Tag: robert stone

Full-time WWE NXT general manager revealed

Posted on by Shounak Chakrabarti

After weeks of working as WWE NXT’s interim general manager, Robert Stone has been promoted to become the new full-time general manager.

Earlier today on social media, Stone announced the news of his promotion and new position as NXT’s full-time manager. He further proceeded to share his gratitude to William Regal, Shawn Michaels, and the WWE Universe.

“Thank you [WWE Universe] Being the Full Time GM is Set. In. Stone. Now the real work begins…” wrote Stone on social media.

Stone was appointed the interim general manager of WWE NXT on February 3, 2026, and took over Ava after she left WWE on January 30, 2026. Ava was WWE NXT’s former general manager and held the position from 2023 to 2026.

Earlier this week, Stone also shared a crucial decision on the NXT Championship’s future, when he announced that Joe Hendry would defend his NXT title against Ricky Saints, Ethan Page, and Tony D’Angelo at NXT Stand & Deliver.

WWE NXT notes: Tag Team title tournament updates, Robert Stone, Blake Monroe

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Notes from Tuesday’s NXT in Houston.

Birthright were the first to advance in the tournament to crown new contenders for the NXT Tag Team titles, defeating Hank and Tank after other members of the stable interfered allowing just enough confusion for Uriah Connors & Stacks to pick up the win and advance to the next round. The winners of the tournament will face the Vanity Project at Stand & Deliver.

The next match of the tournament will take place back at the Performance Center next week when Eli Knight and Elio LeFleur take on The Culling. A segment on Tuesday’s show saw Shawn Legacy appearing on crutches, suffering an injury on last week’s show when he and Eli Knight faced Jasper Troy in a three-way match. LeFleur offered to team with Knight as a result, keeping the former in the tournament.

In a segment that took place last week that aired on Tuesday, William Regal set Robert Stone aside and said he was impressed with the way he had been running NXT, and as a result would be talking to Shawn Michaels to make sure he would become the permanent general manager of the brand.

The main event of Tuesday’s show saw Tatum Paxley retain the Women’s North American title, pinning Izzi Dame with the cemetery drive. Paxley celebrated the win on the entrance ramp, seemingly ending the show on a positive note. However, a hand emerged from an opening in the platform and dragged Paxley underneath. Blake Monroe emerged from the opening clutching Paxley’s North American title, posing with it as the show drew to a close.

Robert Stone credits Samoa Joe for helping him get WWE NXT opportunity

Posted on by Ian Carey

Robert Stone revealed that it was Samoa Joe who helped bring him into NXT after leaving TNA Wrestling.

Stone signed with WWE and reported to the Performance Center in March 2019 after having been with TNA since 2010. During a recent appearance on Busted Open After Dark, Stone said Joe texted him within minutes of him announcing his TNA departure, and a tryout was arranged.

“I let my contract run out. I think I announced on Twitter saying, I’m no longer with TNA wrestling. Immediately, and I mean, within minutes, I get a text from Samoa Joe, our good friend from TNA Wrestling, who saw the news, said, do I have interest in coming to WWE NXT?”

“I told him, absolutely. I guess he put some feelers out maybe to William Regal, who at the time was helping get talent tryouts.”

Stone added that he was waiting to hear back from the company for months after his tryout before they finally told him they were moving forward with the contract. He said that at the time he was being brought in, it was never mentioned that they were interested in converting him to a manager, though the thought had crossed his mind.

“I knew that they also hired Stokely Hathaway. So when I heard that and he was coming in with me, I said, maybe they’re into managers now and that’s what they want me to be because of him. So no one told me, but I had the thought, and then my first week there, they said, do you have any interest in being a manager?”

Later in the interview, Stone was asked if he has any advice to up-and-coming wrestlers and said the best advice is to be patient. He noted that for the past two years his role has been as Ava’s assistant, and he could have been complaining about wanting more screen time, but instead waited for his opportunity.

Stone continued:

“The past two years, I could have been complaining, I want more TV time, I want to be doing this, I could be doing more, but I didn’t. I just said, I know what I bring to the table. I know that everyone that sees me work knows that I’m talented at what I do and my time will come, my opportunity will come.”

Stone’s full appearance on the Busted Open After Dark podcast is available below.

New interim WWE NXT general manager named

Posted on by Bryan Rose

A new NXT general manager has been named.

Tuesday’s show opened with Shawn Michaels officially naming Robert Stone the new interim general manager of NXT. Michaels told Stone that for the last seven years, he has done whatever he’s been told, and he knows Stone loves NXT. Michaels said that things could get crazy around here, but he kind of likes it that way. Stone told HBK that he wouldn’t let him down. Ava, the previous general manager, was not mentioned by name nor was her departure explained.

The move comes as Ava (Simone Johnson) announced last week that she would not be renewing her contract with WWE. Shortly after her contract expired, she posted a message on social media critical of the Trump administration and ICE before deactivating her account.

