The Clash of Champions pay-per-view had two matches announced yesterday on Raw and a main event confirmed as a one-on-one match rather than a triple threat match.
With Kevin Owens defeating Roman Reigns thanks to the interference from Rusev, the main event will now be Kevin Owens vs Seth Rollins for the WWE Universal title. Mick Foley promised some repercussions though after Rollins – who was told not the interfere in the main event – did just the opposite and caused the initial DQ ending. Foley restarted the match which then had another interference from the returning Rusev.
The Women’s title match was also confirmed with Charlotte vs Sasha Banks. The match was taken off from the card last week probably to run last night’s angle where Sasha had to wrestle Bayley and Dana Brooke to get the title shot.
The other match announced is Sami Zayn vs Chris Jericho. Zayn was disappointingly absent from the SummerSlam pay-per-view although he did wrestle in one of the Kickoff matches. Rusev vs Reigns for the United States title is also rumored to be announced next week while the Tag Team titles will be on the line as The New Day defend against Gallows and Anderson.
Playmates Toys announced the release of WWE Nitro Sprints and Nitro Machines, featuring John Cena, The Rock, Brock Lesnar, The Undertaker, and Dean Ambrose.
The collection, featuring the five popular WWE Superstars, is available now exclusively at Toys“R”Us stores nationwide. WWE Nitro Sprints are mini, motorized figures that are stylized in WWE Superstar signature ring gear and feature a unique 2” flywheel. Each figure comes with a signature vehicle.
The WWE Nitro Sprints include John Cena with the CENArator, The Rock with Bull Bruiser Truck, Brock Lesnar with Beast Bike, and Undertaker with Night Hearse.
The WWE Nitro Machines collection includes John Cena in Muscle Monster, The Rock in Bull Machine, Undertaker in Reaper Hearse, and Dean Ambrose in Wheel Asylum.
“Playmates Toys is thrilled to partner with WWE to bring the action from the ring to the streets with Nitro Sprints and Nitro Machines,” said Karl Aaronian, Senior Vice President of Marketing, Playmates Toys. “We designed the figures and vehicles to represent the personality of each Superstar and we anticipate that fans will enjoy the play experience of racing their favorite wrestlers.”
WWE Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon underwent surgery for an injury he suffered while doing training reports WWE.COM. Due to the surgery, McMahon did not attend Raw last night and won’t be at Smackdown tonight.
The WWE.COM statement says that McMahon will be back in the office at WWE Headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut on Wednesday.
While WWE did not specify what injury McMahon suffered, Dave Meltzer of the Observer says that the belief is that he suffered a torn quad while doing squats. McMahon is no stranger to torn quads as he tore both of them at the 2005 Royal Rumble.
On that day, after the ending was messed up with Cena and Batista, McMahon marched down the ramp to give instructions and then as soon as he stepped in the ring, he fell backwards and couldn’t stand up!
Monday Night Raw TV Report for September 12th, 2016
Introduction Segment: Video Promo and Welcoming
A recap of last week’s Raw, surrounding the Universal Championship picture with Champion Kevin Owens, Challenger Seth Rollins, General Manager Mick Foley, and Commissioner Shane McMahon is featured. The regular Raw video plays and we go to the arena in Baltimore, Maryland.
Segment #2: Arena Promo
JoJo welcomes General Manager Mick Foley. He promotes tonight’s main-match, where Roman Reigns will wrestle Universal Champion Kevin Owens, and if Roman wins, he is added to the Universal Championship Match between Seth Rollins and Kevin Owens at Clash of the Champions on September 25th.
He puts over Smackdown! Live’s Backlash Pay-Per-View from last night, and then brings out Women’s Champion Charlotte and her partner, Dana Brooke; replays of Charlotte, Dana, and Sasha Banks’ rivalry play during Charlotte and Dana’s entrance. Charlotte wants to say sorry, which both Mick and Dana take for themselves, but she denies it to be for them. Instead, she directs it to hers and Dana’s friendship. Foley cuts her off and goes to introduce Sasha, but “The Boss” stops him and marches out.
Banks makes her case for wrestling Charlotte for the Women’s Championship, but Bayley makes her presence known now. She says that it should be her, since she pinned Charlotte on last week’s Raw. Dana suggests Sasha and Bayley wrestle to determine a #1 Contender; the Women’s Champion vehemently disagrees but Mick corrects both Sasha and Charlotte for trying to book the Championship Match, and changes his mind about the previously-booked one-on-one between Banks and Charlotte.
