Tag: malcolm bivens

Athena, Stokely Hathaway make AEW debuts at Double or Nothing

Posted on by Ethan Renner

Athena and Stokely Hathaway, formerly Ember Moon and Malcolm Bivens in WWE, made their AEW debuts at the Double or Nothing pay-per-view. 

Both debuting talents were given the customary All Elite graphic on social media by Tony Khan, the company’s traditional way of announcing full-time signings.  

Both Athena and Hathaway debuted in the same segment at the PPV. Hathaway provided a distraction for Jade Cargill to allow her to pin Anna Jay in the TBS Championship match. Athena came to the ring to side with Jay and Kris Statlander as the three squared off with Cargill, Red Velvet, and Kiera Hogan. 

Bivens was released by WWE in April after turning down a contract extension offer. He had served as exclusively as a manager on the NXT brand since debuting in 2019, and was most recently aligned with the Diamond Mine stable. 

https://twitter.com/Malcolmvelli/status/1531086892610949120

As Ember Moon, Athena wrestled in NXT from 2015 to 2018, capturing the NXT Women’s Championship once. She had a main roster WWE run from 2018 to 2020, then returned to the NXT brand in October 2020, where she would go on to capture the NXT Women’s Tag Team titles with Shotzi Blackheart. Athena was released by WWE in November 2021.She has made sporadic appearances on the indie scene since, and currently holds the Warrior Wrestling Women’s title.

Malcolm Bivens addresses WWE release, confirms he turned down new contract

Posted on by Joseph Currier

During a comedy show on Thursday night, Malcolm Bivens (Stokely Hathaway) addressed his release from WWE.

Bivens was released by WWE during a set of NXT roster cuts last Friday. Fightful reported that, prior to his release, WWE had asked Bivens to re-sign with the company this February — but Bivens made it clear that he didn’t want to do so.

Bivens confirmed that report while performing at The Stand in New York City on Thursday night. Bivens said there had been conversations about him going to the WWE main roster, but he chose not to re-sign with WWE because he wasn’t happy.

All right, so here’s the truth: There’s a lot of rumors, a lot of speculation. Was I offered a contract in February? Yes. Did I say no to said contract? Yes. Was I offered to be with Omos? No. No one said a word to me about managing Omos. Was I told about the main roster? Yes. And people, they think I’m crazy. Like, ‘Malcolm, you threw away millions, potentially. You walked away.’ Yeah, I did, because I didn’t want to do it anymore. And, unfortunately, I just wasn’t happy. At Stand & Deliver, I had a conversation with the head writer and I told him so. And then two weeks ago, I said the same thing, ‘I don’t think this was for me.’ And that’s okay — because your happiness is not dictated by what people say you should do. Happiness is dictated by what you think you should do. Because there’s a difference, right? 

In NXT, Bivens was the manager of Diamond Mine. The faction includes Roderick Strong, The Creed Brothers (Julius & Brutus Creed), and Ivy Nile.

Bivens also commented on his future in pro wrestling during Thursday’s comedy show. Bivens said he’s done with wrestling for now, but he might come back.

Shout out to Brutus, shout out to Julius, Ivy, I’m gonna miss them. I love them like they were my kids. But, you know, sometimes in life you have to move on, you know? And people ask me — or they have been asking me — you know, ‘Malcolm, is this it for you? Is this it as far as professional wrestling goes?’ And for now, I have to say yes, have to say yes. But, will I come back? Maybe. Maybe. Maybe for the right price.

https://twitter.com/Malcolmvelli/status/1522615764938891269

Bivens had been with NXT since signing with WWE in March 2019. He previously worked for EVOLVE, ROH, and MLW.

Speak Now: NXT Spring Breakin’ recap

Posted on by Denise Salcedo

WWE NXT 2.0 Spring Breakin’ is officially in the books. Join on-camera personality Denise Salcedo on her weekly NXT 2.0 post-show. There’s a lot of topics to touch on including the recent NXT releases, pros of NXT 2.0, and so much more.

This show featured a lot of skits, a hot opener for the NXT North American Championship,  and an NXT Championship match. 

This is the best way to stay-up-to-date with the new NXT. 

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Wrestling Observer Radio: NXT releases, AEW & Warner Bros. Discovery, TV ratings

Posted on by Garrett Gonzales

Dave Meltzer and I are back on Wrestling Observer Radio talking all the latest news in this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter including his story on AEW and Warner Bros. Discovery and his analysis on pro wrestling TV ratings. 

We start off the show discussing the NXT releases, then talk about WWE’s stadium strategy, The Rock’s new wrestling show, the new WrestleMania Backlash main event, TripleMania and Sammy Guevara, and COVID-19.

