Shinsuke Nakamura Set for WWE Resurgence on Japan Tour
The “King of Strong Style” is back. Shinsuke Nakamura, absent from WWE since June, is set to make his in-ring comeback during WWE’s Japan Tour this October. Fan...
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Jeff Cobb’s WWE Arrival: What to Expect from the Powerhouse’s Debut
Jeff Cobb’s Journey from NJPW to WWE Jeff Cobb, a powerhouse in the wrestling world, recently concluded his tenure with New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) on April...
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No More: WWE Star Confirms Departure From Company
She’s done. It can mean a lot when a wrestler gets signed to WWE, as it is often the pinnacle of their careers. Having a wrestler make it to the biggest stage in wrestling can change their status for fans. At the same time, it can be quite the change when they depart the company. Now another wrestler is confirming that they have left WWE following a long period of inactivity. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Not A Fan: Wrestling Legend On Johnny Gargano: “He’s Not Over. Listen To That Crowd” Earlier this month, reports surfaced that Sarray had left WWE after several months away from the ring. Now Sarray herself has confirmed the departure, talking about how grateful she was for her time in the company. She said that she learned a lot in America and confirmed that she would be returning to the ring in Japan on May 16. Sarray debuted with WWE in April 2021 and wrestled her last match there in August 2022. No matter what some people might say, I did my best. I am so glad that I had the chance to..
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She’s Gone: WWE Star Reportedly Leaves Company, Return To The Ring Set
It was fun while it lasted. There are so many wrestlers on the WWE roster that it can be easy to forget about some of them. To make it even more complicated, there is also the NXT roster, which features stars who are not on television nearly as often. Occasionally someone will quietly slip away from the company and that seems to be the case again with an international star. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: WRESTLING RUMORS: WWE Considering Two Huge Backlash Main Events According to Tokyo Sport, Sarray’s WWE contract has expired and she will be returning to the ring in Japan on May 16. Sarray signed with WWE in 2020 but her debut was delayed due to the Coronavirus pandemic. She appeared infrequently on NXT and was eventually repackaged into an anime inspired character who transformed with a magical necklace. Sarray last wrestled for WWE on the August 2, 2022 NXT and only wrestled 23 matches for WWE in total. Sarray was fun while she was around. Check out some of her time in WWE: [This post co..
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He’s Out There: Former World Champion Officially A Free Agent, Possibly Heading To WWE
He’s available. There are some incredibly talented wrestlers throughout the world who do not get to appear on the big stage that often. While they might appear on some very big shows, they do not make regular appearances in either WWE or AEW. Those are the stages where wrestlers will have the biggest audiences, and now a top international star is able to go anywhere he chooses. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: WRESTLING RUMORS: Possible Sign That Naomi Is Done With WWE Earlier this year, former IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Jay White lost a Loser Leaves Japan match, signaling that he was done with New Japan Pro Wrestling. According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, White is now officially a free agent, as his deal with New Japan expired on February 28. While it is not confirmed, it is expected that he will be signing with WWE. White has previously made appearances in AEW. White is an incredible talent. Check out what he can do: [This post contains video, click to play] [This post con..
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WRESTLING RUMORS: Possible Sign That Naomi Is Done With WWE
That’s a telling sign. Last May, Naomi and Sasha Banks both walked out on WWE, while still the reigning WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions. Banks, now known as Mercedes Mone, has since resurfaced in New Japan Pro Wrestling. Naomi however has not been seen in a wrestling capacity since the walk out. Now a new development is suggesting that she is no longer part of WWE whatsoever. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: They’re Out? WWE Expected To Split Up NXT Tag Team WrestleCon, the wrestling fan convention held over WrestleMania weekend, has announced that Naomi, under her real name of Trinity Fatu, will be a guest at the convention. WWE contracted wrestlers are rarely allowed to do outside appearances such as this, which would suggest that Naomi is no longer under contract to WWE, or will not be when the convention takes place. This is to be considered speculation as there is NO report that she has officially left WWE. https://twitter.com/wrestlecon/status/1631648476743315457 Naomi was a star while ..