Dana tries to help, thinking of Bayley VS. Sasha to determine; Charlotte berates Dana for that idea, and Mick agrees with Brooke. Charlotte gets in Dana’s face, but Brooke slaps back, to the happiness of the fans! Foley then adds Dana to the #1 Contender’s bout, which will take place after the break!
Commercials.
Match #1: Triple-Threat – Dana Brooke VS. Sasha Banks VS. Bayley
(Stipulation: #1 Contender’s Match for the Women’s Championship.)
(Note: Women’s Champion Charlotte is on commentary.)
They all circle around each other and Dana hits both Bayley and Sasha. She forces Bayley to the outside and controls over Banks, but Sasha recovers quickly, kicking Dana in the corner. She whips Brooke into another corner, but Dana turns her around and kicks her off of the apron. Bayley is back in and controls Dana for a while, working over her left arm. Sasha pulls Brooke from the ring and then she and Bayley faceoff. Dana gets back in, but Banks and Bayley double hip-toss her, and then Bayley and Sasha square-off again.
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Dana and Bayley are going at it, with Brooke governing. She gets Bayley in a fireman’s-carry position, but Banks slides in and sunset-flips Dana to break it. 1 – 2 – Brooke kicks out! Sasha sets up both Bayley and Brooke in the corner and goes for her springboard double-knees; Bayley rolls out of the way, but Dana gets the knees. Bayley soars off the top turnbuckle with a crossbody for a near-fall! Brooke clotheslines both Banks and Bayley and coves both for quick-twos. She continues to hit on Bayley with shoulder-rams in the corner, and then sets her up atop the turnbuckle. Sasha follows and powerbombs Dana while Brooke suplexes Bayley from the top!
Sasha soon ties up Dana in her Bank Statement Crossface submission, but Bayley kicks Banks to stop Brooke from giving up. She Bayley-To-Belly-suplexes Dana, but Banks rolls over and breaks up the pin, with a jackknife cover of her own for the victory!
Winner via Pinfall and #1 Contender to the Women’s Championship: Sasha Banks
Commercials.
Segment #3: Backstage Promo
Dana is walking through the halls and apologizes to Charlotte; the Women’s Champion doesn’t want to hear it and orders Brooke to take her bags.
Segment #4: Backstage Promo
The Shining Stars – Primo and Epico – are convincing R-Truth to go to their home country of Puerto Rico; he takes them upon the “deal” until Goldust walks in and yanks him away.
Primo and Epico turn around into Big Cass, and then Enzo Amore, who walks up. They accuse the Stars of cheating by holding the tights, but Primo and Epico deny. Later tonight, it will be Enzo wrestling Epico.
Segment #5: Backstage Promo
Tom Phillips interviews Universal Champion Kevin Owens about having to take on Roman Reigns tonight; he is not pleased with the situation of being asked because he thinks Tom is going to insinuate that Owens is going to find excuses. Instead, Kevin is confident that he remains champion. The camera turns to Chris Jericho, who is standing right there. Jericho is ticked that Mick has taken Owens away from “The Highlight Reel;” but Chris has a backup plan, which is Sami Zayn.
Bo Dallas makes his entrance for his match, next.
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Match #2: Single – Bo Dallas VS. Brandon Scott
(Note: Bo tells us that he should’ve just “believed in Bo.”) Bo completes this one pretty-effortlessly, finishing with a powerslam.
Winner via Pinfall: Bo Dallas
Commercials.
Segment #6: Arena Promo
Chris Jericho is out; Sami Zayn soon joins him. They discuss Kevin Owens, who Sami says he is done with. The only thing he wants is the Universal Championship. Jericho continues to egg Zayn on, referring to his “ole” chant that the fans call, but Sami retorts with legendary cites of Dean Malenko and the late-great Eddie Guerrero as to reasons why he is a professional wrestler. “Y2J” taunts Zayn more about Kevin, and then slugs him with his cell-phone and continues to beat him down.
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Match #3: Single – Cesaro VS. Sheamus
(Note: Sheamus leads 3 – 1 in their Best-of-Seven Series)
Sheamus clubs at Cesaro’s injured back to begin and dominates with kicks and punches. He runs Cesaro into the turnbuckle and follows with a shoulder-ram a few times. Cesaro hits back with a big uppercut and attempts the Sharpshooter, but Sheamus struggles to and manages to break it. Cesaro hits an uppercut on the outside
Commercials.
Sheamus is holding Cesaro in a backbreaker-submission, but Cesaro fights back. He kicks Sheamus in the corner and then rockets off the top turnbuckle with a crossbody for two! He reverses White Noise into The Sharpshooter, but Sheamus makes it to the ropes. Sheamus goes for the Celtic Cross powerbomb, but Cesaro rolls through and uses the bottom rope for leverage to get this!