Click below to listen.

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Dakota Kai, Malcolm Bivens, Dexter Lumis among ten WWE NXT releases

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Eight wrestlers, a manager, and a referee have been released by WWE as part of a set of NXT roster cuts.

Dakota Kai, Malcolm Bivens, and Dexter Lumis are among those who were released by WWE today. The 10 releases are listed below:

  • Dakota Kai (real name Cheree Crowley)
  • Malcolm Bivens (the former Stokely Hathaway)
  • Harland (Parker Boudreaux)
  • Dexter Lumis (Samuel Shaw)
  • Persia Pirotta (Stephanie De Landre)
  • Draco Anthony (Reginald Chase Crews)
  • Referee Blair Baldwin (Paige Prinzivalli)
  • Vish Kanya (Sanjana George)
  • Mila Milani (Kellie Morga)
  • Raelyn Divine (Jaylen Williams)

The releases were first reported by Fightful.

Fightful reports that WWE asked Bivens to re-sign with the company this February, but Bivens made it clear that he didn’t want to do so. Bivens was the manager of NXT’s Diamond Mine faction.

On Twitter, Bivens posted a video joking about his release:

https://twitter.com/Malcolmvelli/status/1520133940127973377

Kai was a two-time NXT Women’s Tag Team Champion, holding the titles with Raquel Gonzalez both times. Kai worked several WWE dark matches in 2021 and one dark match this January, but she was never called up to the main roster. Kai also wrestled one match on Main Event last year.

Harland was an offensive lineman for the University of Central Florida before signing with WWE. He made his NXT debut last October and was paired with Joe Gacy. Over the past couple of weeks, Harland didn’t appear on television and was no longer part of Gacy’s act.

Anthony had recently feuded with Gacy and Harland.

In storyline, Lumis was Indi Hartwell’s husband in NXT. Hartwell & Lumis and Pirotta & Duke Hudson were involved in a storyline where Hartwell and Pirotta debated who the hottest couple in NXT was.

Kanya, Milani, and Divine had yet to be featured on NXT TV.

Speak Now: Here’s what is going on with NXT 2.0

Posted on by Denise Salcedo

It’s Tuesday, which means it’s time for Speak Now Pro Wrestling with Denise Salcedo. Denise reviews the January 25th edition of WWE NXT 2.0! 

Topics rundown:

  • CWC crowd actually hot tonight 
  • Santos Escobar is the right guy to feud with Bron Breakker 
  • BOA and Solo Sikoa have a fun no DQ, falls count anywhere match 
  • GUNTHER promo
  • Duke Hudson’s new look, Dante Chen attacks
  • The six-woman tag
  • Dusty Cup bracket & matches
  • Tiffany Stratton vs. Io Shirai
  • Ollie Jay performance
  • Cameron Grimes defeats Tony D’Angelo 

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WWE NXT video highlights: Diamond Mine debuts

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Image: WWE

The Diamond Mine arrived in the show-closing angle of last night’s NXT.

The returning Roderick Strong was revealed as part of Diamond Mine as he attacked NXT Cruiserweight Champion Kushida at the end of last night’s show. Strong, Tyler Rust, and the debuting Hideki Suzuki appeared together and were wearing Diamond Mine tracksuits. They’re being managed by Malcolm Bivens.

Kushida lost a non-title match to Kyle O’Reilly in the main event of last night’s NXT. A brawl between O’Reilly and Adam Cole then broke out when Cole tried to attack O’Reilly after the match. With Kushida left alone in the ring, he was attacked by Strong. Bivens threw Kushida’s Cruiserweight title belt on top of him after the attack. Bivens declared that this is Diamond Mine.

Weeks of teaser videos had aired leading into the debut of Diamond Mine. They showed unidentified athletes working out at an MMA gym.

Before returning last night, Strong had resigned from NXT in an angle this April. His resignation came after the breakup of Undisputed Era.

Rust hadn’t appeared on NXT since March prior to last night.

Suzuki joined the WWE Performance Center in a coaching role earlier this year. WWE wrote about Suzuki when he signed with the company: “Hideki Suzuki joins the WWE PC’s coaching staff. The Hokkaido, Japan, native trained in catch-as-catch can wrestling at Japan’s Snake Pit under the legendary Billy Robinson before stepping into the ring for Big Japan Pro Wrestling, Wrestle-1 and Zero1, among others. In 2017, Suzuki was named the MVP of Japanese independent wrestling by Samurai TV.”

