Search Results: "mainstream"

NEWS

WATCH: Two WWE Stars Appear In Separate Super Bowl Commercials

February 13, 2023

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..

NEWS

Set Your Clock: AEW Rampage Set For Time Change Due To Special NBA Coverage

February 7, 2023

It’s just a one off. There are all kinds of wrestling television shows around the world today and the power of streaming has made it easier than ever to see what is available. At the same time, there is little that is more dominant than being on television, as it remains the dominant force for distribution. Now one of the biggest wrestling shows of the week is changing for a little while. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: They Went At It: Another AEW Backstage Scuffle Revealed According to PWInsider.com, the February 17 episode of AEW Rampage will air at 7pm.. The one night change is due to TNT’s coverage of the NBA that evening. The show usually airs at 10pm EST on Friday nights but regularly deals with changed due to the network’s coverage of other mainstream sports. There have been no matches announced for the card so far. Rampage has had some great moments. Check out some of its efforts: [This post contains video, click to play] [This post contains video, click to play] [This post con..

NEWS

Legends Rise? Update On WrestleMania Status Of The Rock And Steve Austin

February 1, 2023

Maybe next time. There are certain stars in wrestling who have become legends in their own time. Since it is wrestling, there is always the chance that they might come back to the ring later, even at the age that most mainstream athletes would long since have retired. There was a hope that some legends would be back in the ring later this year, but that does not seem likely. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: He’s In: Update On WWE’s Plans For Sami Zayn Going Forward Wrestling Observer Radio has updates on Steve Austin and the Rock’s WrestleMania 39 statuses. Austin will not be wrestling on the show, despite reportedly being offered matches with Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar. There is still the chance that Austin will appear at the show in some capacity, but he is not expected to be wrestling. The situation is about the same for the Rock, who is not expected to wrestle at the event, but could appear. Rock has apparently left the door open for a match at WrestleMania 40 in 2024. They have done t..

NEWS

And It’s Done: AEW Seemingly Drops Celebrity Storyline With No Explanation

January 17, 2023

What could have been. Celebrities have been around wrestling for years and it makes all the sense in the world. The idea is that the celebrity’s fans will come over to watch the wrestling events, or at least give the promotion some mainstream publicity for working with a celebrity. Sometimes there are flaws in the stories though and that seems to have taken place again. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Cameo: Wrestling Legend Competes In First Nationally Televised Match In 9 Years *SPOILERS* AEW has presented a feud between Jade Cargill and her Baddies and rapper Bow Wow on and off over the last few months. This included the team going to a Bow Wow concert and being thrown out, plus a pre-taped video from Bow Wow appearing on AEW Dynamite. However, in an interview with Bootleg Kev, Cargill suggested that the story is over. Cargill said “I don’t know what happened with it. Something was supposed to happen, it didn’t happen, and we moved on from the situation.” There is no word on if Bow Wow wil..

NEWS

WRESTLING RUMORS: WWE Sold To Saudi Arabia, Huge Change Coming To Company

January 11, 2023

That would be a huge one. There have been all kinds of changes to WWE in recent months and now things are ramping up to a degree that would never have seemed possible. The idea of the company being sold seems a lot more likely than ever before and now there is a rumor circulating that not only has the sale been decided, but it would be one of the most unique situations in wrestling history. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: She’s All Gone Now: More Details On Stephanie McMahon Leaving WWE (Again) To clarify: the following has NOT been verified by WWE or any mainstream news source and is considered a RUMOR at this point: On Tuesday night, Cassidy Hayes of Bodyslam.net posted a report saying that WWE had been sold to the Saudi Investment Fund and would be going private again (meaning there would be no stock holders) under the new ownership. The same was also reported by Steven Muehlhausen of DAZN. However, Sean Ross Sapp said that his WWE contacts “claimed to not know” anything about such a sale...

NEWS

Farewell: Wrestling Legend Says His Career Is “Probably Over”

January 11, 2023

He’s done. Retirement is a tricky concept in wrestling as a wrestler can always come back for one more match if given the chance. Rather than having to wrestler a full season of matches like a mainstream athlete would, a wrestler can jump in and out whenever they like. In this situation though, a wrestling legend is indicating that his career is entirely over once and for all. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: He’s New: WWE Reportedly Signs Former New Japan Star During an appearance on the Two Man Power Trip Of Wrestling podcast, wrestling legend Tully Blanchard announced that his contract with AEW/Ring Of Honor was up and that his wrestling career was “probably over”. Blanchard, 69 years old, worked with AEW as a manager, appearing with various wrestlers such as FTR and Shawn Spears. He last appeared with the company in 2022 when his stable was purchased by Prince Nana. Blanchard had an amazing career. Check out some of his highlights: [This post contains video, click to play] [This post c..

