Though he’s been given the green light to return to the ring, Bobby Roode is focused on his new role as a WWE producer.
Roode underwent two neck fusion surgeries within a six-month period in 2022 and 2023. He had a C5/6 cervical fusion in November 2022 and then a C4/5 fusion in May 2023.
The 47-year-old Roode hasn’t wrestled since a June 2022 house show match against Omos. While appearing on the latest episode of Insight with Chris Van Vliet, Roode said his neck issues were the result of a lot of wear and tear over the years. He first got injured in 2012 and was then re-injured in the Omos match. Roode said he just landed wrong and it wasn’t anyone’s fault.
Roode revealed that he just got cleared to return to the ring. But while it may be medically safe for him to wrestle, Roode is happy with the opportunity he’s been given to be a WWE producer. Roode has been working in the role since last summer.
Ironically enough, I just got green-lighted. The fusion has completely fused. So as far as like, looking at it from a medical point of view, it’s safe to get back in the ring, I guess. But at almost 48 years old, given the opportunity that I’ve been given now to work as a producer, which was my goal coming to WWE almost eight years ago, I’m quite happy doing this. And I feel like I’ve had a good run, as they say, and I’m happy to do what I’m doing now.
Roode stated that there’s no way he could wrestle full-time again.
“Could I do this full-time? There’s no way I could,” he admitted. Roode said his neck injury was bad on three levels, with the C6/7 also being bad in addition to the vertebrae he had surgery on.
When asked if he’d like to have one last match, Roode responded:
I think everybody would like to have one last match, right? But sometimes you just, when the wheels fall off, the wheels fall off. It’s just — that’s the nature of the beast in this sport, in this industry.
Roode stated that working behind the scenes was his end goal when he first signed with WWE, but he felt like he still had a lot left in the tank at the time. Roode is grateful that Paul “Triple H” Levesque gave him the chance to wrestle.
Like I said, that was kind of like the game plan. When I came to WWE, I had my conversation with Triple H before coming to NXT. And at that time, I was almost 40. So I remember him, I was on a three-way call with him and Matt Bloom and I remember him asking me, ‘So what do you want to do? Do you want to come here and coach? Do you want to be a coach?’ And I’m like, ‘Well, maybe one day, that’s my goal, but I feel like I got a lot left in the tank.’ He gave me that opportunity, which I’m super grateful for and here I am today. I had a pretty good run in NXT and then had a pretty good run on the main roster. And — it is what it is. Like I said, when the wheels fall off, the wheels fall off.
In WWE, Roode has held the NXT Championship, United States Championship, and multiple Tag Team titles. He was a star in TNA Wrestling before signing with WWE in 2016.
Robert Roode is reportedly in Detroit for WWE SummerSlam.
According to a report from PWInsider, the 47-year-old is set to work as a producer backstage at the show. He is also expected to work Monday’s Raw taping from Minneapolis in the same role. However, it is not clear if this is a tryout or the start of a permanent position for him.
Roode underwent two spinal surgeries in a five-month span recently. He had fusion surgery on his C5 and C6 vertebrae last December and had the same procedure done for his C4 and C5 vertebrae in May. Roode hasn’t wrestled in over a year. His last match took place on a house show from Amarillo, Texas on June 25, 2022, where he lost to Omos.
PWInsider is also reporting that Randy Orton is in Detroit for SummerSlam, although it is not clear if he will be involved in the show at all. The 43-year-old hasn’t wrestled since May 20, 2022, when RK-Bro lost the Raw tag titles to The Usos.
Robert Roode is back on the road to recovery after undergoing a second spinal fusion surgery.
Roode revealed in an Instagram post that he had cervical fusion surgery done on his C4 and C5 vertebrae. The surgery took place on Thursday, which was Roode’s 47th birthday.
In his Instagram post on Friday, Roode stated that the surgery was a success and thanked the staff at the Andrews Sports Medicine & Orthopaedic Center in Birmingham, Alabama. Roode also thanked his partner Deneane for her support through what has been a challenging year for him.
WWE’s Robert Roode has undergone spinal fusion surgery.
Roode, who has been out of action since June of this year, announced on his Instagram account Friday that he has had surgery on his cervical spine fusing the C5/C6 vertebrae.
The Mayo Clinic describes different types of spinal fusion, and Roode appears to have undergone a fusion through an incision in the front of the neck.
Dr. Andy Cordover of the renowned Andrews Sports Medicine team in Birmingham, Alabama performed the surgery.
Roode posted:
Big thank you to Dr Andy Cordover and his amazing staff at @andrews_sports_medicine and St Vincent’s Hospital in Birmingham Alabama
C5/6 fusion is complete. Now the work begins.
Recovery and Rehabilitation.
Looking forward to the challenge
Thanks @deneane__17 ❤️ You’re the best.
Roode has been on WWE’s main roster since 2017. He signed with the company in 2016 and had a run on the NXT brand in 2016-2017, including holding the NXT Championship for 200-plus days. Roode’s main roster title history includes two Raw Tag Team title reigns, a SmackDown tag team title reign, and a United States Championship reign.
