonight’s show.

Styles appeared on the video screen after Waller defeated Jones. Styles said Waller may have gotten the attention he wanted by showing up at Raw, but it’s the wrong kind of attention. Styles announced that he’ll be at New Year’s Evil next week. Styles said it’s time for Waller to put up or shut up.

The updated lineup for New Year’s Evil is listed below:

  • NXT Champion Tommaso Ciampa defends against Bron Breakker
  • NXT Women’s Champion Mandy Rose defends against Raquel Gonzalez and Cora Jade in a triple threat match
  • Title unification match: NXT North American Champion Carmelo Hayes vs. NXT Cruiserweight Champion Roderick Strong
  • Riddle & MSK (Wes Lee & Nash Carter) vs. Imperium (WALTER, Marcel Barthel & Fabian Aichner)
  • AJ Styles will confront Grayson Waller

The winner of Hayes vs. Strong will be the NXT North American Champion going forward.

AEW Dark and Elevation spoilers from Jacksonville, Florida

Posted on by F4W Staff

Results and photo courtesy of JJ Williams

AEW taped Tuesday night at the Daily’s Place in Jacksonville, Florida, featuring matches that will air on AEW Dark and AEW Dark: Elevation.

AEW Dark tapings:

  • Tony Nese defeated Alan “5” Angels
  • Anna Jay (with Tay Conti and -1) defeated Dream Girl Ellie
  • Gunn Club defeated three enhancement talents
  • Marina Shafir defeated Valentina Rossi
  • Leyla Hirsch, Red Velvet, and Kris Statlander defeated three enhancement talents. Hirsch stole the pin from Statlander.
  • The Acclaimed defeated two enhancement talents
  • Jamie Hayter defeated Maddi Wrenkowsi
  • Dante Martin defeated an enhancement talent
  • Powerhouse Hobbs defeated Colt Cabana
  • Brian Pillman Jr defeated JD Drake (with Cezar Bononi)

AEW Dark: Elevation tapings:

  • Shawn Spears and Wardlow defeated two enhancement talents when Spears won on his own, not tagging in Wardlow. Wardlow then powerbombed one of the men to a huge reaction.
  • Jake Atlas defeated Serpentico. Post match, Tony Khan congratulated Atlas on the stage.
  • Skye Blue defeated Angelica Risk
  • Jay Lethal defeated Troy Hollywood
  • QT Marshall, Nick Comoroto, and Aaron Solo defeated Gus De La Vega, Invictus Khash and another talent
  • Too Fast Too Fuego defeated Michael Martinez and Luke Sampson
  • Bobby Fish defeated Ryzin
  • Brock Anderson and Lee Johnson (with Arn Anderson) defeated Chaos Project
  • Emi Sakura defeated Leila Grey
  • Sammy Guevara defeated Ho Ho Lun
  • Diamante defeated Kelsey Heather
  • Alan Angels, Evil Uno, and Stu Grayson (with -1) defeated Alexander Zane, Richard King and Jay Marte
  • Brandi Rhodes defeated Ashley D’Amboise
  • Frankie Kazarian defeated Kaun
  • Tay Conti (with Anna Jay and -1) defeated Shaloncé Royal
  • John Silver, Alex Reynolds, and Preston Vance (with -1) defeated Jameson Ryan, Foxx Vinyer and another talent
  • Nyla Rose (with Vickie Guerrero) defeated Kiera Hogan
  • Eddie Kingston defeated Bear Boulder

Goldberg confirms he has one match remaining on WWE contract

Posted on by Josh Nason

Bill Goldberg has one match remaining on his WWE contract, confirmed by the former WWE and WCW star Tuesday on the Pat McAfee Show.

McAfee asked him how many more years Vince McMahon was going to call him while he was drunk at parties and Goldberg replied by laughing and confirming that he had just one more match remaining on his deal.

