Search Results: "programming"

NEWS

Oh Yeah: Steve Austin Officially Set For Upcoming A&E Series

February 17, 2023

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..

NEWS

WWE Hall of Famer Returns On Raw

February 7, 2023

She’s back. The main event of tonight’s episode of Raw featured a steel cage match between Becky Lynch and Bayley that was originally supposed to take place at Raw XXX. While Bayley would have backup with Dakota Kai and Iyo Sky, it appeared that The Man had some backup too. In the closing moments of the match, Lynch was getting ready to escape the cage, when interference from Kai and Sky prevented The Man from getting out. Just when it looks like Bayley was going to get the win, WWE Hall of Famer Lita made her return to television to even the odds. She would fight off Damage Control, slam the door in Bayley’s face, and allow Lynch to get the win. Lita was last seen on WWE programming at the 2022 Elimination Chamber premium live event, where she lost a match to Lynch. Editor’s Opinion: I did not see this one coming, but I’m glad I did! It’s always great when Lita is on television, and she looked fantastic in her role as always. If this leads to a tag match between the two opposing s..

NEWS

Former WWE Women’s Champion Returns To Television

January 31, 2023

She’s back. WWE has had a number of returns in the past 48 hours, with names such as Chelsea Green and Rick Boogs returning to the company. However, there was an additional name that also made her presence felt on television. Carmella made her return to WWE programming on tonight’s episode of Raw. It was also announced that she would be in a Fatal-4-way match on next week’s show, along with Candice LaRae, Michin, and Piper Niven. The winner of that match will qualify for the upcoming Elimination Chamber match, where the winner will face Bianca Belair for the Raw Women’s Championship at WrestleMania. After the announcement, Carmella was interviewed backstage, where she was confronted by Asuka, who had blue liquid running out of her mouth. Editor’s Opinion: F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S! I have been a fan of Carmela’s for a long time and it is great to see her back on television. I’ve always thought that she had something to offer the company and with the momentum that the Raw women’s division has..

NEWS

He’ll Be Back: Here’s Why Kenny Omega Has Been Missing From AEW TV

January 27, 2023

The international slowdown. There are all kinds of wrestling stars from around the world and several of them appear on national television on a regular basis. You can see many of them every week on WWE and AEW programming but they do have issues that American wrestlers do not have to face. One of AEW’s biggest stars is having just that problem at the moment and it could be a bit before he is back. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: He’s In For Now: Former WWE Star Set For AEW Debut According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Kenny Omega is currently dealing with a visa issue that is keeping him off AEW TV. Omega has not appeared on the last two weeks of Dynamite and was said to have “badly” wanted to be on the Jay Briscoe tribute show. AEW is hoping that Omega will be able to return on February 1 but that is yet to be guaranteed so far. Omega is one of their biggest stars. Check out some of his AEW work: [This post contains video, click to play] [This post contains video, click to play] ..

NEWS

Subtraction By Subtraction: Changes Coming To WWE Network/Peacock, Shows Leaving

January 18, 2023

It’s less wrestling. The WWE Network was an absolute game changer for wrestling fans. For the first time ever, fans were able to see almost every major WWE event in history for a relatively cheap price. It meant there was more content available to fans and more was added at a regular basis. However, that might not be the case anymore, at least for certain wrestling programming. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: You’re Up: Royal Rumble Described As “All Hands On Deck”, What That Means According to Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful, a WWE source says that independent wrestling content will be discontinued on Peacock. This comes after various shows events are listed as leaving in a few days. Shows that seem to be leaving include ICW, Progress and Evolve, though it is not clear if all of them will be leaving permanently. A wXw event is set to premiere this coming Sunday. A WWE source indicated to Fightful that they'll be discontinuing indie content on the WWE Network. https://t.co/DwMvG4msM2 — Sean..

NEWS

International Incident: WWE Star Loses Title At Major International Event

January 5, 2023

It had to happen eventually. There are all kinds of titles in wrestling and some of the most well known are in WWE. Those are not all of the titles around the world though as other promotions have championships and honors of their own. You will occasionally see those paths cross though, and now one of the crossings that led to some interesting questions have been closed. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: He’s Back: Former Champion Officially Returns To WWE After Leaving AEW New Japan Pro Wrestling held its annual Wrestle Kingdom show earlier this week, featuring several title matches. One such match saw Tama Tonga defeat Karl Anderson to win the NEVER Openweight Title. Anderson currently works for WWE as part of the Monday Night Raw roster and was the reigning champion when he returned to WWE in November. The title reign was referenced on WWE programming but the title never appeared. He has some better times. Check out what Anderson has done since returning to WWE: [This post contains video, ..

