Search Results: "zealand"

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A Step Up: AEW Announces International Television Deal With ESPN

The more the merrier. AEW has shaken up the wrestling world in a variety of ways, including offering all kinds of fresh content to wrestling fans. As a result, there is a lot more big budget wrestling to be seen in the United States, but that is far from the only place wrestling can be enjoyed. Now AEW is getting to move into a new market with a big international deal. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: One More: 51 Year Old Former World Champion Announces Planned Return To The Ring AEW has announced that it has reached a deal with ESPN to broadcast its events in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. The content will begin airing on February 16, with Dynamite on Thursdays and Rampage on Saturdays. The company’s pay per views will also be available on a delayed basis. There is nothing to suggest that AEW and ESPN will be working together anywhere else at the moment. There is a lot of great stuff to be seen. Check out some of what AEW has to offer: [This post contains video, click to p..

Maybe Later: Upcoming WWE Tour Postponed (Again)

Maybe next time. WWE runs quite a few shows on any given week from around the country. In addition, the company also goes international with several of its shows, including multiple annual tours outside of the United States. More often than not, these are some of the most successful events that WWE runs every year, but that is not always the case. That seems to be true with some shows that are not going to be happening. Teg Dainty, an Australian entertainment company, has announced that WWE’s upcoming tour of Australia and New Zealand, originally scheduled for August, has been postponed with no reason given. There are currently no dates given for the rescheduled shows. The tour has already been postponed multiple times, including more than once due to the Coronavirus pandemic and again this year, with the July date being pushed back to August. Opinion: This is a bit of a confusing situation as the tour seems to have been moved around so many times already. I’m curious to know what is..

Update On Toni Storm Potentially Signing A WWE Contract

We have an update on independent star Toni Storm potentially signing with WWE via Dave Meltzer and the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Storm famously took part in the Mae Young Classic last year, ultimately coming short. When she wasn’t signed to WWE after the tournament, many thought she’d never appear in a WWE ring again… but that may be about to change. Storm, a New Zealand native, appears to have signed with WWE. Her new deal is not for the next Mae Young Classic itself, but a U.K, deal similar to that of the U.K. Championship competitors. This contract means that Storm can compete with other promotions, but any time WWE calls for her to compete with them, they take priority. This is the same deal for other talents such as Pete Dunne, Trent Seven, Wolfgang, Tyler Bate and others. We noticed that Storm is listed on advertisements for the upcoming U.K. Championship Tournament, so we expect that she’ll be there in some fashion over the coming weeks. Now while we mention Storm hasn’..

Vinc Pichel Talks Gregor Gillespie Matchup & Says He's Happy for Ronda Rousey In WWE

Vinc Pichel is back in action and in the co-main event of UFC Fight Night Utica, where he faces Gregor Gillespie. Not only does Pichel plan on making a bigger name for himself with the big co-main event opportunity on June 1, but the fighter plans on doing so in spectacular fashion. “I’m gonna knock the son of a bitch out, I’m looking for a big KO man. I’m looking for a big bonus, I got cheated out of my bonus in New Zealand from Dan Hooker…that son of a bitch. I’m looking for a knockout bonus, I’m getting a lot of slack from this guy. People telling me ‘what are you gonna do? He’s a wrestler and he’s done this and he’s done that.’ I’m like who gives a f*ck what he’s done, he’s an NCAA champion, I don’t know how many times, but I’m like ‘this is an MMA fight man.’ A lot of people are doubting me in this fight and I cannot wait to make them eat their words, I’ve had friends tell me to pull out of this fight and I shouldn’t have taken this fight. I’m like ‘what the f*ck man and thanks ..