Prior to his WWE run, Roode was an Impact Wrestling/TNA mainstay, holding Tag Team titles in that promotion six times, as well as two reigns with the TNA World title.
Former WWE Raw Tag Team Champion Robert Roode has been out of action since late-June and on Thursday, he somewhat revealed one of the reasons why.
Roode took to Instagram to share a picture of Southlake Orthopaedics in Birmingham, Alabama, thanking them and Andrews Sports Medicine for taking great care of him this week and that he was heading home “after what is hoped to be a successful trip.”
Roode didn’t go into details about what his apparent injury is and what, if any, procedure was done this week.
The 45-year-old last wrestled on a June 25th house show against Omos. It was one of eight house show events he worked from May 21st through June 25th, all but one against Veer Mahaan.
His last TV match was at the April 1st SmackDown prior to WrestleMania as an entrant in the Andre The Giant memorial battle royal. After that appearance, he was out of action until the aforementioned May 21st house show match.
Before he challenges Dolph Ziggler at NXT Stand & Deliver, Bron Breakker will clash with Ziggler’s tag team partner.
Breakker vs. Robert Roode is set for tonight’s episode of NXT. Two weeks ago, interference by Roode contributed to Breakker losing the NXT Championship to Ziggler in a triple threat match that also included Tommaso Ciampa.
Ziggler made his first defense of the NXT title last week, retaining against LA Knight. Breakker then confronted Ziggler after the match and challenged him to a championship match at Stand & Deliver.
The finals of the 2022 women’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic are also set for tonight. It will be Io Shirai & Kay Lee Ray vs. Wendy Choo & Dakota Kai, with the winning team getting a future shot at Toxic Attraction’s NXT Women’s Tag Team titles.
Plus, two more qualifying matches for the North American Championship ladder match at Stand & Deliver will take place tonight. Solo Sikoa vs. Roderick Strong and Grayson Waller vs. A-Kid will determine the next two challengers for North American Champion Carmelo Hayes.
Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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The show opens with NXT North American Champion Carmelo Hayes and Trick Williams arriving to the building. They are heading inside to check who qualifies for the ladder match at Stand & Deliver.
A ladder match qualifier is kicking off the show.
Solo Sikoa defeats Roderick Strong in a North American Championship Qualifying Match
Sikoa pins Strong to qualify for the ladder match for the North American title at Stand & Deliver.
With the match in progress, Hayes and Williams arrive at the announce booth to provide guest commentary.
Strong cuts off Sikoa with a throat across the top rope. Never really seems like a Roddy Strong match at first. Not enough backbreakers I guess, but Strong eventually delivers a backbreaker for a near fall. At least the backbreaker was special in that regard.
Strong knife edge chops. Pun intended. Sikoa starts to fight back as they trade strikes. Hope spot is dashed, and Sikoa is again trapped on the mat. Olympic slam by Strong for another near fall.
Sikoa kicks out at two just as Santos Escobar enters the soundstage as he saunters up the aisle towards ringside.
Comeback by Sikoa, and a Samoan drop earns him a near fall. Sikoa attempts to climb the turnbuckles, but he gets crotched by Strong.
They tease a superplex, and Strongs takes a Nestea Plunge off the top rope. Sikoa follows with a Superfly splash, and Sikoa scores a three count. Sikoa wins via pinfall, and he advances to the ladder match at Stand & Deliver.
Indi Hartwell and Persia Pirotta are bickering backstage. This plays into the next match, as Hartwell invites Pirotta and Duke Hudson to watch from ringside.
Tony D’Angelo defeats Dexter Lumis (with Indi Hartwell)
D’Angelo pins Lumis after outside interference. Unrelated to that outside interference, Tommaso Ciampa jumps D’Angelo whilst he is cutting a post-match promo.
D’Angelo’s cockiness cost him early on in the match, and Lumis begins to pummel him. The fight eventually spills outside the ring, where D’Angelo is able to trip Lumis on the ring steps.
D’Angelo puts on his hat, and he mocks Tommaso Ciampa just as the show cuts to a commercial break. D’Angelo faces Ciampa next weekend at Stand & Deliver.
Lumis comeback after the show returns from the break. Lumis cleans house. Hartwell gives her approval while watching from ringside. In the meantime, Pirotta and Hudson lurk in the background.
Meanwhile, double down in the ring. D’Angelo is able to crawl towards his trusty crowbar. Hartwell gets to the corner first, and she grabs the crowbar to keep D’Angelo from using it.
Pirotta goes on to take the crowbar away from Hartwell. D’Angelo reaches out from inside the ring. He and Pirotta are having a tug-o-war with the crowbar. Pirotta loses her grib and let go. D’Angelo’s momentum spins him around, and smacks Lumis with the crowbar. The referee somehow misses most of this.
Lumis is laid out after a crowbar shot to the head, and D’Angelo covers him for a pinfall.
