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SmackDown Results – January 28, 2022

January 29, 2022 • Admin

Smackdown Date: January 28, 2022 Location: T-Mobile Center, Kansas City, Missouri Commentators: Michael Cole, Pat McAfee It’s the go home show for the Royal Rumble and that means it is probably time for the fabled face to face showdown. In this case, that likely means Roman Reigns vs. Seth Rollins, who just don’t have that much history together. Other than that, we are likely going to get the final push towards tomorrow night. Let’s get to it. Opening sequence. Here is Charlotte to get things going. She promises to do what Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs will never do: bring a championship to Kansas City! Charlotte promises to win the Royal Rumble on Saturday, where there will be returns and betrayals. There are going to be people fighting and clawing to go to Wrestlemania. Cue Shayna Baszler to interrupt, saying that this is her language. Baszler is going to win, but here is Aliyah to brag about her world record. She is feeling confident, but here is Natalya to interrupt, calling Al..

Get Well Soon: Another AEW Star Out Of Action With Injury

January 28, 2022 • Admin

It might be a bit. Injuries can happen to anyone at any time and that is never a good thing to see. At the end of the day, no matter how much someone trains or plans what they are going to do in the ring, there is always the chance that someone could get hurt. Now that seems to be the case again, and now it might be a little bit before you see a rather decorated wrestler again. Former AEW Women’s Champion Riho has sent out a tweet saying that she is taking a little rest. The tweet also includes a photo of Riho, whose arm is in a sling. Riho’s most recent match took place at AEW Battle of the Belts on January 8. There is no word on how long she will be out of action or what is wrong with her. Riho has not been announced for any other matches in the near future. I’m taking a rest a little. pic.twitter.com/CSx3UJswtK — RIHO ?? (@riho_gtmv) January 28, 2022 Opinion: That is never good to hear and hopefully Riho is back in the ring sooner rather than later. Riho has been one of the stro..

WATCH: Roman Reigns vs. Kevin Owens From Royal Rumble 2021

January 28, 2022 • Admin

Got to beat the count. WWE has posted a new video to its YouTube channel in which they show the full Last Man Standing match between Roman Reigns and Kevin Owens for the Universal Championship from the 2021 Royal Rumble pay-per-view. You can see the match in its entirety below: [This post contains video, click to play] From WWE.com: The risks grew higher and higher as the brawl sprawled throughout the WWE ThunderDome. In one of the more terrifying scenes, Reigns launched KO off a high staging area through a table, but Owens got to his feet in the nick of time. Moments later, as Owens staggered into the backstage area, Reigns drove into him with a golf cart, sending Owens crashing through the plexiglass windshield. Still, Owens fought on. When Reigns took the opportunity to mock Owens’ grandfather, as he did two nights ago on SmackDown, it awoke a new fighting spirit in the challenger, and Owens launched a revised attack that culminated with a senton off the top of a forklift thro..

WRESTLING RUMORS: Injured WWE Superstar Cleared To Return To The Ring

January 28, 2022 • Admin

Welcome back! Injuries can be a terrible thing in wrestling as they can derail someone in the blink of an eye. Something can happen to a wrestler to put them on the shelf out of nowhere, no matter what they are doing at the time. That can happen to anyone of any level, and unfortunately the injury bug bit a current WWE champion. That isn’t going to keep him away forever though and now you should be seeing him again soon. According to Wrestlingnews.co, WWE Intercontinental Champion Shinsuke Nakamura has been cleared to return to action, saying he is “clear to FIGHT”. This comes after Nakamura out of action since mid-December, with Rick Boogs revealing that Nakamura had suffered a hand injury. There is no word on when Nakamura will be returning to the ring, though Sami Zayn has become #1 contender in his absence. Opinion: That is great to hear, as Nakamura being gone has been a bit strange. I’m going to assume that WWE knew he would not be out of action for that long, as leaving the ti..

WWE Announces New Deal With Disney+ Hotstar

January 28, 2022 • Admin

That’s a big deal. WWE is the biggest wrestling company in the world and has made a fortune through its licensing deals. By merely allowing other companies and platforms to air its content, WWE has managed to make enough money that it is guaranteed to be profitable for a long time to come. That has not stopped them from pushing on further though, and that is the case again with an international deal. WWE and Disney+ Hotstar have announced, by way of 411mania.com, that the WWE Network will be available on Disney+ in Indonesia. This is similar to Peacock airing WWE Network content in the United States, with the deal including this weekend’s Royal Rumble. The deal is WWE’s first of any kind with Disney, though it is not clear if the two sides will be entering into any more agreements going forward. Opinion: I know it is just one country and a relatively small deal, but WWE having any kind of a relationship with Disney is a good thing. That is about as big as it gets from an entertainmen..

