Heads up, it’s Wednesday which means it’s time for AEW DYNAMITE! Join Denise Salcedo on Speak Now Pro Wrestling as she does an honest, in-depth recap of the show while sharing her analysis on stories and matches. She also engages with the live audience! Tune in for a good time.
Some of the items talked about on the show include lots of Owen Hart Cup talk, AEW Double or Nothing build up, Wardlow facing W. Morrissey, did Hangman Adam Page turn heel, Julia Hart’s storyline, Deonna Purrazzo vs. Mercedes Martinez, and more!
It’s a FUN FRIDAY! Join on-air personality Denise Salcedo as she breaks down the February 4th editions of WWE SmackDown and AEW Rampage! Plus lots of news! Join for a fun and entertaining live stream!
Topics Rundown
SmackDown:
Denise on the WWE pop-up shop
Denise on Eddie Kingston interview
Thoughts on SmackDown overall
Goldberg returns, will face Roman Reigns
Quick recap of SmackDown winners & losers
Ronda Rousey picks Charlotte Flair for WrestleMania match
AEW Rampage:
Adam Cole defeats Evil Uno, post-match promo
Sammy Guevara..Darby Allin
Thunder Rosa vs. Mercedes Martinez storyline analysis
The first-ever women’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic will kick off on next week’s NXT.
WWE has announced that the women’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic will begin with Toni Storm & Mercedes Martinez vs. Kacy Catanzaro & Kayden Carter taking place on NXT next Wednesday.
Storm & Martinez, Catanzaro & Carter, Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell, and Shotzi Blackheart & Ember Moon are the first four teams to be announced for the women’s Dusty Classic.
Martinez made her return to NXT by attacking NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai three weeks ago. After being challenged by Storm, Shirai went to the ring and called Storm out. But Martinez instead ambushed Shirai. A promo aired on NXT New Year’s Evil last week where Martinez said she’s coming for Shirai’s NXT Women’s Championship.
This year’s men’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic began on NXT tonight with Undisputed Era’s Adam Cole & Roderick Strong defeating Breezango, MSK (formerly known as The Rascalz’s Dezmond Xavier & Zachary Wentz) defeating Isaiah “Swerve” Scott & Jake Atlas, and The Grizzled Young Veterans defeating Ever-Rise.
Two men’s Dusty Classic first round matches have been announced for next week’s NXT: Kushida & Leon Ruff vs. NXT North American Champion Johnny Gargano & Austin Theory and Imperium’s Marcel Barthel & Fabian Aichner vs. Gran Metalik & Lince Dorado. Tommaso Ciampa and Timothy Thatcher will also face off in a Fight Pit match on NXT next Wednesday.
WWE has added three matches to the lineup for the final NXT episode of 2020.
After returning to NXT television last week and attacking NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai, Mercedes Martinez will return to action on NXT tonight. Her opponent for the show hasn’t been announced.
Bronson Reed vs. Isaiah “Swerve” Scott will kick off NXT tonight. Breezango (Tyler Breeze & Fandango) vs. The Grizzled Young Veterans (Zack Gibson & James Drake) has also been added to the episode.
Reed returned to the ring on NXT last week and quickly defeated Ashante “Thee” Adonis. Scott was also victorious last Wednesday, defeating Jake Atlas in what was a rematch after Atlas had defeated him earlier this month. Scott used a headbutt during the match and then hit the Confidence Boost to get the win. Scott — who had declined a handshake from Atlas after their previous match — then offered Atlas a handshake. Atlas left the ring and didn’t accept the handshake.
WWE has also announced that tonight’s NXT will feature a special look at the history between Rhea Ripley and Raquel Gonzalez ahead of their Last Woman Standing match at New Year’s Evil next Wednesday. Here’s the updated card for tonight’s show:
NXT North American Champion Johnny Gargano defends against Leon Ruff
Roderick Strong vs. Pete Dunne
Mercedes Martinez returns to action
Breezango vs. The Grizzled Young Veterans
A special look at the history between Rhea Ripley and Raquel Gonzalez
The announcement of the 2020 NXT year-end award winners
Bronson Reed vs. Isaiah “Swerve” Scott (will kick off tonight’s show)
While announcing their newest Performance Center signees, WWE has confirmed the addition of two independent wrestling standouts.
Mercedes Martinez and Jake Atlas have officially signed with WWE. Martinez joins the company after appearing in the Mae Young Classic in both 2017 and 2018. She made it to the semifinals in the first tournament before losing to Shayna Baszler. In 2018, she lost to Meiko Satomura in the second round.
Martinez tweeted today: “See that SMILE??!!! who says dreams cant become a reality?!! I worked for this moment for 19yrs!! I’m where I’m SUPPOSED to be at this moment in time. Sacrifice, determination, hardwork, motivation, & staying humble got me here. THANK YOU @WWEUniverse @WWENXT”
Martinez was the 21st entrant in the Casino Battle Royale at AEW All Out in August and also wrestled one match on AEW Dark that was taped in October.
Atlas broke out on the Southern California indie scene. Last year, he made it to the quarterfinals of PWG’s Battle of Los Angeles. He defeated Jungle Boy in the first round and then lost to Dragon Lee in the second.
Atlas wrote about signing with WWE: “First in my family to turn a dream into reality. ‘Superstar’ wasn’t just a moniker, it was a vision I set for myself. Proud of who I am & where it lead me because I’m right where I belong. @WWENXT – Let’s change the world. #WeAreNXT”
Atlas appeared on the WWE-themed “Celebrity Undercover Boss” episode that aired in 2018 and said that his goal is to become the first openly gay WWE World Champion.
“Titan Games” competitor Emily Andzulis, former NFL defensive lineman Anthony Francis, acrobat Sidney Bateman, and former college basketball player Zechariah Smith were also announced as signing with WWE:
Emily Andzulis of Powell, Tenn., brings a diverse athletic background with her to Orlando. The 27-year-old is a blue belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and trains in Taekwondo. She competed on Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s “Titan Games,” and was crowned the first female Titan.
Anthony Francis is a 6-foot-5, 330-pounder with five years of NFL experience under his belt. The former defensive tackle played for the Miami Dolphins, Seattle Seahawks and Washington Redskins.
Sidney Bateman is a 27-year-old acrobat from St. Louis, Mo. Bateman was a cast member for Cirque du Soleil’s “LUZIA” show, where he specialized in hoop diving.
Zechariah Smith towers over the new recruits at 7 feet tall and 310 pounds. The Oklahoma native played college basketball for Morgan State University before going pro internationally. He also played for the longtime rivals of the Harlem Globetrotters, the Washington Generals.
