Tag: william regal

William Regal makes surprise WWE NXT appearance at Roadblock

Posted on by Ethan Renner

William Regal made a surprise appearance at Tuesday’s WWE NXT Roadblock special. 

In just his second appearance on WWE TV since rejoining the company in 2023, Regal interrupted a celebration of new NXT Heritage Cup Champion Charlie Dempsey and the No Quarter Catch Crew at Roadblock. 

Regal noted that the Heritage Cup is of the utmost importance to him, and that he will have his eye on the No Quarter Catch Crew as they defend the trophy under the “Catch clause,” where any member of the group can defend the Cup. 

Dempsey stated that he would defend the Cup better than Regal ever could, a nod to the fact that Dempsey is Regal’s son in real life. Regal acknowledged Dempsey as his son in a social media promo in December, but that has yet to pay into NXT storylines. 

After being released by WWE in January 2022, Regal had a run with AEW as the manager of the Blackpool Combat Club and occasional commentator that lasted from March 2022 to December 2022. He returned to WWE in January 2023 as the company’s Vice President, Global Talent Development after asking AEW not to pick up his contract option for 2023. AEW agreed, but with the stipulation that he could not appear on WWE TV until 2024. 

Regal made his return as a television character on the January 23, 2024 NXT episode as an authority figure of sorts, naming Ava the new general manager of the brand. 

William Regal returns to WWE TV on NXT, names Ava general manager

Posted on by Bryan Rose

William Regal appeared on NXT, congratulating Ava on her new role on the show.

Both were shown on Tuesday walking out of Shawn Michaels’ office following a meeting. Regal congratulated Ava on officially becoming the youngest general manager in WWE history. He told her to look out for NXT, as he was here on day one and the brand means the world to him. Ava said that she had big shoes to fill, but she could do the job.

This was Regal’s first on-screen appearance since returning to WWE in early 2023, where he was named Vice President of Global Talent Development. He had previously been the on-screen general manager before being released in January of 2022. Regal had spent the year away from WWE in AEW, helping form the Blackpool Combat Club.

In recent weeks, Ava has been dealing with talent backstage, saying that she would talk to Shawn Micheals for them. She eventually explained that “a wise man” told her that Micheals would need help as the brand expands, and that is where she will come in.

WWE NXT’s Charlie Dempsey to challenge for AJPW Triple Crown Championship

Posted on by Ethan Renner

WWE NXT is sending Charlie Dempsey to AJPW to challenge for the Triple Crown Championship at New Year Giant Series 2024 on January 3.

WWE’s William Regal made the announcement in a video posted to AJPW’s X account on Sunday, following up on a video from Saturday where AJPW President Tsuyoki Fukuda requested a representative from NXT for the event. 

In the video posted Sunday, Regal said that he was a veteran of many battles in Japan and was proud to continue the tradition of great European wrestlers making their mark in Japan by sending Dempsey. 

Regal said that he was acknowledging publicly for the first time that Dempsey is his son, and that Dempsey will carry on the tradition of Johnny Saint, Billy Robinson, and other historical European stars who have wrestled in Japan.

Dempsey, Drew Gulak, Damon Kemp, and Myles Borne comprise the No Quarter Catch Crew stable in NXT. Dempsey challenged Dragon Lee for the North American title in a triple threat match also involving Joe Coffey on last week’s NXT episode.

Katsuhiko Nakajima currently holds AJPW’s Triple Crown Championship, but has one scheduled title defense ahead of New Year Giant Series. On December 31, Nakajima will defend against Kento Miyahara.

Regal’s video promo is embedded below.

William Regal explains reasons behind AEW departure

Posted on by Bryan Rose

William Regal has shared details regarding his AEW departure.

Regal took to Twitter on Saturday afternoon to explain his depature from the company last year, writing that “time and time spent” was the reason for leaving.

“Time and time spent was the [reason] for my leaving, no agenda for anything else,” Regal wrote. “I have lived through some serious times in 2018/19 and realize time is all I have. I had a great time in AEW and are thankful for the time I spent there with many of my close friends and the amazing crew. I just want to make that public so people stop misinterpreting it.”

