Tag: Nia Jax

WWE addresses Clash of Champions card changes

Posted on by Joseph Currier

On the Clash of Champions pre-show, WWE announced how they’re handling the situation with two scheduled matches being off tonight’s card.

WWE announced on the pre-show that Nikki Cross, Shayna Baszler, and Nia Jax aren’t medically cleared to compete at Clash of Champions. Bayley was scheduled to defend her SmackDown Women’s Championship against Nikki Cross at tonight’s pay-per-view. Baszler & Jax were supposed to defend their Women’s Tag Team titles against Ruby Riott & Liv Morgan.

It was said that Bayley is in the building and will still appear at Clash of Champions. WWE.com wrote that Bayley will “address the SmackDown Women’s Championship situation tonight on WWE Clash of Champions with her opponent unable to compete.”

WWE also noted that the situation surrounding the Women’s Tag Team titles will be addressed on tomorrow night’s episode of Raw.

Asuka’s Raw Women’s Championship defense against Zelina Vega was originally supposed to be tonight’s pre-show match, but that’s been moved to the main card. Cesaro & Shinsuke Nakamura vs. The Lucha House Party for the SmackDown Tag Team titles is now taking place on the pre-show.

Two matches off WWE Clash of Champions

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Update —

WWE announced on the Clash of Champions pre-show that Nikki Cross, Shayna Baszler, and Nia Jax aren’t medically cleared to compete at tonight’s PPV.

It was said that the status of the Women’s Tag Team title match will be addressed on tomorrow’s Raw. Bayley is in the building and will address the status of her match on tonight’s PPV.

**********

Two matches scheduled for tonight’s Clash of Champions pay-per-view won’t be taking place as originally planned.

Dave Meltzer has confirmed that Nikki Cross is off Clash of Champions. She was scheduled to challenge Bayley for the SmackDown Women’s Championship tonight. Additionally, Shayna Baszler & Nia Jax are off tonight’s pay-per-view. John Pollock of Post Wrestling first reported that the WWE Women’s Tag Team title match between champions Jax & Baszler against Ruby Riott & Liv Morgan would not be taking place.

Meltzer mentioned that it is possible that Bayley may defend the SmackDown Women’s title tonight against someone else, but with both Jax and Baszler off, there won’t be a Women’s Tag Team title match.

Cross did not appear on Friday’s SmackDown show. She defeated Tamina, Lacey Evans, and Alexa Bliss in a fatal four-way match to become the number one contender on the September 11 edition of SmackDown.

The Riott Squad had defeated The IIconics to become the next challengers for the Women’s Tag Team titles. Due to the stipulations of that match, Peyton Royce & Billie Kay had to break up as a tag team.

WWE announces Women’s Tag Team title rematch for SmackDown

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Sasha Banks & Bayley are getting a shot to regain the Women’s Tag Team titles.

WWE has announced that new Women’s Tag Team Champions Shayna Baszler & Nia Jax will defend their titles against Banks & Bayley on this Friday’s episode of SmackDown. It’s a rematch from Payback, where Baszler & Jax defeated Banks & Bayley to win the Women’s Tag Team titles this past Sunday.

WWE.com wrote about Friday’s title match:

Shayna Baszler & Nia Jax coexisted long enough to win the Women’s Tag Team Titles. Can they keep clicking and prevent Bayley & Sasha Banks from snatching them back?

Since SummerSlam, ‘The Golden Role Models’ have had their wealth of gold dissolve before their eyes. The Boss lost the Raw Women’s Championship to Asuka at The Biggest Event of the Summer, and then the two friends lost the Women’s Tag Team Titles to The Queen of Spades & The Irresistible Force at WWE Payback. Bayley & Banks were in disarray after the latest loss, as questions swirl about the strength of their bond.

Can Baszler & Jax protect their newly earned titles and drive a wedge into the friendship of Bayley & Banks?

Tune in to Friday Night SmackDown at 8/7 C on FOX to see the championship rematch.

The finish of Baszler & Jax vs. Banks & Bayley at Payback was Baszler using Banks’ arm to help submit Bayley with the Kirifuda Clutch. Baszler had Bayley in the Kirifuda Clutch and Banks’ legs tied up in a submission at the same time. When Banks reached to break up the Kirifuda Clutch, Baszler grabbed her arm and used it to apply more pressure on Bayley.

