Another Former WWE Star Makes AEW Debut

He’s new. There have been a lot of movements around the wrestling world, with several prominent wrestlers jumping from one promotion to another. That can make for some very interesting moments as you don’t know when someone is going to show up. It is especially fun when you might get to see someone reach a new level of potential, which might be the case again this week. This week on AEW Dynamite, Buddy Matthews made his debut in an attack on Pac and Penta Obscura. Matthews helped the Kings of the Black throne attack Pac and Obscura, seemingly joining the House of Black in the process. Matthews is formerly known as Buddy Murphy in WWE, where he is a former Cruiserweight Champion. Black and Murphy feuded during their time together in WWE, which was referenced last week during a House of Black vignette. The vignette featured a knock on Black’s door, which is how Matthews started his feud with Black in WWE. Opinion: I don’t think this is much of a surprise, especially after the knocking ..

AEW Dynamite Results – February 23, 2022

Dynamite Date: February 23, 2022 Location: Webster Bank Arena, Bridgeport, Connecticut Commentators: Jim Ross, Tony Schiavone, Excalibur We are two and a half weeks away from Revolution and that means it is time to start hammering down the card. That could go in a few different ways, which makes this show all the more interesting. One of the spots in the Tag Team Title match will be determined tonight in a tag team battle royal, as opposed to next week when one of the spots in the Tag Team Title match will be determined by a tag team battle royal. Let’s get to it. Opening sequence. Tag Team Battle Royal Dark Order, Young Bucks, Butcher and the Blade, Best Friends, Private Party, Gunn Club, Santana/Ortiz, FTR, 2.0, ReDDragon There are ten teams in all and both members have to be eliminated. It’s a huge brawl to start, with no entrances, and people fighting in and out of the ring. Blade knocks Alex Reynolds of the Dark Order out but spends too much time posing, allowing John Silver t..

Since WWE Said No: AEW Bringing In Another Top Free Agent Star

That doesn’t sound like a swerve. The wrestling landscape has changed in all kinds of ways in recent years and there is nothing to suggest that it is going to change anytime soon. The biggest changes have come due to the massive releases from the WWE roster, as around two hundred wrestlers have been let go in the last two years. A lot of those wrestlers have landed elsewhere and now another is off the free agent market. According to Fightful Select, Shane “Swerve” Strickland will be joining AEW. This comes after Strickland, also known as Isaiah Scott, was released from WWE in November 2021. There is no word on when he will be making his AEW debut. Since leaving WWE, Strickland has wrestled a pair of matches with one match each for Progress Wrestling and New Japan Strong. Opinion: This is a signing that was more a matter of time than a question of where Strickland was going to sign. I still have no idea what WWE was thinking when they let Strickland (and the rest of Hit Row) go but th..

WWE Legend Releasing His Own Comic Book

It’s a unique honor. Wrestlers exist in a weird place when it comes to celebrity status. They are on television almost every week, but even then they are only known as wrestlers. That is not something that lends itself to mainstream exposure, but every now and then you see someone make it over the hill and into the next stage. Sometimes that can come with some unique opportunities and that seems to be the case again. WWE Hall of Famer Rikishi has announced that he will be starring in his own comic book. The book, titles Kishi and the Island of Dreams, will be released at some point in summer 2022. Rikishi will have a say in the creative direction of the story though he will not be writing it. There is no word on how many issues are planned for the book, which will be produced by AnimeHipHop. Here we go fans . Stay tuned its my first comic book coming ???#KishiAndTheIslandOfDreams #Summer2022 https://t.co/TnXyjQxsnH — RIKISHI (@TheREALRIKISHI) February 23, 2022 Opinion: This is some..

Important Update On AJ Styles’ WWE Future

They’ll keep him. WWE has been changing up their roster in a lot of ways in recent months and there have been a lot more wrestlers leaving than showing up. These changes have shaken up the wrestling landscape in a huge way as it has become a question of who WWE will be keeping around. Now they have agreed to terms with a current legend on a brand new and very lucrative contract. According to Fightful Select, AJ Styles has agreed to a new deal with WWE. There is no word on how long Styles’ new deal will be, though it is said to be worth over $3 million a year. Styles will also have bus travel paid for by the company between events. Styles’ former deal was scheduled to expire at some point in the spring or summer, which would have left him as a free agent. Opinion: This is the kind of thing that makes sense for WWE as they know who they need to keep around. Styles is someone who is nearing the end of his career and it would make sense to keep him around WWE for as long as they can. At ..