Winner via Pinfall: Cesaro; Series is now 3 – 2 for Sheamus.
Segment #7: Office Promo
Seth Rollins is in GM Mick’s office, wondering why Roman is getting another try at the Universal Championship Match. Foley defends his decision since Triple H interfered in the Fatal-4-Way for the Universal Championship two weeks ago.
Rollins is not happy, and tells Mick to watch the WWE Network to compare his and Reigns’ work. He wants to talk to Stephanie, but Foley says she is not around; Rollins takes umbrage, which Mick mistakes for insulting his integrity. Rollins says he wouldn’t do that, but that Mick is a “fool” for continuing this way with Roman.
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Match #4: Single – Alicia Fox VS. Nia Jax
Nia destroys Fox, chucking her around the barricade and spearing her through the timekeeper’s area. Referees check on Alicia.
Winner: None due to No Official Decision
Commercials.
Segment #8: Arena Promo
Tag-Team Champions The New Day prance out. Xavier has the microphone first and plays up the crowd. All three – Kofi Kingston and Big E. as well – regret that the fans had to sit through Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson’s “comedy” routine last week. They calculated it to be five minutes and thirty-seven seconds of our time spent, and then list better things we could’ve been doing.
Gallows and Anderson answer, threatening to beat up New Day and “take those Tag-Team Titles.” Up next,
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Match #5: Tag-Team – Tag-Team Champions The New Day (Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston) (with Tag-Team Champion/New Day partner Big E.) VS. The Club (Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson)
Karl and Xavier start, with Woods getting the better after moving around Anderson and hitting a dropkick. He elbows him repeatedly to “New Day Rocks” on his shoulder, and then Kofi is in, diving off the top turnbuckle. Kingston double-boots Gallows, who was switched in, but is soon taken over.
Kofi eventually gets the hot-tag to Xavier who cleans house on The Club. He flips over and hits Karl with a clothesline. They both hit back-and-forth with forearms, and then Woods hits a few consecutive ones before getting an uppercut. Xavier leaps back with a DDT, and then soars off of the top rope with an elbow drop, but Luke breaks up the subsequent pin-attempt.
Kingston is knocked down, and Karl gives Xavier a bicycle-kick. Both he and Gallows follow with their Magic Killer finisher for the 1 – 2 – 3!
Winners via Pinfall: The Club
Segment #9: Backstage Promo
Roman Reigns is walking through when Tom Phillips walks up; he wants to know what Roman is thinking. All he wants to do is be in the Championship match at Clash of the Champions.
Commercials.
Match #6: Single – Jinder Mahal VS. Jack Swagger
Prior to the bout, Jinder claims himself to be “the man who comes in peace.” This goes back-and-forth for a bit until Jack gets booted out of a Swaggerbomb attempt; Mahal takes this after a pull-back neckbreaker.
Winner via Pinfall: Jinder Mahal
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Segment #10: Backstage Promo
Tom Phillips wants to know Swagger’s thoughts as his contract is finished soon. Jack says nothing and walks away.
Match #7: Single – Enzo Amore (with Big Cass) VS. Epico (with Shining Star partner Primo)
Epico takes this after falling in a crossbody position and Primo holding Enzo’s leg from the outside!
Winner via Pinfall: Epico (with Shining Star partner Primo)
Commercials.
Segment #11: Backstage Promo
Universal Champion Kevin Owens and Seth Rollins have a chat; Kevin runs down all the people who Seth needed help from to become WWE Champion, and then says Triple-H bailed on him for someone better because Rollins couldn’t get it done since returning in May.
GM Foley walks up and stops this exchange, ordering Owens to the ring. He warns Rollins that if he retaliates, “there will be consequences.”
Both Roman and Kevin make their entrances for the main-event, next!
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Match #8: Single – Roman Reigns VS. Universal Champion Kevin Owens (Non-Title)
(Stipulation: If Roman wins, he will be in the Universal Championship Match at Night of Champions, as a Triple-Threat)
The bell rings and Owens goes to the floor right away, delaying. Roman follows and slugs away; he slams Kevin’s head off of the barrier and headbutts him. Back in the ring, Owens gains control with kicks and punches.
Reigns comes back with a slingshot-dropkick through the ropes, and then sends Owens into the barrier. In the ring, Kevin elbows Reigns out of the corner and shoves him to the canvas. He clamps on a grounding rear-chinlock, but Roman breaks out of it and gains momentum. He signals for the Superman Punch, but Owens rolls to the floor. He hits Reigns with a kick while Roman leapt off of the stairs, and then runs Roman into the ring post.