Ouch: WWE’s Biggest Streaming Partner Loses A Fortune

January 28, 2022 • Admin

That’s a lot of money. WWE has made a fortune by producing so much content that they are constantly in demand. Other platforms are interested in bringing over WWE and everything that they can showcase, which comes with a built in audience. That can come at a high price tag, and now it seems that one of WWE’s biggest partners has paid for quite a few of those price tags. According to Variety, Peacock, the official platform for the WWE Network in the United States, lost $1.7 billion in 2021, doubling its losses from last year. Peacock is entering its third year of availability and features Universal films, NBC television and WWE content. There is nothing to suggest that Peacock will be shutting down, as it is reportedly not expected to be profitable until 2025. Opinion: This is one of those things that is kind of hard to get my head around, as losing nearly two billion dollars sounds catastrophic to any business. That being said, NBC Universal is a mammoth company and something on the ..

Big Update On Brock Lesnar’s Immediate Future

January 28, 2022 • Admin

He’ll be sticking around. We are less than two days away from the Royal Rumble and that means things are starting to get serious around WWE. The Road To WrestleMania will officially begin and WWE will be turning things up a bit. Some wrestlers are going to be in more prominent roles, including some of the bigger names in the company. Now it seems that we will be seeing one of them even more than expected. According to 411mania.com, Brock Lesnar is being advertised for the Elimination Chamber event on February 19 in Saudi Arabia, as well as multiple Monday Night Raw and SmackDown events. The television appearances begin on the February 14 Monday Night Raw and end on the March 11 SmackDown, though Lesnar is not advertised for every show. Here is when he is being advertised: * January 30: WWE Raw (Cincinnati, Ohio) * February 14: WWE RAW (Indianapolis, Indiana) * February 19: Elimination Chamber (Jeddah, Saudi Arabia) * February 21: WWE RAW (Columbia, South Carolina) * February 25: WWE ..

WWE Has Another New Rule (And It’s A Strange One)

January 28, 2022 • Admin

One of those weird rules. There is a lot that can be said about Vince McMahon but one of the strangest things are his random rules. Sometimes you hear about one of them and have to wonder what he is thinking, as McMahon has one odd choice after another. That is the case again and it continues to sound a bit confusing, especially given what it seems to go against. According to Wrestling Observer Radio, NXT commentators are not allowed to mention the specific relatives of wrestlers. This includes mentioning that Solo Sikoa is the brother of the Usos or that Bron Breakker is a member of the Steiner Family. While wrestlers are allowed to mention Breakker’s father and uncle, they are not allowed to mention that he is related to the Steiner Brothers. It is not clear why WWE has decided these names are not allowed. Sikoa and Breakker both debuted for NXT late last year. Sikoa is a member of the Anoa’i family and is the younger brother of the Usos. He is also the son of Rikishi, who has been..

WRESTLING RUMORS: Shane McMahon Returning To WWE TV, What Is Planned

January 28, 2022 • Admin

He’s a big deal. There are some wrestling families whose names are going to get your attention no matter what they are doing. That is often a good thing and can help make stories that easier to tell. The name can give you an easy in to some kind of a storyline, as some of those names are going to offer instant interest no matter what they are doing. WWE is hoping that will be the case again as a major name is set for a return. According to Ringsidenews.com, Shane McMahon is set to participate in the men’s Royal Rumble match this coming weekend. While not confirmed, it is expected that this will set up an unspecified match for WrestleMania 38. This would be McMahon’s first match since he was defeated by Braun Strowman in a cage match at WrestleMania 37. WWE has not mentioned McMahon in any significant way in months. McMahon has wrestled for WWE on and off since 1999, often in high level angles and matches. He has won a handful of championships over the years, with his most recent titl..

WATCH: Released WWE Star Teases Return To The Ring

January 28, 2022 • Admin

Welcome back? There have been some huge batches of releases from WWE over the last year and a half with the roster looking almost nothing like it did before. That is the kind of thing that changes WWE, but also other wrestling promotions around the world. As a result of all of those releases, other wrestling companies have now been able to pick up some of those wrestlers. Now another one seems ready to move on from his time with WWE. Former WWE star Gran Metalik, also known as Mascara Dorado, has posted a video to Twitter, showing him finding his old mask in a bad. Metalik also said that his return to the ring was coming soon, as his WWE no compete clause will be expiring during the first week of February. There is no word on when or where Metalik will wrestle next. Metalik was released from WWE on November 4, 2021, along with several other names. It could be a big return. Check out the tease: [This post contains video, click to play] Opinion: This is the kind of thing that can mak..