Stone, 42, wrestled in TNA under the name Robbie E before joining NXT in 2019, managing the likes of Chelsea Green, Riddick Moss, and Von Wagner. When Wagner was released from his contract in 2024, Stone became an assistant to Ava alongside Stevie Turner. He also is part of the WWE Evolve commentary team alongside Peter Rosenberg.

Santino Marella & Arianna Grace issue tag team challenge for TNA Impact

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Santino Marella and Arianna Grace are looking for revenge.

In a segment that took place backstage, Marella announced he was going to talk to the higher-ups in TNA to get a match against Stone, who in recent weeks has cemented himself as the ‘sherrif’ of TNA above Marella. Arianna Grace suggested they take on Stone and Tessa Blanchard in a tag match, wanting to avenge her loss earlier in the night. The announcers hoped that the match would be made official for Thursday.

A show-long storyline at Under Siege saw Marella being bullied by Stone, who sent the TNA Director of Authority to the back before Grace’s match against Tessa Blanchard. Despite putting up a fight, Grace was unable to beat Blanchard.

One new match was added for the next episode of Impact, as Lei Ying Lee will be in action. After retaining her title over Victoria Crawford, Knockouts Champion Masha Slamovich called out Lee, saying she was worthy of a title match. Lee came out and stared down the champion until Stone came out and said title matches had to be earned, and Lee will get the opportunity to do so this Thursday.

The updated lineup for TNA Impact:

TNA Impact, Thursday, May 29 —

  • International Champion Steve Maclin defends against Matt Cardona
  • Lei Ying Lee in action

Mixed tag team match, two segments added to WWE NXT

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Update —

Tonight’s NXT will also feature a Prime Target video package building up Adam Cole and Kyle O’Reilly’s match at TakeOver 36 this Sunday.

Cole and O’Reilly’s match at TakeOver is being called “The Undisputed Finale.” It will be a two-out-of-three falls match, with each fall having a different stipulation. The first fall will be a traditional wrestling match, the second fall will be a street fight, and the third fall will be a steel cage match.

**********

WWE has announced a couple of additions to the lineup for tonight’s episode of NXT.

Indi Hartwell & Dexter Lumis will team together for the first time as they face Jessi Kamea & Robert Stone in a mixed tag team match. There will also be an interview segment where NXT Women’s Champion Raquel Gonzalez and Dakota Kai will “issue their last words to one another” before their title match at TakeOver 36 this Sunday.

Lumis lost a Love Her or Lose Her match to Johnny Gargano on NXT two weeks ago, but Lumis and Hartwell still got together after the match. Last week’s NXT featured an angle where they went on their first date.

WWE uploaded a post-show video last week where Kamea, Stone, and Franky Monet watched Hartwell and Lumis’ date. Monet called the date pathetic. Kamea said she would mess up Hartwell if she ever had a shot at her, and Stone claimed that he’d probably be able to take out Lumis in under a minute.

Tonight’s NXT is the go-home show for TakeOver 36. It’s also being billed as the “Title Tuesday” edition of the show, with the NXT Cruiserweight Championship and NXT Tag Team titles both on the line tonight.

Here’s the updated lineup for tonight’s episode:

  • NXT Cruiserweight Champion Kushida defends against Roderick Strong
  • NXT Tag Team Champions MSK defend against Imperium’s Marcel Barthel & Fabian Aichner
  • NXT Breakout Tournament semifinal match: Duke Hudson vs. Carmelo Hayes
  • Face-to-face segment with NXT Champion Karrion Kross and Samoa Joe
  • Mixed tag team match: Indi Hartwell & Dexter Lumis vs. Jessi Kamea & Robert Stone
  • Interview with NXT Women’s Champion Raquel Gonzalez and Dakota Kai
  • Prime Target: Adam Cole vs. Kyle O’Reilly

WWE announces Shotzi Blackheart vs. Aliyah for NXT

Posted on by Joseph Currier

WWE has confirmed a third match for tonight’s episode of NXT.

During Robert Stone’s appearance on WWE’s The Bump this morning, it was announced that Shotzi Blackheart will face Robert Stone Brand member Aliyah on NXT tonight. Karrion Kross vs. Dominik Dijakovic and Dexter Lumis vs. Killian Dain are the other matches that have been announced for tonight. WWE is also hyping that the show will feature a “huge announcement” by NXT general manager William Regal.

There was an angle on NXT two weeks ago where Blackheart rejected an offer to join the Robert Stone Brand. When that happened, Stone threw a cup of coffee over his shoulder and accidentally hit Dain. Dain then threw Stone against a cart and Blackheart ran over his ankle with the tank she uses to make her entrance.

Last week, Stone apologized to Dain and said it was all Blackheart’s fault. Aliyah then showed Stone a drawing Lumis made that had Stone’s ankle being run over by Blackheart’s tank and Dain being hit with the coffee cup on it. Dain told Stone that if he wants to make it up to him, he’ll get Dain a match against Lumis.

Stone and Aliyah also caused Blackheart to lose a match against Indi Hartwell on NXT last week.