Former WCW President Eric Bischoff recently discussed the rumors that there would be an nWo reboot in WWE around 2020 and the pandemic era.
Chris Dunn, who was previously a writer with WWE during that time, claimed that there was a plan to do an nWo reboot in the Thunderdome during an appearance on the Public Enemies Podcast:
“Do you guys remember that ThunderDome? Really tough to do TV in there, so a lot of ideas were thrown against the wall. So it was discussed at one point, bringing back the nWo in 2020, a new version.
“So the pitch was Sheamus, Cesaro, Nakamura, and Lars Sullivan. So it was really close to happening, I forget which legendary nWo member was supposed to fly to Orlando to introduce this new nWo. It wasn’t X-Pac. Essentially, they landed and they didn’t pass the COVID test so they couldn’t do it.”
Eric Bischoff reacts to nWo reboot claims
Speaking on his 83 Weeks podcast, Bischoff would claim that none of the living members of the nWo had any idea about the supposed project:
“Sean Waltman reached out to me and said, hey, did you ever hear anything about this? I never heard anything about that. And neither did Kevin Nash… So the three surviving members of the NWO knew nothing about it… it seems very unlikely. It could be just silly internet stupid sh*t.”
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🚨 According to former WWE writer Chris Dunn, WWE creative pitched a rebooted nWo in 2020 featuring Sheamus, Cesaro, Nakamura, and Lars Sullivan.
Join Karl Stern on this week’s DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Podcast for a look back at one of the most significant and impactful years in pro wrestling history: 1996.
WCW was exploding in popularity with the formation of the NWO, the heel turn of Hulk Hogan, and much more while WWF was trying to find the right combination to fight the rise of WCW and with some incredible matches.
I have grabbed a copy of the Pro Wrestling Illustrated Almanac for guidance, so let’s see what was so special about 1996.
Today on a new DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show with Karl Stern, he wants to look back at the late 1990s in pro wrestling history.
The decade was a wild time with the latter part seeing the rise of the NWO, WCW passing WWE in popularity only to implode, and the hard-hitting Japanese scene making the era one of the most interesting times in pro wrestling — one of The Rock, Steve Austin, Bill Goldberg, the NWO, ECW, and so much more.
In what is becoming a trend regarding previously announced WWE Network programming, the Steve Austin Broken Skull Sessions episode with Kevin Nash that was set to debut Sunday is no longer on the schedule for either Peacock or the Network.
The change was first reported by WWE Network News. As of now, no reason has been given why it was pulled and neither Austin or Nash have commented on what is going on.
WWE Network News noted this is the third time in recent weeks that a previously advertised show has been pulled with virtually no notice. It began in June with WWE Untold: The Nexus and then WWE Icons: Lex Luger which was set to air last weekend.
The Nash episode was set to wrap up nWo Week on the Network commemorating the creation of the WCW faction 25 years ago. The week has featured a Best of the nWo show and X-Pac appearing on The Bump.
A look back at all the WWE cuts of the last week, person by person, with the background, what the direction the company is going. We look at where different people would be best served working at next, highlights of their WWE careers, and a lot more about the cuts.
Also in this issue:
A feature on Del Wilkes, known as The Trooper and The Patriot, his drug issues, his multiple arrests, his entire career, his noteworthy college football career, his biggest matches, how he broke in, and days in AWA, Global, All Japan, WCW and WWF, the origin of the idea of The Patriot that few know about, kicking his drug problem, what others have said about it, and his life after wrestling.
A talent move that will be very interesting to watch and long-term repercussions of this move, Great American Bash news, Money in the Bank news, ticket sales for all WWE shows and Breakout Star tournament news
AAA’s biggest show of the year, with a look at the TripleMania lineup, Verano de Escandalo as well, restrictions and angles leading up to the big matches.
This past week’s UFC show with Cyril Gane and Alexander Volkov, the next heavyweight title match, why Gane vs. Derrick Lewis is happening, why it’s a bad idea, plus match-by-match coverage.