One More Time: WWE Legend Returning For Another Special Appearance

She’s good for that. There have been so many wrestlers throughout WWE’s history that it is almost impossible to keep track of everyone. Since there have been been so many, it takes something special to really stick out, which is what makes legends feel so much more impressive. They are the kinds of wrestlers that WWE can bring out for a one off appearance and get a nice reaction, which is what they are hoping for again. The Kitchener Memorial Auditorium is advertising Trish Stratus as the special guest host for a WWE live event on Saturday March 26. Stratus is not expected to wrestle or do anything physical on the show. This comes the day before Stratus is scheduled to host the March 27 live event in her hometown of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. There is no word on if Stratus will do anything more than these two appearances with WWE. Opinion: This is the kind of thing that is perfect for Stratus as she is someone the fans will respond to as she is certainly a legend. I’m not sure if she ..

WWE Is Planning Several Crossover Angles Between The Main Roster And NXT

They have a plan for that. WWE has changed up the way their company roster looks in a series of ways and there is nothing to suggest that they are done. The biggest changes have come to NXT, which has been completely revamped over the last several months. This includes letting dozens of wrestlers go, meaning there are some gaps that need to be filled. WWE has a plan to do that using some extra help. According to Wrestling Observer Radio, WWE hoping to revamp NXT by having more crossovers between NXT and the main roster. This includes having an NXT storyline or wrestler involved with the main roster, preferably on Monday Night Raw, at almost all times. WWE has been trying things like this with appearances from Grayson Waller and Tommaso Ciampa on Monday Night Raw and Dolph Ziggler on NXT. There is no word on who else might guest star on either show. Opinion: This is an interesting way to go with NXT, which could certainly use some star power. There are so many people doing nothing on ..

What To Expect As WWE Gets Ready For Steve Austin’s WrestleMania Return

So that’s next? We are less than six weeks away from WrestleMania 38 and that means it is time to start finalizing the card. While a few matches have already been set, there are still several pieces of the show that have not been announced as of yet. WWE has already been setting things up and planting some seeds, but there is one story that needs to be wrapped up before the people are freed up for WrestleMania. This week on Monday Night Raw, Seth Rollins and Kevin Owens defeated RKBro to gain a spot in an upcoming Raw Tag Team Title match. According to Wrestling Observer Radio, Rollins and Owens will wrap up their tag team work before moving on to Owens’ feud with Steve Austin. There is no word if the two will win the titles or if Rollins will be helping Owens in his Austin feud. Opinion: This is one of those stories that has me intrigued for more than one reason, but I’m not sure how well the whole thing will go. Assuming Austin does come back, the seeds have certainly been planted,..

Former NXT Champion Makes Surprise Return

Welcome back. NXT has been on one of the biggest rollercoasters in recent wrestling history and those changes continue to change. Several names have come and gone, with several of them making their NXT debuts. The roster looks nothing like it did back in its glory days, but there are still a few familiar names here and there. Now another one has made a surprise return to the show. The main event of this week’s edition of NXT featured Dolph Ziggler vs. Tommaso Ciampa in a match to crown the new #1 contender to the NXT Title. Late in the match, Ziggler was down with the referee checking on him, allowing a cameraman to hit Ciampa with his camera. After the match, the cameraman revealed himself as Ziggler’s partner and former NXT Champion Robert Roode. Ziggler and Roode then attacked Ciampa, leading to NXT Champion Bron Breakker making the save. A tag team match was then made for next week’s show. It was a great match. Check out how the main event went down: [This post contains video, c..

Former WWE Group Reuniting On Independent Circuit

The band is back together again. WWE has been shaken up so many times over the last few years, with most of the changes stemming from the company’s releases. There have been all kinds of wrestlers released from up and down the roster and some of them have been more surprising than others. Some of the more surprising releases are still doing their thing on the independent circuit and that will be the case again on a big stage. AJ Gray, formerly known as Top Dolla in WWE and NXT, has announced that some of the Hit Row stable will be reuniting over WrestleMania weekend at GCW For The Culture. Gray will be appearing along with Briana Brandy (B-Fab) and Tehuti Miles (Ashante Thee Adonis) though it is not clear what the trio will be doing. The team, along with Shane Strickland, was released from WWE in November 2021.. Time to make some hits! Tickets available:https://t.co/fzBLE5ovmG pic.twitter.com/Zum9gEnLRT — Aj Gray (@RichHomieJuice) February 22, 2022 Opinion: Hit Row was one of the ..