NEWS

Nope. Wrestling Legend Confirms His In-Ring Career Is Over

December 25, 2022

He’s done. Retirement is a tricky subject for wrestlers as it can be hard to hang up their boots for the final time. While more mainstream athletes have to complete one more season, wrestlers are able to go out and have one more match at almost anytime they want. That makes officially retiring harder than it seems, but one legend seems pretty sure he is out. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: He’s Still Got It: John Cena Proves His Drawing Power In WWE During a recent appearance on the Culture State podcast, WWE Hall Of Famer Shawn Michaels was asked if he would be coming out of retirement for one more match. Michaels flat out said that he was done, saying “I’ve had that final match” and that he was happy with his career and wanted to see the next generation get their chance. Michaels, 57 years old, last wrestled at Crown Jewel 2018, ending an eight year retirement. He now runs the NXT developmental program for WWE. Michaels had an amazing career. Check out the full interview, plus some of his ..

NEWS

To The Other Side: Former NXT Champion Makes Surprise AEW Rampage Appearance

December 10, 2022

He’s new here. The rise of AEW has changed the mainstream wrestling landscape in the United States. After decades of WWE dominating the industry, there is now a new place for wrestlers to go on a national stage. It can mean a lot when a wrestler who made a name for themselves appears in the other promotion and now it has happened again for a surprise match. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: WATCH: Gable Steveson Makes Surprise Appearance On SmackDown, Teases Match The main event of this week’s edition of AEW Rampage saw Orange Cassidy successfully defend his All-Atlantic Title against Trent Seven, a surprise challenger. Earlier this week, Cassidy had offered Kip Sabian the title shot but Sabian claimed that he was injured. Instead, Sabian was allowed to pick Cassidy’s challenger, choosing Seven. This was Seven’s first televised match after being released from NXT UK on August 18. There is no word on if Seven will be making additional appearance for AEW. Seven is a talented star. Check out what..

NEWS

Power Pair: Bianca Belair Pitches Rihanna Coming To WWE

November 24, 2022

That would be a sight. Celebrities have quite the history in wrestling as a lot of fans could be interested in seeing what happens when a mainstream name tries their hand at wrestling. That could lead to a variety of different results, some of which are a lot more successful than others. Now a top WWE name is interested in bringing another celebrity into the ring to see how things go. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: His Other Job: Bobby Lashley Filming Reality Show In Surprise Field During an interview with Metro, Raw Women’s Champion Bianca Belair said that she wanted to bring Rihanna into the wrestling world and possibly team with her. Belair said the two could be WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions, saying they could break the internet together. Belair had previously done an advertising campaign for Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty makeup line. Belair has made quite the impact in WWE. Check out some of her best moments: [This post contains video, click to play] [This post contains video, click to pla..

NEWS

New Home? Important Streaming Trend Could Shake Up AEW And WWE Television Deals

November 13, 2022

That’s a good sign. Wrestling is in a weird place when compared to mainstream sports. While wrestling is certainly an athletic endeavor, it is closer to a performance than a competition. At the same time, wrestling has quite the audience and that is something that can bring in quite a bit of money. Now the two biggest wrestling companies in the United States might be ready to use their audience to bring in a lot more money. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: WATCH: WWE Star Teases Taking Going In A New Direction According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Thursday Night Football on Amazon is drawing in the same numbers in the 18-49 demographic as Monday Night Football on ESPN. This suggests that a core audience will watch a show on streaming, which could lead to online platforms such as Amazon Prime or Netflix could be interested in acquiring WWE or AEW programming when the new broadcasting deals are available. WWE’s current TV deals expire in September 2024, with the negotiations for a new ..