NEWS

Sasha Banks Thanks Triple H, Vince McMahon, WWE, Others on Twitter

January 4, 2023

The Boss is giving thanks. Earlier tonight, Sasha Banks took to Twitter to send thank-you messages to several former and current WWE personalities. Among the people thanked were Triple H, Vince McMahon, and William Regal. She also took the opportunity to thank her fans as well. You can see the tweets below: Thank you @WWE — Mercedes Varnado (@MercedesVarnado) January 4, 2023 Thank you @RealKingRegal — Mercedes Varnado (@MercedesVarnado) January 4, 2023 Thank you @TripleH — Mercedes Varnado (@MercedesVarnado) January 4, 2023 Thank you @WWEUniverse — Mercedes Varnado (@MercedesVarnado) January 4, 2023 Thank you #Krew I love you so much — Mercedes Varnado (@MercedesVarnado) January 4, 2023 Thank you @VinceMcMahon — Mercedes Varnado (@MercedesVarnado) January 4, 2023 Thank you #SashaBanks ? — Mercedes Varnado (@MercedesVarnado) January 4, 2023 Banks, whose real name is Mercedes Varnado, has not been seen on WWE programming since May of 2022. On May 16 of that year, she and ..

NEWS

He Did It! Road Dogg Reveals Who Was Behind Unsolved WWE Mystery

December 12, 2022

There’s the reveal. There are so many stories that take place during any given week of WWE programming that it can be difficult to keep track of all of them. That can be the case for the fans as well as the company itself, as there are times when stories are left hanging with no resolution. Now we know where something was going to go but WWE never actually did anything about it. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: No More: Sasha Banks Reportedly “Done” With WWE, What Caused The Split On the July 4, 2016 edition of Monday Night Raw, a food fight broke out at the 4th of July backstage party. Kevin Owens was the only person who did not get covered in food during the fight, but at the end of the segment, an unseen person hit him with a pie. The person who threw the pie has never been revealed on WWE television. Following the segment, several WWE videos attempted to figure out who did it, with no success. However, according to the Road Dogg on his Oh…You Didn’t Know podcast, Vince McMahon was going to..

NEWS

Better Than Nothing? Tony Khan Announces Upcoming Weekly Ring Of Honor Series

December 11, 2022

It’s something. One of the more interesting wrestling stories of the year has been the roller coaster that is Ring Of Honor. After being shut down for several months to start the year, the promotion was purchased by AEW owner Tony Khan and somewhat relaunched on AEW television. However, Ring Of Honor did not have any kind of distribution of its own. Now things have changed in a big way. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: To The Other Side: Former NXT Champion Makes Surprise AEW Rampage Appearance During this weekend’s post Final Battle media scrum, Khan announced that Ring Of Honor will have its weekly television show on the HonorClub streaming service, which relaunched earlier this week. The service costs $9.99 a month and includes all of the Ring Of Honor video library. There is no specific date on when the show will launch, but Khan said an announcement was coming after the Los Angeles and Seattle shows. Khan also said that there will be less of a focus on Ring Of Honor on AEW programming. T..

NEWS

In Name Only: Vince McMahon Mentioned On WWE TV Again

December 7, 2022

He’s still on their minds. This has been one of the most eventful years in the history of wrestling but nothing really comes close to Vince McMahon stepping down as head of WWE. McMahon had been in charge of the company for about forty years and several people have never seen WWE under someone else’s control. Now though, we have heard his name again on WWE programming in a positive light. During the opening match of this week’s NXT, commentator Booker T. mentioned McMahon, referring to him as one of the all time great wrestling minds. The mention came during a list of other promoters, including Paul Bosch. This was one of, if not the, first mentions of McMahon since he officially retired from WWE on July 22 in the midst of an investigation over a string of payments to various women over the years. It was part of a big show. Check out some more of this week’s NXT: [This post contains video, click to play] [This post contains video, click to play] [This post contains video, click ..