New Universal Champion Roman Reigns will appear with Paul Heyman on this Friday’s SmackDown. Reigns will address his title win from Payback and his alliance with Heyman. Big E, Matt Riddle, Baron Corbin, and Sheamus will also face off in a four-way match on the episode to decide Reigns’ challenger for Clash of Champions. That pay-per-view is taking place on Sunday, September 27.

New Women’s Tag Team Champions crowned at WWE Payback

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Sasha Banks & Bayley are no longer the WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions.

Shayna Baszler & Nia Jax defeated Banks & Bayley at Payback tonight to win the Women’s Tag Team titles. The finish of the match was Baszler submitting Bayley with the Kirifuda Clutch while using Banks’ arm to help with the move.

Leading into the finish, Baszler tagged herself in when Jax was sent into the ropes. She went to apply a Muta Lock on Banks. When Bayley tried to stop her, Baszler put Bayley in the Kirifuda Clutch while still having Banks’ legs tied up. Baszler dropped to the mat and Banks reached to try and break up the Kirifuda Clutch, but Baszler grabbed her arm and used it to apply more pressure on Bayley.

During her post-match interview with the new champions, Charly Caruso said Baszler & Jax might not like each other personally but killed it as a team. Jax celebrated and told Caruso to shut up. Baszler admitted they weren’t best friends but said it was time to celebrate.

Banks also lost the Raw Women’s Championship to Asuka at SummerSlam last week. The story was that Banks helped Bayley retain the SmackDown Women’s Championship against Asuka earlier in the night but Bayley wasn’t willing to make the same sacrifice later.

Baszler & Jax are the fifth team to hold the Women’s Tag Team titles since they were introduced last year. Banks & Bayley, The IIconics, Alexa Bliss & Nikki Cross, and Asuka & Kairi Sane are the previous champions. Banks & Bayley and Bliss & Cross have had two reigns with the titles.

Women’s Tag Team title match set for WWE Payback

Posted on by Bryan Rose

The WWE Women’s Tag Team title match for Payback has been set.

Shayna Baszler and Nia Jax, despite attacking one another recently, will team up to take on the champions, Bayley and Sasha Banks.

Jax returned tonight after being suspended for several weeks due to attacking WWE official Pat Buck. In an interview with Sarah Schrieber, Jax said she apologized, and thus was reinstated. Baszler walked up to her as the two traded insults to one another.

During Baszler’s match against Bayley, Jax came out and interfered, resulting in a DQ. The two started to attack one another until they noticed Bayley and Sasha Banks cheering them on. They turned their attention to the champions, who then bolted.

Later, Jax said she wasn’t thrilled with teaming with Baszler, but wanted the Tag Team titles. Baszler said she would team with her if she would leave her alone. Jax shoved Baszler, then Baszler slapped Jax and walked away.

Payback will take place this Sunday, August 30.

Two matches announced for next week’s WWE Raw

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Two matches have been announced for next week’s episode of WWE Raw.

Bayley will face Asuka in a non-title match. If Asuka manages to defeat Bayley, she will challenge Raw Women’s champion Sasha Banks at SummerSlam.

The match comes following the events of last week. Asuka lost the Raw Women’s title to Banks by count out after she left the ring to help tag team partner Kairi Sane, who was being laid out backstage by Bayley.

Kevin Owens will face Randy Orton following a segment tonight between Owens and Ric Flair. Flair told Owens that he was looking out for people too much. Owens replied that he was only doing what he wished Orton would do. Flair said that maybe if he were like Orton, he would be getting a title match at SummerSlam.

Owens then told Flair that he would show him how much fight he had left when he faces Orton next week.

Randy Orton to kick off WWE Raw, Women’s title rematch set

Posted on by Joseph Currier

An appearance by Randy Orton and a Women’s title rematch have been added to tonight’s post-Backlash episode of Raw.

After defeating Edge in the “Greatest Wrestling Match Ever” at Backlash, Randy Orton will open tonight’s Raw. WWE has also announced that Asuka will defend her Raw Women’s Championship against Nia Jax tonight in a rematch from Backlash.

Asuka and Jax’s title match last night ended in a double countout. Asuka put Jax in an armbar outside of the ring, but Jax picked Asuka up and threw her into the barricade. Jax then tried to get Asuka back into the ring, but Asuka kicked her in the head. The referee counted to 10 before Asuka could get into the ring.