Another WWE Name Has Departed The Company

January 28, 2022 • Admin

So long. WWE has been shaken up in a bunch of ways and some of those moves have caused all kinds of changes behind the scenes. This has included a variety of wrestlers, trainers and more from the company, some of which have been some rather well known names. There have also been some names that might not be the most familiar, and that could be the case again this time. According to PWInsider.com, Amanda Tustian, Director of Over The Top Content for the WWE Network, has left the company. It is not clear why she left WWE or if there was any sudden reason for her departure. Tustian has been with the company since 2010, working in creative and in various areas with the WWE Network. She took over her most recent position in September 2020. Opinion: I’m not sure why Tustian moved on from WWE but she is the most recent person leaving the company. While I can imagine WWE has someone ready to take her place, it is someone else who needs to be moved into another role. Hopefully the company has..

REVIEW: Royal Rumble 1997: That’s A Lot Of Talent

January 27, 2022 • Admin

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? Royal Rumble 1997 Date: January 19, 1997 Location: Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas Attendance: 60,235 Commentators: Vince McMahon, Jim Ross, Jerry Lawler I’m scared to think how many of those tickets were freebies. This is the annual requested redo and I’m not sure what to expect going into it. Well I am as I’ve seen the show multiple times but it’s been awhile. The main event is of course Shawn Michaels vs. Sid II because we need the big hometown moment. Those actually existed back in 1997. Let’s get to it. As you..

Another Rather Surprising Name Discussed For The Royal Rumble

January 27, 2022 • Admin

Welcome back? The Royal Rumble is taking place later this week and that means it is time for fans to speculate on who might be in the show’s namesake matches. While WWE announces a good number of the match participants in advance, there are still several spots left to go. Some of those wrestlers will be making returns, but now we might have an idea of one of the bigger surprises. According to Fightful Select, Kairi Sane has been discussed as a potential women’s Royal Rumble participant, though it is not clear if she will be a part of the match. Sane has not wrestled July 2020 and has since relocated to Japan. She is still under WWE contract until February, though there is nothing to suggest that she will be wrestling for WWE again. There are currently twenty one names announced for the women’s Royal Rumble match. Opinion: This is one of those situations where I will believe it when I see it, as Sane has been gone for over a year and a half now. Sane is a very talented wrestler though..

Big WWE Name Confirms Long Hiatus Was Due To Coronavirus

January 27, 2022 • Admin

At least it’s better. The Coronavirus pandemic has changed the way the world works and that absolutely includes professional wrestling. The pandemic has caused all kinds of changes around the world as the amount of cases have skyrocketed. Several wrestlers have been diagnosed with the virus as well, and now we know a big WWE name who missed a lot of time due to a positive test. Monday Night Raw star Randy Orton was a guest on the Ringer Wrestling Show and revealed that he tested positive for the Coronavirus in June and missed seven weeks of action as a result. Orton said that he lost twenty pounds and had to rebuild his physique. This included cutting out alcohol and sugar while also beginning to train more. Orton wrestled on June 21 but did not wrestle again until August 9. Opinion: That does explain a bit, as Orton just disappeared one day with little explanation for where he went. What matters most is that Orton is back in the ring and healthy, as the virus is nothing to play arou..

It’s A Gift For You: WWE Releases A Free Soundtrack

January 27, 2022 • Admin

Call it a free gift. WWE is an international wrestling company and has its hands in a lot of things at the same time. That can make for some good and bad decisions, as some of the things they do might seem a little out there. With so many moves made, they are going to do some positives though and now they are offering something new. This time though, it has a price that is hard to beat. WWE has released a soundtrack to NXT 2.0 for free. There are five songs on the soundtrack, though three of them are different versions of Make Em Fall by OllieJayy. In addition to the regular version, there are also a rock and a rap version. The soundtrack also includes two songs which are called program themes. There is no word on if WWE will be releasing any more music in the future. There are a lot of songs. Check out what is included: [This post contains video, click to play] [This post contains video, click to play] [This post contains video, click to play] [This post contains video, click..