Commercials.
The Universal Champ is in firm control with another grounding rear chinlock; again Roman gets out, but misses Owens in the corner and runs into the ring post. Kevin focuses on Roman’s shoulder, but is soon assaulted by Seth Rollins, who charged down the ramp! Seth is punching away and the bell rings, and Owens is announced the victor by Disqualification.
Winner via Disqualification: Universal Champion Kevin Owens
Post-match, Rollins continues the fight until referees, agents, and Mick Foley stop him. Foley demands they “have a chat” and the agents and referees walk Seth to the back. Mick makes the referee restart this match!
Match #8: Single – Roman Reigns VS. Universal Champion Kevin Owens (Non-Title) (Restarted)
(Stipulation: If Roman wins, he will be in the Universal Championship Match at Night of Champions, as a Triple-Threat)
Owens knees Roman repeatedly but Roman hits back with a big clothesline! He hits Kevin numerous times with more in the corner and then catches a kick of his and turns it into a Samoan Drop! He tries a top-turnbuckle superplex, but Owens reverses into a second-turnbuckle fisherman’s-suplex! 1 – 2- Reigns just raises his shoulder! The Universal Champ follows with a top-turnbuckle Frogsplash, but Roman still gets his should up!
Kevin kicks Roman into the corner and mocks his roar, but misses the follow-up Cannonball-Splash! Reigns roars now, but Owens kicks him as he ran! Roman hits the Superman Punch back, but The Champ is still in this after a pin-attempt! Reigns hits the Drive-By running-front dropkick on the outside that looks to have knocked-out Owens.
Roman puts Kevin back in the ring, but Owens knees him and kicks him into the corner. He follows with a couple of Cannonball-Splashes, but can’t get the Pop-Up-Powerbomb as Reigns reverses into sit-down-powerbomb for two!
Suddenly, United States Champion Rusev runs down and hops up on the apron! Roman Superman-Punches him down, but Owens capitalizes with a Pop-Up Powerbomb! He covers and receives the victory!
Winner via Pinfall: Universal Champion Kevin Owens
Post-match, Kevin struts to the back as Rusev kicks Roman hard in the head in the ring. he continues to pound away with fists as Lana watches on from the stage, holding his United States Championship. Rusev calls for it and locks on The Accolade Submission to close the show.
CM Punk got one of the biggest purses at UFC 203 despite losing his first MMA fight against another relative newcomer Mickey Gall.
Punk received $500,000 for his fight according to figures released by the Ohio Athletic Commission and published by MMAFighting.com. He had a flat fee of half a million which means that had he won there would be have been no win bonus. His opponent, Mickey Gall got $30,000 in total, $15,000 for the fight and another $15,000 as a win bonus.
The only other two who made more than Punk were Stipe Miocic, the UFC Heavyweight champion, and his opponent Alistair Overeem. Miocic got $600,000 while Overeem, who also lost, got the biggest purse of the night with $800,000.
TMZ obtained the video of the arrest of Bo Dallas which was captured from a body camera of one of the two officers who responded to the call.
Dallas was arrested at the Dallas/Fort Worth airport at the end of August after he was ejected from flight Envoy 3331 which was headed to Puebla, Mexico.
The video shows the officers taking his bag which he forgot about and then find the young Superstar sitting down at a different gate playing with his phone. Dallas is visibly drunk and slurring his words and dropped his belongings, including his phone and passport. The officers then proceed to put cuffs on him and arrest him for public intoxication.
He was then escorted to a police car which was waiting and they asked him who he wrestles for and under what name. Thankfully he wasn’t that drunk not to remember and did say WWE and his name was Bo Dallas.
In an interview with Más Lucha held after the press conference at Hooters in Mexico City, the man formerly known as Alberto Del Rio revealed the reason why he was suspended for 30 days from WWE.
Now going again by the name of Alberto El Patron, he said that he got his first Wellness Program violation for using a testosterone replacement although he says he had proper prescription from his doctor. He said the suspension was not fair as he had medical needs for the testosterone replacement and it’s a big difference than using it for performance enhancement.
The former WWE champion explained that signing a WWE deal means you have to abide by their rules and the Wellness Program is one of those rules and you’re subject to it so there’s not much complaining in that regard.
He admitted that the suspension did play a small part in him leaving the WWE and while he already had plans to move on, it helped solidify the decision to quit the company.
WWE.COM is now referring to the WWE Tag Team and Women’s titles which are part of the Raw brand as the Raw Tag Team and Raw Women’s titles and no longer as the overall WWE titles. The change in name is to put the Smackdown titles on an equal level as their Raw counterparts.