Crazzy Steve & Others to Receive WWE Tryout This Month

<p>WWE revealed the following list of talents who will receive a tryout at the WWE Performance Center later this month:</p><p><strong>Hunter McIntyre</strong>: “Obstacle course racer. The reigning champion of Steve Austin’s Broken Skull Challenge competition series and a decorated Spartan Race runner.”</p><p><strong>Amarlo Herrera</strong>: “A 250-pound linebacker from the University of Georgia who was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the sixth round of the 2015 NFL Draft.”</p><p><strong>Noke Tago</strong>: “A 300-pound defensive tackle from American Samoa who played at Oregon State.”</p><p><strong>Raynor Whitcombe</strong>: “6-foot-2, 230-pounds. A New Zealand-born football player-turned-bodybuilder who was the first-place winner of the 2015 BodySpace Spokesmodel Search.”</p><p><strong>Denzel DeJournette</strong>: “A 6-foot-3, 265-pound All-American wrestler from Appalachian State University who finished eighth in the NCAA heavyweight wrestling championships.”</p><p><strong>Nicolai Salchow</strong>: “6-foot-1, 205-pounds. A Brazilian-born, German-raised kickboxer and grappler who is 6-1 in professional MMA fights.”</p><p><strong>Lindsey Kelly</strong>: “Crossfit competitor. A former swimmer at the University of Arizona who has deadlifted 410 pounds and squatted 315 pounds, according to her CrossFit profile.”</p><p><strong>Reginald Gibbs</strong>: “A 275-pound, Georgia-based independent wrestler and protege of WWE Superstar Mr. Hughes who competes as “Odinson” in the southeast region.”</p><p><strong>Brothers Arthur and Josh Haug</strong>: “Arthur Haug was a four-sport athlete in high school and a former bodybuilding champion who has trained with Impact Pro Wrestling. Josh Haug was a three-time letter winner as a wrestler at the University of Iowa, a 2016 national qualifier and an Academic All-American.”</p><p><strong>Nick Brewer</strong>: “Minnesota powerlifter, a 295-pounder who has been known to bend horseshoes and roll up steel frying pans with his bare hands. At the 2009 London Strongest Man competition, he pulled a firetruck.”</p><p><strong>Vernon Willis</strong>: “A 6-foot-4, 275-pound California state wrestling champion.”</p><p><strong>Andrew Cavanna</strong>: “A 6-foot-1, 220-pound Connecticut weightlifting champion and five-time wrestling champion.”</p><p><strong>Briana Brandy</strong>: “A hip-hop artist who has performed with the likes of Soulja Boy and Ying Yang Twins, and trains in MMA and CrossFit.”</p><p><strong>Cody Deaner</strong>: “A multi-time heavyweight champion in Canada who once faced Kurt <strong><a href="http://www.ringsidenews.com/tag/angle/" title="Angle">Angle</a></strong> on SmackDown in 2004.”</p><p><strong>“Crazzy Steve” Steve Scott</strong>: “A 14-year veteran from Ontario who received training under NXT’s <strong><a href="http://www.ringsidenews.com/wrestler/eric-young" title="Eric Young">Eric Young</a></strong>.”</p><p><strong>Paul ‘PB Smooth’ Bilbo</strong>: “6-foot-9. From Erie, Pa., a former college basketball player who has wrestled for Cleveland-based Absolute Intense Wrestling and CWF Mid-Atlantic in North Carolina.”</p><p><strong>Matt King</strong>: “A 23-year-old, 6-foot-5, 250-pound model and independent wrestler from Atlanta who competes as “Raphael King”.</p><p><strong>Troy Russell</strong>: “6-foot-6, a graduate of Lance Storm’s wrestling academy who trains at the famous DeFranco’s Gym.”</p><p><strong>Tehuti Miles</strong>: “A 210-pound U.S. Army veteran who served in Afghanistan and played for the University of Maryland football team.”</p><p><strong>Quelton Toliver</strong>: “A 20-year-old, 6-foot-4, 265-pound wrestler from Missouri.”</p><p><strong>Brothers Morgan and Christopher Hill</strong>: “Football players-turned-fitness models from Las Vegas.”</p><p><strong>Elena Pogosyan</strong>: “A 24-year-old journalist-turned-wrestler who trained under WWE Hall of Famer Johnny Rodz and has wrestled for almost two years.”</p><p><strong>Jeslen Mishelle</strong>: “A three-year wrestling veteran and blue belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu who competes on the West Coast under the alias ‘Desi Derata.’”</p><p><strong>Nikii Duke</strong>: “A 24-year old bodybuilder, International Federation of Physique Athletes pro, and World Beauty Fitness and Fashion bikini competitor.”</p><p><strong>Mike Taverna</strong>: “Twenty-five-year-old from New York City, who has wrestled in Chaotic Wrestling, Chikara and New York Wrestling Connection, among other groups.”</p><p><strong>Marquis Carter</strong>: “A U.S. Army veteran who was deployed once to Afghanistan and twice to Korea, and has officiated in several Florida wrestling organizations.”</p><p><strong>Haley Kate Yellin</strong>: “A fitness model with a background in dance, track and taekwondo.”</p><p><strong>Will Cuevas</strong>: “A California-based independent wrestler, former referee and U.S. Marine Corps veteran who is a former All Pro Wrestling Worldwide Internet Champion.”</p><p><strong>Blake Dees</strong>: “A 240-pound former college football player who played linebacker at Texas Tech and South Alabama.”</p><p><strong>Micas Harris</strong>: “A 28-year-old independent wrestler from Indiana who played semi-pro football.”</p><p><strong>Marshall “Solo” WilliamsZach Johnson</strong>: “6-foot-5, 240-pounds. An independent wrestler from North Carolina for whom this was a second WWE tryout.”</p><p><strong>Michael Richards</strong>: “From New Zealand, a 6-foot-2 independent wrestler who has trained in the Ring of Honor Dojo.”</p><p><strong>Joe Maples</strong>: “A 6-foot-3, 285-pound former college football player. He made appearances in three Bowl Games as a member of the University of Missouri football team.”</p><p><strong>Haley Tipton</strong>: “A 24-year-old model and former Junior Olympics <strong><a href="http://www.ringsidenews.com/tag/beach/" title="beach">beach</a></strong> volleyball player.”</p><p><strong>Rawle Chichester</strong>: “A 6-foot-2, 245-pound wrestler with six years’ experience.”</p><p><strong>Abigail Burgdorf</strong>: “A college track athlete who is also an active powerlifter.”</p>

