Wwe

New Match Added to WWE Battleground

<p>WWE has announced <strong><a href="http://www.ringsidenews.com/wrestler/sami-zayn" title="Sami Zayn">Sami Zayn</a></strong> vs. Mike Kanellis for this Sunday’s WWE Battleground event. Here is the updated card for the show:</p><p><strong>Punjabi Prison for the WWE Title</strong><br />Randy Orton vs. Jinder Mahal</p><p><strong>WWE United States Title Match</strong><br />Kevin Owens vs. AJ Styles</p><p><strong>SmackDown Tag Team Title Match</strong><br />The New Day vs. The Usos</p><p><strong>Flag Match</strong><br />Rusev vs. John Cena</p><p><strong>Fatal 5 Way Elimination Match to Crown a New #1 Contender</strong><br />Charlotte Flair vs. Lana vs. Becky Lynch vs. <strong><a href="http://www.ringsidenews.com/wrestler/tamina-snuka" title="Tamina Snuka">Tamina Snuka</a></strong> vs. Natalya</p><p>Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Baron Corbin</p><p>Sami Zayn vs. Mike Kanellis</p><p><strong>Kickoff</strong><br />Aiden English vs. <strong><a href="http://www.ringsidenews.com/wrestler/tye-dillinger" title="Tye Dillinger">Tye Dillinger</a></strong></p>

Gail Kim’s New Role with Global Force Wrestling

<p>Jeremy Borash revealed during a <strong><a href="http://www.ringsidenews.com/tag/media/" title="media">media</a></strong> called on today that Gail Kim will be an <strong><a href="http://www.ringsidenews.com/tag/agent/" title="agent">agent</a></strong> for Global Force Wrestling following her in-ring retirement.</p><p><em>“This may be known but we are happy to have on <strong><a href="http://www.ringsidenews.com/tag/board/" title="board">board</a></strong> as an agent for Impact Wrestling, who will be helping with our Knockouts, Gail Kim, who announced that she would be retiring at the end of this year,” said Borash. “So she’s going to be taking on a more behind-the-scenes role. Everybody may not know but Gail and I had a very strong friendship for the last decade. I obviously do stuff with her husband Robert Irvine, the chef. And she has an incredible mind and really somebody that’s going to take the Knockouts to the next level. So she’s in Orlando and Tampa training gals that you’re seeing.”</em></p><p>Borash also mentioned that GFW has signed two new established female names but didn’t reveal any information on who exactly they are. We will have to wait and find out.</p>

UFC Rep Denies Reports of Brock Lesnar Being Enrolled In USADA Testing Pool

<p>Jeff Novitzky, the UFC Vice President of Athlete Health and Performance, is denying reports that current WWE Universal Champion <a href="http://www.ringsidenews.com/2017/07/19/brock-lesnar-not-re-signing-wwe-next-year/">Brock Lesnar has re-entered the USADA drug testing pool</a>. Novitzky said there is “zero truth” to the reports and issued the following statement to <a href="http://mmajunkie.com/2017/07/brock-lesnar-ufc-return-rumors-usada-testing-pool-jeff-novitzky" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">MMAJunkie</a>:</p><p><em>“[Lesnar] is not currently enrolled in the <strong><a href="http://www.ringsidenews.com/tag/usada/" title="USADA">USADA</a></strong> testing pool, nor has there been any inquiry on his part to do so.”</em></p><p>MMAjunkie noted that their attempt to <strong><a href="http://www.ringsidenews.com/tag/reach/" title="reach">reach</a></strong> USADA for comment was unsuccessful. We will keep you updated if we hear anything new regarding Lesnar possibly returning to the UFC.</p>

Former WWE Superstar John Morrison Making GFW Debut

<p>Former WWE Superstar John Morrison (Johnny Mundo) will make his Global Force Wrestling debut at the upcoming Impact Live Events in the New York Tri-<strong><a href="http://www.ringsidenews.com/tag/state/" title="state">state</a></strong> area.</p><p>The events take <strong><a href="http://www.ringsidenews.com/tag/place/" title="place">place</a></strong> on August 4th in Long Island, August 5th in Staten Island and August 6th in Bridgeport, CT. Jeremy Borash confirmed the news on <strong><a href="http://www.ringsidenews.com/tag/media/" title="media">media</a></strong> call earlier today.</p>

