Renee Young is now working as a correspondent with Charly Caruso now that Talking Smack has been nixed as a weekly WWE Network series. Renee also revealed in an Instagram post that she will be working both RAW and SmackDown moving forward.
She wrote, “Dream team back in the (RAW) hiiiizouse!!! @charlycarusowwe ❤️❤️❤️ (and yes, I’ll still be on Smackdown ?)”
https://www.instagram.com/p/BW85uS6FHwx/
Daniel Bryan announced on tonight’s episode of SmackDown Live that John Cena will face Nakamura on next week’s show. The winner of that match will be the #1 contender for the WWE Championship and will face Jinder Mahal for the title at SummerSlam.
As of this writing, no other matches or segments have been announced for next week’s show but we will keep you updated.
Welcome to the fastest hour on television, 205 Live!
Tonight’s show features the Cruiserweight Champion, King Neville in action in the main event! Neville faces Ariya Daivari, a man who has made a name for himself recently by destroying Akira Tozawa. Last night, Daivari attacked Tozawa again but this time, he also took the fight to Neville! The audacity! Daivari clearly believes he is on the Neville level and tonight he has a chance to prove it. I could easily see a scenario in which Tozawa interferes tonight and we end up with a Triple Threat at SummerSlam, although that might leave us with too many multi-man matches at the summer showcase.
Also on tonight’s 205 Live, TJP and Rich Swann continue their seemingly friendly battle for supremacy as they partake in tag team action, albeit on separate teams. TJP teams with Tony Nese tonight to take on Rich Swann and Cedric Alexander, in which should be a great match.
I’d also expect to see Noam Dar, Mustafa Ali, Drew Gulak, Brian Kendrick and Jack Gallagher on tonight’s show. Let us know what you’re excited to see, or not excited to see, on the free Ringside Talk app and remember to enjoy the show!
As seen on tonight’s episode of SmackDown Live, AJ Styles pinned Chris Jericho in a Fatal 3-Way for US Championship to capture the title. Kevin Owens announced after the match that he wants his rematch for the Title on next week’s show.
Also confirmed for next week’s show is John Cena facing Nakamura for a shot at the WWE Championship against Jinder Mahal at SummerSlam.
Russo is joined on today’s show by Skull Von Crush (Big Vito), his old co-host from Vicious Vincent’s World of Wrestling in the early 90’s. They will discuss Sunday’s Battleground PPV.
Russo says that without entertaining characters and in depth storylines, these shows are just full ok fake fights. That’s not what made him a fan of wrestling many years ago, and he believes that’s a big reason why so many mainstream fans have left the product over the last several years.
He thought the opening match of the show between The Usos and The New Day was a very exciting match and all the guys worked hard, but they started the show at such a high octane pace, that it almost made it impossible to follow. He also says the one superkick that was delivered to Xavier Woods from across the ring looked incredible and it looked like it should have legitimately killed him. Having him kick out of a spot like that doesn’t do anything good for the business.
Vito says that he agrees entirely and he felt that this match negatively affected the matches that followed. He thought the match between A.J. Styles and Kevin Owens was the worst match he’s ever seen Styles work, and that should never be the case because Owens is a good worker as well. The finish of this match was so anti-climatic after all the false finishes we saw in the opening match of the show.
It is no secret that WWE Superstar Nia Jax and The Rock are cousins. The Rock has shown his support to his cousin a number of times before.
Here’s a relatively older video of The Rock putting over Nia Jax:
The Rock has stated that Jax has the potential to be the most dominant female athlete in the history of the WWE. Here’s something The Rock wrote along with the video given above in an Instagram post from December last year:
“She ain’t like most girls. Me and my cuz @niajaxwwe (Lina) layin’ down our post workout ?. Really proud of the hard work she’s putting in 24/7 to become a real asset and draw for the WWE and their Women’s Division which has some of the best female athletes on the planet. Luv spending hours with her chopping it up because she’s so coachable & enthusiastic to learn the wrestling business inside and out from me. But what I’m most proud of about Lina’s journey is she represents millions of young girls around the world who don’t fit the “traditional mould” of what girls in the entertainment industry look like. She’s an inspiring example that regardless of your look, height, weight, race, the most powerful thing you can always be is yourself. Because you’re perfect. Just keep putting in that hard work and being humble and hungry. We’re all rooting for ya. #IronParadise #NiaJax#FutureWWEWomensChamp #WhyBeLikeMostGirls #WhenYouCanBeYourself ??”
Once again, the Great One has taken to Twitter to praise his cousin and her progress in the company.
Jax posted this tweet after last night’s episode of Monday Night RAW:
To this, The Rock replied:
What do you think about this great altercation? Sound off below in the comments!
As seen at Sunday’s WWE Battleground event, the crowd was noticeably quiet for a majority of the evening with. Someone would argue it would have a lot to do with the show being one of the worst pay-per-view events of 2017 and even some are saying in recent WWE history.
Roman Reigns took to his Twitter account to react to the crowd reactions the event received. He sent out the following tweet:
Brock Lesnar is not scheduled to make an appearance on tonight’s episode of RAW.
Kurt Angle is expected to announce plans for Lesnar defending the WWE Universal Title at WWE SummerSlam tonight. It’s being rumored that he will be announcing a Fatal 4-Way for the Championship.