D’Angelo cut a promo after the match directed at Ciampa. D’Angelo vows to basically end Ciampa’s NXT career. That is when Ciampa surprises D’Angelo with an attack. Fairy Tale Ending by Ciampa, and Ciampa says he is going out on his terms.
Robert Roode is backstage for a interview with McKenzie Mitchell. NXT Champion Dolph Ziggler is with Roode, and Ziggler hypes up Roode ahead of a featured match later on tonight.
Elektra Lopez (with Legado del Fantasma) defeats Fallon Henley
Lopez pins Henley in a short match.
Henley’s character is leaning into the country girl gimmick with cut-off denim shorts. Henley fires up, looking for an upset. No dice. Lopez executes a sit-out side slam, and Lopez scores a three count.
Draco Anthony gets a video message from Joe Gacy trying to recruit Anthony. Draco slams the phone against a locker. Xyon Quinns overhears the message, and he sternly tells Anthony he has his back.
Backstage interview with Dakota Kai & Wendy Choo. McKenzie Mitchell asks about their thoughts on the Dusty Classic finals later on. They vow to win the tournament.
Bron Breakker defeats Robert Roode (with NXT Champion Dolph Ziggler)
Breaker pins Roode clean in a really good match. Ziggler gets ejected from ringside during the match, but returns after the match to waylay Breakker with a sneak attack.
This bout continues a trend of Breakker working with ring veterans, resulting in a some great TV matches.
Breakker pulls the straps down. He is fired up. Ziggler interferes by pulling Roode out of harm’s way as Breakker charges into a corner. Breakker rams himself into the ring post.
Unlike in the opening match, the referee sees the interference. So, the ref orders Ziggler to leave, ejecting him from ringside. Ziggler is pitching a fit as the show cuts to split-screen commercial break.
Breakker is battling back as the show returns from the break, but Roode dashes the hope spot with a blockbuster. Taunts by Roode, and he dashes another hope spot. Breakker kicks out again.
Roode attempts to climb the turnbuckles, and his is cut off by Breakker. Super Frankensteiner. They go on to trade near falls.
Overhead belly-to-belly by Breakker, and the crowds barks in approval. Roode answers back with a spinebuster that stuns Breakker.
Roode signals for his finisher, but Breakker blocks it. Breakker fires up, and he delivers a spear for a close near fall.
Breakker lifts Roode with a gorilla press, but Roode counters into a Glorious DDT. Roode drapes an arm over Breakker, but Breakker lifts his shoulder off the mat at two and half.
Slugfest develops, and they trade strikes. Roode leaps off the middle rope for some reason. Breakker catches him, and Breakker with a press slam on Roode. One … two … three.
Breakker is celebrating after the match as he walks up the ramp. Ziggler waylays him with a sneak attack, and Ziggler smacks Breakker with the title belt. Ziggler stands over a fallen Breakker, and Ziggler berates him with Breakker laid out on the stage.
Backstage skit with Dexter Lumis draws a picture to reveal Duke Hudson has a match with Gunther.
Bodhi Hayward cuts a promo in class at Chase University. Hayward goes on to berate another student, much to the joy of Andre Chase.
Grayson Waller defeats A-Kid in a North American Championship Qualifying Match
Waller pins A-Kid, and Waller qualifies for the ladder match at Stand & Deliver.
A-Kid working circles around Waller, and the crowd with a genuine pop on a high spot where A-Kid catches Waller in a submission hold.
Waller counters a springboard with a scary-looking leg sweep off the middle rope. A-Kid lands in an ugly manner. Waller then covers A-Kid for a pinfall.
Hayes and Williams were again at ringside. They announce another qualifying match for the ladder match. Next week the losers from the previous qualifying matches meet in a triple threat. Winner qualifies for the ladder match. Next Tuesday is A-Kid vs. Roderick Strong vs. Cameron Grimes.
The Creed Brothers (with Malcolm Bivens and Ivy Nile) defeat Grizzled Young Veterans
Brutus pins Drake to win the match.
GYV work over Julius Creed, but he make is own comeback to apply a stretch muffler on Zack Gibson. Nevertheless, Gibson is able to knock Brutus Creed off the apron. That allows GYV to regain an underhanded advantage.
Air Sabu by Drake to knock Brutus off the apron again. That only delays the inevitable. GYV attempt a Doomsday Device. Julius escapes their clutches, and Drake sells his knee on a roll through. Julius capitalizes with a chop block to the knee.
Hot tag to Brutus, and he squashes Drake with help from Julius. Brutus then pins Drake.
Unknown vandals are shown ransacking the Diamond Mine gym. They spray paint “DON’T CRY” on the wall, and one of them rips down the DM flag. They send a text with a warning to the Creed Brothers.
Gunther (with Imperium) defeats Duke Hudson (with Persia Pirotta)
Gunther pins Hudson in a hard-hitting match. Gunther was throwing some chops that look like haymakers.
Gunther is a montser. Hudson is peppering him with punches at one point, until Gunther lands a massive chop that echoes throughout the soundstage. The crowd erupts into a “holy sh*t” chant.