As far as the previous holders go, both the Tag Team and Women’s titles from Raw kept their original lineage, even though there’s not much on the Women’s title which is listed as having been created in 2016. The original Women’s title is listed as being retired in 2010. The Tag Team title is listed as created in 2002, different from the WWE World Tag Team title which is also listed as retired in 2010 after a 39-year history.
All Raw-branded titles will be on the line at the upcoming Clash of Champions pay-per-view which takes place in two weeks time.
AJ Styles made history last night, winning the WWE World title and becoming the first person to hold the WWE, TNA, NWA, and IWGP Heavyweight titles during his wrestling career.
Styles won the WWE title 9 months after arriving from New Japan Pro Wrestling. He debuted at the Royal Rumble just a few months after he and fellow Bullet Club members Gallows and Anderson reportedly agreed to go to TNA. That deal fell through and all three eventually made their way to WWE.
AJ had a phenomenal year in the WWE, first feuding with Chris Jericho which led to a match at WrestleMania 32. He lost the match however the next night he became the number one contender for the WWE title on Raw. His quest for the title, at Payback and Extreme Rules, proved unsuccessful and then he moved to a program with John Cena.
Styles turned heel after attacking Cena, who was just making his return to WWE. The two went on to have two amazing matches, one at Money In The Bank and one at SummerSlam, both of which Styles won.
After Dolph Ziggler finished his program with Ambrose at SummerSlam, Styles emerged as the number one contender for the title and won it last night.
When Styles made his way to WWE, many wondered if the powers that be would be giving Styles, a former champion of rival TNA, a run with the title since he was never a product of WWE. The doubters were proven wrong yesterday as the former TNA champion now holds the industry’s biggest prize.
Welcome to our live coverage of WWE Backlash. The show is taking place from the Richmond Coliseum in Richmond, Virginia and it’s the first Smackdown-only PPV after the draft.
The show is only available on the WWE Network and is not aired on traditional pay-per-view.
Backlash starts with a scrolling message on 9/11 reminding us that freedom is not free.
Smackdown Commissioner Shane McMahon and General Manager Daniel Bryan kick off the broadcast with each getting their own entrance. Shane thanks everyone for making Smackdown a success and reminds everyone that they will crown new champions tonight.
SMACKDOWN WOMEN’S TITLE MATCH
Becky Lynch comes out first followed by Natalya, Naomi, Alexa Bliss, Carmella, and then Nikki Bella. This is a six-pack challenge elimination match. Alexa Bliss was eliminated first, pinned by Naomi. Natalya then eliminated Naomi with the Sharpshooter. Nikki eliminated Natalya and then immediately Carmella pinned Nikki Bella for the first surprise of the night. Final two were Becky and Carmella and Becky won with the Disarmer. Becky thanks fans for believing in her in the post-match in-ring interview. Not a bad match at all, with some good sequences and no botched moves. Great showing from the Smackdown women.
The Miz is walking backstage and knocks on Jagger Eaton’s locker room. The two trade words before Eaton closes the door in Miz’s face.
Randy Orton is attacked backstage by Bray Wyatt. Wyatt takes out Orton’s leg, which will be used as the reason why Orton won’t be able to wrestle tonight. He’s medically still not cleared following SummerSlam.
THE USOS VS THE HYPE BROS
The Usos are wearing black outfits and there’s no face paint since they are now heels. Zack Ryder took the most punishment early on as the heels enjoyed their new heel-y tactics. Ryder eventually does the hot tag and the amped-up Mojo Rawley cleans house. He then tags in Ryder again just a minute after doing the hot tag and Ryder is taken out again. The Usos destroy Ryder’s leg and Ryder taps out. The Usos will now advance to take on Slater and Rhyno later in the night.
Backstage interview with Slater and Rhyno hosted by Renee Young. Rhyno’s wearing the Vote for Rhyno t-shirt. Slater is acting stupid, as always.
A Connor’s Cure video airs as WWE continues to promote their fight against pediatric cancer. Get The Gear, Give The Gear, only at WWE Shop.
THE MIZ VS DOLPH ZIGGLER FOR THE INTERCONTINENTAL TITLE
Before getting out, The Miz confronts Daniel Bryan and said he wants to renegotiate his contract. DB didn’t like it. Maryse and her outfit certainly stealing the spotlight right now. The Intercontinental champion enjoyed the upper hand throughout the match, even imitating Daniel Bryan by doing the running drop kick to the corner multiple times. The Miz worked on Ziggler’s leg to prevent the super kick presumably…but Ziggler still managed to hit it and went for the pin, however The Miz put his leg on the bottom rope. The ending came when Maryse interfered by spraying something in Ziggler’s face and then The Miz hit the Skull Crushing Finale for the pin.