All Japan crowning a new Triple Crown champion after Suwama vacated the title due to COVID and the three-way with Jason Lee, Kento Miyahara and Yuma Aoagi, the complete All Japan Ota Ward show.
More detail on the ratings than any other source, we have how every segment on NXT and AEW did with different age groups, genders and more, plus a look at all other wrestling shows of the past week, how many different viewers the shows had, DVR numbers and how long the average fan watches.
Results of the major pro wrestling events of the past week.
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SUNDAY NEWS UPDATE
Bryan and I will be back tonight talking about the weekend news, Smackdown, Stardom and the week coming up. You can send questions to the show to [email protected]
Stardom’s PPV results from Yokohama Budokan Hall:
Fukigen Death & Konami won over Saki Kashima & Rina, Miaka & Lady C and Hanan & Hina
Momo Watanabe & AZM b Starlight Kid & Ruaka
Mina Shirakawa b Unagi Sayaka in the finals of the Future of Stardom title tournament
Giulia & Syuri won over Mayu Iwatani & Koguma to keep the tag titles
Tam Nakano b Saya Kamitani to keep the Wonder of Stardom title
Utami Hayashishita b Natsuko Tora to keep the World of Stardom title
The main event ended when Tora injured her leg with a running diving foot stomp off the apron onto a table. Tora was unable to continue and the match ended
Grappl has just listed its top ten matches of the first six months of the year based on 132,000 match ratings. They are:
Shingo Takagi vs. Will Ospreay 5/4
Utami Hayashishita vs. Syuri 6/12
Jeff Cobb vs. Shingo Takagi 1/5
Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Shingo Takagi 1/30
Kazuchika Okada vs. Will Ospreay 1/4
Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Will Ospreay 3/14
Kota Ibushi vs. Jay White 1/5
Aussie Open vs. Velocities 5/8 Australia
Shingo Takagi vs. Will Ospreay 3/21
Britt Baker vs. Thunder Rosa 3/17
With no major shows there was only one thing that cracked the Google top 20 all week. UFC 264 was sixth yesterday at 100,000. That’s amazing because it was that high seven days before the show. That’s unheard of for a UFC show and likely indicates the show will be gigantic.
Fast 9, which features John Cena, was the No. 1 movie for the second straight weekend. It is estimated to do $24 million this weekend.
A.J. McKee talked to Showtime Sports ahead of his Bellator Featheriweight title match on 7/31 against champion Patricio Pitbull Freire. The match is also for the Featherweight Grand Prix title and $1 million dollars.
A big spot people have been talking about from yesterday’s Verano de Escandalo show with El Hijo del Vikingo do a springboard, hang onto the ceiling of the arena and dropped down into a hurricanrana.
Another thing getting a lot of rave reviews was the DDT show and in particular Konosuke Takeshita vs. Yuji Hino.
The Stardom Five Star Grand Prix starts 7/31 at Yokohama Budokan and ends 9/25 at the Ota Ward Gym in Tokyo.
The Red block:
Giulia
Mayu Iwatani
Natsuko Tora (may have to change as she was badly injured today)
Saki Kashima
Starlight Kid
Himeka
Natsupoi
Koguma
Mina Shirakawa
Blue block:
Utami Hayashishita
Syuri
Tam Nakano
Saya Kamitani
Maika
AZM
Konami
Ruaka
Unagi Sayaka
?
The key is that Hayashishita vs. Syuri’s rematch of the best women’s match of the year and maybe in several years or even decades will be during the tournament.
Northeast Wrestling announced its 25th anniversary show on 8/14 in Poughkeepsie at the Mid Hudson Civic Center with Eddie Kingston, Private Party, Matt Hardy, Tay Conti and Darby Allin.
WWE
Dwayne Johnson is in his last week of production of the movie “Black Adam.” It’s scheduled for a July 2022 release.
There is no firm date on when the Lex Luger documentary, which was supposed to come out today, will be airing. It had been advertised all week but it was another left hand knows one thing and right hand decides differently.