Hudson’s chest is hamburger meat. Gunther applies a choke, yet Hudson fights back. Hudson fires up on Gunther. Hudson with a German suplex for a two count.
The monster awakens. Gunther clobbers Hudson, and Gunther delivers a powerbomb. Gunther then covers Hudson for a pinfall.
LA Knight confronts Gunther
Gunther cuts a promo after the match. Declaring himself the most dominate competitor in NXT, Gunther bemoans being overlooked in NXT. Gunther brings up the name of LA Knight, which brings out Knight to confront Gunther.
Knight begins his shtick on the mic when Gunther tells him to shut up. Gunther claims Knight represents everything that wrong with the sport today. A lot of talking, and very little skill. Gunther goes on to say Knight’s mouth talks him matches, but Gunther says Knight lacks skill to win those matches.
Knight responds with a threat against Gunther. Knight warns Gunther to never interrupt him again, which is ironic since Knight first interrupted Gunther earlier in this segment. Knight curses at Gunther. Bold move.
Knight wanted to use his words to set up a match, but Knight decides to go a different route since Gunther told him to shut up. Knight hits Gunther with a sucker punch.
Imperium jump Knight until MSK run in to make a save, evening the odds. Knight and MSK clear the ring as the heels bump and feed.
In an announcement after a commercial break, Gunther against LA Knight in a singles match is made official for Stand & Deliver. Also announced is a trios match for next Tuesday on NXT, with Gunther & Imperium against Knight & MSK.
An emotional video package tells the story of Cameron Grimes, and the passing of his father. Grimes made a promise to his father. Grimes looks to work towards fulfilling that promise.
Io Shirai & Kay Lee Ray defeat Wendy Choo & Dakota Kai to win the Women’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic
Shirai pins Choo to win the match, thus winning the Dusty Cup.
The trio known as Toxic Attraction watches from a perch looking out over the ring.
Fun sequences early on highlighted by a little bit of gaga. Nevertheless, Choo’s character is more serious than she was in previous matches. Still plenty of silliness.
Shirai goes for a Tiger Feint Kick on Kai, but Choo blocks it with a pillow. All for not, as Shirai easliy recovers to sent Kai out of the ring.
Shirai leaps through the ropes with a flying crossbody to the outside on Kai, while Kay Lee Ray jumps into a dive on Choo through the ropes. Choo & Kai are in peril as the show cuts to a split-screen commercial break.
Choo runs wild after the break, as Choo gets a hot tag. Choo & Kai are cooking, and they are on fire.
Choo with an avalanche overhead suplex, KLR takes a hard bump back into the ring. She still manages to kick out at two.
KLR with a double foot stomp, and Choo follows with a modified Vader splash. Shirai flew in out of nowhere to deliver a missile dropkick, which breaks up a pinning attempt.
All four down in the ring selling. Moments later, KLR with a Gory Bomb on Choo. Shirai follows up with a moonsault press, and Shirai covers Choo to score a deciding pinfall.
Confetti falls from the ceiling as Shirai & KLR celebrate their win. Toxic Attraction enter the ring as NXT Champion Mandy Rose orders the music to stop. She rains on the parade as confetti is still rains down from above.
Rose cuts a promo on Shirai & KLR, telling them they will be beat by Jacy Jayne & Gigi Dolan.
KLR & Shirai both basically say they have their sights set on Rose’s title. KLR announces the women’s title match at Stand & Deliver is know a fatal four-way. Wut?
The apparent logic here is KLR & Shirai earned a tag title match by winning the Dusty Cup, but they instead choose to add themselves to the singles title match. I guess that is legal and whatnot. For what it is worth, the announcers on commentary similarly wonder.
Cora Jade rushes to the ring as the show closes with a wild brawl involving all the women in the ring. Toxic Attraction flees after they are sent packing. The babyfaces stand tall as the show closes.
Bron Breakker is set to face Robert Roode on this week’s NXT.
The end of last week’s show saw Breakker come out after new champion Dolph Ziggler defeated LA Knight to retain the NXT Championship. Breakker told Ziggler that he wanted the NXT Championship match at Stand & Deliver. Roode attempted to confront Breakker but was taken out. Ziggler eventually accepted the challenge for April 2.
It was Roode who helped Ziggler win the NXT championship two weeks ago, pulling Breakker out of the ring and allowing Ziggler to strike an unsuspecting Tommaso Ciampa with a superkick to score the pinfall.
Other matches announced for this week’s NXT:
Wendy Choo & Dakota Kai vs. Io Shirai & Kay Lee Ray in the finals of the women’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic
The Creed Brothers vs. Grizzled Young Veterans
Solo Sikoa vs. Roderick Strong in a Stand & Deliver North American Championship qualifying match
A-Kid vs. Grayson Waller in a Stand & Deliver North American Championship qualifying match
A new development in the NXT Championship picture took place last night.