The pre-show panel discuss the evening’s events so far. Recap of the Kickoff match between Baron Corbin and Apollo Crews airs.
BRAY WYATT VS RANDY ORTON
The ring announcer says that Randy Orton is unable to compete and the referee starts the 10 count. Wyatt is announced as the winner via forfeit. As Wyatt starts to leave, he’s told that there’s a no holds barred match against…
BRAY WYATT VS KANE
It’s demon Kane! The action immediately spills to the outside and Kane clears the Spanish announce table but Wyatt clocks him with the ring bell. Wyatt takes a chair and hits Kane several times with it but then eats a DDT on the chair himself. Action goes back outside and Kane is placed on the Spanish announce table as Wyatt runs from the adjacent table and jumps on Kane, breaking the table. Wyatt goes for the Sister Abigail but Kane chokeslams him instead. Randy Orton walked out with his leg taped up. He hits the RKO on Wyatt and Kane follows up with a chokeslam and the pin.
AJ Styles is shown walking backstage, meets two up-and-coming unknown wrestlers and gives them a pep talk.
WWE Network commercial airs of stuff that’s coming up. Nothing new, same one that aired at SummerSlam.
HEATH SLATER AND RHYNO VS THE USOS FOR THE SMACKDOWN TAG TEAM TITLES
If Rhyno and Slater win this match, then Heath Slater finally gets a Smackdown contract. If they don’t win, it’s back to square one for Slater. Just like in their previous match, The Usos take control with Slater on the receiving end of the punishment. Slater finally hits the hot tag and Rhyno bulldozes through The Usos. After Rhyno meets the ring post, Slater tags in again and beats up both twins. Rhyno recovers, hits the gore on Jimmy Uso and Slater covers for the pin. Slater and Rhyno celebrate with their new Smackdown Tag Team titles and the two hug it out.
During the post-match interview, Slater screams and asks Rhyno if he hears them [the crowd]. Slater then tells his “wife” that they’re now gonna get a double-wide! Hilarious!
Either the main event is getting almost an hour or this show will not go to the three hour mark as the video recap for Ambrose vs Styles starts at nearly 10PM.
DEAN AMBROSE VS AJ STYLES FOR THE WWE WORLD TITLE
Match starts slow until AJ tells Ambrose that he owns him, and then things get moving. Styles quickly gets the upper hand for the first part of this match but Ambrose recovers with the usual set of moves until Styles suplexes him into the turnbuckles. Styles goes for the flying forearm but Ambrose moves and tries to hit the Dirty Deeds but is blocked. The former TNA champion then attacks Ambrose’s legs and works on it for the next few minutes. Styles locks in the Calf Crusher but Ambrose grabs the bottom rope to break the hold. The match flip-flopped between the two and Styles hit a near fall after a springboard splash. Ambrose hits a suicide dive and Styles goes flying over the announce table, nearly taking out JBL in the process. The WWE champion escalates his attack on Styles. After a ref bump, AJ Styles hits a low blow on Ambrose and then the Styles Clash, gets the three count and wins the WWE World title.
PWInsider.com is reporting that Randy Orton will not be facing Bray Wyatt at tonight’s Backlash pay-per-view because he has not been cleared to compete by the WWE medical team after last month’s SummerSlam pay-per-view.
What happens and how will WWE address the situation come PPV time remains yet to be seen but the Viper is in Virginia and backstage at the show.
Orton was annihilated by Lesnar at SummerSlam last month and was on the receiving end of two nasty unprotected elbow shots to the head which resulted in 10 stitches to close a deep laceration. The TKO ending was part of the script however the way his head split open wasn’t.
Wyatt was not part of the SummerSlam pay-per-view and it would be unfortunate if the leader of the Wyatt Family is once again not able to perform in a WWE pay-per-view event.
WWE.COM is still advertising the Wyatt vs Orton match for tonight.
Nikki Bella, Natalya Neidhart, Darren Young, and Alberto Del Rio were some of his former wrestling colleagues that had words of encouragement for CM Punk after last night’s disastrous outing at UFC 203.
“Don’t worry amigo @CMPunk it’s all good, you’ll be back stronger…” said the recently released Alberto Del Rio. Del Rio is also a former MMA fighter himself.