WWE Reveals Four Names for the Mae Young Classic

<p>WWE announced the first four names for the July 13th and July 14th Mae Young Classic tournament. They wrote the following on their website:</p><p><em>Toni Storm is the first and reigning PROGRESS Women’s Champion in the United Kingdom. Already an eight-year veteran, Storm has carved out a reputation worldwide: Born in New Zealand, raised in Australia and based in the U.K., she wrestled in 13 countries before age 20, capturing championships along the way.</em></p><p><em>Lacey Evans, of Parris Island, S.C., is a familiar face to WWE Network subscribers. A newcomer inside the yellow ropes of NXT, Evans joined the WWE Performance Center in April 2016. Prior to pursuing sports-entertainment, she served in the U.S. Marine Corps for five years, including time spent as military police and a member of the Special Reactions Team, which is the Marine equivalent of a SWAT Team.</em></p><p><em>Sarah Logan is an NXT competitor and recruit at the Performance Center. She began her in-ring career on the U.S. independent scene in 2011, and quickly gained notoriety for her rough-and-tumble fights. She refined her skills in Japan under former WWE <strong><a href="http://www.ringsidenews.com/tag/light/" title="Light">Light</a></strong> Heavyweight Champion Taka Michinoku before signing with WWE in October 2016. Logan, who has also won Olympic powerlifting competitions, made her NXT TV debut earlier this year.</em></p><p><em>Princesa Sugehit, from Monterrey, brings 20 years’ experience to the Classic. Since turning professional in 1996, Sugehit has earned countless accolades while competing in her home country’s top organizations, CMLL and AAA. Not only that, but she has claimed the masks of numerous rivals over the year, which is considered the ultimate sign of triumph in <strong><a href="http://www.ringsidenews.com/tag/lucha/" title="lucha">lucha</a></strong> <strong><a href="http://www.ringsidenews.com/tag/libre/" title="libre">libre</a></strong>. She is also the current Mexican National Women’s Champion.</em></p><p>We revealed seventeen names the other day for the event, which you can read <a href="http://www.ringsidenews.com/2017/06/13/17-names-revealed-upcoming-mae-young-classic/">here</a>.</p>