Dolph Ziggler, the number one contender to Bron Breakker’s NXT Championship, was pinned by Tommaso Ciampa during a tag team match on last night’s NXT. With that, it was later announced that both Ziggler and Ciampa will get the next shot at Breakker’s title. Breakker will defend against Ziggler and Ciampa in a triple threat match on a special “Roadblock” edition of NXT next Tuesday.
As Ziggler was on Breakker’s shoulders, Ciampa hit a bulldog from the top rope near the end of last night’s match. Roode broke up the pin, but Ciampa ended up hitting the Fairytale Ending on Ziggler to get the victory.
Roadblock will also feature Imperium vs. The Creed Brothers for the NXT Tag Team titles, along with a Last Man Standing match between LA Knight and Grayson Waller.
Carmelo Hayes put his NXT North American Championship on the line in last night’s main event, retaining against Pete Dunne. Hayes announced after the match that he’ll defend his title in a ladder match at NXT Stand & Deliver during WrestleMania weekend this April.
Plus, Raquel Gonzalez & Cora Jade and Wendy Choo & Dakota Kai advanced in the 2022 women’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. Those two teams will meet in the semifinals of the tournament.
The NXT Champion and his next challenger will face off in tag team action to kick off tonight’s NXT.
In the opening match of tonight’s show, Bron Breakker will team with Tommaso Ciampa against Dolph Ziggler & Robert Roode. With Roode’s help, Ziggler defeated Ciampa last week to become the number one contender to Breakker’s NXT Championship.
The NXT North American Championship will be on the line in tonight’s main event. Carmelo Hayes puts his title on the line against Pete Dunne.
Gunther will be in action as he faces Solo Sikoa tonight, Andre Chase battles Von Wagner, and Draco Anthony takes on Harland.
Plus, the first round of the 2022 women’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic will conclude tonight. Raquel Gonzalez & Cora Jade are facing Yulisa Leon & Valentina Feroz, while Wendy Choo & Dakota Kai are set to take on Indi Hartwell & Persia Pirotta. The winning teams will advance to face each other in the semifinals.
Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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The show opens with the entrance of Bron Breakker and Tommaso Ciampa as a tag team. They enter to Breakker’s theme song, and Ciampa is wearing a singlet to match Breakker’s gear.
Ciampa is basically playing a Steiner, although the Steiner name is of course never mentioned. He and Bron would soon even bark together.
Robert Roode enters as his “Glorious” theme rings out, and then out comes Dolph Ziggler. The entrances soon came to a screeching halt.
Breakker and Ciampa jump the heels during the heel’s entrance. The fight is on, and the guys in singlets ran wild. They then barked like Rick Steiner, and the crowd joined in unison. The match then officially begins.
NXT Champion Bron Breakker & Tommaso Ciampa defeat Dolph Ziggler & Robert Roode
Ciampa pins Ziggler to win a really good tag match. It was great fun while it lasted.
The babyfaces were kicking butt until the heels cause a distraction. Roode distracts Breakker, and Ziggler is able to deliver a Zig Zag. Breakker kicks out at two, but he begins to get worked over soon thereafter.
The veteran heels cut the ring in half, keeping Breakker from making a tag. Breakker eventually tags out to Ciampa, who comes in like a house of fire. Down come the singlet straps. He means business.
Ciampa is cut off just before the show cuts to a commercial break. The heels with the advantage as the show returns from the break, but the tide quickly shifts.
Ziggler is catapulted out of the ring by Ciampa. Ciampa crawls to make a tag. Just as he about to tag out, Roode pulls Breakker off the ring apron. Roode then sends Breakker over the barricade into the first row of fans.
Ciampa is unable to tag, and he is alone in the ring against two heels. Double teams moves, but Ciampa still has fight in him. He kicks out.
Roode begins playing to the crowd. He pays for it when Ciampa hits a jumping knee strike out of nowhere. Ziggler is able to tag in, but he unable to keep Ciampa from tagging his fresh partner.
Hot tag to Breakker, and he explodes into a ring. Overhead suplexes toss the heels around like cord wood. Breakker spears Ziggler plum near out of his boots.
They tease a Steiner Brothers finish. Ciampa leaps off the top rope with a flying bulldog on Ziggler, who was being held in an electric chair by Breakkers. Ciampa covers Zigglers, but Roode breaks up the pin at the last second. Great save.
Ziggler almost catches Ciampa with a roll-up. Ciampa delivers a Fairy Tale Ending on Ziggler, and Ciampa covers Ziggler for a clean pinfall. That was a really fun match to watch.
LA Knight is backstage on his way to cut a promo, but first he cuts a promo to tease the upcoming promo. ‘
Gunther in a vignette threatens Solo Sikoa ahead of their match later tonight.
Last man standing match set for next week
LA Knight is in the ring for a monologue. He is really trying to get over his “yeeeah” catchphrase. For what it is worth, that is working with the crowd there on the soundstage.
Knight begins to run down the recent history between him and Grayson Waller. Knight is soon interrupted when Waller interrupts him. Waller, flanked by Sanga, insults Knight from a perch overlooking the ring.