Nikki Bella also congratulated Punk, writing that she admired his dedication, passion, and bravery for fulfilling his dream. “Can’t wait 2 see what he does in the future,” she wrote. Nikki’s boyfriend John Cena had a pretty big feud with CM Punk while he was in WWE.
Nattie Neidhart did not specifically mention Punk by his name but said that, “it’s not easy to step outside your comfort zone & do something that is very challenging and very risky. In the end, we only have ONE life.”
Darren Young, who knows a thing or two about hate, jumped to Punk’s defense as well. “People hating on @CMPunk are people who don’t have the guts to do what he’s doing,” he wrote on Twitter.
AJ Styles is the heavy favorite to win his match tonight against Dean Ambrose at Backlash according to the bookies. Styles is at 1/14 to win while Ambrose is at a distant 7/1 to retain. The odds do not necessarily mean a title change but just a win, no matter how. A DQ win for Styles would obviously mean the title stays with Ambrose.
Dolph Ziggler is also the favorite to win the Intercontinental title match against The Miz with odds at 1/8 for Ziggler and 9/2 for The Miz. Becky Lynch is at 1/6 to win the WWE Smackdown Women’s title at 1/6 with Nikki Bella behind at 3/1 and then Carmella and Natalya tied at 33/1.
The Usos are favorite to advance to the Smackdown Tag Team title tournament at 1/25 against The Hype Bros at 8/1 but Heath Slater and Rhyno are odds-on-favorite at 1/8 to win the tournament against The Usos at 9/2.
In the remaining match for Backlash, Randy Orton is also the favorite with the bookies at 1/14 to win his match against Bray Wyatt who is at 13/2 to win.
Fighting back tears most of the time, CM Punk faced the press after UFC 203 with a banged up face and a cauliflower ear and responded questions regarding the fight and his future.
“The process was magical, I’m just disappointed. I’m beating myself up more than I was beat up, I am supremely disappointed. Just being out there was the most fun I’ve ever had,” Punk said, although he then immediately corrected saying it was the “second best” since his best fun was marrying his wife and former WWE Divas champion AJ Lee.
When asked if he intends to stay in the UFC level or maybe go lower to brush up his skills, Punk said that his initial venture into this sport was at the lowest level but then the opportunity to enter the UFC was presented and he would have been a fool if he said no.
“I don’t know what happens from here on out, what if i get cut? It’s possibility,” Punk said. He added that for him it feels like he fell off a bike and now he gotta get back on the ride regardless if it’s in the UFC or not.
He said that it’s time go back to the drawing board and take some time off, which was always the plan win or lose. He said his wife put up a lot with him and it’s about time he dedicate some time with her.
Punk said the plan was always to “move forward” in the fight but he got caught and was late in throwing the punch. “There are no excuses for what happened, Mickey was the better man.”
Asked about the theme he came out to, Punk said that Cult of Personality is “an awesome, awesome song” which is why he went with it. He said that before he entered the Octagon he looked around the arena soaking it all in because he didn’t know if it was going to happen again.
Punk then broke down when explaining what happened. “I’m just hard on myself. I lost and it sucks and it was lopsided and it’s upsetting, but I know I’m better than that,” he said as tears went down.
He was then asked what his wife said when he came backstage following the fight. “You guys are gonna make me cry, you bastards!” Punk took a minute before replying, closing his eyes as the emotion took the best of him again.
“She just said she was proud of me, you know?”
Before closing the 11-minute post-fight press conference, Punk addressed his doubters. “They said I wasn’t gonna make it to the Octagon and they said I wasn’t gonna make it after the back surgery. Then that was I wasn’t gonna make weight. I was happy I did it.”
Two UFC champions, Michael Bisping and Conor McGregor, jumped to CM Punk’s defense after he got beat last night at UFC 203 by Mickey Gall.
“You know what? Fair play to him because he got in there and fought, not a lot of people have the balls to do that,” said the Featherweight champion McGregor. “He got ass whooped God bless him! He’s not a WWE pussy. He got in and fought so fair play to him, respect,” he added. McGregor gave the comments to a TMZ paparazzo on video.
Meanwhile, Middleweight champion Michael Bisping also had some words of encouragement for the former WWE champion. “Tough break. Head high though, you had the balls to do it and to do it again. #respect Live to fight another day,” he wrote on Twitter.
Live tonight from the Richmond Coliseum in Richmond, Virginia, WWE presents Backlash live on the WWE Network. The full card is as follows:
Dean Ambrose vs AJ Styles for the WWE World title; The Miz vs Dolph Ziggler for the WWE Intercontinental title; Becky Lynch vs Alexa Bliss vs Naomi vs Nikki Bella vs Carmella vs Natalya in a six-pack elimination challenge for the WWE Smackdown Women’s title; The Usos vs The Hype Bros in a match to qualify for the tag team title tournament final; Heath Slater and Rhyno vs the winners of Usos/Hype Bros for the WWE Smackdown Tag Team titles; Randy Orton vs Bray Wyatt.