Shane McMahon Reacts to Helicopter Crash

<p>As reported <a href="http://www.ringsidenews.com/2017/07/19/shane-mcmahon-survives-helicopter-crash-landing/">earlier today</a>, <strong><a href="http://www.ringsidenews.com/tag/shane/" title="Shane">Shane</a></strong> McMahon survived a <strong><a href="http://www.ringsidenews.com/tag/crash/" title="crash">crash</a></strong> landing in the ocean off Gilgo Beach this morning. WWE released the following statement on the incident:</p><p><em><strong>Shane McMahon OK following helicopter crash in Atlantic Ocean</strong></em></p><p><em>A helicopter carrying Shane McMahon made an emergency landing today in the Atlantic Ocean near Gilgo Beach on Long Island, N.Y.</em></p><p>According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the emergency landing occurred around 10:25 a.m. ET about a half-mile off shore.</p><p>The SmackDown LIVE Commissioner spoke with WWE.com after the incident to confirm he and his pilot were fine and escaped injuries from the landing. He explained that he was en <strong><a href="http://www.ringsidenews.com/tag/route/" title="route">route</a></strong> to visiting family on Eastern Long Island when the helicopter troubles started.</p><blockquote> <p>“I would like to thank our pilot, Mario, who did a heroic job of landing us safely in the water, the Suffolk County Marine Bureau who were first on the scene, all the lifeguards who came out to assist us and the Fire Island Coast Guard station,”</p> </blockquote><p>McMahon reiterated that the WWE Universe shouldn’t worry and that he won’t need to step away from his SmackDown LIVE responsibilities.</p><blockquote> <p>“Everyone is safe and sound, I look forward to seeing everyone at <a class="wwe-wysiwyg--link" href="http://www.wwe.com/shows/wwebattleground/2017" target="_blank">WWE Battleground</a> in Philadelphia this Sunday.”</p> </blockquote><p>Shane also tweeted the following after the accident:</p>

Footage of Mark Andrews’ Injury

<h2><a href="http://www.ringsidenews.com/author/carrierlp/" title="Posts by Steve Carrier" rel="author">Steve Carrier</a></h2><p>Steve is the Founder of RingsideNews, AllWrestlingNews, and Wrestling dot News. He has been writing about professional wrestling since 1996. He first got into website development at the time and has been focusing on bringing his readers the best professional wrestling news at it's highest quality.</p>

X-Pac 1, 2, 360 Recap w/ Road Dogg – Writing for Smackdown Live, Women’s MITB Details, Picking on The Rock, More!

X-Pac 1, 2, 360 Recap w/ Road Dogg – Writing for Smackdown Live, Women’s MITB Details, Picking on The Rock, More!

<p>X-Pac opens today’s show congratulating <strong><a href="http://www.ringsidenews.com/wrestler/samoa-joe" title="Samoa Joe">Samoa Joe</a></strong> on his big win at last Sunday’s Extreme Rules PPV. He says that he’s known Joe for a while, and he knew it was only a matter of time before Joe made his way to WWE. Even when Joe was doubting his own ability to get there, X-Pac knew his talent and abilities would eventually land him in WWE.</p><p>He thought it was strange that WWE implemented a submission stipulation in the cruiserweight match between <strong><a href="http://www.ringsidenews.com/wrestler/austin-aries" title="Austin Aries">Austin Aries</a></strong> and Neville. He says that submission matches often limit the talents’ ability to provide exciting false finishes and in the case of the cruiserweights, it hindered some of the high flying abilities of those two men. Nonetheless, he thought Aries and Neville pulled it off and had a good match.</p><p></p><p>X-Pac comments on WWE’s recent signing of Thea Trinidad. Trinidad recently played the role of A.J. Lee in the upcoming <strong><a href="http://www.ringsidenews.com/wrestler/paige" title="Paige">Paige</a></strong> biopic, and X-Pac thought she was marvellous in that role. He says he wasn’t surprised by this signing at all, and he thinks she’ll start in NXT before making her jump to the main roster.</p>