They trade barbs. Knight challenges Waller to a last man standing match. Waller accepts the challenge, and Waller agrees to face Knight in a last man standing match next Tuesday on NXT.
Indi Hartwell and Persia Pirotta were in a locker room getting ready for their match. Pirotta is texting with Duke Hudson, and Hartwell wants to know is she is focused on their match. Pirotta says she is of course focused, but she runs back to her locker to get her phone. She had to text Hudson one more time. They then head to the ring for a tournament match.
Dakota Kai & Wendy Choo defeat Indi Hartwell & Persia Pirotta to advance in the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic
Kai pins Pirotta to win the match. Kai & Choo now advance out of the first round into the semifinals.
The tease of dissension continues between Hartwell & Pirotta. A split seems near.
Much like the skit before it, the match itself involves comedy. Lots of gaga, but the tone somewhat shifts after Choo is cut off.
Hot tag because WWE only has one style of tag matches. Kai proceeds to clean house after the hot tag. Pirotta cuts her off, and she gets a near fall. Choo jumps in to make a save.
Pirotta is isolated by tandem offense. Choo with a Vader bomb off the top rope on Pirotta. Kai follows up by leaping off the top with a double foot stomp on Pirotta. Kai then pins Pirotta.
USA Network cuts to a commercial break right in the middle of Vic Joseph on commentary throwing to something.
A video package highlights the feud between Imperium and The Creed Brothers. The up-and-comers next Tuesday challenge Imperium for the NXT Tag Team Championship.
Besides the title match, made official for next week on NXT is a last man standing match with LA Knight against Grayson Waller.
Lash Legend defeats Amari Miller
Legend pins Miller after some sort of fireman’s carry slam. It did not look good. This match had no business being on live television. It does no one any favors. Miller was reportedly stretchered out of the ring after the match.
Legend is clearly getting a push, and she was put over strong in this match.
Miller and Legend split as teammates last week after losing a tournament match. A bad skit aired before the match, which showed their breakup from last week.
Solo Sikoa cut a good promo ahead of his match that is up next. But first, another bad skit.
Briggs & Jensen get into a brief argument backstage with Elektra Lopez. Briggs & Jensen were made to look like redneck goofs. Cringe.
Gunther defeats Solo Sikoa
Gunther pins Sikoa clean in their grudge match.
Gunther is not only adapting into a new name, he has a newer style in the ring that fits more with WWE television programming. Not that is is bad, it just is not WALTER.
Gunther works over Sikoa. They did trade some hard chops throughout the match. Sikoa makes a comeback, and Sikoa leaps off the apron into a flying body press on the floor. Sikoa missed a Superfly splash into the ring, and it cost him the match.
Gunther locks in a sleeper, and he transitions into delivering two powerbombs. Gunther goes on to cover Sikoa for a pinfall.
McKenzie Mitchell was interviewing Dolph Ziggler when Tommaso Ciampa storms in to argue with Ziggler. NXT Champion Bron Breakker enters the scene, and he says he could kick both of their asses. This seems to set up a triple threat title match. The match is soon made official for next Tuesday on NXT, making next week a loaded line-up so far.
More backstage drama as Indi Hartwell and Persia Pirotta are upset over their tournament loss. Duke Hudson consoles Pirotta, and things get a bit awkward for Hartwell.
Harland (with Joe Gacy) defeats Draco Anthony
Harland pins Anthony in a glorified squash match. Anthony put up a fight, but Harland is a monster. The character remains mostly one dimensional.
Gacy smiles at Harland after the match, as if to give him permission. So Harland hugs Anthony. Making amends I guess.
NXT North American Champion Carmelo Anthony & Trick Williams cut a good promo ahead of the title match later on tonight.
Raquel Gonzalez & Cora Jade vs. Yulisa Leon & Valentina Feroz in Dusty Classic first round match
Gonzalez & Jade win to advance in the tournament. Gonzalez & Jade now move on to the semifinals. Short tag match, but it was fun to watch.
Leon & Feroz got to shine with some big dives to the outside. They isolate Jade, keeping from making a tag. That leads to a hot tag, because like as noted previously, WWE basically has one style of tag match.
Gonzalez cleans house after a hot tag. Gonzalez delivers her signature one arm powerbomb. Gonzalez slams Jade on Leon, and Jade scores a pinfall.
Gonzalez & Jade advance to the semifinals where they meet Dakota Kai & Wendy Choo. The other semifinal match has Io Shirai & Kay Lee Ray against Kacy Catanzaro & Kayden Carter. The winners of those matches meet in the tournament final.
Tiffany Stratton assaults Sarray backstage. Lame skit, but it seems to set up a match between Stratton and Sarray.
Tony D’Angelo in a pre-taped promo says he will became a “made man” at Stand & Deliver. His opponent will “sleep with the fishes.”
Von Wagner (with Robert Stone) defeats Andre Chase (with Bodhi Hayward)
Wagner pins Chase. Most lame finish on the show by far. Wagner sort of looked strong in winning, but who did he really beat? Especially considering Chase is made to look like such a geek.