Here is the current list of WWE dates Lesnar is confirmed for:
SmackDown Live Event: July 29th (Detroit, MI)
RAW: July 31st (Pittsburgh, PA)
SmackDown Live Event: August 12th (Tampa, FL)
RAW: August 14th (Boston, MA)
SummerSlam: August 20th (Brooklyn, NY)
RAW: August 28th (Memphis, TN)
WWE No Mercy: September 24th (Los Angeles, CA)
RAW Live Event: September 30th (Winnipeg, MB)
There have been several shifts in the betting odds for tonight’s WWE Battleground event. “Smart Money” bets still have not been made, but here are the odds right now:
(Note: The lower the number, the more favorable they are of winning the match)
WWE Championship – Punjabi Prison Match
JJinder Mahal(c) -260 (favorite) vs. Randy Orton +180
WWE United States Championship
AJ Styles(c) -210 (favorite) vs. Kevin Owens +160
Smackdown Tag Team Championship
The Usos(c) -215 (favorites) vs. The New Day +165
Flag Match
John Cena -1125 (favorite) vs. Rusev +575
Fatal 5 Way for the Smackdown Women’s Championship #1 Contendership
Charlotte +195 vs. Lana +3000 vs. Becky Lynch +2100 vs. Tamina +4500 vs. Natalya -215
Shinsuke Nakamura -270 (favorite) vs. Baron Corbin +190
Sami Zayn +135 vs. Mike Kanellis -175 (favorite)
Aiden English +330 vs. Tye Dillenger -490 (favorite)
Check back here at 7PM ET for our live play-by-play coverage of the event.
Austin Aries posted the following photo on Instagram showing off his new “updated” look. It was noted last week that he completely shaved everything off. It appears now that he is growing out his facial hair again:
“A big shout out and thank you to @therock for the fresh new @underarmour gear… and the inspiration for my fresh new haircut? Time to go to work, as you can’t be wearing these horns and not be kicking ass. #humblehungry #smedium #underarmour #plantbased #plantpower”
Sound off in the comment section on how you feel about his new look…
Darren Young is set to make his return to the company really soon. You all remember Darren Young right? He was one half of The Prime Time Players with Titus O’Neil, which I thought was one great tag team. Although he isn’t the greatest wrestler, he isn’t half bad either. We last saw him as a student of Bob Backlund, working hard and doing things the right way. He injured his elbow back in January and has been off our television screens ever since.
With a return nearing, one has to wonder how Young should be booked and portrayed in his return. It doesn’t make sense to pair him back with Backlund, but he could be used in another form.
Young is on the Raw brand, which is loaded with star studded talent. To get television time there, you have to do something impressive and shocking at the same time. Do something that draws ratings and garners attention for yourself. For Young to do that, he must turn on and destroy Bob Backlund.
It sounds harsh and inhumane in a way, but it makes perfect sense. Backlund is a sixty-seven year old man who isn’t physically the same as he was back in his prime. He may can defend himself, but not like a thirty-three year old Darren Young could. Young turning on Backlund would make the crowd feel uncomfortable, sad, and even disgusted at the sight before their eyes. So how should he do it?
Start out with Young making a surprise return to Monday Night Raw with Backlund by his side. They can do the skit where Backlund proclaims he’s going to make Darren Young great again. This is when Young turns on Backlund, hitting him with heavy shots and kicks. Young grabs a chair and hits Backlund across the back. As the crowd stares at the motionless body of Backlund, they will also see the sinister grin on Young’s face. A new heel is born, one with nothing to lose.
Young’s success after that moment determines how he performs in the ring and cut promos. Start him off against a Heath Slater or a Rhyno, a low-card babyface that can help put someone over. Eventually this will lead up to him getting a shot at the Intercontinental Championship. It may be puzzling, but if Young can put in the work then he definitely deserves a shot at the Intercontinental Championship.
Jinder Mahal winning the WWE Championship has opened the door for so many others. Mahal went from jobber to champ in a blink of an eye. If he can do it, then Young has the chance to do it too. Just put in the time and the work, then anything is possible.
Darren Young has had his fair share of success within the company. He is a former Tag Team Champion and knows what it’s like to perform in big time matches. The ability is there, he just needs the opportunity. Attacking his mentor could create just the perfect opportunity. Young as a heel will be a little fresh thing to help keep the fans interested and may get the notice of the powers that be. I wish Young all the best during his return to the WWE.
WWE heads to the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia for tonight’s WWE Battleground event. Here is the card for event:
Punjabi Prison for the WWE Title
Randy Orton vs. Jinder Mahal
WWE United States Title Match
Kevin Owens vs. AJ Styles
SmackDown Tag Team Title Match
The New Day vs. The Usos
Flag Match
Rusev vs. John Cena
Fatal 5 Way Elimination Match to Crown a New #1 Contender
Charlotte Flair vs. Lana vs. Becky Lynch vs. Tamina Snuka vs. Natalya
Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Baron Corbin
Sami Zayn vs. Mike Kanellis
Kickoff
Aiden English vs. Tye Dillinger
Check back here at 7PM ET for our live play-by-play coverage of the event. We will also be having a live fan discussion at RingsideTalk.net!