Title Change And Title Retirement Take Place On AEW Dynamite

January 27, 2022 • Admin

There goes the gold. There are a lot of titles in the wrestling world and some of them are rather prestigious. At the same time, you can find some titles which do not mean quite as much as they have not been around long enough to build up a history. That was the case with a newly established AEW Title, but after only a few weeks of existence, it has already gone away. This week’s AEW Dynamite featured a ladder match to unify the TNT Title and the Interim TNT Title. Interim champion Sammy Guevara defeated Cody Rhodes to become the unified champion, kicking off his second reign. The interim title was created when Rhodes was forced out of a title defense against Guevara at battle of the Belts. As a result, Guevara defeated Dustin Rhodes for the inaugural interim title. Opinion: This is a surprising result as I would have bet on Cody retaining the title here. Guevara winning the title back was a nice moment, especially after that kind of a performance in the match. They were both laying ..

Danhausen Debuts In AEW

January 27, 2022 • Admin

Very nice, very evil. On tonight’s episode of Dynamite, former ROH star Danhausen made his debut with AEW. He appeared under the ring when Adam Cole tried to grab a chair to use in his Lights Out match with Orange Cassidy in the main event. You can see the video of the debut below: [This post contains video, click to play] Danhausen has been out of action since Halloween of 2021, when he suffered an injury during an independent event. His current plan is to be back to in-ring competition by February of this year. Editor’s Opinion: I have to be completely honest: I have absolutely no idea who this person is. However, in doing my research for writing this article, it would seem that he has developed a cult following, which I am intrigued of learning more about. Also, the reaction from the crowd when he made his debut was legitimate, which tells me that there is something more to this character. I hope that Danhausen has success in AEW and I am very interested in learning more about..

AEW Dynamite Live Coverage And Results – January 26, 2022

January 27, 2022 • Admin

Dynamite Date: January 26, 2022 Location: Wolstein Center, Cleveland, Ohio Commentators: Jim Ross, Excalibur, Tony Schiavone It’s time for Beach Break, which is in Cleveland because when you think of going to the beach, you think of a place that is currently 12 degrees and on a lake. This week’s show is stacked, with a ladder match for the TNT Title and a Lights Out match where Orange Cassidy can beat Adam Cole but it doesn’t count. Let’s get to it. Opening sequence. TNT Title: Cody Rhodes vs. Sammy Guevara Ladder match for the undisputed title. Cody starts fast with a dropkick and goes for the drop town uppercut, only to get blocked. The technical wrestling ensues until they head outside with Cody grabbing the ladder. That’s broken up so they head into the crowd (with Cody having to check on a fan he bumps into). Cody wins a slugout but stops to high five the fans, allowing Sammy to dive over the barricade with a cutter. Back in and Sammy loads up the ladder but Cody is fine enoug..

Here’s What You Can Expect At WWE Elimination Chamber

January 27, 2022 • Admin

Get your passports ready. WWE is an international wrestling company and that means they are going to be active in a lot of different places. That can make for some interesting moments, as you do not know where they might wind up. Some of their international events are a bit more controversial than others, and now we might have a better idea of what to expect for the show. WWE has announced that they will be returning to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for their annual Elimination Chamber event on Saturday February 19. While no matches have been announced outside of at least one Elimination Chamber match, some names have been announced for the show on WWE.com. The site is advertising the following names for the show: Roman Reigns Becky Lynch Charlotte Mansoor Seth Rollins Bobby Lashley It is not clear what any of them will be doing at the show. Opinion: These names might not be the biggest surprise as they are some of the bigger names in WWE at the moment. Mansoor is not exactly a surpri..

Long Expected Debut Not Taking Place At Royal Rumble

January 26, 2022 • Admin

It might be a bit. There are so many wrestlers on the WWE roster today and it can be hard to keep track of all of them. With so many people out there, WWE can have issues finding something for everyone to do. Sometimes it seems that they have forgotten what they are doing, but this time it seems that they remember someone is there without doing anything about it. That will include this weekend. Over the last several months, WWE has presented vignettes announcing that Veer Mahaan is on his way to Monday Night Raw. However, Mahaan has not appeared on the show in anything more than a vignette. According to PWInsider.com, there are no plans to have Mahaan appear in the Royal Rumble or on the show. There is no word on when Mahaan will appear on Monday Night Raw, though he has wrestled on Main Event. Opinion: Mahaan is one of those wrestlers who could mean something if he had been given a regular chance, but there is only so much that can be done when he has been built up this much. Ultima..