Asuka hit a hip attack on Jax after the match.

Orton vs. Edge headlined Backlash and ended when Orton pinned Edge after hitting a punt. While announcing that Orton will kick off tonight’s Raw, WWE.com wrote that “rumors have been swirling” that Edge and Orton were both injured at Backlash:

The Greatest Wrestling Match Ever is in the books, and Randy Orton emerged victorious in a physically and emotionally draining battle against his former friend Edge. Now, The Viper will open Monday Night Raw just one night after proving his in-ring supremacy against The Rated-R Superstar.

After last night’s grueling battle, rumors have been swirling that BOTH Superstars sustained injuries in the match.

What condition will both Superstars be in after such a brutal marathon of a match? Will Orton look to close the book on his rivalry with Edge after such a demanding battle? Is there another Superstar that will find himself in The Viper’s path?

Randy Orton will reveal all of his thoughts to kick off Raw tonight at 8/7 C on the USA Network

Dave Meltzer confirmed yesterday that Edge suffered a torn triceps while filming his match against Orton for Backlash.

Last week, Seth Rollins invited Rey and Dominik Mysterio to tonight’s Raw and said he hopes they come in peace so he can show them that the sacrifice of Rollins attacking Rey’s eye was for the greater good. WWE announced today that Dominik will appear on tonight’s show.

WWE bans use of the buckle bomb

Posted on by Josh Nason

WWE has banned the use of the buckle bomb, otherwise known as a power bomb into the turnbuckles.

The decision was first reported by PWInsider and verified by our Bryan Alvarez.

It’s unclear why the decision was made now, but an April 20th Raw match featured such a move delivered by Nia Jax to Kairi Sane that drew significant criticism as Sane’s head hit the middle turnbuckle awkwardly.

The most well known incident with the move was at 2015’s WWE Night of Champions pay-per-view as then-WWE Champion Seth Rollins delivered the buckle bomb to Sting, injuring his neck. It was later learned the WWE Hall-of-Famer had spinal stenosis and while not blaming Rollins, he said on a podcast with Ric Flair that he was lucky “a catastrophe” didn’t happen that night.

The buckle bomb joins the piledriver, chair shots to the head, and several other moves on the current banned list. It’s possible the move could return someday as the shooting star press and Rollins’ curb stomp both were allowed back after briefly being banned.

Kairi Sane suffers cut to head during match at WWE Raw tapings

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Kairi Sane suffered what is being described as a significant head cut during today’s Raw taping.

It happened during a match against Nia Jax that was taped for next week’s episode of Raw. According to Fightful Select, which first reported the story, the cut happened when Jax threw Sane into the stairs, with Sane’s head connecting with the corner of the stairs.

At that point, the match was stopped as WWE medical tended to Kairi Sane, bandaging her up. According to Dave Meltzer,  Sane suffered a “significant” head cut.

Fightful further reported that Sane indicated that she was fine and insisted on finishing the match. Jax and Sane immediately went to the finish once the match resumed.

Next week’s episodes of Raw and SmackDown are being taped today at the WWE Performance Center. Announced for Raw next week is a non-title match between Asuka and Charlotte, Apollo Crews will defend the US title against an opponent of his choosing, and Seth Rollins will hold a Rey Mysterio retirement ceremony.

WWE Raw video highlights: Backlash build, NXT wrestlers as fans

Posted on by Joseph Currier

The build to Backlash continued on last night’s Raw, which featured some form of a crowd for the first time in nearly three months.

NXT/WWE Performance Center wrestlers were in the crowd serving as fans starting with last night’s episode. They stood apart from each other and had plexiglass in front of them on the barricades.

Asuka’s next challenger was determined by a triple threat number one contender’s match on last night’s show. Nia Jax defeated Natalya and Charlotte Flair and will challenge for Asuka’s Raw Women’s Championship at Backlash on Sunday, June 14.

The show closed with a brawl between WWE Champion Drew McIntyre and his Backlash challenger Bobby Lashley. In the main event, Lashley & MVP got disqualified in a tag team match against The Street Profits. McIntyre appeared on the VIP Lounge with MVP earlier in the show and laid out MVP with a Claymore when Lashley tried to come down to the ring.