Emma Returns to Action at WWE Live Event

<p><strong><a href="http://www.ringsidenews.com/wrestler/emma" title="Emma">Emma</a></strong> returned to action at the WWE Live Event in Jackson, Mississippi Friday night.</p><p>Emma teamed up with <strong><a href="http://www.ringsidenews.com/wrestler/alexa-bliss" title="Alexa Bliss">Alexa Bliss</a></strong> and Nia Jax to take on Mickie James, <strong><a href="http://www.ringsidenews.com/wrestler/sasha-banks" title="Sasha Banks">Sasha Banks</a></strong> and Dana Brooke. The match concluded with Emma submitting to the Bank Statement.</p><p>As previously noted, Emma was off WWE television after she suffered an injury at last month’s WWE Live Event in Liverpool, England. She apparently landed on her shoulder wrong after taking a double knee spot from Banks. She had just returned to action full-time after being sidelined since last year.</p>

Rumor on TJ Perkins Changing His Name

Rumor on TJ Perkins Changing His Name

<p>Bryan Alvarez made the following remarks about WWE’s decision to change <strong><a href="http://www.ringsidenews.com/wrestler/tj-perkins" title="TJ Perkins">TJ Perkins</a></strong>’ name to simple “TJP” on an installment of the Bryan and Vinny Show:</p><p><em>“I was told this by someone in WWE and I believe it. It’s astonishing because I suggested this like a month ago when it happened and it wasn’t until yesterday that somebody told me that it’s true. TJP is no longer TJ Perkins and I largely joked that clearly, <strong><a href="http://www.ringsidenews.com/wrestler/vince-mcmahon" title="Vince McMahon">Vince McMahon</a></strong> had a bad experience at a Perkins [restaurant]. Sure as s**t, Vince apparently hates Perkins. I was told that Perkins is not a national chain but apparently, he hates it and he thinks it sucks and he thinks that if people hear ‘TJ Perkins’ they’re <strong><a href="http://www.ringsidenews.com/tag/gonna/" title="gonna">gonna</a></strong> think of the f**king restaurant so now he’s TJP. I’m just telling you what I was told. This guy [McMahon] is crazy enough that I believe that.”</em></p><p>TJP caught wind of the story when a follower on Twitter mentioned it to him and indicated that it was his idea to change the name.</p>

Rumored Matches for WWE Great Balls of Fire

<p>The following card is rumored for the upcoming July 9th WWE Great Balls of Fire event:</p><p><strong>WWE Universal Championship</strong> <em>(confirmed)</em><br />Brock Lesnar (c) vs. <strong><a href="http://www.ringsidenews.com/wrestler/samoa-joe" title="Samoa Joe">Samoa Joe</a></strong></p><p><strong>RAW Tag-Team Championship</strong><br />Shesaro (c) vs. The Hardyz</p><p>Intercontinental Championship<br /><strong><a href="http://www.ringsidenews.com/wrestler/the-miz" title="The Miz">The Miz</a></strong> (c) vs. Dean Ambrose</p><p><strong>RAW Women’s Championship</strong><br /><strong><a href="http://www.ringsidenews.com/wrestler/alexa-bliss" title="Alexa Bliss">Alexa Bliss</a></strong> (c) vs. Nia Jax</p><p>Seth Rollins vs. Bray Wyatt</p><p>Goldust vs. R-Truth</p><p>With the event being 3 hours long and with the pre-show, it is very possible that they add one or two more under card matches.</p>

Which Female Is The Favorite to Win Money In The Bank?