AEW Legend Gives Great Update On His Health

That’s great to hear. While we watch wrestlers do some amazing things every single week, there is a lot more that goes on in their lives that we do not see. Some of these things are rather serious, as they have everyday problems just like anyone else. Occasionally that includes serious health issues, which was the case with a certain wrestling legend. The good thing is that the key there is “was”. During the latest episode of the DDT Snake Pit podcast, AEW’s Jake Roberts gave an update on his health. Roberts revealed that despite having COPD, two unspecified lung diseases and emphysema, he no longer has to use an oxygen tank, save for when he is on an airplane. Roberts has recently returned to AEW television where he has continued managing Lance Archer. Opinion: That is absolutely great to hear, as Roberts has had a long history of health issues over the years. It is nice to have something positive for a change, as Roberts still seems able to offer quite a bit to the wrestling world...

WWE Announces Another Huge WrestleMania Weekend Show

Mark your calendars. We are less than six weeks away from WrestleMania 38 as all eyes in the wrestling world will turn towards Texas. That weekend will include some of the biggest wrestling action of the year and there is a lot to cover. The interesting thing is that not all of it will be taking place at WrestleMania, as WWE has announced a brand new show taking place over the weekend. This week on NXT, NXT Champion Bron Breakker announced that the next major NXT event will be Stand & Deliver, which will take place on Saturday April 2 in Dallas, Texas. The show will take place the same day as the first night of WrestleMania 38, though no specifics have been announced for the show as of yet. There have also been no matches announced for the show. NXT previously presented Stand & Deliver as a Takeover special last year in the days leading up to WrestleMania 37. Opinion: I don’t think this is any kind of a surprise, though I’m curious to see what NXT is able to do on a much bigger stage..

NXT Live Coverage And Results – February 22, 2022

NXT Date: February 22, 2022 Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida Commentators: Wade Barrett, Vic Joseph We are done with Vengeance Day and that means it is time to head on to whatever the next special show is going to be. The show is going to need a main event and odds are we will find out what that is tonight as Tommaso Ciampa and Raw’s Dolph Ziggler meet in a #1 contenders match. Let’s get to it. We open with a long Vengeance Day recap. Here is NXT Champion Bron Breakker for a chat. He talks about Santos Escobar being a tough opponent last week but now it is time for a new opponent. That could be as soon as Stand & Deliver, which will take place over Wrestlemania weekend. Cue Dolph Ziggler, who says he’ll be NXT Champion sooner than later, but the question is whether Breakker will make it to Stand & Deliver as champion. Tonight, Ziggler is going to take out Tommaso Ciampa and get his title shot, but Breakker wants to fight over Ziggler superkicking him last week. ..

REVIEW: WCW Monday Nitro – February 22, 1999: Are They Serious?

Welcome to KB’s Old School (and New School) Reviews. I’ve been reviewing wrestling shows for over twelve years now and have reviewed over 6,000 shows. Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, I’ll be posting a new review here on Wrestlingrumors.net. It could be anything from modern WWE to old school to indies to anything in between. Note that I rate using letters instead of stars and I don’t rate matches under three minutes as really, how good or bad can something that short be? Monday Nitro #180 Date: February 22, 1999 Location: Arco Arena, Sacramento, California Attendance: 13,921 Commentators: Mike Tenay, Tony Schiavone, Bobby Heenan, Larry Zbyszko We’re FINALLY past SuperBrawl and things couldn’t be much lower for WCW if they handed all the wrestlers shovels and told them to dig their own graves. Hogan is still World Champion, Windham and Hennig are Tag Team Champions, Scott Hall is US Champion, Scott Steiner is TV Champion, and Rey Mysterio doesn’t have a mask. We’ve got three weeks ..

WRESTLING RUMORS: WWE Nixed Huge WrestleMania Main Event, May Try It Later

It kind of writes itself. There are certain groups of wrestlers who might not be officially recognized together on screen but have a real connection. That was the case with the Kliq and the Bone Street Krew, but it is also the case in modern wrestling. Sometimes this spills over onto television as well and it almost did again in a major way on the biggest show of the year. According to Louis Dangoor of GiveMeSport, WWE considered a fatal four way match between Charlotte, Sasha Banks, Becky Lynch and Bayley, collectively known as the Four Horsewomen, for WrestleMania 38. However, the plan was scrapped primarily because of Ronda Rousey, who decided she was ready to return to WWE and was put in a WrestleMania title match instead. In addition, the feud between Lynch and Bianca Belair is also scheduled to end in their title match at WrestleMania. WWE is still interested in running the match at some point in the future. Opinion: This really is one of those matches that writes itself and I ..