Chase seems to be the babyface in this match, but his character is very annoying. His character is also pretty dumb for a university professor.
Hayward is arguing at ringside with Robert Stone. Chase is seemingly winning the match when he leaves the ring to put himself in the middle of the argument. A scuffle soon develops, where Hayward is struck in the eye by Wagner.
Hayward sells big, and Chase is concerned with his student. Hayward tells him to finish the match. Chase slides back into the ring, and he is mowed down and pinned by Wagner.
Nikkita Lyons challenges Lash Legend to what is basically a face-to-face talking segment.
Announced for next Tuesday, which is being billed as “NXT Roadblock”:
NXT Champion Bron Breakker defends his title in a triple threat match against Dolph Ziggler and Bron Breakker
NXT Tag Team Champions Imperium defend against challengers The Creed Brothers
Last Man Standing: LA Knight vs. Grayson Waller
NXT North American Champion Carmelo Hayes (with Trick Williams) defeats Pete Dunne to retain his title
Hayes pins Dunne to retain. Great bout that could have been even better if given a little more time.
They trade strikes and lariats in the opening minutes. Hayes takes a awkward-looking X-plex. The match was just beginning to really heat up when the show cut to a split-screen commercial break.
Back-and-forth action continues after the commercial break, but the match also intensifies.
Hulking himself up, Dunne lights a fire within. He explodes with strikes. Hayes goes for a springboard, but Dunne knocks him out of the air for a near fall.
Dunne applies on ankle lock, which signals the beginning of the end. They go into a series of counters. Dunne executes The Bitter End, yet Hayes manages to roll away to avoid a pinning attempt.
Dunne goes for a triangle, and it backfires. Maneuvered into the ropes (which of course should have been a rope break), Dunne is slingshotted into the ropes.
Hayes launches into La Mistica, yet Dunne is able to use joint locks to break Hayes’ grip.
They fight with both perched on the turnbuckles. Trick Williams interferes, and Dunne snaps Williams’ fingers. Dunne shoved off the ropes, and his is hit by a guillotine legdrop by Hayes. Three count later, and Hayes retains the title.
Hayes after the match announces he will defend his title in a ladder match at Stand & Deliver in Dallas.
Join on-air personality Denise Salcedo as she reviews the February 22nd edition of WWE NXT 2.0 on Speak Now Pro Wrestling! This week included a match between Tommaso Ciampa and Dolph Ziggler, the start of the Women’s Dusty Cup tournament and more!
This week’s WWE Main Event was taped at the Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado, before Monday’s Raw.
Jimmy Smith replaced Kevin Patrick at the announce table, joined as usual by Byron Saxton.
Veer Mahaan defeated T-Bar (5:36)
This was a good fight between two big men that was largely 50-50 but didn’t overstay its welcome.
Mahaan may or may not be coming to Raw, but he’s pretty much a Main Event regular these days and is now undefeated since adding Mahaan to his name.
T-Bar is increasingly more convincing as a powerful presence. He’s adding more power moves to his in-ring moveset and is slowing down to work more methodically. There’s a gimmick in there somewhere, but his character needs work.
This was heavy, pun fully intended, on big moves here: splashes, suplexes, power slams and big boots. But, that’s what a match of this length really warranted.
This is the first time fans have seen someone kick out of T-Bar’s High Justice on Main Event, but Veer got his shoulder up at two and countered with the Million Dollar Arm and then finished him with what’s described below.
Mahaan continues to experiment with a finisher. He’s used an unnamed riff on a Sister Abigail/Cross Rhodes but went for a less effective-looking spike DDT here. If he joins the main roster anytime soon, this is just one of the wrinkles that needs ironing out.
The Hurt Business (Cedric Alexander & Shelton Benjamin) defeated The Dirty Dawgz (Dolph Ziggler & Robert Roode) (7:08)
This was an excellent tag match between outstanding in-ring workers who really know how to put a good bout together.
Ziggler on Main Event is a rarity to say the least. With only one appearance on the show in the last six years, he’s largely managed to avoid Main Event. For Roode, this was his first outing in three years on this show. It’s a shame the outcome was a loss.
This was exactly what a Main Event tag match should be. It wasn’t anything too flashy, but it was solid, avoided the dreaded rest hold spots, and was pieced together in order to get the live crowd behind the drama of it.
Ziggler is doing a lot of throwback stuff in his work these days. He did the Ric Flair strut, the NWO finger points and some Shawn Michaels poses on the apron while Roode was in the ring and the Jake Roberts DDT finger twirl to signal that they were going home.
All four worked really well together and led me to wonder why this wasn’t on Raw where more eyeballs would be on it.
The finish was everything you would want out of a curtain jerker match like this. It was complicated and went back and forth with twists and turns. When Benjamin hit Roode with the Pay Dirty, the crowd really reacted as The Hurt Business got their hands raised.
Final Thoughts:
One really strong tag match and one perfectly fine singles bout meant this was a very watchable show this week. Mahaan’s promise of a Raw debut that never arrives seems to be a running joke, but he actually needs more time to work on things on a show like this.