NEWS

Fare Thee Well: Former WWE Star Officially Announces Retirement

November 10, 2022

It has to end at some point. Wrestlers have an interesting situation with retiring. While more mainstream athletes are able to hang it up at the end of a season, wrestlers have to pick and choose after an individual match. A lot of wrestlers have some trouble walking away, but now a former WWE star has made the decision and seems to be happy with what she is doing. Former WWE and Impact Wrestling star Taryn Terrell, also known as Tiffany during her time in WWE, has announced via her Instagram that she is retiring from wrestling. Terrell said that she was happy with her most recent run in the NWA, where she wanted to feel the rush of getting in the ring again. Terrell also mentioned that she is continuing with her stunt work. The NWA has also posted a message saying that Terrell will be missed. Terrell, 36, debuted in 2007 and is a former Impact Wrestling Knockouts Champion. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Taryn Terrell (@iamtarynterrell) ? @IAmTarynTerrell — We’ve all l..

NEWS

MJF Lands Major Role In Upcoming Biopic Film

November 9, 2022

It’s a different kind of role. Wrestlers have a complicated relationship when it comes to acting. While they are considered to be acting while on a wrestling show, they are also seen as only wrestlers. That can create a variety of issues, but occasionally a wrestler is able to land a more mainstream acting role. Now it seems that we are seeing another wrestler get an important acting role. According to Deadline.com, AEW’s Maxwell Jacob Friedman has been cast in the upcoming Von Erich Family biopic “The Iron Claw”. According to PWInsider.com, Friedman is will be playing Lance Von Erich, who was brought in as a replacement Von Erich. This is also why Friedman has been off AEW television leading up to Full Gear on November 19. There is no word on when the film will be released. Opinion: That is a major role for Friedman and even though it is a wrestling movie, it is still another foot in the door of some kind of a film career. Friedman is someone who can talk very well and the question ..

NEWS

Kurt Angle Reveals Weird Side Effect From Major Surgery

October 24, 2022

Call it a benefit? While there are parts of it that are a bit different, the athleticism required in professional wrestling is right there with mainstream sports. The wrestlers you see are working hard every time they are in the ring and unfortunately that means they are facing the same risks as everyone else. Now one legend has an interesting story about fixing one of his injuries. Earlier this year, WWE Hall of Famer Kurt Angle underwent double knee replacement surgery. Angle spoke about the after effects of his surgery on the Kurt Angle Show, revealing that he is now taller after the operation. Angle’s knees were bent from damage and the replacements have made him stand up straighter while also having his legs extend. Prior to his surgery, Angle said he looked like “an old man walking”. Opinion: That’s one of the weirder situations you’ll see in wrestling but it is great to have Angle so much healthier than he was in before. It would be great to have him able to walk normally agai..

NEWS

Kevin Nash Has A Great Idea For Randy Orton (It Involves Batman)

September 21, 2022

It’s an idea. Wrestlers have a weird connection with acting, as they often act in their roles as wrestlers but they are rarely seen as anything more than a wrestler in mainstream acting roles. That gives them a very niche role to fill but occasionally someone will break out with a different kind of appearance. One WWE legend has an idea about how another legend should be used. September 17 was the annual Batman Day, which prompted several discussions related to the franchise. WWE got involved by sending out a tweet asking which WWE Superstar should play Batman. Hall Of Famer Kevin Nash responded with Randy Orton, who has dabbled in acting over the years. Nash has also acted, including in the comic book movies Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2 and The Punisher. Pick a WWE Superstar to play Batman.#BatmanDay — WWE (@WWE) September 17, 2022 @RandyOrton — Kevin Nash (@RealKevinNash) September 18, 2022 Opinion: This is one of those things that is little more than some fun and that is nev..

NEWS

Important Detail On WWE Booking Roman Reigns vs. Logan Paul For Crown Jewel

September 20, 2022

It does make sense. Over the last few years, WWE has developed a business relationship with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The deal has been very lucrative for WWE as the company receives millions of dollars in exchange for two shows a year in the Kingdom. WWE is returning in November with a bit of a weird main event, but now we know the reasoning behind it. WWE has announced that the main event of November 5’s Crown Jewel event will see Logan Paul challenging Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Title. According to Dave Meltzer on the Sunday Night’s Main Event podcast, Saudi Arabia wanted Paul in the spot because he has more mainstream appeal than a regular WWE star like Kevin Owens or Seth Rollins. This will be Paul’s third WWE match to date. Opinion: I don’t think this is much of a surprise and that is not the worst thing. Paul does seem to be someone who has a lot of natural talent and the ability to get fans’ attention when he is in front of a camera. While I can’t imagin..