The WWE has announced NWO week for the 25th anniversary of Hulk Hogan joining Scott Hall and Kevin Nash, which would be on Wednesday. Peacock will be celebrating this with a Best of NWO show on Tuesday, Sean Waltman on The Bump on Wednesday and Kevin Nash on Steve Austin’s Broken Skull Sessions on Sunday.
Announced for Tuesday’s NXT is Hit Row Championship Celebration of Isaiah Scott’s title win and a face-to-face with Johnny Gargano and Karrion Kross.
UFC
Louis Smolka said the reason he pulled out of this coming Saturday’s fight with Sean O’Malley was due to an infection and said when he’s healthy he would like to face O’Malley.
AEW
The Charlotte show is at 4,400 tickets sold which is both well above WWE’s show in the same market in a better arena but also way up from the first appearance. But this Wednesday’s show in Miami is at 3,200. The first time in the market they did 3,900 so they will likely fall a little short. As noted, the first post-pandemic era show to actually sell out if the 7/14 AEW show in Cedar Park, TX, although WWE’s Money in the Bank on 7/18 in Fort Worth will sell out with twice as many tickets.
Jake Hager is trying to get the 10/23 fight with Fedor Emelianenko in Russia. The odds are that he won’t but he is pushing for it.
OTHER NOTES
Congratulations to longtime reader Steve Stone and wife Sara who gave birth to a baby girl Delaney Stone on Friday.
August Grey, after being released by WWE, will go back to his original name Anthony Greene.
Defy Wrestling announced a return to action with shows on 8/27 and 8/28.Ticket release info will be announced soon.
Revolution Pro Wrestling Resurgence on 8/29 in Harrisburg, PA with Rikishi, Samu and Gangrel. The show will be at the Harrisburg Midtown Arts Center.
Dean Muhtadi, the former Mojo Rawley, has landed a role in the action movie “Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins” starring Henry Goldberg that will be released on 7/23.
The final SmackDown before Elimination Chamber takes place from the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York.
The Firefly Fun House makes its return tonight. The segment comes after “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt vs. John Cena was made official for WrestleMania 36 last week.
SmackDown Women’s Champion Bayley & Sasha Banks take on Naomi & Lacey Evans in a rematch from last Friday. Naomi pinned Bayley in that first encounter.
SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Miz & John Morrison will defend their titles against The New Day, Heavy Machinery, The Lucha House Party, Robert Roode & Dolph Ziggler, and The Usos in an Elimination Chamber match this Sunday. Tonight, all six teams compete in a gauntlet match to determine the final team to enter the Chamber.
Alexa Bliss hosts A Moment of Bliss with guests the NWO (Kevin Nash, Scott Hall & Sean Waltman). Nash, Hall & Waltman, along with Hulk Hogan, will be inducted as the NWO as part of this year’s WWE Hall of Fame class.
Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
***********
A Moment Of Bliss With Guests The NWO
Host Alexa Bliss and her best friend Nikki Cross were already in the ring to start SmackDown. Bliss and Cross talked about the Hall of Fame. They listed the Hall of Fame inductees Batista, JBL, and The Bella Twins. The fans loudly booed JBL when they said his name.
Bliss briefly turned her attention to WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions The Kabuki Warriors. Bliss challenged them to a match and to come out from hiding on Raw.
They then talked about Hall of Fame inductees the NWO and brought them out. The NWO got a huge reaction from the fans. Scott Hall did his old “Hey Yo” catchphrase. Cross talked about being a fan of the NWO for life and took a selfie with them.
They asked Waltman if they should call him 123 Kid, Syxx, or X-Pac. Bliss mentioned Nash ending Goldberg’s undefeated streak. Nash said he talked to Roman Reigns and told him he needs two things to beat Goldberg, which is Scott Hall, and a cattle prod. Hall responded that it was shocking.
There was an awkward pause as everyone waited for Nakamura’s music to play. They all just looked at each other. Hall tried to save it by talking, but Sami Zayn, Cesaro, and Shinsuke Nakamura finally interrupted. Zayn promised to defeat Braun Strowman this Sunday.