<p>Carmella is the early favorite to win the first-ever Women’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match with a -140 odds, according to 5 Dimes. The odds will most-likely change several times between now and the pay-per-view event on June 18th, especially when “smart money” bets start to come in.</p><p>Here are the current bets for that match:</p>Carmella -140 <strong><a href="http://www.ringsidenews.com/wrestler/becky-lynch" title="Becky Lynch">Becky Lynch</a></strong> +350 <strong><a href="http://www.ringsidenews.com/wrestler/natalya" title="Natalya">Natalya</a></strong> +360 <strong><a href="http://www.ringsidenews.com/wrestler/Charlotte-Flair" title="Charlotte Flair">Charlotte Flair</a></strong> +900 Tamina +2500

Jinder Mahl Receives Substantial Pay Increase

<p>Jinder <strong><a href="http://www.ringsidenews.com/tag/mahal/" title="Mahal">Mahal</a></strong> has received a substantial pay increase since his push to the top of the SmackDown Live card, according to Dave Meltzer.</p><p>When asked if the now-WWE Champion was getting paid more for his current position in the company, Meltzer responded with the following on Twitter:</p>

Footage of John Cena’s Appearance on The Tonight Show

<h2><a href="http://www.ringsidenews.com/author/carrierlp/" title="Posts by Steve Carrier" rel="author">Steve Carrier</a></h2><p>Steve is the Founder of RingsideNews, AllWrestlingNews, and Wrestling dot News. He has been writing about professional wrestling since 1996. He first got into website development at the time and has been focusing on bringing his readers the best professional wrestling news at it's highest quality.</p>

Ruby Riot Busted Open at UK Download Festival — Match Suddenly Stops

<p>Ruby Riot’s match against <strong><a href="http://www.ringsidenews.com/wrestler/asuka" title="Asuka">Asuka</a></strong> at the UK Download Festival had to be stopped when she was busted open after taking a bump into the steel stairs. Ruby confirmed the incident with a Facebook Live chat with <strong><a href="http://www.ringsidenews.com/tag/kayla/" title="Kayla">Kayla</a></strong> Braxton and mentioned that she had to get 5 stitches afterwards.</p>

Reason Why Sister Abigail May Never Appear on WWE Television

<p>While appearing on the <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/pro-wrestling-torch" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">PWTorch Livecast</a>, former WWE writer Kevin Eck explain why fans will never see Sister Abigail appear in physical capacity on WWE programming.</p><p><em>“From what I know about how <strong><a href="http://www.ringsidenews.com/wrestler/bray-wyatt" title="Bray Wyatt">Bray Wyatt</a></strong> envisioned that character, I don’t think that character is ever <strong><a href="http://www.ringsidenews.com/tag/going/" title="going">going</a></strong> to be seen, because the way Bray explained it, and I don’t think it’s ever come out on TV. He speaks in riddles, so maybe if you read in-between the lines.”</em></p><p>He continued, <em>“But Bray Wyatt was apparently a young man and Sister Abigail was an old black woman. I believe the swamps of Louisiana who had some supernatural powers and you know the history of voodoo and such in New Orleans. I believe she took him under her wing and kind of taught him the secrets of what she <strong><a href="http://www.ringsidenews.com/tag/knows/" title="knows">knows</a></strong> of the dark arts and things like that.”</em></p><p>Eck asserted that Sister Abigail is a witch-like character and the person who turned Bray Wyatt into what he is today. Eck stated that if WWE goes by Bray’s vision, the fans may not get to see a physical Sister Abigail.</p>

Current Plans for Brock Lesnar and the WWE Universal Title

<p>As previously reported, <strong><a href="http://www.ringsidenews.com/wrestler/samoa-joe" title="Samoa Joe">Samoa Joe</a></strong>’s opportunity for the WWE Universal Title against <strong><a href="http://www.ringsidenews.com/wrestler/brock-lesnar" title="Brock Lesnar">Brock Lesnar</a></strong> at the Great Balls of Fire event is expected to be a one-off match with no followup match planned. The Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports that the company has plans for Brock to defend the WWE Universal Championship against Braun Strowman at the SummerSlam event this summer.</p><p>Speaking of Brock, he’s expected to eventually have matches with both Seth Rollins and <strong><a href="http://www.ringsidenews.com/wrestler/finn-balor" title="Finn Balor">Finn Balor</a></strong> before he has his match against Roman Reigns at WrestleMania next year. Market conditions and injuries could potentially change these plans.</p>

Vince Russo’s The Brand Recap – Smackdown Analysis, Burying Jinder Mahal, Lesnar Turning on Heyman? More!