NEWS

Important Note On Suspended AEW Wrestlers

September 17, 2022

It’s a bonus punishment. AEW has changed the way the wrestling world works and that has been a good thing for fans. While AEW is a major promotion on the biggest stage, it also allows its wrestlers to work independent shows, allowing fans to see mainstream talent on smaller stages. That is a rather cool thing, but it is not going to be the case for some of those wrestlers for the time being. Earlier this month, a backstage brawl took place after AEW All Out, resulting in several suspensions. It is not clear when the wrestlers will be back, as AEW is still conducting an investigation. According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the suspended wrestlers are not allowed to work independent dates while they are away from AEW. CM Punk, the Young Bucks and Kenny Omega are currently suspended, though Punk is unable to wrestle as he is recovering from tricep surgery. Opinion: They really didn’t have a choice here as you can’t have wrestlers suspended from AEW and getting to wrestle elsewh..

NEWS

She’s In? WWE Summerslam May Have Turned A Hollywood Star Into A Wrestling Fan

August 1, 2022

Welcome aboard. Wrestling is a weird universe when it comes to mainstream recognition as it exists in its own very firm bubble. You are either in the wrestling world or not and it is an industry that is often looked down upon as a result. It can be fun to see someone well known for something outside of wrestling get involved and that might have been the case again this weekend. WWE held its annual Summerslam event over the weekend and as usual it was one of their biggest shows of the year. Actress Kat Dennings, best known for her roles in the Thor movies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and Two Broke Girls tweeted about the show, saying that it was her first Summerslam and made her feel unwell. She followed that with a tweet saying that she thinks she loves WWE. Just watched my first #SummerSlam and I am unwell — Kat Dennings (@OfficialKat) July 31, 2022 Oh no I think I love @WWE — Kat Dennings (@OfficialKat) July 31, 2022 Opinion: This is one of those things that WWE can brag ab..

NEWS

He’s Taking His Time: Update On Gable Steveson’s Wrestling Future

July 23, 2022

Maybe not? Wrestling has a bit of a shaky reputation when it comes to being a real spot. There are a lot of people who will instantly point out that the endings are scripted and that is going to cause some people to look at it skeptically. It can help to have more mainstream athletes participating for the sake of offering credibility, but one such star might be taking his time getting there. Back in 2021, NCAA and Olympic wrestling champion Gable Steveson signed a contract with WWE and was officially drafted to Monday Night Raw. Steveson made an appearance at Summerslam 2021 and at WrestleMania 38, but he has yet to wrestle a match. According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Steveson is considering a return to the University of Minnesota for an attempt at a third NCAA Heavyweight Championship and possibly another Olympic gold medal in 2024, though he has yet to make up his mind. There is no word on when he would appear for WWE again. Opinion: While I think that ultimately Steves..

NEWS

Crossover: WWE In Regular Talks With UFC Legend, Possible Plans For Him

July 19, 2022

It’s a good connection. Wrestling is in a weird place when it comes to being seen as a sport. While the wrestlers are absolutely athletes and people who are able to do some amazing things in the ring. At the same time though, there are always going to be people who do not see it as a real sport. It can be interesting to see what happens when athletes from more mainstream sports get into wrestling, and now a pretty big name is in talks with WWE. During a recent Twitter Spaces, former UFC Heavyweight Champion Daniel Cormier spoke about his relationship with WWE. Cormier revealed that he regularly talks to people in WWE, including Triple H, and has been asked to work with the Creed Brothers in NXT. Cormier, who is friends with Julius Creed, is interested in working with them in some capacity but has never been able to make it work. There is no word on if Cormier will be able to work with WWE at some point in the future. Opinion: Cormier is someone who has always seemed interested in wre..

NEWS

You Might Be Hearing A Lot More About The Vince McMahon Allegations Soon

July 18, 2022

More to come on that. There have been a lot of WWE stories this year but none of them come close to the official investigation into Vince McMahon over allegations of sexual misconduct. The accusations have already caused McMahon to step back from his leadership role in WWE and caused people to look back into his history. Now things might be about to get even worse. According to PWInsider.com, mainstream news outlets are looking to introduce new stories about the McMahon allegations. Some of the possible outlets to look into the situation are HBO’s Real Sports With Bryant Gumbel and the Wall Street Journal. There is no word on when the stories could come out, though the Wall Street Journal should be in the next few weeks. Both are looking to talk to former female WWE wrestlers. Opinion: This is something that you had to know was coming and that is not a bad thing. McMahon has been accused of a lot of things and now people are starting to talk about what those things might be. I’m not ..