Zayn mocked Waltman for carrying Nash and Hall’s bags. The NWO got in Zayn, Cesaro, and Nakamura’s faces. Zayn asked them if they wanted to fight. Zayn changed his mind, and the heels started to leave.
Zayn started ranting and said their priority right now is to defeat Intercontinental Champion Braun Strowman at Elimination Chamber. Strowmans’s music hit, and Cesaro attacked him.
Strowman fought off Cesaro and Nakamura. He then chased Zayn into the ring.
Zayn was trapped between Strowman and the NWO.
Zayn grabbed Bliss and hid behind her. Zayn then snuck out of the ring. Strowman picked up a chair and tossed it as Zayn as he ran off. Strowman promised to defeat Zayn, Cesaro, and Nakamura, and that it’s going to be too sweet.
Bayley and Banks beat down Evans in their corner. Naomi nailed Bayley, but the heels took over and beat her down too.
Back from the break, the heels were firmly in control. Bayley worked over Evans’s leg, but she fought back. Evans almost made the tag, but the heels prevented it.
During the match, there was a brief static and symbol, which wasn’t acknowledged.
Naomi got the hot tag and ran wild. She hit a corkscrew plancha to the floor wiping out Banks and Bayley.
Naomi rocked Banks with a kick and rolled her up for a very close near fall. Naomi attempted the split-legged moonsault, but Bayley tripped up Naomi. Banks pushed Naomi into the ring post and put her in the tree of woe. Banks then hit double knees for the win.
In the back, Kayla Braxton interviewed The New Day. Big E said they know how tough a gauntlet match can be, but they have the stamina of a moose during mating season. They promised to win the gauntlet match and the tag tiles on Sunday.
In the back, Banks and Bayley mocked all the women on the roster. Banks was upset that The Bellas are going into the Hall of Fame before them. Bayley said it doesn’t matter because they can beat anyone from the past or present.
Banks promised to dedicate her next album to Bayley. They walked off, laughing and very happy.
Sheamus defeated Apollo Crews
In the back, Shorty G approached Crews and offered to watch his back. He tried to shake his hand, but Crews walked away.
Crews charged at Sheamus to start the match. They briefly fought around ringside. Crews hit a high crossbody and standing moonsault for a close near fall.
Crews charged at Sheamus, but Sheamus hit the Brogue Kick for the win.
Drake Maverick approached Drew Gulak in the locker room. Maverick wants to face Daniel Bryan, but Gulak laughed at him. Gulak noted he knows all of Bryan’s weakness and started talking about his roundhouse kick.
Bryan was standing behind Gulak. He pointed out that Gulak keeps talking about all of his weaknesses. Bryan challenged Gulak to a match this Sunday at Elimination Chamber.
Fire & Desire (w/Dolph Ziggler) defeated Carmella & Dane Brooke
As Fire & Desire walked to the ring, Deville gestured to the back. Dolph Ziggler walked out, and Rose seemed surprised that he was there. On commentary, Michael Cole said Rose and Ziggler seem to be a couple now. The fans broke into a loud “Otis” chant.
Deville slowed the pace down with a chin lock and body scissors. Carmella fought back and hit a standing dropkick.
Brooke got the tag and hit a handspring elbow on Deville in the corner.
Ziggler distracted Brooke, and Rose made the blind tag. Deville rocked Brooke with an elbow, and Rose hit a running knee for the win.
They recapped John Cena’s return last week and “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt challenging him to match at WrestleMania 36
The Firefly Funhouse
Wyatt hung pictures of John Cena on the wall. He noted the people are probably wondering why John Cena. Ramblin Rabbit interrupted and said it’s because Cena defeated Wyatt at WrestleMania 30, which started Wyatt’s downward spiral in his personal and professional life. Wyatt laughed nervously at the camera.
Wyatt said he forgives Cena, but he created something else in Wyatt. “He” doesn’t forgive Cena and is waiting for him at WrestleMania.
They recapped Roman Reigns challenging Universal Champion Goldberg for WrestleMania 36.