More coverage from last night —

WWE NXT video highlights —

Adam Cole vs. Carmelo Hayes

Robert Stone gets scared by Franky Monet’s dog Presley

LA Knight is the Million Dollar Megastar

Pete Dunne & Oney Lorcan interrupt Johnny Gargano & Austin Theory

Io Shirai & Zoey Stark vs. Aliyah & Jessi Kamea

Shirai & Stark, Gonzalez & Kai, and Blackheart & Moon brawl

Johnny Gargano & Austin Theory vs. Pete Dunne & Oney Lorcan

Karrion Kross goes face-to-face with Samoa Joe

Franky Monet vs. Elektra Lopez

Ever-Rise try to get payback on Hit Row before the show

Hit Row vs. Ever-Rise

Jake Atlas comes to Mercedes Martinez’s defense against Xia Li & Boa

Kyle O’Reilly vs. Kushida

Diamond Mine debuts

NXT fallout: Samoa Joe is taking chaos and making it order

NXT fallout: Io Shirai & Zoey Stark are livid after three-team brawl

NXT fallout: Carmelo Hayes is going to make the most of his loss to Adam Cole

Roderick Strong returns to WWE NXT as part of Diamond Mine

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Roderick Strong returned to NXT tonight as part of the brand’s newest faction.

After several weeks of teaser videos, it was revealed that the Diamond Mine would be opening on tonight’s NXT. The show ended with Strong, Tyler Rust, and Hideki Suzuki appearing in Diamond Mine tracksuits as Strong attacked Kushida. Malcolm Bivens appeared with Strong, Rust, and Suzuki as Diamond Mine’s manager.

Kushida lost to Kyle O’Reilly in the main event of tonight’s NXT. Adam Cole then tried to attack O’Reilly after the match. With the brawl between O’Reilly and Cole leaving Kushida alone in the ring, he was then attacked by Strong. Bivens threw Kushida’s NXT Cruiserweight Champion on top of him after the attack. Bivens declared that this is Diamond Mine.

Tonight was Strong’s first appearance on NXT since an angle where he resigned from the brand this April. Strong handed in his resignation following the implosion of Undisputed Era.

Suzuki is a former star for Big Japan Pro Wrestling. It was announced in April that he had joined the WWE Performance Center as a coach. Tonight was Suzuki’s NXT debut, but he wasn’t identified by name.

Rust’s appearance tonight was the first time he’s been on NXT since March.

The teaser videos leading into Diamond Mine’s debut showed unidentified athletes working out at an MMA gym with phrases like “Pressure Makes Diamonds” appearing on the screen.

Malcolm Bivens makes NXT TV debut with new tag team

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Malcolm Bivens arrived with a new tag team on this week’s episode of NXT.

Bivens, the former Stokely Hathaway, was revealed as the manager of Rinku Singh & Saurav Gurjar on tonight’s show. Singh & Gurjar attacked Matt Riddle after he defeated Roderick Strong, then Bivens came out with a microphone.

Bivens brought up that Riddle’s tag team partner Pete Dunne was halfway across the world and said this was the perfect time to introduce Riddle to the future of the NXT tag team division.

Riddle & Dunne are the current NXT Tag Team Champions. They won the titles from Undisputed Era’s Kyle O’Reilly & Bobby Fish at NXT TakeOver: Portland last month.

Singh & Gurjar’s names weren’t mentioned tonight. Both wrestlers are from India and have been teaming together on NXT house shows.

Singh won India’s “Million Dollar Arm” reality series that a Disney movie of the same name was based on. He signed a contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates and spent time in their organization.

Gurjar has a background in acting and kickboxing.

Bivens signing with WWE was confirmed in March 2019. His pre-WWE career included managing in both EVOLVE and ROH.

NXT Tampa live results: Dain returns, Stokely Hathaway gets new name

Posted on by JJ Williams

With much of the roster on the road for this weekend’s house show tour, NXT also held a live event in Tampa, Florida on Thursday night. The estimated attendance for the show was 250 people.

– Eric Bugenhagen defeated Nick Comoroto

– Jessie Elaban defeated MJ Jenkins

– Brendan Vink & Brennan Williams defeated Team 3.0 (Scott Parker & Shane Matthews)

– The former Stokely Hathaway/Court Moore is now going by the name Malcolm Bivens. He did an in-ring interview and introduced his client Jermaine Haley.

– Killian Dain defeated Jermaine Haley

Dain made his return to NXT and defeated Haley here. Kassius Ohno then attacked Dain and challenged him to a match at NXT’s house show in St. Petersburg, Florida this Friday.

– Mansoor Al-Shehail defeated Cezar Bononi

– Humberto Garza defeated Boa

– Mia Yim defeated Reina Gonzalez

– Marcel Barthel & Fabian Aichner defeated Humberto Carrillo & Albert Hardie Jr.