The 55-year-old didn’t indicate when he would like that match to take place or who he would like it to be against although current WWE Champion Big E was pushing for the match at October’s Crown Jewel. Goldberg said he would be interested.

It’s also unknown whether Goldberg wants to continue wrestling after the final contracted bout.

After a two-year absence, Goldberg re-signed with the company in 2019 for a multi-year, eight-match deal — three of which have been in Saudi Arabia.

He wrestled the Undertaker in a widely-panned bout at Super ShowDown in Saudi Arabia that June, documented in Undertaker’s Last Ride series. He then defeated The Fiend for the Universal title the following February at another Super ShowDown event before losing it to Braun Strowman at the closed-set WrestleMania two months later. Strowman was a fill-in for Roman Reigns who opted to remain at home during the early part of the pandemic.

In January of this year, he returned to unsuccessfully challenge then-champion Drew McIntyre for the WWE title at the Royal Rumble before also unsuccessfully challenging then-champion Bobby Lashley for the Universal title at SummerSlam.

Goldberg got revenge by beating Lashley in a no holds barred, falls count anywhere match at WWE’s return to Saudi Arabia in October.

NJPW reveals 50th Anniversary show, New Japan Cup dates

Posted on by Ethan Renner

NJPW has officially revealed the dates for their 50th Anniversary show and the 2022 New Japan Cup. 

The company announced on Twitter that the anniversary show ill take place on Tuesday, March 1 at the Nippon Budokan. Tickets for the show will go on sale for NJPW fan club members on January 14. The 49th Anniversary show was held at the same venue, headlined by Kota Ibushi defeating El Desperado in the final IWGP Heavyweight Championship match. 

The 2022 New Japan Cup will be held over 15 nights, taking place from March 2 to March 27. The final two nights, March 26 and March 27, will be held in Osaka Castle Hall, the site of February 2021’s Castle Attack events. In the 2021 New Japan Cup, Will Ospreay defeated Shingo Takagi in the finals, then went on to defeat Kota Ibushi for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship at April’s Sakura Genesis event. 

Eric Bischoff officiates Miz/Maryse vow renewal on WWE Raw

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Eric Bischoff made a guest appearance on tonight’s Raw as an official for the wedding renewal vows between The Miz and Maryse.

Bischoff appeared in a backstage segment and thanked the Miz for letting him be the official. He officiated the vows in the main event segment of the program that was eventually ruined by Edge.

Bischoff had left the company back in October of 2019 after briefly serving as an executive director of SmackDown. He has made several appearances on AEW television since 2020, including an appearance back in May of this year, hosting a party featuring Inner Circle members. He was also inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame earlier this year.

The main event of Raw had Miz and Maryse exchanging vows. Eric Bischoff eventually interrupted himself, saying that everyone knows where this is going. This led to Edge coming out and running down Miz. After mentioning that he hoped they weren’t expecting a white wedding, The Brood’s music played and what appeared to be blood fell from the ceiling, landing on Miz and Maryse.

Raw Tag Team title match added to WWE Day 1

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Raw Tag Team Champions RK-Bro have their next challengers.

The Street Profits will challenge for Randy Orton & Riddle’s Raw Tag Team titles at WWE Day 1 this Saturday. The Street Profits got the title shot by defeating Rey & Dominik Mysterio in the finals of the RK-Bro-nament on Raw tonight.

Angelo Dawkins & Montez Ford defeated The Mysterios after Rey & Dominik weren’t on the same page leading into the finish.

The RK-Bro-nament finals were originally supposed to take place on Raw two weeks ago, but the match was postponed to tonight. WWE claimed that both teams had suffered injuries. Ford was unavailable until making his return at WWE’s house show at Madison Square Garden last night.

The Street Profits defeated AJ Styles & Omos by countout in the first round of the RK-Bro-nament, while The Mysterios defeated Chad Gable & Otis.