A title change also took place last night, with Apollo Crews defeating Andrade to win the United States Championship. This is the first title Crews has won in WWE.

More coverage from last night —

WWE Raw video highlights —

Asuka appears on the KO Show, Charlotte Flair, Natalya, and Nia Jax interrupt

Andrade vs. Apollo Crews for the United States Championship

Rey Mysterio needed to be sacrificed for Seth Rollins to move forward into the future

The IIconics lay out Alexa Bliss & Nikki Cross

Drew McIntyre appears on the VIP Lounge

Kevin Owens vs. Angel Garza

The Street Profits and Viking Raiders face off in a game of golf

Aleister Black & Humberto Carrillo vs. Murphy & Austin Theory

Edge has to prove himself to himself at Backlash

Triple threat number one contender’s match: Charlotte Flair vs. Natalya vs. Nia Jax

Rob Gronkowski responds to R-Truth

Liv Morgan is living her best life

The Street Profits vs. Bobby Lashley & MVP

Drew McIntyre and Bobby Lashley get into a wild brawl after the main event

Raw fallout: Apollo Crews dedicates his United States title win to his family

Raw fallout: Apollo Crews has his first photoshoot as United States Champion

Raw fallout: Nia Jax sends a warning to Asuka

Raw Women’s title match official for WWE Backlash

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Nia Jax is officially the next challenger for Asuka’s Raw Women’s Championship.

Jax became the number one contender to Asuka’s title by defeating Natalya and Charlotte Flair in a triple threat match on tonight’s episode of Raw. Asuka will defend her title against Jax at Backlash on Sunday, June 14.

Charlotte attempted to put Natalya in the Figure Eight near the end of the match, but Jax broke it up by hitting a leg drop on Charlotte. She then gave Natalya a Samoan drop and pinned her to get the win.

It was revealed on Raw two weeks ago that, due to Becky Lynch’s pregnancy, Asuka was now Raw Women’s Champion after winning this year’s women’s Money in the Bank ladder match. Jax interrupted Asuka’s championship celebration on Raw last Monday.

Here’s the updated card for Backlash.

  • Edge vs. Randy Orton
  • WWE Champion Drew McIntyre defending against Bobby Lashley
  • Raw Women’s Champion Asuka defending against Nia Jax
  • Universal Champion Braun Strowman defending against The Miz & John Morrison in a handicap match

WWE announces number one contender’s match for Raw

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Asuka’s challenger for Backlash will be determined by a triple threat number one contender’s match on Monday’s Raw.

WWE has announced that Charlotte Flair, Nia Jax, and Natalya will face off in a triple threat match on Monday’s show, with the winner challenging Asuka for the Raw Women’s Championship at the Sunday, June 14 pay-per-view.

The night after Asuka won this year’s women’s Money in the Bank ladder match, it was revealed that — due to Becky Lynch’s pregnancy — Asuka had actually won the Raw Women’s Championship in that match. She had a title celebration on this week’s Raw that was interrupted by Jax.

Shayna Baszler has defeated Natalya on Raw each of the past two weeks. Their match on this week’s show was a submission match.

Charlotte is the current NXT Women’s Champion. She’s defending her title against Rhea Ripley and Io Shirai in a triple threat match at NXT TakeOver: In Your House on June 7

WWE has also announced that Drew McIntyre will be MVP’s guest on the VIP Lounge on Monday’s Raw. Bobby Lashley, who is aligned with MVP, will challenge for McIntyre’s WWE Championship at Backlash. WWE is pushing that the VIP Lounge segment could be MVP and Lashley setting a trap for McIntyre.

Plus, Andrade will defend his United States title against Apollo Crews on Monday’s show.

WWE Raw video highlights: New challengers for McIntyre & Asuka

Posted on by Joseph Currier

New challengers for Drew McIntyre and Asuka appeared to emerge on last night’s episode of Raw.

As part of the brand-to-brand invitation, WWE Champion McIntyre defeated SmackDown’s Baron Corbin in a non-title match in last night’s main event. But before the match started, Bobby Lashley and MVP made their way out to the stage. MVP said they’ve taken a personal interest in the match, and Lashley said he was putting McIntyre on notice and coming after him and the WWE Championship.

Lashley and MVP both watched the main event from the stage. After the match, McIntyre said he and the fans have been waiting a long time for Lashley to step up and be the killer that he is. MVP gestured that McIntyre’s time as champion is running out.