NEWS

RUMOR: Creative Plans for Becky Lynch WWE Return at Survivor Series WarGames Revealed

November 22, 2022

Becky Lynch has been out of action with a separated shoulder since August 1st. She was written off WWE television after suffering an attack from Damage Control. Big Match Becks hasn’t been featured on WWE programming since SummerSlam, but there are some rumors swirling about a potential WWE return must sooner than you’d think. Following this week’s Monday Night Raw, WWE Raw Women’s Champion Bianca Belair has formed most of team for Survivor Series WarGames. However, she’s still one more member shy in the match. The rumor mill is reporting that Becky Lynch is anticipated to be revealed as the fifth member of the team soon. Related: Becky Lynch Explains What Hurt Her Friendship With Charlotte Her role in the WarGames Match would make sense given the angle at SummerSlam before she was put on the shelf by Damage Control. Becky Lynch coming for revenge in her return adds a lot to the match and gets her rolling into WWE programming before the end of the year. Word on the street is that th..

NEWS

Fuego Del Sol Buys His Own Wrestling Ring to Train for Bigger AEW Matches

November 18, 2022

As people outside of the big promotions like AEW, we often forget that we see these performers for maybe 30 mins of television time per week, which could be much less for underutilized talents. If you compare this to the standard 40 hour work week, we’re seeing so little of what actually goes into becoming a star in the wrestling business. For instance, Fuego Del Sol has been training extensively despite limited appearances on AEW programming over the course of 2022. He took to Twitter on Thursday to share his progress and goals into improving his craft as well as being prepared for any future opportunities. I bought a wrestling ring to take my in ring training to another level. Developed a new gym discipline. Working out 6 days a week and already see a difference in my body! Wrestling on the indies more so I stay ring ready and prepared for bigger AEW matches. Confidence way up! https://t.co/3rt9qzaiMn — Fuego Del Sol (@FuegoDelSol) November 17, 2022 During an exchange on Twit..

NEWS

RUMOR: Triple H Only Interested in Bringing “Non-Controversial” Talent Back to WWE

November 18, 2022

With Vince McMahon’s retirement and Triple H taking the creative reigns at WWE, there has been a dramatic shift in how many performers have been featured on WWE programming. With many notable talents returning to the company, Triple H has opened the rumor mill to many potential names who could make their return to WWE. Most recently, it’s been reported by the Wrestling Observer that Jonah, formerly known as Bronson Reed during his tenure with NXT and WWE, has been offered the opportunity to come back to WWE. There are also reports of Chelsea Green returning to the company as well. There’s also some smoke surrounding a return for Matt Cardona. Related: WWE Interested In Bringing Back These Former Champions While the rumor mill continues to spin on potential names, a new report from Ringside News details that WWE officials and HHH are looking for returning performers to meet some specific pieces of criteria. The word on the street is that “WWE is looking for really talented performers ..

NEWS

Ronda Rousey Talks Character Work With Vince McMahon; Comparisons to Brock Lesnar

November 18, 2022

WWE SmackDown Women’s Champion Ronda Rousey discussed the inner workings of her on-screen WWE persona after she made her debut with the company as an in-ring performer. Following a electric and memorable debut at WrestleMania 34, Rousey stormed onto WWE programming, but former CEO Vince McMahon saw her character as more “vulnerable than dominant.” Ronda clarified on the latest episode of her podcast Ronda on the Road that Vince McMahon didn’t see her as an “invincible monster” type of character like Brock Lesnar has been booked to be. The comparison between the two obvious based on their legitimate MMA and UFC backgrounds. As a result, Ronda Rousey was booked with a more “vulnerable side.” Related: Ronda Rousey Burns WWE Over Superstar Releases “There’s this more vulnerable side of me,” Ronda explained on the podcast “but not vulnerable like, ‘Oh, I’m being hurt.’ It’s more of like, I gotta to find ways to challenge myself more and more and more.” Rousey went into further detail abo..