Catch the tag match if you can, because it was good fun. But Ziggler must be a little concerned as being farmed out to NXT 2.0 and now appearing on Main Event doesn’t look particularly great.
Seven new participants have been confirmed for this year’s men’s Royal Rumble match.
WWE has announced that Omos, Randy Orton, Riddle, Chad Gable, Otis, Dolph Ziggler, and Robert Roode will be entrants in the men’s Royal Rumble. With 22 wrestlers now confirmed, there are still eight spots left open in the match.
For the women’s Royal Rumble, WWE has announced 21 of the 30 wrestlers who will be taking part in the match.
The Royal Rumble is being held at The Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis this Saturday. Here’s the updated list of entrants for both Rumble matches:
A pair of title matches are set for tonight’s episode of Raw.
WWE has announced that the United States Championship and Raw Tag Team titles will both be on the line on Raw tonight. Damian Priest will defend his United States title against Apollo Crews, while Dolph Ziggler & Robert Roode will challenge RK-Bro (Randy Orton & Riddle) for the Raw Tag Team titles.
Priest and RK-Bro have both held their respective titles since SummerSlam. Priest won the United States Championship from Sheamus at that pay-per-view. RK-Bro won the Raw Tag Team titles from AJ Styles & Omos.
It appeared that Crews was going to answer Priest’s United States title open challenge last week. Crews interrupted Priest on the show but then declined to face him. Crews said he would decimate Priest when they do face off. Crews said he’ll show the entire world that Priest isn’t fit to be United States Champion.
Priest instead retained the United States title against Sami Zayn last Monday.
While dressed up like Orton, Riddle defeated Ziggler in a singles match last week.
Tonight’s Raw is taking place at the UBS Arena in Long Island, New York. Here’s the updated card for the show:
Non-title match: WWE Champion Big E vs. Kevin Owens
Seth Rollins vs. Finn Balor
Edge returns
United States Champion Damian Priest defends against Apollo Crews
Raw Tag Team Champions RK-Bro defend against Dolph Ziggler & Robert Roode
A pair of tag team matches have been added to Raw’s go-home show for Crown Jewel.
WWE Champion Big E and his Crown Jewel challenger Drew McIntyre will team up again as they face Dolph Ziggler & Robert Roode on Monday’s Raw. Big E & McIntyre defeated Ziggler & Roode on the October 4 episode of the show.
Big E & McIntyre also teamed together on Raw earlier this week, losing by countout against The Usos. Dissension between Big E and McIntyre led to them brawling on the floor and ignoring the referee’s count. The show ended with McIntyre countering the Big Ending and laying out Big E with a Claymore.
It’s also been announced that Raw Tag Team Champions RK-Bro will face The Street Profits in non-title action on Monday’s show. RK-Bro are defending their titles against AJ Styles & Omos at Crown Jewel on Thursday (October 21).
The Street Profits were selected by Raw in the WWE Draft earlier this month. On last night’s SmackDown, they unsuccessfully challenged for The Usos’ SmackDown Tag Team titles in a street fight.
Monday’s Raw is taking place at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. Here’s the updated lineup for the episode:
Raw Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair defends against Bianca Belair
WWE Champion Big E & Drew McIntyre vs. Dolph Ziggler & Robert Roode
Non-title match: Raw Tag Team Champions RK-Bro (Randy Orton & Riddle) vs. The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins & Montez Ford)
King of the Ring tournament semifinal match: Xavier Woods vs. Jinder Mahal
Queen’s Crown tournament semifinal match: Shayna Baszler vs. Doudrop
WWE has announced two segments and a tag team match for tonight’s episode of SmackDown.
After making her return at SummerSlam, new SmackDown Women’s Champion Becky Lynch will appear on tonight’s SmackDown. The show will also feature Universal Champion Roman Reigns hosting a championship celebration.
Plus, Intercontinental Champion Shinsuke Nakamura & Rick Boogs will face Dolph Ziggler & Robert Roode in tag team action on SmackDown tonight.
At SummerSlam, Lynch defeated Bianca Belair in under 30 seconds to win the SmackDown Women’s Championship. It was Lynch’s first appearance on WWE programming since announcing her pregnancy in May 2020.
Belair defending her title against Sasha Banks was originally set for SummerSlam, but it was announced just before the match was supposed to start that Banks wouldn’t be able to compete. WWE teased that Carmella would be taking Banks’ place in the SmackDown Women’s Championship match, but Lynch then laid out Carmella and challenged Belair to face her instead.
Reigns retained his Universal Championship against John Cena in the main event of SummerSlam. The returning Brock Lesnar then confronted Reigns.
Nakamura defeated Apollo Crews on SmackDown two weeks ago to win the Intercontinental title. Nakamura & Boogs defeated Crews & Commander Azeez on last Friday’s episode of the show.
Tonight’s SmackDown is taking place at Simmons Bank Arena in North Little Rock, Arkansas.