In the back, Kayla Braxton interviewed King Corbin. Braxton noted Roman Reigns defeated Corbin. Corbin doesn’t want to talk about Reigns or his past. He wants to talk about his WrestleMania plans.
Suddenly, Elias started playing his guitar. Corbin was furious and warned Elias there could be consequences.
In the back, Otis and Tucker approached Mandy Rose. Otis apologized for showing up late for their date on Valentine’s Day but pointed out that he got a text that she was going to be late. Rose said its too late because a woman doesn’t appreciate being stood up. Otis looked devastated as Rose walked off.
This week in WWE history, Daniel Bryan and the Yes Movement occupied Raw.
The next WWE Hall Of Fame Inductee will be revealed next week on Corey Graves podcast.
Tag Team Gauntlet Match: Heavy Machinery defeated The New Day
Tucker and Kingston went back and forth early. There was a brief “Otis” chant. Tucker gave Kingston a monkey flip, but Kingston landed on his feet. They both went for a dropkick and ended in a stalemate.
Otis and Big E tagged in. Otis gave Big E a huge slam and tagged in Tucker. Heavy Machinery gave New Day standing vertical suplexes. Tucker whipped Otis into New Day, and he rocked them with clotheslines.
Back from the break, Kingston rocked Tucker with a clothesline and hit the boom drop. Tucker avoided the Trouble in Paradise, but Kingston recovered and hit a missile dropkick.
Big E launched Kingston over the top, but Tucker caught Kingston and slammed him on the ground. Heavy Machinery then hit the Compacter on Big E for the win.
Tag Team Gauntlet Match: Heavy Machinery defeated The Lucha House Party
Lucha House Party had the early advantage. Tucker rocked Lince Dorado with a shoulder tackle. Tucker slowed the pace down and worked over the arm.
Gran Metalik leaped off of Dorado’s shoulders and hit a splash on Tucker for a near fall. Metalik and Dorado then hit a double springboard crossbody block to the floor onto Tucker and Otis.
Back from the break, Heavy Machinery was firmly in control. They isolated Dorado and cut him off from Metalik. Otis slowed the pace down again with a bearhug on Dorado.
Dorado fought back and hit a springboard stunner on Otis. Metalik got the tag and ran wild on Tucker. He hit a missile dropkick on Tucker for a close near fall.
Dorado hit a huge splash off the top for a very close two count. Tucker took over and hit a splash of his own for a near fall.
Otis hit a big splash on Dorado and followed up with the Caterpillar for the win.
Tag Team Gauntlet Match: Heavy Machinery defeated The Usos
Back from the break, Tucker was firmly in control. Jimmy ended up on the apron and rocked Otis with a superkick. Tucker nailed Jimmy with a boot and knocked him off the apron.
Jey caught Tucker with a superkick and covered him. Tucker reversed the pin for the win to eliminate the Usos from the gauntlet in a short match.
Tag Team Gauntlet Match: Heavy Machinery defeated SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Miz & John Morrison
Morrison and Miz were firmly in control. The heels isolated Tucker and cut him off from Otis. Tucker fought back and rocked Morrison with a huge clothesline.
Miz pulled Otis off the apron as Tucker attempted the tag. The heels took back over and worked over Tucker. Morrison scored a very close near fall, but Otis made the save.
Miz attacked Otis on the floor. In the ring, Tucker used an inside cradle on Morrison for the win.
After the match, Miz and Morrison jumped Heavy Machinery. They threw Otis into the barricade.
In the back, Mandy Rose was watching and looked concerned. Ziggler approached and told her not to worry about Otis.
The static and graphic appeared on the monitor in the background while Ziggler and Rose spoke.
The last two matches felt very rushed.
Tag Team Gauntlet Match: Robert Roode & Dolph Ziggler defeated Heavy Machinery
Back from the break, the heels were firmly in control. Roode applied a chin lock on Tucker. Otis was still on the ground after the beating from Miz and Morrison.
Ziggler rocked Tucker with a standing dropkick for a near fall.