“It’s sad that people in our job can’t realize that you can be a decent human being without having an agenda or taking advantage,” he added. “This is the last time I will mention this. Again, I would like to thank AEW for [their] gracious acceptance of me and for Tony to take me onboard.”

Regal explained that he initially told Tony Khan about leaving on a Sunday night, but when he realized Khan was dealing with his mother’s illness, he told him to get off the phone to take care of his family.

“I know Tony summed up a few conversations we had with quick [answers]. FYI, Tony called me at 9 pm on a Sunday night and I discussed my reasons for leaving were time spent where I won’t to be,” he wrote. “Then [and only] then did he tell me [where] he was and what problems he was having. I told him to get off the phone and take care [of] his family and he shouldn’t be talking to me [now]. I also realise he has summed up conversations with brief answers. We eventually talked about me leaving 2 weeks later in Jacksonville.”

Regal returned to WWE in January after leaving AEW the previous month. His new role in the company is Vice President of Global Talent Development.

William Regal says original plans for AEW role ‘never transpired’

Posted on by Ian Carey

William Regal says his role in AEW did not turn out to be what he expected it to. 

Regal took part in an interview with Scroobius Pip released on Wednesday. During the show, the 54-year-old said the last few months in AEW felt as though there was too much focus on him and not enough on the talent he was with. 

Regal said. 

There’s a lot that happened this year, there’s also a lot of things that have made me go, ‘I’m quite happy being not in the limelight,’ and I have been for many years. I had my time.

The last little few months in AEW was getting far too much about me and it should have been about the talent that I was with, not about me. I’m quite happy being in the background.

Regal would continue to say he was brought to AEW to work in a capacity other than being talent but this role “never transpired.” 

I couldn’t have a better last few months as far as TV and doing that but I didn’t go there with that intention. The intention was to do something different and it just never…it started off the way it did but I didn’t expect it to end up being this thing that it was for the last several months where I just became talent.

I went there with a different plan because I was asked to go there to help out in a different capacity and that never transpired. 

Regal debuted for the promotion at AEW Revolution on March 6, 2022. He quickly became aligned with his former student Bryan Danielson as well as Jon Moxley, who he worked an FCW angle with in 2011-12. They would form the Blackpool Combat Club along with Wheeler Yuta and Claudio Castagnoli. 

Report: William Regal’s WWE job title revealed

Posted on by Ian Carey

William Regal has been given a new title in WWE.

According to a report from PWInsider, the 54-year-old is now the Vice President, Global Talent Development for the company. 

Regal’s previous title before his WWE release last year had been Director of Talent Development and Head of Global Recruiting. He had been working backstage in the company since June 2014.

Regal officially returned to WWE last week after having been with AEW since debuting there at Revolution on March 6, 2022. Tony Khan revealed on an ROH Final Battle media call on December 12, 2021, that Regal asked him not to pick up the option year on his contract so that he could return to WWE and have a hand in training his son, NXT wrestler Charlie Dempsey. 

Khan said:

Basically, he’s got a son who works at another wrestling promotion and he really wanted us at the end of the year when we had the option to renew the contract, he was asking that we would not. Nothing bad, we were having a great time working together but that this was an opportunity for him to go back and work in his golden years of his career with his son.

During his time in AEW, Regal helped form the Blackpool Combat Club faction of Bryan Danielson, Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli, and Wheeler Yuta. 

Report: William Regal officially back with WWE

Posted on by Ian Carey

William Regal has reportedly returned to WWE in an official capacity. 

According to a report from PWInsider, the 54-year-old is back with the company as of this morning. His return comes almost one year to the day that he had been released from WWE on January 5, 2022. 

Regal is set to be a vice president in WWE, although his actual job title has not yet been revealed. His previous title with the company had been WWE Director of Talent Development and Head of Global Recruiting.

Regal had been with AEW from Revolution on March 6, 2022, up until he officially announced his departure on December 30, 2022. 

Tony Khan revealed the details behind Regal’s AEW release during an ROH Final Battle press conference on December 12, 2022. 