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

Sarah Logan Makes Her Return To WWE Programming

November 12, 2022

She’s back! Tonight on Smackdown, Sarah Logan made her return to WWE after being away from regular programming for over two years. Logan had been teased in recent vignettes with The Viking Raiders, and officially allied herself with the team on tonight’s show. You can see a clip of her return below: [This post contains video, click to play] After The Viking Raiders attacked both Hit Row and Legado Del Fantasma prior to their match against each other, Logan made her way down the entrance ramp and went after B Fab. She would then officially join the Radiers to end the segment. Logan was released from her WWE contract on April 15, 2020, due to budget cuts as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic that was beginning to emerge. She made a surprise return at the 2022 Royal Rumble earlier this year, entering the match at number 25 and briefly reuniting with Liv Morgan. She lasted only 43 seconds, until she was eliminated by The Bella Twins. Editor’s Opinion: Yes! This is awesome! I have alw..

NEWS

Warner Brothers Discovery Executive On More AEW Programming (Minus A Ring)

October 13, 2022

They want more. AEW has come a long way in its three years of existence. A lot of the company’s success can be attributed to its programming being broadcast on Warner Brothers Discovery networks. The shows are available in prime time on national networks and the potential audience is high as a result. Now we might be in for an expansion of the company’s programming, but in a different way. Warner Brothers Discovery Group Chair and Chief Content Officer Kathleen Finch was recently interviewed by the Hollywood Reporter and spoke about the company’s relationship with AEW. Finch said that AEW pulls in huge numbers and as a result, Warner Brothers Discovery is trying to find new programming featuring AEW stars without it being in a wrestling ring. There is no word on what kind of programming this could be. Opinion: I don’t know what this is going to mean but there is something a bit ominous about the way that was worded. It almost came off like saying Warner Brothers Discovery likes the A..

NEWS

Longtime WWE Name Gone From Company After 14 Year Tenure

October 5, 2022

He was a big deal. There are all kinds of people who work together to make WWE programming a success. While the wrestlers are the ones who get the most attention, several other people are there to make the show come together as well. Some of these people will almost never get any recognition and now one of them is departing the company after a long time. According to PWInsider.com, Dr. Chris Amann has left WWE after fourteen years with the company. Amann reportedly gave notice earlier this year and wrapped up his time with WWE earlier this month. Amann is most well known as the doctor who sued CM Punk and Colt Cabana over their comments about his work on Cabana’s podcast. In addition, he also helped establish the WWE Wellness Policy. Opinion: This is the kind of thing that might not seem like a big deal but Amann has been around the company for a very long time now. It is going to mean something to see him gone, even if there will be another fully qualified doctor in his place soon. ..

NEWS

Former Impact Knockouts Champion Says John Laurinaitis Suggested She Lose Weight

October 5, 2022

That’s not the great way to go. Women’s wrestling has come a very long way in the last few years. After spending so much time as little more than a sideshow attraction, women’s wrestling eventually became a major part of WWE programming. The previous years were mainly focused on their appearances though, and now a former star is explaining just how bad things were. During an appearance on the Cafe de Rene podcast, former WWE developmental star Angelina Love spoke about some things former WWE Head of Talent Relations John Laurinaitis said to her. This included suggesting that Love lose weight, by asking how she felt her height/weight ratio worked at 5’5 and 130lbs. Love said that she was too terrified to respond to anything Laurinaitis said to her. Love wrestled in WWE’s developmental system from 2004-2007 before moving on to Impact Wrestling. Opinion: This is the kind of thing that happens far too often in wrestling and it seems to have happened to Love as well. While there are certa..

NEWS

Stephanie McMahon Announces Major New WWE Streaming Deal

September 29, 2022

That’s what matters most. WWE does a lot of things and has their hands in a lot of industries around the entertainment world. At the end of the day though, they are a wrestling company and what matters most is getting as many eyes as possible on the product. That makes one of their latest announcements all the better, as more people will be able to view WWE programming. WWE co-CEO Stephanie McMahon has announced that the company has reached a new streaming deal with the Foxtel Group in Australia, resulting in BINGE being the new streaming partner for WWE in the country. According to a press release, the service will offer a 24/7 streaming channel, all major WWE television shows and other events at no extra cost. Opinion: This is something that seems run of the mill for WWE but it also shows you just how big the company is. Getting a new deal with a company big enough to go all over Australia is a major deal and for WWE it feels like something so normal. It brings in more money to WWE..