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Get Well Soon: Missing WWE Star Reportedly Undergoes Shoulder Surgery
That explains some things. There are all kinds of reasons for a wrestler to be out of the ring and a good number of them are health related. If someone is injured, there is very little that they can do to get back in the ring without risking a much bigger problem. Such an injury can explain a lot of absences and now we know about another such injury that is preventing an expected return. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: It’s A Dangerous Place: NXT Star Attacked In Parking Lot By Unknown Assailant Back in May 2022, Naomi and Sasha Banks walked out on WWE vacating the Women’s Tag Team Titles in the process. While Banks has gone on to wrestle in New Japan Pro Wrestling under the name Mercedes Mone, Naomi has not been seen in wrestling. During a virtual signing with Golden Ring Collectibles, Ariane Andre, formerly known as Cameron and Naomi’s former tag partner, revealed that Naomi is recovering from shoulder surgery. There is no word on when the surgery took place or Naomi’s recovery time. It is ..
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WATCH: Naomi And Mercedes Mone Appear Together In New Advertisement
They’re still a thing. Nine months ago, Naomi and Mercedes Mone (then Sasha Banks) walked out on WWE on the same night, vacating their Women’s Tag Team Titles in the process. That is the kind of career altering change that you do not see a wrestler deal with very often, but the two seemed united in what they were doing. Now we will get to see them united again in a very different world. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Maybe Later: How WWE Nixed Plans To Bring Back Finn Balor’s Demon The Bar Rescue Twitter account has sent out a video advertising an upcoming episode. The video includes a clip of Naomi and Mone, though it is not clear if it will be in the advertised February 26 episode. While Naomi has not wrestled since walking out on WWE in May 2022, Mone has gone on to wrestle for New Japan Pro Wrestling, including winning the promotion’s Women’s Title over the weekend. The team was good while it lasted. Check out the ad, plus the team in the ring: [This post contains video, click to play]..
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WRESTLING RUMORS: WWE Interested In Bringing In Two Former World Champions
They have people in mind. There are some very talented wrestlers on the WWE roster, but there are also several top names outside of the company’s circle. WWE will occasionally try to bring some of these names in, which can make for some very interesting moments. Now it seems that WWE is interested in a few names, with one of them appearing to be a bit further along. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: WATCH: Bayley Attends Mercedes Mone’s First New Japan Match, Helps Lead Cheers According to WrestleVotes by way of GiveMeSport, Triple H has asked the WWE creative team to start coming up with ideas in case the company is able to sign Jay White. In addition, Kota Ibushi was also brought up as a possible free agent during a meeting in January. White reportedly finished up with New Japan over the weekend and Ibushi wrestled in the WWE Cruiserweight Classic. Those are some talented stars. Check out the two of them in action: [This post contains video, click to play] [This post contains video, click..
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WATCH: Bayley Attends Mercedes Mone’s First New Japan Match, Helps Lead Cheers
She’s a friend. There have been several teams throughout the years in WWE and some of them develop quite the friendship during their time together. Every so often you will see that friendship continue after the wrestlers leave a promotion, but it is much rarer to see it continue when one star is in a different promotion entirely. That was on display over the weekend. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: On The Mend: Update On Injured AEW Star’s Recovery Status Over the weekend, Mercedes Mone, better known as Sasha Banks during her time in WWE, defeated Kairi to become the new IWGP Women’s Champion. A fan shot video from the match shows Mone’s former partner Bayley in the crowd, helping lead chants for Mone. There was no mention of Bayley being at the show and she was not recognized in any way. Bayley and Mone were the inaugural WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions. This was a cool visual. Check out Bayley in the crowd, plus the two in their WWE days: [This post contains video, click to play] [This po..
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Mercedes Mone Wins First Championship In NJPW
Call her a champion. Mercedes Mone, known as Sasha Banks in WWE, has won her first championship as a member of the NJPW roster. She defeated Kairi for the IWGP Women’s Championship at NJPW’s Battle in the Valley show in San Jose, California. From Bleacher Report: NJPW sold out tickets to Battle in the Valley after Kairi vs. Mercedes Moné was announced and it showed as the crowd erupted as it began. It was the loudest the audience in attendance got all night. Mone entered the arena wearing new gear as a tribute to the late Hana Kimura. You could see how much she reveres Japanese wrestling, and how much this moment means to her. The former WWE star hasn’t wrestled since May 13, 2022, but she hasn’t missed a beat. The Blueprint dominated early on with the crowd behind her, but Kairi came roaring back. It looked like the champion could retain when she locked in the Ikari, but Mone fought out and cinched in her trademark crossface. Then, Kairi hit her staggering spinning back fist to f..