Khan said:

“Basically, he’s got a son who works at another wrestling promotion and he really wanted us at the end of the year when we had the option to renew the contract, he was asking that we would not. Nothing bad, we were having a great time working together but that this was an opportunity for him to go back and work in his golden years of his career with his son.” 

Regal had the following to say about his time in AEW. 

Yesterday was my last official day with @AEW. I’d like to thank @TonyKhan, Megha and all the hard working crew. Contrary to people who’ve never spoken to me or have their information from people who don’t know me or are trying to make themselves noticed, I had a lovely time working there and had a great time. Lots of talented Wrestlers, and lovely people to work for. To my fellow BCC members, it was a special, albeit brief few months but it cemented our already strong friendship. To everyone there, thank you for welcoming me. Best wishes.

William Regal bids farewell to AEW, says he had ‘lovely’ time working there

Posted on by Joseph Currier

William Regal has officially bid farewell to AEW after finishing up with the promotion.

The 54-year-old Regal sent out a pair of tweets on Friday noting that yesterday was the last day on his AEW contract. He thanked Tony Khan, AEW executive Megha Parekh, and the hard-working crew in AEW. Regal wrote that he had a great time working for AEW, and the company has lots of talented wrestlers.

The tweets also included a message to the Blackpool Combat Club, with Regal saying it was a special few months that cemented their already strong friendship.

Regal wrote:

Yesterday was my last official day with @AEW. I’d like to thank @TonyKhan, Megha and all the hard working crew. Contrary to people who’ve never spoken to me or have their information from people who don’t know me or are trying to make themselves noticed, I had a lovely time working there and had a great time. Lots of talented Wrestlers, and lovely people to work for. To my fellow BCC members, it was a special, albeit brief few months but it cemented our already strong friendship. To everyone there, thank you for welcoming me. Best wishes.

Khan confirmed earlier this month that he agreed to not renew Regal’s contract at the end of 2022. Regal requested for the deal not to be renewed so that he could go back to NXT and work with his son (NXT wrestler Charlie Dempsey).

Regal starts with WWE the first week of January and will have a vice president role with the company.

Regal’s return to WWE comes after he was released by the promotion in January 2022. He debuted for AEW this March.

Wrestling Observer Live: ROH on Honor Club, Sasha to New Japan, NXT and ROH PPV reviews, more!

Posted on by Bryan Alvarez

Wrestling Observer Live with Bryan Alvarez and Mike Sempervive is back with tons to talk about including ROH TV on Honor Club and what it might mean for the future of New Japan in America, NXT Deadline, Ring of Honor Final Battle, Sasha Banks to the Tokyo Dome, and tons more. A fun show as always so check it out~!

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Report: William Regal to have vice president role with WWE

Posted on by Ian Carey

William Regal will reportedly have a vice president role in WWE when he returns to the company early next year. 

According to a report from PWInsider, Regal and WWE have finalized a deal that will see him return to the company the first week of January. Regal will be a vice president with the company although his actual job title has not yet been revealed. Regal’s previous title with the company had been WWE Director of Talent Development and Head of Global Recruiting.

Tony Khan revealed on the pre-ROH Final Battle media call that AEW was not picking up the renewal option on his contract at Regal’s request. Regal told Khan he was hoping to return to WWE where he could be involved in the training of his son, NXT’s Charlie Dempsey. 

“Basically, he’s got a son who works at another wrestling promotion and he really wanted us at the end of the year when we had the option to renew the contract, he was asking that we would not. Nothing bad, we were having a great time working together but that this was an opportunity for him to go back and work in his golden years of his career with his son.” 

William Regal tweets a farewell to AEW’s Blackpool Combat Club

Posted on by Josh Nason

It appears that William Regal’s time with both AEW and the Blackpool Combat Club in its current form has come to an end.

After he was taken out in an ambulance on last week’s Dynamite, followed by a pre-taped interview that aired on this week’s show where he attempted to explain turning on Jon Moxley and costing him the AEW World title at Full Gear, the Blackpool Combat Club leader went to social media to bid adieu to his former charges:

https://twitter.com/RealKingRegal/status/1600869574462898176

He wrote, “To the members of the BCC. My favourite song by my favourite band who somehow knew when I was a child to write the story that is my life. It’s been a pleasure fellas. We’ll meet again…..”