Orton and Riddle defeated Otis and Gable in singles matches on Raw tonight. Riddle said he would have a gift for Orton after their matches. Riddle revealed that the gift was a hug — and Orton hugged Riddle after initially hesitating. Orton jokingly went to give Riddle an RKO, and then they laughed and hugged again.

Riddle & Orton have been Raw Tag Team Champions since winning the titles from Styles & Omos at SummerSlam this August.

Day 1 is taking place at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta on Saturday. Here’s the updated card for the pay-per-view:

  • Universal Champion Roman Reigns defends against Brock Lesnar
  • WWE Champion Big E defends against Seth Rollins, Kevin Owens, and Bobby Lashley in a fatal four-way match
  • Raw Women’s Champion Becky Lynch defends against Liv Morgan
  • SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Usos (Jimmy & Jey Uso) defend against The New Day (Xavier Woods & Kofi Kingston)
  • Edge vs. The Miz
  • Drew McIntyre vs. Madcap Moss
  • Raw Tag Team Champions RK-Bro (Randy Orton & Riddle) defend against The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins & Montez Ford)
  • Hip-hop group Migos will make a special appearance

Vince McMahon, other key executives absent from WWE Raw

Posted on by Josh Nason

Vince McMahon and a majority of key WWE executives are not at Monday’s WWE Raw in Detroit.

PWInsider first reported that McMahon, Bruce Prichard, Kevin Dunn, Michael Hayes and Adam Pearce are not there tonight. John Laurinaitis and Ed Koskey are running things behind the scenes instead.

It’s unknown the exact reason for their absence, but a number of talents and personnel tested positive for COVID-19 following the weekend of December 17th. While WWE didn’t officially announce any specific absences, the company saw a number of changes for live events that kicked off their Holiday Tour Sunday that will see WWE run two shows a day for five straight days.

PWInsider also reported Monday that WWE producers “were hit hard” by COVID-19, leaving the company with half of their usual crew. They reported that Chris Park, Shane Helms, Molly Holly, Jason Jordan and Petey Williams covered tonight’s taping with Jordan taking lead. Jordan and Helms were in charge at Sunday’s MSG house show while TJ Wilson and Kenn Doane are taking lead with the SmackDown crew this week.

Big E, Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, Becky Lynch, Bianca Belair, Zelina Vega, Bobby Lashley, Shinsuke Nakamura and Xavier Woods all missed Sunday house shows. Not all of them tested positive as WWE is trying to risk key personnel not missing Saturday’s Day 1 pay-per-view which also could be the reason for the executives’ absence Monday.

Our Dave Meltzer confirmed a Fightful report Monday that WWE will no longer test talent for COVID-19. Meltzer said it’s believed WWE is following CDC recommendations for a five-day quarantine period, meaning any talents who tested positive will be available for Saturday’s Day 1 if the positive tests were from last Saturday or before. Otherwise, any talents would need negative tests on two consecutive days with the first test allowed on day five following the first positive test.

Meltzer noted that masks are now mandatory backstage with fines imposed for talent or anyone that works backstage. They are also recommending vaccine boosters, but not requiring them.

WWE postpones Toronto house show to March 2022

Posted on by Joseph Currier

WWE’s return to Canada won’t be happening until 2022.

It was announced today that WWE’s house show that was scheduled to be held at Coca-Cola Coliseum in Toronto, Ontario, Canada this Wednesday has been postponed. The event would have been the first WWE show to take place in Canada since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The WWE live event scheduled for December 29, 2021 at Coca-Cola Coliseum in Toronto has been rescheduled to Sunday, March 27, 2022,” Coca-Cola Coliseum announced. “Tickets are currently on sale through Ticketmaster.ca and all originally purchased tickets will be honoured for the rescheduled date.”

WWE’s two house shows that were going to take place in Canada this month have now both been rescheduled. WWE’s house show that was going to be held at Place Bell in Laval, Quebec, Canada this Thursday was postponed last week. It’s now set for Sunday, March 6, 2022.