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A Big One: WWE Reportedly Believes They Can Sign Kenny Omega
Yeah he’s big. AEW has accomplished a lot of things over its short history, but the biggest might be bringing so many new names to a much higher level. Fans have been exposed to various wrestlers who might never have gotten a chance otherwise and that has shaken up the wrestling world a bit. WWE has seen them as well, and now it seems that they have their eye on a top AEW name. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: They’re Next? WWE Reportedly Plans Callup For One Of These NXT Stars Jay White seems to be on his way out of New Japan Pro Wrestling, having lost a Loser Leaves Japan match and being set for a match where he cannot wrestle for the promotion again should he loser. However, according to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, WWE is reportedly interested in bringing in an even bigger name. According to Wrestlingnews.co, that name would be former AEW World Champion Kenny Omega, whose AEW contract is reportedly set to expire soon. However, according to Fightful Select, there is the chance that A..
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Oh Yeah: Steve Austin Officially Set For Upcoming A&E Series
As only he can. There are certain names in wrestling who are among the biggest the sport has ever seen. Fans know these people no matter what they are doing and there is something special about seeing them out there every so often. Occasionally they will become big enough stars to do something outside of the ring and that is what another legend is doing now. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Farewell? New Japan’s Jay White Signals He Is Ready For A New Era, Possible Move A&E has announced that Steve Austin will be starring in a new series called “Stone Cold Takes On America”, which will feature Austin traveling the country in an attempt to experience things that he missed during his wrestling career. Austin will travel around in his RV, “accepting challenges from fans that push him out of his comfort zone” while also looking back at some of Austin’s career. The ten part series will debut Sunday April 10 at 10pm EST as part of A&E’s Superstar Sunday block of WWE programming. The show has potent..
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Send Him Away: Popular AEW Star Suspended Over Backstage Attack
It might be a bit. Villains have a tricky job in wrestling, as they have to find a way to make the fans dislike them without being too good at what they do. One of the easiest ways is to take away something that the fans want, which could come in many forms. Occasionally it means having a wrestler not be around for one reason or another, which is what we are seeing again now. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Farewell? New Japan’s Jay White Signals He Is Ready For A New Era, Possible Move Last week on AEW Dynamite, Hook attacked Stokely Hathaway, allegedly injuring his arm in the process. As a result, Hathaway has been wearing a brace on his arm since the attack. This week, Hathaway was talking about wanting justice for the attack when he was told that Hook had been suspended, pending an investigation. There is no word on how long Hook will be missing from AEW TV. Hook is something different. Check out what he has done in AEW: [This post contains video, click to play] [This post contains vi..
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Farewell? New Japan’s Jay White Signals He Is Ready For A New Era, Possible Move
That’s different. There are all kinds of talented wrestlers around the world and it can be fascinating to see what happens when they move from one promotion to the other. The bigger the star, the more interesting the move can be, which is the case with anyone from any promotion. Now one of the bigger international stars is indicating that he is in for a major change. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Clean Slate: Backstage Meeting Reportedly Held Over AEW Star’s Past Actions Earlier this month, Jay White lost a Loser Leaves Japan match, signaling that he would be leaving New Japan Pro Wrestling. Earlier this week, White sent out a tweet saying “Peace” with the hashtag “SwitchbladeEra”, referencing his Switchblade nickname. White is still scheduled to face Eddie Kingston for New Japan in San Jose, California this weekend, though his New Japan deal is expected to expire shortly thereafter. This has led to speculation that he is coming to either WWE or AEW, though nothing has been confirmed. Peac..