Vince Russo’s The Brand Recap – Smackdown Analysis, Burying Jinder Mahal, Lesnar Turning on Heyman? More!

<p>Russo is joined on today’s show by his co-host Jeff Lane.</p><p>He opens today’s show by saying that Smackdown Live simply isn’t for him. He has tried to review that show for three straight weeks now and it has been nothing more than six hours of wasted time. Next week Russo is going to switch back to watching and reviewing RAW because Smackdown Live just isn’t entertaining him.</p><p>Russo says that Smackdown Live is a ‘cookie cutter’ show. Every week it’s the exact same thing, and viewers are never <strong><a href="http://www.ringsidenews.com/tag/given/" title="given">given</a></strong> fresh looks or different programming. He points out that the opening segment with all the women in the ring was the exact same segment we saw with the men only two weeks ago.</p><p></p><p>He says that WWE has been hyping and promoting <strong><a href="http://www.ringsidenews.com/wrestler/lana" title="Lana">Lana</a></strong>’s <strong><a href="http://www.ringsidenews.com/tag/debut/" title="debut">debut</a></strong> for weeks, and when she finally came out the entire announce team no-sold it. He adds that they totally buried Lana by not selling her entrance, and it’s almost like they did it on purpose because it was that bad. He says that Tom Phillips is horrible because if he doesn’t sell something, the audience at home will never look at it as important.</p>

Former WWE Superstar Santino Marella Making Wrestling Comeback

<p>It <strong><a href="http://www.ringsidenews.com/tag/looks/" title="looks">looks</a></strong> like Santino Marella is coming out of retirement to wrestle once again.</p><p>According to The Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Santino will wrestle later this year for his own Battlarts promotion. He runs the promotion out of his gym in Mississauga, Ontario.</p><p>For those not aware, Santino declared his retirement on July 6th, 2014 at a house show in Toronto, Ontario after he suffered his third neck injury. He was released in 2016 from WWE.</p>

Speculation on Lana Competing on SmackDown Live Before MITB

<p>WWE confirmed on their website that <strong><a href="http://www.ringsidenews.com/wrestler/lana" title="Lana">Lana</a></strong> will not be competing before the Money in the Bank event in her match against <strong><a href="http://www.ringsidenews.com/wrestler/naomi" title="Naomi">Naomi</a></strong> for the SmackDown Women’s Championship. There was speculation online this week in regards to her facing in a match before hand but that obviously won’t be happening.</p><p>WWE wrote the <a href="http://www.wwe.com/shows/moneyinthebank/2017/naomi-lana" target="_blank">following</a>, confirming that her match at MITB will be her first official match on the SmackDown Live brand:</p><p><em>“At SmackDown LIVE’s WWE Money in the Bank pay-per-view, Lana will make her blue brand in-ring debut when she challenges <strong><a href="http://www.ringsidenews.com/tag/naomi/" title="Naomi">Naomi</a></strong> for the SmackDown Women’s Championship in a match that was made following the turbulent events of the June 6 edition of SmackDown LIVE.”</em></p>

CM Punk Eliminated from MTV Show

<p>Former WWE Superstar CM Punk was eliminated on this week’s episode of MTV’s The Challenge: Champs vs. Pros. Punk lost his elimination challenge, which was against Gus Kenworthy. He received $1,000 for P.A.W.S. Chicago, his charity.</p><p>For those wondering about Punk’s future, there is no official word yet as to what the UFC actually has plans for him and if they are <strong><a href="http://www.ringsidenews.com/tag/going/" title="going">going</a></strong> to release him from his contract or not. We will keep you updated.</p>