The Toronto show was set to be held at 50 percent capacity prior to being postponed. Trish Stratus had been announced as the host of the house show.

Earlier this month, WWE’s four-show tour of Canada that was scheduled for January was moved to September-October 2022. The tour will include two house shows, a Raw episode, and a SmackDown episode.

VIDEO: Being The Elite – ‘Christmas Surprise’

Posted on by Ethan Renner

Video —

This week on Being The Elite —

The cold open —

  • Trent continued his passive aggressive badgering of Wheeler Yuta. He told Yuta that he had taken his place in Best Friends while he was out injured, but he’s back now, so Wheeler can go. He then told Wheeler he was just kidding. 

The Elite —

  • The Young Bucks talked about how they hated to leave their families to make towns, but that’s what had to be done. They said that Adam Cole promised them a surprise. 
  • Matt and Nick went shoe shopping at a mall. 
  • Kyle O’Reilly’s debut was shown from Dynamite. 
  • Adam Cole told the Bucks that Bobby Fish had set up Kyle coming in, that he and O’Reilly have stuff to work through but they’re dangerous together. He said they’re a super group now with the three of them and the Bucks. Matt and Nick acted like they weren’t so sure about Kyle coming in and walked off. 

BTE Championship —

  • 2point0’s Matt Lee defended the Championship against Daniel Garcia in a rock, paper, scissors battle. 

Hollywood Hunk —

  • Ryan Nemeth got kicked out of a casting agency. 

Leva Bates & Peter Avalon– 

  • Leva Bates was trying on a Dark Order mask. JD Drake approached and said that Peter Avalon hasn’t been the same since she started messing with his mind. Drake tried to pay Bates to leave Avalon alone. Bates took the money and said she’s going to talk to Avalon anyway.

Report: WWE no longer requiring COVID testing for talent

Posted on by Bryan Rose

A new report says that WWE has informed talent that COVID testing is no longer required.

Fightful Select is reporting that WWE Performance Center talent was informed this past weekend that they are no longer being required to take COVID testing twice a week, which previously had been mandatory. Additionally, WWE main roster talent have been informed that weekly testing is not required. It is not known if there is a vaccination qualifier to that or not.

WWE has been hit hard in the last week due to COVID-19 protocols. WWE’s show at Madison Square Garden on Sunday had both main events changed after most of the participants were removed from the show due to protocols. Big E vs. Kevin Owens vs. Seth Rollins in a triple threat match for the WWE title was changed to a cage match between Kevin Owens and Edge. A match between Bianca Belair and Becky Lynch for the Raw Women’s title never took place.

PWInsider reported this afternoon that a number of WWE producers are not at Raw tonight due to COVID-19 protocols.

Edge comments on facing Kevin Owens at WWE MSG house show

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Image: WWE

With COVID-related changes disrupting the card for Sunday night’s house show at Madison Square Garden, WWE brought Edge to New York City for a first-time match.

Edge defeated Kevin Owens in a steel cage match in the main event of the Madison Square Garden house show. WWE Champion Big E was originally supposed to defend his title against Owens and Seth Rollins in a triple threat steel cage match, but Big E and Rollins weren’t at the show. Rollins indicated on Twitter that he had tested positive for COVID-19.

On Instagram, Edge wrote about wrestling Owens for the first time. Edge noted that facing Owens was on his short list of things to do when he was told that he’d be able to wrestle again:

Funny thing happened on my way to Detroit. I ended up in Madison Square Garden in a cage match against Kevin Owens. When I first got word I could wrestle again, this match was on my short list of things to do before I retire(for the last time). Have a feelin we’ll see each other again.

An NXT Championship match with Tommaso Ciampa retaining against Pete Dunne was also added to the Madison Square Garden house show.

Edge will be in Detroit for tonight’s Raw, which is set to feature a segment where The Miz and Maryse will “renew their wedding vows.” Edge vs. Miz is set for this Saturday’s WWE Day 1 pay-per-view.