The event is not on traditional pay-per-view and is only available on the WWE Network. You can watch the show for free if you’re a first time subscriber and you can get started by going to http://w-o.it/wwentwrk.
CM Punk might have lost big time last night at UFC 203 but his post-fight interview and courage got him a lot of points from fellow fighters who commented on social media. Mickey Gall appeared arrogant and cocky, using a lot of profanity in his interview while Punk was humble and and gracious in defeat, telling everyone he will be back.
Daniel Cormier, a big wrestling fan himself, wrote that CM Punk showed a lot of heart while calling his opponent Mickey Gall “the real deal.” Eddie Alvarez also said that he respects his courage to even step in the Octagon but “there’s a reason for armatures, pros, etc…” and said everyone’s gotta go through the process.
Mentioning the post-fight interview, Corey Anderson said that Punk earned more respect in defeat than Micky Gall did in victory, while Rashad Evans also applauded Punk’s post-fight speed and said, “I’m a fan!” Erik Jon Koch had the same feeling, saying he respected Punk more than anyone. “Dude has the biggest balls ever,” he wrote.
Heavyweight Roy Nelson gave congratulations to both and said that you win some and lose some while former champ Jon Jones had the dig of the night. “I wanna see Bieber fight next,” he wrote.
21 months after signing his UFC deal, CM Punk finally stepped inside the Octagon for his first ever professional MMA fight tonight at UFC 203 in Cleveland, Ohio and it was short and not with a happy ending.
The former WWE champion walked out to the popular theme song Cult of Personality with a big pop from the crowd. Punk smiled as he walked through the backstage hallway prior to making his way out to the arena and then soaked in the crowd before he stepped in the Octagon.
As soon as the referee told them to fight, Mickey Gall immediately took down Punk and proceeded with some heavy ground and pound and then took over his back. Punk never managed to recover and Gall got in a rear naked choke win at 2:14 in the first round.
In the post-fight interview with Joe Rogan, Punk said that in life you either go big or go home. “I’ll be back believe it not,” Punk said, saying that this was a blast to experience. He told everyone to follow their dreams even though it sounds preachy coming from someone who just got beat up.
Almost two years after officially singing with the UFC, former WWE champion CM Punk will finally make his debut for the UFC tonight in Cleveland at UFC 203.
Punk, who has zero amateur or professional MMA fights under his belt, will be facing Mickey Gall, another newcomer to the MMA world who has a 2-0 record. Gall had to win his first fight in the UFC to get his shot against CM Punk. The fight was originally slated for earlier this year however back surgery pushed the fight back a few months. At the weigh-ins yesterday, Punk clocked in at 170lbs and looked pretty good, possibly better than his WWE days.
The show will be held at the Quicken Loans Arena, a not-so-popular arena for Punk due to the many mishaps so to speak that occurred there during his WWE career. The event is headlined by Stipe Miocic vs Alistair Overeem for the UFC Heavyweight title. Punk’s fight is the third one from last on the card.
Not surprisingly, Punk is the underdog for his first fight and is at 7/2 to win while Gall is at 2/9 to get his third MMA win. Punk is also at 9/2 for a win via KO, TKO, DQ, or submission and 9/1 to win by a decision. The odds are even bigger when going by round, where he’s 22/1 for a win in round one, 50/1 for a win in round two, and 80/1 for a win in round three.
There are several sportsbooks which are offering the ability to bet on tonight’s event. Please remember to gamble responsibly.
The TNA Grand championship was unveiled during this week’s Impact by TNA President Billy Corgan, kicking off an eight-man tournament to determine the first ever champion.
Participating in the tournament are Drew Galloway, Eli Drake, Aron Rex, Eddie Edwards, Jessie Godderz, Braxton Sutter, Mahabali Shera, and Trevor Lee. The first match took place on the show with Galloway advancing by defeating Braxton Sutter. The remaining matches will take place on upcoming Impact shows while the final will happen at the Bound For Glory pay-per-view next month.
The rules for these matches are not your typical ones and resemble more MMA rules. Each match has three rounds of three minutes each and are scored on a 10-point system. Winners are determined by pinfall or submission and if the match goes to the full three rounds, the judges will decide the winner based on the points assigned throughout the rounds.
The TNA Grand championship is replacing the King of the Mountain title.