New Raw Women’s Champion Asuka had a title celebration last night, but it was interrupted by Nia Jax. Asuka attacked Jax and sent her out of the ring with a running hip attack. Later in the show, Jax laid out Kairi Sane backstage and was then confronted by Asuka.

More coverage from last night —

WWE Raw video highlights —

Edge accepts Randy Orton’s challenge for Backlash

Seth Rollins says Rey Mysterio will realize his attack was a blessing in disguise

Humberto Carrillo vs. Murphy

Just like her mother, Liv Morgan is determined and will never quit

Charlotte Flair vs. Ruby Riott

Nia Jax interrupts Asuka’s championship celebration

R-Truth vs. Bobby Lashley

Alexa Bliss & Nikki Cross vs. The IIconics for the Women’s Tag Team titles

Nia Jax attacks Kairi Sane, gets confronted by Asuka

Submission match: Natalya vs. Shayna Baszler

Andrade, Angel Garza, Austin Theory & Zelina Vega appear on the KO Show

Kevin Owens & Apollo Crews vs. Andrade & Angel Garza

The Street Profits and Viking Raiders face off in an axe-throwing contest

Aleister Black vs. Murphy, Seth Rollins recruits Austin Theory

Drew McIntyre vs. Baron Corbin

Raw fallout: Drew McIntyre isn’t going to let SmackDown get one over on Raw

Raw fallout: Charlotte Flair is making WWE her empire

Asuka vs. Nia Jax vs. Shayna Baszler set for WWE Raw

Posted on by Joseph Currier

The Raw women’s division’s participants for Money in the Bank are set to face off in a triple threat match tonight.

WWE has announced Asuka vs. Nia Jax vs. Shayna Baszler for tonight’s Raw. All three were confirmed for this year’s women’s Money in the Bank ladder match by winning qualifying matches on Raw two weeks ago. Asuka defeated Ruby Riott, Jax defeated Kairi Sane, and Baszler defeated Sarah Logan.

Jax also defeated Sane in a rematch on Raw last week. Baszler defeated Indi Hartwell on last Monday’s show. She stomped on Hartwell’s elbow to get the win and then continued to attack her arm after, putting it between a ladder and kicking it.

SmackDown’s Dana Brooke and Lacey Evans will also be in the women’s Money in the Bank ladder match with Asuka, Jax, and Baszler. The final SmackDown participant for the ladder match will be determined when Mandy Rose faces Carmella in a qualifier this Friday.

Money in the Bank is set for Sunday, May 10. The men’s and women’s ladder matches are both taking place at WWE headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut. The matches will start on the ground floor, with the briefcases hanging on the roof.

WWE Champion Drew McIntyre is defending his title against Seth Rollins at Money in the Bank. On tonight’s Raw, McIntyre and Rollins will have a contract signing for their match at the PPV.

Shayna Baszler, Nia Jax & Asuka qualify for WWE Money in the Bank

Posted on by Joseph Currier

The first three wrestlers have qualified for this year’s women’s Money in the Bank ladder match.

Shayna Baszler, Nia Jax, and Asuka will be representing Raw in the ladder match. They each won a qualifying match on Raw tonight, with Baszler defeating Sarah Logan, Jax defeating Kairi Sane, and Asuka defeating Ruby Riott.

Baszler and Jax’s wins tonight were both in squash matches. Baszler hit hammerfists to a grounded Logan and then stomped on her elbow before the match was stopped. Logan was originally announced as the winner, but the finish was then clarified and it was said that the ring announcer got it wrong.

Jax pinned Sane after hitting a press slam into a Samoan drop. WWE is calling the move the Annihilator.

Asuka got the win against Logan by submitting her with the Asuka Lock.

Money in the Bank is set for Sunday, May 10. The qualifying matches for the women’s Money in the Bank ladder match will continue with Naomi vs. Dana Brooke taking place on SmackDown this Friday.

The qualifiers for the men’s Money in the Bank ladder match haven’t started yet. Daniel Bryan vs. Cesaro on this week’s SmackDown will determine one of the participants for the match, while three qualifying matches have been announced for next Monday’s Raw. Those qualifiers are: Rey Mysterio vs. Murphy, Aleister Black vs. Austin Theory, and Apollo Crews vs. MVP.