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Ouch: Former AEW Champion Out Of Action Due To An Injury
It can happen to anyone. There are all kinds of injuries a wrestler can undergo and some of them are not as obvious as others. While you can see the big ones right in front of your face, there are others that can put a wrestler on the shelf, even if it does not seem to be that bad. It seems to be the case again, as a former AEW champion is on the shelf with an injury. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: He Would Know: Jeff Jarrett Reveals AEW’s Thought Process Behind Running Live Events During a recent video gaming live stream, former AEW Women’s Champion Hikaru Shida revealed that she is suffering from a finger injury. While Shida said that she is still able to game, she is unable to wrestle at the moment. Shida described the injury as “little”, though she did not give any date on a return to the ring. Her most recent match took place on January 1 in Japan. Shida has been quite the success in AEW. Check out what she has done: [This post contains video, click to play] [This post contains vide..
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Almost: Update On Injured AEW Star After 8 Month Absence
She’s not there yet. Injuries are one of the worst things that can happen to wrestlers as you never know when someone is going to be back in the ring. Being on the shelf can grind a wrestler’s career to a halt but there are other things that they can do to keep their name out there. That is the case with a current AEW star, who cannot get in the ring but is doing something else. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: RUMOR KILLER On Mercedes Mone’s New Japan Payday AEW’s Thunder Rosa has been out of action since the middle of August with a back injury. According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Rosa was back at last week’s AEW Dynamite in El Paso, Texas where she was part of the Spanish commentary team. There is no word on if Rosa will be a permanent part of the team or when she will be returning to the ring. Rosa is a star when she is around. Check out some of her time in the ring: [This post contains video, click to play] [This post contains video, click to play] [This post contains vid..
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WATCH: Two WWE Stars Appear In Separate Super Bowl Commercials
That’s a big stage. While wrestlers are celebrities who are on national television every week, there is a limit to how big most of them are going to become. That can be seen when these stars are rarely involved in any mainstream media appearances. Every so often you see something a little more surprising and now that has happened again, in one of the most prominent places available. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: RUMOR KILLER On Mercedes Mone’s New Japan Payday Two WWE names appeared in Super Bowl commercials this weekend. First, Logan Paul appeared in a commercial for his Prime sports drink. The clip included footage of Paul in WWE, including his frog splash to Miz at Summerslam 2022. Second, Undertaker appeared in a Draftkings ad, featuring a number of other sports celebrities, including Tony Hawk and David Ortiz, among others. Undertaker was in his full gear and acknowledged by his ring name. They were certainly different. Check out the ads, plus WWE’s Super Bowl ad: [This post contains..
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RUMOR KILLER On Mercedes Mone’s New Japan Payday
She’s worth it? One of the bigger moments of the wrestling year so far was the debut of Mercedes Mone, formerly known as Sasha Banks during her time in WWE, in New Japan Pro Wrestling. This was Mone’s first wrestling appearance in about seven months after walking out on WWE. It was a big acquisition for New Japan but now we know a little something else about the appearance. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: That’s Special: Bayley And Becky Lynch Receive Special Honor From WWE Before Mone’s January 4 debut, a rumor circulate that she would make more money per appearance than Chris Jericho during his most recent New Japan run. Jericho refuted the claim, saying that he was never given a guaranteed amount per appearance and was paid according to the show’s revenue. According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the rumor, which has begun circulating again, is inaccurate, as Mone is not making as much as Jericho. She is also not making as much as she could make with WWE or AEW, but is working New J..
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He’s Up: WWE And AEW Set For Likely Bidding War Over International Star
He’s worth the fight. While WWE and AEW are the two biggest wrestling promotions in the world, there are all kinds of talented stars outside of those two companies. It can mean a lot when one of those stars becomes available, if nothing else because the two promotions very well may in up in a bidding war. While not confirmed yet, there is a real chance that we will be seeing another one. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: It Was His Call: More On Baron Corbin/JBL Split, Why The Angle Was Canceled Over the weekend, Hikuleo defeated Jay White at New Japan: The New Beginning In Osaka in a Loser Leaves Japan match. This comes amid rumors of White’s New Japan contract expiring and interest from both WWE and AEW. It is not clear when White’s contract will expire, though he is still scheduled to face Eddie Kingston in San Jose, California for New Japan on February 18. White is an international star. Check out some of his time from around the world: [This post contains video, click to play] [This po..