Ziggler hit a splash on Tucker in the corner. Roode followed up with a neck breaker for a two count.
Otis finally got back to his feet, and the fans broke into an “Otis” chant. Roode tried to attack, but Otis recovered and slammed Roode headfirst into the announce table. The fans are dying to see Otis get his hands on Ziggler.
Otis got the hot tag, and the fans erupted. Otis ran wild and caught Roode with a back body drop. Otis knocked Ziggler off the apron with a right hand. Roode tried fighting back, but Otis fired up.
Roode missed a charge in the corner and Ziggler made the blind tag. Zigler got knocked off the apron. The finish came when Otis went from the Catapiiliar on Roode, but Ziggler jumped in a hit the superkick for the win.
Ziggler and Roode enter the Elimination Chamber last Sunday night at the pay-per-view.
Three members of the nWo are set to appear on SmackDown tomorrow night.
WWE has announced that Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, and Sean “X-Pac” Waltman will be interviewed by Alexa Bliss on A Moment of Bliss on tomorrow’s show. The appearance comes in advance of the group being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame next month.
Nash, Hall, Waltman, and Hulk Hogan are the nWo members who are being inducted into the Hall of Fame. Nash, Hall, and Hogan have already been inducted individually, while Waltman went into the Hall of Fame as part of D-Generation X last year.
The nWo, Batista, Nikki & Brie Bella, and JBL have been confirmed for this year’s Hall of Fame class. The announcement of the Bellas going into the Hall of Fame was made when they appeared on A Moment of Bliss two weeks ago.
This year’s Hall of Fame induction ceremony is taking place at the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida on Thursday, April 2.
Tomorrow’s SmackDown is the go-home show for Elimination Chamber. Here’s what’s been announced for the episode:
Gauntlet match to decide which team enters Sunday’s SmackDown Tag Team title Elimination Chamber match last (The Miz & John Morrison vs. The New Day vs. The Usos vs. Dolph Ziggler & Robert Roode vs. The Lucha House Party vs. Heavy Machinery)
A year after D-Generation X was inducted, another Monday Night Wars era faction is going into the WWE Hall of Fame.
WWE announced via ESPN today that the nWo will be inducted into their Hall of Fame as part of the 2020 class. Hulk Hogan, Scott Hall, Kevin Nash & Sean “X-Pac” Waltman are the nWo members who will be inducted.
Hogan, Hall, and Nash have already been inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame on their own, while Waltman went into the Hall of Fame as a member of DX last year.
Hogan was reinstated into the WWE Hall of Fame in July 2018 after having been removed when he was fired from the company in 2015 due to racist remarks he had made being leaked.
“You’ve got four guys that were basically going at Vince as a shoot, pushing hard to actually try to take over,” Hogan told ESPN. “Not put him out of business but basically take his spot and be the No. 1 company. All of a sudden, you’re inducting four guys in the Hall of Fame that 20 years ago were trying to stab you in the back. It’s like Vince says: In the WWE, never say never.”
With SmackDown now on Fridays, this year’s WWE Hall of Fame ceremony will take place on the Thursday before WrestleMania 36. The ceremony is being held at the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida on April 2. The announcement of the nWo being part of this year’s class comes in advance of tickets for the ceremony going on sale to the general public this Friday (December 13).
Going into the biggest show of the year, a major cloud of uncertainty about the future of the WWF, and for that matter, American wrestling in general, has hit.
The NWO, for numerous reasons, are being talked of internally by many as a major flop due to the lack of increase in ratings. In fairness, while the short-term ratings boost ended up being limited to exactly one episode of Smackdown, the return of Hogan, Hall and Nash did spark the buy rate for No Way Out, and the Hogan-Rock marquee value and name Wrestlemania will probably prove to be a huge success this week. That is far less of a certainty than it appeared to be just a few weeks ago, and few are predicting a PPV number close to the record setting level of the Austin vs. Rock match last year.
But there was never any thought there would be any serious problems until after Wrestlemania anyway. The period after Wrestlemania historically has been funny.