Monday Night Raw Match Receiving Rave Reviews Backstage

They liked it. WWE produces a lot of television content every week and that means there are a lot of wrestling matches on almost any given night. For the most part, these matches tend to be pretty run of the mill with few standing out, but every now and then, something will catch your eye. That is also the case with people behind the scenes and now it has happened again. This week’s Monday Night Raw featured a match between Bianca Belair and Doudrop, with Belair getting the win via the KOD. According to PWInsider.com, the match had several people raving backstage in a positive way. This was their fourth ever singles match against one another, with all four coming since December 2021 and Belair winning all of them. Belair is currently scheduled to challenge Becky Lynch for the Raw Women’s Title at WrestleMania 38. There was a lot to like. Check out part of the match: [This post contains video, click to play] Opinion: I can absolutely see why people were raving about the match as Be..

Former WWE Star Has Returned To Company In Brand New Role

He found something. Over the last year and a half, WWE has released more than 200 people from the company, with the majority of them being active wrestlers. This has shaken up the company in a huge way, but it has also been a huge hit to the wrestlers themselves. That is a lot of people who suddenly have no job and the question is where they are going to land. Another one is already back in the fold. According to PWInsider.com, Drake Maverick, who was released from WWE in 2021, has returned to the company as part of the Monday Night Raw creative team. Maverick reportedly started in the role about three or four weeks ago. Following his release from the company, Maverick has not wrestled another match anywhere and it is not clear if he plans to do so again in the future. Opinion: I love seeing something like this, as Maverick gets to continue doing what he loves, even if it is from a different side. The fact that WWE has hired him back again shows that they see something in him and if ..

WWE Rebranding Even More Upcoming Events

That’s what’s in a name. WWE has been around for a long time now and has some very long running shows. Some of these are among the most famous in wrestling, with names such as WrestleMania and Royal Rumble being near or at the top of the list. The company continues to add some more though, and now they are doing just that with a show a lot of people will probably never see. Ticketmaster.com is currently advertising the May 1 live event in Fairfax, Virginia as Sunday Stunner, which is a name the company trademarked earlier this month. This is likely to be the name of several Sunday night live events going forward. The change comes just after WWE began promoting some of its Saturday shows as Saturday Night’s Main Event, though neither change has been announced on WWE television. Opinion: Sure why not. This is one of those changes that likely won’t mean anything significant and is little more than a branding, but it does at least sound like something interesting. I could go for having s..

Star Power: Celebrity Tag Match Set For WrestleMania 38

Tis the season. WrestleMania 38 is less than six weeks away and you can see a lot of the card coming together from here. That is a good sign, as WWE should be able to get the show ready as far as possible. It is one of the better things that they can do and it helps to bring in some special names. WWE seems to be doing just that and now someone famous for something other than wrestling is ready to get in the ring. This week on Monday Night Raw, the Miz introduced YouTube celebrity and boxer Logan Paul as his mystery partner for a match against the Mysterios at WrestleMania 38. Paul appeared on an edition of MizTV and helped Miz lay the Mysterios out. WrestleMania 38 will mark Paul’s first match in WWE after several appearances with the company, including WrestleMania 37 last year. Opinion: I know Paul might not be the biggest name in the world but he has a bit of buzz due to his social media presence and boxing matches. He also feels like someone Miz would associate with outside of t..

Surprise Cameo And Return Take Place On Monday Night Raw

Welcome back and hello. WWE has so many wrestlers under contract that it has managed to split its roster into several groups. The main three are Monday Night Raw, SmackDown and NXT, each with its own main group of wrestlers. You will see some crossover between Monday Night Raw and SmackDown, but a one off appearance is rare. This time though, we might have seen just that, plus a surprise return. This week on Monday Night Raw, NXT’s Tommaso Ciampa wrestled in a tag match, teaming with the returning Finn Balor to defeat Robert Roode and Dolph Ziggler. Ciampa is currently scheduled to face Ziggler in an NXT Title #1 contenders match this week on NXT. The match was Balor’s first since the January 17 Monday Night Raw, when he was defeated and attacked by Austin Theory. Opinion: This is the kind of thing that can make for a cool moment, as seeing an NXT star on one of the major TV shows is a rare sight. It helps that it wasn’t some major tweak to Ciampa, but rather just the NXT version of ..