The song he linked to is “Far Far Away” by Slade.

On Wednesday during a media call, AEW & ROH head Tony Khan confirmed that he agreed to not pick up Regal’s contract extension at Regal’s request, therefore allowing him to return to WWE to coach his son and be with friends he had made over the last three decades.

In AEW storyline, Regal is still in the hospital with Bryan Danielson by his side. Khan said that as part of the agreement, Regal cannot appear on WWE TV through 2023.

In the aforementioned explanation from Wednesday, Regal said he wanted to teach the BCC an important lesson: to always watch their back. Danielson was the only member of the team not on Dynamite, and there appears to be a collision course between current AEW World Champion MJF, who took Regal out, and Danielson in the future.

While Regal said he would be BCC until he dies, the future of the group is unclear. Claudio Castagnoli will have to join the Jericho Appreciation Society if he loses to ROH Champion Chris Jericho at Saturday’s Final Battle while Wheeler Yuta is challenging ROH Pure Champion Daniel Garcia on the same event.

Wrestling Observer Radio: Dynamite review, Tony talks Regal, big PPV weekend, tons more

Posted on by Bryan Alvarez

Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer is back with tons to talk about including a great edition of AEW Dynamite, Tony Khan talks about the departure of William Regal and more, a horrible week for wrestling ratings, ROH PPV, NXT and UFC this weekend, and so much more. A fun show as always so check it out~!

Timestamps:

Start: Packed weekend with ROH, UFC, NXT

7:55: Tony Khan on ROH deal & William Regal, other media call notes (includes Rampage spoilers)

22:13: Wrestling hits record low ratings

31:50: NJPW/AJPW tournament updates

36:55: Mid-South Tales from the Territories 

43:55: AEW Dynamite recap

1:07:58: NXT notes

1:17:52: AEW Rampage spoilers

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Speak Now: Ricky Starks & MJF promo, AEW Dynamite Recap

Posted on by Denise Salcedo

We had a very fiery episode of AEW Dynamite on Wednesday, lots of storytelling and good in-ring action! Tune into Speak Now Pro Wrestling with Denise Salcedo as she breaks down the night. 

Topics include: William Regal/AEW situation rundown, MJF/Ricky Starks promo exchange, FTR vs The Acclaimed, and sooo much more! 

Join for a fun and lively wrestling conversation! 

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William Regal appears via pretaped promo on AEW Dynamite

Posted on by Bryan Rose

William Regal appeared in a pre-taped promo on Wednesday’s Dynamite to explain why he turned on Jon Moxley at Full Gear last month.

After Claudio Castagnoli and Wheeler Yuta defeated Jake Hager and Daniel Garcia on Wednesday’s Dynamite, Tony Schiavone revealed that he had recorded an interview with William Regal two weeks ago, before MJF attacked him on last week’s Dynamite. In the promo, Regal explained that people would only see this if something bad had happened to him. He explained that he did what he did because The Blackpool Combat Club didn’t need him, as they themselves could teach Wheeler Yuta how to be the best wrestler in the world.

Addressing Moxley, he said he turned on Moxley in order for him to learn the final thing that they could learn from him: to have eyes in the back of his head and always stay one step ahead. Regal closed the promo by saying he is Blackpool Combat Club until the day he dies.

Speculation had been swirling regarding Regal’s status with the company after he was attacked by MJF on last week’s Dynamite, being knocked out by MJF’s diamond ring. During a media call on Wednesday, Tony Khan confirmed that Regal had asked for his option not to be picked up so he could return to the WWE.

Wrestling Observer Live: Richard Holliday, NXT review, Dynamite preview, William Regal, tons more!

Posted on by Bryan Alvarez

Wrestling Observer Live with Bryan Alvarez and Mike Sempervive is back with tons to talk about including Richard Holliday, the RAW ratings falling off a cliff this week, NXT last night, AEW tonight, Tony Khan talks the situation with William Regal, wrestling in the Olympics, and tons more. A fun show as always so check it out~!

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